I Have a Countryside Gourmet Restaurant

Slowly, all the dishes on the table were picked clean.

Everyone was thoroughly satisfied.

After paying via the QR code, everyone chatted for a while longer.

Afterward, the bosses and their families said their goodbyes and left one by one.

Quiet returned to the restaurant, both inside and out.

It was already 1:00 PM, so Li You made himself a bowl of beef noodles.

He was just having beef noodles for lunch today.

As he was eating, Liu Xu, Wei Ping, Xiao Yue, Zhang Rui’Er, and dozens of others trooped back.

Seeing Li You eating his noodles, Liu Xu grinned. "Just getting to lunch, Boss?"

Li You nodded and smiled back. "How did the hunt go?"

Liu Xu held up a bag he was carrying. It was filled with bamboo grubs, probably several hundred of them.

Then he added, "We caught three bags’ worth, over a thousand in total. There are just so many of these things. It’s a good thing the bamboo sprouts and grows so quickly here. Otherwise, these bamboo grubs would have wiped the forest clean long ago."

Li You said, "It’s true. It would be nearly impossible for bamboo grubs to wipe out an entire bamboo forest."

Liu Xu added excitedly, "Well then, let’s do this bamboo forest a favor and get rid of some pests. Boss, can we use some of your firewood?"

Li You replied, "It’s just out back. Help yourselves. I’ll bring you some salt and some stainless steel tongs."

"Thanks, Boss!" everyone called out.

Li You waved off their thanks and went into the kitchen, emerging with some salt and several stainless steel tongs.

Meanwhile, Liu Xu took two others and went behind the restaurant to fetch some firewood.

They lit a fire.

Time to get cooking.

"Boss, want to have a few?" Liu Xu asked Li You.

Li You replied, "You guys go ahead. I’ll join you after I finish my noodles."

"Alrighty!"

Several people gathered around the fire and, with practiced ease, began roasting the bamboo grubs.

The people who had just arrived today were especially excited.

They’d all heard that these things were delicious when roasted, and now they could finally try them for themselves.

And after they took their first bite...

They really were delicious!

The newcomers were pleasantly surprised. Someone asked, "Who was the first person to figure out you could roast and eat these things? Was it the Boss?"

"Nope," Liu Xu said. "The Boss told us that lots of people in rural areas eat roasted bamboo grubs. People have probably been eating them since a long, long time ago."

"Liu Xu is right." Having finished his noodles, Li You walked out of the restaurant and chimed in, "Eating roasted bamboo grubs is a tradition that’s been passed down for a very long time in the countryside in many places. Generations of children have probably roasted and eaten them."

So that was the story.

Everyone nodded in understanding.

After speaking, Li You also joined the group roasting and eating bamboo grubs.

They all roasted, ate, laughed, and chatted. Everyone was relaxed and happy.

A little while later, Zhou Yang and his four friends returned.

Seeing the lively scene in front of the restaurant and the crackling bonfire, they knew everyone had already started roasting the bamboo grubs.

’This looks like fun!’

Besides, everyone looked so relaxed and happy.

And moments of such pure relaxation and happiness were incredibly precious for any adult.

’Even though we’re still students, we’re adults too, aren’t we?’

Because of that, all five of them suddenly felt a strong urge to join the group.

Of course, everyone in the group saw Zhou Yang and his four friends arrive.

Liu Xu called out, "You five are back! How’d it go? Find any wild Red-crowned Cranes?"

Zhou Yang shook his head. "Not yet. We’re planning to head out again later. Have you guys already started roasting the bamboo grubs?"

Liu Xu said, "Yup. We caught over a thousand of them. How about it? Wanna try some?"

This was the second time Liu Xu had invited them.

This time, Zhou Yang and his four friends didn’t refuse.

They still didn’t really think bamboo grubs were edible. But with so many people here eating them without hesitation, why couldn’t they at least try?

So, Zhou Yang grinned. "Alright! Thanks, man. In that case, we won’t be shy. We’d actually love to give them a try."

Seeing that the five of them didn’t refuse this time, Liu Xu beamed and said, "Then come on over and eat with us. The more, the merrier."

"Okay, thanks, man! And thank you, everyone," the five of them said, thanking the group.

Naturally, the rest of the group was very happy to have them join in.

After some friendly greetings, Liu Xu picked up a few bamboo grubs and asked Zhou Yang’s group, "Do you want to try roasting them yourselves?"

After a moment’s hesitation, all five agreed.

Then they each took a bamboo grub from Liu Xu’s hand.

They knew what bamboo grubs were, but they had almost never held one before.

This was probably the first time in their lives they’d ever held a bamboo grub.

It felt strangely novel.

After turning them over in their hands for a bit, they followed Liu Xu’s demonstration, prepared the bamboo grubs, and then placed them in the fire to roast.

Once they were roasted through...

They looked a bit dark and charred, not terribly appetizing.

However, they did give off a fragrance similar to that of grilled meat.

And while they didn’t look appetizing, they weren’t repulsive either. They looked perfectly edible.

They had been worried they wouldn’t be able to bring themselves to eat one.

Now, they didn’t need to worry about that.

’In that case, might as well give it a try.’

Without further hesitation, all five of them popped the roasted bamboo grubs into their mouths.

They chewed tentatively.

A moment later, their eyes lit up. They were actually pretty good.

Delicious, even.

While they wouldn’t be considered a supreme delicacy, you could definitely call them a unique kind of treat.

Previously, when Liu Xu had called roasted bamboo grubs a delicacy, the five of them had found it completely incomprehensible.

But now, they all agreed with him.

And for some reason, being able to eat such a delicacy brought all five of them a strange sense of satisfaction.

’Back at school, most people probably have no idea you can roast and eat bamboo grubs, do they?’

’Which means they’ve definitely never tried them.’

’When we get back to school, we’ll have to brag about this.’

Seeing that the five of them had finished, Liu Xu asked, "So, what do you think?"

Zhou Yang grinned. "They’re actually really good. They have a very unique, grilled-meat flavor."

The other four all voiced their agreement.

Liu Xu let out a hearty laugh. "See? I told you roasted bamboo grubs were a delicacy. You believe me now, don’t you?"

Zhou Yang and his four friends nodded repeatedly, showing that they were now believers.

Then, all five of them said they wanted to have more.

Liu Xu said, "Help yourselves. There are plenty more."

"Thanks!"

After thanking him, each of the five picked up another bamboo grub and began to roast it.

With the five students joining in, the atmosphere became even more lively.

The five students told the group some funny stories from their university, making everyone roar with laughter.

University life certainly seemed eventful.

Seeing everyone so relaxed and happy, Li You felt a deep sense of contentment.

He loved seeing his customers so happy and relaxed at his restaurant.

This, after all, was the whole point of his restaurant.

Good food should bring people joy and relaxation.

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