Chapter 452: Catching Up

“The main store opened that much later than the branch?”

“Logically speaking, shouldn’t the first shop the old shopkeeper opened be considered the main shop?”

Zheng Hanrui asked with a curious look on her face.

The shop assistant shook his head. “I wouldn’t know about that. I’m just a worker here. The old shopkeeper must have his own reasons for how he arranged things.”

“Just like our shop’s signboard. Which shop doesn’t have a sign?”

“But we simply don’t have one.”

“If the old shopkeeper were willing to put up a signboard—even just any random name—our branches would definitely be more than eight by now. We’d at least have built up a solid reputation and expanded to dozens of locations!”

Hearing that, Zheng Hanrui sighed with emotion. “Seems like capable people often have some odd quirks.”

“Just like that method of eating the flatbread you showed us. If he arranged for a staff member to teach customers how to eat it…”

“I’m sure the business at this lamb soup shop would rise to another level.”

“What an interesting old shopkeeper. I really would love to meet him.”

“Oh right, can I meet your old shopkeeper? I want to see what kind of person he is.”

The shop assistant shook his head. “Apologies, miss. Earlier you didn’t request the ‘crispy’ version of the flatbread, and didn’t get to try the four-ways-to-eat-it method. So, that won’t do.”

“Alright…” Zheng Hanrui sighed a little ruefully. “He really is a bit eccentric.”

At that moment, Gu Ning’an spoke up. “Let me go meet your old shopkeeper.”

The shop assistant replied, “May I ask for your honorable surname, sir?”

Gu Ning’an waved it off. “No need for the honorifics. The surname is Gu.”

Gu!

Everything clicked into place!

The shop assistant’s expression froze for a moment, then he bowed respectfully toward Gu Ning’an and pointed toward the kitchen. “Please, Mr. Gu. The old shopkeeper is inside!”

“Thank you.” With that, Gu Ning’an got up and headed toward the kitchen.

Watching his departing figure, Zheng Hanrui opened her mouth, then swallowed the words she was about to say.

Then she turned to the shop assistant and placed a rattle drum on the table. “Mister, please tell that gentleman later—just tell him to take this rattle drum. He promised he would.”

“Got it!” The shop assistant picked up the drum. “Can’t leave this on the table—other customers still want to eat lamb soup. I’ll put it at the counter for now.”

“When Mr. Gu comes out, I’ll pass it on for you.”

Zheng Hanrui stood up and smiled. “Thanks.”

Shop assistant: “You’re welcome.”

…

Lifting the dark blue curtain and stepping into the kitchen, a rich aroma of lamb soup mixed with the scent of baked flatbread filled the air.

Even though he’d just had some lamb soup, Gu Ning’an couldn’t help but be stirred by the smell.

The kitchen was simple and unadorned—whitewashed walls, a few patches of peeling paint here and there, but nothing unsightly.

At the center of the kitchen stood a large stone stove, sturdy and imposing. Several iron pots of various sizes sat neatly on the stovetop, their lids tightly sealed. The rims of the pots were polished to a gleaming shine.

To one side was a crude but orderly wooden prep table and shelves.

The table’s surface was smooth and spotless, with several sharp kitchen knives resting quietly atop it, their blades gleaming coldly.

On the shelves, ceramic jars and bamboo baskets were neatly arranged, each filled with various ingredients and seasonings.

Before a heavy, old-fashioned flatbread oven stood an elderly man, his hair fully white, carefully managing the heat for each piece of flatbread.

His sleeves were dusted white with flour.

Watching this scene, Gu Ning’an couldn’t help but see a shadow of Granny Sun in Jin Wan.

Soon, the focused Jin Wan used a bamboo hook to swiftly pull out nine freshly baked flatbreads from the oven, placing them neatly onto three plates.

Next, he ladled out three bowls of rich soup from a large iron pot, pouring them into three empty bowls.

Just like that, three servings of lamb soup were ready again.

Finishing the process in an orderly manner, Jin Wan grabbed another lump of dough and began kneading. “Afu, these three are ready. Serve them to the customers.”

Afu?

Perhaps that was the shop assistant’s name.

Focused on cooking, Jin Wan must have sensed someone entering and assumed it was the assistant, so he said that.

But when the figure didn’t move, Jin Wan looked up and was about to speak—only to find that the person before him was Mr. Gu!

In that moment, a trace of joy flickered in his slightly clouded eyes, followed by a hint of awkwardness. His hands continued kneading the dough, but his expression stiffened slightly as he said, “M… Mr. Gu…”

After that, Jin Wan fell silent.

Since the day he left Lexiang County, he had imagined this reunion countless times.

If he had never managed to make decent lamb soup, would Mr. Gu be disappointed?

If he had succeeded, would Mr. Gu give him a thumbs-up and say he’d upheld the name of “Sun’s lamb soup”?

He had pictured all the possibilities in his mind—what Mr. Gu might say, and what he should say in return.

Or what to do if Mr. Gu said nothing at all.

But now that the day had truly come, all those mental preparations seemed to vanish. He felt flustered and unsure…

Just then, the curtain was lifted, and the shop assistant walked in.

Coming to his senses, Jin Wan glanced at the three portions of lamb soup on the prep table. “Serve these to the customers, then let the rest of the folks in line know they don’t have to wait anymore. Write them a note—they can eat lamb soup for free for the next three days.”

“The shop is closing for today.”

Closing the shop? Sending customers away?

The shop assistant was dumbfounded!

The old shopkeeper, who always prioritized customers, had never done something like this.

Could it be… because of this Mr. Gu?

Off to the side, Gu Ning’an waved a hand. “They came all this way and waited so long. Don’t ruin their mood.”

“If it were Granny Sun, she would never turn customers away for something like this.”

“You just keep making your lamb soup. I’m here to catch up with you.”

Catch up.

Those two simple words warmed Jin Wan’s heart. He nodded repeatedly, “Alright, alright! Let’s catch up!”

“Afu! What are you dawdling for? Go serve the lamb soup to the customers!”

The shop assistant hurried forward with the bowls in hand but hesitated. “Old shopkeeper, are we still closing…”

“Eh?” Jin Wan was taken aback. This kid, Afu, sure wasn’t quick on the uptake today. He waved a hand, “Didn’t you hear Mr. Gu? We’re staying open.”

“Right, got it!” The shop assistant nodded quickly, then rushed out of the kitchen with the lamb soup.

At that moment, he was sure—this Mr. Gu was exactly the person the old shopkeeper had returned to his hometown and opened the shop to wait for!

He just hadn’t expected Mr. Gu to be so young… Maybe this really was a friendship that transcended age.