Chapter 430 - 211: You Must Invite Me When You Get Married

Chapter 430: Chapter 211: You Must Invite Me When You Get Married

Braised pork head meat went even better with rice than the pig ears and snouts.

It was so satisfying.

"Is it good?" Zhou Ming asked with a smile.

"Mhm, it’s amazing!" Song Wanqing nodded, her eyes sparkling. "This is the best braised meat I’ve ever had, bar none! Zhou, you have great taste!"

"If... if you like it, have some more." Zhou Ming was a little embarrassed by the praise. He lifted his lunch box, shoveled in a mouthful of rice, and picked up some stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings. He, too, ate with great relish.

"Teacher Song, Zhou, are you eating braised meat? It smells so good!" a teacher at the next table couldn’t help but ask. Instantly, several pairs of eyes shot in their direction.

The food in the school cafeteria was decent.

Some teachers also brought their own homemade dishes.

Seeing the usually calm and elegant Teacher Song exclaiming in amazement as she ate, they couldn’t help but become curious.

A teacher who taught the same class and interacted with them often was the one who couldn’t resist asking.

"Yes, it’s braised meat that Zhou brought," Song Wanqing said with a slight smile. "Zhang, would you like to try some?"

"Braised meat is my absolute favorite. Hearing you praise it so much, I have to try it." Zhang was a music teacher, a middle-aged man in his forties. He stood up with a smile and came over. When he saw the braised meat in the lunch box, his eyes instantly lit up. "This braised meat looks delicious just by itself! The color is gorgeous, and the Knife Skills are superb."

"Zhang is a true connoisseur," Zhou Ming also smiled when he heard this and offered, "Go on, try some."

"Alright, then I won’t be polite." Zhang flipped his chopsticks around to use the clean ends, picked one slice of each of the three types of braised meat, and placed them in his own lunch box before returning to his seat.

A moment later, his voice rang out in praise, "This braised pig ear has such an authentic flavor! The braised pig snout is delicious too! But this braised pork head meat is in a class of its own!"

Hearing the commotion, a few other teachers who were on friendly terms with them came over to say hello and took a piece of braised meat to taste.

This was actually quite common. Teachers often brought their specialty dishes and invited other colleagues they were close with to share.

After tasting it, they too were full of praise.

"Zhou, where did you buy this braised meat?" Zhang had returned to their table, his gaze fixed intently on Zhou Ming. "This braised meat is just fantastic! It’s honestly the best I’ve ever eaten."

"My younger brother made it. His shop is in Suji, right at the entrance of the Jiazhou Textile Factory," Zhou Ming said.

"Suji? That’s a bit far." Zhang seemed troubled by this. He thought for a moment and said, "Zhou, could you bring me half a jin of the braised pork head meat tomorrow? I’ll pay you for it."

"Bring half a jin for me too. My father-in-law’s favorite is braised pork head meat."

"Zhou, could you trouble yourself to bring me a whole braised pig ear?"

The other teachers also chimed in, looking at Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming was a bit taken aback by the attention, not expecting the teachers to like the braised meat so much. He hesitated and was about to nod, saying, "Okay..."

"That won’t work. Zhou already told everyone the address, so you can all go buy it yourselves when you have time. Suji isn’t that far, anyway," Song Wanqing quickly interjected. "Zhou is busy with his classes. I’m afraid he won’t have enough time to wait for the braised meat to be ready and then bring it here for everyone. It wouldn’t be good if it affects his teaching."

Hearing this, everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Zhang wasn’t ready to give up. He looked at Zhou Ming and asked, "Zhou, what do you say?"

Zhou Ming met Song Wanqing’s gaze and saw her shake her head slightly. He then said, "The braised meat isn’t ready until after ten in the morning. Starting tomorrow, I have to lead the martial arts team for morning exercises, so I really can’t bring it for everyone. I’m very sorry."

"Alright, then. I’ll go buy it myself when I don’t have class," Zhang said with a smiling nod, not pressing the matter further.

The other teachers also smiled and sat back down.

Song Wanqing quickly finished the rice in her lunch box, eating it with the braised meat and stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings. A good amount of braised meat was left in both lunch boxes.

She divided the remaining braised meat, putting some into each of the two lunch boxes.

After leaving the cafeteria with Zhou Ming, she quickened her pace to catch up with Zhang, who had just washed his lunch box. She smiled and said, "Zhang, please take this portion of braised meat home to have with some drinks tonight. Zhou is new here, and we’ll be counting on your support. And you know how it is with teachers—it’s best not to have money change hands, otherwise, it could lead to complications down the line."

Zhang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "Ah, Song is always so thoughtful. All I was thinking about was the food."

"It’s alright. I know Zhang is our school’s famous connoisseur. For you, food is king," Song Wanqing said with a laugh.

"I wouldn’t dare call myself a connoisseur, just a foodie," Zhang said, shaking his head with a smile. He glanced at Zhou Ming, who was a few steps behind, and said with a grin, "Teacher Song, you have to invite me to your wedding. Zhou Ming is such a dependable young man, just a little naive. It’s good that he has you looking out for him."

"Zhang, what are you talking about..." A blush crept onto Song Wanqing’s face.

"We old-timers in the academic affairs office aren’t just good at spotting puppy love among students; we’re spot-on when it comes to the young teachers, too. Students aren’t allowed to date, but it’s not too early for you two." Holding his lunch box, Zhang walked away, happily humming a little tune. He had already decided who he would invite for drinks that night.

Only then did Zhou Ming hurry to catch up and ask with a smile, "What did Zhang say?"

"Zhang said... he said you’re very dependable." Song Wanqing’s face grew even redder.

"Zhang is a nice guy," Zhou Ming grinned, then asked, a little puzzled, "But Teacher Song, why didn’t you let me bring back braised meat for the other teachers? Sometimes I don’t have morning classes, so I could have helped."