Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 215 Stewed Goose

Li Guangzhao laughed and said, "Back in my hometown, if you floor the gas pedal, you can rev the car all the way to Fengtian. There are a few drivers who do that. Some, but not many."

Sister Jin said, "Ugh, let's not talk about this anymore, it's so annoying. Zhang Wei, what are you making for dinner today?"

Xiao Wei said, "What do you guys want to eat? How about we go out to eat?"

Yang Tiebin said, "The day before yesterday, we all got together at the Cultural Palace, but you guys didn't come. It was the day you went to Donglaishun. That place was so lively, some of us even lost our voices from shouting."

Li Na said, "And you're telling me? None of them could sing in tune, they just yelled randomly, messing around until midnight, and they even broke my drum set, which got me a lot of scolding. Why would you guys touch a drum set to sing? Who knows how to play it?"

Li Guangzhao said, "Yang Changjiu, that's the kind of guy who's reckless. He'll do anything, and then he'll run away when trouble comes."

Wang Zhilong said, "Hey, hey, do you guys still remember that woman? That day, that day at the main gate, the one with the TV truck."

Jin Jie spat out a mouthful of saliva, Li Na smiled with pursed lips, and Yang Tiebin laughed loudly, saying, "How could I forget? I'll never forget it in this lifetime."

Xia Maosheng asked, "What happened?"

Yang Tiebin said, "That day, we were supposed to be singing at a restaurant, so we ate out together. Afterwards, we walked towards the Cultural Palace, and right next to the roundabout, there was a TV truck parked there, playing Guo Fucheng's songs. Then, a woman, probably one of those ragpickers, was leaning over that truck and groping around. One hand was outstretched, touching Guo Fucheng's songs, and the other hand was in her crotch, with urine running down her legs. It really happened."

Xia Maosheng turned to look at Li Guangzhao, who nodded and said, "It's true, we all saw it."

The "TV truck" they were referring to was a type of propaganda vehicle from the 90s. It was a large van with several TVs pieced together to form a large screen on one side. It would be driven along the road, playing videos as it went. In the evening, it would find a place with a lot of people and park it on the side of the road to play pop songs, along with GG (a popular Chinese internet meme).

Sister Jin waved her hand and said, "Ugh, isn't this annoying? What's with all this talk? What do you all want to eat?"

Li Guangzhao said, "Why don't we go to the station area? There's a nice halal restaurant there, and a stewed goose place. After we eat, I can go buy my train ticket."

Qi Guangjun said, "I also need to buy a train ticket."

Wang Zhilong nodded, indicating that he also wanted to buy a ticket.

Xiao Wei said, "Let's go then, to the train station. I haven't had goose in years, is it alright?"

Everyone packed their clothes and went downstairs. When they got downstairs, Xiaowei said to Qi Guangjun, "Lao Xia and I have a restaurant in Longcheng. That one belongs to a work unit, and we have enough people. This one is run by someone else, and they've already hired their own people, so we can't help you."

Qi Guangjun nodded somewhat reluctantly without saying a word.

Xiao Wei wouldn't dare bring someone like that, who would pour out a whole pot of oil and still feel wronged, to Chen Hui's restaurant; who knows what trouble that might cause later. If it were Luo Qinghe or Yang Tiebin, that would definitely be fine—they're capable and reliable. But even then, it wouldn't be worth actively asking for someone to come; they all have their own ideas. These days, people are the least of your worries.

Chen Hui ran to get the car, and the others strolled along slowly.

A short while later, the car arrived, and everyone got on to go eat stewed goose in front of the station.

Although he had been in Fengtian for several months, Xiaowei was not familiar with the area in front of the train station at all. Afraid of causing trouble, he had never been there except when taking the train.

Fengtian Railway Station is an old building with a strong Russian flavor. It has a round green roof with lightning rods that are hard to decipher. The square is large, with a Soviet Red Army monument in the center and a Soviet T-34 tank on top of it.

When Japan blockaded the Sino-Soviet border, the Soviet Red Army used tanks to march through the Greater Khingan Mountains into China, defeated the Japanese army, and thus liberated Northeast China.

Centered around the train station, this area was filled with old-style Russian buildings. It was also the most densely populated and developed area of ​​the entire Fengtian city complex during this period. Countless locals and outsiders gathered in this area, working in various industries and struggling to make a living. It was the most chaotic area in all of Fengtian.

Guided by Li Guangzhao, the Sea Lion turned onto Zhonghua Road and stopped at the intersection of Lanzhou Street. Looking around, the street was lined with small restaurants, hotels, video arcades, convenience stores, grocery stores, and street stalls. It was bustling, though the ground was dirty and littered with garbage and filth. Various signs and lights shone overhead. Fortunately, it was the dead of winter, unlike summer when the streets were packed with people.

After locking the car, we entered the stewed goose restaurant. It was filthy inside; back then, Fengtian hadn't done much to clean up this kind of place, and the overall hygiene wasn't great. A few people were drinking merrily inside. Xiao Wei and his friends found a table a bit further away and ordered.

The owner of the stewed goose restaurant is a local, and he uses his own house. These days, most restaurants and small hotels are run by locals, but many have engaged in "friendly cooperation" with people from other places.

The eleven people ordered a pot of stewed goose, several stir-fried dishes, and two bottles of Lao Longkou liquor.

The stewed goose at this restaurant must have been prepared in advance, just like the bones of An Laowu's. A few of us ordered dishes, poured ourselves a cup of hot water and started chatting. Before we even finished our cup of water, the stewed goose arrived. However, the other stir-fried dishes took a while to arrive.

Everyone opened the wine and shared it, then started eating. The stew was steaming hot and fragrant, which was quite appetizing in the dead of winter.

"Hey, it's not bad, the taste is right." Xia Maosheng nodded as he ate a piece of goose meat and said to Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei also picked up a piece of meat to eat.

Sister Jin said, "The taste is okay, but the way the knife was used is a bit of a headache. It's just a random chopping, without distinguishing which piece is which."

Li Na, biting into the goose neck, said, "You're so nosy. As long as it tastes good, it's all the same no matter how you cut it, you still have to bite into it to eat."

Everyone laughed, raised their glasses, and said, "It's time to say goodbye today. I don't know when we'll meet again. I wish you all a bright future and that you all make a fortune." Everyone clinked glasses and took a sip. Cheers doesn't really mean you have to finish your drink.

Wang Zhilong wiped his mouth and said, "Wait, wait until it gets warmer, then everyone can go to Panshan. I'll host them. Getting to know each other is fate, we should stay in touch and visit each other often."

Xia Maosheng said, "Okay, we'll come visit you next year when it gets warmer. Old Wang is so generous, we definitely have to go."

Xiao Wei said with a smile, "I'd really like to visit Qing He's house. I've never seen that car dealership before, and I'd really like to see it."

Luo Qinghe said, "You can go anytime. My hometown is all plains, there are no mountains, so it's easy to travel in both winter and summer."

Xia Maosheng said, "Winter is too cold. A mountain can at least block out the wind."

Li Na raised her glass to Chen Hui and said, "Come on, boss, boss's wife, let's have a toast. From now on, my 80-odd pounds are in your hands, so you'd better treat me well."

Sister Jin joined in the fun, raising her glass and laughing, "Four, four, and me too, boss. I won't say anything more. From now on, if a dish is two ounces of meat, I'll definitely only put one ounce. If you give me a bonus or something, I'll cut the meat into hair-thin pieces and serve it straight."

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses to toast.

A group of people at the next table who were talking about drinking suddenly turned around and said to us, "This guy's bragging is so blatant, but he cuts it like a hair. Come on, girl, you cut one, and I'll pay for your meal if you do."

(End of this chapter)