I am a Chef in the Modern Era

Chapter 56: Mutton Dumplings

Translated by Kollumceti of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Xiao Liu finally determined on one thing. Lin ShuYi’s brother had hostility towards him. The intensity of the hostility was directly related to the distance between him and Lin ShuYi. If he was close to Lin ShuYi on that day, the hostility of that man would be off the charts, and he would started attacking him indiscriminately, resulting in heavy casualties.

Xiao Liu’s cheeks were streaming with tears as a result. Who the fuck knew that he had a brother complex?!

Thus, it was only later that Lin ShuYi found out, “Has that architect been hiding from me recently?”

Shen Fu crossed his arms as the the corner of his mouth raised, “That can’t be. He must have been busy recently.”

Lin ShuYi eyed Shen Fu from the corner of his eye. He always felt that Shen Fu had something to do with it. Nevertheless, Lin ShuYi did not care much because what had to be done was almost completed. It did not matter even if Xiao Liu intentionally avoided him.

When Shen Fu was asked to buy things, he would surely bring back things from the best-known brands and the price would not necessarily be extremely expensive. In any case, it was really value for money. Everything was installed on the day they bought them back. The kitchen was almost finished and there was nothing much to tidy up anymore. Thus, Lin ShuYi asked Shen Fu to come buy the decorations of the side lounge together.

There was a huge home furnishing market in the city. It was the most economical to buy from there if one were buying things like home decorations. Lin ShuYi intended to go there. Yet, Shen Fu mysteriously said not to and that he knew a better place with better looking, unique and cheaper things. Lin ShuYi was rather dubious, but he still followed him in the end.

Shen Fu was the one usually driving the car. Lin ShuYi had always been interested in this, but he had not been able to spare time to learn. Shen Fu was actually confident and bold enough to teach him. However, Lin ShuYi was really a good citizen who obeyed the law. He was determined to never drive on the road and become a highway killer before he got his driver’s license. As there were no open spaces near ChaoYang Street for Shen Fu to teach him how to drive, they could only put this aside for the moment.

Shen Fu still drove to the city, but it was not to that big home furnishing market. Instead, he drove to an inconspicuous street. There were only a few shops along the street and it looked more like a residential area.

Lin ShuYi was full of doubts. Yet, Shen Fu had stopped the car before he could ask. Shen Fu smiled and pointed to the house next to him that did not even have a shop-front, “Here it is. Go in and have a look.”

After doing half a day’s intellectual work in his mind, Lin ShuYi determined that Shen Fu was not playing with him. He got out of the car and walked into the house. Not only was there nothing special outside, there was also nothing special inside. A few calligraphy scrolls were hanging on the wall. It looked pleasant, but it did not match up with what he wanted to buy.

A young child lifted the noren curtain and walked out. He looked up at Lin Langyi and asked, “What do you want, Big Brother?”

Lin ShuYi was unable to reply. Although he knew what style he should buy, none of the things that he wanted were displayed. How could he say what he wanted to buy? What’s more, this did not seem like a place that sold anything.

“Don’t look down on this place.” Shen Fu had closed the car door and came in at the same time. He stood behind Lin ShuYi and he lowered his head slightly when he spoke. His hot breaths blew onto Lin ShuYi’s ear, making it red and itchy. Lin ShuYi turned to glare at him with hate in his eyes.

Shen Fu paid no mind and continued, “I’ve gotten many good things from here.” Then he turned to looked at the child. “Cheng Zi, tell your grandpa that we’re here.”

The eyes of the kid called Cheng Zi widened when he saw Shen Fu. Then he suddenly jumped into Shen Fu’s arms. Shen Fu patted his head as the child in his arms hugged and gave him a kiss, “Uncle Shen hasn’t come for a long time. Grandpa is waiting upstairs for you.”

The child dragged Shen Fu upstairs. Shen Fu pulled Lin ShuYi along as well, “What are you staring blankly at? Follow me up and see what you want. The things that you want to buy are on the second floor.”

“Is this brother your friend?” The child looked back at Shen Fu and asked before he sized Lin ShuYi up.

Shen Fu: “…”

One was a brother and the other was an uncle, don’t make the generation gap so big…

Although Shen Fu was thinking this in his heart, he still nodded as needed at the appropriate times, not missing a single moment. If he was to be called uncle then so be it. Although he was very old, luckily his features were still young and tender, Shen Fu thought shamelessly.

Lin ShuYi went upstairs with them and jumped in fright as a result. If he did not see this, he would not know that the walls of the entire second floor had been knocked down. It was not walled up like the first floor and there was no other architectural objects except a few pillars. Though there were no architectural objects, there were many tables. Each table had something distinctive and exceptional displayed on it. Small pieces were placed on the table, while some large pieces were placed directly on the ground. At first glance, the place looked like a chaotic merchandise market.

Cheng Zi began to shout as soon as he went up, “Grandpa, Grandpa! Uncle Shen is coming with a guest.”

From the corner came an energetic yet low holler, “You know there’s a guest, yet you’re still not behaving!”

Cheng Zi stuck out his tongue and ran towards the corner.

Shen Fu also followed in that direction, yet he was pulled to a stop by Lin ShuYi. Shen Fu looked back at him and saw the uncertainty on Lin ShuYi’s face. He explained, “If you want something special and unique, you’ll probably be able to find it here.” Then he smiled and stroked Lin ShuYi’s face as his lips crooked up, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t sell you, ah~!”

Lin ShuYi: “…”

“Since you’re already here, what are you whispering sweet nothings over there for? You’re still not hurrying over here?”

Shen Fu pulled Lin ShuYi along and laughed as he walked over, “We’re coming. What’s the rush, elder?”

An old grandpa with white hair and beard stood in the corner. Although his hair and beard were white and he was no longer young, he still looked rather energetic. He held a brush with a spirit that was trembling with excitement as he vigorously wrote with great flourishes and good penmanship.

Lin ShuYi thought of the paintings and calligraphies that he saw below. They must be this grandfather’s work.

The two men walked up, yet the elderly man did not lift his head to look at them. It was not until the last stroke of his calligraphy was finished did he hold up his sleeve and put the brush down. Then he sized Lin ShuYi up before looking at Shen Fu, “It’s been a long time since you’ve last came. What are you here today for?”

Shen Fu grabbed Lin ShuYi and pushed him forward, “It’s not me that wants something today. He’s the one that’s here for something.”

“Oh?” The elderly man carefully examined Lin ShuYi again before waving his hand, “Then pick it by yourself.”

Shen Fu laughed, “Elder, you can continue writing. I’ll come over to settle the bill when we’re done selecting.”

Then he pulled Lin ShuYi away to search for the things in the hall.

The decorations of the XiQin Restaurant were simple and unadorned. The choice of ornaments should not only complement each other, but should also be the crucial point that brought the subject to life. He never thought that a restaurant should be plain and stark. On the contrary, he felt that the environment was even more important than the taste of the food.

This was why Lin ShuYi had thought of such an unconventional gambit to make the XiQin Restaurant a private restaurant with its own distinguishing features. Therefore, the decorations were very important.

There was a wide range of both large and small things, including simple and unadorned gold and silver utensils, porcelain ornaments with exotic patterns, and all kinds of strange and interesting little trinkets. Lin ShuYi took a fancy to many items at a glance.

For example, the vase with a wide mouth and middle, which had the images of a few ink plum blossoms and was half the height of a man. Lin ShuYi thought that it would look good at the entrance of the lounge on the second floor if he put a bundle of asparagus fern inside it.

And the bay ceramic horse with a black mane, which seemed to be raising its head for a loud neigh. It would definitely be beautiful to display it at the cash register on the first floor.

There were also those couple of simple and unsophisticated gold and silver cups, which could also be used to add the finishing touch for each side room.

Lin ShuYi pointed out the things he wanted as he walked along. He was truly pleasantly surprised and felt that Shen Fu had really found a good place. Everything here was suitable for the XiQin Restaurant.

Shen Fu beamed as he followed behind Lin ShuYi, remembering what Lin ShuYi had pointed out to inform an attendant to pick those up.

“Why is each object different?”

Except for the pairs of objects which had their respective half, each one really was different from the other.

Shen Fu smiled and pointed to the elderly man in the corner with his finger as he laughed, “Because these porcelains were made by this elderly man himself.”

Lin ShuYi had a whole new level of respect for the elderly man at this time. There were so many porcelains here. They were all made by the elderly man himself? Moreover, Shen Fu seemed to be very familiar with this elderly man.

“Are you done choosing?” The elderly man suddenly spoke. Lin ShuYi looked at what he had chosen and nodded. He was almost done. Anyway, it was all right even if he had too much or too little, as they were used to put the finishing touch on the decoration. However, he unconsciously chose a lot of them because many things really matched his vision.

Shen Fu looked at Lin ShuYi. Lin ShuYi nodded. Then Shen Fu hollered at the elderly man, “We’re done!”

“Come and pay since you’ve chosen it.” Cheng Zi said as he squinted his eyes and smiled while continuing the conversation in lieu of his Grandpa.

Lin ShuYi and Shen Fu walked over together. The elderly man did not even spare a look at the things that Lin ShuYi selected and just carelessly quoted a figure.

He stretched out three fingers.

Shen Fu squinted his eyes, then he laughed after a long pause, “Elder, you didn’t mean it, did you?”

Lin ShuYi did not know what price the three fingers the elderly man stretched out represented. He looked at Shen Fu, yet Shen Fu did not appear to have the intention to explain. Lin ShuYi then decided to ask the elderly man himself.

Who knew that the elderly man would look at him and say, “Write a inscription for the painting of this fan for me, and I’ll give you these things for free.”

Lin ShuYi’s eyes widened, not understanding the reason for the elderly man’s actions.

Shen Fu could tell that the elderly man was deliberately making things difficult for Lin ShuYi. Then he recalled about what Old Master Shen had said to him before. Was it possible that it had been true? If so then he had really been careless.

Lin ShuYi shook his head. “I dare not receive these for free. Elder should still charge an amount for this. How much do you want?”

Shen Fu covered his face and heaved a sigh, “Elder, let me be the one to inscribe this fan.”

The elderly man stared at Shen Fu and did not say anything at all.

Even if Lin ShuYi was dense, he could tell that the elderly man was trying to make things difficult for him. Although he did not know why, but… he intuitively felt that it had an indelible relation to Shen Fu!

An inscription. Lin ShuYi looked at the brush in the elderly man’s hand.

Shen Fu thought Lin ShuYi was feeling awkward, so he stretched out his hand and pulled Lin ShuYi behind him. Then he said to the elderly man, “Elder, what my grandfather said to me wasn’t true, right? I’m afraid that it won’t be too appropriate if you’re trying to make things difficult for him because of this.” Then he took out his card and ordered Cheng Zi to get the credit card terminal, “Elder, you’ve already quoted this price for me. You can’t go back on your word.”

The elderly man and Lin ShuYi stared at each other with wide eyes. Lin ShuYi poked his head out from behind Shen Fu, “It’s a lot of money right? How about we don’t get these?”

It was not necessary for him to have these. Although he liked them, he had a strange feeling in his heart when he saw the elderly man make things difficult for Shen Fu. Furthermore, it seemed that the elderly man and Shen Fu knew each other.

Yet, Shen Fu was reluctant to do so. It was not that he was unwilling to give up these things, after all it worst comes to worst, he could find other things to buy. The main point was that he brought Lin ShuYi here, yet he had let Lin ShuYi suffer from harassment. Thus, he was naturally reluctant to give in.

The old man looked at the two of them expressionlessly. He did not say anything. Cheng Zi sat at one side and looked at Shen Fu anxiously. He obviously did not know why Grandpa was suddenly treating Uncle Shen like this.

Seeing that Shen Fu was going to swipe his card, Lin ShuYi finally reached out from behind Shen Fu and pinched the slender brush between his fingers. Then raised his pitch-dark eyes and looked at the elderly man, “I just have to write an inscription for us to get these for free?”

The old man squinted his eyes half-way. He replied with a dignified bearing, “I’ll naturally let you have it for free if I am satisfied.”

Lin ShuYi dipped the brush in some ink and then he took the fan. Painted on the fan was several green hills and a bay of spring water. It was not a painting with much creative concept. It was easy for him to write an inscription, but it would probably be difficult to satisfy the elderly man, and why would he care what the inscription was since he was deliberately being difficult?

Lin ShuYi pursed his lips as he thought for a moment. Then he securely pressed the fan down and began to write.

His penmanship was beautiful, resounding, and forceful, as he wrote without stopping. Finally, he lowered the brush after the last stroke, and passed the fan to the elderly man.

Lin ShuYi lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile that was somewhat chilly, “Elder can take your time to look at it. We don’t want the items anymore. Shen Fu, let’s go.”

Shen Fu was quite far away and Lin ShuYi’s back blocked his view, so he did not see what Lin Shuyi wrote. He thought that Lin ShuYi wrote it badly upon seeing Lin ShuYi behave like this. Shen Fu could no longer be bothered with the decorations. He caught up with Lin ShuYi, preparing to comfort him.

Who knew that the elderly man behind them would start laughing heartily just as they had taken two steps. Then the elderly man said, “Take all the things you that you’ve selected just now. I don’t want any of them.”

Lin ShuYi did not even turn back. Contrary to what one might expect, Shen Fu was stunned. He really wanted to see what Lin ShuYi wrote!

The elderly man seemed to have anticipated Lin ShuYis temper and laughed even louder, “After all, Shen Fu still has to call me Grandpa. It’s my fault for fussing over minor matters with you guys. I hope you won’t take offense.”

It was only then that Lin ShuYi stopped. He turned to look at the elderly man and gave a bow, “I’m the one who forgot their manners.”

The old man squinted his eyes. This youngster remained calm in the face of events, was magnanimous, and was neither haughty nor humble. He was a good seedling. “Then you should accept Grandpa’s gifts, yes?”

Lin ShuYi shook his head, “Thank you Grandpa, but I can’t accept them.”

The elderly man frowned, but at last his lips spread as he laughed. “Okay, you don’t need to accept it for free. You’d better buy it all.” Then he looked at Shen Fu, “You’re still not handing your card over? Swipe it!”

But at the end of the day, the elderly man only charged them three hundred yuan even with so many things added together. It was practically the same as giving it to them for free. One must know that the price the elderly man first quoted at Shen Fu was sky-high, and if the price were calculated according to the value of those things, it would not be much lesser than that sky-high price.

Shen Fu never managed to satisfy his intense curiosity about the words on the fan till the end. So he could only ask Lin ShuYi what he had written, “What was the inscription that you wrote on the fan?” It had to be something fairly impressive to satisfy this elderly man who came to pick a quarrel on purpose.

Lin ShuYi looked at him coldly. “First, tell me what’s your relationship with the old man?” Why would this elderly man make things difficult for him without rhyme or reason?

Shen Fu looked a little awkward and then he began to clearly explain it piece by piece.

“Actually, this person is my grandfather’s best friend. He likes to buy and sell these type of antique porcelains and stuff. I thought you would like it, so I brought you here.”

Lin ShuYi listened while looking at Shen Fu, hinting for him to continue.

“Actually, he also has a granddaughter that’s a few years younger than me. She’s now in the United States. My grandfather told me some time ago that this elder wanted to introduce his granddaughter to me. I thought he was joking and didn’t take it seriously…”

So that was the reason this had happened. Shen Fu was embarrassed. He did not take the offer seriously, yet this elderly man took it seriously. Although the matter was resolved in the end, when all is said and done, he was the one that didn’t mange things well.

Lin ShuYi was still pursing his lips and did not speak, thus, Shen Fu thought Lin ShuYi was still angry. He glanced at Lin ShuYi a couple of times and smiled before reaching out and latching onto Lin ShuYi. Shen Fu raised his eyebrows, “Are you jealous?”

Lin ShuYi glared at him. But frankly speaking, he was a little unhappy when Shen Fu said that. He did not know which part made him unhappy. He was just unhappy about it anyway.

Shen Fu smiled till his eyes curved. He looked at Lin ShuYi’s slightly pursed lips and itched to pull him into his arms. Unfortunately, there were many people passing by in front of him now and Lin ShuYi might slaughter him if he did so.

“By the way, can you tell me what you wrote on the fan now?”

Lin ShuYi narrowed his eyes, “You want to know?” I won’t tell you.”

Shen Fu: “…”

Didn’t we say that we’d exchange? Where was the most fundamental trust between people? Why did he feel that at the same time he had found a treasure, this man seemed to be getting blacker and blacker?

When both of them had left, Elder Wen took out the fan and looked at it again. Then he made a phone call.

Old Master Shen answered after the phone beeped twice, “You’re back?”

“No. Guess who I met today?”

Old Master Shen was unaware of the situation, “Go on and say who did you meet? Or how would I know?”

“Your granddaughter-in-law!”

Old Master Shen did not respond at first. When he finally realized who this ‘granddaughter-in-law’ was referring to, his voice rose by several octaves, “You’ve met that child?”

Old Master Wen nodded his head before he became aware that Old Master Shen couldn’t see him, so he hummed.

“How was he? How was he? He looks very spirited, right? I felt that he looked rather good from the first time I saw him. He’s a good lad.”

Old Master Wen snorted disdainfully at this point in the conversation. “I don’t believe in those superstitions. But that young lad is really good. Do you know of that fan which even you didn’t know what to inscribe? He wrote down an inscription.”

Old Master Shen opened his eyes wide, “What did he write? What did he write? Quickly tell me.”

Elder Wen opened the fan with a flick of his wrist and read out the verse written on it. “‘Belittle not a small pond, for fear of a dragon hidden below shallow waters.’ This is telling us not to look down on him.” Elder Wen smiled, “He’s neither haughty nor humble and didn’t bear grudges even though I was hard on him. He’s really a good seedling.”

Old Master Shen’s eyes widened, “You made things hard for him? How did you make things difficult?”

Elder Wen snorted when he heard this, “That was still nothing much. Doesn’t every one of you dote so much on him like he’s a treasure?”

Old Master Shen was embarrassed and felt that he was losing face, so he rebutted, “Isn’t this mainly because I’m feeling sorry for Xiao Fu?”

“Is it really?” Elder Wen gave another cold snort and stopped talking. “By the way, I gave your granddaughter-in-law’s daughter-in-law several millions as a first meeting gift. You can play it by ear yourself when my granddaughter gets married.”

Then he hung up.

Old Master Shen: “…”

All right, so this was the main point after all.

The two men went home together after all the explanations were made. The things they bought in the elderly man’s house would be delivered soon and everything would be done after moving them in.

The two did not go home, but went directly to Old man Yang’s place. Old man Yang was playing mahjong with Xiao Wan and her grandmother. He was rather unlucky and lost miserably, so he had a note pasted on his forehead. Yet, he was not the slightest bit unhappy and was laughing very happily.

Lin ShuYi suddenly felt that something was a little wrong while he standing outside. Had Grandpa Yang been spending more and more time together with Xiao Wan’s Grandma recently? He had a strange premonition in his heart and felt that it would soon become true. Yet, Lin ShuYi thought it would be good even if it became as such.

Old man Yang asked if they had eaten upon seeing the two of them coming over. Shen Fu shook his head and said that they hadn’t. Old man Yang then brought out two bowls of mutton dumplings from the kitchen. “It’s cold now. Have some mutton, it’s good nourishment.”

The fresh mutton did not have much of a gamey taste. Chopped up with scallions and fresh ginger, and with the addition of a variety of seasonings, it was folded into a small ingot shape. It was both delicious and good-looking. Paired with refreshing aged vinegar and chili oil, each mouthful was sour and spicy, whetting the appetite and being neither gamy nor greasy.

Everything had been delivered by the end of their meal.

Old man Yang and Xiao Wan’s Grandma came to see the items that had been delivered. They were surprised to see all the things that Lin ShuYi bought. “Xiao Yi, tell me, how much did these cost?”

“Three hundred.”

Old man Yang and Xiao Wan’s Grandma looked at each other. They only thought the price was not right, yet they were unfamiliar, so they could not tell how much it was worth. Rather, Xiao Wan was the one staring at these things with wide eyes.

The last time she went to a classmate’s home, she saw a vase which was very similar to one of the vases Lin ShuYi brought back. It was said that someone who entered through unofficial channels had sent it, and it cost more that a hundred thousand. If these were all authentic…

How much would these be worth? In the end, Xiao Wan would only hypnotize herself. It was bought it for three hundred yuan, it can’t be authentic… But could you really buy so much with three hundred yuan? Xiao Wan unconsciously shifted her gaze to Shen Fu.

Why did she always feel that it had something to do Brother Xiao Fu?

Shen Fu: “…”

It’s really not because of me, please let me go.