Chapter 92: The Petty Woman's Affectation

"Hello, I’m Feifei."

Zhuang Chen looked at the bashful beauty before him. Her features were delicate and charming, her skin fair, her stature petite, and her figure striking.

He smiled and invited her to sit, starting a conversation that gradually eased the atmosphere. Perhaps it was the influence of her work as a kindergarten teacher, but the girl spoke gently and patiently, nothing like the fiery temperament rumored about her.

Once they were more familiar, Feifei whispered, "This teahouse isn’t very authentic. If you want real tea, I have a good recommendation."

Zhuang Chen stood, got into his car, and followed as the girl guided him, saying, "The tea garden is called Kailu Tea Garden, right near the Wide and Narrow Alleys. Once we find a place to park, we can just walk over."

Sitting beside Zhuang Chen, her pretty cheeks flushed, she hardly dared speak. Zhuang Chen smiled, patted her small hand, and teased, "Relax, do I look like a bad guy?"

"No… not at all!" The girl startled and hastily explained, "It’s just our first meeting… I’m a bit nervous… not sure what to say."

Zhuang Chen leaned back in the massage chair, closed his eyes, and said comfortably, "You can talk about anything."

The girl took a deep breath, calming herself, and began, "Then I’ll tell you about the tea garden we’re going to. It’s secluded and hard to find—outsiders rarely stumble upon it. The owner is a proud old lady, and even though I’ve been many times, I’ve never seen her smile!"

"The restroom is only for tea guests, photos are only allowed for customers, and her attitude is as if the tea garden is a holy sanctuary, idle visitors unwelcome. You have to pay before drinking her tea, and after paying, you have to brew it yourself…"

Xia Long, listening, couldn’t help but purse his lips, asking, "Is this the legendary haughty old lady?"

Everyone burst out laughing. The girl shrugged helplessly, "With this kind of service, the place is packed every day, with many diehard fans. Who knows why?"

They chatted as they walked, soon arriving at their destination. After parking, they began to walk. The special green bricks formed a curved, arched gate; above the entrance was a traditional Chinese stone plaque, the inscription carved in large seal script: Kailu.

The style was innovative, somewhat resembling oracle bone script. Above the plaque was an oval pattern representing a talismanic mirror to ward off evil, meant to keep the family safe from all harm.

Inside the courtyard, the old walls, moss-covered stone steps, ancient house, old trees, and vine-wrapped chairs—every item told a story of the old capital of Shu…

Zhuang Chen nodded. A place with history, a bit expensive and finicky, was understandable.

What was costly was not the tea, but the old flavor of the city, now so hard to find—quiet and simple, pure and clean. Amid the busy streets, it was rare to find such leisure, to sit in a cool courtyard and brew a bowl of tea.

The proud owner appeared, indeed cold and distant. They found a quiet corner to sit—a guest should follow the host's lead. Snow in Emerald Pool and Bamboo Leaf Green teas, accompanied by plates of snacks and sunflower seeds.

Feifei saw Zhuang Chen finish his tea, satisfied, and finally relaxed, smiling as she said, "I discovered this place by accident. The first time, I couldn’t even read the name. I had to look it up online. 'Kai' means happiness, 'Lu' means thatched cottage."

"Kailu, a cottage of happiness. Legend has it, a century ago the owner returned from abroad and transformed the old family home. The current owner is a Manchu gentleman, Mr. Lamu’er Goat Horn."

Zhuang Chen looked at the neat, flower-filled courtyard, small yet full of charm. Some guests took photos around the house; every flower and tree had its own appeal, and the lantern flowers on the wall were especially lovely.

The windows were bright, the furnishings rustic yet elegant. The place exuded a serene ease, no wonder it attracted crowds.

He recalled a book he’d once read: When a man is fond of two women at the same time, he loves the one who loves him less. That is the so-called masochist psychology.

The most famous Murphy’s Law: The more you dislike someone, the more often they’ll appear before you; while the person you long for cannot be found, no matter how hard you search.

Second Law: The more you fear something happening, the likelier it will occur. Because you fear it, you pay it more attention, and the more focused you are, the likelier you make mistakes.

What you cannot have is always the most desirable; the easier something is to obtain, the less you cherish it, and the harder it is to get, the more you crave it.

The world of food lovers is much the same—if people queue outside a shop, more will join the line. Even if the food isn’t that good, one comforts oneself: Maybe it’s just my taste, but so many people are here, they can’t all be wrong, right?

After tea, outside was the Wide and Narrow Alleys. Composed of three lanes—Wide Alley, Narrow Alley, and Well Alley—they were ancient streets dating to the Qing Dynasty, matching the style of western Sichuan dwellings.

Despite the passage of time, many remnants of the Qing era remain, most are restored courtyard houses, evoking an ancient aura.

Tourists thronged the area. Feifei whispered, "This place is very famous, but actually it’s mostly outsiders who visit; locals rarely come."

"Especially in recent years, hyped by internet celebrities, it’s become a sensation overnight, almost as popular as Chunxi Road!"

"Look at the blue-grey bricks and tiles along the street, there’s an old, artistic atmosphere, so it’s beloved by many young artists…"

"The horse hitching stones on the old walls reflect the northern Manchu-Mongolian tradition of riding. There’s still a hint of the Republican era in the alleys…"

"Deep in the alley is a small Western-style villa, with Roman architecture and many fashionable decorations from the Republic years, matching today’s popular mixed styles."

As they walked, seeing Zhuang Chen’s disappointment, she explained, "When the alleys were developed as a tourist spot, all the original residents were relocated. Now it’s entirely for tourists. Locals only come to do a bit of business, selling snacks that aren’t very authentic, but otherwise, they never visit!"

It was mealtime again. Zhuang Chen asked Xia Long, "Have you picked a place?"

Xia Long, long accustomed to his boss’s preferences, suggested, "There’s a molecular gastronomy restaurant that’s quite famous. Should we try it?"

Zhuang Chen’s eyes lit up. Molecular cuisine was high-tech; he had wanted to try it in Shanghai, never expecting to find it here.

They got in the car and went straight to the destination. Molecular gastronomy, also called molecular cuisine, is a culinary concept that has been a sensation overseas in recent years. Essentially, it applies physics and chemistry theories to cooking.

It studies how food changes with temperature and cooking time, adds various substances to induce physical and chemical reactions, and then, with a thorough understanding, deconstructs, restructures, and applies the process to create dishes that defy traditional culinary forms and appearances.

"I’ve heard of that place, Flame. Supposedly an Italian Michelin two-star chef runs it—the first molecular gastronomy restaurant in Shu."

Feifei hesitated, "I’ve heard it’s really expensive; even a cold dish costs thousands!"