143: A woman and many children

This was a small Flat Noodle restaurant, and to attract more customers, they had even set up a few tables outside.

Having just finished with the lunch rush, the proprietress could finally relax.

She served herself a bowl of noodles, then had her three children gather around her, serving each of them a bowl, with an extra egg.

The proprietress had been running her Flat Noodle shop near the university town for almost five years. Her husband passed away last year, leaving her alone to raise their three children.

Being both a father and a mother, while also managing the business, left her with a constant backache every day.

Fortunately, there were many students nearby, ensuring a steady flow of customers and a decent income.

"Third child, how are your studies lately? Are you keeping up?" the proprietress asked her youngest child as she ate.

"I'm keeping up," the third child, her only son, had just started first grade this year.

The proprietress stroked her son's head, a gentle smile on her face, and added a piece of bean curd skin to his bowl.

Every time she saw her son, she was reminded of her deceased husband; he looked so much like him!

"Study hard! Otherwise, you'll end up like your mom and dad, only able to open a small shop and earn a meager living."

"Mom, don't worry. When I grow up, I'll be the boss and let you enjoy a comfortable life," though young, her son was quite sensible and knew how difficult it was for his mother alone.

"Alright, then I'll look forward to enjoying myself!" Saying this, the proprietress added sausages to her two daughters' bowls.

The proprietress took meticulous care of her family.

However, their good times were about to end.

Recently, the landlord had frequently come to inform her that starting next month, the rent would increase by 3,000 yuan per month.

This amount was enough to give her a massive headache, as it was the monthly living expenses for her family of four.

A thin rope breaks easily, and life only preys on the poor.

The proprietress couldn't understand why her kind-hearted husband had died in a car accident. Nor could she understand why, just as her business started to improve, the landlord would raise the rent.

Looking at her three children, who were eating and chatting happily, she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

3,000 it is!

If she didn't pay, she'd have to find a new place.

Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. The proprietress quickly turned away, secretly wiping them away.

Just then, a screech of brakes caught her attention.

Looking up, a luxurious SUV and an imposing sedan pulled up in front. A man and two women got out of the cars and headed straight for the Flat Noodle stall.

The proprietress quickly stood up, feeling nervous. She wasn't sure if these three were here to eat Flat Noodles.

It was highly unlikely for people driving such nice cars to come eat Flat Noodles, even less likely than the landlord falling into a pit while defecating.

"Proprietress, three large bowls of Flat Noodles, with extra bean curd skin, meatballs, and plenty of chili!" The handsome man leading the group ordered skillfully, an ingrained air of a commoner emanating from him.

If it wasn't Pan Han, then who the hell could it be!

"I, Hu Hansan, am back again!" Pan Han secretly cheered to himself after ordering.

Yan Xiaoli and Wang Doudou curiously surveyed the Flat Noodle stall.

Large, uncleaned bowls were haphazardly piled on the tables, chili oil-stained tissues were strewn on the floor, disposable chopsticks were scattered casually across the tables, and three small children were eating, drenched in sweat.

Yan Xiaoli, having filmed outdoors for years, had seen all kinds of messy and dirty places. Wang Doudou, who hadn't experienced such a commoner's setting in years, couldn't help but cover her nose.

"What are you standing around for? Sit down!" Pan Han casually sat on a plastic stool, pulling the two of them down with him.

The proprietress realized they were indeed here to eat. Hearing such a familiar ordering rhythm, they must have been former students.

Could it be that they had graduated and become successful, and were now bringing friends to reminisce about old times?

She immediately reacted, quickly acknowledging them, and rushed to the back kitchen to prepare the Flat Noodles.

"How about it? Nice environment, right!" Pan Han proudly introduced the place to the two beautiful women.

"Hmph, there's nothing your sister hasn't seen!" Yan Xiaoli said disdainfully, lighting a cigarette as she spoke.

Seeing her smoke, Pan Han looked back at the children, then pulled the three of them to a table further away.

"Smoke here, so you don't bother the children," he said, then lit one himself.

"Pan Han, how are you so familiar with this place?" Wang Doudou asked, puzzled.

"You, you're just a pampered young lady, you don't know life. I used to come here often when I was in school," Pan Han reminisced with Wang Doudou.

"Doudou, can you eat spicy food? Pan Han said this stuff is all chili. It can even make you spray water," Yan Xiaoli, having traveled extensively, had no problem with spicy food.

"Correction, it doesn't spray water, it shoots into your mouth!" Pan Han said seriously.

"Pfft!" Wang Doudou found their back-and-forth, affected mannerisms very amusing.

"Damn it! I forgot to say something," Pan Han suddenly slapped his thigh and dashed into the back kitchen.

A moment later, he returned to their table.

The two beautiful women looked bewildered. What was going on?

"I just forgot to tell them not to use a machine to press the noodles; they have to be hand-rolled. Otherwise, they won't be chewy," Pan Han explained smugly. At this moment, he was the coolest Flat Noodle God of Cookery on this street.

"Awesome!"

"Awesome!"

"Your Flat Noodles are ready," at that moment, the proprietress brought over the Flat Noodles on a large tray.

"Huh, why are the bowls covered with plastic bags?" Wang Doudou was surprised by this practice.

"You don't understand, it's not authentic without the plastic bags! Haha!" Pan Han didn't know how to explain, so he simply gave a "plastic" reason!

"What nonsense!" Wang Doudou didn't waste words, picking up a pair of disposable chopsticks, ready to eat.

"Come on, let's dig in!"

At Pan Han's command, the handsome man and beautiful women began to slurp their noodles.

After a big mouthful of noodles and two juicy chilies, Pan Han looked satisfied.

Yan Xiaoli ate the bean curd skin and meatballs, her mouth slick with oil.

Wang Doudou specifically picked out a chili and examined it carefully.

It was deep-fried, half black and half red, soaked in juice, and slightly heavy.

"Eat quickly!" Pan Han urged her when he saw her inspecting the chili.

Wang Doudou bit into the chili, chewing slightly!

Pfft! A rich burst of juice exploded in her mouth, still a bit hot. Wang Doudou couldn't hold it in, and yellow broth flowed from her mouth.

Salty, savory, the richness of the meat broth, and the spiciness of the chili combined, assaulting Wang Doudou's palate.

"How is it? Feel good?" Pan Han thoughtfully pulled out a tissue and wiped her mouth.

"Good! It's so good!" Wang Doudou's pampered taste buds had never experienced such a strong impact!

Instantly, a wave of pleasure surged straight to her cerebral cortex, making her unable to help but cry out.

Children from wealthy families have one good trait—confidence and generosity!

If she felt good, then it was genuinely good, and she would express it boldly.

"Then eat heartily," Pan Han, seeing that Wang Doudou was also getting into it, stopped talking nonsense.

So, the three of them, basking in the warm afternoon sun, ate their noodles with gusto.

Soon, sweat began to bead on each of their heads, and a slight breeze would create a visible vortex of steam above their heads.

"Don't just eat the noodles, drink some soup," Pan Han instructed them.

"It's all oil on top! This isn't drinking soup, this is drinking oil!" Wang Doudou picked up her bowl, a little hesitant.

"It smells so good!" The next second, her mental defenses crumbled.

"Here, Doudou, try a 'tech-enhanced' meatball!" Yan Xiaoli speared a meatball, put it in her mouth, and then gestured for Wang Doudou to try one too.

"Hahaha!" Wang Doudou knew immediately that this wasn't an ordinary meatball. But she still swallowed one whole.

Soon, Pan Han finished his portion. He ran over again, ready to order another large bowl.

Just then, a man on an electric bicycle rode directly to the stall.

The proprietress's face instantly changed color!