Chapter 33: Leader, Let Me Treat You to Some Noodles

“You cooked something in there, didn’t you? It smells so good it’s making me feel hungry,” Yu Jianguo finally couldn’t help but ask.

As the fragrance inside the car grew stronger, and since he had skipped breakfast before leaving the base, he was really feeling hungry now—even though he hadn’t been before.

“Oh, I just made some toppings for rice noodles. They enhance the flavor,” Ye Muqi replied with a smile. Talking about food instantly lifted her spirits. “I made three kinds, each with a unique flavor, and I added my own secret seasoning.”

“I actually went into the city because I got a job at a breakfast shop.”

Yu Jianguo looked at Ye Muqi again, surprised by both her cooking skills and the fact that she already had a job.

If he remembered correctly, Rong Jingchen had just returned from leave two days ago. Which meant Ye Muqi had just arrived too—yet she already found work?

“Xiao Rong is really lucky,” Yu Jianguo couldn’t help but sigh emotionally.

His wife was not only pretty and kind, but clearly a great cook. You could tell she was diligent, capable, and definitely someone who could manage a household.

“Have you eaten breakfast yet? If not, why not come by our shop and try my toppings? My treat—as thanks for giving me a ride,” Ye Muqi offered cheerfully, happy to have found a way to express her gratitude.

She had noticed Yu Jianguo seemed hungry.

“Sure!” Yu Jianguo agreed right away. With a smell like that, who could say no?

…

Following Ye Muqi’s directions, the car made its way to Sanli Alley. There were already quite a few people on the street that morning.

Cai Dongmei’s breakfast shop was there in an old house. She had been running it for many years. The place looked rather worn down, and the sign was just a simple one that read: “Xiao Sun Breakfast Shop.”

Ye Muqi brought Yu Jianguo into the shop. Cai Dongmei had arrived earlier and had already steamed the buns—ready to be sold at any time.

The fire was lit, and the water was already boiling. On a nearby table were neat rows of plump white dumplings (wontons), freshly prepared by Cai Dongmei herself. It was her specialty and the shop’s signature item.

When she saw Ye Muqi come in with a man in military uniform, she greeted them and discreetly eyed the guest in surprise.

Even though Ye Muqi had mentioned she lived in the military family compound, seeing a soldier in uniform in person still made Cai Dongmei a bit excited.

“Please have a seat. It’ll just be a moment,” Ye Muqi said, leading Yu Jianguo and the driver to a small table before heading straight into the kitchen with her supplies.

The three toppings she had prepared earlier were still warm and ready to serve.

She took them out and arranged them on the table. The aroma filled the room, making even Cai Dongmei take a deep breath—it really smelled amazing.

There were three different toppings: one mildly spicy, two non-spicy—tailored with northern tastes in mind.

The first was chili minced pork, something Ye Muqi loved, though even the mild version could be too spicy for some.

The second was soy-braised pork with fermented soybeans, slightly sweet, more suited to northern palates.

The third was classic braised pork ribs—tender, flavorful, and non-spicy.

Each topping had its own distinct style, a decision Ye Muqi made after careful consideration to appeal to a wide range of customers.

“Qiqi, these are dishes, right? Are we really serving them for breakfast?” Cai Dongmei asked in confusion as she looked at the toppings.

They looked and smelled amazing, sure—but how exactly were these going to be served for breakfast? With plain rice? Who eats rice so early in the morning?

Maybe with steamed buns? That could work… but she had only made stuffed buns today.

“Yes, they’re toppings—meant to go with noodles or even in wontons,” Ye Muqi explained as she kneaded the dough skillfully and quickly.

Cai Dongmei watched her in awe—her dough-kneading technique was way better than her own.

“I’ll prepare some special broth for the wontons tomorrow too. It’ll really boost the flavor,” Ye Muqi added.

While toppings could be added to wontons, they were still best served with a rich, flavorful soup.

Cai Dongmei didn’t object. After seeing Ye Muqi’s cooking skills the past few days, she was already convinced—this girl knew her stuff. Her flavors were something most people simply couldn’t replicate.

Before long, Ye Muqi had finished preparing the dough. With one hand holding a knife and the other the dough, her noodle-slicing was mesmerizing to watch—elegant and satisfying.

“Grandma Cai, have you had breakfast yet?” Ye Muqi asked while slicing.

“Not yet,” Cai Dongmei replied sheepishly. She’d been so busy opening the shop that she hadn’t had time to eat.

“Alright.” Ye Muqi nodded, having guessed as much. She had made enough dough anyway.

She sliced enough noodles for four bowls and began preparing them—cooking the noodles, blanching some leafy greens for a few seconds, then adding a ladle of clear broth.

The white noodles with vibrant green vegetables looked beautiful. The bowl was similar to what she made the day before, though today’s had a bit less broth.

Ye Muqi picked up one bowl, glanced at the three toppings, and decided to give Yu Jianguo a bit of each—after all, he should try them all.

She poured a little of the rib broth over the noodles too, making the once plain noodle soup now rich and flavorful.

She placed two full bowls on a tray, added some basic seasonings—soy sauce, vinegar—and her own homemade chili oil and garlic paste.

Those were made back when she lived in Bada Town, kept in her storage space in case she opened a shop one day.

“Grandma, eat while it’s hot,” Ye Muqi said, then took the tray and brought the noodles out.

Yu Jianguo and the driver were still waiting at the small table, occasionally glancing toward the kitchen as the smell drifted out.

“Here it is—knife-cut noodles,” Ye Muqi said, placing the two steaming bowls in front of them.

Yu Jianguo looked at the noodles. He’d had noodles before, and even noodle slices, but this was something new—it looked like noodle slices but wasn’t quite the same.

But the main stars were the toppings on top—just looking at their color and texture, he could tell they were cooked perfectly.

Faced with such a hearty bowl of noodles, Yu Jianguo couldn’t resist any longer and picked up his chopsticks, ready to dig in.

“These are the seasonings—you can add them to suit your taste,” Ye Muqi said, placing the condiments on the small table.

She had seasoned the base broth for a general palate, but everyone’s preferences were different—these condiments would let them customize their bowls however they liked.