As simple country folk, the delicacy they most recognized was plain white noodles.
With a clove of garlic, the taste couldn't be better.
But precisely because they were accustomed to noodles, they found these snacks, heavy with oil, salt, and seasonings, even more fragrant.
"Look at the Mala Tang that Little Sweetheart made for us. Doesn't it smell good?" Su Changjiu's wife smiled, proudly presenting her bowl of Mala Tang to the two men.
"Uncle, Uncle Changjiu, what do you want to eat?" Su Xiaotian asked as she scooped out Wang Xianghua's portion from the pot, preparing to add seasonings.
"I'll have this one."
Su Changjiu looked at the bowl in his wife's hand and found it quite fragrant.
"You pick your own favorite ingredients, don't snatch mine. I know you'll definitely pick potatoes and the like."
Su Changjiu's wife was unwilling to give up her portion, not even to her own husband. This was her first bowl, after all.
"Look at how stingy you are!"
Su Changjiu grumbled discontentedly and went to pick his own favorite ingredients.
The men were quicker than the women in choosing their ingredients, and soon they had selected what they wanted and handed them to Su Xiaotian.
Watching Su Xiaotian receive several skewers of ingredients, Su Changjiu's wife curiously observed how she would separate them.
Then she saw Su Xiaotian using tongs to place each person's ingredients on the side of the pot.
"Little Sweetheart, you can do it like this?" Su Changjiu's wife asked in surprise.
"Just make sure you have the right amount of noodles for one bowl, about six-tenths full of our usual rice bowl. The vegetables need to be separated, and you must remember everyone's choices. It would be bad if the wrong dish was served."
"You can use tongs like I do, or you can directly weave some hollow cylindrical tubes from wire and hang them on the side of the pot."
"Whatever method you use, as long as you can accurately separate them."
Su Xiaotian was practically teaching them on the spot.
Su Changjiu's wife stopped eating and listened attentively, trying to jot down every key point Su Xiaotian made.
This time, Su Xiaotian made three servings at once: one for Su Laoda, one for Su Changjiu, and one for herself.
Su Xiaotian was also very interested in this dish. She had forgotten this delicacy over the years, but today she remembered it and was determined to enjoy it to her heart's content.
Just as she was about to turn off the heat, she suddenly heard someone entering the yard.
Then she heard someone speak.
It could only be Lei Gaocao.
When Su Xiaotian went out to look, she saw that it wasn't just Lei Gaocao, but several management personnel from the factory had also arrived.
Su Xiaotian instinctively thought that something had happened at the factory.
She quickly took off her apron and asked, "Director Lei, is there something wrong at the factory?"
Lei Gaocao hadn't expected Su Xiaotian to be the one cooking at the Su family's today.
Could such a delicate young girl really cook?
What if the food turned out inedible?
No, the whole yard was filled with fragrance, wasn't that the smell of food?
Moreover, the aroma was incredibly rich, like chicken soup, but not quite. What was going on?
Could it be that the little boss was just helping out?
Lei Gaocao stood in the yard pondering this profound question, remaining silent.
His silence didn't matter, but Su Xiaotian grew anxious.
Could it be that something truly insurmountable had happened at the factory?
"Director Lei, why don't you say something!"
Su Xiaotian's tone couldn't help but carry a hint of urgency.
Lei Gaocao quickly smiled and said, "It's just a small matter, and I thought I'd discuss it with you, the little boss. So, I came over!"
Seeing Lei Gaocao's expression, Su Xiaotian suddenly understood.
Coming over at this time was not to discuss matters with her, but clearly to mooch a meal!
If she believed otherwise, she'd be a fool.
Su Xiaotian looked speechlessly at the clear blue sky.
This Lei Gaocao was really inconsiderate, bringing so many people over during mealtime. It was too much!
However, Su Xiaotian then remembered that people in their Nanling Village didn't visit during meal times, but perhaps people elsewhere didn't mind?
Never mind, ignorance is bliss!
She would mention this to Lei Gaocao later.
Guests should be offered a full meal.
Since she had prepared plenty of noodles and vegetables today, she could consider them as tasters.
Su Xiaotian thought to herself and then looked towards the main gate.
Why hadn't Dong Yan'an arrived yet?
She had told her this morning to come for lunch. Wouldn't this girl be so engrossed in her research that she forgot such an important matter?
Just as Su Xiaotian was thinking this, Dong Yan'an entered.
"Little Sweetheart, what did you make today? It smells so good!"
Dong Yan'an had been invited to eat and naturally guessed there would be delicious food today.
But the aroma was just too good!
"I guarantee you'll like it. You'll fall in love with it after one bite!" Su Xiaotian smiled and beckoned Dong Yan'an.
Mala Tang was almost universally loved by girls, so she figured Dong Yan'an wouldn't be an exception!
As she invited Dong Yan'an in, Su Xiaotian also extended an invitation to the guests who had come unannounced.
Although these people had come on their own, they were considerate enough to bring two bottles of wine.
Su Xiaotian thought she would make a couple of side dishes to go with the wine for Uncle Changjiu.
The group had originally intended to wait for the meal in the main house, but to their surprise, Su Xiaotian invited them into the kitchen.
Then, Su Xiaotian pointed to the ingredients skewered in several large basins and told them to choose for themselves.
These men had never seen such a novel way of eating and were astonished.
However, could they be filled by such a meal?
After all, they were all grown men, and they began to doubt if they had made the right decision to come today!
Would there still be food in the cafeteria if they went back now?
Su Xiaotian also considered this and asked Wang Xianghua, "Auntie, do we have any steamed buns, flower rolls, or flatbreads?"
She hadn't anticipated so many people, especially men, and hadn't prepared staple foods specifically.
"Yes, I made flatbreads last night. I'll cut them and bring them out now," Wang Xianghua replied promptly.
They had originally planned to eat in the kitchen, but with guests arriving, they had to move to the main house.
Seeing Su Changjiu and Su Laoda eating heartily, Lei Gaocao and the others almost couldn't stop their mouths from watering.
This dish looked delicious, and it seemed even more delicious when eaten!
Soon, their portions were served, much faster than they had expected.
The men were already famished and began to eat ravenously.
By the time Su Xiaotian started eating, her portion was no longer very hot, but it was still acceptable, not cold.
Dong Yan'an took a bite and her eyes narrowed in excitement.
This was truly fragrant. How had she never known that ordinary noodles could have such a taste?
The flavor was simply exquisite!
"This taste is truly amazing!"
People eating Mala Tang for the first time are often captivated by its rich aroma and can't seem to get enough.
This is perhaps why Mala Tang, such a common snack, has become so popular across the country for many years!
No one spoke in the room; everyone was busy eating Mala Tang with great enthusiasm.
While eating, Su Xiaotian didn't forget to observe the expressions of others.
Their posture was good, and they were clearly engrossed in eating, indicating that the taste was genuinely good.