Chapter 59: Choosing Bitter over Sweet and Salty

Ouyang was about to break down; Elder Luo's attack had only just begun.

Under Qu Jing's direction, Elder Luo loosened his fist and began to lift his arm. While lifting, he changed to a comfortable posture, leaned back on the sofa, and glanced at Little Luo, the photographer, who was hiding at the very back.

"That photographer, I remember it was you who came to take photos last time. Does your neighborhood committee not have a second person who knows how to use a camera? The young man who took photos of me in Modu 80 years ago took better photos than you. Chen Huihong, you're not someone who saves those few pennies; how much effort would it take to spend some money to hire a professional?"

"Professionals do professional things. How many professionals can there be in your neighborhood committee who are just slacking off? I saw that official account last time; what did they make me look like? A lonely, widowed old man? Am I that kind of pitiful wretch?"

"And who wrote that article? 'Caring for lonely, widowed old people starts from those around you.' How much is the housing price per square meter in our residential area? Am I lonely and widowed? Do I need care? If there's really no one to write an article, go online and spend 20 yuan to hire a ghostwriter; what they write will definitely be more valuable than the one you posted."

Qu Jing patted Luo Jun to signal him to stop talking, put on her stethoscope, and said: "Come, take a deep breath."

Luo Jun began to take a deep breath.

Little Qian, who was responsible for writing the article, also began to take a deep breath.

"Every time you come, you come with so many people; I can't figure out what so many people are doing. Photos are not taken well, articles are not written well, and every time you send a few dull-witted people over, especially that young man at the back; I remember he has been here many times."

"It's one thing that he doesn't look good, but he's also not sharp. Every time he brings two bags of fruit and stands at the door, those who don't know would think he's here to deliver takeout."

Ouyang, who was carrying the fruit:...

Wasn't he already scolded? How could he be scolded again?!

"And you," Luo Jun looked at Qu Jing. "You're 32 years old, and you don't even know how to find a partner. Do you want to learn from me and die alone?"

"I had a partner back then; dying alone is my choice. You're passively single and have no choice at all."

Qu Jing smiled: "It's just that work is busy."

Luo Jun sneered: "If you spent one percent of the effort you put into work on finding a partner, your child would be as big as Chen Huihui by now."

After finishing, Luo Jun glanced at Chen Huihong: "You, as a mother, are also interesting. If you adopted a child, raise her well. What's the meaning of putting the child in the canteen to eat steamed buns every day?"

Hearing Luo Jun say this, Qin Huai was surprised. He thought that although Luo Jun had inconvenient legs and feet and didn't go out, he was quite well-informed, even knowing that Chen Huihui had been eating steamed buns in the Yunzhong Canteen every day for a while.

"That one who makes steamed buns is even more outrageous," Luo Jun turned the conversation to Qin Huai. "With such good skills, he makes steamed buns every afternoon. There are so many delicious pastries he doesn't make, only knowing how to make steamed buns. What's so delicious about those buns? You're only a bit better at fermented rice steamed buns; can't you make some with filling?"

Ouyang, who had already pricked up his ears to hear how Luo Jun would spray Qin Huai:???

No, Old Stubborn Luo, why are you still treating people differently?

Are you scolding people? Why is there not a single personal attack?

Where is your acrimony? Where is your superiority? Where is your silky little combo?

Take it out, open Qin Huai's eyes, and use the spirit you used to scold me just now on Qin Huai!

After venting his morning grumpiness, Luo Jun felt much more comfortable and stopped paying attention to the people from the neighborhood committee, letting them do whatever they wanted as long as they didn't break anything in the house.

Little Luo and Little Qian both came with tasks. Whether it was the article or the photos, they had to involve Luo Jun's daily life, so the two of them followed the nanny to other rooms to take photos and record.

Although Luo Jun didn't go out, his daily life was very rich. His house had an art studio, an audio-visual room, and a butterfly specimen display room converted from a walk-in closet. Elder Luo usually liked to admire his specimens, watch movies in the audio-visual room, and occasionally paint oil paintings. He was a famous model lonely, widowed elder within a ten-mile radius and a key promotional target.

This was also why, even though Luo Jun was recognized by everyone in the neighborhood committee as a difficult elder, they still bit the bullet and visited him regularly.

Ouyang and another person who was just making up the numbers followed to see the art studio. Qin Huai originally wanted to go take a look, but was called by Luo Jun.

"Speak, Master Xiao Qin, what's the matter with you coming to find me?" Luo Jun looked at Qin Huai, his hands flat on the table waiting for Qu Jing to draw his blood.

Chen Huihong carried the pre-made Three-Diced Baozi, Five-Diced Baozi, and Four-Joy Dumplings to the kitchen, preparing to put these pastries in the refrigerator first.

Qin Huai was stunned by Luo Jun's words and subconsciously blurted out: "I'm just purely supporting the work of the neighborhood committee, and at the same time giving back to customers, so I prepared..."

"Don't give me that nonsense," Luo Jun impatiently interrupted Qin Huai's words. "You must have other motives, otherwise why would you come to see me for no reason? I haven't written a bad review for your canteen; tell me the truth."

Qu Jing gave Luo Jun a suspicious look.

Luo Jun raised his voice: "I really didn't write one!"

Being stared at by Luo Jun, Qin Huai felt the pressure was a bit heavy.

Chen Huihong was indeed not wrong; Luo Jun really looked like a high-and-mighty young master of a noble family. When he looked at someone with that condescending gaze, the invisible pressure could make people unable to breathe.

Could this be the legendary kingly aura belonging to the protagonist?

Qin Huai muttered in his heart, that shouldn't be; he was the protagonist.

"I don't like owing favors. You brought so many things today; if you have any requests, say them quickly. As long as it's not too outrageous, I'll do it for you. If you miss this village, you won't find this shop. If you don't say it, I'll assume there's nothing."

Qin Huai didn't hesitate at all and said: "I would like to ask you to help me taste the herbal tea in the shop."

"I've brought the herbal tea; Five-Flower Tea, three flavors of Tangerine Peel Tea, Monk Fruit Tea, Liver-Cleansing and Vision-Improving Tea, and hand-smashed lemon tea are all here." As he spoke, Qin Huai lined up the cups of herbal tea on the table one by one.

Qu Jing even cooperated by moving the medical kit to the side so as not to block the herbal tea.

Luo Jun looked at the 7 cups of herbal tea on the table, showed a somewhat confused look for the first time, looked up at Qin Huai, then looked down at the herbal tea, and then turned to look at Qu Jing: "Can I drink it now?"

Qu Jing nodded: "The check is finished. If the reason you don't go out now is not purely because you don't want to go out, but because there are some problems with your legs and feet, I suggest you still go to our hospital for a check-up. The rehabilitation department has very good physical therapists and massage therapists; you've paid so much money, treat it a bit."

"I know my body well; it's very healthy."

Qu Jing didn't say anything more: "Then pay attention to daily maintenance and three meals. The detailed examination report will be given to you within three days. You can drink the herbal tea. I remember Sister Chen told me last time that given your current situation, drinking more Seven-Flavor Dampness-Clearing Tea is good for your body."

As soon as these words came out, the few people standing at the door of the art studio quietly observing the situation in the living room gasped.

"I originally thought Master Xiao Qin had already vented our anger, but I didn't expect Dr. Qu to be the real king," said Little Qian, whose written article wasn't even worth 20 yuan.

"Don't you think Master Xiao Qin is the one who is calculating? Herbal tea tasting means it's not just one drink!" Little Luo felt it was time to speak up for his idol, Qin Huai.

"No, I just don't understand. It's not a day or two that Old Stubborn Luo has a good attitude towards Dr. Qu and Sister Hong. Why do I feel his attitude towards Qin Huai is even better than towards Dr. Qu and Sister Hong? Can you do whatever you want if your pastry skills are good?" Ouyang was puzzled.

Little Luo, Little Qian, the one making up the numbers, and the nanny all threw Ouyang a look that said "otherwise what?".

Ouyang became autistic.

Seeing that Qu Jing said he could drink herbal tea, Luo Jun picked up the Five-Flower Tea in front of him, took a big gulp, and evaluated it without changing his expression: "Average."

Monk Fruit Tea.

"It's okay."

Liver-Cleansing and Vision-Improving Tea.

"Passable."

Tangerine Peel Tea No. 1.

"Just like that."

Tangerine Peel Tea No. 2.

"Is there any difference between this and the cup just now?"

Tangerine Peel Tea No. 3.

"Hard to drink."

Hand-smashed lemon tea. "You call this thing herbal tea?"

After tasting a mouthful of each cup, Luo Jun concluded: "Your herbal tea is not boiled well; it's not even as good as those broken steamed buns of yours."

Qin Huai didn't speak.

Just now, every time Luo Jun drank a mouthful of Tangerine Peel Tea, he had to concentrate on listening to see if the game prompt sounded, but naturally, it didn't.

Obviously, these three cups of Tangerine Peel Tea were not to Luo Jun's taste.

To be honest, it wasn't surprising.

Tangerine Peel Tea was a very standard herbal tea that could be changed with many ingredients, and it didn't even need to be boiled; just soaking it in hot water was enough.

If what Luo Jun loved to drink was a certain specific flavor, it was normal for Qin Huai not to be able to make it for a while.

Qin Huai decided to ask directly.

He had figured it out; Elder Luo liked straight balls.

If you played those twists and turns with him, he would definitely be unhappy and scold people, but if you went straight to the theme and were very sincere, even if he didn't understand, he wouldn't ask you why.

"Elder Luo, do you think there is any room for improvement in my herbal tea? Especially the Tangerine Peel Tea," Qin Huai asked.

Luo Jun was already eating the crispy cake. Although he was old, his teeth were good, and he crunched it loudly, but he didn't know if they were dentures.

"Room for improvement? There's no room for regression in the way you boil this herbal tea," Luo Jun drank a mouthful of Tangerine Peel Tea to smooth it down. "Did you add white sugar when you boiled the herbal tea?"

Qin Huai guessed boldly: "Do you not like drinking it with sugar?"

Qin Huai knew that many people thought herbal tea shouldn't be boiled with sugar; the bitterer it was, the more effective it was. For example, Zhao Rong; although she also had a sense of taste, she insisted that herbal tea should be drunk without sugar, and those with sugar were heretics.

Except for the Seven-Flavor Dampness-Clearing Tea; that thing was really too hard to drink without sugar, no different from traditional Chinese medicine.

"How can you drink herbal tea without sugar? What's the difference between that and drinking traditional Chinese medicine?" Luo Jun said, sitting up straight. "It's that you don't know how to boil it."

"Then can you teach me?" Qin Huai looked like he was humbly asking for advice.

Luo Jun paused and said slowly: "Adding rock sugar won't make Tangerine Peel Tea boil well."

"You have to add brown sugar and salt."

Qin Huai:...???

What the hell????

Say that again, add what?

Brown sugar and salt?!

Who adds brown sugar and salt when boiling Tangerine Peel Tea!

Are you cooking? Adding a little salt to season.

Do you know that according to our Qin family's ancestral teachings, you can only add rock sugar when boiling Tangerine Peel Tea!

At this moment, Qin Huai suddenly had the feeling of someone interrupting when others were discussing whether tofu pudding should be eaten sweet or salty, saying you were all wrong, tofu pudding shouldn't be eaten sweet or salty, it should be eaten bitter!

No, elder.

I respect you as a 92-year-old elder.

But you can't be so heretical.

Tangerine Peel Tea with brown sugar and salt; if you say this, our whole Qin family village will disagree!

As soon as these words came out, Qu Jing couldn't listen anymore and said: "You are really messing around; who adds salt to boiled tea."

"It should be boiled like this; the Tangerine Peel Tea boiled this way is delicious," Luo Jun said stubbornly. "You young people don't understand at all; this is a secret recipe."

Qin Huai looked at Luo Jun silently.

Luo Jun also looked back at Qin Huai firmly.

"How about this," Qin Huai said. "If you insist that brown sugar and salt should be added to boil Tangerine Peel Tea, I will boil a portion for you tomorrow afternoon, send it over, and you drink it."

Anyway, this was Luo Jun's own side quest. If he had made up his mind, Qin Huai felt there was nothing to say.

Just wish him success.

"I'll drink it if I drink it, don't send it to me, I'll go to your canteen to drink it!" Luo Jun said loudly.

Hearing this, the nanny rushed out: "Mr. Luo, you are going out tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow won't work," Luo Jun ate the Ding-Sheng Cake after finishing the crispy cake. "I haven't finished watching the TV series, I have to watch the TV series tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow, I will go to your canteen the afternoon after next and drink it in front of you."

"I want to tell you with practical actions that Tangerine Peel Tea must be boiled with brown sugar and salt!"

Just as Luo Jun's sonorous and powerful voice fell, Chen Huihong walked out of the kitchen with her mobile phone and said: "Counted, the refrigerator is full of pork, beef, seafood, and mutton, and there is half a chicken. There is no fruit, and there is only a small handful of green vegetables in the kitchen."

"Elder Luo, you should eat more green vegetables; eating big fish and meat every day is bad for your stomach," Qu Jing said.

Luo Jun glared at Chen Huihong: "When did you go in to check the refrigerator?"

"I eat at the canteen now; the refrigerator is full of ingredients for Xiao Zhang to boil soup."

"Eating at the canteen doesn't mean eating vegetables," Chen Huihong complained mercilessly. "I ran into Xiao Zhang at the canteen; every time he packed, it was three meat dishes and zero vegetable dishes + kelp pork rib soup."

"Eat more vegetables," Qu Jing said. "Today's check-up is over. If you are going out to the canteen the day after tomorrow, I will take time off to witness your first time going out in 1 year, 8 months, and 13 days."

Chen Huihong nodded: "It should be celebrated."

"Many people in our residential area are betting on whether you will go out this year and whether you can continue to refresh our residential area's record for the longest time without going out."

Luo Jun:...

Luo Jun stood up angrily, hugged the pastries, returned to his room, and shouted loudly: "Xiao Zhang, see the guests out."

Qin Huai:...

"Do you usually communicate like this?"

Luo Jun was 92 anyway, and he wasn't afraid of angering the elder.

"Appropriate emotional fluctuations are beneficial to blood circulation. Mr. Luo is too much of a homebody; his daily WeChat steps don't even break 100. He is either sitting or lying down, and he likes to order takeout at home. This is also for the good of his body," Qu Jing explained. "I am usually busier, and the hospital is a bit far from here, so it's inconvenient to come over. I always ask Sister Hong to visit and chat with Mr. Luo to mobilize his emotions."

"A lively crowd can liven up the atmosphere. Master Xiao Qin, I think Mr. Luo likes you very much. If you have time, you can also visit and chat with Mr. Luo often, and communicate with him about... herbal tea?"

Speaking of this, Qu Jing was a bit curious: "Is salt really added to boiled Tangerine Peel Tea?"

Qin Huai:...

Qin Huai said solemnly: "No, absolutely not!"

"You can not add sugar when boiling Tangerine Peel Tea, but you absolutely cannot add salt!"

"Sugar can only be rock sugar; brown sugar is absolutely not allowed!!"

I had things to do during the day today, so the update was late.

This is a two-in-one.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 60 =====