Chapter 43
The large pot of soup was steaming hot, and there were at least five or six strainers in it, with Xu Lijun and Song Lanzhen’s Spicy Hot Pot placed in two of them.
Since different ingredients require different cooking times, Jian Yunlan first put in the items that needed to cook longer, like meatballs and potatoes. Later, he added fatty beef, tripe, and enoki mushrooms, and finally, just before serving, he added the vegetables that needed only a quick dip.
Xu Lijun and Song Lanzhen watched as he moved with great skill, placing each ingredient at just the right moment, almost as if he could time it down to the second, without hesitation.
“Do you have any preferences for the spice level? Mild, medium, or extra spicy?” Jian Yunlan asked as he took a large bowl and looked at Song Lanzhen.
Song Lanzhen replied, “I have no restrictions… I’ll go for extra spicy, hehe!”
The condiments all looked fresh—minced garlic emitting a fragrant garlic aroma, fresh spring onions, and fiery red small chili peppers. What stood out the most was the chili oil, which smelled entirely different from what was sold in stores and looked utterly tempting.
Song Lanzhen hadn’t had spicy food in a long time, but when she was younger, she couldn’t live without spice. Now that she finally had the chance, of course, she was going to enjoy it to the fullest.
“Boss, did you make this chili oil yourself?” Song Lanzhen asked curiously.
“Yes, I made it myself, using a secret recipe.” Jian Yunlan smiled. “The dried spices are also ground by hand.”
Hearing this, both of them were left speechless with surprise.
For Song Lanzhen’s large bowl, Jian Yunlan skillfully scooped in a variety of seasonings, then topped it off with a heaping spoonful of original broth. The lighting was dim, but the rich aroma of the soup and the bright red color of the ingredients were enticing. The small chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chilies were spread all over the bottom of the bowl. Jian Yunlan scooped the perfectly cooked ingredients from the pot, quickly sweeping the strainer, and the various ingredients slid into the bowl.
Then, he poured more of the original soup, sprinkled it with fresh spring onions, cilantro, and white sesame seeds, and the first bowl of Spicy Hot Pot was ready.
“Be careful, it’s hot.” Jian Yunlan said.
“Okay.”
Song Lanzhen rubbed her hands in anticipation and almost eagerly took the bowl. The red soup in the bowl was incredibly tempting, and the steaming hot steam carried the rich aroma of beef bone broth, along with the spicy fragrance of the chili oil. The ingredients in the bowl looked equally delicious:
The curling fatty beef, the tripe soaked in chili oil, the tofu absorbing the soup, and the refreshing and crunchy lettuce…
She hadn’t thought much about it when she was picking the ingredients, but now, looking at the bowl full to the brim, it only cost a hundred yuan—what a bargain!
Song Lanzhen picked up a piece of fatty beef. The beef was covered in chili oil and sesame seeds, and as she lifted it with her chopsticks, the chili oil dripped off.
Unable to wait for it to cool, she immediately placed the piping hot beef in her mouth.
Song Lanzhen: “!!!”
This piece of fatty beef was thin and tender, cooked just right. The freshness of the beef and the satisfying fat, highlighted by the rich beef bone broth, made it incredibly delicious. With every bite, the fatty oils flowed out.
It was so delicious!
At first, it didn’t feel spicy, but as she ate, the numbing and spicy sensation slowly spread throughout her mouth. Soon, her lips felt numb, and her tongue was burned by both the spice and the heat. She couldn’t help but gasp.
Since her daughter-in-law didn’t like spicy food, Song Lanzhen hadn’t had spicy food for a long time. Now, her stomach and taste buds were finally satisfied, and it was simply… refreshing!
After finishing the fatty beef, Song Lanzhen picked up a piece of potato. The potato slices were thick, soaked in chili oil, and as she took a bite, they melted in her mouth, with a powdery texture that was deliciously sandy.
She had no idea how Jian Yunlan managed to get the timing just right, but the potato was intact when picked up and didn’t break, yet it melted perfectly in her mouth after being boiled in the soup. The texture was amazing.
“Oh my God, this is so good!” Song Lanzhen’s face was flushed from the spice as she continued eating bite after bite, even taking a sip of the soup.
Although it was spicy, it was so delicious she couldn’t stop drinking the soup!
The rich flavor of the beef bone was incredible, without any trace of industrial additives, and it was both thick and aromatic.
Seeing how satisfied Song Lanzhen was, Xu Lijun couldn’t sit still either.
She was getting a little tempted.
But was it really that good? Xu Lijun rarely ate this kind of street food, so she still had a bit of doubt.
“Boss, is mine ready yet?”
“Auntie, your beef tendon balls need to cook a little longer. It’s almost done.” Jian Yunlan said as he took her bowl. “Any dietary restrictions? What spice level do you prefer?”
“I don’t eat cilantro,” Xu Lijun said. “No other restrictions. I’ll have medium spice, please. Thank you, Boss!”
“Got it.” Jian Yunlan nodded.
Soon, Xu Lijun’s large bowl of Spicy Hot Pot was also steaming hot.
Xu Lijun, a lover of tripe, didn’t hesitate to pick up a piece of tripe as soon as she got her bowl. The fresh tripe was so large it was even bigger than her palm, covered in glistening red oil, sprinkled with minced garlic and sesame seeds, and still dripping with soup.
One bite of the tripe, and Xu Lijun was shocked.
Oh my God, how can it be this tender and crunchy!
Such thin and fresh tripe is difficult to cook just right. Whenever Xu Lijun went to hotpot, the tripe would either still be raw or overcooked.
But this tripe was incredibly crunchy and tender. With just one bite, it could be easily chewed, and it was soaked with the beef bone broth. The spicy soup further accentuated the tripe’s tenderness, and with every chew, the rich soup and tripe juice filled her mouth. The texture was incredibly springy, and chewing it was pure enjoyment.
After swallowing the piping hot tripe, Xu Lijun picked up a beef tendon ball.
This beef tendon ball was nothing like the frozen ones sold in supermarkets—it was incredibly firm. When she bit into it, juice actually splashed out. The texture of the beef tendon ball was chewy and elastic, and as the oil flowed out, it tasted even more delicious against the backdrop of the chili oil.
This beef tendon ball was hand-made!
Holding her bowl, Xu Lijun was pleasantly surprised with every bite. When she got a bit tired of the meat, she picked up some lettuce. The refreshing and juicy lettuce was crunchy, and because it soaked up the soup, it tasted even more flavorful than the meat.
“Unbelievable!” Xu Lijun gave Jian Yunlan a thumbs up. “Boss Jian, your skills alone are worth a thousand bucks.”
Xu Lijun looked at Jian Yunlan, and the more she looked, the more she liked him.
She had already decided to stop worrying about her daughter’s romantic life, but now, as she was eating such delicious Spicy Hot Pot, Xu Lijun couldn’t help but think…
What if her daughter and Boss Jian got together? As her daughter’s mother-in-law, wouldn’t she be able to eat this amazing Spicy Hot Pot every day?
Oh my, it was really tempting.
Meanwhile, Song Lanzhen had just finished her whole bowl and was wiping the sweat from her brow with a napkin. As she wiped, she said, “This is so delicious, Boss Jian! I’ll take another one to bring back to my granddaughter, Xia Xia!”
“Okay.” Jian Yunlan took out a takeout box.
Although Spicy Hot Pot is usually best eaten on-site, Jian Yunlan understood that many customers wanted takeout. Eating it while watching a show at home could be another kind of enjoyment, too.
Song Lanzhen started picking ingredients again. Xia Xia liked quail eggs, so she grabbed a few skewers. The fatty beef… though Xia Xia didn’t like it, her grandmother did, so she picked a few skewers of that too. Tofu puffs were a must.
As she continued picking, Song Lanzhen couldn’t tell anymore whether she was picking for herself or for her granddaughter.
At this point, several passersby were drawn in by the delicious aroma and joined the line to pick their ingredients.
Some people were tempted by the two aunts enjoying their meal so much, while others were looking for a new flavor, tired of the same taste from Yang’s and Zhang’s Spicy Hot Pot.
Of course, there were also two or three high school Omegas, who had just finished their evening classes, in the queue, simply wanting to chat with the handsome Alpha.
They were all wearing blue sports uniforms, both boys and girls, looking about seventeen or eighteen, full of youthful energy, their faces red, whispering to each other:
“It’s rare to see such a gentle and handsome Alpha!”
“Who’s more handsome, the boss or Brother Ming?”
“Can’t compare! And Brother Ming hasn’t even evolved yet. If Ming Ge becomes an Alpha, I’ll be the first to chase him.”
“Does it even matter? I’m already Ming Ge’s underground boyfriend… But the boss is also handsome, and his Spicy Hot Pot smells amazing. I’m so conflicted!”
It seemed like “Ming Ge” was the most handsome boy in their school.
As the Omegas chatted, they even started discussing who would be their boyfriend.
Such a youthful, budding age…
Everyone couldn’t help but sigh in appreciation.
Soon, a line had formed in front of the Spicy Hot Pot stall.
Besides the high school students, many people were also curious about Jian Yunlan. They chatted while waiting in line:
“Boss, did you just start selling recently? I don’t remember seeing you before.”
“These ingredients look really fresh!”
“This spicy aroma is so tempting~ Did you make this chili oil yourself?”
During the gaps between preparing the Spicy Hot Pot, Jian Yunlan took time to answer each question.
As customers finished picking their ingredients, each one was handed a number tag by a large silver dog.
The dog was very imposing but not scary at all, with an elegant and composed demeanor. A small basket hung from its neck, and it politely extended its paw to hand the number tag to those who had finished choosing their ingredients.
“Hahaha, what a handsome dog!” “It looks so polite~” “How does it know what number I am? So smart.”
A few young people were charmed by the sight of the dog working and excitedly pulled out their phones to take pictures and videos.
So adorable!
“Boss, is this dog yours?” a high school girl asked curiously.
“It’s an employee.” Jian Yunlan said, “But please don’t pet the employees.”
“Ahhh!”
It’s an employee!
That made it even cuter!
Looking at the serious and handsome stall owner and the adorable dog, the high school girls clasped their faces, nearly swooning from the cuteness.
A friendly smile spread through the queue.
Soon, the smiles were replaced with surprised exclamations.
“Oh my, the broth for this Spicy Hot Pot is so fragrant! I never drink the soup, but I couldn’t help but take a few sips.”
“Have you had the tofu? It’s amazing—so tender and smooth, simply perfect!”
“The enoki mushrooms are the real winner. The more you chew, the more flavorful they become. Oh my… and the tripe! I should have gotten more tripe. This is real fresh tripe, unlike the one from that chain store which tasted like bleach!”
Even though the Spicy Hot Pot cost one hundred yuan, many people were still a little hesitant when paying. But as soon as they tasted it, they immediately realized how worth it that one hundred yuan was.
Not to mention, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, the broth tasted fantastic, and the boss’s cooking skills were top-notch. The timing was perfect, making this the ultimate Spicy Hot Pot—a king, a master, at its peak!
Such delicious Spicy Hot Pot isn’t something you can just eat anywhere.
More and more people were drawn to the lively crowd eating Spicy Hot Pot, sweating and panting as they enjoyed the dish, and they joined the line.
…So, when Feng Danqing returned to the Spicy Hot Pot stall, she saw that the stall, which had been empty half an hour ago, now had a long line.
Some people were already eating from their bowls on the sidewalk, while others were standing on tiptoe, eagerly waiting.
Feng Danqing: “…”
Damn it, why did she hesitate!
As someone with severe decision-making anxiety, after being deterred by the high price of 100 yuan, Feng Danqing had walked to Yang’s stall. But now, she found herself torn between choosing Yang’s and Zhang’s stalls, unsure of which one to pick.
Moreover, the tempting aroma of the spicy beef bone broth was still lingering around her, and it seemed to grow stronger.
Looking at the pre-made dishes, frozen meatballs, and synthetic meats in the chain store’s freezer, Feng Danqing felt her appetite fade. But her stomach was growling, reminding her she needed to eat.
Finally, Feng Danqing decided: forget the 100 yuan, she was going to taste what this Spicy Hot Pot was like!
Seeing the line grow longer and longer, she no longer hesitated and quickly joined the queue.
Fatigue from a full day of work, hunger, and drowsiness all surged up inside her.
The warm breeze carrying the aroma of Spicy Hot Pot blew over her, and the lively crowd around her made her feel even more exhausted and hungry. The line ahead seemed endless…
Sigh, that’s life as a working person—there’s nothing you can do about it.
Every day is so tough and tiring, and there’s never a moment to rest.
Just then, she suddenly noticed the lotus lantern hanging above the snack stall in the distance, flickering like a firefly.
A breeze swept across her face, as if a pair of gentle hands softly massaged her temples. A soft, sweet voice seemed to echo in her ears:
“Sis, you’ve worked hard today. Go rest well~ And remember, don’t fall in love!”
She called me “sis”!
…Wait, what’s this “don’t fall in love” thing?
Feng Danqing blinked, her dazed mind fading away, and her vision gradually cleared.
Miraculously, the fatigue she had felt earlier vanished, and her mind felt clear. Her senses were sharper than ever before—she could feel the autumn breeze, the stars in the sky, and the distant voices of the bustling crowd.
Everything felt so comfortable and soothing, as if she were being gently supported by a million lights, walking on clouds. The Spicy Hot Pot stall in front of her seemed warmer and livelier.
Around her, people began commenting:
“Do you feel it? I suddenly have so much more energy!”
“This feels so relaxing.” “My back doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“This love-stricken brain of mine suddenly doesn’t want to message my crush…”
“Yeah, is this the power of food?!”
Not far away, Hu Danggui, sitting under the lotus lantern, smiled faintly: The plan worked.
After the fatigue disappeared, everyone in the queue became more patient, and the aroma of the Spicy Hot Pot seemed even more tempting.
Feng Danqing looked at the steaming pot of broth and the fresh ingredients under the light, her mouth watering.
This was the first time in her life that standing in line had made her feel so relaxed—she felt like she could stand in line for a hundred years!
But still, she wanted to eat the Spicy Hot Pot soon.
It was her own fault—if she hadn’t hesitated back then, she’d probably be done with her Spicy Hot Pot by now…
Fortunately, Jian Yunlan cooked quickly, and before long, it was Feng Danqing’s turn. After she selected her ingredients in the bamboo basket, she patiently waited. Soon, a steaming bowl of Spicy Hot Pot was handed to her.
Feng Danqing picked up a tofu puff first.
The tofu puff, soaked in broth, was soft, and when she bit into it, rich broth poured out. It was both scalding and spicy, and the tofu puff’s texture was perfect—chewy and addicting, the more she ate, the more she wanted.
Next, she tried a quail egg. The quail egg was small, but the yolk was incredibly creamy, flowing out like a liquid, hot and spicy, soaking in the red broth. It was absolutely delicious.
“Oh my god, this is so good, the spice is just right!” Like many other customers, Feng Danqing quickly became immersed in the joy of eating, forgetting everything else. “Ugh, why didn’t I come earlier to stand in line…”
The Spicy Hot Pot stall became more and more popular, and although it was Jian Yunlan’s first day setting up the stall, it had already become one of the busiest food stalls at the Lotus Pond neighborhood entrance.
And so, at 8:30 PM:
“Today’s Spicy Hot Pot is sold out,” Jian Yunlan said regretfully, holding up an empty basket of ingredients. “I’ll be setting up here every night this week at 7 PM.”
Two passersby, drawn by the aroma, were about to buy, but they heard the announcement that it was already sold out.
“Ah, we’re late!”
“Let’s leave work earlier tomorrow and come buy at seven!”
“Okay.”
Many of the customers who had already eaten their Spicy Hot Pot also silently made a note of the time.
Seven o’clock…
After finishing a whole bowl of Spicy Hot Pot, Feng Danqing looked up and let out a satisfied burp.
She had made up her mind. Tomorrow, after work, there would be no more hesitation—she would head straight to this snack stall!
*
Song Lanzhen, carrying a takeaway box of Spicy Hot Pot for her granddaughter, walked into the Qinghe Building 3 in Lotus Pond Community.
Lotus Pond Community was a 20-year-old residential area, large in size and divided into many different zones. Song Lanzhen and her husband lived in the villa area, close to the main entrance of the community, but it would take a seven to eight-minute walk to reach Qinghe.
Buildings 1 to 3 in Qinghe were high-rise with elevators, located near the northern commercial street and a school, so there were many young people living here. Some college students rented apartments here, and there were also young couples. Song Lanzhen’s son and daughter-in-law, along with their three-year-old granddaughter, Xia Xia, also lived in this area.
The northern gate led to the First High School, so many high school students who commuted rented rooms here.
Among these high school students, some rented places by themselves, while others had their parents living with them. It was now 9 PM, after the evening self-study session. Many students in high school uniforms, carrying large backpacks, walked tiredly into the building.
As Song Lanzhen entered the building’s lobby, she saw several aunts standing around, chatting and eating sunflower seeds.
The weather had recently turned cold, and everyone was less inclined to chat outside, preferring to gather indoors. Upon seeing Song Lanzhen, the aunts waved her over to join the conversation:
“Sister Song, coming to see Xia Xia again? What good food did you bring her today?”
“I packed some Spicy Hot Pot,” Song Lanzhen smiled, holding up the takeaway box. “A little treat for Xia Xia.”
“Oh, Spicy Hot Pot…”
“Is it clean?”
Several of the aunts exchanged puzzled looks, clearly questioning whether takeaway Spicy Hot Pot could be good.
These women were all the main cooks in their own homes, and they typically looked down on unhygienic takeout, fast food, or chain food stalls. Song Lanzhen had even vented about these things to them before, so they wondered what had changed.
Song Lanzhen noticed the confusion in their eyes but didn’t explain much.
She was secretly glad they didn’t understand.
The more people knew about this delicious Spicy Hot Pot, the more competition she’d face!
It was better not to make things complicated for herself.
…Yes, even though she’d only had it once, Song Lanzhen had already developed a sense of competition.
The aunts didn’t dwell on the issue for long and quickly moved on to another topic:
“My little one just started senior year, and she’s exhausted every day.”
“Sister Hao, you should make some rib soup for Xiao Lin to replenish her energy. By the way, how’s the plumbing issue you mentioned?”
The one being asked was Aunt Han.
Aunt Han, with a bob haircut, was holding a cute little poodle and scratched her head before answering:
“Thanks to Xiao Ming for helping with the plumbing…”
As she spoke, Aunt Han looked up and her eyes brightened.
She cheerfully waved, “Speak of the devil, here comes Xiao Ming!”
The other aunts followed her gaze.
The automatic door to the lobby made a soft ‘ding’ and slid open, and a young man walked in.
He was at that age, around 18, when boys grow tall and lanky. His slightly oversized school uniform sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. The boy had a tall, lean build, with clear muscle lines on his arms, carrying a large bag of rice on his shoulder.
His five fingers were calloused, showing signs of a life spent doing heavy manual labor.
His skin was sun-kissed, a tan from outdoor work.
A large, gray dog—about as tall as him—followed him, looking like a mutt, walking closely beside him with its tail between its legs.
“Xiao Ming, over here!” Aunt Han cheerfully called out, “I never properly thanked you for fixing the plumbing, so come have some soup! I made some nourishing soup, take some home to your brother too.”
As Xiao Ming came closer, Song Lanzhen could see his face more clearly.
The most striking feature about the boy was his eyes.
—Eighteen-year-old Yu Ming had eyes that were sharp, unlike his delicate appearance.
His eyes were dark and bright, giving the impression of a lone wolf raised in isolation—fierce, wild, but softening when facing elders.
“My brother… My brother’s not here these days. He’s at a summer camp,” the boy lowered his eyelids, speaking softly to Aunt Han. “Aunt, leave the soup for Xiao Lin. I need to go home and study for the monthly exam.”
As Yu Ming spoke to the aunts, the big dog beside him obediently lay down, not barking, just watching them with its big, wet eyes.
The dog, very friendly and curious, approached Song Lanzhen, sniffed her palm, then gently licked her and rubbed against her, making a soft “woof.”
“This dog is so well-behaved!” Song Lanzhen beamed.
Seeing the dog reminded her of the large silver dog she had seen earlier at the Spicy Hot Pot stall. That dog had been majestic but somewhat aloof and not very friendly.
Maybe it was because it was a working dog.
“Yes, his name is Liang Liang,” Yu Ming smiled and casually patted the dog’s head.
Liang Liang happily tilted his head and rubbed against him.
“Aren’t you going to have some of Aunt Han’s soup?” Aunt Han asked with some regret, patting Yu Ming’s shoulder. “You study so hard every day, you probably haven’t eaten well. You look like you’ve lost some weight…”
When Aunt Han said this, Song Lanzhen noticed it too.
The boy in front of her was indeed quite thin—part of it was due to puberty, but it also made her feel that he might be a bit undernourished.
Yu Ming shook his head, his eyes bright: “Next time, thank you, Auntie.”
“…By the way, I just passed by the station, and they said this rice is from Aunt Li’s family, so I carried it over while passing by. I’ll leave it at your doorstep later.”
Yu Ming pointed to the sack of rice on his shoulder.
Aunt Li quickly said, “Okay, okay, you’ve helped so much already! I’ve told you many times not to trouble yourself like this. You’re already working hard with your studies.”
The other aunts gathered around Yu Ming, also speaking:
“Yeah, Xiao Ming has helped us move so many things, he’s been so hardworking.”
“He even helped walk my dog and move my sofa!”
“When my youngest was sick, it was still Yu Ming who carried her to the community hospital.”
Song Lanzhen’s son and daughter-in-law had just moved in, and since she didn’t live here, she didn’t know much about Yu Ming.
From what the aunts said, it seemed that Yu Ming was very popular in Qinghe Building 3.
—He was very helpful and always volunteered to assist with things like carrying rice, fixing plumbing, or walking dogs—dirty, laborious tasks that he always took care of without seeking recognition.
Plus, Yu Ming was diligent in his studies and always ranked at the top in school, a typical example of the “perfect child” from someone else’s family.
What aunt wouldn’t like such a kid?
“It’s no trouble,” Yu Ming smiled.
At a time when he was supposed to be growing, Yu Ming was so thin.
The aunts didn’t have anything they could give him in return, so they all wanted to invite him over for a meal, hoping to treat him well:
“Tomorrow I’m making corn and rib soup, Xiao Ming, come have some. You need to replenish your nutrition to grow taller.”
“Yes, it’s an important time for growth, you really need to take care of your body… Xiao Ming, I’ll make you steamed eggs and bring them over.”
“Our nanny is making a special congee with lots of meat and fish tomorrow. Xiao Ming, come over for dinner!”
Yu Ming politely declined each invitation, but with so many aunts, he found it hard to refuse them all at once.
Seeing that everyone was talking, Song Lanzhen didn’t speak, feeling somewhat left out.
She suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and, on impulse, held out the takeaway box of Spicy Hot Pot and said:
—”This Spicy Hot Pot I packed is fragrant and spicy, the tripe is bigger than my face, so flavorful and oily, it’s really delicious. Xiao Ming, would you like to try it?”
The air fell silent.
Yu Ming: “…”
The other aunts: “………”
They were all offering him nourishing soups, egg dishes, and congee.
—But somehow, there was Spicy Hot Pot mixed in.
How unhealthy!
The aunts looked at Song Lanzhen with disapproving eyes, thinking, “Sister Song, you really are something.”
Yu Ming’s expression seemed to be one of surprise.
Yu Ming didn’t like spicy food.
There was no particular reason for it—he had grown up in the Jiangnan region, where the food was mild, and he enjoyed foods like steamed bass and red bean porridge.
Spicy Hot Pot… he had tried it once during a school trip, and it was like hellish food—spicy enough to make young Yu Ming cry and feel like his throat was on fire, leaving him with a deep psychological scar.
After that, he vowed that no matter how hungry he got, he would never eat Spicy Hot Pot again.
Yu Ming lowered his eyelids and said, “Sorry, Aunt Song, I don’t eat Spicy Hot Pot.”
Just as he finished speaking, he suddenly paused.
—A fragrant smell wafted through the air.
The smell was rich, with the spicy aroma of beef bone soup and the fresh scent of various ingredients, making one’s mouth water involuntarily.
…It was quite enticing.
