Xiao Lu'er?
Lu Ming was startled by the nickname. It was a childhood moniker he hadn't heard in years. Who else would remember it?
He turned and saw a man, thin as a bamboo pole, tumble out of a car and rush towards him with delight. Lu Ming recognized him immediately – his childhood friend, Lin Zi'ang. Because he was tall and thin, looking perpetually undernourished, everyone called him Bamboo Pole.
Encountering an old friend in a foreign land. Lu Ming opened his arms wide and hugged Lin Zi'ang. Lin Zi'ang patted Lu Ming’s shoulder vigorously, tears of joy welling up.
"Xiao Lu'er," he exclaimed, "I thought you were dead! I never dreamed I'd have the fortune to see you again. I'm so happy!"
Lu Ming laughed heartily. "Don't be so dramatic, okay?"
"It's true!" Lin Zi'ang insisted. "Ten years ago, your Lu family was annihilated, everyone wiped out. I thought you were gone too. For months, I went to your family's ruins every day, hoping you were still alive, but I never saw you. *Sniffle*..."
Lin Zi'ang’s voice broke, and he started to cry. Lu Ming shook his head helplessly. The mention of the painful past cast a shadow over Lu Ming's expression.
Ten years. Ten years ago, on that fateful night, the entire Lu family was massacred. Lu Ming was saved by a mysterious man and, after a series of events, was taken in and trained by Old Master Jiang Dingbian. To this day, Lu Ming still hadn't discovered who annihilated his family, nor who the mysterious savior was.
Seeing Lu Ming's dejected look, Lin Zi'ang realized he'd spoken out of turn. He quickly smacked his own face. "I'm sorry, Xiao Lu'er, I misspoke again. Please don't blame me."
Lu Ming caught his hand. "I've known you long enough to know you wouldn't mean harm. Of course, I don't blame you."
Lin Zi'ang had always been this way – blunt, speaking his mind without regard for others' feelings. He didn't have many friends and was often bullied. Despite his height, he was timid and utterly useless in a fight. Whenever he got into trouble, it was Lu Ming who stood up for him.
Because of this, Lin Zi'ang cherished Lu Ming deeply, considering him his only true friend. When the Lu family was destroyed ten years ago, Lin Zi'ang had fainted from grief multiple times.
Lu Ming glanced at Lin Zi'ang’s small car. The trunk was stuffed with fruits, vegetables, chickens, ducks, and fish, bulging so much it wouldn't close. He asked curiously, "It's only [current month], why are you stocking up for the New Year already?"
Lin Zi'ang grinned. "It's not for the New Year, it's for supplies! Let me tell you, Xiao Lu'er, I'm quite the big shot now. I opened my own restaurant, and I'm the head chef. My cooking is famous far and wide, and business is booming."
"Really that good?"
"Would I lie to you?" Lin Zi'ang grabbed Lu Ming's arm. "Come on, I'll take you to my restaurant right now. You can taste my skills."
…
Half an hour later, the car stopped. Lin Zi'ang opened the door and pointed to the restaurant before them. "Xiao Lu'er, look! This is the restaurant I opened, my most prized possession!"
Lu Ming looked up. It was a very ordinary roadside eatery, small and exquisite. Despite its modest size, it was bustling with customers. Those who couldn't snag a seat opted for takeout. The signboard proudly displayed four characters: Zhu Lu Restaurant.
Lu Ming chuckled. "You illiterate, the 'zhu' in 'zhulu' means 'to pursue,' why did you use the 'zhu' for bamboo?"
Lin Zi'ang replied with a smile, "It's not 'zhulu' (pursuing deer), it's 'zhū lù' (bamboo and deer). Bamboo is me, and deer is you."
Hearing this, Lu Ming's heart felt warm. His eyes even welled up a little. Ever since he arrived in Jinling, he had faced numerous disdainful glances and cold shoulders. Lin Zi'ang was the only one who had shown him such deep affection. Even after ten years, Lin Zi'ang had never forgotten their pure bond. This friendship, forged in childhood, was uncorroded by time or distance; it was like aged wine, growing more fragrant with each passing year.
The two entered the restaurant. By chance, a customer had just finished eating. Lin Zi'ang quickly cleared the table and gestured for Lu Ming to sit. He grinned, "I'll prepare a three-dish, one-soup meal for you, two meat and one vegetable, plus my signature special rice. I guarantee you'll be raving about it and dreaming of my cooking!"
Lu Ming smiled. "Is it really that delicious? Don't brag."
"Hmph, Xiao Lu'er, just you wait and see."
Just as Lin Zi'ang tied on his apron and was about to head into the kitchen, a group of men carrying microphones, reflectors, and cameras entered. They surrounded a man in a long gown, wearing a jade pendant and fiddling with prayer beads.
As the customers in the shop spotted the man, they started murmuring. Some women even let out screams.
"It's the Food God! The most popular food streamer on the Dou Le platform, a peerless handsome man of both talent and charm!"
"So this is the Food God. Tsk tsk tsk, he's truly handsome, even more so than me."
"I watch his streams all the time. He travels all over the country, specifically seeking out famous local eateries to sample their cuisine."
"They say that any restaurant recommended by him becomes famous and incredibly profitable."
"That's amazing! If Boss Lin can serve the Food God well today, Zhu Lu Restaurant's fame will skyrocket!"
Listening to the descriptions, Lin Zi'ang and Lu Ming gained a preliminary understanding of the man before them. They knew he was a highly influential food streamer. His endorsement could greatly increase Zhu Lu Restaurant's fame and fortune, making him a client that absolutely needed to be treated with utmost care.
The Food God strode into the restaurant, surveyed the scene, and asked, "Boss, are there no seats available?"
Lin Zi'ang looked around; indeed, every table was occupied. Suddenly, Lu Ming stood up and pointed to his seat. "You're the Food God, right? You can have this seat. Eat first, I'm not in a hurry."
"Hmm, young man, you're perceptive." The Food God flicked his sleeve and sat in Lu Ming's vacated seat.
Lin Zi'ang whispered, "Is that really necessary?"
Lu Ming replied, "Whether I eat or not is unimportant. The key is to impress him so he can boost your restaurant's reputation. As your brother, I can't let you miss this opportunity."
Subsequently, Lin Zi'ang placed the menu on the table and asked with a smile, "Great Food God, what would you like to eat?"
The Food God glanced at the menu. "Just make whatever dishes you're best at."
"Coming right up!" Lin Zi'ang excitedly hurried into the kitchen to select the freshest ingredients and begin cooking.
In the shadows, a man wearing a baseball cap from the Food God's team squeezed through the crowd and slipped into the kitchen. The Food God casually glanced at the man in the baseball cap.
"Heh heh, another delicious fat sheep waiting to be fleeced," the Food God said, taking a sip of tea. The corners of his mouth curled upwards into a cunning smile.