Volume 1: The Ivory Tower's Happy Life Chapter 28: After the Banquet, People Disperse, Yet There is Still an Appointment

  "There's a common saying in Hebei that goes 'even if you frequently attend markets, you'd still worry about not being able to find vendors selling donkey meat fire-burned dish', I'd say the authentic donkey meat fire-burned dish can't be counted on in Handan, it should be in Hebei. This dish our local chefs just can't make."

  Bring another plate of donkey meat fire dish, Zuo Nanxia smiled and said.

  "No wonder he's a foodie, indeed, he's a master of donkey meat. Tao Xuanhe gave a thumbs up, now he feels that this foodie is not overrated at all. Every time a dish comes out, he can always say something that makes sense, the ingredients, origin, and source are all clear, eating with someone like him is a pleasure, you eat with understanding, and also with joy."

  They can attend a grand feast, but it's not ordinary donkey meat pie. Instead, they have palm-sized pancakes that are golden in color and have an iron plate fragrance when placed on the table. Each one is open-mouthed, stuffed with extremely thin slices of donkey meat that has been marinated in sauce, mixed with scallions, garlic, and chili peppers. The flavors are fragrant, crispy, fresh, and rich. Even the most picky eaters, Li Xiaoli and Bai Shuguang, frequently nod their heads and mutter two words: "Delicious!"

  It's indeed delicious, but for foodies, every dish is just a taste. After a few bites, Pan Wenjie mentioned the story of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty coming to Hejian to "kill donkeys and cook millet" during his reign, which proves that donkey meat has a long history. The most famous Wanjuan Donkey Meat Fire Roast has now developed into two well-known brands with hundreds of millions of yuan in capital. Implicitly, although Luzhou has the reputation of "Shangdang Donkey Meat", it still hasn't formed a self-owned brand and core competitiveness that is renowned nationwide. With a tone of regret, he even glanced at his girlfriend Tao Xuanhe.

  Tao Xuanhe didn't say a word, and at this time his mind was probably not on business, he just perfunctorily nodded. Zuo Nanxia explained: "The starting point is different, so the approach is also different. The origin of the donkey meat in Shangdang is not the food of ordinary people."

  "What is the origin of our Lu Zhou?" Tao Xuan asked curiously.

  "Heh heh, this seems familiar, bandit rations." Shan Yong chimed in.

  "Impossible!" Tao Xuanhe exclaimed in surprise.

  It's true that the donkey meat used in Party Secretary Garden is mainly from the donkeys produced in the southern part of Shanxi Province, and the predecessor of Donkey Garden was actually the area around Tianji Mountain, which was the most severely affected by bandits. That area has always been short of food and clothing since ancient times, so donkey meat almost became the staple food for the mountain bandits. As time went on, this craftsmanship was actually done best by the bandits. According to the records of Qing Dynasty, the fierce bandits in Donkey Garden were all cooking donkey meat in stone pots and pressing it into donkey meat sauce with original wood, which was a very unique technique. On hot summer days, they could put it in their bosom for five or six days without changing its flavor, so it also provided them with the best military provisions for long-distance raids when they went down the mountain to loot. Later, this method was incorporated into the Shi Long Donkey Meat Banquet, but since no one can make the whole banquet after Shi Long Donkey Meat Banquet disappeared, this method seems to have been lost.

  Zuo Nandong smiled and said. At this point, Tao Xuanhe looked at Shan Yong, who came out of the bandit village, with great interest. Shan Yong smiled and did not refute Zuo's words, but was a little surprised that he knew what he had heard from the old generation of donkey farms, but unexpectedly, even Zuo Nandong understood this origin very clearly.

  Time flies when eating and drinking, all in the midst of delicious food and lively conversation. Only Dan Yong seems to have a different intention, constantly glancing at Tao Xuanhe with eyes full of admiration and fondness. After a few exchanges, Tao Xuanhe also noticed that gaze, which was no different from most people who had a crush on him. The only difference was that this guy sitting next to him was too bold. He actually dared to make such a move in this setting; if it were anywhere else, he would have gotten two slaps in the face by now.

  However, it seems that the feeling is also quite interesting. Tao Xuanhe not only glanced at Shuang Yong, but also occasionally glanced at her boyfriend. The heart-pounding feeling had not yet dissipated, and it was a kind of unconventional feeling that she had never experienced before. Even Tao Xuanhe looked forward to the paper bag on her hand falling to the ground again, repeating that feeling.

  It's strange that after Tao Xuanhe touched the tofu, he became restless and uneasy, while Shan Yong'an was calm and composed.

  While drinking and chatting, Tao Chengzhang came in after a while. He first toasted everyone with a cup, then toasted Old Zuo with another cup. His attitude was very enthusiastic, saying that there was still one last dish to be served, the final big dish, and asked Old Zuo to comment on it. Today's banquet was indeed sumptuous, with dishes such as braised donkey tail, donkey tendon, mixed donkey face, donkey back meat, donkey waist flower, donkey meat fire stew, and donkey miscellaneous hot pot... The whole table was filled with donkey meat, without a single repeat. And this still wasn't the final dish of the banquet. A waiter brought in a stone pot, and everyone at the table moved their plates to make room for it. Tao, the boss, personally lifted the lid, releasing a burst of steam and fragrance. Everyone took a deep sniff, and then smiled with delight.

  It's too fragrant, this is the only feeling.

  "Ah, Swallow's Nest Treasure Thirteen Scents." Zuo Nanxiang sniffed and reported the dish name with his eyes closed.

  "Awesome, today I finally met a foodie. Everyone take your time." Tao Chengzhang smiled and greeted everyone, personally serving them. Pan Wenjie hurried to help, first handing it to Professor Zuo, then Lei Ge and the three chubby guys. When he got to Shan Yong, Tao Xuanhe took over, carefully placing a small bowl in front of him. Shan Yong smiled and politely said: "Thank you."

  "Don't be polite." Tao Xuan's eyebrows and eyes fluttered with charm, but her quick-changing eyes also gave him a sideways glance, making it unclear what kind of expression this was.

  Tao Chengzhang bid farewell and left, giving his daughter a hint as he walked away, fearing that there might be some other arrangement later. His daughter nodded slightly and changed the subject: "Professor Zuo, I don't know if you're satisfied with the hospitality of our humble shop? My father wants to ask Professor Zuo for a piece of calligraphy later, I wonder if you would be willing to grant us this honor."

  "Alright... but my calligraphy is not as good as eating." Zuo Nan said humbly, and everyone laughed. After laughing, everyone's attention was drawn back to the last dish, Yan Wo Bao Thirteen Fragrance. San Bao, a big eater, had already swallowed several mouthfuls, savoring the fragrance but couldn't quite describe it. Lei Ge asked Tao Xuanhe: "Tao sister, what thirteen fragrances are in this dish? It's just fragrant, I don't know what kind of fragrance."

  "Wow, I'm impressed." Tao Xuehe was stumped. Zuo Nanxia smiled and said with a hint of pride: "Sichuan pepper, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, dried tangerine peel, nutmeg... and not just thirteen spices, but a blend of various seasonings that creates a unique flavor. The amount of each ingredient used affects the outcome, so every chef's dish is slightly different, almost to the point of being magical. This dish is quite well done, it must have taken over a decade of practice."

  "It's really true, the chef Li Yuqiang who made this dish was specially invited by Uncle Tao from Xinyang, and he has been in this line for almost twenty years." Pan Wenjie complimented.

  Everyone was present and laughing, wanting to say a mouthful of fragrance, the level of craftsmanship, no one dared to boast in front of Zuo Nan. This last dish is indeed excellent, with a rich aroma that lingers on the teeth and lips, even after putting down chopsticks, the flavor doesn't disperse for a long time. At the table, someone was eating with a "slurp" sound, making a loud noise, Si Mu Xian took a look and saw it was Er Pangzi Bai Shuguang, he burst out laughing. Lei Dapeng also discovered that this eating appearance is even worse than his own, stretched out his hand to poke him, scolding in a low voice: "Eat slowly, don't make people laugh."

  Bai Shu Guang turned back and laughed foolishly, causing the crowd to laugh kindly again. The wine cups clinked together, and after a few more rounds, the alcohol was strong, but the flavors of the food were fading. As they chatted about getting up and dispersing, Lei Da Peng and Li Xiao Li supported each other on either side, while Tao Xuan He and her boyfriend led the way, heading straight down to the large hall.

  "The old left wine is not bad, and the brushwork will definitely be great." Simu Xian smiled and praised. However, Shan Yong's gaze was on Tao Xuanhe, who was leading the way with a gentle smile, and that tall, swaying figure was more enjoyable than any calligraphy. He nodded and smiled, saying: "Indeed, it's not bad."

  "Older brother, is there something on your mind?" Si Mu Xian suddenly asked.

  "Who has nothing on their mind?" Dan Yong remained noncommittal.

  "I'm saying, this Donkey Meat Xiang Huo Hot Pot City Hotel seems to be..." Si Mu Xian's voice dropped.

  "That's right, it was the old Lüyuang Wine House." Danyong glanced sideways, somewhat admiring this sour scholar brother's meticulousness.

  "What do you mean?" Si Mu Xian asked vaguely.

  "What does it mean?" Yun Rong pretended not to know.

  "Intentionally getting close to the Tao family, waiting for an opportunity?" Simu Xian almost spoke out what Shanyong was thinking. Shanyong's response was to lift his leg and kick Simu Xian, who retreated two steps with a humiliated smile.

  They squeezed into the elevator, and Shanyong and Simu Xian, who entered later, stood at the door. It was another intentional unintentional move, with Shanyong and Tao Yuhu standing shoulder to shoulder, but their eyes wandered around Zhou's pretty face, powdered neck, and proud chest. Tao Yuhu, whether intentionally or unintentionally, loosened the two buttons on her collar like a heat wave, slightly adjusting her posture, and this subtle movement allowed Shanyong to see a large expanse of spring scenery inside her clothes.

  So white... but it's just underwear.

  He was teased, and when he was sulking, he inadvertently exchanged a glance with Tao Yuxue, looking at her sly eyes, Shanyong had a bit of understanding, and also had a bit of infatuation.

  The ambiguity is so delicious, just like a grand feast. Before tasting it, its name, fragrance, color, and shape are enough to make people imagine the unthinkable. Just recalling the long-forgotten skills of seducing women, I once used the lightning-fast style, suddenly and unexpectedly embracing and kissing her passionately, feeling her soft body all over, and quickly getting down to business - that's the lightning-fast style. I also tried the romantic style, intentionally creating a warm and cozy atmosphere, gently undressing her while she was still in a daze, and checking her body; I even learned the skills of persuading women to go to bed, the most important thing being not to be too familiar with each other, taking advantage of the unfamiliarity and novelty before it fades away, creating opportunities, and making things happen. Otherwise, if you're too familiar, how can you still have the nerve to strip her naked?

  In an instant, n ways flashed through his mind, and even turned back to glance at the handsome Pan Wenjie, wondering if the green light on this handsome guy's head would make him look more handsome.

  The elevator door opened with a ding, and Tao Chengzhang had been waiting for a long time. He led the way to the corner of the hall, where a signature book was prepared for the guests from all over. As a special guest, Zuo Lao was treated differently. A four-foot-long snowflake scroll, a set of brushes, and an inkstone were placed on the table. Zuo Lao walked up to the table with a smile, picked up the largest brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a large, elaborate "donkey" character in one swift motion. The onlookers nodded in appreciation, and Pan Wenjie gave a subtle nod of approval. Si Mu Xian admired the calligraphy with reverence, analyzing every stroke. Zuo Lao put down the big brush and picked up a smaller one, writing another line: "Blinded by the mundane world, I walk with my head down, subject to the whims of others."

  "Good!"

  Si Mu Xian clapped his hands and said, a group of people echoed with praise. Zuo Nanxia, however, was watching Shan Yong with great interest, as if this sentence was dedicated to him. Shan Yong nodded in agreement, this sentence seemed to have the same attitude as "Though thousands of people may say I'm wrong, I'll go my own way", only with a different mindset.

  Behind them, Dai Peng was looking at the words on the grass and whispering to his brother: "Damn it, we wasted our time in college, can't even recognize a single character."

  "It's okay, Lei Ge, we don't know each other either." The two of them comforted him with a glance.

  Tao Xuanhe heard it and held back a smile. Tao Chengzhang, on the other hand, was beaming with joy, arranging for photos to be taken, and proudly took a few photos with this celebrity. He then instructed Pan Wenjie to hurry up and put everything away, as he couldn't handle his liquor anymore and wanted to go home and rest. As Tao Chengzhang arranged for his daughter to see off Old Zuo, Tao Xuanhe carefully helped Old Zuo down the stairs, but unexpectedly found Single Yong on the other side, who hadn't gotten into the city management vehicle. Single Yong simply said he had drunk a bit of wine and didn't want to get blown by the wind.

  This was also arranged by Le Ge, who had sent Fat Xiao Di to send Si Mu Xian to work and then sat in Tao Xuan He's car. Lao Lao was indeed drunk and talked enthusiastically about the joys of food and wine all the way to the Dongming International Hotel. Manager Wang was very dedicated to his duties and had been waiting at the hotel entrance after receiving the call, seeing the old man stumbling and staggering, he quickly called out to the accompanying staff to support him, and they escorted the old man to his room with great fanfare.

  The crowd surged forward, sending the person off in a leisurely manner, and he also looked like an outsider. No one recognized him, and after bidding farewell with just one sentence, it was only mentioned that the son would send someone to the airport, and the three of them took the elevator downstairs.

  Lei Dapeng could take advantage of the wine to make unreasonable demands on Tao Xuanhe, saying that a certain model girl he saw at the restaurant was so and so, describing her for half a day, repeatedly asking him to introduce her, and letting him handle the rest, even introducing several more would be fine. This made Tao Xuanhe laugh all the way out of the hall. When they exited, Ah Huai's brother had already been waiting with the car, and they got into the urban management vehicle, shouting for Shan Yong to ride together. However, unexpectedly, Shan Yong waved his hand, pointed at Tao Xuanhe's Audi, and said, "Who would sit in your car when there are good cars? Aren't you ashamed?" This made the two brothers so angry that they gave him the middle finger, turned on the electric door, and left with a swagger.

  ……………

  ……………

  They're all gone.

  Intentional? Unintentional? Or just a coincidence?

  Shan Yong turned his head and saw Tao Xuanhe standing on the stairs, with a sly smile on her face, as if she had just succeeded in some cunning plan.

  "Are you sure I'm taking you?" Tao Xuanhe didn't smile, asking a seemingly irrelevant question with the usual rich sister's arrogant expression.

  "It should be decided, maybe you're thinking of loading me up and throwing me into the wilderness right now?" said Dan Yong.

  Everyone knew what was meant, but no one said it. Tao Xuanhe hummed and pressed the car lock, got in by himself, started the engine, drove past Shan Yong's side, stopped abruptly, opened the door, and let Shan Yong get in. Tao Xuanhe skillfully drove the car out of the hotel, accelerated slowly, and occasionally glanced at Shan Yong, who was surprisingly calm and gentle, not making any excessive movements or saying much.

  I thought this guy was either trying to curry favor or teasing me, but I didn't expect him to be so calm. The haughty attitude I had prepared also couldn't be used. When dealing with men, women aren't short of methods either. Provoking and teasing this poor guy, any method would do, as long as he can only watch and think about it without being able to have it, best if he gets frustrated to death. Tao Xuehe was thinking of several ideas in her mind, wavering between two extremes for a long time, still unable to make up her mind, feeling a bit at a loss when dealing with this person.

  The car drove through several streets, Tao Xuanhe didn't ask Dan Yong where he was going, nor did he head in the direction of the Hui Ge Rou Xiang Hot Pot City. Instead, he drove towards the South Suburban Airport Park, turned onto the wide entrance road, and slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Tao Xuanhe calmly turned off the engine, didn't even look at Dan Yong, and directly asked: "You're just a bit thicker-skinned and not very brave, huh?"

  Suddenly turning around, Tao Xuanhe was leaning against the driver's seat with a contemptuous look on her face. She adjusted the rearview mirror above the driver's seat and slightly tidied up her hair. Throughout the entire process, she didn't even glance at Shanyong once. Looking around at the surroundings, the traffic was incessant. Choosing this environment meant that there was still a hint of wariness in her mind that hadn't dissipated. Shanyong chuckled and said, "Your evaluation is half right; if you don't have a big heart, your skin won't be thick enough."

  "Haha......" A few ambiguous laughs, Tao Xuanhe said disapprovingly: "You're too bold, but you don't have a chance anyway, I already have a boyfriend."

  "He!?" Dan Yong snorted, similarly disapproving: "A coward, one look and you can tell he's just pretending to be young and handsome to find a free meal."

  She didn't take him seriously, with a hint of confidence in her disdain. Tao Xuanhe was slightly annoyed, but instead provoked: "I think we're quite compatible, graduated from Zhejiang University, now studying trade in France, and will graduate and return to China next year. What about you, seems like you're a bit inferior?"

  "Not bad, but if he wants to compete with me, I guarantee he won't win." Shanyong smiled slightly, and his sharp eyes made Tao Xuanhe feel a little nervous, this sentence didn't seem like a lie. Shanyong added: "Don't misunderstand, I won't use improper means to achieve anything, unless you're willing."

  "What about just now?"

  "That was an accident, but I can only blame your beautiful legs."

  "Hmm..."

  "What I'm saying is true, you can't deny this fact, can you?"

  Dan Yong smiled and said, Tao Xuanhe only felt that this topic made her secretly happy, but it was too explicit. She couldn't help but feel a little smug and provoked him by saying: "Then I'll tell you seriously now, not only will there be no more opportunities in the future, but also absolutely no accidents."

  "Who knows what will happen in the future?" Shanyong said. He gently pulled Tao Xuehe's arrogant face to one side. Tao Xuehe was furious and directly said: "Don't think I don't know, you shouted out my name that day. At first, I thought I was very famous... but only last night did I find out that my dad's restaurant was taken over from your family, right?"

  "It's old news. Many people already know." Shanyong said nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal at all.

  "What do you want to do?" Tao Xuan's face turned cold, confirming the guess.

  When Shanyong glanced sideways, Tao Xuanhe's guard became even heavier. He smiled and said to Shanyong: "One day I will openly take back the restaurant, maybe including you."

  Hehe……haha……Tao Xuanhe was taken aback, then threw her head back and laughed loudly, as if she found it even more ridiculous than seeing Lei Dapeng make a fool of himself. This confirmation of her guess made her think that Shan Yong's honesty was lovable, and she teased him, pointing at him and saying: "Is this all you've got?"

  "Ah, well, I've already started working hard." Shan Yong said sincerely, causing Tao Xuanhe to burst out laughing again. What he was laughing at was probably that Shan Yong was being a bit too ambitious. The Donkey Meat Hot Pot City had been in operation for over five years, renovated twice, and the original rented building had been bought by several shareholders of the Tao family, adding four more floors. With the current real estate value, it was worth hundreds of millions. Even if the Tao family didn't own all of it, they were still the largest shareholder. Although in some matters, yielding to others was a business consideration, whoever really wanted to take over would find it not that easy.

  "Is it funny? I said I've started working hard, maybe heaven will reward diligence and there will be results soon." Yuelong said lightly.

  Tao Xuanhe couldn't help but hold back a smile, counting on his fingers: "I've heard about your efforts, you sold several months' worth of donkey meat and then joined forces with the Shi family village to open a Resounding Horse Village Donkey Meat Noodle Restaurant. My dad said that your store can sell over 1,000 catties per day, calculating based on your channel's profit margin, in one month you can earn over 100,000 yuan, but after deducting transportation costs, labor costs, and rent, how many tens of thousands of yuan can you actually keep? Your income isn't low, barely enough to cover the daily food material expenses for Donkey Meat Hot Pot City."

  "It's already pretty good, I'm quite satisfied with my own progress." Dan Yong said, gently blocking Tao Xuanhe's snicker.

  "And then... I think you want to take advantage of the new store's momentum, do chain stores, do franchises, or open branch stores, and then expand your business, make a fortune... And then when you're as old as my dad, who knows, maybe you'll even have the chance to acquire Lu Rou Xiang Huo Guo Cheng. Is that right?" Tao Xuehe asked with a smile.

  "You're really clever." Dan Yong said with a smile, his tone suddenly turning sharp: "Not even a bit right."

  Not getting angry or annoyed, with a calm tone, Tao Xuanhe didn't know where Shanyong got so much confidence from. Perhaps in the eyes of women, even if it's a bit arrogant, men are still worth appreciating. After a few sentences, Tao Xuanhe's words became less piercing. Starting the car and asking where to go, Shanyong told him the location of the store. Tao Xuanhe drove the car and casually asked: "Can you tell me how you plan to do it? The donkey meat market in Luzhou is a super-saturated state, and there are really not many people who can find a way out like you. However, if you want to make it big, it's difficult. Whether it's stir-frying, stewing, or vacuum packaging, none of the terminal sales markets are easy to break into."

  "Blindly following the crowd and minding one's own business, walking with head down and ignoring the noise. One must find their own way." said Shan Yong, quoting Zuo Nan Xia.

  Tao Xuanhe smiled and asked, "I've heard some rumors that a few of my father's old friends had their businesses go bankrupt recently, almost losing everything. And there was one who fled abroad. According to what I heard from my father, it seems...to be related to you?"

  "Haha...... You also believe that? Then I'll tell you they were betrayed by friends, do you believe it? I'm not qualified to be their friend if I say so." Yan Yong said sarcastically.

  "What role did you play in it? The legendary salt and oil impermeable Shijia Village's big family is now your backing mountain." Tao Xuehe said, the topic turned to business.

  "My role is like this." Dan Yong bowed slightly and smiled: "As you see, a nobody."

  It seems sincere, but there's not a single thing that I wanted to know. Tao Xuanhe looked at him in surprise, and it seemed that the evaluation of this person as a rough husband was highly inaccurate. He had been in the business world for several years, able to talk without revealing anything, yet still manage to provoke people, which is not a level that can be achieved in one or two years. But the person next to him was indeed just entering the business world, and so, her unjustified curiosity grew again.

  The road was long and the journey was short, and they gradually arrived at Jiefang Road Rongma Inn, a donkey meat restaurant. To Tao Xuehe, who had seen the world, this store was just a small shop with a low door. When stopping the car, the sound of opening the door was heard, and Shanyong seemed to have no hesitation getting out of the car and walking away. At that moment, Tao Xuehe shouted: "Hey, Shanyong, wait!"

  Shan Yong smiled slightly, his expression very calm, not like Xi Jian's infatuated gaze. For a moment, Tao Xuanhe even felt a sense of loss and asked: "You still owe me an invitation, can you tell me when? Or should I think about it carefully?"

  "Not yet, I'll think about it when I'm in a better mood."

  Shan Yong said, a sentence that was slightly irritating to Tao Xuanhe, saying it as if the beauty was chasing after him, almost bursting with anger. Shan Yong, however, said in a very unappreciative tone: "Tao Tao, do you know what's not likable about you? ... Hasn't anyone ever told you that always talking about business will affect others' appreciation of your true beauty? I know you and your dad's businesses are making a lot of money, but have you thought about it, for the sake of making money, day and night, busy every day, what more do you lose compared to people of the same age? Leisure, happiness, play, do you have these? Are you making money or is money making you?"

  For a moment, Tao Xuanhe lightly bumped into the car door, waved his hand, and retreated to the roadside with a flourish. In the Audi car moving forward mechanically, he thought about what had just been said and secretly wondered: Did you make money or did money make you? How philosophical this statement is!

  She unnaturally moved the mirror to take a look at herself, and even with her perfect face, she wouldn't be satisfied. Tao Xuanhe thought about the usual troubles in an unnatural way, and also thought about the leisure that was taken away by money in an unnatural way. Then she started to miss the little movement on the dinner table again, the heartbeat, tension, ***, that kind of alternative ambiguous experience made her feel a kind of stealthy joy and inexplicable excitement, excited Tao Xuanhe to rush through the red light without even realizing it...

  Behind him, Dan Yong's face had a faint smile, and in his heart, he was muttering: Today this forced move was still a bit off, the timing wasn't right either. If it were at Old Left's level, maybe they would have even gone to open a room...