I'm the Culinary God-Chapter 679 - 310: The holiday is coming, and netizens from other places group together to sign in to Beijing! Encounter on the grassland! [Subscribe please]_2
Now that fans from other places were coming, it was time to let them experience the joy their parents felt eating roasted chicken on the green-skinned trains of their era.
Seeing the lively discussion in the group, Lin Xu sent a message: "There will be roasted chicken for National Day. You all can bring some for the road when you leave Beijing."
This message made everyone in the group pause.
"Who changed their nickname to ’Boss Lin’ to make us laugh again?"
"No way, it’s really Boss Lin! Oh my god, my idol has parachuted into the fan group!"
"Are we really having roasted chicken, Boss Lin?"
"Then I’ll cancel my high-speed train ticket and switch to a regular train. Eating roasted chicken on a high-speed train just doesn’t feel right."
"I’m switching too. Brothers, I’m from Hui. Anyone on the same route?"
"I’m so looking forward to Boss Lin’s roasted chicken! Tearing it apart on the train... won’t the kid in the next seat cry himself hoarse?"
Just as he was watching everyone discuss, Shen Guofu and his family of three came upstairs.
"Xubao, is there anything to eat? I’m starving after all that shopping."
So he didn’t come home after work because he went shopping? Lin Xu thought.
Lin Xu said, "Yes, there’s a pot of leftover chestnut braised pork. I’ll bring it over. Later, let’s also make a Stone Cooked Chrysanthemum. We can have Dad and Mom help with the tasting and offer some suggestions."
Shen Guofu’s mouth split into a grin upon hearing this.
My son-in-law sure knows how to talk... Wait a second, chestnut braised pork?
He glanced at the dishes on the table, and his eyes immediately widened.
Well, I’ll be! Isn’t this just Braised Pork Belly with chestnuts added?
Han Shuzhen knew Shen Guofu hadn’t insisted on eating at Lin Ji for any good reason, so she couldn’t help but remind him, "You said you were going to eat vegetarian."
"Aren’t chestnuts vegetables? Look how vegetarian this dish is!" Shen Guofu retorted.
Fine, keep arguing with me, Han Shuzhen thought. You better bounce on that dance machine for two hours tonight before you even think of getting off!
Lin Xu put down his bowl, went to the small kitchen to get the sugar-fried chestnuts that were still slightly hot, and brought them out. "I made these this afternoon. Try them first. I’ll go to the kitchen to bring out the dishes."
Upon seeing the sugar-fried chestnuts, Shen Baobao immediately grabbed a handful. "WAHAHA! I’ve been craving these all afternoon! My friends even deliberately sent photos to the group chat. I almost skipped out of work early to come eat them."
The chestnuts had been scored with a cross-cut, cracking the shells and making them easy to peel.
She peeled a fragrant chestnut kernel and offered it to her mother. "Here you go, Director Han. Let me feed you."
Han Shuzhen pushed her daughter’s hand away with distaste. "You haven’t even washed your hands. Eat it yourself."
Shen Jiayue: "..."
Their mother-daughter bond fractured once more!
She popped the chestnut into her mouth and, while chewing, went to wash her hands at the sink by the kitchen entrance.
The family of three washed their hands one by one and sat down in the booth to start peeling and eating chestnuts.
Soon, the chestnut braised pork and a freshly made Stone Cooked Chrysanthemum were brought out.
The Chrysanthemum still needed to cook for a while longer, so Shen Guofu could only "reluctantly" eat the chestnut braised pork.
He picked up a plump piece of pork belly, popped it into his mouth, and said, chewing with relish as his mouth slicked with oil, "I didn’t expect to have to wait. This dish isn’t quite perfect yet! My heart was all aflutter with anticipation for the greens, but now I can only fret. Let me have another piece. This is so agonizing..."
Shen Baobao glanced at the meat in the pot. "Dad, stop your ’agonizing.’ If you keep at it, you’ll finish all the meat!"
Shen Guofu cleared his throat. "I’ve already ordered a Bentley Continental GT, the hardtop, high-spec version, no less..."
He hadn’t even finished speaking when Shen Baobao pushed the pot of chestnut braised pork closer to him. "Dad, I suddenly feel like you’re a poet. Continue your melancholy. Maybe our family will produce a Bei Dao or a Hai Zi."
Shen Guofu picked up another piece of meat. "Don’t dismiss it; it’s actually possible. Back when I was in fourth grade, my teacher praised my essays, saying they were like poetry..."
Just as he was about to launch into a boast, Han Shuzhen, who was beside him, couldn’t help but interject, "You mean by breaking one sentence into several lines, right?"
Shen Guofu: "..."
Honey, it’s no fun when you undermine me like that, he thought.
A few minutes later, Lin Xu came over and lifted the lid.
The delicious aroma of the Stone Cooked Chrysanthemum made Shen Guofu’s spirits lift.
Damn, can vegetables really be this delicious?
He didn’t even mind that it was hot, picking up a stalk of Chrysanthemum and popping it into his mouth. The crisp texture and fresh, savory taste astonished this meat-loving big boss.
He’d never imagined vegetables could be this tasty.
Lin Xu said, "On this trip to Yinzhou, you should be able to eat wild chestnuts from the mountains. You might even get to try chestnut jelly. It’s very fragrant; the mountain folk are especially skilled at preparing such delicacies."
Hearing this, Han Shuzhen’s curiosity was piqued. "Then we must try them when we get there. Xu, are you sure you’re not coming back with us?"
Shen Guofu took a mouthful of rice and chimed in, "Why don’t you come back with us for a look?"
If they had asked before the meal, Lin Xu might have hesitated. But he had just decided to make roasted chicken for the holiday.
I’ll go back next time, he thought. After National Day, I’ll take a few days off to go back, enjoy Mom’s dumplings, and experience the autumn scenery of the local scenic area.
「Two days later, the National Day holiday officially began.」
Shen Guofu and his wife got up early, took their prepared luggage and gifts, and Lin Xu drove them in his car to the high-speed train station, as they planned to take the high-speed train to Yinzhou.
Yinzhou was an essential stop on the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed rail line, making it an easy trip by train.
At the station, after watching his in-laws enter the business class VIP lounge, Lin Xu and Shen Baobao drove back home.
"I’m going to go back and sleep some more. I’m dead tired..." Shen Baobao yawned.
Last night, she had painstakingly tried to beat "Sheep Game Level 2" until two in the morning. Eventually, she gave up on the depressing game, deciding to stick to "Protect the Carrots" from now on and swore off such viral games forever.
