Chapter 960: Chapter 403: Han Shuzhen: I Don’t Want This Daughter for Even a Single Day! [Extra for Last Month’s 4000 Monthly Tickets]

"Wow, Lin Xu really made the giant-style Mending Meat Pie, huh?"

Chen Yan felt she had eaten too much pie and other dishes at lunch. She decided to sip a bit of porridge in the afternoon to prevent winter weight gain from sneaking up on her.

But as soon as she went upstairs, she couldn’t resist the aroma of the Xianghe Meat Pie on the table.

The pie smelled rich, its crust was a crispy golden yellow, with a glossy layer of oil on top, and the cut revealed a juicy rather than dry filling.

With that presentation, not eating three big slices would be a disservice to Lin Xu’s cooking skills.

She sat down next to Shen Baobao. Next to her, Shen Guofu was already on his third slice.

"So delicious, it clears my previous psychological shadow of eating Xianghe Meat Pie..."

Juice was seeping from the pie’s cut side. To eat it, one had to hold it up, biting horizontally made the experience even more thrilling. Just as she was enjoying it, Han Shuzhen beside her spoke up:

"Earlier? How long ago was this? Ever since coming back from Yinzhou haven’t you been eating low-fat meals? Guofu, you haven’t been sneaking off to buy pies during work, have you?"

Shen Guofu blinked and quickly amended his statement:

"That was quite a while ago, so long ago I can’t recall if it was spring or summer."

Han Shuzhen took a sip of millet pumpkin porridge:

"How much is the meat pie per kilo then?"

"Eighteen yuan fifty per kilo, I bought two kilos, thirty-seven yuan exact... cough cough, I got used to doing small business when I was younger and became wary of being poor, so I remember every penny spent very clearly."

Han Shuzhen saw through Shen Guofu’s feeble excuse with a single look.

Trying to secretly eat pies, we’ll settle accounts when you get home!

The look made Shen Guofu shiver all over. He coughed twice, intending to say apologetic words, but upon noticing Tan Yajun secretly watching the scene, he shoved a large piece of meat pie into his mouth.

Getting scolded is just that.

Better to eat and fill up first.

At worst, I’ll sleep in the study tonight, it’s not like I haven’t done it before.

Sleeping alone on a big bed, it’s downright comfortable.

After finishing the meat pies, Lin Xu brought them all out, and sat on the other side of Shen Baobao. He didn’t eat pie but picked up a piece of pickled fish instead.

After the last fishing trip, he made some pickled fish, originally intending to try them himself and handle the remaining crucian carp. Unexpectedly, when he started eating, Old Yu was so thrilled that he bought all the remaining pickled fish.

Upon hearing that the store had made pickled fish, Old Sun immediately ordered thirty pieces after learning they were sold out, and other old neighbors also expressed that they hadn’t tasted this old flavor for many years, urging Lin Xu to make more.

So, under the strong request of the old neighbors, the store restocked the pickled fish.

The sales of pickled fish were average because young people didn’t particularly like them, and there weren’t many diners. However, the middle-aged and elderly patrons were very satisfied with this dish.

Several neighbors, even having eaten at the store, would pack two more to bring home and enjoy with their reserved grain alcohol.

Unlike the previous pickled fish, the current ones were made with medium-sized crucian carps around three liang in weight.

They had enough meat without being too big to absorb flavors.

At this moment, the pickled fish was slightly cool, its juices restrained, and the fish was firm, biting from the fish tail was crispy, and the slightly chewy fish meat released its juices with every chew.

The stew aroma, the fresh fish, the crispy fish scales, the soft fish bones, and a hint of spice all blended together, making it a grand indulgence.

After finishing the fish, a slight sweetness lingered in the mouth along with a hint of spicy mala.

Even those who don’t drink would want a small sip for the thrill.

Eating forward from the fish tail, the more you eat, the chewier the meat becomes, and the fragrant crispness of the fish scales intensifies.

But the most iconic part is around the fish’s backbone.

The flesh is firm, the fish skin thick, combined with the whole backbone, biting into it presents a variety of textures in the mouth, instantly drowning one in the deliciousness.

"Lin Xu’s pickled fish is really good, prompting you to drink an extra two liang of alcohol."

Tan Yajun ate a piece of meat pie to fill his stomach, put his chopsticks down, held a pickled fish in one hand, and a wine glass in the other, embodying the spirited youth of an old man.

After downing one pickled fish, he wiped his hands, picked up his phone to send a message in the childhood friends group:

"Make sure to order pickled fish when you come to Lin Ji recently, it’s just like how it tasted in childhood, no, even better than back then. Lin Xu’s skills are truly remarkable."

After sending the message, he took a picture to share in the group without any guidance.

The formerly silent group suddenly became lively:

"I haven’t even clocked off yet, Old Tan, you’re up to no good."

"We just got notified about overtime until eight tonight, and Old Tan is acting like a youngster enticing us."

"I’m so hungry my chest is stuck to my back, forget pickled fish, just seeing ’Lin Ji’ makes me drool, who can resist such temptation, oh my!"

"Here’s the deal, we punish Old Tan to treat us this weekend, everyone gets a bottle, can’t leave until it’s finished."

"Alright, alright, no problem, Old Tan, what say you, don’t chicken out!"

Tan Yajun laughed heartily and replied in the group:

"I’m booking the table now, whoever doesn’t come is a coward!"

Because of Tan Yajun’s provocation, the previously dormant group started buzzing with activity.

During the conversation, Shen Guofu shared a bunch of photos of tonight’s dinner, showcasing Mending Meat Pie, Xianghe Meat Pie, Five-Spiced Pickled Fish, Tiger Skin Chicken Feet, crisp pickles, salted soybeans, chilled bitter chrysanthemum salad...