Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 337 - 338: The Magical Effect of the Little Wooden Fish
Cheng Dong and the others were waiting for his first-hand review, but they didn’t expect to hear these four words. It was a close call that he didn’t throw the kitchen knife at him. Shen Teng awkwardly smiled, "Well... I’m not very knowledgeable, damn it, I might just wander the world."
After saying that, he picked up his bowl again and, without caring what it was, desperately shoved it into his mouth. The mixture of lamb and carrots brought such a delightful sensation that it almost lifted him off the ground.
It could only be Boss Wang’s food that truly satisfied his taste buds!
Shen Teng felt extremely happy, as if his fatigue from moving things all day had disappeared instantly.
"Alright, let’s get to work, take the meat out and send it to the fellow villagers."
Shen Teng didn’t even spare the last date in his bowl, eating it directly. After being stewed, the date had become incredibly soft and sticky, and the fruit mixed with the flavor of the meat tasted even more fresh and delicious.
Cheng Dong and the others were already carrying the large pot to the dining area, while Wang Fan picked up a small wooden fish to find Zhuo Qianqian.
Zhuo Qianqian curiously examined the small wooden fish. She had seen it before but always assumed it was just a decorative piece.
Wang Fan said, "This small wooden fish has a calming effect when knocked. If any of the elders are in a bad mood, let them try tapping it a few times. Keeping things bottled up isn’t good for their health."
After a disaster, there’s often an epidemic; this has been an unchanging truth for thousands of years. The floodwaters churned with countless small animals perishing, so even after the waters recede, their homes can only be returned to after several rounds of disinfection, which is another form of mental torment for these elders who have never left their hometown.
Zhuo Qianqian exclaimed in surprise, "It has such a function? I hope it really works."
The first person Zhuo Qianqian thought of was Jia Fengyue.
This aunt always cheerfully helped wash vegetables to distract herself, but everything was actually kept inside.
Meal times have now formed a queuing habit, with Jia Fengyue leading Zhong Pingmei usually towards the front.
Despite the inner sadness and uncertainty, the anticipation for lunch remained, and it didn’t diminish her love for good food.
Returning to the tent to eat after getting lunch, the soft, juicy, and incredibly delicious lamb truly lived up to everyone’s expectations.
She picked out two pieces of meat and placed them in Zhong Pingmei’s bowl. The little one was growing and could eat more than adults without a problem.
The little cheeks were puffed with meat, and her shining face was covered with quite a bit of rice.
They lived in a large tent, with a total of 8 people, all of whom previously lived alone in the village. Some smaller tents were arranged for families, which were relatively tighter in space.
"The highlight of the day is this meal. I wonder how they make it so delicious."
"The lamb chops are really tender, they fall off the bone just by pushing with chopsticks, easy for someone like me who’s missing most of their teeth."
"The flavor is rich, and the soup with rice is just too delicious."
As they chatted while eating, they all paid full compliments to the food made by Wang Fan.
Jia Fengyue put down her chopsticks and curiously picked up a bag next to her, inside was a small wooden fish and a small mallet, their round shapes looking quite cute.
This was entrusted to her for safekeeping by that sweet girl, who said someone told her knocking it 100 times would bring good luck. But she was too busy and skeptical to do it herself.
But she couldn’t refuse her friend’s kindness, so she thought of finding someone to help.
The elderly tend to have more faith in such things, so Jia Fengyue readily agreed to Zhuo Qianqian’s request, thinking it was easy to knock 100 times.
"Dong..."
As soon as Jia Fengyue knocked once, the conversations in the tent abruptly ceased, except for the carefree Zhong Pingmei who continued shoveling rice, others all looked towards Jia Fengyue. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
What was that sound just now?
The crisp and melodic sound was like a water droplet falling onto a clear spring, bright and pure.
"Dong dong..."
Involuntarily, Jia Fengyue continued knocking.
With each knock, she seemed to feel her heavy heart lighten a bit.
The continuous knocking sounded like a breeze whispering through a bamboo forest, producing a gentle and pleasant rustling sound, making everyone feel calm and comfortable.
The sound of the wooden fish was free of impurities, and its clear tone seemed capable of penetrating everything, reaching the deepest part of Jia Fengyue’s heart. The sound was like a clear spring flowing through her soul, bringing peace and tranquility.
Jia Fengyue forgot the worries of the flood disaster and was immersed in the simple and pure rhythm.
The sound of the wooden fish abruptly stopped.
Jia Fengyue’s face now bore a long-lost smile, an innocent smile like a child’s.
Suddenly, she didn’t feel like knocking the wooden fish anymore, just like a child who suddenly loses interest in a toy.
She didn’t know why this happened, but her hands just didn’t want to knock anymore, defying the orders from her brain in a rebellious act.
"Strange?"
Jia Fengyue mumbled in confusion.
"What’s wrong, Fengjie?"
Lin Xuelan asked curiously, "Why aren’t you knocking anymore? What is that thing? Hearing its sound really lifts the mood."
"Yeah, I feel the same."
"Me too, it’s like someone scrubbed my brain with a detergent."
Jia Fengyue explained, "This was given by Tianmei for me to keep. She said knocking it 100 times brings good luck. I’ve knocked it 50 times and couldn’t knock anymore. Do you want to try?"
While "Tianmei" was a generic compliment, here it specifically referred to Zhuo Qianqian, whom everyone liked for her sweet smile.
Lin Xuelan was somewhat excited, "Sure, let me try."
She said as she took the small mallet Jia Fengyue handed her and tried knocking it.
The same clear and soft sound echoed, possessing the same calming magic.
Lin Xuelan’s mood improved with each knock on the wooden fish, but after 30 something knocks, she too stopped.
Like Jia Fengyue, she suddenly lost interest in the wooden fish toy.
Lin Xuelan marveled, "It’s not easy to get good luck! I only knocked 30 something times before losing interest. It’s fascinating."
Her words piqued the interest of others, eager to try, and Lin Xuelan handed the small mallet to the person next to her.
"Dong dong..."
This time, only twenty-something knocks.
"Dong dong..."
Stopped after just over ten knocks.
What is going on?
"Dong..."
After just one knock, Zhong Pingmei didn’t want to continue.
Seven elders with an average age of 60 and a little girl gathered around the small wooden fish, finding it extraordinary.
Even more remarkable was that at that moment, their faces bore pure expressions of curiosity, without a trace of their usual sorrows.
