"Phew... fish prepared this way is so delicious."
At the booth seat by the kitchen doorway, Shen Jiayue held her bowl of rice. Following Lin Xu’s instructions, she picked up a piece of mushroom, ham, and fish all at once and brought it to her mouth.
The fish was tender, the ham savory, and the mushrooms richly aromatic. The flavors and textures of the three ingredients blended perfectly, enhanced by the subtle saltiness of the Steamed Fish Sauce and the fragrance of peanut oil.
It was simply perfect!
The only regret was that it was a bit too hot straight from the steamer, so she had to blow on it a couple of times before eating.
With the delicious fish, she quickly ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice. Utterly satisfying.
"This has to be the work of the head chef from the Fishing Platform’s State Banquet. The culinary skill is truly excellent. Thankfully, I didn’t go home for dinner today, or I would have missed out on such a tasty delicacy."
Chen Yan’s face was full of relief. She took a bite of the delicious, fragrant chicken, then a piece of spicy and appetizing dry-fried chicken, and finally a spoonful of the Jade Soup, which was said to be both beautifying and slimming.
Blissful! In cold weather, this is exactly how one should eat.
"Now that you’re moving, what are you planning to do with the apartment complex out back? Are you going to sell it to recoup capital or rent it out for income?"
While enjoying the delicious meal, Chen Yan suddenly remembered the apartment they had transferred the ownership of a few days ago and asked curiously.
If they intended to sell it, she could certainly spread the word. Never mind that the residential complex behind looked a little run-down; the apartments there were still in high demand because it was in the Haidian Secondary School district. Haidian Secondary School is one of the top five schools in Beijing. Countless parents would do anything to send their children there.
Shen Baobao took a large gulp of her Jade Soup and then said, "Lin Xu said it was Master’s apartment, so we can’t sell it. We don’t plan on renting it out either. If it got ruined, it would just make us upset looking at it."
"So what will you do? Just leave it empty and neglected?"
"Not exactly. Yuanyuan is coming to Beijing soon; she can live there. Also, Director Zeng seems not too satisfied with the TV station’s dormitories. If she’s willing, she can move over here too and keep Yuanyuan company."
The two-bedroom apartment, though it might get a bit warm on the top floor, was great for drying things. Especially on sunny days, you could take all the quilts and bedding to the rooftop to dry. For someone who loved airing out their bedding, it was incredibly tempting.
"Being so close to the shop, you can come for a meal anytime. Never mind Zeng Xiaoxiong; I’d want to move in myself."
Chen Yan had heard about Chen Yuanyuan before. Originally, she had wanted to commiserate with her cousin-in-law’s cousin over their shared single status.
But now...
Chen Yan subconsciously tugged at her trouser leg.
HAHA, I’m about to say goodbye to being single! Although it’s not like with Director Yan and Professor Cui, where nothing has been openly acknowledged, I’m not that pretentious. I would never drag things out for twenty years. When Cousin Chen Yuanyuan comes over, I can also offer my blessings as someone who’s been through it. I’m actually quite looking forward to it.
"When is your brother-in-law’s cousin coming? I’ll go to the station to pick her up then."
Shen Baobao looked at Yan Bao with surprise. "You? You don’t even know her. Why would she get into your car if you went to pick her up?"
"Just share her WeChat with both of us; that’ll work. We both have the surname Chen, and we’re both your respective cousins. It feels like fate! I can’t wait to chat with her."
"Tch, you’re just looking to show off your boyfriend, right? Let me tell you, Yuanyuan isn’t as pretentious as you. She’s very straightforward and might find someone soon after she arrives in Beijing. Then we’ll see what you’ve got to brag about."
Chen Yan was at a loss for words.
To become the first cousin to find a partner, it seems I need to hurry up. The next time that young police officer comes to Beijing on a business trip, I’ll have a good chat with him. I’ll confess everything: I’m not a chef, just an ordinary young woman with an annual income of five million yuan, three properties to my name, and a face I’d generously rate 98 out of 100.
「Before long, Shen Guofu came upstairs carrying two bottles of Wuliangye.」
Seeing his daughter and niece finishing their meal, he asked curiously, "Where’s Lin Xu?"
"He’s busy in the kitchen," Shen Baobao replied. "He said you can’t leave the stove unattended."
"Make sure you two don’t finish off the fish. Save some for him," Shen Guofu said.
The two cousins exchanged glances. After Shen Guofu went to chat with Geng Lishan by the window, Shen Baobao muttered, "Sometimes I really wonder if I was switched at birth with Lin Xu. My parents are super good to him..."
"Are you silly?" Chen Yan replied. "If Uncle and Auntie are good to your brother-in-law, then he’ll be good to you. If they looked down on him, do you think he’d be nice to you?"
「In the kitchen, Lin Xu, who was standing guard by the stove, was also busy.」
He took the small glass jars used for serving snacks in the shop, filled them with the cooled ginger candy, and sealed them. Once filled and sealed, a jar of this winter essential, a stomach-warming snack, was ready.
Lin Xu placed a seal sticker next to each lid, then arranged the jars on a pushcart and wheeled them outside.
"Do you two have anything to do later?"
"No, what’s up, Lin Xu?" Shen Baobao asked. "Need us to do something?"
"Yeah, brother-in-law," Chen Yan added. "If there’s anything, just say it. Don’t be shy."
Lin Xu said, "Use a delivery app to send this ginger candy to our relatives. Let everyone have a taste and help promote it a bit. Also, keep about twenty jars for Brother Qiang and other regulars of the shop."
It was rush hour, and most roads in Beijing were jammed. If he tried to drive and deliver them house by house, it would take until midnight. Comparatively, using a delivery service made more sense.
The reason for this large-scale distribution was Lin Xu’s plan to make ginger candy a key product in the future.