Chapter 253: Strolling Together After Dinner
Xiang Chuan glanced at the long line at the serving window in the canteen, calmly finished wrapping the last dumpling without changing expression, put the whole plate of dumplings into the steamer, patted her hands, and walked straight towards the locker room in the kitchen.
Having been a corporate slave for over a decade in her previous life, she was determined not to work overtime in this life no matter what.
However, seeing the anxious expressions of the officers and employees in front of the serving window, seemingly worried that the meals would sell out, Xiang Chuan couldn’t help but sigh, and said to the class president Lu Daiqing’s group responsible for preparing the noodle soup:
“Old Lu, before you leave later, have the kitchen AI prepare two more pots of soup and raw noodles. For the side dishes… have Nancy over there boil a few thick pieces of beef, then prepare some boiled ingredients to put in together. Just give them some chili powder and pepper.”
Lu Daiqing was stunned upon hearing Xiang Chuan’s sudden new instructions, but after glancing at the officers at the serving window, he immediately understood her intention. He smiled and agreed, then called over Nancy, Mandy, and Ainuo who was responsible for the kitchen AI instructions, and gave them a few instructions.
“I say, that girl is just too soft-hearted, always finding things for herself to do.”
Ainuo complained grumpily, but their hands didn’t stop as they opened the kitchen AI instruction operation page and began inputting some follow-up instructions.
The three of them smiled helplessly and shrugged upon hearing this.
——
After dinner.
Li Wei touched his somewhat overstuffed belly, frowning with a headache.
Previously, when he ate solid food and liquid food, he rarely experienced this kind of overeating situation, and as far as he knew, eating too full was not good for the body, so his current state could not be considered healthy at all.
But… Li Wei recalled the taste of that dinner just now.
Beef noodle soup, chive pancake, chicken soup. The stir-fried dishes were stir-fried chicken and the stewed beef lung with Chinese cabbage that made him hesitate for a long time whether to return it. Except for the chive pancake which he had already tried at noon, the others were all his first contact. Every bite was like repainting his cognition of these ingredients, especially the stewed beef lung with Chinese cabbage. He never imagined that this ingredient classified as waste could produce such a wonderful and delicious texture.
This half-day’s experience was almost shattering Li Wei’s cognition of the concept of “food” up to now. He even couldn’t somewhat recall the taste of the solid food and liquid food he ate at noon. Now his mind was full of that aromatic chive pancake.
Li Wei walked out of the canteen and looked at the long line extending outside the canteen, sighing inwardly.
Even the soldiers from the military escort ship couldn’t resist the temptation brought by food made with ancient technology. How could ordinary residents refuse it? No wonder the government of the Third Fleet Main Ship would go to the extent of violating human rights to tightly seal off this information.
But, how long could they seal it? Li Wei fell into contemplation.
“Eh, this military officer, you’re still here?”
At this moment, a familiar voice came from behind Li Wei. When he turned around, he saw Xiang Chuan standing behind him, blinking her eyes at him. Beside Xiang Chuan stood several students whom Li Wei had seen at the port earlier. Their expressions were obviously a bit nervous.
“Were you satisfied with that meal just now? I saw you hesitating over the beef lung for a long time.”
Xiang Chuan teased, although she used honorifics verbally, she didn’t seem nervous at all facing the officer, which surprised Li Wei somewhat.
“Mm, thank you all for the hospitality. That beef… beef lung, I tried it, it was delicious. It’s just the texture is a bit… I don’t know how to describe it.”
Li Wei recalled the soft texture of the beef lung, and his expression instantly became a bit complex. The main thing was, this thing was said to be a meat dish, but compared to chicken and beef, it was too soft, even softer than chives and radish. For someone trying it for the first time, it was indeed a bit too challenging.
“You could have ordered steak at the time. For a newbie, beef lung is indeed a bit… hahaha.”
Xiang Chuan laughed dryly. The main thing was, what meal to order was Li Wei’s own decision. They were busy stir-frying, boiling bread and dumplings at the time, and didn’t notice what Li Wei ordered. As a result, when leaving the kitchen, Xiang Chuan saw Li Wei sitting in the officer dining area with an entangled expression over the stewed beef lung with radish, and only then realized she forgot to explain some consumption common sense about poultry internal organs to this guest from another fleet.
However, Li Wei finishing the beef lung in the end somewhat surprised her.
“I’ll try steak next time. Will you continue cooking tomorrow?”
Li Wei asked casually.
“Just breakfast and lunch. Tomorrow afternoon we’re heading back… Yating, what time is it?”
Xiang Chuan turned her head and asked.
“The shuttle at four in the afternoon. According to the plan, we should be back at the main ship before six.” Ouyang Yating replied grumpily, “Pay more attention to the time.”
“You guys are here, and if not, I have an alarm clock to help.”
Xiang Chuan chuckled, then turned to Li Wei:
“This military officer, we’re going for a walk to digest food, so we won’t disturb you.”
With that, she slightly bowed, preparing to lead the A Bite of China Club Trio behind her, along with Nancy and Chou Manman, to the small sports field nearby.
Watching Xiang Chuan’s light and brisk steps, Li Wei opened his mouth, then blurted out inexplicably:
“—I’ll join you too. I just overate as well.”
Thus, Li Wei joined this post-dinner walking group amid everyone’s complex gazes.
——
On the way walking.
Ouyang Yating and the others looked at Li Wei with complex expressions. Facing officers, especially officers from elite troops like the exploration force, these young people were still a bit nervous. This made the originally relaxed and enjoyable walk even more tormenting.
On the contrary, Xiang Chuan, ever since she learned at noon that the handsome young man in front of her was only twenty years old, immediately classified him into the category of young youngsters. So even though Li Wei was wearing a military uniform, it didn’t put much psychological pressure on her.
Xiang Chuan: How am I supposed to feel nervous facing a youngster ten years younger than me in my previous life?
So along the way, Ouyang Yating and the others fell silent due to nervousness, while Li Wei started chatting with Xiang Chuan.
“Do you often hold collective activities like today’s? Like making those foods in the kitchen.”
Li Wei asked casually.
“Not really. If the canteen could use my authorization, there’d be no need for us to cook personally, but there are all sorts of complications…”
Xiang Chuan shook her head tsk-tsking.
“On the main ship side, the school cafeteria has my authorization, so we don’t need to cook. Our club’s restaurant also has my personal authorization, but occasionally we let our club members practice some new things. The successfully trial-made items are distributed to the guests to taste, helping as little guinea pigs… cough, helping to rate the taste. Outside, there’s Yue Xiang Restaurant, which also has some of my authorized recipes. Things like this time’s noodles and pancakes are sold there too. If you like them, military officer, you can go to the shop to try them sometime.”
“These are all authorized by you?”
Li Wei said in surprise. Xiang Chuan’s meaning was almost openly telling him “I am an information turbulence contactee.” Although Li Wei had already gotten confirmation from Captain Noah that afternoon, he didn’t expect Xiang Chuan to reveal her identity to him so directly.
“Hm? Didn’t you already know at noon?” Xiang Chuan looked at the surprised Li Wei and smiled, “At least your captain should know, right? He stared at me for a long time.”
Li Wei’s words got stuck instantly.
Actually, it wasn’t that Xiang Chuan was overly perceptive. The kind of look Kenny gave Xiang Chuan at the time, in the half month since Xiang Chuan returned from the production escort ship, she had seen more than once on the faces of senior students who passed by Class Eight Grade One intentionally or unintentionally, or came to the A Bite of China Club for consumption.
Looks filled with probing, curiosity, suspicion, and a bit of envy or jealousy.
Having been eyed with such looks for half a month, even someone as obtuse as Xiang Chuan would notice these young people’s little emotions. So when she saw the familiar look in Kenny’s eyes in the canteen, Xiang Chuan quickly got his emotions.
The only difference was that she seemed to see a bit of… wariness in Kenny’s eyes?
