Wang Fan started steaming the rice.

The Wuchang Rice harvested this year looked plump, glistening, and white.

Wang Fan carefully rinsed the rice, continuing until the water in the pot was clear and transparent.

He dipped his index finger into the pot, gently touching the rice until the water level barely covered the first knuckle. Only then did he nod in satisfaction.

He then took out some oil and salt, sprinkling a little into the pot, before covering it and starting the rice cooker.

After completing all of this, Wang Fan smiled slightly, knowing the fragrance would soon fill the air.

...

"Hurry up, you two. I'm telling you, the morning market in the Northeast is amazing. The aroma will leave you two calling it daddy."

A tall and sturdy young man led the way on the road, followed sluggishly by two young men bundled up like bears, eyes still sleepy.

"Big brother, what time is it for you to be dragging us out? I've been driving since the day before yesterday and haven't had a proper rest."

One of them complained, and it was none other than the owner of the Lamborghini chasing after Wang Fan's RV.

Lin Mu turned around, grabbing Wu Qian and Zheng Yaoyang by the arms and dragged them with determination towards the food street.

"You need to eat well to have the energy to sleep. Get up in the morning, have a hearty breakfast, and then go back for a snooze. That's the correct way to start a day. Just turn a corner and we'll be there, hurry up."

Wu Qian and Zheng Yaoyang sighed heavily but sped up to follow Lin Mu.

As they walked, all three felt a shiver go through their bodies, the sleepiness quickly replaced by a sense of alertness.

Wu Qian couldn't help but take a deep breath, exclaiming, "What smells so good?"

Zheng Yaoyang also took a deep breath, finding the rich aroma of meat irresistible, making him almost drool.

Lin Mu scratched his head in puzzlement.

He had scouted many places to welcome his two friends from the South. There was no such meaty aroma when he came a few days ago; where was it coming from?

What the heck…

As Lin Mu was pondering, he suddenly felt himself being dragged, nearly stumbling. Once stable, he realized a force was pulling him to run quickly.

Upon looking closer, he saw that the two friends, who seemed half-dead moments ago, had now taken each side of him and were racing towards the food street.

Wu Qian complained while running, "Can't you move on your own? You're tall and strong, yet so lazy?"

Zheng Yaoyang chimed in, "Yeah, why can't you be as energetic as us?"

Lin Mu almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. So those two who just appeared lifeless weren't you two scoundrels?

Wu Qian licked his lips, eagerly asking, "Xiao Lin, do you know which stall this aroma is from? Let's start with that one."

Does Lin Mu know? Of course not, but admitting that was out of the question!

"You unfilial sons call me daddy, and I will take you there."

Zheng Yaoyang sneered, "Get lost. We can find it even without you. This aroma stands out too much to hide, and I can find it just by sniffing."

He then started moving his nose constantly, stepping in the direction the aroma came from.

"Wow!"

Turning a corner, Zheng Yaoyang and Wu Qian couldn't help but exclaim, just like a fisherman who accidentally stumbled upon the Peach Blossom Spring.

Wu Qian felt like singing a song to express his current feelings, and he had already thought of the lyrics—"Smoke curls up, stretching for miles along the roadside."

Everywhere they looked was filled with smoke, a dazzling array of delicacies.

Wu Qian waved his hand generously, saying, "You two unfilial sons, eat as you please. Today's morning expenses are on Young Master Wu!"

Lin Mu and Zheng Yaoyang didn't object this time, happy to let Wu Qian play the father role in terms of paying the bill.

After all, he was a wealthy maniac, owning tea plantations on three hills.

The three of them arrived relatively early, as the sun had just risen and the morning market wasn't crowded yet.

Wu Qian and Zheng Yaoyang explored like curious little kids, and soon enough, their hands were filled with various items.

However, they both restrained themselves from eating, continuously sniffing as if searching for something.

This is it!

Their eyes suddenly lit up, and they looked towards an RV.

Both were sure that the rich scent of meat was emanating from there.

Lin Mu was also curious about the RV in front of him, which hadn't been there during his previous scouting. It must be new.

As Wu Qian inhaled the tempting aroma, he curiously examined the RV. Somehow, it seemed familiar to him.

What the heck?

Upon seeing the car logo at the back of the RV, Wu Qian immediately recalled.

Wasn't this the vehicle he encountered on the highway that his little bull car couldn't catch up to? Unexpectedly, they met again here.

...

Wang Fan took out a piece of cardboard, found a marker, and wrote a line – Wang's Braised Pig's Knuckle, 40 per pound, 60 each, with rice included.

He purchased the pig's knuckle for 8 yuan a pound, with a meat yield rate of about 70% for the front knuckle. Factor in a 20% loss due to cooking, and the cost of a pound of finished pig's knuckle was about 15 yuan. Adding the cost of rice, spices, utilities, and labor, the price he set wasn't expensive at all.

Wang Fan pushed open the kitchen's front glass, propped it up with a stand, and then flattened the board to form a simple service counter. Such quick and convenient operation made Wang Fan more satisfied with this Nine-Star Hong Guang, which was much more upscale than his previous Seven-Star Hong Guang.

He hung the sign by the window and prepared to sit there waiting for customers.

But just as he sat down, three people approached.

Wu Qian scrutinized the young owner in front of him, surprised to find him so young and seemingly more handsome than him?

Even though the owner wore a mask, eyes are the windows to the soul, and those bright phoenix eyes convinced him that this owner must be very handsome.

Lucky for him, he wasn't bent!

Lin Mu inhaled deeply, confirming that the aroma was indeed from this shop, "Boss, let's have a pound each."

Zheng Yaoyang looked at Lin Mu in shock, "Big brother, it's morning now!"

Who eats a pound of meat for breakfast? Although the smell was tempting, isn't that too much?

Even for you Northeasterners, isn't that a bit extreme?

"Can we have less?"

Wang Fan nodded, "A couple of ounces is fine, up to you. But it's not ready yet, you'll need to wait another half an hour."

He initially thought the braised meat would take at least two hours to stew properly, but his nose told him that cooking it for another half an hour would bring it to its peak state.

He believed either the meat quality made it tender easily, or his braising pot had some maturing effect.

Lin Mu, Wu Qian, and Zheng Yaoyang couldn't bear to leave, so they stood firmly in front of the stall, waiting.

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