sbdcsierra Chapter 89 Are you kidding me?
Chapter 89 Are you kidding me?
Mingcui Garden, located dozens of kilometers away from the old street, is a secluded upscale residential area.
Inside a detached villa, a huge crystal chandelier casts a soft light, illuminating the dining room in a way that is as exquisite as a painting.
The dishes on the table were quite plentiful. The steamed sea bass exuded a light aroma of soy sauce, the blanched bok choy was vibrant green, and there was also a pot of stewed chicken with cordyceps flowers cooked to perfection.
However, the air was thick with a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere.
"Xiaoxue, just one more bite, just one bite. I bought this fish specially from the dock. The chef cleaned it very thoroughly, and they guaranteed that there was absolutely no fishy smell."
Lu Feng held the spoon, his hand hovering in mid-air, his eyes filled with an almost humble plea and heartache.
He looked at his wife sitting opposite him, feeling as if a dull knife was tearing at his heart.
Sitting opposite her, Xiao Xue's face, which was originally beautiful and refined, was now so pale that it was almost transparent.
She barely managed to lean on the edge of the table, not daring to look directly at the plate of steamed fish.
Even though the chef used the finest ginger, scallions, and soy sauce to mask the smell, the faint aroma of fish still couldn't help but seep into her nostrils, turning into a surge of foul air.
Her throat twitched violently, her right hand gripped the front of her clothes tightly, and a spasm shot up from her stomach, impossible to suppress.
"vomit--"
Xiao Xue suddenly pushed the chair away, the movement so violent that it knocked over the water glass next to her.
She covered her mouth and staggered towards the bathroom.
Immediately afterwards, a heart-wrenching sound of vomiting drifted in through the crack in the door, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet villa.
Lu Feng slumped down, put down his spoon, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long, weary sigh.
Lin Muyuan sat in the guest seat, his chopsticks never reaching for the exquisite dishes on the table.
As Lu Feng's close friend of many years, he originally came to congratulate him today, but he never expected to see such a scene.
"How did it get this serious? She wasn't this weak the last time I saw her." Lin Muyuan looked in the direction of the restroom, his brows furrowed.
"Since last week, I've basically been vomiting everything I eat," Lu Feng said hoarsely, rubbing his temples.
"We invited the best nutritionist in the city and found the most famous private chef, but it still didn't work."
The doctor said this was a severe early pregnancy reaction caused by hormonal fluctuations, and there was nothing that could be done but wait for it to gradually improve.
But she's so thin now, her bones are sticking out. I'm worried about the baby, but even more worried about her health.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and Xiao Xue walked out, supporting herself on the door frame.
Her long, jet-black hair was now slightly disheveled, with a few strands stuck to her temples by sweat, and her eyes revealed a deep weariness.
"Mu Yuan, I'm so sorry, I made you laugh at me." Xiao Xue forced a pale smile, her voice barely audible.
"You guys eat, don't worry about me, I'll just sit there and rest for a bit."
"Xiaoxue, drink some warm water." Lu Feng quickly got up to help her.
Xiao Xue waved her hand and sat back down in the corner of the sofa furthest from the dining table.
The delicious food that used to be her favorite on the table now seemed like a terrible burden to her.
Lu Feng sat back down at the table, looked at Lin Muyuan, and gave a wry smile: "Eat up, don't stay up with us."
These dishes were specially prepared by the most famous Cantonese chef in the area; I think you'll like them.
Lin Muyuan shook his head.
As he looked at the plate of sea bass that Lu Feng treasured, the image of the "human touch" of the old street suddenly surfaced in his mind for some reason.
He remembered the plate of bright red and tempting shredded pork with garlic sauce from yesterday, and the pot of bubbling beef and potato stew that Su Chen posted on her WeChat Moments this morning.
"Lu Feng." Lin Muyuan suddenly put down his chopsticks, his eyes becoming unusually serious.
"We've tried every high-end, sophisticated, and light option available on the market."
But there's one shop you've probably never heard of or tried. How about... we give it a shot, even if we're desperate?
Lu Feng looked up, somewhat bewildered: "What other shops are there? Tell me, and I'll contact them right away."
"No need for that trouble, I'll contact them for you." Lin Muyuan picked up his phone and swiped quickly.
He ignored Lu Feng's questioning look and pressed the call button directly.
The call was answered after three rings.
"Mu Yuan, why are you calling today? Why don't you come over and try today's braised beef brisket with potatoes?" Chen Feng's voice was as steady as ever, and the crisp sound of tapping the bottom of a pot could be faintly heard in the background.
"Brother Chen, help!" Lin Muyuan ignored the pleasantries and went straight to the balcony.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Chen Feng's voice became a little serious.
Lin Muyuan quickly recounted Xiao Xue's condition, from severe vomiting to a near-complete loss of appetite, and now to the untouched, top-quality Cantonese dishes on the table.
"Brother Chen, I know this is a bit much. Your place is dozens of kilometers away from here, and today you're selling braised beef brisket with potatoes... such a strong-flavored dish, I don't know if a pregnant woman can handle it."
But I always felt that if it were your cooking, perhaps a miracle would happen.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed only by the sound of flames licking the bottom of the pot.
"Braised beef brisket with potatoes has a strong beef fat flavor, and if not handled properly, the gamey smell can easily cause nausea."
Chen Feng's voice was steady and powerful, possessing a reassuring charm.
"But in Xiao Xue's case, bland food wouldn't be able to suppress the 'heat' in her stomach."
What she needs right now isn't tonics, but rather to regulate her Qi. Once the Qi flows smoothly, her stomach will naturally open up.
"Brother Chen, you mean..." Lin Muyuan's eyes lit up.
"These two big pots are just cooked. Call a local delivery person over, I'll pack one for you," Chen Feng paused, then continued.
"In addition, I'll make her an extra 'appetizer soup.' Consider this a small gift from me to the expectant mother."
"Brother Chen, thank you, thank you so much!"
After hanging up the phone, Lin Muyuan quickly used his mobile phone to call an urgent cross-city errand, and even added an extra 100 yuan tip, instructing the other party to deliver it as quickly as possible.
Lu Feng stood at the balcony door, not very optimistic about Lin Muyuan's confident look.
"Mu Yuan, I know you're doing this for our own good." Lu Feng turned his head, looking at the Cantonese dishes on the table that were starting to get cold.
"But to be honest, what delicious food can't you get at Mingcui Garden?"
What's the name of that restaurant you mentioned... "Human Fireworks"?
It's just an ordinary little restaurant on an old street. So many famous chefs couldn't do it, what can a chef from an old street possibly do?
"Lu Feng, some things, just because they're famous doesn't mean they're to your liking." Lin Muyuan sat back on the sofa, his tone firm.
"Brother Chen is the only person I've ever met who can give food a real 'soul.' Just think of it as joining in my silliness this once; it won't cost much anyway."
"Whatever you want." Lu Feng waved his hand, his expression still gloomy.
In his view, this was just Lin Muyuan's good intention, and the final result would probably be the same as before, with Xiao Xue taking a sniff and running to the bathroom.
Xiao Xue sat on the sofa with her eyes half-closed.
She heard their conversation, but she didn't even have the strength to open her eyes.
She was even a little afraid of the upcoming errand, because it meant that she would experience another painful failure under the expectant gazes of the two men.
Time passed silently, second by second.
Lu Feng paced back and forth in the living room, his leather shoes making a "clack-clack" sound on the wooden floor.
He would check his phone every few minutes.
Although they said they didn't believe it, they secretly harbored a sliver of hope.
"Mu Yuan, it's been twenty minutes already."
Even if the food is excellent, it will be completely cold by the time it arrives via courier.
"Xiaoxue has no way of eating cold food." Lu Feng stopped, his tone somewhat stiff.
"It'll be there soon, don't rush." Lin Muyuan stared at the errand progress on the screen.
Just then, the doorbell rang with a clear, ringing sound.
Lin Muyuan practically jumped up and rushed to the door to take a huge foam insulated box.
Lu Feng walked over expectantly.
Lin Muyuan carefully tore off the seal on the insulated box.
As the lid was opened, the aroma that had been suppressed inside the insulated box instantly escaped through the gaps.
For a moment, Lu Feng froze.
That scent... it's strange.
Unlike dishes in high-end restaurants that use excessive amounts of flavorings or oils to attract attention, it doesn't rely on them.
This scent carries a deep, calming herbal aroma, with subtle hints of fruity acidity.
Lin Muyuan deftly took out the first insulated bag.
When he untied the insulated bag, revealing the contents of the simple box inside with the words "Human Fireworks" written on it, Lu Feng's face instantly darkened.
Through the translucent lid, you can clearly see large, tempting chunks of reddish-brown beef brisket, as well as huge potato chunks stained amber by the broth.
In that pot of bright red, thick soup, you could even see specks of red chili pepper skin.
"Stewed beef brisket with potatoes?"
Lu Feng's voice trembled with anger as he pointed at the packaging box and growled at Lin Muyuan.
"Mu Yuan! Are you kidding me?"
Xiaoxue can't even stand the smell of steamed fish anymore, and you're feeding her such greasy and heavy food?
Beef brisket! Potatoes! And this soup that's all oil! Are you trying to make her vomit bile?"
Enraged, Lu Feng snatched the packaging bag and made as if to throw it into the nearby trash can.
"This is utter nonsense! You're torturing the patient!"
Lu Feng's movements were so violent that the rich aroma trapped inside the box was completely released into the living room with the shaking.
Xiao Xue, who had been slumped on the sofa, instinctively held her breath the moment Lu Feng lost his temper.
But as that domineering fragrance instantly filled her olfactory space, her tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.
What kind of taste is it?
That was the pure meaty aroma produced by stewing the beef brisket until it was tender, without any greasiness.
Behind that rich aroma, there is a subtle, pleasant scent of orange peel.
Xiao Xue's previously dry throat involuntarily produced saliva in that instant.
She felt her stomach, which had been on strike for several days, begin to throb slightly, drawn by the aroma.
It wasn't the nauseating, churning sensation, but rather a tremor... akin to "desire."
"Lu Feng...wait!"