Chapter 143: Nothing Soothes the Heart Like the Taste of a Simple Life

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Nothing Soothes the Heart Like the Taste of a Simple Life

Zhong Yu’s appearance was already shocking enough for the public.

But she didn’t seem to be satisfied with just that.

Meeting the crowd’s curious and confused gazes, Zhong Yu spoke slowly.

"A director from my team came by last time and should have told you that I’m preparing a new documentary. I’d like to feature your Nan Family’s Small Restaurant as one of the subjects, and I’ll be directing it myself. Would that be all right?"

Before Nan Zhi could even respond, Fu Chao clapped a hand over his mouth in disbelief.

Zhu Jin was so astonished that he blurted out,

"You’re directing it yourself? For all the previous footage, you were just instructing other directors..."

Realizing they were on a live broadcast, Zhu Jin quickly shut his mouth.

But the audience, who were just there for the drama, were thrilled to be getting the inside scoop:

[Oh my god, this is truly special treatment!]

[Hahaha! Who was it that guessed Director Zhong’s crew was the one filming the fried rice stall? Let me give you a big kiss!]

[This is so satisfying, who else gets it?! One minute, people were mocking the audience for getting ahead of themselves and giving Nan Zhi too much credit, and the next, Director Zhong herself confirms it! An instant face-slap! As someone who stans powerful people, I’m really about to become a Nan Zhi fan!]

[I’m so glad I backed Nan Zhi early on. Watching her take off and soar is just the best feeling!]

[Hey, hey, hey, are you guys who are ’investing’ in her a little confused? Is this what an actress is supposed to be doing?]

[So what? Even if she quits acting to become a chef, I’ll still be her die-hard fan!]

[Looks like I’m the only one focused on Nan Zhi... Just say yes already, for crying out loud! This is such a great opportunity!]

[I’m dying of anxiety here. I wish I could jump through the screen and nod for her!]

[Hahaha! Fu Chao is already doing it! He’s literally saying what I’m thinking!]

...

"What are you still hesitating for? Hurry up and agree!"

Fu Chao rushed to Nan Zhi’s side in a few quick strides, deliberately lowering his voice.

He must have been truly anxious.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forgotten about the mic clipped to his shirt, which broadcast his frantic urging to the livestream word for word.

The audience was dying of laughter.

Nan Zhi shot him an exasperated look.

"What’s the rush? Calm down."

"How can I stay calm? It’s like they say, the Emperor isn’t worried, but..."

Fu Chao caught himself just in time, avoiding a gaffe.

Nan Zhi was amused by him.

After thinking it over, she still didn’t rush to agree.

Instead, she said to Zhong Yu,

"This is just a small, homestyle restaurant. Are you sure you want to film here?"

Hearing this, Zhong Yu glanced around.

Even connected to the shop next door, the restaurant wasn’t very large overall.

It couldn’t compare to those massive, multi-story luxury establishments, let alone the lavish elegance of a high-rise revolving restaurant.

There were no haute cuisine dishes here, only the common fare one might find on any family’s dinner table.

But...

"The simple, everyday warmth of home-cooked food is the most comforting thing to the soul. That is precisely what my new documentary is missing."

Zhong Yu felt as if the floodgates of her inspiration had just been opened.

The truth was, her new documentary had recently hit a creative bottleneck. Zhong Yu had even been feeling lost, unsure of what direction to take.

But today, at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, it was as if she had found her way.

And so, with utmost sincerity, Zhong Yu invited Nan Zhi to be a part of her documentary.

The last time Zhou Ling had filmed Nan Zhi, it was just a shot of her silhouette, a small part of the segment on the fried rice stall.

This time, however, Zhong Yu wanted to make Nan Zhi the focus.

"Alright," Nan Zhi said.

Zhong Yu broke into a smile, as joyful as a child’s.

"Wonderful! You’ve just solved my biggest problem!"

"The honor is mine."

Nan Zhi smiled, the very picture of calm composure.

Everyone else, in contrast, was far more excited than she was!

[If Director Zhong hadn’t said it herself, I’d think I was dreaming.]

[Huh? So this isn’t a dream?]

[Even as a non-fan, I’m already over the moon. I can only imagine how happy Nan Zhi’s actual fans must be!]

[Nan Zhi, you have to seize this incredible fortune!]

[Now I’m really curious about the food at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant! There are only a few days of filming left for this show, right? I have to go check it out now!]

[Dude, you just reminded me, I haven’t eaten at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant yet! Let’s go! Let’s all go!]

...

Zhong Yu stated that she would discuss the specific filming arrangements with the variety show’s crew in detail.

Afterward, she and Zhu Jin stepped out of Nan Family’s Small Restaurant.

Zhu Jin was incredibly curious.

Now that he had a chance, he quickly asked,

"What did you mean by what you said earlier?"

"What did I say? About the documentary?"

Having solved a major problem and just eaten her fill, Zhong Yu was in a languid state.

She was so relaxed that her answer to Zhu Jin was dismissive.

Zhu Jin grew anxious.

"It was when you asked if Nan Zhi’s grandfather was a Nan! That, plus your attitude now... I have a really wild theory..."

Zhong Yu and Zhu Jin had been friends for years. Of course she knew what he was thinking.

She gave him a long, meaningful look.

"Yes. It’s exactly what you’re thinking."

Zhu Jin felt a wave of dizziness and nearly cried out loud in the middle of the street.

"Nan... as in, Nan Pingshan? You mean *the* Nan Pingshan we know, right?"

Zhong Yu answered slowly, but with great solemnity,

"There is only one Nan Pingshan in this world."

Nan Pingshan, a once incomparably brilliant legend in the culinary world.

Back when he was in Yanjing, no restaurant dared claim to be the best in his presence.

Only Nan Pingshan was the undisputed number one, the top choice for countless diners, a god among gourmands!

And this legendary Nan Pingshan was Nan Zhi’s grandfather?

"No wonder, no wonder..."

Zhu Jin muttered.

He felt a complex mix of emotions: relief, shock, and yet, a sense that it all made perfect sense.

He’d been wondering how an actress like Nan Zhi could appear out of nowhere and completely dominate with her culinary skills!

She could open a fried rice stall and become the queen of the night market, then open a small restaurant and turn it into a viral sensation.

With that kind of trajectory, if you considered her to be Nan Pingshan’s granddaughter—or his successor—then everything made perfect sense!

The name Nan Pingshan alone explained everything that seemed impossible!

"So that’s why you asked if they had the Lu Cuisine version of Kung Pao Chicken!"

Only then did it all click for Zhu Jin.

Zhong Yu nodded.

"Yes. The dish that first made Nan Pingshan famous in Yanjing was Kung Pao Chicken. So I deduced that as his granddaughter, Nan Zhi would definitely know how to make it as well."

True top chefs often begin to show their talent in their twenties.

But Nan Pingshan was different. When he burst onto the scene, he was already in his thirties.

At the time, he was an older apprentice at an established Lu Cuisine restaurant. After finishing his training, he was assigned to be in charge of making Kung Pao Chicken.

Just from that assignment, you could tell he wasn’t highly regarded.

Who would go to an authentic Lu Cuisine restaurant and order Kung Pao Chicken? Everyone assumes it’s a Sichuan dish.

Yet Nan Pingshan took an unorthodox approach and, with that very Kung Pao Chicken, drew in countless admirers.

He even managed to turn it into the restaurant’s signature dish!

That year, Nan Pingshan’s arrival in Yanjing was like a sudden clap of thunder from a clear sky.

Later, he became a rising sun in the culinary world, his radiance unmatched.

But now, few people even knew his name.