Xu Xuzhi

Chapter 6 Copper Hot Pot Sichuan White Meat

It has been almost ten days since I met Feng Jiuchu at the ice rink.Ning Zheng, who had just finished the appeasement of the third army and the handover of supervision related matters, was silently listening to his long-term follower Zhi Changsheng's report on the itinerary for the next few days.

Zhi Changsheng saw that the third young master who had become more and more calm in the past year pondered for a while, tapped his fingers on the table a few times, and then shook the phone by himself to find Miss Feng Jiu in the Tang residence.Someone over there said "wait a minute" and turned the call over.So, after many days, Ning Zheng finally heard the most beautiful voice among all the women he knew, and the two of them settled on the "Fushou Building" in the North Market at noon tomorrow. Eat together at Zitong Hot Pot Restaurant.

The North Market is an old Fengtian’s miscellaneous place, with five elements and eight works, three teachings and nine streams, theaters, cinemas, teahouses, bathhouses... It has always been an interesting existence, so how good it is now, Zhi Changsheng can’t help but sigh, it’s still a handsome man, If the governance is in place, ten years ago, in this kind of place where good and bad people are mixed up, how would a lady from a famous family dare to have fun--they would have to take their reputation into consideration.

As soon as Ning Zheng got out of the car, a waiter greeted him graciously, leading him all the way in respectfully.

The owner of this shop is from Peiping and has a good sense of business. The decoration of the shop looks like returning to the basics. As soon as you enter, you will see a stone mill, turning slowly, driving the clear water to flow, and the water flows along the half-cut green The bamboo tube fell into the groove of a big white stone below. On it sat a stone sculpture of an old monk with his hands folded, and beside him lay a naughty little monk with his eyes closed. It was lifelike and very Zen-like.

Going further in, there are several large fish tanks lined up against the wall. In addition to various rare ornamental goldfish, there are also many aquatic plants that rippling with the swimming of the goldfish, which is full of interest.

When they got to the Haitang Room, they opened the door, but Feng Jiu had already arrived.Ning Zheng just heard Feng Jiu say that she likes the fish tank and water method of this store very much—although Feng Jiu is the host in name today and should arrive early, but after living in the West for many years, he has long been used to dating ladies. The other party will be late.

Fengjiu raised her arms and waved to him happily. There were two little girls who were about her age sitting next to her. They were both about the same age as flowers.

Ning Zheng was taken aback for a moment, then stepped forward to greet them with a smile.

Feng Jiu introduced to Ning Zheng: the Sichuan girl on the left is Wen Xiuwei; the one on the right is Zheng Li, from Shanghai.One is sharp and the other is gentle, they are both classmates in Tongze Girls' High School, and they are studying in Fengtian with their father who is in business or has other jobs. They are two years older than Fengjiu, both eighteen.

The two girls looked at the tall and handsome Ning Zheng in front of them, and were a little surprised—it turned out that Feng Jiu only said that he was a chivalrous man who saved her from being disfigured, how could he expect such a young and handsome man.

Everyone sit down and start ordering.Since it is a hot pot restaurant, the selling point is naturally mutton. This restaurant uses small-tailed sheep from Mongolia, and only uses meat from Shangnao, Sancha, and Cucumber Tiao.

Ning Zheng of course declined Feng Jiu's request to order food, and returned the menu to Feng Jiu, asking the ladies to order, saying that he would eat whatever he ordered anyway.When the three girls laughed, it would be better to be respectful than obedient.

Since it is a hot pot, meat cutting naturally requires good craftsmanship. Many people are curious about how the masters of this shop cut out the paper-thin lamb slices. The owner is happy to satisfy the curiosity of the customers. The butcher stands by the guest's table and cuts a plate. A catty of mutton must be cut into [-] to [-] pieces to be considered qualified.

Feng Jiu and the others ordered five large plates of mutton slices, and the meat cutter also came in. The three little girls watched the young man wielding a knife to clean the slices of meat, and exclaimed from time to time. The little master, who was secretly proud of himself, finished cutting, and the meat slices were naturally built into a nine-story pagoda on the white flat plate. The red, white and white glistening grease was very attractive.

There is no need to let the hot pot come and go. Everyone cooks their own. Each person has two sets of chopsticks and one pair of serving chopsticks: the bottom of the pot is dried sea rice and mushroom soup, which is also a special pot of this restaurant; There is a gurgling sound in the copper pot, and the thinly sliced ​​translucent lamb slices are cooked in a flash. When dipped in the dipping sauce mixed with green onion, coriander, chives, and red bean curd, it tastes fragrant and tender, not smelly. Not thick, beautiful beyond words.

"A few more sesame seed cakes, very fragrant." Zheng Li came here and suggested sincerely.

"Its white sugar garlic is also a must. It is sweet and sour. It can be eaten with mutton slices, which can relieve the tiredness." Wen Xiuwei also added.

Feng Jiu asked, "What do you want to drink? Does Mr. Ning want to drink?"

Ning Zheng shook his head and refused, and just said that it would be good to drink soda with them.

So I had the Bawangsi soft drink again, which is a local soda in Fengtian, using well water from Bawangsi, which is also a special product of Fengtian.

The soda bottle is made of glass with an oval bottom. It cannot stand upright on the table, but can only be placed horizontally. The cork is wrapped with a wire. When opening, the wire must be untied, and then the cork should be moved slowly. Then I heard a "bang", the cork flew a foot away, and the soda in the bottle spewed out, similar to opening champagne.

Ning Zheng is very experienced. He prepared a white towel when he opened the bottle, and immediately used it to cover the mouth of the bottle, otherwise the soda could be sprayed out.In this era, being able to drink soda is also a luxury, and it belongs to the enjoyment of the rich.

The red copper hot pot of "Fu Shou Lou" is rebuilt by the house. It is tall and has a large chamber, no matter how much charcoal is put in, the ash will not fly around.

Steaming hot pot has the magical ability to quickly bring strangers closer together. While eating hot pot and chatting, several girls who were not familiar with Ning Zheng quickly became acquainted with him.

So they learned about Ning Zheng's overseas background, and Ning Zheng also knew how naughty Feng Jiu was at school and how popular he was with his classmates.

Ning Zheng added a few more dishes, one of which was "Sauerkraut Sichuan White Meat", which is also a very popular typical northern dish.

As soon as the dishes came to the table, Wen Xiuwei and Zheng Li picked up their chopsticks each, dipped in the garlic and started to eat deliciously. Feng Jiu didn't move his chopsticks, Ning Zheng was a little surprised, and asked with a smile, "You don't want to eat?"

Feng Jiu shook his head.

Ning Zheng smiled and said: "Your classmate, a Sichuanese or a Shanghainese, can eat this 'pickled Sichuan white meat'. You are a true Fengtian, why can't you eat it?"

Fengjiu was a little embarrassed, and scratched his ears: "I heard from my mother that I stopped eating fat very early - since I was able to eat meat when I was two years old, I have been eating very badly. Whenever I eat, I always look at the fat." Ah ah' pointing, oil dripping from the corners of his mouth, he ate like this for half a year, and suddenly one day, he stopped eating, and couldn’t eat even a little bit of fat.”

Both Xiuwei and Zheng Li were quite puzzled, how could they know how to get tired of one thing at such a young age?Ning Zheng's focus is different: "It's two years old, why don't you say you want to eat meat, and point your finger at it?"

Feng Jiu admired his sharpness: "Have you noticed? Because I couldn't speak when I was two years old, and I didn't start talking until I was four years old, but I still have a big tongue for several years. I call 'Zhong' 'Dong', and I don't care Cousin 'Sister Xiaozhi' is called 'Sister Xiaoji'."

Everyone laughed, and it was the first time for the two classmates to hear it. Wen Xiuwei couldn't help clicking her tongue: "Feng Jiu, your eloquence is recognized by us in Tongze as the best, and you didn't start talking until you were four years old?" Feng Jiu embarrassed He waved his hand and nodded for the second half of the sentence.

"So you're talking so much now to make up for the two years you didn't talk?"

When Feng Jiu heard it, she was waiting for her here. The friend's joke immediately made her forget about the man who was almost a stranger opposite, and she rolled up her sleeves in a gesture: "Ah, you damn girl, you are usually You think I’m making too much noise with you, so it’s uncomfortable to keep holding back without expressing it?!”

She stretched out her hand to scratch Wen Xiuwei's itch, and Wen Xiuwei quickly stood up to resist, and the two immediately got entangled and had an inextricable quarrel, Zheng Li watched the joke for a while and had no choice but to fight, the three little girls laughed together, crisp and clear The unaffected laughter makes people feel comfortable.

Ning Zheng was sitting opposite, looking at the three of them, he felt that such an innocent friendship and Feng Jiu's flushed face were really cute.

The three little girls laughed for a long time, and then remembered that there was someone they didn't know very well sitting opposite, so they quickly restrained their posture and apologized to Ning Zheng, each of them pretending to be elegant.

Ning Zheng smiled and said, seeing how lively you are, can you invite another friend, he happens to live nearby.Feng Jiu didn't expect that he would go to the appointment alone, but when he heard this, he agreed, Ning Zheng got up and went out to make a phone call, and when he came back, he said that his friend would be there in a while.

After a while, the door of the private room opened, and Bao Buyi, who was wearing a long robe, walked straight in, took off his duck gray top hat, and showed a smiling face.

The three little girls immediately stood up, Zheng Li and Wen Xiuwei's eyes lighted up, they didn't expect that the man who came was a majestic man who was not inferior to Ning Ruiqing.

Bao Buqu greeted everyone with a smile. As soon as his eyes turned to Feng Jiu, he stopped moving immediately, almost at the same time as Feng Jiu, who was as surprised, said, "It's you?!"

When Ning Zheng saw it, his eyes froze, Bao Buqu and Feng Jiu were pleasantly surprised and surprised, their expressions were different.

Bao Buqu was wearing a heather-gray brocade gown, a black printed mandarin jacket, a dark gray cashmere scarf, and a pair of black leather gloves. The combination of Chinese and Western styles was very characteristic, fashionable and elegant.

Now, his eyes, which are deeper than those of ordinary Chinese, are filled with unbelievable ecstasy, and there is nowhere to find him - through private detectives these days, he has heard that he met in "Snow Cheese Crisp". The girl who arrived was from Tongze Girls' High School, her surname was Tang, and she was expected to have a beautiful family background in a day or two, but she didn't expect to meet a real woman here.

He secretly nudged Ning Zheng with his elbow, and Ning Zheng glanced at him without knowing why, but looking at his fiery gaze, Ning Zheng immediately confirmed where his old friend's sudden joy came from.

Not knowing what it was like, Ning Zheng introduced everyone according to the etiquette, and Bao Buqu couldn't wait to stretch out his hand: "Miss Tang, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Feng Jiu was not used to Western greetings, but he still stretched out his hand.

Bao Buqu gently held Feng Jiu's soft, boneless little hand, and shook it. Feng Jiu sensitively noticed that Bao Buqu's hand was trembling slightly, and raised his head in a little surprise.Bao Buqu's slightly dark face rarely showed a trace of dark red, and quickly let go of her hand, smiled a little embarrassedly, and said hello to the other two girls, but did not extend their hands again, and the two girls forced each other They looked at each other secretly and smiled, there was nothing they didn't understand.

Ning Zheng watched from the side, his dark eyes slightly narrowed.

Bao Buqu sat down beside him, and was not in a hurry to eat, he quickly approached Feng Jiutao: "Why didn't your companion come when I met last time?"

Fengjiu knew that he was referring to Melanie: "Oh, I heard her say that her grandma is sick, and she has been staying with her at grandma's house for the past few days."

When Bao Buqu heard this, he gave thumbs up: "As expected of Miss Tang's friend, so filial."

As soon as these stupid words came out, Feng Jiu was startled, although Ning Zheng had no superfluous expression on his face, he also turned his face away, as if he had to know him.

The other two female students on the opposite side were not embarrassed at all. Seeing this unyielding naivety, how could they easily spare him the opportunity they seized: "Oh, how come you can get such an endorsement as long as you are a friend of 'Miss Tang' ? Then we are also Miss Tang's friends, so we must be fine, right? I have to go home and tell my father, so that he doesn't look down on me every day."

Bao Buqu could only smirk, how could he look like a romantic man?
However, Bao Buqu is extremely funny, once he passed the incoherent period when he just reunited with his sweetheart, he quickly forced himself to calm down, so Mr. Pian Pianjia's ability to communicate was revealed.

A table of people chatted happily, Bao Buqu talked about the essence of Lingnan cuisine and Cantonese cuisine, fried rice noodles with egg tarts, quick sand buns, shrimp dumpling, durian crispy sausage fungus and barbecued pork buns... All the girls were drooling, wishing to fly to Guangdong immediately Go and have a good time.

Ning Zheng himself was not very talkative, and at this time he was even less talkative, just watching coldly, looking at Feng Jiu for a while, and Bao Buqu for a while, wondering what was going on in his mind.

During the period, Ning Zheng went out for a while, but everyone didn't pay attention to it. They didn't expect that they were almost finished eating. When Feng Jiu went outside to call Xiaoer to prepare to pay, he found that Ning Zheng had already paid the bill.Feng Jiu didn't want to accept this kind of favor, so while Xiao Er was drinking tea, she gently pulled Ning Zheng's sleeve, and the two got up and went out one after another.

As soon as he came out, Feng Jiu immediately asked awkwardly: "Mr. Ning, I agreed to treat you, how can I make you spend money?"

Ning Zheng smiled and said: "There are two big men at the table, and they still want girls to pay the bill. We are shameless? Also, can you call me 'Ruiqing', or 'Brother Ning'?" He Looking at Feng Jiu with a smile, he really can be called a gentleman like jade, Lang Langxuanxuan.

Feng Jiu didn't have time to appreciate Ning Zheng's beauty, and he didn't take this issue.She smiled awkwardly, and scratched her ears a little irritatedly, knowing that this problem of hers is not good--the least like to owe favors, and once owed, she is always in a hurry to pay back.This time is good, not only did I get the grace of salvation without repayment, but also owed someone a meal.

However, the deeper reason is - it's not that she is being sentimental, but that she is sensitive to the fact that these two men have a little special thought for her; especially later on, Bao Buyi showed it more obviously.

Judging by their speech and behavior, it is everyone's style, but Fengjiu doesn't want to have anything to do with such a man, and she doesn't want to continue dating. After all, with a three-year age gap, she feels pressure to make friends, and even more so. What's more, the difference is more than five years old.

This is probably a generation gap: everyone is not at the same stage of life, and they pay attention to different things, not to mention that men and women are very different. Fengjiu doesn't want to bother to have any relationship with men who are so many older than him, let alone waste that effort.

Ning Zheng felt that Fengjiu was a bit weird: since he returned from studying abroad, all the ladies he met, whether they were from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Peiping, or Tianjin, all competed to associate with him, to put it an exaggeration, up to 88, Down to just being able to walk, there is no one who doesn't like himself. Of course Ning Zheng knows his many advantages in terms of appearance and family background, so seeing Feng Jiu's face flushing now, he looks a little anxious... This is Clearly wanting to clean up with himself.

Ning Zheng pondered for a while: "Let's leave it like this this time. Next time, you'll treat me to dinner 'alone', okay?"

Feng Jiu smiled "ho ho", ambiguous, but he made up his mind to express his gratitude in other ways - don't eat and eat, it's endless.

Ning Zheng didn't insist anymore, he stretched out his hand and made a gesture of "please", and the two returned to the private room.

As soon as I entered, I heard Bao Buqu asking: "You will graduate from middle school this summer, right? What are you going to do next, continue your studies?"

The three of Feng Jiu and the others looked at each other, and they all smiled. Wen Xiuwei couldn't hide her words: "I plan to continue my studies. My elder brother is now working in Peking, so he plans to take the Yanjing University."

Everyone cheered for her, and Zheng Li said embarrassedly: "My grades are not as good as Xiuwei's. I graduated this year, and my father's post in Fengtian has just ended. I plan to go back to Shanghai and get admitted to a university in Shanghai. As for Whichever school you take the exam...is the one you can get into." In fact, she is also modest, and her grades are not based on whichever one she gets into.

Bao Buqu said: "It's a good thing for a girl to want to go to school. While she's young, read more and see the world more, so that she won't regret it in the future, and she won't leave any regrets." ?So he turned his eyes and asked naturally, "Where's Miss Tang?"

Feng Jiu said without hesitation: "I plan to study abroad. I have sent several applications for studying abroad, but I don't know if I can get the admission letter."

Bao Buqu was taken aback, while Ning Zheng looked at Feng Jiu calmly.

"Fengjiu's ideal has always been to study abroad." Xiuwei said knowingly.

"That's right, Fengjiu has been planning to study abroad. Her English is so good that she envies us all. Oh, Weiwei, you said that we take the entrance exam, can we just pass the English test? Very good." Zheng Li thought of the university entrance exam, and couldn't help feeling a little worried.

During the period of the Republic of China, it was not until [-] that there was a unified national university entrance examination, but at this time there were separate examinations.To be on the safe side, students rushing to take the exam have to travel on the road, and it is very common to take the exam to three or five universities.

Xiuwei is excellent in other subjects, but her English is a bit weak. She moaned and said, "I still have [-] or [-] points. I don't think I can even get [-] or [-] points." , Feng Jiu couldn't stand it anymore, "You two guys, I told you to memorize the text carefully, but you just don't listen, just memorize the text, and then learn Chinese, won't you come out?"

"Standing and talking doesn't hurt your back!" Zheng Li was furious, "I even teach you to recite physics problems, isn't it also a practice? Why can't you do it? Why are you so bad, ah?!"

"That's right! Clean her up!" The two little girls rushed forward again, scratching at Feng Jiu, a physics scumbag, and Feng Jiu happily called for mercy, this time, the two men on the opposite side didn't smile, and their expressions were pale. A little silent.

The three girls had had enough trouble, and then remembered that there was someone on the other side, so they had to pretend to be reserved again.

Ning Zheng quickly smiled, "You two have such a good relationship, it reminds me of my school days. Come, let's have some food."

Bao Buqu seemed to understand something, his expression became excited again, he laughed and talked with everyone, and at the end, everyone toasted with tea instead of wine, and returned happily.

Ning Zheng insisted on sending the ladies home after dinner, Feng Jiu and the others had no choice but to obey, instead of calling the family to pick them up.

The five young people who talked and laughed happily got into Ning Zheng's car together, and Ning Zheng sent the girls home one by one.

The last one to send off was Feng Jiu. Bao Buqu got out of the car and watched Feng Jiu enter the west corner gate of Wuling Garden. Feng Jiu waved to him and Ning Zheng who was leaning against the car door. One flick, and the person disappears.

Bao Buqu walked over to Ning Zheng excitedly, "Great! It's actually Mr. Tang's palm pearl. Their family has a lot of business contacts with our Bao family. How is it? How about the girl I like?" "

Ning Zheng leisurely lit a cigarette, and did not speak for a long time.Bao Buqu was a little strange: "What's going on? Give me some advice."

Ning Zheng took a few puffs of cigarettes, narrowed his eyes, and quietly looked at the west corner gate where Feng Jiu had just entered.Bao Buqu's face sank, and he glanced up and down at Ning Zheng: "Don't tell me..."

"Yes." Ning Zheng was decisive.

Bao Buyi's complexion changed: "Hey boy, you are engaged! And... wait! Isn't your unmarried wife the second wife of the Tang family, the eldest daughter of Mr. Tang? Is it Tang Fengjiu's sister? What are you thinking?! Still thinking about 'E Huang Nv Ying'?"

Ning Zheng frowned, as if he just remembered that he had another marriage contract: "Is this a big deal? I've been thinking about breaking the engagement."

"And then?" Bao Buqu asked pointedly: "The Tang family will break off the engagement of the eldest daughter with you, and then marry the second daughter to you? Is this possible?"

"As long as I want, I can." Ning Zheng said in a low voice.

"...Ruiqing, it's the first time in 22 years that I have a heartbeat. You, don't you want to grab me?"

Although I mentioned just now how difficult it is for the two families to get married even if they successfully terminate the engagement, Bao Buqu also knows Ning Zheng's great strength as Fengtian's landowner and the master of the three eastern provinces. If he wants to do something, he still has an advantage over himself. Even the Bao family is one of the most famous businessmen in the country.

Ning Zheng exhaled slowly, a round smoke ring floated out and slowly dissipated in the air, "I want to tell you this too."

Without further ado, Bao Buqu got into the car and folded his arms: "Let's drive, let's talk calmly."

When he arrived outside the Bao's mansion where he returned to the camp, Bao Buqu got out of the car, turned his head and asked without giving up: "Ruiqing, you are coming back this time to take over your father's army, and Tang Fengjiu is going to study abroad... Can you How about you?"

Ning Zheng didn't answer.He continued on his own: "It doesn't matter to my family. As long as I want, I can do whatever I want freely. If Miss Tang can like me, I will accompany her to study abroad..."

Ning Zheng interrupted him calmly: "Let's each rely on our abilities, shall we?"

Bao Buqu looked back at him, and after a while he said: "...OK."

Ning Zheng turned his head and glanced at him, said "goodbye" briefly, stepped on the gas pedal and left in a hurry.

Bao Buqu sighed heavily—it never occurred to him that this ridiculous love triangle of two men competing for one woman would actually happen to him and his best friend.

Distraughtly, he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and smoked.Fengtian's March was still very cold, but there seemed to be a fire burning in his heart. He walked around the mansion quietly, unaware of any coldness.

(End of this chapter)