Gratitude, a Tail, and Hunan Flavors
The red and purple marks around her wrist were still throbbing, but what haunted Lin Nuannuan even more were the nightmarish few minutes that had just passed.
Looking at the elderly man who was slumped on the ground, disheveled and no longer daring to look at her, and the pedestrians who were gradually dispersing but still looking at her with all sorts of complicated gazes, she took a deep breath and tried to calm her wildly beating heart and surging emotions.
She jogged a few steps and caught up with the three figures who were about to turn the corner.
"Please... please wait a moment!" Her voice was still hoarse from crying.
Lin Feng and his two companions stopped and turned around. Lawyer Zhou had his usual gentle expression, Lü Yi looked relaxed as if he had "completed his mission," and Lin Feng remained calm and expressionless.
Lin Nuannuan ran up to them, her cheeks flushed from running so fast. She bowed deeply, her voice sincere and excited. "Thank you! Thank you so much! Just now... just now, if it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do..."
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears again. She couldn't imagine how far she would have been harassed by that shameless old man if it weren't for the seemingly absurd yet effective intervention of that tall young man (Lü Yi).
"It was nothing." Lin Feng's voice was flat, revealing no emotion, as if he had simply brushed aside a tree branch blocking the road.
"How could this be such a small favor!" Lin Nuannuan quickly waved her hand. "I... I'll treat you to a meal! There's a restaurant up ahead that has pretty good food!" She was eager to express her gratitude, and this was the most direct way she could think of.
Lawyer Zhou adjusted his Glasses, smiled, and stepped forward, gently easing the girl's embarrassment. "Ms. Lin, we appreciate your kind offer. However, we also have an appointment to discuss some business, so we won't need to have dinner with you. Please be more careful when you go out in the future."
Seeing their resolute attitude, a hint of disappointment flashed across Lin Nuannuan's face, but gratitude lingered more than anything else. She quickly took out her phone. "Then... then could we exchange contact information? I'll... I'll thank you properly another time!"
This time, Lawyer Zhou didn't refuse. He skillfully recited a work number and saved Lin Nuannuan's number. He knew that his boss might not care, but having another potential, grateful contact wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
After thanking them again, Lin Nuannuan watched the three turn and leave, disappearing into the crowd. The tall young man's Back View remained upright, the man in the suit walked with composure, and the calmest young man... his Back View seemed to carry a composure and aloofness beyond his years. She clenched her fist; the pain in her wrist reminded her of what had just happened, and also made her remember the faces of these three "benefactors" deeply.
After walking a short distance and crossing a slightly noisy small intersection, Lawyer Zhou was about to continue discussing the details of the online store's location when he suddenly noticed that Lin Feng's pace slowed almost imperceptibly, and his eyes seemed to casually sweep over the glass window of a nearby shop.
Lawyer Zhou understood immediately and didn't speak. Lü Yi, on the other hand, continued to look around curiously, showing great interest in the roasted chestnut stall by the roadside.
Amidst this seemingly ordinary urban hustle and bustle, a clear and calm voice resounded directly in the depths of Lin Feng's consciousness—it came from Old Chen, the private detective and assassin in charge of perimeter security and counter-surveillance.
"Master, there's a tail. A male, about thirty years old, wearing a dark blue jacket and a black baseball cap, followed us about two hundred meters after we left the conflict site, maintaining a distance of about fifty meters at all times. Observing his gait and focus of vision, he has a clear objective and is a professional."
Lin Feng's face remained expressionless, not even a flicker of emotion in his eyes. He continued walking forward at his usual pace, as if he hadn't heard anything at all. But inwardly, a cold smile crept across his face. They've come, after all.
That fraud gang doesn't seem to intend to swallow this loss. Is it because Lü Yi taught them a lesson and they feel they've lost face? Or are they simply resentful and want to get revenge?
"How many people?" he asked in his mind.
"This is the only one we've found so far. Should we take it away?" Old Chen's voice was devoid of emotion, as if he were asking whether the roadside trash should be cleaned up.
"No need," Lin Feng immediately objected. "Let him follow. Find out where his accomplices are and what they're up to." He wanted to see just how bold and resourceful this group was.
"Understood." Old Chen's response was brief and forceful. Immediately, the connection between their consciousnesses weakened, and he continued to lurk among the crowd like Ghost, monitoring the "tail" while searching for any other possible informants.
This little incident caused no ripples. Although Lawyer Zhou was unaware of what had happened, he keenly noticed the subtle change in Lin Feng for a moment, and became more wary. Lü Yi, on the other hand, was completely oblivious; his attention was already drawn to the signboard of "Old Chen's Homestyle Cooking" ahead.
"Boss! We're here! This is it!" Lü Yi pointed excitedly at the somewhat old-fashioned restaurant with a small storefront. "I've delivered takeout here a few times, and their food is really good!"
It was past 1:30 PM, and the lunch rush had long passed. Pushing open the slightly greasy glass door, a familiar smell, a mixture of cooking fumes, chili peppers, and disinfectant, wafted out.
As expected, the restaurant was deserted, with only two or three tables of customers. One table was occupied by a group of middle-aged men who looked like migrant workers, drinking and bragging while eating peanuts, their voices booming; another table was occupied by a young couple, their heads huddled together, whispering something; and yet another table was occupied by a young man eating alone, wearing headphones and staring at his phone screen.
The waiter was dozing off against the counter when he heard the door open and lazily looked up.
"Three of you? Please come in and make yourself at home." He yawned and pointed to the empty hall.
Lin Feng glanced around and chose a seat by the window with a clear view of the door. Lawyer Zhou sat next to him, while Lü Yi sat casually opposite him.
The waiter handed over a laminated menu with slightly curled edges. Lin Feng casually flipped through it and ordered four signature Hunan dishes: Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili, Stir-fried Beef with Yellow Peppers, Braised Pork Liver with Tofu, and Steamed Assorted Cured Meats, plus three bowls of rice.
While waiting for the food to be served, Lawyer Zhou discussed the details of registering the online store with Lin Feng in a low voice, such as whether to use a sole proprietorship or register a company, and whether to focus on red wine or also sell white wine. Lin Feng mostly listened, occasionally nodding or asking one or two key questions.
Soon, the dishes were served one after another.
First up was the steamed fish head with chopped chili peppers. A huge white porcelain plate took up almost half the table. The head of the bighead carp was split in half and lay at the bottom of the plate, covered with a thick layer of bright red chopped chili peppers, like a burning flame.
Golden ginger and emerald green scallions are sprinkled on top. The waiter pours a spoonful of boiling hot oil over it with a sizzle, and instantly, a powerful aroma—a blend of salty, savory, spicy, and fragrant—rises up, filling the nostrils and making one's mouth water. The tender white fish, set against the backdrop of red peppers, looks even more tempting.
Next up was stir-fried beef with yellow peppers. The beef was sliced extremely thinly and sizzled vigorously over high heat with bright red pickled peppers, dark green cilantro, and white garlic slices, until glistening with oil. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the tangy and spicy taste of the pickled peppers exploded in your mouth, making it incredibly delicious with rice.
The "Bandit" style pig liver is equally impressive. The pig liver is cut into thick slices, stir-fried until the edges are slightly crispy, while the inside remains surprisingly tender. The rich wok aroma is mixed with the unique fragrance of perilla, resulting in a firm texture and a bold flavor, truly deserving of the name "Bandit".
Finally, there's the steamed assorted cured meats. A rustic steamer is filled with neatly arranged dark red cured pork, glistening sausages, and brownish-red cured fish. After being steamed, the fat from the cured meats melts and seeps into the dried green beans at the bottom, which have absorbed all the flavorful oil.
Picking up a piece of cured pork, the alternating layers of fat and lean meat, the translucent fat almost melts in your mouth, savory and sweet, a rich flavor that has been savored over time.
Lü Yi couldn't contain himself any longer. As soon as the rice was served, he covered half a bowl of the stir-fried beef broth with it and shoveled it away quickly, praising it indistinctly, "Mmm! Delicious! Flavorful!" Although Lawyer Zhou ate politely, a slight sweat appeared on his forehead, clearly enjoying the authentic Hunan cuisine. Lin Feng also ate quietly, the hot and spicy food bringing a real, comforting feeling of being alive.
However, just as they were halfway through their meal, people began to stream into the restaurant.
The once quiet little shop seemed to have suddenly been injected with vitality. First, two workers in overalls, who looked like they had just finished their shift, came in and loudly ordered some stir-fries and beer. Then, several more groups of people came in one after another.
There were three men and two women who looked like office workers from nearby buildings, discussing their work in hushed tones; there were several college students who had come together, chattering as they ordered food; and there was even a family with their children, filling a large table at the back of the room with lively conversation.
In just over ten minutes, not only was the main hall packed, but even the two small private rooms inside were filled with voices. The waiters immediately sprang into action, moving between the tables, their sleepiness replaced by busyness.
These guests seemed no different from ordinary diners, ordering, chatting, eating, and occasionally complaining about the slow service. They were each immersed in their own little circles, making no eye contact or verbal exchange with the main group's table, as if they had just happened to choose the same restaurant at the same time.
Lin Feng picked up his teacup, took a sip of the slightly bitter free tea, and calmly scanned the suddenly crowded and noisy little shop, glancing past the seemingly ordinary "diners," before finally settling on the bustling street outside the glass door.
A very faint, almost imperceptible smile curved the corners of his lips.
The warm lights, the lively chatter, and the increasingly rich aroma of food in the air together create a typical scene full of everyday life.