Sending you a thousand miles away, in the end we must part. No matter how reluctant, Zhuo Qianqian still boarded the high-speed train back to school.

We are all independent individuals, and it's not like life and death separation, so there was no need for tears. Carrying a full box of snacks and marinated dishes prepared by Wang Fan, the two waved goodbye.

As for Wang Fan, he temporarily did not start a new task but went to Shanghai to fulfill a commitment.

Of course, it's not an appointment with some high-cold queen or a pure girl, but an appointment with Shen Teng.

For this diner who supported him from the beginning, Wang Fan genuinely considers him a friend and would naturally fulfill his promise to him.

August 31st, Shen's father's birthday, cooking a meal at their home.

Wang Fan just learned that Shen Teng's home is actually in Xiamen, Fujian, which many mistakenly think is the provincial capital of Fujian Province.

This is Wang Fan's first meeting with Shen's father. To be honest, there's a significant difference compared to the rich person image in his mind.

Shen's father is tall, very thin, wears glasses, and looks quite gentle and young, not at all like someone with a son in his twenties.

Shen's father was very happy about Wang Fan's visit. They chatted for a while and got along well. Wang Fan checked the time and said, "It's about time, I'll start preparing the meal."

Shen's father quickly stopped him: "You traveled far as a guest, how can we let you cook? Xiao Teng was just speaking casually. Please sit comfortably and savor my wife's cooking."

Wang Fan shook his head: "Since I've promised, I have to fulfill it. Words should not be empty."

Shen's mother also looks very young and well-maintained. Standing with Shen Teng, they look more like siblings than mother and son. As she put on the apron, she smiled and said to Wang Fan, "You are one of the few friends of Xiao Teng. Here, make yourself at home. Please sit down, I'll handle it."

Shen Teng's family lives in a villa over 500 square meters, employing a housekeeper, who also put on an apron to assist.

Wang Fan laughed: "At home, I'm also the one who cooks."

Shen Teng interjected: "Dad, Mom, Aunt Wu, just stay put. Mom, not saying your culinary skills aren't great, but compared with my Brother Wang, there's a tiny gap. Take this chance to taste what real gourmet is."

Shen's father had tasted the marinated dishes Shen Teng brought back and was genuinely impressed. He missed that taste, though he felt uneasy having someone who visited for the first time cook.

However, Wang Fan insisted, and since it was a prior agreement, Shen's father had no further objections. "Wife, let him be. Let's use this opportunity to taste what the wild's strongest culinary boss cooks."

Shen's mother wanted to speak but could only concede at Shen's father's gentle shake of the head, "Alright, I won't be busy then, though this feels quite impolite. Xiao Fan, stay a few more days, I'll cook something delicious for you later."

Wang Fan nodded with a smile; he appreciated the family's atmosphere.

In the kitchen, the array of seafood and vegetables was abundant. Wang Fan pondered what delicacies to make from these ingredients.

Shen Teng followed him and said, "Brother Wang, just make six dishes. That's the usual standard for my dad's birthday, and with just us five, we won't eat much. Slightly larger portions will do."

Wang Fan nodded and asked, "Any dietary restrictions?"

Shen Teng replied, "Nothing much, just Aunt Wu can't eat very spicy food, mildly spicy is okay."

Wang Fan glanced at Shen Teng in surprise but said nothing, nodding again, "Alright, understood. Please leave; I can handle it myself."

Shen Teng rolled up his sleeves, showing his not-so-muscular arm, "Brother Wang, you don't need an assistant?"

Wang Fan shook his head: "No need, it's just six dishes, easy for me."

Shen Teng left immediately, also taking Aunt Wu, who was about to help, "No need, Brother Wang can manage himself."

Ginger duck, oyster omelet, squirrel mandarin fish, chick stewed with wild herbs, and stir-fried celery and green pepper with squid.

The ingredients in the kitchen were quite common, not all sorts of mountain and sea delicacies. The most expensive ingredient was probably the two lobsters with tied claws.

Wang Fan categorized the various ingredients, and while sorting, he had already drafted a mental plan for what dishes to create.

Those two lively lobsters surely couldn't be missed, and mint-spicy stir-fried lobsters would be an excellent choice.

At that time, use Er Jingtiao peppers, which retain the chili aroma without being too spicy, making it suitable for Aunt Wu.

A meal of just six simple dishes with chicken, duck, fish, and vegetables couldn't be considered meager. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

He was genuinely surprised that the family even considered Aunt Wu's taste preferences. One look at Aunt Wu's expression showed that this wasn't just for show, but their usual practice.

Once the menu was set, he began crafting the dishes, with ginger duck being the most time-consuming, so it naturally became the first to prepare.

Ginger duck, as the name suggests, is primarily made of old ginger and duck. Wang Fan inspected both, and they had old ginger that could pull threads and red-nose duck, showing Shen's mom intended to make ginger duck.

Taking out the knife, he sliced the washed ginger into pieces with skillful ease, and then placed the slices on a board where sunlight shone.

The red-nose duck was chopped into pieces and soaked in salted, flour-water.

Using a unique method, Wang Fan pressed the duck meat to expel the blood, and under the dual function of salt and flour, the blood quickly floated out, and after several rounds, no more blood seeped out when soaked in water.

Taking a seasoning bowl, he mixed rice wine, oyster sauce, cooking wine, sugar, salt, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and black sesame oil thoroughly.

He placed a white ceramic casserole on the stove and, with a gentle fire, warmed the ginger slices, which had been slightly warmed by the sun, in the pot.

When the moisture from the ginger was further roasted out, a large half-bowl of black sesame oil was poured directly in.

As long as these three things are done right in ginger duck, the taste won't be bad: duck, old ginger, and sesame oil; these are its soul.

The ginger itself was fragrant, and black sesame oil is the champion in its category. With rising temperature, it bubbled with golden bubbles, and the sesame oil and ginger rapidly released a rich aroma.

Under the ginger's frying, it quickly curled with slightly burnt edges. Three bay leaves, two pieces of angelica, four slices of dried tangerine peel, two star anise, and one piece of cinnamon were tossed into the pot for aroma.

The spices' flavors influenced each other, finally merging into one. Even with an exhaust fan, the strong fragrance inevitably wafted out.