The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: A Menu with Historical Heritage

Ye Feng was slightly taken aback by his words, finding them a bit baffling. ’What could his old man possibly need his help with?’

”Just tell me. As long as it’s something I can do, I won’t refuse. I’ll just consider it repaying the favor I owe you.”

Ye Zheng found his son’s way of speaking a bit annoying, while Ye Feng was also quite sharp-tongued when talking to his father.

Though they seemed to rub each other the wrong way, deep down, they both knew they were the most important person in each other’s lives.

”A month from now, you should be recovered, right?” Ye Zheng asked.

Ye Feng nodded. ”I’ll be able to take care of myself, but I can’t do any strenuous exercise. So don’t even bring up anything too physically demanding!”

Ye Zheng chuckled. ”I know, it’s nothing difficult! I’ll have someone send it over later!”

After saying that, Ye Zheng hung up the phone without waiting for Ye Feng to ask any questions.

”Hello? Hello?” Ye Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The old man on the other end had actually hung up on him.

Han Xiaorui asked, ”You can’t guess what Uncle Ye wants your help with?”

Ye Feng looked just as clueless. ”If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked. Forget it. He’ll tell me when the time comes.”

”I’ve already asked him for help with that matter. He’s going to talk to Yu Lina’s father this afternoon.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Does it feel a bit awkward asking your father for help with this?”

Ye Feng smiled and nodded. ”Yeah, but it’s not just my problem. It’s a matter between the Ye Family and the Yu Family.”

”Since my father has already agreed, he’ll talk to Yu Lina’s father this afternoon.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Then I’m relieved. The last time Uncle Ye came to Shencheng, with the way things were, I didn’t get a chance to treat him to a meal. Next time he visits, you have to tell me so I can host him properly.”

”No need!” Ye Feng waved his hand dismissively. ’You can’t be too nice to the old man. Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile.’

If Ye Zheng knew his son, Ye Feng, thought of him this way, he’d probably be furious enough to twist his own nose out of shape.

A smile touched Han Xiaorui’s eyes as she said playfully, ”Alright, how you get along with your father is your business. You’re father and son, after all. Even if you have a massive fight, you’ll still make up when it matters.”

”As for me, I’m your girlfriend, which makes Uncle Ye my elder. He respects me, and I respect him. You don’t need to get involved in our interactions.”

”Well...” Ye Feng was exasperated. He hadn’t expected Han Xiaorui to be so respectful toward his old man. ”Fine, do as you please. Just don’t let yourself get pushed around.”

Han Xiaorui laughed. ”Of course not. I’m not the type to let myself be wronged.”

Just then, Uncle Xu appeared, smiling cheerfully. ”Young Master, Xiao Han, lunch is ready. It’s time to eat.”

”Thank you, Uncle Xu,” Ye Feng said, then led Han Xiaorui to wash their hands before heading to the dining room.

Seeing the fresh roses in the vase on the table and the simple, elegant tablecloth, Han Xiaorui couldn’t help but feel impressed.

’The Xu family is very particular.’

When the table was filled with dishes, Han Xiaorui felt her earlier thought had been an understatement.

’How could this be described as just ’particular’?’

’This was clearly the kind of heritage that could only be built up with money over generations!’

Han Xiaorui asked curiously, ”Uncle Xu, could you tell me about these? The dishes all look so exquisite.”

Uncle Xu smiled. ”Just a moment. We have a menu today. I’ll go get it.”

A moment later, Uncle Xu returned from the kitchen.

Han Xiaorui took the menu and, looking at the historical feel of it, was slightly taken aback. ”Uncle Xu, this menu doesn’t look like it was written recently, does it?”

The characters were traditional, and she saw that the recipe descriptions were from the Republican Era. She had even just spotted a signature left by someone named ”Zhang Daqian.”

Uncle Xu replied, ”This menu has been in use since the Xu family moved here during the Republican Era. More dishes were gradually added, and it’s been used ever since. Back then, many famous people were guests here and left behind some of their favorite dishes...”

The Bean-Crumb-Fried Silver Cod, for example. When Old Master Xu was young, he once treated Zhang Daqian to this dish, and it was said to be one of Zhang Daqian’s favorites.

This Crispy Tangerine Peel Spare Ribs dish was once served to Mr. Jiang during the Republican Era and received high praise. It was exquisitely plated, aromatic, and not at all greasy.

Han Xiaorui pointed to a fish dish and asked, ”Uncle Xu, what is this Big Yellow Fish cooked with?”

Uncle Xu answered, ”Potherb mustard. It’s specially pickled. The flavor is quite good; I think you’ll like it.”

At lunch, it was just Ye Feng and Han Xiaorui eating, but there were eight dishes and one soup.

There was a wide variety, but the portions for each dish were small.

After Uncle Xu left, Han Xiaorui pointed to the menu. ”Ye Feng, when you’ve recovered, could you copy out the recipes from this menu for me?”

Ye Feng was taken aback. ”You like this stuff?”

Han Xiaorui broke into a radiant smile. ”I like recipes, but I like turning them into actual dishes even more, just to see what they taste like.”

’Plus, she had Granny Cai, who also loved to explore good food. They could discover how to make delicious things together.’

Ye Feng thought of how Han Xiaorui’s eyes lit up brighter than usual whenever she saw good food, and he smiled. ”Alright, I’ll transcribe them for you. If you like it so much, why don’t you just take the menu with you?”

Han Xiaorui quickly waved her hands. ”I can’t do that! This is practically a family heirloom for the Xu family, passed down since the Republican Era. I saw that it even has some people’s personal notes in it. It’s an antique.”

Ye Feng paused, his gaze falling on the thick menu. ”You have a point. It should be preserved properly.”

After the meal, Han Xiaorui accompanied Ye Feng to the garden to admire the flowers.

”You should take your afternoon nap,” Han Xiaorui said, looking at her watch. ”My visit is over, so I should be heading back.”

Ye Feng turned his head to look at Han Xiaorui. ”I really want to take you home, but unfortunately, I can’t drive yet. I’ll have Uncle Xu take you.”

Han Xiaorui waved her hand. ”No need. I can get a ride just outside.”

Reunions are joyous, but partings are melancholic.

As Han Xiaorui was leaving, Uncle Xu saw her to the door. ”Xiao Han, please come visit often!”

’When she comes, the Young Master smiles more, and he even ate an extra half-bowl of rice.’

”I will. The food was delicious. Uncle Xu, please pass on my thanks to the chef for me,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile, very satisfied with the meal.

Uncle Xu was so delighted his eyes narrowed to slits. ”Of course, I’ll pass it on. She will be very happy.”

Han Xiaorui, with her shoulder bag on, walked along the tree-lined sidewalk. As she was about to hail a cab at the corner, someone suddenly blocked her path.

Han Xiaorui looked closely and saw that it was Yu Lina. Beside her was another young woman who was holding her back.

”Lina, don’t be rash. You’re such a good person; Ye Feng will see your good qualities sooner or later.”

Han Xiaorui hadn’t paid much attention to the girl with Yu Lina, but upon hearing that sentence, she felt something was off.

’If she were a true friend, wouldn’t she know that what Yu Lina is doing is wrong? Shouldn’t she be persuading Yu Lina to give up on Ye Feng?’

Yu Lina violently threw off her friend’s grip. ”Tang Ying, let go of me! I’m going to teach this woman who’s after Ye Feng a lesson today. She really doesn’t know her place.”

Han Xiaorui dodged a few steps to the side, causing Yu Lina to lunge at empty air. She stumbled into the roadside bushes and fell to the ground.

Han Xiaorui was stunned. She had every reason to suspect that the one instigating Yu Lina’s crazed behavior was this girl named Tang Ying.