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Chapter 453: Chapter 311 Best Method
Geng Lu struggled to resist the urge to swallow her saliva. Why did it smell so good?
Xue Yuantong’s cooking was far more fragrant than her mother’s.
Just as Xue Chuchu put down a large plate, Xue Yuantong brought over another one, also filled with crayfish. There were too many shrimp to fit on just one plate.
Geng Lu realized that she should follow to the kitchen to help serve the dishes, while Jiang Ning sat on the square stool like a lord.
Xue Chuchu brought out another dish—chickpea pancakes. Well, a small portion, just half a chicken.
10 jin of shrimp sounded imposing, but in reality, there was very little meat, maybe only a couple of pounds. If we’re talking about filling up four people, it definitely wouldn’t be enough.
Especially since Xue Yuantong and Xue Chuchu had hearty appetites.
Looking at the chickpea pancakes on the table, Jiang Ning smiled knowingly. He remembered last year, the first time he had eaten at Xue Yuantong’s house, Aunt Gu had made this dish.
Geng Lu brought out a small plate at last. It was stir-fried green beans with shredded pork, enticingly green. Just looking at it, you could tell it would be crisp and delicious.
Xue Yuantong announced, "Spicy crayfish, chickpea pancakes, flat bean pork shreds, all here!"
"Too hot, too hot, I want Sprite!"
Today’s cooking was done in a clay pot; use of the clay pot in this weather made it exceptionally hot.
Jiang Ning hadn’t lowered the temperature in the kitchen for the sake of a better lunch experience.
Xue Chuchu set out several small dishes with spices for dipping the shrimp meat, which would elevate the flavors.
She then took out some tissues and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Xue Yuantong lifted up a chilled bottle of Sprite, twisted the cap off with force, and poured herself a glass.
She chugged it. The cold fizz extinguished the heat, and she felt so comfortable she nearly ascended to heaven.
"Woo, that’s so refreshing. What could be better than an ice-cold Sprite on a hot day?"
She sat on the low stool, legs splayed out, too comfortable to want to move.
Jiang Ning hoisted a large watermelon.
Xue Chuchu said, "I’ll get you a knife to cut the melon."
Jiang Ning, "No need, there’s nowhere to cut."
The four dishes plus small plates and cups had almost taken up all the space on the table.
"Ah, so you’ll go to the kitchen to cut it?"
Before Xue Chuchu could finish speaking, Jiang Ning used his hand in place of a knife, chopping down to split the watermelon open.
With a casual twist of his hand, he broke the watermelon into two halves, the fresh red flesh exposed and dripping, sweetening the air instantly.
Xue Chuchu’s expression was surprised, amazed by his skill.
Xue Yuantong set down her cup, the bottom hitting the table with a "bang."
"Jiang Ning, I want some melon."
Then Xue Chuchu watched as Jiang Ning simply broke off a slice of watermelon, as smoothly as if it had been cut with a knife.
She was perplexed; how had he managed that?
Jiang Ning handed a slice to Xue Yuantong and gave Geng Lu and Xue Chuchu each a piece as well.
Geng Lu took a bite. It was cool and sweet—not just on her tongue but seemingly seeping into her heart. After eating a piece, her tiredness from peeling shrimp that morning seemed to dissipate a little.
"So good!" Geng Lu exclaimed.
Xue Chuchu opened her small mouth and took a taste. She murmured softly,
"The smoke and dust of the world go away as it slides down the throat, making a sound like ice and snow as it bites between the teeth."
Upon hearing this verse, Geng Lu looked at her differently, as if asking, ’Why are you so outstanding?’
Geng Lu wanted to follow Xue Chuchu’s lead and elegantly praise the watermelon’s deliciousness with a line of poetry, but after searching her mind, she couldn’t find the right words. Finally, she choked out,
"This melon is really tasty."
While Geng Lu’s family condition wasn’t exactly wealthy in Yuzhou’s urban area, they had two houses—a small rental storefront and a car, which put them above the average.
However, she had never in her life tasted a watermelon as delicious as the one today.
Geng Lu enthusiastically finished off her slice of watermelon and just as she did, Jiang Ning handed her another piece.
Geng Lu was overjoyed, "Jiang Ning, you have some."
"I’m having some," Jiang Ning said.
This watermelon came from a high-quality seed sought out by Shao Shuangshuang, which they planted in Hu Qi Mountain and then soaked in Cold Pool before consuming.
Not only was the taste and sweetness perfect, but it also had great benefits for the body, like relieving fatigue, beautifying the skin, cooling down and quenching thirst.
Geng Lu photographed the melon with her phone and sent it to her mother to prove she was having fun, and then casually forwarded it to the group chat.
Her classmates were quite active in the group chat, especially Dan Kaiquan. Ever since Bai Yuxia had sent a message, he wished he could sleep in the group chat 24/7, just to wait for Bai Yuxia to appear again.
Waiting a thousand years for a moment of glory.
Wang Longlong: "This melon ain’t bad."
Hu Jun had been unbanned, and he said, "It’s okay. With melons, the ones from somebody else’s garden always taste better." 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Guo Kunnan: "?? Brother Jun, what do you mean by that?"
Hu Jun said, "I used to never buy melons. When I wanted to eat some, I just went to the melon fields with the village kids and grabbed a few."
(Dan Xiao was observing quietly from underwater.)
Dan Kaiquan: "I’ve done that too, but around our area, the melon field owners are strict. Got nearly caught several times."
"There used to be stories about people getting their legs broken for stealing melons."
Guo Kunnan: "Stealing melons is not too bad, at most just a few. Some people are really nasty—they’re all about vandalism."
After chatting for a while, Dan Kaiquan posted a picture of a big pot of bone soup.
Wang Longlong: "Wow, Brother Quan, you’re eating well!"
Dan Kaiquan: "The sports meeting is next Monday. I need to strengthen myself in advance, get ready for the competition, and strive for good results."
He was displaying his exertion openly in front of his classmates, hoping to draw Bai Yuxia’s attention.
Unfortunately, only his good friend Guo Kunnan responded:
"That’s a strong move, Brother Quan."
Then he shared his own lunch—a common home-cooked meal.
Lu Qiqi shared a picture of spicy hot pot, with the background showing a simple and neatly decorated small shop, and another unfamiliar girl in the frame.
