Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

Hearing Gu Xiaonan's words, which sounded like a list of dishes from a crosstalk performance, Zhang Anbang stopped listening. "Wife, what do you mean by these dish names?"

Gu Xiaonan's eyebrows curved into a smile, revealing her beautiful dimples, which looked like two strands of honey, making her exceptionally sweet. "Honey, isn't this what you said about becoming an apprentice of the old squad leader and learning a skill?"

I heard from people back at the base that the old squad leader is a true master of Shandong cuisine. I'd love to try all these classic Shandong dishes. When are you going to make them for me?

Upon hearing this, only one thought flashed through Zhang Anbang's mind: Oh no, I've blown my own horn.

"Wife, well, I'm just an ordinary disciple. You understand, there are different kinds of disciples. Ordinary disciples like me can only learn ordinary skills."

Those high-class classic dishes you just mentioned can only be learned by core disciples and successors; I certainly couldn't learn them.

However, your husband is so clever, I've already learned how to make a few dishes: Four Happiness Meatballs, Crystal Apples, Braised Pork Knuckle, and Braised Shrimp. I can make these dishes for you tonight, how about that?

Gu Xiaonan shook her head. "It's not very good. Okay, honey, I was just teasing you. I know these dishes are not easy to make. We'll make them again when we have our next vacation."

I'm exhausted from all the traveling these past two days, and I have work to do when I get back tomorrow, so I should just rest today.

"Hehe, my wife is the best. She cares about me so much. Oh, what more could a husband ask for than to have such a wonderful wife?"

"Alright, alright, stop joking around and let's eat."

"By the way, honey, it's easy to try these classic Shandong dishes. Although I, your husband, can't cook them, there's a restaurant called Tongheju on Yuetan South Street, not far from our home."

I heard that it has been around for almost two hundred years since its founding, and in particular, it has a signature dish called "Sanbuzhan" (三不沾), which is a sweet dish served in the imperial palace.

When cooked properly, this dish won't stick to the plate, spoon, or teeth. It looks like a golden, soft cake, sweet and smooth, and is a signature dish unique to Tongheju Restaurant.

Of course, if you want to go back to the source and eat the full set of traditional Shandong cuisine, you can go to Jinan during your vacation. There is a restaurant called Jufengde there, which is recognized as the original source of official Shandong cuisine in Jinan. It can be said to be the Whampoa Military Academy of Shandong cuisine masters.

I've heard that several generations of renowned Shandong cuisine chefs after the founding of the People's Republic of China came from here, and even the techniques used in state banquets largely originated from Jufengde.

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaonan immediately realized, "Oh, I know that, it was mentioned in that big dyehouse."

Chen Shouting said, "We've lived by the sea for so many years and seen plenty of fish and shrimp, but we still haven't been able to taste the authentic flavor. Jufengde's shrimp dishes are absolutely amazing!"

He also instructed his butler, "Old Wu, tell the kitchen staff at Jufengde to serve me four plates of boiled shrimp tonight."

The waiter loudly called out: "Purely boiled shrimp pieces, deep-fried pork tenderloin, braised pork intestines, stir-fried pork kidneys, pork belly, lotus leaf pork, and takeaway milk soup with cattail shoots!" The third manager of the Sanyuan Dyeing Factory gave him a 50-cent tip.

I remember in the drama, Jufengde was the best Shandong cuisine restaurant in Jinan, and their braised shrimp was their signature dish.

Zhang Anbang gave a thumbs up, "Wow, wife, you're amazing! You remember all those lines so clearly."

"Haha, how could I not know? This show has been playing repeatedly since last year. I don't know how many times I've heard it in the duty room and the activity room. You're not the only one with a great memory, honey."

The two chatted and laughed as they ate lunch. It has to be said that eating at home feels completely different from eating in the army canteen.

There's no rush to clear the table or follow dining rules; the casual conversation makes it feel relaxed and comfortable.

Forty minutes later, the two finally finished their lunch. "Honey, go and rest on the sofa for a while. I'll go wash the dishes."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, honey. You go wash the dishes, and I'll clean up the rest of the food."

……

When Zhang Anbang returned after washing the dishes, Gu Xiaonan was leaning back on the sofa, watching TV intently.

"Honey, what are you looking at so intently?"

"The Return Journey is Like a Rainbow" is a film that focuses on the advance team of the People's Liberation Army entering Hong Kong before the handover in 97. The filming of the military side is quite good, but the emotional storyline of the journalists and some of the conflicts are too artistically embellished.

"That's how TV dramas are, that's how they are. They always have to add some human relationships and entanglements to pull the plot together. Otherwise, if we only film serious matters, there are many things we can't film. If it's too mundane, it won't be as interesting."

As he spoke, Zhang Anbang plopped down next to Gu Xiaonan, smoothly pulled her into his arms, and casually played with her medium-length hair.

……

The two of them snuggled up on the sofa, chatting and watching the TV show, and time passed by unnoticed.

Before the two of them realized how long it had been, it was already 5:30 in the evening.

"Honey, what would you like to eat tonight? I'll go buy some groceries."

Gu Xiaonan waved her hand, "Honey, I'll come tonight. We don't need to buy groceries anymore. We still have some left from lunch. We're going back to the army tomorrow, and we won't be able to finish them if we buy more."

There's some leftover braised chicken, potatoes, and pork belly from lunch in the fridge. Can I steam them, then make some stir-fried green peppers and eggs? And how about making fried rice with the leftover rice?

"Yes, absolutely. Thank you for your hard work, my dear wife."

Although he is a foodie, Zhang Anbang is not the picky type who only chooses the finest foods. He is the versatile type who is not picky and loves to eat everything.

Dinner was decided so happily that Gu Xiaonan had it ready in just half an hour.

Seeing Zhang Anbang staring intently at her, Gu Xiaonan casually brushed a stray hair behind her ear. "What are you daydreaming about, Comrade Zhang? Hurry up and eat."

Zhang Anbang's gaze was fixed on her gentle eyebrows and eyes. He slowly moved to the dining table, but didn't touch his chopsticks at all. He stared at her with a mischievous smile on his lips.

Just as Gu Xiaonan was about to reach out and hand him chopsticks, her wrist was gently gripped by him.

He stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips and sighed softly, "What's the point of eating? The ancients were absolutely right when they said that beauty is food for the eyes. My wife, I don't want to eat anything right now, I just want to eat you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Anbang reached out and swept Gu Xiaonan, who was standing by the dining table, up in his arms.

"Stop it, honey, good honey, stop it. Let's finish eating and clean up first. Why are you suddenly acting like a pervert?"

Caught off guard, Gu Xiaonan instinctively reached out and pressed her hand against his chest, her cheeks flushing bright red. She struggled slightly, but without much strength.

Zhang Anbang hugged her tighter, his hands resting on her lower back, his eyes filled with undisguised longing. He gently brushed his chin against her temple and whispered in her ear, "We have to rush back to camp first thing tomorrow morning, and then we won't see each other again..."