Chapter 50 (2/2)

“It really doesn’t have an offensive smell,” after muttering to himself, he started to peel the other clove of the garlic.

“Grandpa Zheng, this garlic can stimulate your appetite. It’s really nice. Why don’t you give it a try?” While peeling off the skin, he didn’t forget to promote the garlic to the grandpa seated beside him.

“See? I already ate the garlic but there is no smell in my mouth. Besides, it is not spicy at all.”

“Really? Not spicy?” the grandpa, who was called Grandpa Zheng, set down the chopsticks and then asked.

“You give it a try and will understand.” Wu Hai gestured the grandpa to taste it.

“All right. Let me have a taste.” the Grandpa Zheng was actually a frugal person. Only a bowl of broth and two cloves of garlic cost 40RMB. It would be a waste of money if he didn’t manage to eat them.

Having peeled off the skin, the grandpa gave it a sniff before putting it into his mouth.

He was also impressed by the rough garlic’s unique fragrance and the way it stimulated his appetite.

As an old man, his internal organs would inevitably weaken. Therefore, no matter how delicious the dishes cooked by Yuan Zhou were, Grandpa Zheng would be full with only one dish. Of course, two Soup Dumplings were not a problem for him.

After eating the rough garlic, he felt more spirited and comfortable physically. Every bite brought about a blast of flavor, as if his taste sensitivity became sharper. His appetite also improved tremendously.

Of course, the increase in his appetite was merely due to the sudden sharpening of his tastebud. It didn’t mean he merely wanted to eat an additional bowl of noodles. It was just that interest of food was suddenly aroused.

“Is this really garlic?”

“None of the ingredients Boss Yuan provides are simple and ordinary.”

“Originally, I don’t enjoy garlic. But today, I ate two cloves successively.”

“40RMB for two cloves of garlic. On average, it is 20RMB for each clove. Though fairly expensive, it deserves that price.”

The ruby-red garlic instantly obtained two fans.

Yuan Zhou’s restaurant was usually open for an hour in the morning. After that hour passed, when those other customers, who were used to Yuan Zhou not opening the restaurant in the morning, came at the regular time, they were met with a tightly closed door.

“Slurp slurp”

As usual, Yuan Zhou cooked his noodle soup and devoured the dish with only a few bites. Then he walked out of the back door while holding the bowl of the leftover broth in his hand.

The alley in daytime did not appear to be so gloomy and damp. Some unknown flowers grew from the brick cracks and numerous mosses covered the stone bricks, which contrarily, gave the alley a primitive and quiet feel.

He went up to the end of the alley, where the dog was still lying on the large plastic bag. However now, it wasn’t barking miserably, nor scratching his hind leg.

Yuan Zhou could see better under the daylight. The dog was not a purebred Maltese; several strips of black fur could be seen apart from the usual chocolate brown, and the fur wasn’t all curled. A dozen large and small wounds could be seen on its body.

It must have contracted a disease and then be discovered that it wasn’t a purebred, thus was abandoned and thrown here.

The bowl that he placed on the ground last night was empty and had been dragged closer to the dog. At Yuan Zhou’s arrival, the brown and black dog raised its head, gave him a look and then lay back down, seemingly reluctant to move.

Yuan Zhou still didn’t intend to raise the dog. He went up, as usual, poured the broth into the bowl on the ground, then turned around and left.

The dog lying on the ground looked at Yuan Zhou and got to its feet after ensuring that Yuan Zhou had left before starting to drink the broth in the bowl.

This scene was captured by a grandma who happened to bring some food to the dog. She appeared to live not far from here and was dressed in an ordinary cotton T-shirt, with a piece of bread in her hand.

“Why did this guy only give the dog soup? Oh, no, it’s broth and smells fairly good.” When she smelled the aroma wafting around her, the grandma corrected herself.

Then she started to coax the dog in front of her, “Good little dog. You can’t eat your fill with the broth. I have the bread for you. Come and eat it.”