Chapter 368 - 194: A Constant Yearning Will Be Answered

Chapter 368: Chapter 194: A Constant Yearning Will Be Answered

Wang was from Xiangjiang, with ancestral roots in Guangdong. In 1980, he won second place in his first-ever kickboxing match in Southeast Asia, but a subsequent injury forced him to retire and get a regular job.

This time, he was accompanying President Qian back to China to negotiate business deals and search for relatives. His secretarial duties were secondary; his main responsibilities were ensuring President Qian’s safety and handling some translation work.

In the Guangdong region and in Hang City, where Mandarin was relatively common, his translation skills were quite effective.

But ever since they arrived in Sichuan...

’Sichuanese was simply lawless!’

’Don’t principals even speak Mandarin when giving speeches on the school playground?’

’The students listened with great interest, completely unfazed!’

After arriving in Jiazhou, he discovered that the Jiazhou dialect was even harder to understand than Sichuanese!

The once lively and cheerful secretary gradually became quiet and reserved.

He couldn’t understand much Sichuanese, but the food in Sichuan was amazing!

Especially after coming to Sichuan from Hang City, he felt as if he had stepped into a food lover’s paradise.

He had originally worried that the spicy Sichuan food would burn a hole right through him.

But the actual experience was far better than he had imagined. Delicious food was everywhere; even the meals in the factory cafeteria were exquisite.

This little restaurant in the countryside, in particular, left him utterly shocked.

The young chef managed to make every single dish so incredibly delicious. Wang had buried his head in his bowl, eating five whole bowls of rice with just the Mapo Tofu.

He had thought that was the pinnacle of deliciousness.

Until Zhou Yan went and invited his master, who prepared a basin of Linjiang Shanshi.

Never mind that it made the boss cry again—even he felt like crying after eating it.

It was too delicious!

In Guangdong, a more famous way to prepare eel was in a sizzling clay pot. Back in Xiangjiang, he used to frequent a small Yue restaurant that served it. The sauce was rich and fragrant, the eel meat was firm yet tender, and the flavor was savory without any gaminess.

It was completely different from this Linjiang Shanshi, each dish possessing its own unique flavor.

But he had to admit, this shredded eel was refreshingly savory and numbingly spicy. A single pinch of the chopsticks brought a mouthful of eel meat, with no need to spit out bones. It was like slurping noodles—an incredibly satisfying experience.

But the absolute best part was the basin of hand-pulled noodles at the end. They were poured directly into the remaining Linjiang Shanshi broth, and once the noodles had absorbed some of the liquid, everyone served themselves a bowl.

The noodles, having soaked up the broth, were chewy and smooth. Savory, spicy, and refreshing, they surpassed any bowl of noodles he had ever eaten.

And this was made just by mixing noodles with leftovers!

’The people of Sichuan really know how to eat.’

And seeing President Qian’s reaction after eating the Linjiang Shanshi, the trip to find his relatives was most likely going to be a success.

Others might not know, but he was the one who had accompanied President Qian to Hang City for the ancestral worship rites.

During the rites in Hang City, President Qian had put on the full air of a multinational corporation’s big boss. He walked with his back straight, let his wallet lead the way, and had his father’s memorial tablet enshrined in the ancestral hall.

It was a far cry from today, where he had been moved to tears by food twice.

’His mother clearly holds a much more special place in President Qian’s heart.’

Although President Qian was always polite, he usually maintained a sense of distance. He rarely got too close to anyone, let alone dine with a family of strangers.

Yet here he was today, squeezed around a traditional square table with the family from the small restaurant, happily clinking glasses with Lin Zhiqiang and enjoying the meal. It was truly surprising.

Qian Siyuan put down his chopsticks, let out a satisfied sigh, and said with a smile, a hint of tipsiness in his voice, "I am usually very self-disciplined when I eat, always stopping when I’m seventy percent full. But since I’ve come to China, I’ve eaten until I was stuffed on two occasions. One is right now, and the other was at noon. Master Zhou and Master Xiao, your culinary skills are simply superb. You’ve truly whetted my appetite."

Everyone laughed at his words.

It wasn’t just him; who at the table hadn’t eaten their fill and then some?

Zhou Yan had prepared a generous portion of noodles for each person, so with the entire basin of noodles and eel wiped clean, it was no wonder some of them were stuffed.

"Master Zhou, thank you for your help. Once I’ve successfully found my family, I will come back to thank you in person." Qian Siyuan stood up and gripped Zhou Yan’s hand tightly.

"You’re welcome. It was nothing," Zhou Yan said with a smile. "I hope you succeed in your search, Mr. Qian, and find your mother’s hometown."

"Thank you." Qian Siyuan nodded, then looked at Xiao Lei. "Master Xiao, where should I pick you up tomorrow morning?"

Xiao Lei replied, "I’ll wait for you at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative at 8:30 tomorrow morning."

"Alright, then I’ll be heading back to the Jiazhou Hotel first," Qian Siyuan said. He took his wallet from Wang, pulled out two thick stacks of Great Unity banknotes, and offered them to Xiao Lei and Zhou Yan. "I’ve troubled you greatly today. This is a small token of my appreciation for your hard work. Please, I hope you two masters will accept it."

Xiao Lei raised a hand and pushed the money back, his expression serious as he shook his head. "Finding joy in helping others is a traditional Chinese virtue. We’re not helping you for money, but because we are moved by your journey across the world to find your family."

"A person lives but one life, just as grass sees but one autumn. We Chinese believe that fallen leaves return to their roots, which is why your mother always longed for her hometown."

"You were born in the United States, but the blood of China flows in your veins. Returning to acknowledge your ancestors is a good thing. From now on, no matter where you are, you will at least know where your hometown is, where your roots are."

"Master is right," Zhou Yan nodded. ’Master Xiao was once a head chef; he really has a way with words.’

’And he possesses a romance that’s ingrained in the bones of the Chinese people.’

Qian Siyuan’s hand, still clutching the money, dropped to his side. He bowed to Xiao Lei and said, somewhat ashamed, "It is I who was being shallow."

"Uncle, this drawing is for you!" Zhou Momo slid off her stool, grabbed the picture she had drawn that afternoon, and handed it to Qian Siyuan. She beamed and said, "Don’t cry~ You have to be happy!"

"Alright, thank you." Qian Siyuan accepted the drawing with a smile. He fumbled in his pockets but couldn’t find a suitable gift. In the end, he offered the stack of Great Unity banknotes in his hand to Zhou Momo. "Overseas, you have to pay to buy paintings from great artists. You draw so well, how about you let this uncle buy your first-ever painting?"