Hard work after winning the lottery

Zhou Yinchuan's steps faltered instinctively.

He took a deep breath, and the aroma rushed into his nostrils, instantly igniting his long-dormant taste buds and stirring up the most primal hunger in his stomach.

"It smells so good...it smells so good..."

He couldn't help but admire it sincerely.

Hua Yun smiled, took his arm, and kept him in suspense.

"You'll see when you go inside."

The moment Zhou Yinchuan stepped into the restaurant, even someone as used to grand occasions as him couldn't help but be filled with amazement and shock.

The spacious and brightly lit restaurant was brightly lit.

The crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling poured down its warm light without reservation, illuminating the entire space as bright as day, exuding an indescribable warmth and joy.

A huge mahogany round table, large enough to seat more than a dozen people, occupies the center of the restaurant.

At this moment, the table is already laden with a dazzling array of dishes, steaming hot and fragrant, like a grand symphony of flavors.

All eyes were focused on the huge white porcelain plate in the very center of the dining table.

On the plate lies a whole roasted lamb.

It was baked until golden brown all over, with an enticing caramel color on the surface, and evenly sprinkled with a layer of finely crushed cumin and chili powder, glistening with an oily sheen under the light.

The sheepskin had been roasted until it curled up slightly, revealing the tender, juicy lamb meat underneath.

On that crispy outer layer, tiny oil bubbles were still sizzling in a few places. Each slight burst seemed to be sending out the most irresistible temptation to diners.

A complex aroma, a blend of rosemary, cumin, charcoal, and the natural savory flavor of lamb, enveloped the entire restaurant like an invisible giant net, assertively declaring its unshakeable central role.

Zhou Yinchuan's gaze was almost completely fixed on the whole roasted lamb.

He could almost picture the delightful "crunch" sound that would be produced when his teeth bit through that crispy outer layer.

Next comes the ultimate taste of piping hot, tender, and juicy lamb melting in your mouth.

This...this is way too grand!

His gaze slowly shifted from the roasted whole lamb to his surroundings.

Surrounding this main dish was a generous spread of various farm-style specialties, almost overflowing the edge of the table.

A large fresh fish from Baixi Lake was steamed to perfection, its body intact and its eyes bulging. It was simply drizzled with soy sauce and sprinkled with bright green scallions and bright red chili threads. The aroma of its freshness could be smelled from afar.

A huge clay pot is bubbling with steam. It's chicken soup, made by simmering fresh mushrooms picked from the mountains with free-range chickens raised on their own farm. The soup is golden in color and rich and mellow.

A plate of dried bamboo shoots stir-fried with locally produced cured pork. The cured pork is translucent, the dried bamboo shoots are crisp, and the dish is full of wok hei (wok aroma).

There were also several plates of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, bright green and refreshing, helping to cut through the richness.

On the corner of the table, there was a plate of plump, white glutinous rice cakes sprinkled with soybean powder. That was Grandma Hua's specialty, soft, sticky, and sweet.

This table of dishes lacked the elaborate and somewhat deliberate plating of a Michelin-starred restaurant, but it possessed an overwhelming sense of the most simple, sincere warmth and abundance.

Each dish seems to carry the warmth of the mountains and the heartfelt wishes of the host.

Looking at the table overflowing with dishes, and then at the enthusiastic smiles on the faces of Hua Mutou, Hua Shu, Li Guifen, and the others, Zhou Yinchuan was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Moved, shocked, and a little... apologetic.

He had lived most of his life and had eaten countless state banquets and private meals, but none of them had ever made him feel so...excited as the meal before him.

He hurriedly waved his hands, those hands that had been so powerful in the business world and signed countless multi-million dollar contracts, now seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Old Hua! Old sister-in-law! You've gone to so much trouble... this is too much of a waste! You've gone to so much trouble!"

His voice trembled slightly, a mixture of emotion and genuine remorse.

"Hey! Don't spend any money!"

Hua Mu waved his large, fan-like hand, his voice so loud it seemed to shake the lights on the roof.

He pulled out the chair next to the head of the table, pressed Zhou Yinchuan down to sit, and his face was full of undisguised smugness and pride.

"On this table, besides oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, what isn't grown in our own fields, raised in the mountains, or caught in the water?"

As he spoke, he picked up a half-full earthenware wine pot from the table and poured a murky liquid, which exuded a rich aroma of rice, into the celadon wine cup in front of Zhou Yinchuan.

"This lamb was the best one that my daughter, Xiaoyun, personally picked out!"

"This fish was caught and brought back from the lake by Ashu this afternoon!"

"This wine is brewed by myself using newly harvested rice. It's not very strong, but it's fragrant!"

Hua Mutou slammed his wine glass down in front of Zhou Yinchuan, spilling a few drops of wine. His eyes held the domineering, unyielding look that only old comrades-in-arms possessed.

"You've come all this way to see this old man, so for that reason alone, I have to make sure you eat and drink well! Don't give me any of that polite talk, or I'll lose my temper!"

These words stirred a surge of emotion in Zhou Yinchuan's heart, and his eyes even stung slightly.

He knew that this was more than just a meal; it was his old comrade-in-arms and his family who had placed their truest, purest, and most heartfelt sentiments on this table.

What else could he say?

Any polite words seem affected and pale in the face of such sincere affection.

Just then, a fair and slender hand, holding a clean pair of serving chopsticks, reached out above the whole roasted lamb.

It is Huayun.

She leaned forward slightly, her dark eyes shining like two stars under the light.

Her movements were steady, and her chopsticks landed precisely on the most prized part of the lamb—the lamb rib with a few thin bones still attached, roasted to a crispy exterior and tender interior.

She carefully picked up the tenderest and largest piece of lamb rib and gently placed it into the bone dish in front of Zhou Yinchuan.

The mutton landed on the plate with a soft thud, and the scalding hot juices instantly created a small, glossy sheen on the white porcelain dish.

Hua Yun raised her head and gave Zhou Yinchuan a gentle and reassuring smile, a smile as pure as a mountain spring.

"Grandpa Zhou, please don't be so polite."

Her voice was as gentle as the evening breeze, yet it carried a reassuring power.

"My grandfather often said that you and he were sworn brothers who could entrust your backs to each other in the midst of gunfire."

"Now that you're here, this is your own home."

"Try it and see if it suits your taste."