On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

"Wow, Uncle, your chicken soup smells so good it makes me dizzy!" Seeing the uncle bring the chicken soup over, Lin Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and exaggeratedly made a look of intoxication.

Upon hearing the praise, the uncle immediately and cheerfully ladled soup and ingredients into the small bowls in front of each person.

The bright yellow broth, tender chicken, and plump shiitake mushrooms look incredibly tempting.

Wang Lan couldn't wait any longer. She blew on the hot soup, carefully took a sip, and her eyes widened immediately: "Mmm! So fresh! It's so fresh! This soup is amazing!"

Ignoring the heat, he picked up another piece of chicken and stuffed it into his mouth. Even though it was burning him, he didn't want to spit it out and mumbled, "The meat... the meat is stewed so tender! It's delicious! It's completely different from the chicken you buy at the supermarket!"

Everyone was amused by his impatient manner and picked up their bowls as well.

The chicken soup, with its rich and delicious flavor, instantly captivated everyone's taste buds upon tasting it.

That was the pure, original aroma of the food, carrying the unique fragrance of a wood-fired stove.

"This chicken soup is really delicious." Su Yuqing took a small sip and whispered to Chen Mo, "I feel so much more energetic."

Seeing her satisfied expression, Chen Mo smiled and added another spoonful of soup for her: "Drink more if you like; chicken soup is good for your health."

Then, the uncle and aunt brought out other dishes one after another: stir-fried seasonal vegetables, bright green and glossy; farmhouse stir-fried pork, with local pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, stir-fried until fragrant and savory with fermented black beans; golden and fluffy stir-fried local eggs; and a dish of homemade pickled vegetables, refreshing and appetizing.

Although the dishes are simple, they are all hearty and full of rustic flavor from the mountains.

"Please eat first. If you need more, just let us know and we'll make you more." The older woman smiled warmly at the table of college students, as if she were looking at her own children.

"This is such a feast! Thank you so much, Uncle and Auntie!" Zhou Yue said sweetly.

"It's not hard work at all, I'm glad you're enjoying your meal!" The woman rubbed her apron, her face beaming with joy.

After tasting a piece of chicken, Li Zhe smiled and said to the uncle, "Uncle, the muscle fibers in this chicken are very obvious, it has a strong chewy texture, and it is rich in flavor compounds. It is indeed a characteristic of free-range chickens."

Although the uncle didn't quite understand terms like "muscle fiber," he knew it was a compliment to his products, and he beamed with joy: "Yes, yes, all our vegetables are grown in our own fields, and our chickens roam freely in the mountains. There's nothing fancy about it; it's just natural!"

Zhao Ya ate quietly, but her eyes were full of satisfaction.

She ate her meal in small bites, her gaze inadvertently sweeping across Shen Xinghe diagonally across from her.

He ate with great elegance, making almost no sound. He used chopsticks very skillfully, savoring each bite of food slowly and carefully.

Actually, among all these people, Shen Xinghe's eating habits are the healthiest.

Chewing food thoroughly before swallowing can reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines and aid digestion.

Another benefit is that it avoids delaying the feeling of fullness, thus preventing overeating.

This is also one of the ways Shen Xinghe maintains his figure.

This contrasted sharply with Wang Lan's swift and deliberate eating nearby.

Zhao Ya was somewhat lost in thought when Lin Xiaoxiao playfully nudged her with her elbow. She quickly lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, and buried her face in her food. Zhou Yue, while enjoying her meal, chatted with the older couple: "Uncle and Auntie, I must come often! Your cooking skills and the authentic ingredients are something you can't get even for a fortune in the city!"

"Come often! Come often!" The uncle and aunt nodded repeatedly. "Xiao Shen's friend is our friend! I'll give you a discount whenever you come."

"No need for discounts. You grew and raised these yourself, and you put in a lot of effort. The normal market price is what it is. Plus, the manpower and time you spent processing the ingredients and cooking them all need to be factored in. How can you offer a discount?" Zhou Yue quickly shook her head and refused.

The uncle and aunt were quite impressed by the girl from the city's honesty.

Everyone was thoroughly satisfied with this authentic farm-style meal, and their bellies were round and full.

It not only filled our stomachs, but also gave us a long-lost sense of groundedness and warmth, a feeling of being close to the land.

After the meal, everyone rushed to help clear the dishes, but the uncle and aunt stopped them with smiles: "No need, no need, you young people should rest. Climbing the mountain path is tiring! Besides, you can't move right after eating. Sit down for half an hour to digest. You can sit in the yard and rest for a while. The environment in the city isn't good, so you can experience the air and environment here."

Following the advice of the older folks, everyone moved to the yard to rest, giving their stomachs enough time to digest the hearty lunch.

The village, surrounded and blessed by mountains and rivers, has an exceptionally pleasant temperature. The warm afternoon sun of autumn shines on the farmhouses, unlike the stuffy heat of the steel jungle in the city, leaving only just the right amount of warmth.

There is an old locust tree in the courtyard, with lush branches and leaves that cast a large area of ​​shade.

Several small bamboo stools and an old rattan chair were placed under the shade of the tree.

Wang Lan curiously examined the farm tools piled up in the corner of the yard, picked up a hoe and weighed it in his hand, then clicked his tongue and said, "Wow, this thing doesn't look heavy, but it's quite heavy. Farm work is really not easy."

Li Zhe became interested in the small vegetable garden that had been set up in a corner of the yard, where seasonal vegetables were growing well.

He pushed up his glasses, squatted down to carefully observe the leaves and soil, and murmured, "There are no signs of chemical pesticides being used. Pest and disease control should be done using physical or biological methods. This planting model is very ecological."

Zhou Yue and Lin Xiaoxiao preferred the free-range chickens that were leisurely strolling around the yard.

Lin Xiaoxiao tried to approach, but the chicken immediately flew away warily, making her giggle.

Zhou Yue took out her phone and kept snapping pictures of the glossy feathers and proud expressions of the hens, muttering, "These are real free-range chickens! Look at their spirit!"

Su Yuqing chose to sit down and rest on a bamboo bench under the shade of a tree.

Su Yuqing took a deep breath of the fresh, grassy air, feeling all the fatigue of the past few days wash away. She said softly, "It's so quiet here. It feels like time has slowed down."

Chen Mo moved a stool and went around to Su Yuqing's back, gently reaching out to hug her from behind.

Su Yuqing was slightly taken aback by Chen Mo's sudden intimate gesture, and a warm feeling welled up throughout her body.

She immediately glanced at her other companions around her, and seeing that no one was looking in her direction, she relaxed her body without any resistance and gently leaned back into his warm and firm embrace.

Chen Mo's chin rested perfectly on her shoulder, his head close to hers. The faint fragrance of her hair mingled with the scent of sunshine and grass in the courtyard, filling him with a sense of peace. (End of Chapter)