Border Cook

Enjoy the meal with relish.

No one in the entire small dining hall was busy chatting. They just focused on enjoying this bowl of rich and delicious food. The sound of slurping food could be heard everywhere.

This made the students who were still queuing and had not received meals even more anxious. They scratched their heads and cheeks, swallowed their saliva desperately, stood on tiptoe to see how many people were in front of them, and counted on their fingers to calculate how long they had to wait before it was their turn.

When the delicious mutton stewed noodles were finally served, I couldn't wait to drink a mouthful of the rich and mellow soup, not caring that the boiling temperature might burn the skin on my palate...

The teachers also praised the mutton noodles, and after eating a bowl, they all felt it was not enough and asked for more bowls.

Xia Mingyue, Niu and others had already expected that the mutton noodles at noon today would be very popular. Whether it was the mutton, mutton soup or noodles, they were all prepared in sufficient quantities, enough for everyone to eat to their heart's content.

The students saw this and were not polite. If one bowl was not enough, they ate two bowls. If two bowls were not enough, they ate a third bowl...

At noon today, everyone who left the canteen burped.

Niu and the others who started to clean up the dishes looked at the bowls on the table that had been cleaned clean without even a drop of soup left, and said jokingly, "Washing dishes has become easier these days."

"Not only that, I think even if they are left there without washing, others won't be able to tell the difference." Xia Mingyue joked and rolled up her sleeves to help with the work.

Normally, Niu and others would not let Xia Mingyue do these things, but Xia Mingyue was leaving soon and they didn't know when they would meet again, so they just let her go.

After all, this way they can stay together longer.

During the ten days or so that Xia Mingyue had been in the canteen, her work was obvious to everyone.

She is a good cook, works steadily and unpretentiously, has a gentle temperament and speaks politely. Most importantly, when she cooks, she never avoids showing off her cooking skills in front of them, and occasionally gives them some advice and tells them some cooking tips.

Niu and others felt that they were highly respected and liked Xia Mingyue more and more. Naturally, they were reluctant to leave. After they were done with their work, they sent Xia Mingyue out of the county school and walked for a long time.

"Madam Xia, if you have time, please come and sit here more often."

"When we have time, let's go to Madam Xia's house and have a chat."

"If I don't work in the county school canteen in the future, I will definitely go find Madam Xia and help her."

"These are winter jujubes grown on the trees at home. They are crispy and sweet. I brought some from home. I was reluctant to give them to them. Madam Xia, please take them back and try them..."

There is warmth and affection between the words.

Xia Mingyue agreed to everything with a smile, and talked for a long time before they left.

Walking westward, Xia Mingyue heard someone shouting after only two steps, "Madam Xia, please stay."

Xia Mingyue turned around and saw Dai Changnian walking towards her quickly.

"Master Dai." Xia Mingyue bowed.

"Excuse me, Madam Xia." Dai Changnian bowed and said solemnly, "Thank you, Madam Xia."

"Master Dai, where does this thank you... come from?" Xia Mingyue was a little puzzled.

She didn't remember doing anything to help Master Dai during the days she was in the canteen.

"I have gained a lot from the food prepared by Madam Xia. Although I cannot explain the details to Madam Xia, I still want to thank her."

Dai Changnian bowed again.

Combined with the peaceful atmosphere in the small canteen over the past few days, as well as Dai Changnian's unreserved praise for the food and his continuous requests for more rice, Xia Mingyue roughly understood what was going on.

"Although I don't deserve this thank you, since Master Dai said so, I will accept it with a thick face." Xia Mingyue said with a smile. Dai Changnian saw that Xia Mingyue was open-minded and cheerful, without any hesitation, and his smile became even wider.

For scholars, there is a saying that a person's handwriting reflects his character and his writing reflects his personality. This means that a person's temperament and inner heart can be fully reflected through calligraphy and writing.

Madam Xia is a cook. The meals she cooks are mellow and rich in taste, which naturally reveals her introverted character and profound background.

Dai Changnian bowed again and said, "I won't bother you Madam Xia for now. Goodbye."

"Master Dave, take care."

Xia Mingyue bowed and waited until Dai Changnian walked away before turning back.

After returning, Xia Mingyue did not stop, but began to count the various items used in the breakfast stall with Jiang Zhuguo and Lu.

There was a day in between. On the third day, when the eastern sky was just beginning to turn pale, Xia Mingyue, Jiang Zhuguo and Lu appeared on the streets of West Street on time.

There are long benches, a long table, and two large pots next to them.

In the pot is steaming hot, spicy, thick and rich spicy soup.

In the other pot, there was half a pot of peanut oil.

Xia Mingyue kneaded the dough skillfully, flattened it and cut it into strips, then skillfully stretched the dough from wide strips into long strips and put them into the oil pan.

The sizzling sound and the aroma filled the air, causing those who were in a hurry to go out in the morning or who were buying breakfast on the street to look sideways and sniff.

"What smells so good?"

"There's a new breakfast stall over there. I guess the smell is coming from there."

"Go and have a look..."

The people who were attracted by the aroma came over and realized that the people setting up the stall were Xia Mingyue and the other two. They all laughed and said, "It turns out that this is Madam Xia's new breakfast stall. No wonder it smells so good."

"Fried dough sticks, spicy soup, would you like to try some?" Xia Mingyue saw that they were all old customers of Xia's food stall. They were very warm and generous. "Try some. It's free."

Upon hearing this, several people naturally could not move. After thanking Xia Mingyue, they sat on the bench.

Xia Mingyue took the golden fried dough sticks out of the pot, while Lu served a few bowls of spicy soup, added some vinegar and sesame oil, and brought them to the people.

The fried dough sticks and spicy soup were both fragrant. Several people took chopsticks and spoons and put them into their mouths.

The former is crispy and fragrant, while the latter is mellow and fragrant, spicy and appetizing. The combination of the two is doubly delicious. The more you eat, the more wonderful it tastes and you can't stop.

"The fried dough sticks and spicy soup are really delicious."

"Yes, it looks novel and tastes good. The more you eat it, the better it tastes."

"How much do you sell fried dough sticks? By pound or by piece? I'll buy five or six and take them home for my family to try."

"Give me another bowl of spicy soup. I'll pay for this one. I can't eat at Madam Xia's for free..."

After experiencing the delicious fried dough sticks and spicy soup, several people were deeply attracted by their taste. They took out their wallets to buy some more and eat their fill.

The business was open, and the stall was full of people. The aroma of fried dough sticks and spicy soup wafted around, attracting more people... (End of this chapter)