Shen Guofu was still saying last night that his darling daughter was like a little padded jacket. But now it seemed this padded jacket not only let the wind through but was also made of shoddy cotton. It was clearly just an ordinary family-style restaurant, yet his daughter had somehow managed to charge them prices fit for a high-end private kitchen.
However, upon hearing that his wife was preparing to discipline their child, he quickly said, "This is just a little bit of fun in life, no need to get angry. Think positively, our daughter’s knack for this buy-low-sell-high game shows she has a talent for business!"
So, having a talent for business means scamming her own parents? And scamming them repeatedly! Those Shakima yesterday afternoon cost me 10,000 yuan! Han Shuzhen glanced at her husband. "Why do I get even angrier when you try to comfort me like that?"
Shen Guofu gave a dry laugh. Seeing that several customers had just entered, he quickly changed the subject. "There are quite a few customers in the shop already. Business is indeed good. Our daughter must have waited in line for a while, so the markup is understandable... Come on, Shuzhen, if we don’t go in now, we’ll have to queue up too."
With that, he quickened his pace and pulled the door open.
Han Shuzhen sighed helplessly, folding her parasol as she stepped into the restaurant.
"Hello, welcome! Please place your order first."
As soon as they entered, Song Tiantian, sitting at the cash register by the entrance, greeted them warmly and handed over a laminated menu with the names and prices of the dishes.
Han Shuzhen put away her parasol and was just about to take the menu to see what to eat.
Dundun, the cat, who had been napping soundly on the cash register, immediately rolled over, lifted its round, chubby head, and gently rubbed against Han Shuzhen.
"Oh, what an adorable little cat, and it came to rub against me all on its own."
Han Shuzhen had still been fuming, but being nuzzled by this adorable little creature instantly eased much of her anger. She stuffed her parasol into her bag and, pleasantly surprised, gently scratched Dundun’s head. The little fellow rubbed against her even more enthusiastically, letting out a gentle "MEOW."
"Old Shen, look at this cat! It’s much more well-behaved than our daughter. We’d be better off raising a cat than her."
Shen Guofu chuckled. "This little one was asleep when we came in. Seems like you two have a connection." He gave Dundun a pat, then picked up the menu. "We’ll have ten Chicken Feet, a serving of Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce, a serving of Sweet and Sour Pork Loin... Oh, they have Boiled Pork Slices too? Shuzhen, do you want to try some?"
Han Shuzhen, still petting the cat, said, "Order it if you like, but don’t eat too much."
"Then just a small portion, and two bowls of rice and two cups of Sour Plum Soup, please."
After scanning a code to pay, the couple gave Dundun a few more pets. Seeing more customers arrive, they finally said goodbye to the cat and went inside to find a table.
New customers, noticing how friendly Dundun had been to others, wanted some attention too. However, when they approached the cash register, they found the little creature didn’t even glance at them. It simply rolled over on the counter and went back to its nap.
"Hey, why does this cat in your shop play favorites with customers?"
Song Tiantian said with a smile, "It does whatever it feels like. Sometimes it even gives our boss an attitude. No idea how it got so fat when it was a stray."
Shen Guofu walked into the restaurant and habitually looked around. Although the restaurant wasn’t large, the decor was quite stylish, making one feel comfortable upon entering. "They really put a lot of thought into this decor," he remarked.
Han Shuzhen nodded. Most small eateries were dirty and messy, with trash on the floor and sticky tables, but this restaurant exuded refinement. Even the semi-open kitchen was spotless. No wonder our daughter likes to eat here. The ambiance alone makes it worth a visit.
Before long, the server brought over the Chicken Feet and Sour Plum Soup. Han Shuzhen took a sip of the soup. The perfect balance of sweet and sour, combined with its refreshing coolness, invigorated her, instantly dispelling the lingering heat from the car ride. This Sour Plum Soup is delicious! But our daughter never thought to get it for us. That little rascal!
Shen Guofu also took a sip and was equally impressed. "Oh, this is really good! I should get a couple of cups for my mother sometime. She loves this kind of traditional Sour Plum Soup. The kind that’s brewed is so clear and refreshing, not at all cloying."
After a few more sips, the summer heat had mostly dissipated, and his appetite returned. The couple picked up the Chicken Feet with their chopsticks and began to eat. Freshly scooped from the braising liquid, these Chicken Feet were indeed different and much tastier than takeout.
Soon, the Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce and the Sweet and Sour Pork Loin were served. Shen Guofu picked up a piece of the pork loin, tasted it, and his eyes widened. "Wow, the texture! This is absolutely delicious!"
Due to health reasons, he hadn’t eaten many sweet and sour dishes in recent years. But seeing it on the menu today, and knowing his daughter had never bought it for him, he couldn’t resist trying it. With all the other dishes being so tasty, this Sweet and Sour Pork Loin should be good too. But after tasting it, he realized, It’s not just good, it’s unbelievably delicious!
Han Shuzhen, watching Lin Xu bustling in the kitchen, couldn’t help but remark, "That handsome young man made all these dishes. He seems to be the owner too. A good-looking young man who can cook so well... I wonder which lucky girl will get to marry him."
Shen Guofu glanced at Lin Xu and nodded in agreement. "Indeed. At least she’d always have delicious food to eat. And with the restaurant doing so well, given these prices, he must be making 10,000 to 20,000 yuan a day."
The couple sighed simultaneously. If only our little rascal could find such a steady, hard-working boyfriend. It would save us so much worry.
As they were eating, Lin Xu brought over the Boiled Pork Slices. "Here are your Boiled Pork Slices. They’re a bit hot, so please enjoy them slowly."
The couple observed him more closely. Wow! He looks even more handsome up close, and he has such a pleasant personality. He’s been smiling at everyone since they arrived, and even when he’s busy, he doesn’t forget to greet regular customers. This young man is truly remarkable.
"If only he were our son-in-law..."
Han Shuzhen interjected, "Aren’t you just trying to push him into a pit of fire? Our little rascal, apart from being tall, what makes her worthy of him? Old Shen, don’t just start matchmaking every time you see a handsome young man. Hurry up and eat. I have to go to the Medical College later."
Shen Guofu sighed wistfully. If only this young man were our son-in-law. What a pity... He picked up a slice of meat and put it in his mouth. His eyes instantly widened. Holy cow! This meat is unbelievably tender!
After two more bites, he said to Han Shuzhen, "This won’t do! I’m going to need another bowl of rice. This dish is just too good with rice!"
"Really? Let me try..." Han Shuzhen fished out a slice of meat coated in Red Oil and tasted it. She too was stunned by the delicious flavor. "Let’s get two more bowls of rice!"
Each of them ordered another bowl, and they relished the food, eating with great gusto.
Once they had eaten their fill, Shen Guofu gave a thumbs-up to Lin Xu, who was passing by. "Young man, your cooking is fantastic!"
Lin Xu smiled. "If you enjoyed it, sir, please come again."
"We definitely will!"
Just as he said that, a WeChat message popped up on Shen Guofu’s phone: "Dad, how many Chicken Feet for dinner tonight?"
Seriously? Again?! Is this troublesome kid addicted to swindling her parents? He was about to take a photo of the restaurant to send to his little rascal, but then he figured that would be letting her off too easily. I should prank her a bit too.
With that in mind, he quickly typed a message back to his daughter...
First update of the day! Please send your Monthly Tickets and recommendation votes, everyone!