The waiter announced, "The fragnted dumplings are ready!"
No one else reacted much, except for Ji Maomao and Wu Fan, who were both taken aback.
How many years had it been since they last heard the na of this dish?
Ji Maomao leaned forward to look at the large bowl of fragnted dumplings and the accompanying side dishes around it, instinctively turning his head to the old gentleman sitting beside him.
Wu Fan was also staring blankly at the fragnted dumplings.
The swirling steam blurred their vision, and before them appeared the scene of two people, one big and one small, squeezed together in that sowhat narrow kitchen from years ago.
Ji Maomao's parents were busy with work and didn't have ti to take care of their child.
Back then, many academically strong students would board at their teachers' hos for convenience in tutoring and supervision.
From Ji Maomao's cohort, Wu Fan only took him under his wing.
The workload at the high school was always heavy, and by the ti they returned ho after evening study, it was usually around ten-thirty.
On the night of Ji Maomao's birthday, Wu Fan stayed up half the night, making a pot of fragnted dumplings to celebrate Ji Maomao's birthday.
Wu Fan wore only a pair of checkered pajama pants, topless.
On the muggy sumr night, under the twinkling stars outside the window, his large hands skillfully pinched the small dumplings.
The chopped at and vegetables were stir-fried into a sauce and poured steaming hot over the cooked dumplings.
Finally, he made a large bowl of fragrant spicy oil with hot oil.
The two of them sat across the table, heads down, scooping the fragnted dumplings, devouring them greedily, their mouths dripping with spicy oil.
That seemingly forgotten mory from years ago ca flooding back, becoming clear again with this serving of fragnted dumplings.
Ji Maomao said in surprise and nostalgia, "Teacher, isn't this the fragnted dumplings you made for my birthday back then?"
Hearing their conversation, others turned their heads, listening intently.
Wu Fan smiled, "You still rember?"
Ji Maomao nodded, "I rember! You said that in your hotown, it's traditional to eat a bowl of fragnted dumplings for birthdays."
Soone beside them remarked, "Teacher, that tradition from your hotown is really unique!"
Wu Fan laughed and waved his hand, "Ah! What tradition? Actually, I lied to him back then!"
The person who asked was montarily stunned, and Ji Maomao looked equally surprised.
Wu Fan said, "At that ti, you all were about to enter the third year of high school and were very busy with studies. He was living at my house then, going to and from school with every day. On his birthday, I was too busy to find ti to buy him a cake. Then I thought, a child only has one birthday a year, and he must be very much looking forward to it. So I made the fragnted dumplings late at night and tricked him into thinking it was a tradition from my hotown."
"What I made back then was far from authentic, not as neatly pinched, the sauce wasn't as rich, and the side dishes...really..."
As Wu Fan spoke, he laughed, "This silly child actually believed ..."
Laughing, the old man's eyes gradually turned red, "Ti flies so fast! In a blink of an eye, you've all grown up."
Ji Maomao's nose tingled, holding back tears, "Yes, teacher. You celebrated my birthday back then, and now it's my turn to celebrate yours."
Ji Maomao stood up, personally serving a bowl of fragnted dumplings, adding a bit of spicy oil, and handing it to Wu Fan.
"Teacher, please try and see how well they make it!"
Wu Fan took it with a smile, taking a bite.
The rich sauce, slightly spicy at soup mixed with the small dumplings, in one bite, combined the essence of the al, hitting all senses.
"Good, it's delicious!"
Ji Maomao sincerely said, "Teacher, happy birthday!"
The others quickly echoed, "Teacher, happy birthday!!"
Wu Fan smiled, looking joyfully and gratefully at the students in front of him, eyes brimming with tears of emotion, "Great, wonderful! Thank you all!!"
"Teacher, thank you for your dedicated guidance back then, thank you!"
Listening to these heartfelt words, Wu Fan couldn't help but shed tears.
As a teacher, having spent a lifeti educating and nurturing students, at this mont, life truly felt complete.
At the sa ti.
Fu Yu heard the electronic notification in his ear:
[Ding! NPC Chef Yao Shi's task: Assist Yao Shi in creating a birthday feast that moved the old teacher Wu Fan to tears, successfully completed. Reward: 100 RMB, task experience 50]
The old teacher was finally moved to tears!
Fu Yu let out a sigh of relief.
It took a full hour and fifty minutes!
All the dishes for the three-turn feast were finally served.
At this mont, everyone let out a genuine sigh of relief.
Yao Shi looked at Fu Yu with appreciation and approval!
Fu Yu wiped the sweat from his chin on his chef's uniform collar, smiling slightly at Yao Shi, "Chef Yao, it's done."
Right then, Zhao ng walked into the back kitchen, seeing they had the stovetop turned off, asked with concern, "How did it go? Everything smooth?"
Fu Yu, upon seeing Zhao ng return, exclaid in surprise, "Chef Zhao! Have you finished eating so quickly?"
Zhao ng waved his hand, "Eating? No, I postponed the al ti, everyone's waiting!"
"If you're done here, hurry up! That pack of hungry wolves' eyes are practically reflecting green!"
That one remark left Fu Yu and the others montarily stunned, then they all beca joyful.
"That's great!"
"Thank you, Chef Zhao!"
Yao Shi, unaware of the roast lamb plan, looked baffled at the joyful antics of the three.
Zhao ng laughed and explained the dinner invitation to Yao Shi, who was also pleased upon hearing it, "Alright, count in. I won't go for free, tonight's drinks are on , order anything you like!"
After a simple cleanup, they turned to head out.
Before reaching the door of the back kitchen, they encountered Dong Jun Tian approaching briskly.
Dong Jun Tian, full of joy, upon seeing Yao Shi, said happily, "Custor 401 was very satisfied with the three-turn feast!"
Saying this, Dong Jun Tian patted Yao Shi on the shoulder, "Xiao Yao! You really are amazing! Absolutely incredible!"
Yao Shi was delighted to hear that custor 401 was satisfied with the feast.
However, he promptly explained, "This feast was made together by Fu Yu and . To be honest, he's even more skilled! I only prepared a few dishes, he did the rest!"
Dong Jun Tian, upon hearing this, was suddenly surprised, looking at Fu Yu, "Xiao Fu, you can also prepare a three-turn feast?"
Fu Yu quickly replied modestly, "No, I can't. I just followed Chef Yao's lead."
But Yao Shi said, "To cook directly from recipes, Xiao Fu truly is a talent!"
Dong Jun Tian also nodded, turning to Zhao ng, "Old Zhao, you've trained a real talent! Xiao Fu is truly excellent!"
Having fretted over the day's matters, Dong Jun Tian finally resolved them smoothly, and felt great.
The complint he gave ca straight from the heart.
Zhao ng bead with pride.
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