Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 322 I didn’t expect the county magistrate to come to the snack bar to eat.

After serving the dishes to the two elders, Lu Lang put some meat slices into his own bowl.

As the soup spoon moved, hot steam with a fresh and fragrant aroma spread out, attracting the guests eating nearby, who couldn't help but follow the aroma to look over at the square table.

One of the guests first squinted his eyes at the boiled pork slices on the square table, which were steaming and emitting a rich, spicy and fresh flavor, and swallowed.

He casually glanced at the faces of the three people dining, then looked away and continued eating.

I just took two mouthfuls of the rice in front of me with the stir-fried chicken, and suddenly I seemed to remember something and was stunned.

The guest turned around in disbelief and took a closer look at Lu Zheng, who was whispering with Yang Chi, with a look of disbelief on his face.

He quickly dropped the bamboo chopsticks in his hand, tugged at the hem of his wrinkled shirt, straightened his expression, walked to the square table, bowed respectfully and said, "I, Luo Da, pay my respects to the county magistrate."

As soon as these words were spoken, the restaurant, which had been bustling and even noisy, suddenly became quiet.

First, the people nearby put down their bowls and chopsticks, stood up hesitantly, and stood aside with their hands hanging down.

Then the guests who had their backs to the square table realized something was wrong and stood up after being signaled or secretly urged by their companions.

Everyone was talking to each other, and then they all bowed in unison, shouting, "Greetings to the county magistrate. I hope you are well."

Lu Zheng originally planned to accompany Yang Chi, the governor, to stroll around the market today, get a feel for public opinion, and try some fresh dishes in a restaurant.

Unexpectedly, this lazy county magistrate, who only dealt with the people when he went to court, was discovered the first time he went out incognito.

The casual and relaxed attitude he had originally had when dining with friends suddenly became restrained.

Yang Chi winked at him and shook his head slightly, indicating that Lu Zheng should just admit his identity and not involve him.

Lu Zheng had no choice but to straighten his expression and put on a friendly and easy-going face.

He stood up and raised his hands, smiling and said, "Thank you for being polite. We are not in the government office now. We are all guests. There is no need to be polite. Let's eat our meals."

The first customer who recognized Lu Zheng and called himself Luo Da was a flower and tree merchant who specialized in selling fresh flowers and bonsai plants of all seasons.

Because he supplied the green plants and flowers needed by the county government, he saw Lu Zheng from afar twice when he went to deliver flowers.

But both times, Lu Zheng had just returned from his post, wearing a full set of official uniform, but this time he was dressed in casual clothes, so he was not recognized at first glance.

At this moment, he stepped forward and said attentively: "I didn't expect that the county magistrate would come to such a snack shop to dine with us, and eat so deliciously."

"He truly loves the people and enjoys life with them."

"Yes, yes, I didn't expect that the county magistrate also eats pork and doesn't mind the low price of pork."

"If anyone says that nobles only eat mutton and that pork is for the lower classes, I will have a serious argument with him."

"Our county magistrate is a real nobleman. Look how delicious his meal is."

"I wonder what dishes the county magistrate eats. If I receive this month's salary, I will order one to try."

"If the county magistrate finds the food delicious, then there's nothing to complain about it."

"That's a good idea. The soup and vegetables on the county magistrate's table look quite a lot. You can't finish it all by yourself."

"Call me then, and I'll fight for it with you."

The guests present were talking to each other in a low voice at first, but when they saw that the county magistrate looked easy-going, he asked everyone to sit wherever they wanted and not to feel restrained.

Gradually they grew bolder, and their excited discussions became louder and louder.

Lu Zheng didn't have time to answer Luo Da's words.

Suddenly, a young waiter plucked up the courage to say, "Mr. County Magistrate, I would like to ask you about the spicy dish you ordered on the table. What is it like and whether it tastes good?"

Lu Zheng was slightly stunned at first. Since he came to Anping County, he usually met the common people in the lobby. He was dressed in official uniform and looked intimidating without even getting angry.

No matter whether they were victims or suspects, the people in the hall all looked miserable and timid.

Never before has the common people been so happy to see him and boldly ask him questions as if he were an elder.

These words may sound offensive at first, but upon reflection they make one feel happy, as if he truly is an official who shares happiness with the people and loves them like his own children.

He said with a smile: "This dish is called boiled pork slices. I just tried it. The pork slices are chewy and tender, the bean sprouts are fragrant and tender, and the lettuce is crisp. It is sweet and spicy, and it is very appetizing and delicious."

Seeing that the county magistrate did not blame them and answered them seriously, the guests in the restaurant became even more excited.

Someone asked, "Sir, that dish is made of pork, don't you mind the low price of pork?"

"Sir, you really know what you are talking about. Every time I come to the market to buy something, I always eat at this Fengnian Restaurant."

"Although her family mainly uses pork in cooking, the dishes they make are delicious and are not inferior to lamb."

"And the cost of a meal is not that much. It's a good place for us to satisfy our cravings and fill our stomachs."

"Sir, although I can't afford the soft lamb buns in the restaurant, I can afford the juicy meat buns in this restaurant."

"The meat buns are big and have lots of meat. They are delicious, satisfying and filling. They are also cheap. Sir, have you tried them?"

"I like the pork belly skewers the most. They are fried with a sizzling smell right out of the pan, sprinkled with some condiments and rolled in a pancake. They are delicious. My Lord, why don't you try rolling one in a pancake?"

Everyone was talking at once, becoming more and more enthusiastic, and they all started recommending their favorite dishes to Lu Zheng.

Someone went straight to the table and ordered a few skewers of pork belly and a small plate of pizza, which were placed on a tray and brought over respectfully.

Lu Zheng was deeply moved.

He quickly stood up and took it with both hands. After thinking for a while, he said to Lu Lang beside him, "Xiao Si, take this portion of boiled pork slices and share some with the guests present. Let everyone taste this spicy and delicious flavor."

"In addition, each person will receive a serving of sweet and sour pork tenderloin. I just tried it and I think it tastes the best. It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it's sweet and sour and delicious."

Lu Zheng turned around and said to Shen Yu who was waiting at the side: "Miss Shen, if the sweet and sour pork tenderloin is not enough, just add some Beijing-style shredded pork, which tastes good too. I will pay for it all."

Lu Lang responded yes and hurried to take the soup bowl from the table.

Zhou Dalang, who was standing nearby, saw this and said hurriedly, "Mr. Lu, the soup bowl is too hot. Let me use a tray to carry it."

As he said this, he took the tray and placed the still hot soup bowl on it.

Lu Lang took a soup spoon and bamboo chopsticks and added a spoonful of soup to the bowls of everyone present.

Li and her friends carried the sweet and sour pork tenderloin and shredded pork with Beijing sauce from the steamer on trays and distributed them one by one.

For a moment, the diners bowed to Lu Zheng one after another, and expressed their gratitude one after another.