Chapter 125: Clear Broth Fish Balls

“Food’s here, food’s here—I can smell it already!”

Footsteps thudded up the stairs, and out from the stairwell came Madam Song, her kindly face beaming as she carried a large tray with a light, graceful step.

When she turned and spotted Yun Qimu, her smile grew even warmer. She approached at a steady, elegant pace and asked gently, “Village Chief Yun, your dishes are ready. Shall I serve them now?”

Everyone present—adults and little ones alike—immediately fell silent. Whatever they’d been talking about, whatever they’d been doing, was forgotten. All eyes, hungry and shining, were glued to the tray in her hands.

One by one, they nodded eagerly, wishing they could answer for Yun Qimu themselves.

Of course, Yun Qimu was just as entranced by the delicious aroma. She instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth, snapped back to her senses, and nodded excitedly. “Yes, yes, serve them now!”

“Very well.” Madam Song set the large tray down on the table, revealing seven dishes arranged neatly on top. Now that everyone could see them clearly, their gazes grew even more intense.

Slurp~~

Across the table, Pei Yu looked like he was about to cry from hunger.

He craned his neck, practically trying to glue his eyes to the food.

Yun Qimu shot him a disapproving glare and waved him off. “Go, go, go—this table’s reserved for me.”

Pei Yu clung to the table, his big, watery eyes pleading as he refused to budge. “No, no, let me look a little longer, just a little longer.”

Yun Qimu wrinkled her nose in disgust. “If you keep staring, your drool’s going to drip all over the place. Who are you trying to gross out?”

She rolled up her sleeves, ready to toss this shameless guy out herself, but thankfully, his sensible cousin stepped in.

Mo Xie, his handsome face a picture of exasperation, walked over, grabbed Pei Yu by the back of his collar like a misbehaving puppy, and plopped him onto a chair at the next table. Then, smoothing his expression, his dark eyes polite and deep, he turned to Madam Song. “Excuse me, when will our table’s dishes be ready?”

After arranging all the dishes for Yun Qimu’s table, Madam Song straightened up and replied warmly, “They’ll be out in just a moment. Please wait a little. And you little guests over there—your food is ready too. Shall I bring it out now?”

Little Zhu Zhu’s eyes went round with excitement. She clapped her hands and cheered, “Now, now! I want to eat now!”

“Zhu Zhu’s right! Let’s eat now!” the other kids chorused, practically drooling. If Al hadn’t held them back, they’d have been crawling onto the table like Pei Yu.

The little ones reluctantly found the nearest table and sat down, but their eyes never left Yun Qimu’s table.

At least they were behaving themselves and waiting patiently.

Yun Qimu breathed a sigh of relief, then turned her attention to the seven dishes in the center of the table.

The clear broth fish balls were served in a large antique porcelain bowl. The fish balls, white as jade and each about the size of a longan, floated in a light, slightly oily broth.

Madam Song had sprinkled chopped scallions into the soup, adding a touch of green to the otherwise pale dish. It looked delicate but not bland—on the contrary, it was fresh and appetizing, making one’s mouth water just to look at it.

Yun Qimu picked up the small bowls Madam Song had set aside and handed them to her father and younger brother, who were still sitting there dumbfounded, staring at the food and swallowing their saliva but not moving.

She smiled, “Xiaoyu, what are you waiting for? Eat! A bowl of soup before the meal is good for the stomach. This clear broth fish ball soup looks perfect.”

As she spoke, she ladled out a small bowl and pushed it in front of her father, placing a little porcelain spoon in his hand. Her eyes sparkled. “Dad, you try it first.”

Papa Yun grinned sheepishly. “Thanks, darling.”

He clumsily picked up the spoon, carefully scooped up a mouthful of broth without any fish balls, and took a sip. His eyes immediately lit up, and he looked up at Yun Qimu in surprise. “Delicious! This soup is delicious! Qimu, Xiaoyu, you both have some too!”

“Yes, yes, let’s eat!” the siblings chimed in.

Yun Xiaoyu served himself a bowl, and Yun Qimu followed suit.

She didn’t stand on ceremony—she scooped up a spoonful with a fish ball, opened her mouth, and ate it all in one go.

The broth was fresh and light, the fish ball tender and flavorful. With each bite, she could taste the delicate, savory fish meat.

It was amazing.

She’d thought their own homemade fish soup was already delicious, but compared to this—she had to admit defeat!

No wonder Wu Xingyu had insisted on hiring a professional chef. There really was a difference.

The three of them ate with their heads down, barely pausing for breath.

After polishing off a bowl of fish ball soup, their eyes turned eagerly to the other six dishes.

The chopped fish balls looked similar to the clear broth fish balls, but the taste was different. They were softer, the fish meat more tender and flaky—one bite and the whole ball fell apart, releasing an intense, savory flavor with not a trace of fishiness.

Then there was Madam Song’s signature fish stew—a dish she was famous for. The fish was steamed, deboned, and mixed with shredded ham, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and chicken broth.

It was glossy, tender, and smooth, with a hint of crab flavor.

In a word—divine.

As for Beggar’s Chicken, since there were no lotus leaves, Madam Song had used large danmu tree leaves instead.

Everyone knew danmu fruit was extremely sweet, but its leaves were sweet with a refreshing aroma—wonderful to smell and even said to curb cravings.

With the danmu leaves, the usual lotus fragrance was replaced by a delicate sweetness, giving the dish a unique twist. Either way, it was delicious.

Yun Qimu had never tasted authentic Beggar’s Chicken—she’d only seen recipes and descriptions—so she couldn’t say whether lotus leaves or danmu leaves made for a better version.

There was also West Lake Vinegar Fish and Smoked Fish, both of which were Madam Song’s specialties. The flavors were flawless—except the smoked fish wasn’t much to look at, but even Wu Xingyu praised the taste.

And finally, there was the sweet and sour pork.

This wasn’t Madam Song’s specialty, but the tangy-sweet flavor won over everyone who tried it.

Especially the table of little ones—they hadn’t even finished the first plate before clamoring for another, stuffing themselves until their bellies were round.

It was probably a good thing there was no staple food like rice yet, or the kids wouldn’t have been able to finish all seven dishes. Madam Song’s prices were a bit high, but the portions were generous.

Everyone left with full bellies and happy hearts."