The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 262 Hell, Heaven, and Earth? (Part 2)

Zheng Lingling carried a plastic bag filled with ingredients and stepped into the old, self-built building.

The hallway was filled with a mixture of odors: the smell of cooking oil, the smell of rotting garbage, and an indescribable damp and musty smell.

On the narrow staircase, several shirtless children were chasing and playing, their screams and laughter echoing in the enclosed space. At the entrance of the stairwell, several middle-aged women sat on small stools. When they saw her return, they glanced at her for a moment, then began to talk in hushed tones, occasionally uttering a few indistinct whispers with a hint of strange scrutiny.

Zheng Lingling lowered her head and quickened her pace, wanting only to return to her own little world as soon as possible.

…………

The air in the courtyard was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, mixed with the delicate fragrance of precious flowers, and a subtle, relaxing aroma.

Every corner is cleverly concealed with sound equipment, playing soft guqin music, enveloping the entire space in a transcendent atmosphere.

At this moment, the courtyard was already bustling with people.

Elite men in suits, arm in arm with their wives in haute couture gowns, gathered in twos and threes.

They spoke in hushed tones or raised their glasses in greeting, their every gesture exuding the composure and confidence of those in positions of authority. They also offered Zhao Xiaochui and Jiang Ying friendly smiles.

They spoke in hushed tones or raised their glasses in greeting, their every gesture exuding the composure and confidence of those in positions of authority. They also offered Zhao Xiaochui and Jiang Ying friendly smiles.

"I need to go socialize a bit first, you can make yourself at home." Jiang Ying released Zhao Xiaochui's hand, glanced at the long table by the pool, and said in a concise and efficient tone, "There is a buffet by the pool, have some first. The formal dinner will begin later."

Since it wasn't time for some of the girls to make their appearance yet, Jiang Ying could leave Zhao Xiaochui without worry for the time being.

She was clearly familiar with this kind of social occasion, and soon she blended into a group of wealthy women.

Zhao Xiaochui wasn't interested in these people for the time being because he didn't know how to communicate with them. Instead, he was very interested in another group.

In this interplay of luxury and power, a group of overlooked service staff in dark uniforms move about like ghosts. They are all dressed uniformly; the men wear sharp Zhongshan suits, and the women wear modified cheongsams. Their faces are calm, and their gazes are focused.

Their movements were gentle and precise; the champagne and delicate pastries on the trays seemed to float in the air, silently delivered to each guest who needed them. They didn't initiate conversation, but always appeared precisely in the right place before the guests even gave a signal.

Their presence is extremely low, yet they are everywhere—high-class silent waiters.

Zhao Xiaochui simply tilted his head slightly, and a beautiful waitress in a cheongsam appeared silently beside him.

Without speaking, she subtly detected Zhao Xiaochui's need with an inquiring look. She then bowed slightly, gesturing for him to follow her. She led Zhao Xiaochui through the crowd to a buffet table cleverly concealed by Podocarpus macrophyllus trees by the pool. It was a convenient and relatively quiet spot, conveniently away from the bustling social scene.

…………

18-year-old Zheng Lingling does not live with her boyfriend; the three female chess players share a 25-square-meter apartment.

Inside the room was a huge two-tiered iron bed. The bed was used to store clothes, and the space below was for three people to sleep on the floor.

You can even hang clothes to dry on the very top.

It's basically a design where clothes are hung on top, things are placed in the middle, and people lie down at the bottom.

At work, the three girls wake up at 8 o'clock. The first one wakes up and goes to buy groceries; the second one wakes up and brushes her teeth and washes her face; the third one wakes up and goes to the common area to cook.

The reason for this arrangement is simply to stagger the time spent washing up.

But today, Zheng Lingling quit her job; all she needs to do is cook herself a big meal!
…………

"Sir, do you need help?"

The beautiful waitress finally spoke, and her voice was truly lovely.

Not wanting to reveal his unfamiliarity with these occasions, Zhao Xiaochui said in a low voice, "No need to trouble yourself, just give me a few things, a little of each."

He meant to say "take whatever you like," but fearing it would be impolite, he changed it to "a little of everything," his tone carrying a hint of unnatural politeness.

The waiter paused slightly, then a barely perceptible glint of something unusual flashed in his eyes.

Most customers simply order what they want or do it themselves; it's rare to see someone as polite and somewhat shy as him. She replied softly, "Yes, sir. However, we have a rare, unavailable vintage liquor available today. If you don't mind, may I pour you a glass?"

Her tone was tentative, clearly indicating that this was an "exception" that went beyond the scope of regular service.

Zhao Xiaochui was somewhat surprised. Was this a high-class waitress? Or was it because of his attitude that she reacted this way?
Seeing her sincere attitude, he nodded.

The waiter turned around and quickly brought over a crystal glass filled with amber-colored liquor.

She introduced it softly: "This is the 'Flying Fairy' Moutai specially supplied for the state banquet in 1978. Even for a banquet of this caliber, it is rare to see such a product. Please enjoy it, sir."

Then, the first dish was carefully served.

It was a small dish of Iranian Almas caviar served with gold leaf flatbread.

The waitress, clearly having received specific instructions, explained in a polite and respectful tone: "These are fish eggs from albino sturgeon in the Caspian Sea. The annual yield is less than ten kilograms, and they must be preserved in an ice cellar at minus two degrees Celsius to ensure their extreme freshness. Each egg is carefully selected by hand and then adorned with pure gold leaf to showcase its nobility."

Zhao Xiaochui looked at the plate, where every caviar was plump and round. With the waiter's lips twitching, he scooped up a full spoonful and ate it in big bites.

…………

Zheng Lingling spent 3.5 yuan on a bag of two large frozen chicken drumsticks, plus other miscellaneous ingredients and daily necessities, which saved her the shipping fee.

Wash the two chicken drumsticks and place them on a large plate. Cover the plate with a small bowl in the middle. Place the plate in a steamer and steam for 25 minutes after the water boils. Use your phone to time it.

The order came with a clove of garlic, which I peeled, chopped, and then added some chopped chili peppers and ginger. I poured hot oil over it, and then added some light soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, oyster sauce, sesame oil, salt, and MSG...

Zheng Lingling wanted to add more, but unfortunately, that was all the terms she could get.

Next came the baby radishes. They were washed, chopped, and placed in a large bowl, along with the radish leaves. With all the ingredients ready, Zheng Lingling went to the steamer, glanced at the countdown, and then began to watch a short, relaxing video with great interest.

The women inside are so fair-skinned and beautiful, just like two big chicken legs in a pot!
…………

The second dish was a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

The small purple clay pot was placed on a warming tray, steaming gently. The waiter lifted the lid, and a rich aroma instantly filled the air.

As if introducing the young man to his future life, the waiter explained in great detail: "This dish brings together more than 20 kinds of rare ingredients such as abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, fish maw, and dried scallops. It needs to be prepared three days in advance, and after repeated soaking, soaking, blanching, and deep-frying, it is simmered for more than eight hours in a broth made from old hen, Jinhua ham, etc., to achieve the realm of 'the aroma of meat wafts to the neighbors when the pot is opened, and even Buddha would abandon his meditation and jump over the wall to come.'"

Zhao Xiaochui scooped up a spoonful with a small spoon, tasted it, and then a look of amazement flashed in his eyes. He seemed completely oblivious to the scalding heat, and when the waiter's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, he had already drunk the entire bowl of "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" in one gulp, disregarding his image.

…………

"Drip drop~"

The 25-minute countdown finally ended. Zheng Lingling, ignoring the heat, carefully carried out the plate containing the large chicken leg, using a rag as a cushion.

The steaming hot chicken leg exuded an enticing aroma. She quickly immersed it in a basin of prepared cold water, instantly locking in the heat and making the chicken skin firm.

She couldn't wait to take the chicken leg out and, while it was still warm, shredded the chicken into strips by hand. The shredded chicken was poured into a large bowl, which was already filled with chopped radish chunks and radish leaves.

Next, she poured in the secret seasoning from a small bowl—minced garlic, balsamic vinegar, light soy sauce, and a little chili oil. Then, she slowly poured the rich, golden chicken broth she had skimmed off while cooking the chicken legs into the bowl, and the steaming broth instantly brought out the aroma of all the ingredients.

She picked up her chopsticks and thoroughly mixed all the ingredients and seasonings, ensuring that every strand of chicken and every piece of radish was coated with the tempting sauce.

And so, along with two freshly bought hot sesame seed cakes from downstairs, this luxurious dinner worth 7.3 yuan was ready.

"Let's eat!"

Zheng Lingling's eyes lit up. She eagerly grabbed a sesame seed cake, placed it against the fragrant pile of chicken and radish in the bowl, and took a big bite.
The aroma of wheat in the pancake, the savory flavor of the chicken, the refreshing sweetness of the radish, and the richness of the seasonings explode in your mouth instantly.

"Ow~"

She let out a satisfied sigh, as if it were the most delicious food in the world.

(End of this chapter)