I Have a Countryside Gourmet Restaurant

Chapter 202: Chapter 198: It’s Always Good to Be Back in the Village

Looking at the painting, Li You was overjoyed. He turned to Ling Xiaoru and said, ”Want a braised chicken leg? My treat.”

Ling Xiaoru was delighted. ”Yes, please! Thanks, Boss!”

Li You told Ling Xiaoru there was no need to be so formal, then went into the kitchen and twisted both legs off a braised chicken.

He would have one for himself, too.

Walking out of the kitchen, he handed one of the chicken legs to Ling Xiaoru.

”Thanks, Boss!”

Ling Xiaoru was overjoyed. She took the chicken leg and immediately took a bite.

Speaking with her mouth full, she mumbled, ”Delicious. Boss, your braised chicken legs are just so delicious.”

Li You smiled faintly, then started eating his own.

After they finished their chicken legs, Li You went back into the kitchen to get busy. Ling Xiaoru sat down in the rocking chair by the entrance, fiddling with her phone.

The time slowly crept toward 11:00 AM, and the first wave of lunch customers arrived.

There were five of them.

As soon as they entered, all five of them quickly spotted the new painting hanging on the wall.

None of the five had been present at noon two days ago, when Guyi was painting here.

But now, they knew instantly that this was the very painting Guyi had created on-site two days ago.

’So this is Master Guyi’s painting!’

All five were quite excited. They admired the painting, clucking their tongues in amazement. They remarked that the work of the contemporary Painting Saint was truly on another level; even they, who knew nothing about art, could tell the piece demonstrated profound skill.

Previously, they had seen Ling Xiaoru’s painting and thought it was already very well done.

But now, compared to Guyi’s work, the difference was stark.

The two weren’t even in the same league.

In fact, you could say they were several leagues apart.

Even they, as laymen, could easily tell.

’Of course, that’s only natural.’

After all, no matter how talented Ling Xiaoru was, she was still just a young painter in her mid-twenties.

’With this painting here, it feels like the boss’s restaurant will be the stage for many more interesting stories to come.’

’It’s something to look forward to!’

After admiring the painting for a good while, the five of them finally found an empty table, sat down, and began to order.

After those five, more customers began to trickle in.

Some of these new customers had been there when Guyi painted his masterpiece at noon two days ago. Others, like the first group of five, had not.

But regardless of whether they had been there or not, everyone was thrilled and excited to see that Li You had already framed Guyi’s painting and put it on display.

Those who had been there two days ago were already very familiar with the painting, of course, but seeing it again today, they still felt they could never get enough of it.

A top-tier ink wash landscape painting like this, with its incredibly lofty and profound artistic conception, was truly something one could look at forever.

No matter how familiar one was with it, each time they saw it anew, they would find themselves captivated all over again.

As for those who hadn’t been there at noon two days ago, they were, of course, just like the first five customers—even more excited and thrilled!

This was a genuine, bona fide original by Guyi.

Just looking at it was thrilling enough.

’With this painting, the boss’s restaurant has a whole new level of class.’

After admiring the painting for a while, the customers finally began to order their meals. Naturally, the topic of conversation at lunch today was all about Guyi’s painting.

All the customers discussed Guyi’s painting as they ate, their spirits high.

The time soon reached 12:30 PM. Li You asked Ling Xiaoru if she wanted to eat lunch. It would be his treat, of course.

Ling Xiaoru shook her head. ”I’ll wait for you to finish up, and we can eat together.”

Li You nodded. ”It’ll be a little while longer, then.”

Ling Xiaoru said, ”That’s fine. I’m not that hungry yet anyway.”

Li You went back to work.

He was finally free at 1:30 PM.

Time to eat.

”Besides half a braised chicken, what else would you like?” Li You asked Ling Xiaoru.

Ling Xiaoru said, ”Mapo Tofu and Stir-fried Shredded Potatoes.”

Li You nodded.

Soon, the Mapo Tofu and Stir-fried Shredded Potatoes were ready. Li You also made a serving of Cabbage in Consommé.

’Even though Ling Xiaoru hadn’t asked for it, since I’m treating, I should add a dish of my own choosing.’

When Ling Xiaoru saw the Cabbage in Consommé, she let out a delighted, ”Wow!” and said, ”Thank you, Boss! I can’t usually bring myself to order this.”

Li You smiled. ”Then eat your fill today.”

”I will!” Ling Xiaoru didn’t hold back.

”Oh, right. Care for a bowl of wine?” Li You asked.

Ling Xiaoru shook her head. ”Your wine is delicious, Boss, but it’s still alcohol. I should probably drink less of it.”

Li You smiled faintly and didn’t press the issue.

The two of them began to eat.

After a leisurely meal, Ling Xiaoru said her goodbyes and left.

She had to get back to work. She’d taken on a lot of commissions over the past couple of days.

...

The afternoon quickly turned into evening.

At 7:00 PM, Li You closed up shop early.

He was going home for the evening.

He packed up three braised chickens and placed them in the storage basket on the back of his motorcycle.

He got on his motorcycle and set off for home.

Twenty minutes later, Li You arrived back at Changle Village.

It was still early, so villagers could be seen all around.

Li You greeted the villagers he encountered along the way.

”Xiaoyou, wait a moment.”

Li You was passing Liu Zhanghong’s courtyard. After greeting Liu Zhanghong, who was outside, he was about to leave.

Just then, Liu Zhanghong called out to stop him.

”What’s up, Uncle Zhanghong?” Li You asked.

Liu Zhanghong smiled. ”Oh, it’s nothing much. I just wanted to give you a couple of bunches of grapes to try.”

”Grapes?” Li You was surprised. ”Are they already ripe?”

Liu Zhanghong nodded. ”I have a couple of vines that ripen early. Wait here, I’ll go pick a couple of bunches for you.”

Li You hesitated for a moment but didn’t refuse. He smiled and said, ”In that case, thank you, Uncle Zhanghong.”

Seeing that Li You accepted, Liu Zhanghong was delighted. ”No need to be so formal! I’ve made over three thousand yuan selling crayfish at your place. It’s much better than doing migrant work. It’s just a few grapes, what’s the big deal? Just wait here a moment.”

With that, Liu Zhanghong walked into his courtyard.

He soon reemerged with a bag and a pair of scissors, then headed toward the back of the courtyard.

A few minutes later, Liu Zhanghong returned from behind the courtyard, his bag already full of grapes.

Li You was surprised when he saw the bag.

’Didn’t he say he was only picking a couple of bunches? Why did he pick such a huge bagful? There must be at least ten bunches in there.’

Liu Zhanghong walked up to Li You and handed him the bag. ”Take these home for your parents to try, too. These grapes are pretty good.”

Li You took the bag. It was heavy, weighing at least twenty pounds.

He opened the bag. Sure enough, there were a dozen or so bunches of grapes inside.

The skins were bluish-black and the grapes were round, looking a bit like the Summer Black variety.

This variety has slightly thick skins, but they have a wonderful texture and are very sweet.

’But this is way too much.’

”Uncle Zhanghong, this is too much. One bunch is enough for me.” As he spoke, Li You reached into the bag to grab a single bunch.

Liu Zhanghong waved his hands dismissively. ”It’s not that much, not at all. Take them back for your parents to have some. I know your family has grapevines too, but I’m sure they aren’t ripe yet. Just take these.”

”Well...” After a moment’s hesitation, Li You finally accepted. He smiled and said, ”In that case, thank you so much, Uncle Zhanghong.”

Liu Zhanghong was even more pleased. He grinned and said, ”Pluck one and try it. See if you like it.”

Li You nodded, then plucked a grape and popped it into his mouth.

’It’s really sweet, with an excellent texture.’

’Plus, the flesh is seedless. It must be the Summer Black variety.’

Li You loved these kinds of grapes.

Li You was delighted. ”Uncle Zhanghong, it’s really sweet and delicious,” he said.

Liu Zhanghong laughed heartily. ”Glad you like them,” he said.

After chatting for a few more moments, Li You put the grapes in the storage basket on his bike’s rack, said his goodbyes, and left.

’I didn’t expect to get so many grapes from Uncle Zhanghong just by passing by.’

’If I had an extra braised chicken, I would have given one to Liu Zhanghong just now. But with only three, I’ll have to forget it.’

’I’ll have to see what I can bring for Uncle Zhanghong next time I come back.’

Li You continued on his motorcycle, riding through the village.

He continued to greet villagers he met along the way, occasionally stopping to exchange a few pleasantries.

’It feels great to be back in the village.’

...