Why should the diners get to decide whether the restaurant could sell its goods?
Shen Le still hadn't figured out this difficult question when the proprietress answered, "Coming!" She set a dish down on the table of a group of diners in the middle of the room, then smiled and headed into the kitchen.
Before long, she came out with a steaming bowl of noodles. A little hill of braised lamb sat on top, fragrant, glistening red, and quivering with heat.
"I'll bring you this portion of lamb first. If it's not enough, you can have more. Eat it while it's hot!"
Shen Le had no time to protest that she'd only brought one portion. He eagerly scooped up a spoonful of lamb broth, blew on it twice, and brought it to his mouth—
"Delicious!"
As he'd walked along the Old Street outside the restaurant, the aroma of lamb broth had made his insides churn, his appetite rising with every step!
Now that the bowl of lamb noodles was in front of him, it felt as though two hands had reached out from his stomach, ready to grab the bowl and pour it straight inside. And then he tasted that spoonful of broth...
"Good enough to make you dizzy" wasn't an exaggeration at all. It was simply an accurate description.
For a moment, Shen Le's mind went blank. It was as if all the blood in his brain had rushed to his mouth and tongue, letting him revel in the broth's fresh, savory flavor.
This wasn't the artificial deliciousness of MSG and chicken bouillon piled on for effect. It was even better than the chicken soup, meat broth, and fish soup he'd had in the past.
It was as if every molecule in that spoonful of lamb broth danced across his tongue. It was also as if his body knew it needed these nutrients and was desperate to absorb every last bit.
The aroma of this lamb broth truly lived up to the two words "Heavenly Fragrance" in the restaurant's name!
Shen Le held the broth in his mouth for a moment, reluctant to let it go, then swallowed it. Right after that, he picked up a tender, skin-on piece of lamb and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth.
His four front teeth closed on the lamb. He felt a slight resistance; then, after the meat gave a little, it split in two and sprang back.
It gently bumped against his palate, his tongue, and the insides of his cheeks, spreading the juices trapped in the lamb to every corner of his mouth.
The lamb itself seemed to bounce gently around his mouth as he chewed.
Wherever it went, it was as if tiny sparks burst into life, or fine currents crackled between his lips and teeth, leaving his mouth faintly tingling.
Strangely, the tingling didn't dull the sensations in his mouth. Instead, it seemed to send every taste bud into overdrive, making every subtle flavor more vivid.
"Ah... this is so good..."
Shen Le couldn't help exclaiming in delight. The proprietress was clearing dishes and wiping down tables nearby. At his words, she looked up and smiled.
"Tasty, isn't it? If you like it, keep eating. But don't force yourself if you can't finish it!"
How could he possibly fail to finish something this delicious? He was a young man in his twenties. Forget one bowl of lamb noodles—he could eat a whole bowl of nothing but lamb!
Shen Le silently argued with her in his head. But when he swallowed that one-inch-square piece of lamb, it really did leave him feeling heavy and full, as if he'd eaten half a pound of braised beef.
Shen Le froze. He was just about to rub his stomach when it gave a loud rumble. Then a surging wave of heat swept through his limbs.
"Mmm—so comfortable!"
He closed his eyes and let out a satisfied breath, waiting for the wave of warmth to pass. As soon as it did, he suddenly felt hungry again. He lowered his head and hurriedly shoved a big mouthful of noodles into his mouth.
Then he slurped them down noisily, wolfing down the meat and noodles together.
As he ate, he felt countless fine currents spreading outward from his mouth, down his esophagus, and through his stomach and intestines.
His muscles and bones, even deep in his marrow, tingled with pleasure. The muscles in his arms and thighs kept twitching.
Fortunately, the tingling wasn't unpleasant. It was more like being massaged by countless tiny electrified hands, loosening every muscle. Shen Le devoured the lamb noodles, and by the time he finished the bowl, he was covered in a fine sweat.
"Mmm, I'm stuffed!"
The proprietress had been watching him discreetly. She didn't relax until he got up and walked toward the counter. After tapping a few buttons, she pushed the payment scanner toward him.
"54."
Yikes... that was expensive.
Other places charged only a little over 30.
The corner of Shen Le's mouth twitched, but he had to admit that the bowl of lamb noodles at the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant was worth the price. He paid without complaint and was just about to leave when the proprietress reached out to stop him.
"Sir, please wait a moment. Could we rent your puppet and have it perform at our restaurant every day?"
"Huh?"
Shen Le froze and instinctively covered his backpack.
This was the first time his puppet had gone out since being repaired. It had performed only half a tune in a hospital room.
He hadn't opened his backpack since entering the restaurant. How had the proprietress known?
She shouldn't have known there was a puppet in his backpack at all!
Besides, Xiao Ling was alive and had a mind of her own. Whether she performed or not wasn't up to him!
Soft laughter came from a corner of the dining room. The proprietress glanced over, then turned back to Shen Le with a radiant smile.
"It's a small town, so news travels fast. Our restaurant has been thinking of promoting intangible cultural heritage and putting on some entertainment to attract customers. Your string puppet would be perfect.
"So, what do you think? We'll pay a hundred a day to rent the puppet. And you can eat here for free!"
A bowl of premium lamb noodles cost 54 yuan. Three meals a day would cost more than a hundred.
Even if he got tired of eating here and didn't come every day, he'd still save the cost of at least one meal.
Add the puppet's rental fee—no, Xiao Ling's wages—and three thousand a month would be more than enough for the daily expenses of a homebody like him!
He could even afford to buy some woodworking tools, masonry tools, paint, and good-quality lumber. He could slowly start repairing all the furniture and decorations in the house, too.
Shen Le was still hesitant. He lowered his head and felt Little Puppet through the backpack.
Hey, what do you think?
You're alive now. Whether you want this job is up to you!
[Yes! I want to!] The Copper Fragment hummed softly, conveying Xiao Ling's delighted reply.
[I want to perform here! Oh, and split the money with me. Half of it, so I can buy clothes!]
Shen Le carefully opened the backpack and lifted Little Puppet out. Rather than handing her over to the proprietress right away, he held her in his arms and looked around.
"Do you have anyone who knows how to perform a puppet show?"
"Of course!" The proprietress smiled. She turned toward the kitchen and raised her voice.
"Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu! Come out for a moment and perform a puppet show for our customer!"
"Coming~~~"
A clear voice answered from the kitchen. A moment later, a fair-skinned, lovely-looking young woman hurried out. She bent down and first shook hands with Little Puppet.
"Little one, what's your name? Will you perform a little show with me?"
Shen Le was already pleased with her attitude. He handed Xiao Ling over, and Xiao Yu held the wooden board flat in one hand and pulled the strings with the other. Her movements were indeed very practiced.
In her hands, Little Puppet raised her arms, took a step, bent at the waist, and spun around. Suddenly, she "walked" over to a table and gracefully picked up a wine cup with both hands.
"Please enjoy some wine, honored guest~~~"
Holding the wine cup, she took dainty little steps over to Shen Le and set it down in front of him, then gave him an elegant curtsy.