Li Ling waited quietly as the water boiled. Once boiling, she took the frozen dumplings from the freezer and put them into the pot. The tender white dumplings bobbed up and down in the boiling water.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"
While waiting for the dumplings to cook, Li Ling began to prepare the seasonings: fragrant vinegar, bright soy sauce, bright red chili oil, and a small spoonful of salt, all mixed together.
Li Ling added a little less seasoning to the two girls, as they both preferred milder flavors. Li Ling herself, however, added more seasoning according to her own taste.
Soon, the dumplings were cooked. After being taken out of the pot, they were poured into three bowls, then hot soup was poured in, along with seasonings, which blended into the broth, making it glossy and delicious. Finally, some fresh green cilantro was added as a garnish, and the three delicious dumplings were perfectly presented.
"Lotus root and pork dumplings, have a taste." Li Ling served the dumplings, indicating that the two could start eating.
The white steam, carrying a fragrant aroma, wafted into the noses of the two girls, making them both incredibly hungry.
Du Mingji picked up her chopsticks, eagerly took a bite of a dumpling, and her expression instantly became quite interesting.
"Ugh, it's so hot, but it's also so delicious." Du Mingji was a little uncomfortable from the heat, but the deliciousness of the dumplings made her even happier.
Li Ling smiled slightly. He had made all the dumplings himself. Once, he had a sudden inspiration and used a bit of internal strength when kneading the dough and processing the meat filling. Unexpectedly, the dumplings he made were more chewy and very delicious.
These dumplings are usually for my own consumption. I don't want to use my internal energy to make them for guests, as it's too tiring.
Gu Ziyun also took a small bite, chewed slowly, and her eyes brightened instantly.
Li Ling also picked up a dumpling and ate it, then said with some emotion, "There is an old Chinese saying, 'Nothing tastes better than dumplings.' Especially for people like us who work hard away from home, whenever we eat the delicious food of our hometown, we can't help but think of the scenery of our hometown. It may not be the best place, but it is the harbor of our hearts."
Chinese people have a sense of hometown sentiment to some extent, and Li Ling is no exception. No matter how wonderful the mission world is, Li Ling feels most relaxed when he returns to the real world after completing the mission.
"What about your family, young man? Why are you working hard in Korea all by yourself?" Do Myung-hee asked, chewing on a dumpling.
Li Ling pursed his lips and said, "I have no relatives in this world, I'm all alone. This shop is my uncle's legacy, and I want to inherit it." Of course, Li Ling was referring to his identity in this world.
Upon hearing this, both girls froze, looking somewhat embarrassed. Gu Ziyun scolded Du Mingji, "Mingji, you asked something you shouldn't have."
Then he apologized to Li Ling, saying, "Boss, I'm sorry to have brought up something that upset you."
Du Mingji quickly apologized, saying, "Brother, I'm so sorry."
Li Ling chuckled, shook his head to indicate that it was alright, and said, "Actually, everyone in this world will have all sorts of opportunities. We may not be able to choose where we start in life, but we can decide the state of our lives."
Like me, I can't decide the fate of my loved ones, but I can greet each new day with a positive attitude. That way, even if life is indeed difficult, we can still live well.
As Li Ling said this, he glanced meaningfully at Gu Ziyun, who kept her head down and ate without saying a word.
Du Mingji said, "Yes, just like me. I'm happy every day. Although I have a lot of troubles and sometimes I get upset, I can quickly adjust and be happy again, hehe."
After saying that, Du Mingji laughed happily. She was a simple and cheerful girl.
“You’re heartless!” Gu Ziyun retorted, looking up to deliver another blow.
Do Myung-hee was very unhappy with her best friend's words and retorted with a huff: "Koo Ja-yoon, you bad girl, you're so cunning. It's no wonder I call you a 'witch,' you're so annoying."
Li Ling watched the two girls laughing and joking, and was in a good mood. He reminded them, "Hurry up and eat, or the food will get cold."
The two stopped arguing and began to eat the dumplings heartily.
The three ate and chatted, laughing and talking, and before they knew it, their relationship had grown much closer. (Wish Star of All Realms 百镀一下“Wishing Star of All Heavens 爪书屋”最新章节第一时间免费阅读。)
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Chapter 124 Testing
Two more days passed, and it was the weekend.
For some reason, neither Gu Ziyun nor Du Mingji have come to the restaurant these past two days. Li Ling isn't worried about it; there's still plenty of time before the plot begins, and he has all the time to get to know the witch again.
That day, as usual, Li Ling closed the restaurant in the afternoon, hung up a sign that read "Closed in the afternoon," and drove his van to practice his martial arts in the dense forest on the outskirts of the city.
Li Ling stood in the Rising Dragon Stance, maintaining his unique breathing rhythm, his body rising and falling with each breath. Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, he exhaled softly, withdrew from the stance, stood tall, and looked at a large tree.
"Come out."
Gu Ziyun emerged from behind the big tree, her loli-like face still as beautiful as ever. But now, her gaze toward Li Ling was somewhat scrutinizing as she spoke softly, "I didn't expect your senses to be so sharp, to have discovered me so quickly."
Li Ling smiled slightly and said, "I am a martial artist, so my senses are indeed a little more sensitive."
Then, he asked seriously, "Why did Ziyun follow me without my knowledge?"
Gu Ziyun still had that harmless expression, her innocent and cute appearance unchanged. She said, "I've looked into you. You came to Korea from China two years ago. Before that, you worked as an assistant in your uncle's Chinese restaurant. After your uncle passed away, you inherited the restaurant."
"You've been your own boss for over six months now. Before, the food was just okay, but since a week ago, it's become exceptionally delicious, which puzzles me."
Li Ling smiled slightly. Could he say that he had applied his skills to cooking?
It's perfectly normal for the precise handling of details like chopping vegetables and kneading dough, combined with the internal strength of a master, to make the food even more delicious.
It is important to know that sometimes the deliciousness of food depends on the chef's attention to detail when cooking, which is precisely what martial arts experts like Li Ling excel at.
Li Ling looked at Gu Ziyun's childlike face and asked, "What made you investigate me?"
Gu Ziyun smiled sweetly, but Li Ling knew that this innocent smile was actually a witch's disguise.
Gu Ziyun said, "When we first met, I noticed that the way you looked at me was very strange."
Li Ling curled his lips and said, "Oh? So you're not afraid that I'm a bad person with ulterior motives towards you? And yet you dare to come to me alone now."
At this point, Li Ling smiled somewhat jokingly.
Gu Ziyun still had a sweet smile on her face, but the next moment the corners of her mouth turned up, and the pure and innocent expression on her face instantly took on a hint of evil. The difference before and after was like that of a pure angel transforming into a dark loli.