fictionpage Chapter 139 We can't let our own brothers suffer.
Chapter 139 We can't let our own brothers suffer.
"Godfather!!"
As soon as Mengmeng saw Zhang Qiang, she didn't even bother to put down the spoon in her hand. She wiggled her little bottom and slid off Chen Feng's knee.
The little girl strode over with her chubby little legs and grabbed Zhang Qiang's thigh, which was covered in mud and sweat.
"Oh, my little darling! I've missed you so much!!"
Zhang Qiang's rough face, which had been tense all day at the construction site, instantly broke into a smile, his eyes crinkling into slits, at Mengmeng's clear, childlike voice.
Ignoring the grease on his hands, he carefully scooped the little girl into his arms and sat down on the bench next to him.
Xingruo, who was standing nearby, quickly put down the bowl of soup she was about to serve and sweetly called out, "Uncle Qiangzi, you're off work."
"It's so hot here!" Zhang Qiang grinned at Xing Ruo, then turned to Su Chen with his big, bright eyes, and asked in a loud voice, "It's so hot here!"
"Xiao Su, I saw a huge crowd gathered at Old Liu's place on the street just now. I was in a hurry, so how's Uncle Liu's noodle shop doing today?"
"Hey! Qiang-ge, don't even mention that!!"
Su Chen plopped down on the other end of the bench without any regard for his image, gesturing exaggeratedly with both hands in the air.
"I saw that the finishing touches were almost done here, so I sneaked over to take a look."
That guy was incredibly busy! Uncle Liu was busy making noodles behind the stove, his arms were practically blurring out of shape!
Those picky eaters who didn't get enough braised pork yesterday went crazy for today's premium black pork, almost knocking down Old Liu's rolling shutter door!
Business is booming right now!
Su Chen was speaking with great enthusiasm, spittle flying everywhere, while Zhang Qiang listened and laughed heartily.
As Zhang Qiang was laughing, he reached for the garlic on the table, but when he turned his head, he suddenly saw Song Ming sitting to the side, dressed in a wrinkled white chef's uniform.
Zhang Qiang paused in his movements, his thick eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
He looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, who was around thirty years old, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and who, despite his somewhat disheveled clothes, exuded a special aura. Somewhat bewildered, he turned to look at Chen Feng.
"Fengzi, who is this...? He looks unfamiliar?"
Chen Feng placed the last two bowls of rice in the center of the work surface.
He untied the apron strap, glanced at Song Ming who was tilting his head and looking at Zhang Qiang with a wicked grin, shook his head helplessly, and then turned to both of them with a smirk.
"Come over here and let me introduce you."
Chen Feng pointed at Song Ming and said to Zhang Qiang, enunciating each word clearly, "This is Mingzi, Song Ming. He was my junior brother back in Beijing. The two of us endured the cane together under our master for over ten years, so his skills are passable."
After saying that, Chen Feng turned around, patted Zhang Qiang's stiff shoulder, and said to Song Ming in a deep voice, "Mingzi, this is Zhang Qiang. We've been friends since we were kids, like brothers."
"My senior brother's own brother?!"
Upon hearing Chen Feng's words, Song Ming immediately stood up.
His young face, which used to be aloof and arrogant to everyone in Beijing's private restaurants, was now devoid of any haughtiness.
Song Ming took a half step forward, stretched out his right hand, and firmly shook hands with Zhang Qiang, his face full of a carefree smile.
"Hey!! Brother Qiang, hello!! When I was in Beijing, I heard my senior brother talk about your glorious deeds quite a bit!"
My senior brother has a temper as sullen as a gourd; you won't find another person in the entire Great Xia Kingdom who he considers a brother!
From now on, Qiang Ge's business is my business, Song Ming's business. Anyone who dares to make you unhappy, I'll tear their house down!
Zhang Qiang was stunned by Song Ming's down-to-earth statement.
He originally thought that such a powerful figure with such a background would look down on them, the laborers, like those rich young masters who drive luxury cars.
But now, looking at the young chef in front of him who spoke with exaggerated facial expressions and had a lively personality, Zhang Qiang suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of goodwill.
"Haha!! Mingzi, you truly live up to your reputation as Fengzi's junior brother! So refreshing!!"
Zhang Qiang gripped the handle tightly, shaking his arms vigorously in mid-air, his rough face crinkling with smiles.
"I used to think that people from the capital city looked down on others."
Seeing you today, I finally understand: anyone who's on the same wavelength as Fengzi is a top-notch real man!
I have to have a couple of drinks with my buddies tonight!
"Absolutely!! We're not leaving until we're drunk tonight!!" Song Ming slapped his thigh, his eyes shining brightly, and plopped down next to Zhang Qiang.
These two equally unconventional and reckless hot-blooded men naturally became entangled in a fight within just a few words.
"Qiangzi, let's eat first, and talk while we eat."
Chen Feng pulled over a bench and sat down. He picked Mengmeng up and put her back in his arms with one hand, then picked up a piece of chicken that was soaked in Shaoxing wine and was as smooth as tofu and fed it to his daughter.
On the square table, the dish of braised rock eagle with matsutake mushrooms and wine was still steaming hot, while the steamed abalone, soaked in sauce, shone with an enticing sheen.
Zhang Qiang had been working hard all day at the construction site and was starving.
Without any regard for appearances, he picked up the bowl of snow-white rice and rudely stuffed a large piece of braised, tender rock eagle chicken, coated in gravy, into his mouth.
In that instant, Zhang Qiang stared intently at the meat in his bowl, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
"My God... Fengzi, Mingzi, this... this meat?!"
Zhang Qiang wolfed down the meat, the incredibly firm yet smooth texture bursting with an indescribable wild umami flavor between his teeth, mingling with the fresh, herbaceous aroma of matsutake mushrooms and the lingering sweetness of aged Shaoxing wine, all the way down his throat into his empty stomach.
"This is fucking awesome!! I've lived for thirty years and I've never eaten anything this good!!"
Zhang Qiang was enjoying his meal immensely, but then he suddenly seemed to remember something, put down his large bowl, and frowned again as he looked at Chen Feng and Song Ming.
"However, Fengzi, I still feel that there are some things that happened at the construction site this afternoon that I told Chen Feng and the others."
"Don't overthink it."
Chen Feng's voice was calm and steady:
"The guy Qian Fugui on your construction site probably has some connections and knows some inside information."
They're secretly trying to befriend us, hoping to secure a way out for themselves.
Chen Feng picked up the bowl of rice in front of him and gave Zhang Qiang a deep look.
"Qiangzi, these new positions and subsidies are what you deserve."
Since he's already sent it over, just accept it calmly and go to your new job tomorrow with confidence.
"With Mingzi and I keeping an eye on things from here, they won't be able to cause any trouble."
Chen Feng spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice filled with unreserved protectiveness and domineering attitude.
"With me, Chen Feng, here on this border, I can't let my brothers suffer. Eat in peace."
"Alright!! I'll do as you say, I'll drink this bowl of wine!!"
Hearing Chen Feng say, "We can't let our own brothers suffer," Zhang Qiang's eyes reddened, and he picked up the large, rough pottery bowl on the table and slammed it against Chen Feng and Song Ming.
The crisp sound of the collision echoed through the streets, dissipating in the evening breeze of the old street.