sbdcsierra Chapter 1
Chapter 1
2020 was truly a year of witnessing history, but who knew that 2021 would be even more surreal? By May Day, the storm of the epidemic had gradually subsided, and people dared to go out and travel again, but the restaurant business was far from recovering.
Liu Liulian is the highest-paid female chef in Huai'an City! Her restaurant, Quanxinglou, is a landmark in the city. Newlyweds are proud to hold their wedding banquets there. Quanxinglou's wedding banquets aren't much more expensive than elsewhere, but the dishes are always of high quality and never compromise on quality, making the restaurant exceptionally successful. Then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. Fortunately, the restaurant had been open for many years and had a solid foundation, so the owner, Gao Daxing, decided to renovate it.
The fifth-floor Lao Tao Ge is a traditional Chinese garden with small bridges, flowing water, green vines, rockeries, and palm and banana trees acting as natural barriers. The people who come here to dine are all rich and powerful and not easy to serve. Fortunately, those who know how to please are not difficult to serve. Liu Liulian is the head chef here.
Lao Tao Ge only had two tables at noon today, but surprisingly, it was empty in the evening. After get off work, I took a shower, took my work clothes out of the washing machine, shook them off, draped them over my arms, and hummed a little tune as I casually walked out—the staff dormitory was on the third floor, and the renovation was almost finished, so the restaurant was much quieter.
"Huh?" She was a little puzzled. A young, dark-skinned man shouted something at her, but she couldn't hear it. What was she stepping on? Before she could react, everything went blank, and the world spun into a giant vortex...
Perhaps it was a snap of the fingers, perhaps a century, who knows? Liu Lian opened her eyes. This was a strange place. The room was as clean as a snow cave, the ceiling covered with paper in a classic and elegant pattern. Everything—doors, windows, bed curtains, wardrobes, desks—was antique, even the windows were covered with paper. "Hmm? Have hospitals all been turned into resorts these days?" Liu Lian wondered, a little puzzled. She looked around suspiciously at the four-poster bed with its gold-painted decorations, the light blue bed curtains, and the apricot-red silk quilt. Where was she? What had happened to her? She thought back carefully for a moment. Oh, she remembered—she had stepped on something and then lost consciousness. Could she have stepped on an electrical cable and been electrocuted? No way, she'd step on something every time she passed by.
Suddenly, the curtain rustled outside the door. Liu Liu quickly closed her eyes, peeking through the slits at the person entering. It was a small old woman. She touched Liu Lian's forehead and softly called, "Willow Leaf, Willow Leaf, Qi Qi, Little Qi." Liu Lian remained unmoved. Who am I? Where am I? What happened to me? The old woman sighed softly. A hoarse cough came from outside the door. The old woman called out, "Come in, alright." A thin, small old man carrying a bowl of medicine quietly entered, lifting the curtain. The old woman tucked a handkerchief around Liu Lian's neck, and the old man gently lifted Liu Lian's head. The old woman used a spoon to feed Liu Lian the medicine, spoonful by spoonful.
Liu Lian cursed inwardly, "This stuff is so bitter, and you expect me to savor it? Are you stupid?! Why not just gulp it down?" But she dared not speak, look, or move. This whole thing felt so eerie! After the two left, Liu Lian breathed a sigh of relief, and a thought became increasingly clear: I've transmigrated! She panicked a little. This couldn't be! It was too unscientific! Although Liu Lian often read transmigration novels to pass the time and had fantasized about transmigrating and becoming an empress, she never intended to transmigrate. Although she was just an ordinary commoner, working a not-so-glamorous job as a chef, and not even knowing who her parents were, she had a mortgage on her house and a loving husband: they were already married, and although the wedding was simple, their married life was harmonious and sweet. Now Liu Lian was trying to conceive, and she had already started taking folic acid consciously. Lin Heng had also started exercising in his spare time, planning to have a baby next year, and the three of them would live happily together. What a wonderful life! Thinking of Lin Heng's lingering heart was dealt a heavy blow, and tears flowed silently from the corners of her tightly closed eyes, dripping onto the pillow.
The calming and soothing medicine took effect, and she drifted off to sleep. Visitors came in droves to the courtyard, and the stone table under the pomegranate tree was laden with eggs, snacks, noodles, and other such items.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the room grew dim. With a creak, a large-footed old woman nimbly entered, carrying a bucket of hot water. She quickly stripped Liulian of her clothes and carried her to the opposite kang (heated brick bed), where she began to scrub Liulian from head to toe. Liulian thought to herself, "Auntie, are you washing me? Are you sure you're not going to skin me alive?" Finally, she couldn't help but hiss and open her eyes. The old woman, engrossed in scrubbing Liulian, hadn't noticed until she had dressed her in a short-sleeved shirt and changed the sweat-soaked sheets. Only then did she carry Liulian back to bed. Turning her head unintentionally, she noticed a pair of dark eyes gleaming, staring intently at her. Startled, the old woman rushed out the door, shouting, "She's awake! She's awake!"
In a flash, Liulian decided to feign amnesia. All those time-travel novels she'd read weren't for nothing! What's done is done; what else can she do?
Everyone in the courtyard rushed into the house, chattering at her. Liu Lian remained silent, just staring blankly at them. Several people exchanged glances, then the old lady rushed over and grabbed her hand, tears streaming down her face. She kept calling out, "Liu Ye'er!" Those nearby comforted her, saying, "It's good you're awake, it's good you're awake." A young man in a slightly worn blue robe, clearly going through puberty, said in a hoarse voice, "Liu Ye'er, your teacher told you to rest well. I'll make up for any missed lessons later! Don't be afraid!" Hearing this kind reassurance, Liu Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The old woman with big feet brought over a bowl of mung bean soup. Everyone earnestly urged her to drink a few sips. But at this moment, she couldn't stomach even the finest nectar, let alone mung bean soup! A jumble of thoughts was stuck in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She wished she could die immediately and go back in time—would she still have the appetite for this? But she couldn't refuse their politeness, so she reluctantly accepted the bowl, took a sip, and lay back down, facing inwards, her back to everyone. She couldn't be bothered to appease these complete strangers. What did these people have to do with her? Pshaw!
The crowd exchanged glances. They smoothed things over, letting her rest, and dispersed. The old woman tugged at the old lady's sleeve, helping the dazed little old lady out. It was completely dark, a small crescent moon hanging in the sky. It was only March, but a cool breeze made the little old lady shiver. Her hands trembled slightly as she grasped the old woman's hand pleadingly.
The old woman, however, was a woman who had experienced much. She helped the old woman sit down at the stone table, then moved a small stool and sat down beside her. She whispered something to the old woman for a while, and the old woman, both surprised and suspicious, looked at her husband for help.
A lantern hung from the tree. The dim light of dusk allowed her to see the path beneath her feet, but not her husband's face. The old man seemed lost in thought, his face as smooth and still as a stone sculpture.