The Fatty hummed a tune as he drove, and Ye Tiancheng watched the scenery flash by, feeling exceptionally cheerful. It was truly a good day, undeniably so, and the journey ahead seemed destined to be smooth.
The group was already in good spirits, but then, halfway through their drive, they spotted a restaurant by the roadside. It was the very iron pot stew place Ye Tiancheng had intended to try before, but circumstances had prevented it.
"Brother Ye, look, this place called 'Little Biscuit Iron Pot Stew' looks good, doesn't it?"
"Then let's eat here. I've heard iron pot stew is a local specialty. Since we're here, we should try some of the local flavors."
Lin Xue remained silent, her usual icy demeanor unchanged. However, whenever Ye Tiancheng spoke, there was no need for further discussion; Lin Xue would generally agree.
"Xue'er, eat more later. You've been using your spiritual energy to scan the surroundings all along. You must be hungry. I can't mistreat you, or others will think I'm not good to my disciple."
"I understand, Master. No one would dare say that. I'll eat more this time."
Afterward, the three entered the iron pot stew restaurant. This establishment, named "Little Biscuit Iron Pot Stew," had a unique characteristic: they would spread the kneaded dough along the sides of the pot, and as it heated, the biscuits would cook.
Adding some vermicelli to the stew made it even more delicious. The best part was the vermicelli, complemented by the stewed goose and the biscuits, creating an exceptionally tasty meal that made one want to eat more.
After a hearty meal, they continued their journey, heading towards Meihua Town with the setting sun. It was a delightful place. Though the town wasn't large,
Due to its proximity to the sea, the climate was pleasant, and the people appeared warm and welcoming. One could see happiness radiating from them. The fact that they were out and about on such a cold day clearly indicated their prosperity. Otherwise, their faces wouldn't be beaming with smiles. These common folk lived the most genuine lives, not pretending to be happy for others.
"Brother Ye, this is truly a wonderful place. Let's find a small inn and settle down first. I just heard someone mention a good inn here, clean and inexpensive. Let's get two rooms."
"See if there are any suites. It's generally better if we're all together. We need to stick together now. If Ouyang Xinuo makes a move, he could catch us off guard, and the situation could become quite dire."
Ye Tiancheng's reasoning was sound, and Fatty immediately agreed. When they went to inquire at the small inn, the proprietress, a woman with a naturally loud voice, responded with booming clarity, though not out of aggression.
"Little fatty, do you think this is a five-star hotel? You're asking for a suite, you've confused me. Are you trying to amuse yourself at my expense?"
"I truly didn't mean it that way. I just thought there might be a suite here, so I casually asked."
Faced with such a loud woman, Fatty felt a sense of trepidation, and for once, he spoke like a meek lamb.
"Alright, young man, don't be scared. I just have a loud voice; I mean no harm. You said you're two men and one woman, right? I'll get you adjacent rooms. Don't worry, as long as it's through me, Sister will take good care of you."
After speaking, the woman led Fatty to see the inn's rooms. It turned out the recommendation was indeed good. Each room cost only 80 yuan per night, and they were quite spacious. The beds were soft, and it seemed to be a high-end option for this small town.
Fatty promptly booked the inn and chatted happily with the proprietress, who asked Fatty to call her Sister Fang.
"You probably haven't had dinner yet, have you? I can recommend a very delicious restaurant. Don't worry, I have no family ties to them, nor am I expecting a commission. I simply think that place, Man Chun Yuan, is exceptionally tasty. Not only are the portions generous, but they are also very affordable."
The iron pot stew from noon had been fully digested. As night fell, it was time for new culinary experiences, so Fatty immediately decided to go for a good meal. The journey had been bumpy, and now that they had settled down in Meihua Town, they should have a feast.
Fatty finalized everything and went to meet Ye Tiancheng, who had already parked the car. They could park in the underground garage if they were staying at the inn.
"Brother Ye, let's go to Man Chun Yuan for dinner. I heard their home-style cooking is delicious."
"Alright, it's settled then. I know you, little Fatty, are the best at eating and drinking; you never shortchange your palate."
With that, Fatty led Lin Xue and Ye Tiancheng to Man Chun Yuan. The criterion for judging a restaurant's quality is often the crowd. As soon as they entered, they found it packed. The people inside seemed to speak with loud voices, and the cacophony that greeted them was almost deafening.
"Brother Ye, the people here are so different from those we've met before. It's quite interesting. That proprietress, Sister Fang, was particularly enthusiastic. Despite her loud voice, she was quite genuine."
Fatty came to this conclusion after seeing the menu. The dishes were drawn on the wall, making ordering from the pictures more intuitive and giving the impression that one wouldn't make a bad choice, as everything was visible, unlike things that required guesswork.
"See, they have mackerel dumplings here. That looks good, let's try it. And this spicy shrimp. Since we're near the sea, it should be quite fresh. And a whole basin of shrimp for only 40 yuan. Honestly, I haven't seen such a price for a plate of shrimp in the city; it would usually be 80 to 100 yuan or more. This is definitely a special circumstance; it's not usually this cheap."
"Fatty, look, there are two special dishes there. Order both. Since we're here, let's really savor the specialties. The iron pot stew we had at noon was good, which indicates that the food here is indeed delicious."
Fatty took the initiative to order some dry-stirred horse sausage and thin noodles, among other dishes. In total, they ordered over ten dishes. Knowing Ye Tiancheng's appetite, and considering he was in a phase where he needed to nourish his body, they couldn't be stingy and should eat as much as possible.
When the table was laden with dishes, even Fatty, who was usually confident, had to admit that he might have ordered too much. The portions were unprecedentedly large. The iron pot stew, at least, was served in a pot, but these were clearly plates, and they were ridiculously huge. Especially the plate of fried mushrooms; Fatty swore he had never seen such large fried mushrooms in his life. But it was good, twenty-eight yuan for such a large portion of fried mushrooms. The three of them could probably be full from just this one dish if they were normal people. Unfortunately, they were not.
"You can tell you're outsiders. Eat more. You'll never forget the food at my restaurant; it's super delicious, and your money is well spent."
The waiter was truly a natural conversationalist, exhibiting what might be called social confidence. He could chat easily with strangers. This was a new experience for Ye Tiancheng, but he admired it. If he could reach such a level one day, it would be a great asset in business dealings.
Once all the dishes were served, the group began to eat. It had to be said that while they initially came to this unfamiliar place to search for something, they were quickly captivated by the local cuisine. They even gained a brief understanding of the local customs and traditions, which gave them the illusion that they were on vacation. This was also good; at least it was relaxing. Why make themselves miserable? Even when searching for something, they could find joy in the process; there was no need to be so tragic.
They had a very satisfying meal and slept soundly afterward. The quietness was particularly noteworthy. Despite the loud voices of the locals, they possessed a certain level of consideration; they would never disturb others while they were resting. Therefore, they slept very well that night, and their moods naturally brightened considerably.
"I slept so well. I haven't felt this refreshed and anticipatory in a long time."
Ye Tiancheng stretched and yawned naturally, not out of sleepiness, but because he suddenly felt as if he could even smell the warmth of the sunlight. This was truly a place suitable for retirement; the food was delicious and inexpensive. Ye Tiancheng genuinely considered buying a house here to come and vacation whenever he had nothing else to do.
"Master, I also slept very well. This bed is so comfortable. Perhaps I'm used to the wooden plank beds in the log cabins, but this slight improvement has made me feel much better. All the gloom in my heart has been swept away."
As the master and disciple were exchanging their experiences, they were pulled away by Fatty.
"I heard there's a delicious breakfast place here. We absolutely must try it. We don't know when we'll get to experience such delicious food again, so we must try our fill."
The steamed bun shop, called "Old Man's Steamed Buns," looked dilapidated from the outside but held hidden treasures within. Early in the morning, Fatty had gone to chat with Sister Fang. She had already given him a recommendation, mentioning a very popular breakfast spot, Old Man's Steamed Buns, where the buns were particularly large and cost only 80 cents each. Considering the current prices, it was practically a giveaway. Anyone would exclaim that these buns were incredibly worth it.
Moreover, there was a steamed bun with dried sausage filling, which Ye Tiancheng had never tried before. After tasting it, he was utterly amazed. It was exceptionally delicious. It seemed the dried sausage was made from pork, but after processing, it had a special flavor that made it irresistible. After eating one, he craved another. Before leaving, Ye Tiancheng even bought a few to take with him. The shop owner had mentioned that the filling was best eaten hot.
The people here were very honest; they wouldn't cheat people for money. They would even kindly offer advice. Despite the owner's warning, Ye Tiancheng still bought five steamed buns, intending to heat them up later.
"Brother Ye, you are truly a foodie. You'd do anything for food. I am truly impressed."