The Blessed

Nothing would be happier than to eat hot pot in winter. The colder, the better it felt. In the last third of October, it wasn’t that old in Cangzhou, but a lot of people already wore their thin cotton clothes. It was about a quarter to eleven. In the hall of the ground floor of Xinyuan Restaurant, two round tables with hollow space in the middle had been laid in a corner. Those waiters who were supposed to be busy serving the customers now were all busy serving here, only leaving one waiting on out there. Those customers in the restaurant were all curious, having no idea what they brought so many raw vegetables for. The tables were also strange. Why is there such a big hole in the middle? How to eat food using that?

"What's that smell? It smells good."

"Aren't they the chefs? Why are they all out?"

"Is that the farmer walking with Shopkeeper Zhang the one who bought tens of thousands of mu of wasteland? Is it possible that the big boss behind Xinyuan bought the land?"

"Look! They put the cooker and the pot all in the middle of the table, so they were going to cook while eating?"

"No matter what, that smell is really good, even I want to join them now.”

Xinyuan’s sudden move perplexed those people. Although it wasn’t lunch time, there were already a lot of customers. Be it those who were sitting in the hall or in the private rooms, they were all attracted by the dense smell of the seasoning. Everyone was looking at them out of curiosity. There were two tables, one was with red soup, while the other was with two-flavor. In the pot with red soup floated some sliced dried chili. The red soup greatly increased one’s appetite. And the two-flavored one, one half was red while the other half was white, quite distinct from each other, which had a strong visual impact. And around the pot were laid with plates of all ingredients, like raw lettuce, pig brain, duck intestines, duck blood, potato slices, celery cabbage and so on.

"It smells so good, daddy, how can I eat it?"

The small bun who went downstairs with Ling Jingxuan took a big breath and asked eagerly. Ling Jingxuan found it so funny while shaking his head. Then he pulled him before the two-flavored table. And the waiter instantly handed over two jade white little bowls. Ling Jingxuan took them, then took up the little bottle with sesame oil and poured nearly half a bowl, and then put some minced garlic, chopped green onion, mashed salt, chili slices and other stuff. After stirring them evenly, he handed it to the small bun.

"As for the hot pot, the more you eat, the better it tastes. So we should put those not so-easy-to-be-boiled food in the pot first, like chicken feet, pig’s large intestines, you can also put the mushrooms and tofu pudding in first. After the soup is boiled, you can pick those easy-to-cook vegetables to eat first, like duck intestines, fish slices and potato slices. Like this, dip it in the soup for a few times. See? When the duck intestines curl, it’s eatable. But before eating it, you got dip it in the seasoning I just made for you. Then you wouldn’t get burnt or what. Little foodie, open your mouth.”

Ling Jingxuan said while demonstrating. He picked a well-cooked duck intestine and sent it by the small bun’s mouth. The small bun who already couldn’t wait opened his mouth and took it. Before Ling Jingxuan took back the chopsticks, he already sucked it into his mouth, “Huh…good…good…”

He was worthy of being a little foodie. While enjoying it, he still didn’t forget to give his daddy his thumbs-up.

"It's my treat today. Guys, help yourselves. Don’t stand on ceremony!”

After receiving a favorable reception from his small bun, Ling Jingxuan stood up and asked the chefs and waiters to enjoy. They all cheered and then chose the nearest seats to sit. Like Ling Jingxuan, they also made some mixed seasoning, then cooked the food. People of two tables were busy eating. The small bun who had found the knack even started to cook things for himself, he kept putting duck intestines, fish slices and other things in the pot.

"Shopkeeper Zhang, eat some, I’ll go upstairs to eat with Shengrui and others."

Casting a satisfying look around those drooling onlookers, Ling Jingxuan knew that his strategy had succeeded. After he left, those regular customers would definitely go ask Shopkeeper Zhang about the hot pot. As for the pricing of the seasoning and dishes, Shopkeeper Zhang would nail, which wouldn’t need him to worry about.

"All right, all right, you go upstairs."

What he saw, how could Shopkeeper Zhang now see? Obviously the hot pot had already interested everyone even before it was launched. Shopkeeper Zhang smiled so hard and his whole face was about to wrinkle. In the past, when in winter, their business would slide down. But this year, that wouldn’t happen again, right? That’s Ling Jingxuan! He could already think of some odd money-making plan!

"Small bun, we should go."

Looking around, he saw that the small bun already rolled up his sleeves and enjoyed it. Ling Jingxuan couldn’t help finding it so amused. As for food, he had never maltreated him, had he? Why did he always perform like he had never had enough? Fortunately he practiced martial arts everyday, otherwise he’d already grown into a meat ball.

"Wait, I'll take one more bite, one more bite..."

With oil all around the mouth, the small bun replied without even turning back. Apparently knowing he could also eat the same food in the private room, he just couldn’t drop the chopsticks. The way to eat the food daddy invented was really funny, and it tasted so good that it even made one want to bite off one’s tongue.

"Well, then you eat together with Uncle Zhang here. I’ll go upstairs myself?"

He really could do nothing with this gluttonous small son, so he turned around and pretended to leave. Unexpectedly, the small bun nodded, “OK, daddy, I’ll go for you after I’m full. Don’t you run about!”

"Well..."

Ling Jingxuan’s face sank. So he ditched his own daddy for food?

"Ah? Uncle Shan, come eat the hot pot quickly, it’s delicious."

With a random sweep of his eyes, the small bun saw that Yan Shan who finally got recovered was about to go upstairs, he stopped him and waved his chopsticks at him. But Yan Shan stiffened his body and nearly rolled down the stairs. After quite a while, he said darkly, “No, no need. Little master, you enjoy. I am not hungry.”

Damn, he just wanted to throw up at the word ‘eat’ now.

"Really? It's a pity. It's really delicious. You'll be sorry if you don't eat it."

Holding the bowl, with the heads of the chopsticks in the mouth, the small bun wore a face of regret, Yan Shan had a twitch of his mouth, stammering, "I, I’ll go upstairs first."

Speaking of which, he instantly started to run. Soon, one could only see a shadow of him far away. Ling Jingxuan dropped his jaws. So the psychological shadow in Yan Shan’s heart is larger than the inland sea now?

"What is wrong with Uncle Shan?"

The small bun grumbled, with his head tilted. Why does he run like a ghost is chasing after?

"Ahem…Nothing. I guess he should have something urgent with your father. Small bun, you eat slowly. Remember. No too spicy things. Listen to Uncle Zhang. Go upstairs after you are full!”

Trying to use some coughs to suppress his desire for laughing, Ling Jingxuan rubbed his head pretending to look solemn. Hearing his daddy, the small bun no longer lingered on that, then he nodded, “OK.”