Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

Old Shi picked up a piece of stewed cabbage with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly without any expression on his face. Then he picked up a steamed bun, broke off a small piece, ate a couple of bites, and put down his chopsticks.

"Old Shi, why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your liking?"

Deputy Factory Director Yang asked cautiously.

Old Shi waved his hand, giving a somewhat forced smile: "No, no, the food was very good. It's just that I have this old problem, I'm getting old, my stomach isn't good, and I don't have much of an appetite."

Although he said that, Deputy Factory Director Yang knew exactly what was going on.

Old Shi probably didn't like these dishes.

Deputy Factory Director Yang was extremely anxious.

This old man Shi is a treasure; he was specially sent by the higher-ups to solve their factory's technical problems. If he were to starve and get seriously ill, he could forget about being the deputy factory director.

But there's still no news from Director Li, and he's getting anxious but there's nothing he can do.

"Mr. Shi, would you like some more? You'll be busy this afternoon; you can't go without eating."

Deputy Factory Director Yang advised.

"No, no, I'll just have some water."

Old Shi picked up the enamel mug on the table and took a sip of hot water.

The workers in the workshop also noticed the situation.

"Look, that old expert barely ate a few bites."

"They must be complaining that the food in our cafeteria isn't good enough."

"Nonsense, who does he think he is to eat this like us?"

They spoke in hushed tones.

Just as Deputy Factory Director Yang was getting impatient and wondering if he should ask the canteen to cook a special meal for Old Shi and send him two dishes, a series of hurried footsteps came from the workshop door.

"Factory Manager! Factory Manager Yang!"

Logistics Director Li Weimin rushed in, covered in sweat, carrying two large military mess kits.

"Old Li? You're finally back!" Deputy Factory Director Yang greeted him like a savior, rushing to his side. "How did it go? Did you find your mentor?"

Director Li, panting heavily, shook his head: "I...I couldn't get anyone to come. But I did buy the groceries!"

As he spoke, he proudly presented the two lunchboxes in his hand to Deputy Factory Director Yang.

"Vegetables?" Deputy Factory Director Yang was taken aback.

Before he could ask any further questions, Director Li had already taken three steps at a time and walked to Old Shi's desk.

At this moment, Old Shi was getting up, intending to go back to the guesthouse to rest.

"Mr. Shi! Mr. Shi, please don't leave!" Director Li hurriedly called out.

In front of everyone, he slammed open the lid of one of the lunchboxes.

"Mr. Shi, please try this! I found it especially for you!"

The moment the lunchbox lid was opened, an indescribable, overpowering aroma burst forth from the lunchbox!

The aroma, spicy and numbing, along with a wave of heat, instantly swept through the entire fitter's workshop!

The workers, who were eating and chatting, stopped talking abruptly when they smelled the aroma. Everyone sniffed and turned their eyes toward the source of the fragrance.

"My goodness! What smells so good!"

"This smell...it's so strong! So tempting!"

Even the college students who were eating cabbage buns perked up at the smell, their eyes lighting up involuntarily.

Shi Tingyue, who was closest to the lunchbox, felt it most acutely.

That authentic and intense Sichuan flavor was like a key, instantly unlocking his long-dormant taste buds.

His previously calm eyes suddenly lit up, staring intently at the bright red and tempting chicken pieces in the lunchbox, coated with chili peppers and sesame seeds.

"This...this is...spicy chicken?"

Old Shi's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Yes! Mr. Shi, it's spicy chicken!" Director Li knew that his trip hadn't been in vain when he saw Mr. Shi's reaction, and he was overjoyed.

He picked up a pair of clean chopsticks and handed them to Old Master Shi: "Old Master Shi, please try some! It's fresh out of the pot and still warm!"

Shi Tingyue accepted the chopsticks without hesitation.

He picked up the lunchbox again, the hand that had already put it down.

Under the watchful eyes of dozens, even hundreds, of people in the workshop, he carefully picked up a piece of chicken from his lunchbox.

The chicken pieces were fried until the skin was golden brown and crispy, and they were also coated with a few fragrant white sesame seeds and bright red chili pepper pieces.

Old Shi brought the chicken piece to his mouth and took a deep breath first.

Mmm! That's the taste!

Authentic! Genuine!

Without further hesitation, he ate the chicken nugget in one bite.

The moment the chicken nugget entered his mouth, Old Shi's eyes widened in surprise.

First, the outer layer is crispy; it makes a soft "crunch" sound when you lightly touch it with your teeth.

Next came the tender and juicy chicken inside. The delicious juices burst in his mouth, mixed with the aroma of chili peppers, the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, and various other indescribable blends of spices, layer upon layer assaulting his taste buds.

Spicy, but not dry; fragrant, but not greasy!

That exhilarating feeling traveled down his throat, warming his entire body.

"tasty!"

Old Shi couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. He chewed much faster and finished a piece of chicken in no time.

Then he picked up a second piece, a third piece...

His face, which had previously shown no appetite, now flushed red, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Delicious! So delicious!" Old Shi nodded repeatedly as he ate. "This spicy chicken is amazing! Even more amazing than the ones I ate back home!"

He picked up a steamed bun from the table and ate it with the spicy chicken, taking big bites.

The way he ate was completely different from how sickly he had looked just moments before.

Everyone around was stunned.

Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li exchanged a glance, both seeing ecstasy in each other's eyes!

Become!

It's done!

The college students couldn't help but swallow their saliva as they watched their teacher eat so heartily.

The workers in the workshop were so tempted by the aroma and the way Mr. Shi ate that they were practically itching to get their hands on the food.

"My goodness, what kind of divine dish is this? It's enough to make this old expert react like this?"

"I don't know, I can't stand the smell alone."

"No, no, my mouth is watering."

Everyone wanted to ask Director Li where the vegetables were bought.

That makes the experts so eager.

They wanted to try some.

Soon, Old Shi ate the entire large lunchbox of spicy chicken by himself, along with two large steamed buns.

He couldn't bear to waste even the chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns at the bottom of his lunchbox, so he picked them up with his chopsticks and ate quite a bit of them.

After finishing his meal, Old Shi smacked his lips with lingering satisfaction, picked up his enamel mug, and gulped down most of the water. Then he let out a long sigh of relief, a look of utter contentment on his face.