Looking at his uncle, Xie Xuanzi said helplessly, "Uncle, why even you—"
Before he could finish, Doctor Xie waved a hand dismissively and said, "Take a seat and stop talking. We will discuss this later. For now, I just want to enjoy my meal."
Not long after they took their seats, the first dish of the banquet was served. When everyone saw a large plate of raw and cooked cold dishes, they were stunned. No one dared to move their chopsticks as they stared at the cold jellyfish salad in confusion.
While most of them had never tried jellyfish salad, Doctor Xie had tasted it before in his youth. His eyes lit up at the sight of the cold appetizer platter, and he exclaimed, "This Lu girl is truly capable! It’s been years since I have seen this dish!"
He immediately reached for the jellyfish salad and took a bite. Closing his eyes in delight, he savored the fresh umami flavor. After swallowing the first bite, he eagerly began sampling the other dishes.
Roast duck, century eggs, pig ear salad, pork tongue salad, creamy corn salad—none escaped his fierce attack.
Seeing how much Doctor Xie enjoyed the food, Xie Xuanzi quickly picked some of each dish for his own bowl. When the others saw them eating so enthusiastically, they also began to help themselves.
Meanwhile, Chen Jianmin was busy filling his little bride’s bowl. Looking at the now half-full bowl, Li Shu said, "Jianmin, that’s enough. You should eat too."
Only after ensuring she had enough to eat did Chen Jianmin begin to serve himself. Before the first dish was finished, the second dish arrived. This time, it was asparagus with crab meat soup, served in small bowls to ensure everyone received their portion.
Each person got a bowl of soup, preventing anyone from taking more than their share. Although the servings were individual, the bowls were larger than usual, with plenty of soup for each person.
At that moment, the hall was filled with the sounds of eating and clinking cutlery, as no one wanted to interrupt the meal with chatter. Even Xie Xuanzi, accustomed to fine dining, was surprised by the taste.
Looking at his soup, he said, "This soup actually uses crab meat."
Chen Jianmin nodded and explained, "Uncle Li and Aunt Li went into the deep mountain lake to catch the crabs. They are freshwater crabs."
Raising his eyebrows, Xiao Yiguan asked, "There are crabs in the mountains?"
"Comrade, there aren’t just crabs. There are also wild animals, vegetables, and ginseng," Chen Xiang added.
"With so many resources in the mountains, why didn’t the brigade claim them?" Xie Xuanzi asked.
Chen Xiang shook his head and replied, "We are not sure either. The villagers are free to enter the mountains and forage for resources. However, two years ago, the production team issued a warning that anyone entering the mountains would do so at their own risk."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Male Lead's Canon Fodder Wife