I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

"A copper pot, charcoal fire, fresh hand-cut mutton, sesame paste, chive blossoms, fermented bean curd..."

The director's face fell completely.

"Teacher Xiao Chen..."

The director looked troubled.

"This...this is by the sea, where are we supposed to get these for you?"

Xiao Chen just looked at him without saying a word, but his eyes clearly said: These are your rules, you figure it out yourselves.

Ultimately, faced with Xiao Chen's powerful aura and the huge number of points earned from several large bags of trash, the production team compromised.

They mobilized all their connections and resources, and urgently airlifted a complete set of hot pot equipment and ingredients from the city.

When the copper pot, mutton, and various seasonings were delivered to the Mushroom House, Leslie Cheung marveled at the brand-new copper pot.

"Chenzi, you really have the production team completely under your thumb."

Xiao Chen smiled, tied on an apron, and began to busy himself in the kitchen.

He washed the ingredients with superb knife skills, transforming the greens and radishes into beautiful shapes with each swift stroke.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on his focused profile, his long eyelashes casting a beautiful shadow beneath his eyelids.

Because of him alone, the entire kitchen became a vivid and warm picture.

Anita Mui and Dilraba Dilmurat assisted him, while Leslie Cheung was responsible for starting a charcoal fire in the yard.

The four people had clear division of labor and got along very well.

It felt like they weren't filming a TV show, but living their most authentic lives.

Just as the aroma of mutton began to fill the air, the sound of a car engine came from the gate of the courtyard.

A slightly worn bread truck stopped, the door opened, and two figures stepped out.

The man was wearing a slightly wrinkled T-shirt, was slightly overweight, and had a look of travel fatigue and awkwardness about the new environment on his face.

The woman had her hair tied in a ponytail, had delicate features, and her eyes revealed curiosity and a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.

It was Shen Teng and Ma Li.

They looked at the idyllic courtyard before them, inhaling the enticing aroma of food in the air.

They were all a little reserved for a moment, standing at the door and hesitant to come in.

Dilraba was the first to spot them, and she tilted her head curiously to examine the two strangers.

"You're... ordering hot pot with mutton?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Teng immediately seemed to have found his people, his face beaming with his signature smile as he strode in with his pigeon-toed gait.

"Oh my, we've finally found the right place!"

"Hey girl, we're the two starving diners!"

As he spoke, he exaggeratedly looked around, but when his gaze fell on Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, who were leisurely drinking tea in the courtyard, he froze instantly.

"Brother...brother...Guo Rong? Anita...Sister Anita?"

Shen Teng's tongue started to tie itself in knots, and the smile on his face froze, replaced by a look of shock and bewilderment at meeting his idol.

Ma Li followed behind, and upon seeing these two legendary superstars, she was so nervous that she didn't know where to put her hands.

Just as the atmosphere became slightly awkward, the kitchen curtain was lifted, and Xiao Chen came out carrying a plate of sliced ​​mutton.

He was still wearing an apron, and his face was covered in a little white flour, which did not diminish his handsomeness but instead added a touch of homey charm.

He saw the two people frozen in the doorway and smiled.

"You're here?"

His voice was clear and gentle, as if it carried a calming power.

"The road must be difficult to walk on. Come in and sit down, we've been waiting for you."

He didn't call them "teachers," but addressed them naturally, as if greeting old friends.

"Brother Teng, Sister Li."

The two simple terms of address instantly relaxed Shen Teng and Ma Li's tense nerves.

Shen Teng's eyes were a little red.

He never expected that Xiao Chen, who was already an international superstar, would still remember them, two unknown actors, and treat them with such equality and kindness.

His comedic instincts returned instantly; he took two steps forward, his face filled with exaggerated emotion.

"Oh, my dear teacher Xiao Chen!"

"You are truly a guiding light for us lost sheep!"

"You not only prepared meat for us, but you also gave us such a big surprise!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply in the direction of Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung.

Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung laughed when they saw this. Although they didn't know the two newcomers, Xiao Chen's friends were their friends too.

Mei Yanfang stood up and said gently.

"Please sit down, don't stand, you must be tired."

Leslie Cheung pointed to the small stool next to him and said in his magnetic Cantonese-accented Mandarin.

"Come and sit down, if you keep being so polite, we'll eat all the mutton."

Xiao Chen placed the plate of bright red, glistening mutton slices on the table. The broth in the copper pot was bubbling and steaming.

He took off his apron and said to Shen Teng and Ma Li, who were still somewhat reserved:

"The food is ready, we're just waiting for you to be seated."

The sea breeze, carrying a salty dampness, blew across the mushroom-shaped house located by the sea.

In the summer of 2011, the first episode of the second season of "Back to Field" officially began filming.

Under the grape trellis in the courtyard, there is a large, long wooden table.

The lineup of regular guests is a spectacle in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Xiao Chen, Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, and Dilraba Dilmurat – just sitting and chatting together is enough to guarantee a phenomenal ratings.

They have known each other for over a decade and consider each other family. They are completely uninhibited when it comes to being together in front of the camera.

At this moment, the old-fashioned copper pot in the center of the long table is steaming.

The spicy broth bubbled and simmered, its unique aroma of spices filling the air. Dozens of small plates were neatly arranged around the table.

The freshly sliced ​​mutton is a beautiful contrast of red and white, as thin as a cicada's wing. The shredded pork with sweet bean sauce is rich and flavorful, and the tripe is crisp and tender—all are the most authentic old Beijing dishes.

Shen Teng and Ma Li sat at the table, their eyes fixed on the pot.

The two had just finished their long journey, and their stomachs were already growling with hunger.

Shen Teng couldn't wait to pick up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks, dip it in the boiling soup for a few seconds, and then quickly put it in his mouth after coating it with sesame sauce.

The piping hot mutton, with its rich aroma, combined with the mellow flavor of the secret-recipe sesame sauce, explodes in your mouth.

"Oh my god!"

Shen Teng slapped his thigh.

He was so hot that he was panting and could barely speak, but he couldn't stop eating with his chopsticks.

Ma Li was startled and quickly took a bite as well.

Immediately afterwards, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Xiao Chen sitting opposite her in disbelief.

This taste is absolutely amazing!

It's a hundred times more authentic than the food sold at the century-old Donglaishun restaurant in Beijing!

"Teacher Xiao Chen, your skills are amazing..."

Shen Teng, his mouth full of mutton, shouted indistinctly.

"It would be a shame not to win a Chef of the Year award!"

"I've truly seen something amazing today! This mutton is incredible!"

Xiao Chen leaned back in the rattan chair, his long legs casually crossed.