Chapter 321: Chapter 299: The True Meaning of Living

“Let’s go, brothers, it’s time, we should head to the kitchen for lunch…”

Seeing that it was time to eat, Lin Weijian deftly packed up his tools while using his unique loud voice to call the surrounding brothers.

Upon hearing this.

The surrounding renovation workers put down their tools, simultaneously patting off the dust accumulated from their labor, as the fine particles briefly floated in the air before gently falling to the ground.

Then, they began taking off their heavy work clothes dotted with paint and grime.

The reason for this is simple.

Going to eat lunch in someone else’s kitchen, maintaining cleanliness is not only respect for oneself but also respect for the host, and it’s about keeping the kitchen clean.

“Hey, let’s go…”

The painting worker Xiaozhang, who finished first, responded with a smile and couldn’t help but express what he felt: “Don’t laugh, but I’ve been so hungry just smelling that aroma that my stomach started growling!”

“Who wouldn’t be? I’ve been craving too!” Xiaowang nodded in agreement.

“Don’t worry, I tasted it for you all yesterday, and the food here is truly amazing!” Lin Weijian proudly patted his chest.

The group headed to the kitchen full of expectations.

But just when they reached the kitchen door…

Seeing the floor as clean as a mirror, many hesitated.

They couldn’t step on it!

“This floor is too clean, as if it was just mopped. Are we going to dirty it if we go in?” Xiaozhang muttered softly.

“How about this, let’s take off our shoes at the door and go in barefoot?” Xiaowang suggested after some thought.

“Or we can ask the kitchen staff to bring out the food so we can eat outside, that way we don’t dirty the kitchen.”

Master Li also shared his thoughts, seeing that everyone had no objections, he shouted towards the kitchen: “Hello, we are the renovation workers, and we just finished our work. Could you please bring the food out for us…”

“Ah, you’re here, come on in and have a seat.”

Upon hearing the voice, Huang Jun quickly came out of the kitchen, seeing their awkward and hesitant expressions, and warmly invited them with a smile.

The renovation workers felt a bit embarrassed, as they were focused on patting the dust off their clothes and forgot about the dust on their shoes, worried it might dirty the spotless floor.

Huang Jun noticed their downward glance at their shoes and quickly understood their concern, so he smiled and said: “Don’t worry, even if it gets dirty, it’s no big deal. After every meal, our kitchen staff thoroughly cleans up, so you don’t need to worry too much, just come in and eat!”

“Then…we’ll come in.”

Upon hearing Huang Jun’s words, the workers’ hesitation and concerns gradually dissipated.

They tiptoed in carefully and chose the two tables nearest to the door to sit down.

“Just a moment, I’ll have the kitchen staff bring the food over for you.” Huang Jun smiled slightly and turned to make arrangements.

“That’s really very kind of you, Chef Huang, sorry for the trouble!”

Lin Weijian and the others watched Huang Jun leave, their faces full of gratitude.

Then, they inadvertently looked towards the distance…

Only to see Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao fighting over the same dish!

Those exaggerated expressions…

Those comical actions…

Were completely different from their usual steady and serious images…

At this moment.

Their faces showed expressions of surprise, wondering, “Is this really the President Liu and Assistant Dong we know?”

In all seriousness.

Just how delicious is the food in this place?

It managed to attract someone of Liu Shiwei’s status to dine here, and even made them engage in a “chopstick battle” with Assistant Dong in front of everyone…

This scene, if caught by a business reporter, would undoubtedly spark a media frenzy, becoming the headline story in newspapers and websites, quickly securing a spot on the trending lists, sparking endless curiosity and discussion…

They didn’t understand it, but they were deeply shocked!

Honestly speaking.

For someone as successful as Liu Shiwei, a feast of delicacies is nothing out of the ordinary, yet he specifically came here, competing with Assistant Dong over the basic food in the garden, proving that the school meals are indeed exceptionally delicious!

Xiaozhang and the others were drawn to this scene, eagerly anticipating the food in the garden.

Having had the chance to taste the food from the garden, Lin Weijian wasn’t too surprised by this, in fact, he thought Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao’s behavior was nothing out of the ordinary.

If it were him, he’d probably be fighting over it even more fiercely!

Master Li, who usually wasn’t picky about food and just wanted to be full, couldn’t help but be a little puzzled.

Seriously, no matter how delicious the food is, how good can it really be? In the end, isn’t it just to fill your stomach?

Even though he had these doubts, he didn’t express them openly, choosing instead to remain silent.

After all, when someone kindly lets you eat in their garden, expressing such thoughts would not only seem impolite but could also hurt their goodwill.

At this moment.

Aunt Li and Aunt Lin came over carrying trays, piled high with steaming, abundant dishes.

Lin Weijian and the others immediately stood up to welcome, smiling as they took the tray and placed the dishes on the table.

“Thank you, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin, for your hard work!” Lin Weijian said gratefully.

“Take your time eating, if it’s not enough, just let us know. Though we can’t serve more dishes, there’s enough rice to go around!” Aunt Li responded with a smile.

“Alright, thank you!”

Lin Weijian and the others replied in unison. After watching them leave, they no longer held back and picked up their chopsticks.

Xiaozhang picked up a chestnut.

The golden chestnut glistened with a subtle layer of oil, thick sauce evenly coating it, releasing an irresistible aroma.

When the chestnut touched the tip of the tongue…

It almost automatically blossomed in the mouth; a gentle bite revealed its tender texture intertwined with savory juice, warm and sweet, perfectly absorbing the chicken’s flavor.

Absolutely delicious!

Tasting a piece of chicken, the tender meat was so juicy that it seemed to be bursting with flavor. Each strand of meat was infused with the taste and aroma of scallions, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, and cooking wine used during preparation.

The most remarkable is how the chestnut complements the chicken; the savory of the chicken is harmonized by the chestnut’s sweetness, and the chestnut’s sweetness is accentuated by the chicken’s savoriness.

This collision of texture and flavor…

Is so delicious that one might wish to swallow their tongue along with it.

After swallowing, Xiaozhang couldn’t help but exclaim, “Dang, this chestnut-braised chicken is amazing! The chicken is tender, the chestnut is sweet, I can’t stop eating!”

“Yeah, exactly! This chicken… how should I say it, right, tender and juicy, and the chestnuts, sweet and delicious, combined together they’re doubly delicious, the taste is incredible!” Xiaowang agreed while eating heartily.

“Indeed, the preparation for this dish must have been quite meticulous. Look at this chicken, cooked just right, neither tough nor undercooked, melting in the mouth; and the chestnuts… they’re sticky with a hint of sweetness, the flavor is solid!” Lin Weijian couldn’t help but add.

“Yes, exactly, this taste is wonderful, the sweet chestnuts and savory chicken blend perfectly, every bite fills you with happiness!” Others nodded in agreement.

As Master Li listened to everyone taking turns praising the deliciousness of the chestnut-braised chicken, observing their state of indulgence, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of perplexity.

He didn’t doubt the deliciousness of the chestnut-braised chicken, but to claim it filled one with happiness seemed unbelievable to him.

To him, eating was merely to satisfy physiological needs, to fill the stomach, why such fuss?

As he pondered this, he picked up a piece of braised chicken and put it in his mouth.

At that moment…

The savory of the chicken shot straight to his brain.

The chicken skin, tender and elastic, released a burst of rich meat juice in the mouth upon a gentle bite, the soft and juicy texture, unbelievably delightful.

Hmm?

Is this what chicken really tastes like?

He had always heard Weijian praise the deliciousness of the food at the park.

Yet he had dismissed the compliments, never taking them seriously.

Until this bite of chicken went into his mouth…

He suddenly realized—the meals meant to fill the belly and truly delectable dishes are entirely different.

The former meets basic needs, while the latter represents the true meaning of living…

At this moment…

Master Li finally understood why Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao resorted to scrambling without caring for their image, why everyone was so engrossed.

At this moment…

His heart also welled up with an unprecedented feeling of happiness…

“Master Li, how is it, delicious?” Lin Weijian asked with a smile after noticing Master Li had fallen deep in thought after having a piece of chicken.

Everyone present knew Master Li’s nature; he was never picky about food, yet this lunch was evidently set to challenge his usual simple dietary views.

Indeed.

This meal undoubtedly reshaped everyone’s understanding of food, allowing them to appreciate that food isn’t just for filling the belly but is a joy of life.

“It’s indeed delicious…”

Master Li snapped back, politely responded, and continued devouring the chicken.

Such tender chicken calls for big mouthfuls.

After devouring the chicken and chestnuts, Master Li used the remaining rich sauce to mix with rice, every grain coated with a deep-colored “coat,” he savored each bite, thoroughly enjoying it without hesitation.

Others also buried themselves in their plates, eating with relish!

For a while…

The dining area in the kitchen echoed with sounds of satisfied chewing.

While enjoying the feast, they were also filled with gratitude.

Grateful to Huang Jun for preparing such delicious dishes for them, allowing them the chance to taste such delicacies in their lifetime.

No way to repay!

Except through their professional skills, earnestly and diligently carrying out renovation work, to repay Huang Jun’s generosity and respect for their hard labor…

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