46: Mung bean paste brings back beautiful memories

It was already past 10 PM when Li Jingang and Ji Xiangxiang arrived at the entrance of the Haunted House.

Facing the Regular Customers who had specifically sought him out, Lu Chuan greeted them warmly.

But when Ji Xiangxiang, with a familiar air, called out, “Little Boss,” the smile on Lu Chuan’s face instantly froze.

Ah, another one of the Regular Customers.

Perhaps because he had left without a word, he always felt an awkwardness, like being caught red-handed, when facing the Regular Customers who came looking for his stinky tofu.

Fortunately, Ji Xiangxiang had probably watched his live stream and didn't press him about when he would return to selling stinky tofu, which made Lu Chuan secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Jingang curiously glanced at Lu Chuan, but seeing that Lu Chuan seemed a bit introverted, he didn't say much, just smiled and nodded.

Then he pulled the overly enthusiastic Ji Xiangxiang aside and began to enjoy the food.

Perhaps due to his age, although Li Jingang was astonished by the taste of the lemon tea and ice cream, it didn't amaze him enough to immediately queue up for another serving.

However, he was very interested in the remaining mung bean paste and double-skin milk.

As a native of Guangdong Province, Li Jingang had drunk more sweet soups than anything else since he was a child.

He was even more familiar with snacks like mung bean paste and double-skin milk, which could be found everywhere in the streets and alleys.

To the point where he could close his eyes and still recall their taste.

That's why after watching Baba Le's eating broadcast, Li Jingang was especially curious about what made the mung bean paste and double-skin milk sold by Lu Chuan different from elsewhere.

But now, the answer was about to be revealed.

Li Jingang gently peeled open the sealed lid of the mung bean paste, then looked inside under the light.

He saw the mung bean paste, served in a pristine white paper bowl, gently rippling like a pool of emerald jade kissed by moonlight, stirred by a gentle breeze.

Then a thin layer of crystal clear liquid floated on the surface, and a faint, cold mist wafted along the rim of the bowl. The cool sensation permeated through the paper bowl to his fingertips, then traveled down, dispelling the lingering summer heat from his palm.

Li Jingang let out a soft sound of surprise, unable to resist pressing the spoon to the very bottom, then gently scooping up a spoonful.

Immediately, the mung bean paste, slow-cooked until it burst open, was brought to the surface, and the original emerald “lake surface” gave way to a chaotic flow of yellowish-brown quicksand.

But as the spoon was lifted, the delicate quicksand slowly flowed down the rim of the spoon, reflecting a silky sheen in the interplay of light and shadow.

Gulp.

Li Jingang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly; this visual experience alone, with its thick yet not heavy texture, had already whetted his appetite.

Without further hesitation, he carefully moved the spoon, full of mung bean paste, to his mouth.

Before it even entered his mouth, his nose had already caught the unique herbaceous fragrance of mung beans.

It was like the scent of freshly picked bean pods sun-dried in midsummer, so fresh it was invigorating.

Upon taking a light sip, the sweetness of honey bloomed first on his tongue, perfectly blending with the inherent mellowness of the mung bean, a pure sensation that stirred the heart, refreshing like mountain spring water flowing over moss-covered rocks.

But immediately, the citrusy aroma of dried tangerine peel emerged unexpectedly, subtly appearing in wisps, adding a touch of liveliness to this purity.

Just as Li Jingang had grown accustomed to this liveliness, the coolness of mint suddenly burst forth, instantly awakening his lazy taste buds, allowing sweetness and fragrance to dance an elegant waltz between his lips and teeth.

The sensory feedback alone was so wonderful.

And the delicate, icy texture of the mung bean paste violently demolished and reconstructed Li Jingang's past ingrained memories.

When the mung bean paste entered his mouth, his tongue felt as if it were enveloped in a gentle cloud.

The fine sandy texture had no graininess, gliding smoothly like silk over his tongue and teeth, filling every inch of his mouth with a dense bean aroma.

And the finely chopped, chewy lotus seeds added a layer of texture to the soft, glutinous mouthfeel, making each chew full of rich surprises.

Li Jingang took spoon after spoon, starting with a cool visual feast, moving to a fragrant olfactory poem, and finally arriving at a gentle haven on his tongue; each bite left him utterly intoxicated.

In this pure and healing beauty, Li Jingang's eyes unconsciously curved into crescents.

Humans are emotional beings easily touched by beautiful things, especially in childhood; even a simple bowl of lard-mixed rice can be remembered for a lifetime.

But as one grows older, burdened by many things, the mind becomes covered with a layer of gauze, full of dust.

Animated films that easily moved him as a child now only feel awkward when watched again as an adult.

Some say this is growth and begin to mock adults who are married with families but still watch anime, considering them immature children who refuse to grow up.

But they forget that they themselves used to love watching these anime.

“It’s so delicious, it reminds me of the mung bean paste my mother used to make by hand, standing by the stove.”

“Coming home from school in the summer, taking out the mung bean paste chilled in well water, gulping down a big mouthful, and then sprawling by the doorstep, flipping through a tattered Doraemon comic book.”

“Those carefree years of growing up are beautiful memories I can never return to.”

Li Jingang wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, accidentally using too much force, which also pulled the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes taut.

Ji Xiangxiang looked at her boss, who had suddenly become melancholic, and for a moment didn't know what to say, so she just stood silently by his side.

Then, she looked in surprise at the double-skin milk Li Jingang handed her, finally unable to resist asking aloud.

“Boss, this double-skin milk is also very delicious, why aren’t you drinking it?”

Li Jingang smiled, patted his stomach, and waved his hand.

“I’m old, my digestion isn’t good. You young people should eat more.”

But the real reason was that he didn’t want the double-skin milk to dilute the taste of the mung bean paste.

The double-skin milk might also be very delicious, perhaps even on par with the lemon tea, ice cream, and mung bean paste.

But the mung bean paste, which carried a part of his beautiful past memories, was the only thing in his heart at that moment.

“Then, thank you, Boss.”

Ji Xiangxiang awkwardly accepted the double-skin milk, thanked him, and then eagerly opened the lid and started eating.

Girls always care about their appearance; even in the hot summer, they love high-calorie milk tea, ice cream, and sweet soups, but they consciously control the frequency and portion sizes.

But when Ji Xiangxiang took her first sip of lemon tea, all thoughts of diet plans, low-carb, and sugar-free went out the window.

She could lose weight slowly later, but the Little Boss's delicacies were one bite less with each one she ate.

As a finance professional, couldn't she clearly weigh the importance of these things?

lemon tea, delicious!

ice cream, superb!

mung bean paste, unbeatable!

double-skin milk, perfect!

Two cold drinks, two sweet soups, they truly hit her sweet spot.

After finishing one, she wanted another!

She really couldn't understand how the Boss could bear to give away the double-skin milk?!

In terms of willpower alone, Ji Xiangxiang would crown Li Jingang as the strongest!

“So, this is why I’m an employee, and Li Jingang is the big boss?”

Chewing the sweet double-skin milk, a question suddenly popped into her mind, making Ji Xiangxiang fall into deep thought.