Chapter 42
On Ding Sha's ring finger, there was a beautiful ring, and Xiao Jun said it was an engagement ring.
In the future, there would be wedding rings, five-year anniversary rings, ten-year anniversary rings, and even fifty-year anniversary rings.
What Ding Sha desired was not the ring itself, but rather the anticipation of spending fifty years together with him.
The process of moving was a massive undertaking. Their own car, Da Zhuang's car, and the moving company's trucks were all deployed.
They labored tirelessly, moving for nearly a whole day.
It was their first time going out together in such a grand manner, and Ding Sha was so scared that she hid in his arms.
She clung tightly to Ding Sha's neck with both hands and refused to let go. Whenever Ding Sha put her down, she would start crying.
Ding Sha had no choice but to carry little Ping An around, walking back and forth, soothing him for nearly a whole day.
By dinnertime, Ding Sha's wrist was so sore that she could hardly lift the chopsticks.
Upon hearing the reason, Xiao Jun's face turned gloomy. He first fed Ding Sha her meal before retreating to the bedroom, holding Ping An and talking for a full hour, even though he wasn't sure if Ping An could understand. Only then did he reluctantly stop.
Ping An was already drifting off to sleep from listening.
Accompanying Ping An in experiencing the stress of moving were Little Cat DanHuang and her kittens, who meowed loudly while squeezed inside the cat carrier.
When they arrived at their new home, they were too afraid to come out. They stayed inside, observing for quite a while before timidly sticking out their paws to test the waters.
The interior of the shop was much more refined than their previous one. The furniture made by Uncle Wei was being gradually transported over. The kitchen could accommodate plenty of ingredients and tools, and they even had several private dining rooms. Their living area had expanded significantly as well.
Xiao Jun flipped through the calendar and set an opening day.
The winter jasmine flowers in the courtyard were blooming. Seizing the opportunity while little Ping An took his afternoon nap, Ding Sha picked up a small basket and gathered a basketful of winter jasmine flowers.
The menu for the shop hadn't been made yet, so Ding Sha thought of using the flower paper as the base for it.
Xiao Jun assisted her on the side.
Actually, there was no need for him to assist. Xiao Jun just wanted to be close to Ding Sha.
These past few days had been busy with many people around. Xiao Jun even felt like he hadn't seen Ding Sha in a long time. When everyone finally went off to attend to their own tasks, he would dawdle and run to Ding Sha's side.
Ding Sha held a piece of A4-sized white paper and joked, "In ancient times, people dyed flower paper to express their emotions and convey poetry. I'm doing it to convey food."
As she spoke, her hands kept moving. When the paper finally dried, faint yellow stars appeared sporadically at the edges or in the center, looking extremely beautiful.
Xiao Jun fetched a brush and ink, and Ding Sha first wrote down a few common dishes. Then she put the paper away, saying, "I'll write the rest another day."
Xiao Jun wanted to set off some firecrackers, but considering that they weren't allowed to set them off here, he had to abandon the idea.
On the day of the grand opening, they felt a bit nervous, but business turned out to be much better than they expected.
Many old customers came with smiles on their faces.
"I've been longing for your dishes for a long time, but I used to live far away, so it was hard to come and eat. Now, it's different. I've moved closer to your place, so I have to come and have a meal."
"I've been looking forward to it for so long, and your shop is finally open! Even if I had to come from far away, I would still come!"
"Hahaha, me too! Even if your family moves to Mars, I'll have to take a rocket to join you for a meal..."
Among them, they also welcomed a special guest.
Hu Zhilin, the editor of a gourmet magazine, came with a small gift.
"Editor Hu!" Ding Sha was quite happy to see him.
"I happened to come today. I heard from the neighbors that your family moved here, so I came to visit," Hu Zhilin looked at the baby in Ding Sha's arms.
"This is the little baby, so adorable," Hu Zhilin's eyes softened. He really liked children. "She looks like a promising child."
Which mother doesn't like others praising her child? Ding Sha happily led him to sit down and handed him today's menu.
"Mr. Hu, take a look at what you'd like to eat today?"
Hu Zhilin came for this purpose as well. He looked at the menu and said, "I came here for another interview. During this special period, we mainly work in the form of electronic magazines."
Ding Sha nodded, "Of course, you can choose whatever you like to eat. I'll call Xiao Jun out in a moment."
Hu Zhilin looked at the menu in his hand and said, "I'll have beef noodles, oil-drizzled fish, sweet and sour pork, and also a sugar cake."
Ding Sha joked, "I didn't realize you have such a sweet tooth."
"But can you finish all of these by yourself?"
"It's not just me," Hu Zhilin shook his head slightly, "My partner's student is interning with me, and she loves sweets."
"Oh, I see. I'll have the kitchen prepare them. How soon will she arrive?" Ding Sha paused.
"She'll be here soon," Hu Zhilin said.
Ding Sha tore the order sheet and handed it to Wang Wenhao, who promptly took it and started preparing the dishes.
The sugar cake can also be called sesame paste cake because it has a thick layer of sesame paste inside, making it fragrant and rich in flavor.
Mix five to six taels of water with one catty of flour to knead a relatively soft dough, making sure it's in the optimal state.
"Remember to add some oil to the dough. It will make it more fragrant and crispy when cooked," Xiao Jun, busy stir-frying, reminded Wang Wenhao to check the dough.
To everyone's surprise, Wang Wenhao made the dough very well, especially the steamed buns and pancakes, which turned out soft and delicious.
"I added it, Master," Wang Wenhao replied with a smile.
Let the dough ferment for about ten to twenty minutes.
Then roll it out into a slightly thick pancake shape and spread a thick layer of sesame paste on top.
The sauce used is Beijing-style sesame paste, which is more fragrant than pure sesame paste.
However, before making it each time, they had to ask the customers if they were allergic to peanuts.
After evenly spreading the thick sauce, sprinkle fine brown sugar on top, and finally roll it up from one side.
Roll it into a roll, wrapping the sesame paste and brown sugar inside.
Cut it into two pieces and seal the edges carefully to prevent the sauce from leaking out.
Finally, flatten the pancake into a thick disc, spread some oil on the griddle, and place the pancake on it.
Cover it and cook for a while, then flip it over until both sides become crispy, slightly charred. The pancake is ready to be served.
Cut it into small pieces, and Wang Wenhao handed a piece to Xiao Jun. "How is it, Master?"
Xiao Jun tasted it and said, "It's good."
Wang Wenhao placed the sugar cake on the serving counter with light footsteps.
When Ding Sha brought the dishes, she saw that the intern was already sitting across from Hu Zhilin.
The girl was very beautiful, and her attire exuded a sense of tastefulness.
"Wow! Sesame sugar cake! And my favorite sweet and sour pork! Brother Hu, I truly adore you!"
As Ding Sha left, she couldn't help but notice the girl's unabashed happiness.
She furrowed her brow, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Since she was Hu's student and loved one, why was she speaking to him with such an intimate and casual tone?
The two quickly finished the food on the table. Hu Zhilin settled the bill as usual and then waited for Xiao Jun's interview.
"How was the food just now?" Xiao Jun helped Ding Sha to sit down.
"It was delicious! Especially the sugar cake! It was crispy and fragrant, with a delightful sweetness!" the girl exclaimed eagerly.
Hu Zhilin had a gentle expression. "Indeed, I feel that this time the dishes were even more delicious than the last time I came."
"However, I still didn't get to taste the dishes made by the boss herself. It's a bit of a pity."
The interview proceeded quickly and pleasantly. When Ding Sha saw them off, she noticed that the girl was holding onto Hu Zhilin's sleeve, and Hu Zhilin instinctively protected her in his mannerisms.
Xiao Jun went back to talk to Wang Wenhao, while Ding Sha stood at the doorway and saw Hu Zhilin leaning down to fasten the seatbelt for the girl sitting in the passenger seat of a car not far away.
Ding Sha crossed her arms, and all her goodwill toward Hu Zhilin vanished.
"I wonder if Hu knows about his lover's knowledge..."
"She should know."
A voice from beside her sounded unfamiliar.