Chapter 47: Pepper and Lamb Are a Perfect Match
Chapter 47: Pepper and Lamb Are a Perfect Match
After everyone was seated, a young waiter approached them promptly and greeted them with a smile: "Greetings, esteemed customers! Our specialty here is lamb noodle soup. The noodles are cooked in a lamb broth and topped with lamb fat, scallions, goji berries, and two pieces of lamb. We guarantee that the noodles will be chewy and the lamb tender and fragrant..."
The young waiter's introduction was delivered with fluency and emotion.
Hearing his description, coupled with the tantalizing aroma wafting from the entrance, Suisui felt her hunger intensify.
Her mouth began to water uncontrollably.
Initially, Suisui had tried to discreetly swallow, not wanting to reveal her gluttonous side.
However, Feng Xuanrui beside her let out an exceptionally loud swallow.
Encouraged by her brother's action, Suisui mustered her courage and swallowed audibly as well.
After swallowing, she cautiously observed the others.
From her brother to Uncle Liu to King Qing.
None of them seemed to have noticed her.
They wouldn't think that her swallowing was a sign of being a glutton, always thinking about food.
In fact, they didn't even pay attention to her swallowing at all.
After all, it was only a natural human instinct.
Especially for children, it was difficult to control such impulses.
So, what was strange about swallowing?
She was no longer at her uncle's place from before.
Whether she was hungry, greedy, or swallowed, no one would raise their hand to hit her with a fire poker or a broomstick.
Suisui became increasingly aware of this fact.
This realization brought her a sense of peace.
Suisui sat obediently beside Feng Xuanrui, unsure of how to order or tell the waiter what she wanted.
She thought, "I'll have whatever my brother is having."
Suisui trusted her brother's choice!
Although chili peppers had not yet been introduced to Da Xia, peppercorns were already in use.
Due to the frequent trade in recent years, the price of peppercorns had gradually decreased, no longer as expensive as it used to be.
Even so, it was not something that every street corner shop could afford.
However, the restaurant they were in today clearly used peppercorns in their dishes.
The young waiter specifically emphasized this point to justify the higher price of the meal naturally.
After all, not only was it made with fresh and delicious lamb, but it also included peppercorns!
Suisui didn't understand what peppercorns were.
The system patiently explained it to her.
["Peppercorns have the effects of warming the body, relieving pain, promoting digestion, and aiding in phlegm reduction."]
["They exist as a type of spice for now, but their medicinal value will be discovered and further developed in the future."]
["And they go extremely well with lamb~"]
Although the system explained it, the problem was...
Suisui still didn't quite understand.
However, she grasped one thing.
This bowl of noodles was expensive!
Extremely expensive!
Realizing this, Suisui fidgeted anxiously in her seat.
Feng Xuanrui had been listening intently to the young waiter's introduction, and when he mentioned that peppercorns were added to the lamb broth, his anticipation grew.
With the generous use of aromatic spices and the addition of various Chinese medicinal herbs, the dish was sure to be delicious.
At least, that's what he thought.
Sensing his sister's anxious fidgeting, Feng Xuanrui turned to her, curious. "Sister, what's wrong? Are you hungry? Don't worry, they're already cooking the noodles over there."
Suisui wasn't worried about the food taking too long; she was concerned about the price.
Suisui's understanding of money was vague; she knew about it, but had no concrete concept of its value. However, she was aware that if something was expensive or she took too much, she would get beaten.
Occasionally, when her uncle went out and had a few drinks with someone, he would get scolded by her aunt when he returned. If her uncle was annoyed by the scolding, instead of arguing with her aunt, he would turn to Suisui and take out his frustration on her.
Noticing her fidgeting, Feng Xuanrui asked, "Sister, is something wrong? Are you hungry? Don't worry, they're already cooking the noodles."
Suisui wasn't worried about the food taking too long; she was concerned about the price. She anxiously twisted in her seat and whispered, "...Brother, won't this be too expensive?"
Expensive? Feng Xuanrui had no concept of what that meant. It was only after meeting Suisui that he began to understand such earthly concerns.
Usually, Feng Xuanrui would have waved his hand dismissively and said, "A bowl of noodles is only a dozen copper coins. Am I, Feng, not worthy of that?"
But facing his sister, Feng Xuanrui showed a rare gentleness as he reassured her, "Sister, don't worry about the price. It's just a bowl of noodles, and I can definitely afford it."
Fearing that she might still be worried, he quickly added, "Wait until we get back to the mansion. You'll see that the tea we use to rinse our mouths every morning is even more expensive than this."
Suisui didn't understand why one needed to rinse their mouth in the morning. Brushing her teeth was something she had learned from her brother and Grandpa Liu.
But if her brother said it wasn't expensive, Suisui felt slightly more at ease.
When the noodles arrived, Suisui's attention was fully captured by the delicious dish before her.
They were too fresh and fragrant!
The well-kneaded noodles were cooked in a rich meat broth, then rinsed in cold water to reduce the oily feeling. Scallions, goji berries, and other spices were sprinkled on top, along with two pieces of tender lamb. Finally, scorching lamb fat was gently poured over the dish.
The collision of hot and cold instantly intensified the aroma. The rising steam carried the enticing fusion of freshness and fragrance.
Not knowing how to eat them, Suisui turned to her brother for guidance, intending to follow his example.
Feng Xuanrui picked up his chopsticks and skillfully mixed the noodles. He combined the scorching hot oil with the chewy noodles, ensuring they were thoroughly blended. He also stirred in the cinnamon and star anise, allowing their flavors to infuse the dish.
Once the noodles were coated with the oil and spices, Feng Xuanrui carefully picked out the star anise and cinnamon. These ingredients were great for flavoring, but not so much for eating!
Suisui observed for a while, figuring out what to do, and then followed her brother's lead, picking up her chopsticks and beginning to mix her noodles.
This restaurant was generous with their portions. The bowl was even bigger than Suisui's head!
The small girl, wielding her chopsticks, struggled to mix the large bowl of noodles, creating a delightful scene.
Grandpa Liu smiled and turned to Suisui, quietly instructing her on a more efficient way to mix the noodles. He didn't take over the task for her, understanding that it was important for her to develop these life skills.
Suisui didn't find it difficult, only novel. There were so many noodles, and she knew she couldn't finish them all.
After mixing the noodles with the oil and spices, Suisui followed her brother's example and picked out the spices. She then leaned towards her brother and offered, "Brother, I can't finish all of this. Do you want some?"
The system had told her that if she couldn't finish her food and didn't want to waste it, she should offer it to others beforehand. It was considered impolite to let others eat her leftovers.
(End of Chapter)
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