Brother Nan's noodle shop was large, and the layout was quite different from that of a typical small noodle shop.
Just inside the door was the ordering counter, which also served as the cash register. Now, payment was made before dining. There was also a stainless-steel table here, usually set with marinated eggs, pickles, and baked wheat cakes; at noon, it also offered fast food.
Further inside, there was an actual hallway that led to a very large dining area.
The kitchen was right next to the hallway.
The kitchen was much larger than those of ordinary noodle shops. Zhou Li remembered that back when he was in junior high, Brother Nan's place already sold side dishes—the small plates that could be paired with noodles, such as smashed green beans with minced pork, steamed pork with rice flour, braised beef, and so on. Now, in addition to the side dishes, Brother Nan's place also offered fast food at lunchtime, and one could order home-style dishes as well.
Usually, when Zhou Li came for noodles, he would order his meal and receive a number card, then go in to find a vacant spot to sit down, place the card on the table, and soon, a young apprentice would bring the noodles over to him.
While this model was common, in Yan City, only Brother Nan's place operated this way.
But today was destined to be different.
Zhou Li stood at the kitchen doorway, watching Brother Nan bustling about inside, feeling a sense of novelty.
"What are you staring at?" Brother Nan glanced back at him during a spare moment.
"You can cook noodles too."
"It isn't difficult, just preparing some seasoning. Watch it a few times and you'll learn. The hardest part is the meat sauce; even the apprentices have a tough time with it." Brother Nan spoke as she worked, her hair done up in a bun. "After I finish, I still have to wash this pot, ugh, what a hassle..."
"I'll help you wash it."
"You're sensible!"
Brother Nan quickly scooped the noodles out of the water.
Next to her, two large bowls were filled with meat sauce: one bowl contained the mixed sauce used for Zhou Li's hot pepper meat sauce noodles, and the other was beef.
A silent understanding passed between them.
Then Brother Nan glared at him again. "Aren't you going to come and get yours?"
Zhou Li then walked inside.
「A minute later.」
"How is it?"
"A bit firmer than usual."
"Yo!" Brother Nan regarded Zhou Li with new appreciation. "You can taste that? Not bad, not bad."
"I like it firm."
"The noodles we usually sell are cooked to a middle ground."
"Hmm."
A particularly robust Big Orange cat appeared from nowhere, looked at Zhou Li and then at Huai Xu, and came over. It didn't jump onto the table like Tuanzi would, but just sat neatly on the floor by the table leg, gazing at the people at the table.
Brother Nan tossed an egg yolk to it and casually asked Zhou Li, "Where's your Tuanzi?"
"At home. She doesn't like the cold."
"Does your family like cats?"
"They do. Aunt Jiang and Xiao Shuang both like cats a lot, especially Xiao Shuang. He's crazy about Tuanzi." Zhou Li paused, then added, "I'd only been back for half a day and he was already mesmerized by Tuanzi."
"And your dad?"
"He pretends he doesn't like her, but last night when I went out to use the toilet, he was watching TV with Tuanzi curled up in his arms."
"That Demon has a few tricks up her sleeve," Brother Nan nodded.
"Hmm."
But it wasn't just a few tricks; it was much more than that.
After eating the noodles, they cleaned up the pots and pans, dried everything nicely, and locked the door on the way out. They noticed the closed-for-business notice had been blown partially off by the wind. Brother Nan pressed the lifted corner back into place, smoothing it out. She then took the initiative to carry the heavier milk for Zhou Li.
"Oh, you even brought two bottles of alcohol."
"Aunt Jiang said to bring them."
"Oh!!"
Brother Nan smiled broadly; she remembered the tobacco and alcohol Zhou Li had brought for her birthday last year. She was amused. It hadn't been that long, but thinking back, it felt like a long time ago.
At that moment, Zhou Li remarked, "Aunt Jiang probably thinks I'm going to your place for the New Year."
Brother Nan looked up and laughed heartily, a simple and honest laugh.
The yard also had a narrow pathway. It was so narrow that Zhou Li probably couldn't even drive through it, but Brother Nan drove as if she were born to it. After getting through the somewhat congested city area and crossing the river, she picked up speed.
She chuckled and got onto the highway.
Zhou Li didn't say anything.
A little over an hour later, they reached Xiaoping Town, and just a bit further on was Mingjiu Mountain.
Brother Nan continued to drive forward but suddenly blurted out, "Are these people really so bored they have nothing better to do?"
"What happened?" Zhou Li asked.
"Nothing much."
"Oh."
Zhou Li glanced to the side.
At least a dozen people were leisurely walking along the roadside, led by a young person holding a packet of chicken essence. Among them, to Zhou Li's surprise, was Brother Nan's mother. Zhou Li guessed these dozen or so people had probably come out to buy chicken essence.