The Meals Prepared by Lin Xiaodou Are Simply Too Delicious

The morning grassland was wrapped in profound silence.

Amidst a thin layer of mist, a tall and handsome figure approached slowly.

Reaching a yurt, he knocked on the door. A simple, sun-kissed face with high-altitude rosy cheeks appeared behind it:

"Ah, Comrade Zhou! The little Tibetan Mastiff you wanted is right here. Have a look..."

When Zhou Qinglang returned to the research institute holding the little Tibetan Mastiff, Xiao Kaile was already awake.

Seeing the creature in his leader's arms, he exclaimed in surprise:

"Boss, how come you managed to get a Tibetan Mastiff back? These dogs are not easy to raise, their tempers are way too fierce!"

Zhou Qinglang replied, "I plan to give it to Comrade Lin Xiaodou. She is very fond of small animals, and it will be just right to keep watch for her."

During the campfire party last night, he had inquired about the whereabouts of the little golden snub-nosed monkey.

At that time, Lin Xiaodou had told him with a hint of regret that she had left the little monkey behind in the mountain forest of Black Stone Village and hadn't brought it along.

It was evident that she held a deep emotional attachment to the little monkey.

That being the case, he would find her another pet to alleviate her homesickness.

The thought had crossed his mind as soon as he returned last night, so he had asked the kitchen auntie to help find a dog.

(Lin Xiaodou: I was just telling a white lie, I never expected you to actually take it seriously.)

Xiao Kaile chuckled, "And you claimed you weren't interested in her. You're even giving her gifts now."

Zhou Qinglang said, "We are going to visit for lunch at noon; we can't go empty-handed."

Xiao Kaile: ......Well, that reason is undeniably appropriate.

Due to the nature of their research projects, the research institute where Zhou Qinglang and Xiao Kaile worked was relatively relaxed, and they were generally free to go out under normal circumstances.

After asking the leader for leave, with Zhou Qinglang holding the little Tibetan Mastiff in his arms and Xiao Kaile carrying a few boxes of pastries, the two headed over to Lin Xiaodou's place.

By the time they arrived, everyone else had already gathered, and the yurt was extremely lively.

Seeing the two of them walk in, the sharp-eyed Liu Yan'er immediately spotted the puppy in Zhou Qinglang's arms:

"Oh, what an adorable dog!"

Everyone else's gazes shifted over.

This was a newborn Tibetan Mastiff only three days old.

The little fellow was just a bit bigger than the palm of a hand, covered entirely in black fur that was both fine and glossy.

It curled up in Zhou Qinglang's arms, blinking its big, round eyes and looking around with curiosity.

Its small, damp nose wasn't idle either, sniffing about from time to time as if trying hard to detect the scent of the people around it, looking utterly adorable.

"A gift for you, I hope you like it."

Zhou Qinglang held the puppy by the scruff of its neck and handed it over. Just as Lin Xiaodou reached out to take it,

the little creature extended its tender pink tongue and licked her palm, tickling Lin Xiaodou so much that she giggled.

"I love it, thank you."

Lin Xiaodou's apricot-like eyes curved into crescents as she smiled brightly.

"You're welcome, as long as you like it."

The corners of Zhou Qinglang's lips turned upward, his eyes shimmering with starry fragments of a smile.

Seeing the interaction between the two, the others tactfully refrained from disturbing them, all wearing knowing, fond smiles on their faces.

A top-tier handsome man and an peerless beauty standing together—

Oh my goodness, it was simply such a feast for the eyes.

Since there were quite a few people coming for the gathering today, Lin Xiaodou had prepared plenty of dishes.

Liu Yan'er and Zhu Damei lent a hand as assistants, while the other guys consciously volunteered to fetch water and chop firewood.

An hour later, a table full of wonderful dishes was complete.

Mutton and beef were the staples of the vast grassland, and Lin Xiaodou had gone to the livestock farm early in the morning to purchase some.

Naturally, today's meal would feature these ingredients as the star dishes.

The first to be served was a mildly spicy and refreshing cold-dressed beef.

The tender beef was sliced thin, neatly arranged on a plate, and drizzled with a carefully concocted sauce, emitting an enticing aroma.

It had a mild kick on the palate with a refreshing aftertaste, greatly stimulating the appetite.

Next came a soft, waxy, and bouncy braised beef brisket with potatoes.

The brisket was simmered to absolute perfection, the meat tender and melt-in-your-mouth, perfectly blending with the soft potatoes for an exceptional texture.

Combined with savory and rich seasonings, this dish was made even more mouthwatering.

Following that was a savory, rich, and fast-stir-fried beef.

Quickly stir-fried over high heat, the beef was cooked through rapidly to preserve its tender and smooth texture, while absorbing the flavors of various spices, bursting with aroma.

Then there was the rich, braised hand-grabbed mutton.

Large chunks of mutton had undergone prolonged braising, fully absorbing the essence of the rich broth. The meat was tender and juicy, allowing its unique flavor to be experienced in every single bite.

In addition to these, there were fragrant mutton buns, crispy fried yellow croakers, and sweet, crisp stir-fried Chinese cabbage, all paired with a bowl of nutritious egg and mushroom soup.

Altogether, it made eight dishes—seven dishes and one soup—magnificently bountiful.

Looking at the table full of delicacies, everyone salivated, and the greedy worms in their stomachs began to rumble.

"Alright, everyone, please dig in!"

Lin Xiaodou said with a beaming smile.

As soon as her voice trailed off, everyone picked up their chopsticks and eagerly reached for the delicious food on the table.

When the first bite entered their mouths, everyone's eyes lit up instantly.

That wonderful flavor spread across their tongues, feeling like a cool spring flowing down the throat and leaving everyone utterly intoxicated.

Every dish exuded its own unique aroma and flavor, leaving a lingering aftertaste that begged for more.

"Wow, Xiaodou, your cooking is getting better and better!"

Liu Yan'er exclaimed in amazement.

"Wuwuwu, I haven't eaten anything this delicious in ages!"

Xiao Kaile cried tears of joy.

It was truly, amazingly delicious!!

Zhu Damei and Zhou Qinglang didn't speak; both kept their heads down, eating ravenously and furiously.

For a moment, the dining table grew extremely quiet, save for the hearty sounds of eating.

Seeing that her meticulously prepared dishes had won everyone's approval, Lin Xiaodou smiled contentedly.

She told everyone to eat first, while she grabbed a vegetable basket and headed over to Old Man Wang's place.

Inside the basket were several plates, with a little bit of every dish.

She had invited him that morning, but as soon as the old man heard it was a gathering for the youngsters, he waved his hand and declined.

The old man was a foodie; with so many delicious dishes today, she had to make sure he got a taste one way or another.

When Lin Xiaodou arrived, the old man was sipping sheep's milk and gnawing on a large steamed bun.

Old Man Wang asked, "Lassie Lin, what brings you here?"

The moment Lin Xiaodou lifted the cover of the vegetable basket, a rich aroma wafted out.

The large steamed bun in Old Man Wang's hand suddenly lost its appeal; he tossed it aside immediately, picked up a piece of food from the basket, and popped it into his mouth.

"At least you still have some filial piety, lass. There's a medical book on my table, and I've already marked out some difficult points inside. Take it back and study it."

Lin Xiaodou's eyes lit up with joy: "Thank you, Master!"

Old Man Wang let out a light huff.

This lass was as sly as they come.

When there was something to gain, she'd sweet-talk him and call him Master; when there was nothing in it for her, she'd drop all formalities and call him the old man.

Carrying the medical book back home, Lin Xiaodou found that most of the food on the table had already been consumed.

"Xiaodou, you're back! We specially saved some food for you, hurry up and eat!"

Liu Yan'er and Zhu Damei pulled the warm dishes out from the pot.

"Okay." Lin Xiaodou walked over with a smile.

The others picked up their chopsticks again and joined her for the meal.

Everyone felt extremely happy and satisfied with today's feast.