Seventh Dining Room, in the "Spring" private room.

A round dining table was already arranged with three dishes and one soup. The dishes were sweet and sour fish, stir-fried preserved pork with Artemisia, and yam in syrup. The soup was the three fresh mushroom soup, emphasizing a fresh taste.

Sweet and sour fish and yam in syrup are both traditional specialty dishes from the Shandong cuisine, but they are also considered "Top Ten Jin Dishes" by people from Jin Province and are quite popular among locals.

Stir-fried preserved pork with Artemisia, however, was specially prepared for Liu Xining by Jiang Yu.

As a Zhangjiang native who has been away for years, returning to her hometown without having a taste of stir-fried preserved pork with Artemisia would not truly feel like coming home.

In the entire private room, there were only Liu Xining and Pan Jingchen. With these three dishes and one soup, plus two plates of Scissor Noodles served with tomato and egg sauce as the main course, it was already quite abundant.

"Chenchen, is this oat noodles?"

Although Liu Xining also liked eating noodles, she didn't have them often. She recognized the usual ramen and knife-cut noodles found in noodle shops, but the varieties unique to Sanjin Province left her puzzled.

She picked up a piece of Scissor Noodle with her chopsticks, examined it closely in front of her, and said with a smile,

"It seems a bit different, not as round and slender as oat noodles. What kind of noodle is this?"

"These are Scissor Noodles. You take a pair of scissors to cut the kneaded dough bit by bit into the shape of small fish. Therefore, Scissor Noodles are also called Scissor Fish. It is said that Scissor Noodles have been around since the end of the Sui Dynasty, and there are even legends about it!"

It was apparent that Pan Jingchen seemed to like these Scissor Noodles as well. Her words increased while she stirred the tomato and egg sauce and the scissor noodles in the plate with her chopsticks to mix them evenly before giving Liu Xining some trivia.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xining became immediately interested and urged, "Does Scissor Noodles have a story? Tell me quickly!"

"It's just a folk tale; it's not necessarily true."

Seeing her impatience, Pan Jingchen couldn't help but smile softly.

Nonetheless, despite saying this, Pan Jingchen still began to speak softly and gently,

"It's said in folklore that at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin was studying and practicing martial arts in Taiyuan County while gathering talents and waiting for the opportune time to start a rebellion.

One day, Wu Zetian's father, Wu Shiyue, came visiting, and it happened to be noon. Li Shimin warmly invited Wu Shiyue to dine in his study.

Because it was a sudden occurrence, Mrs. Changsun, who was cutting clothes at the time, didn't have time to prepare lunch.

As she was at a loss, Mrs. Changsun accidentally saw the tailor scissors on the desk. A flash of inspiration struck her, and in a moment of ingenuity, she quickly mixed flour to make dough and then used the scissors to cut the noodles to entertain the guest.

This is how Scissor Noodles originated."

"Wow! I never expected that such ordinary-looking Scissor Noodles were actually invented by Empress Zhangsun!"

Liu Xining looked amazed. She swiftly mixed the Scissor Noodles on her plate and said with a cheeky smile,

"Then I must taste this carefully. I want to know if these Scissor Noodles invented by Empress Zhangsun are really that good!"

With that, she picked up a mound of Scissor Noodles with her chopsticks and began eating.

After just a few chews, Liu Xining's eyes lit up, and she enthusiastically nodded like a pecking chick, repeatedly saying,

"These Scissor Noodles are really good—chewy and smooth, especially with this tomato and egg sauce, it's especially delicious, tangy and appetizing, with a rich and savory broth!

Chenchen, what are you waiting for? Dig in; we still have so many dishes. Today is truly blissful!"

Saying this, she extended her chopsticks again to grab a piece of stir-fried preserved pork with Artemisia and fell into a blissful state while eating it.

Her expression alone conveyed the fact that this stir-fried preserved pork with Artemisia must taste incredible, without needing to say a word.

Meanwhile, Pan Jingchen beside her wasn't just watching. Her eating style was much more elegant than Liu Xining's. Although there were no outsiders in this private room, she took her time, scooping a few pieces of Scissor Noodles from the plate with a spoon and chewing slowly.

Before she entered the entertainment industry, she often ate these Scissor Noodles.

Her grandmother's family lived in the countryside with modest means, so buying delicious food often wasn't possible. Yet, her grandmother was skillful; even with a bowl of noodles, she always creatively made various different tasty noodle dishes.

Pan Jingchen initially tasted Scissor Noodles at her grandmother's. The chewy and smooth texture, coupled with the tangy and appetizing tomato and egg sauce, always caused her to eat with abandon, never leaving a drop of sauce at the bottom of the bowl.

Now sitting in the private room on the second floor of Jiang University Seventh Dining Hall, as she savored the familiar flavor in her mouth, it seemed to transport her back to childhood:

Her tiny frame helping to stoke the fire in front of the stove, black soot smudged all over her little face. Her bright big eyes sparkled, occasionally glancing at her grandmother's busy figure by the stove...

Grandmother's handmade noodle dishes, whether it was oat noodles or scissor fish, were the most delicious in Pan Jingchen's memory, just like the Scissor Fish she was eating now.

The small private room was quiet, with only the aroma of enticing flavors wafting in the air.

The two young and beautiful girls each sat on one side, quietly savoring each delectable dish. The scene was as beautiful as a world-renowned painting.

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