All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Shaanxi cuisine belongs to Qin cuisine, not one of the eight major cuisines. However, he thought he should know how to cook Qin cuisine. In his mind, Qin cuisine was probably something like mutton stew or noodles with minced meat sauce.

In his memory, the place where he was sent to work in the countryside was a place where, let alone noodles with meat sauce, even coarse wolves were treasured by the locals. They usually made do with random vegetable dumplings and the like.

So Zhong Yuemin had to learn some down-to-earth Shaanxi snacks. He studied them for a while and found that the way people eat in northern Shaanxi is generally not very refined.

Most of it was just stew or porridge. The roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) that we're familiar with today was probably a rare treat back then; where would you find meat to eat?

So during this period, he thought about it for several days and felt that he still needed to study the pancakes and roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), of course, both of which were improved versions.

The coarse wolf pancake is easy to solve, but he plans to try to improve the taste. In the future, he may have to eat this for several years.

As for the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), he plans to improve it by replacing the meat inside with his own vegetarian chicken pieces. As long as it tastes like meat, it will definitely attract a lot of people. He won't sell it for money; he'll just exchange it for some coarse wolves or something to support himself and Zheng Tong and the others.

Ultimately, his trip to the countryside in northern Shaanxi was to experience life, not to starve.

Zhong Yuemin went to the kitchen and got busy, taking out the ingredients he had prepared over the past few days and starting to cook in a very professional manner.

Zhou Xiaobai and the others stood curiously at the kitchen doorway watching him busy himself. Zhang Haiyang looked at Zhong Yuemin's pretentious manner with disdain. When this kid got serious, he actually looked quite convincing.

Half an hour later, Zhong Yuemin came out of the kitchen with six roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers) in a porcelain bowl, put the bowl on the coffee table with a smile, and said casually.

"Give it a try! Master Zhong's chicken sandwich is so good you'll want more!"

Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun exchanged a glance, both of them curious. The appearance was alright, and it even looked quite appetizing, but the name was strange. What chicken sandwich? It sounded unreliable. The group had just seen Zhong Yuemin make it, but they hadn't seen a trace of meat, let alone any.

Zhang Haiyang had been holding back for a long time. He had watched Zhong Yuemin make it look quite convincing, but he couldn't bring himself to criticize it. Now, as soon as Zhong Yuemin mentioned "Master Zhong's Chicken Sandwich," Zhang Haiyang found a reason to complain.

He quickly picked up a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and said smugly to Zhong Yuemin.

"Yuemin, your true colors have been revealed! You put on an act, taking two slices of steamed bread and some fried dough, and call it a chicken sandwich. You're deceiving naive young girls. On behalf of all the men here, I condemn this!"

Zhang Haiyang's words made Zhou Xiaobai and the other person hesitate. Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin helplessly shrugged and said...

"Haiyang, do you know why you can't get a girl?"

Zhang Haiyang was speechless, and Zhong Yuemin continued.

"A man, whatever he does, he has to take it seriously. For example, I said I learned to cook so I could win over the girl I like and satisfy my future wife's stomach, so I have to master this skill. How does it taste? You'll know once you try it."

Zhang Haiyang was once again discouraged by Zhong Yuemin's confident demeanor. In a fit of pique, he picked up the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) in his hand and took a big bite, as if the roujiamo was Zhong Yuemin's sour face.

He took a big, quick bite, feeling like he was biting into a piece of chicken. The chicken was incredibly satisfying. He chewed it a few times before wolfing it down.

He was somewhat incredulous. He picked up the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), looked at the golden-brown crust in the middle, and swallowed hard again. This thing was unbelievable; he could actually taste chicken in it.

Zhang Haiyang thought there was something wrong with his taste buds, so he didn't hesitate and took another big bite. This time, the chicken flavor was so good that he almost tasted the crunch, which made his taste buds feel the unique impact. He looked up at Zhong Yuemin with a shocked expression, but he couldn't say a word.

Zhong Yuemin still had a smile on his lips. He found Zhang Haiyang's surprised look amusing and couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Haiyang, how's my cooking? Will it be enough to win over a girl?"

Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun, who were standing nearby, had already been piqued and reached into the bowl at the same time.

But Zhang Haiyang took the lead, picked up the bowl and ran towards the door, shouting as he went.

"Xiaobai, this roujiamo is awful. You two shouldn't eat it. I'm taking it home for my dog. I'm leaving now!"

The three were dumbfounded. Zhong Yuemin was also shocked by Zhang Haiyang's crazy actions. In order to prevent his goddess from eating his roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), he simply took the bowl and ran away. This simp is really something else.

Seeing Zhang Haiyang pushing his bicycle with one hand and holding a bowl in the other, Zhong Yuemin couldn't help but shout.

"Zhang Haiyang, you son of a bitch! You have to give me back my bowl!"

Zhang Haiyang didn't even turn his head before shouting.

"My dog ​​is missing a food bowl. I've got my eye on it, I'll give you two tomorrow!"

He then hopped on his bicycle and sped off in a flash.

Zhong Yuemin watched Zhang Haiyang's figure disappear helplessly, and then said to Zhou Xiaobai and the other person with a sigh.

"That kid is so unfair! This is the first time Master Zhong's chicken sandwich has come out of the oven. I haven't even tasted it myself yet. Oh well, that kid is just unlucky. I'm going to cook a few more dishes to treat him today!"

When Zhou Xiaobai heard that Zhong Yuemin could also cook, her already piqued curiosity instantly surged again, and she hurriedly urged him on.

"Hurry up, we're all hungry. Zhong Yuemin, tell me, was that roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) really that delicious?"

Zhong Yuemin smiled and asked in return.

"What do you guys think? Just look at how fast Haiyang wolfed down his food. Oh, and I forgot to ask, does Zhang Haiyang really have a dog at home?"

Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun exchanged a glance, and Zhou Xiaobai shook his head blankly and said...

"I've never heard of anyone in courtyard number two keeping a dog."

Zhong Yuemin laughed heartily, and then said.

"I told you, Zhang Haiyang even came up with the excuse that he's a dog. How could this roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) not taste good?"

Zhou Xiaobai and the other person then realized what was happening and nodded.

Zhong Yuemin didn't mind, and immediately turned and walked towards the kitchen, saying as he did so.

"Please have a seat first, dinner will be served in half an hour!"

Chapter 145: Let Us Row Our Boats

Zhong Yuemin didn't cook any Shaanxi cuisine, but rather very ordinary home-style dishes. The ingredients were also ordinary, and even the meat consisted of only a few ounces of chicken giblets.

There was nothing he could do; he really didn't have much money on him. He bought the chicken giblets for 15 cents because he didn't need meat coupons.

Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun sat on the sofa, whispering to each other. However, Zhou Xiaobai's eyes kept glancing at Zhong Yuemin, while Luo Yun kept whispering something in her ear. Zhou Xiaobai's face was flushed, and she looked extremely pretty.

Three simple home-style dishes were quickly cooked. Zhong Yuemin served the steamed cornbread on the table and said somewhat embarrassedly.

"We don't have much to offer, so please make do with this!"

"Wow, this smells delicious! Zhong Yuemin, I didn't know you actually had this skill!"

Zhong Yuemin picked up three sets of bowls and chopsticks, and said smugly.

"Absolutely! If it wasn't good, would I dare let the two of you eat here?"

Looking at Zhong Yuemin's smug demeanor, Zhou Xiaobai felt that this boy was different from others. She took the bowl and chopsticks, picked up a piece of green vegetable and put it in her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, she squinted her eyes, her face full of satisfaction, but she said something.

"It's alright, but the flavor is a bit bland!"

Upon hearing Zhou Xiaobai's words, Luo Yun also picked up a pair of chopsticks, took a piece of chicken giblets, put it in her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and her eyes lit up. Seeing Zhou Xiaobai's smug expression, she immediately understood that this little girl was doing it on purpose.

Zhong Yuemin didn't need to taste it to know that his dishes were definitely not bad. He smiled, picked up a cornbread, and started eating it while asking a question.

"Xiaobai, the conscription season is coming soon, have you two signed up yet?"

While eating her cornbread, Zhou Xiaobai stuffed her mouth full of food, clearly indicating that the food had won her over. She mumbled something indistinctly.

"I'm not sure. I applied at the school, but I don't know if I got accepted?"

Luo Yun, standing to the side, also puffed out her cheeks and glared at Zhou Xiaobai angrily, teasing him from the side.

"Xiaobai, I think you don't care about anything. Our school posted the announcement a long time ago, and you were the first one to pass. With your family's circumstances, do you think the school would dare not pass you?"

Zhou Xiaobai was clearly used to this kind of thing and wasn't embarrassed at all. He casually asked Zhong Yuemin.

"Yuemin, what about you? Are you also going to join the army?"

Zhong Yuemin smiled and pointed to the steamed bun in his hand.

"I want to go to the countryside in northern Shaanxi to experience the life of the people on the Loess Plateau. I think this meal is also our farewell meal. After this, we will all be scattered to the four winds, and I don't know if we will have the chance to meet again!"

Upon hearing Zhong Yuemin's words, Zhou Xiaobai suddenly lost interest in the cornbread in her hand. She also suddenly remembered that Zhong Yuemin's father was still under investigation, and she said in a low voice.

"Yuemin, should I talk to my dad and ask him for help?"

Zhong Yuemin quickly waved his hand and said.

"No, no, Xiaobai, there's no need to trouble your dad with this. I'm still young, and I really want to experience a different life!"

Upon hearing Zhong Yuemin's words, Zhou Xiaobai's expression immediately fell. It was rare to find a boy who gave her a different feeling, but the two of them were about to part ways. This made the girl of this age start to become sentimental.

Zhong Yuemin clearly noticed Zhou Xiaobai's feelings for him; otherwise, these feelings hadn't yet developed into anything more than a girlish affection.

Looking at Zhou Xiaobai's pretty face, Zhong Yuemin felt a surge of warmth in his heart. However, thinking of Zhou Xiaobai's identity and strong personality, he suppressed this warmth. Although he was still Zhong Yuemin, he no longer had the unbridled and impulsive nature of the young Zhong Yuemin.

In the original novel, he had a two-month-long, passionate relationship with Zhou Xiaobai during the last days of his youth. His attitude of leaving after having sex was almost the standard for a scumbag.

In just two short months, Zhou Xiaobai was immersed in her fantasies of love. However, Zhong Yuemin's fickle nature repeatedly disappointed her. In the end, the two were entangled until they were thirty-four years old, but Zhong Yuemin still showed no sign of changing his mind.

It can be said that in the world of bloody romance, Zhong Yuemin hurt the hearts of several women, but the one he hurt the most was Zhou Xiaobai.

He felt like an adult controlling his body, but sometimes, feelings are something that age can't control.

Zhou Xiaobai had clearly lost all interest in enjoying the food. He ate a cornbread for more than ten minutes without finishing it. He glanced at Zhong Yuemin occasionally and finally mustered up his courage to speak.

"Yuemin, how about we go to Miyun Reservoir tomorrow? Let's travel around a bit more before we part ways! Who knows when we'll be back in Yanjing again!"

Zhong Yuemin thought for a moment, then nodded and said.

"Okay, then I'll call Yuan Jun, Zheng Tong, and a few others. It'll be safer with more people!"

Zhou Xiaobai nodded, her eyes fixed on Zhong Yuemin's face, lost in some kind of fantasy of a little girl.

The next day, Zhong Yuemin, Yuan Jun, Zheng Tong, Ning Bin, Zhou Xiaobai, and Luo Yun met up. The group of six rode bicycles towards Miyun Reservoir in the suburbs of Yanjing.

They were all young people, a mix of men and women, and they chatted and joked along the way, in a good mood. Zhong Yuemin, however, was not as boisterous as usual, but instead listened quietly to the others bragging with a smile on his face.

His seemingly profound demeanor only made him stand out from the crowd. Zhou Xiaobai's eyes kept lingering on him, and she would occasionally ride her bicycle close to him and talk to him. Zhong Yuemin didn't think much of it and would occasionally tell Zhou Xiaobai some funny stories about life, which made Zhou Xiaobai's eyes light up. Her big eyes were filled with Zhong Yuemin's image.

The Miyun Reservoir was farther than the group had imagined. The young people rode for more than an hour, but when they inquired, they found out that there were still 40 kilometers to go. When Luo Yun heard that it was still so far, she immediately had second thoughts and wanted to turn back.

Yuan Jun quickly stopped her and said.

"Luo Yun, no way! Let's all come and have fun together. What if you go back alone and get kidnapped by some old bachelor from the nearby countryside? Then we'll have to search all over the mountains for you!"

Zheng Tong continued with a grin.

"Yes, yes, in this desolate wilderness, it'll probably be ages before we find you. You'll be heavily pregnant, holding one hand and carrying another on your back, while your sixty-something-year-old husband, flashing his big yellow teeth, invites us inside. So, are we supposed to take you away or just congratulate you?"

Everyone burst into laughter, which made Luo Yun's face turn red with anger. However, thinking about what the two guys had said, Luo Yun lost the will to go any further.

Zhong Yuemin looked helplessly at the group of guys and said to Luo Yun.

"Luo Yun, it's only thirty or forty kilometers. Let's hurry and we'll be there in a little over an hour. When we get there, I'll treat you to a barbecue. I guarantee you've never had anything like it before. See? I've brought all my gear!"

As Zhong Yuemin spoke, he pointed to the bag tied to the back of his bicycle.

Everyone's attention was drawn back to the past, and Yuan Jun asked curiously.