"Grandpas and grandmas, dinner is ready."

In Wudu, the older women preferred being called ’grandma’, which felt more intimate and warm. After some adaptation, Wang Fan followed local customs and changed how he addressed them.

The spicy chicken dish Wang Fan made earlier, with its aroma wafting all around, had already made the seniors drool. As people age, their taste buds degrade, making them favor strong, spicy, and flavorful dishes that can excite their palates.

Just as the seniors started to line up, Wang Fan set a rule: "Grandpas and grandmas, let’s be clear beforehand, the spicy chicken can only be served with one scoop. It’s not that I don’t want you to have more, but this dish is really too spicy. Eating too much can be a heavy burden on your stomach. There are other delicious dishes too, like the ribs, so have more of those."

Although the seniors were a bit reluctant, they ultimately accepted Wang Fan’s rule after giving one last longing look at the spicy chicken.

Nobody doubted Wang Fan’s words since they were regulars at the market and knew that this chicken was surely cheaper than ribs. If it were about saving costs, the ribs would have been limited instead.

This all came from the good heart of this young lad, and they couldn’t be those unreasonable old people who’d break the young man’s spirit.

The seniors lined up in an orderly manner. A curious aunt also started queuing behind. If there was any confusion as to why their kids insisted on eating this young man’s cooking, the aroma of the spicy chicken provided the final answer.

Grandpa Jiang excitedly held his thermal container. Although it was an ordinary one, it brought him immense joy, and he planned to use it for lunch today.

Wang Fan served the other dishes into his thermal container, but put the spicy chicken separately in a disposable lunch box, as it shouldn’t mix with soups or broths, which could affect the taste.

Seniors’ meals were personally served by Wang Fan because if they served themselves, they would often end up picking leftovers and serving small portions.

"I can’t eat that much. You, young lad, surely want to make me lose my pants by serving so much!"

Wang Fan chuckled, "Lose pants? I made a killing yesterday. Just eat as much as you can, don’t think I don’t know how much food you brought before. This is merely a bit more than your previous dry rations."

Grandpa Jiang pointed speechlessly at Wang Fan, his lips trembling with words left unspoken, mainly because he had nothing more to say.

Perceiving his feelings, Wang Fan sincerely said, "Please, just enjoy the meal. Like I said before, without your generation’s sacrifices back then, how could we enjoy peace now? It’s just a token of respect to serve you food from us juniors."

Grandpa Jiang smiled so much that his eyes became slits, turning to find a seat while proudly holding his thermal container.

The others also chuckled along with him, feeling more relaxed than they ever had.

The seniors gathered together to enjoy their lunch, and the rich, mellow flavors nearly made them forget the fatigue of waking up at two in the morning. Last night might have been the earliest they’d gone to bed in years.

While thinking, they dug out a golden piece of chicken from the pile of chili and Sichuan peppercorns, quickly putting it in their mouth.

"So tasty!"

As the small piece of chicken entered the mouth, the intense aroma of chilies and peppercorns, coupled with a unique freshness, filled the palate.

Next, a tingly, fiery flavor started to assault the tastebuds.

The spice was genuinely hot, but it wasn’t drying, and the numbing sensation was legit but not bitter. Under the firm skin, the meat was surprisingly tender, hitting all marks of being perfectly cooked.

After finishing a bite of chicken, Grandpa Jiang couldn’t help but exhale.

"Hiss... So invigorating!"

His tongue tingled with a spicy buzz as if electrified, and alongside the extreme meat fragrance and the umami of soy sauce and MSG, Grandpa Jiang found no fault he could pick with this dish.

Looking down at the container, the oily chilies gleamed bright red, none appearing burnt—something he had never encountered at big feasts before.

He couldn’t resist picking up a chili and popping it into his mouth.

"Crunch..."

The deep-fried chili was incredibly crisp, shattering with a bite, as the rich aroma brought powerful, spicy notes, making his tastebuds surrender to this extreme control of spice.

"Oh my, it’s the first time I’ve found the chilies in spicy chicken to be so delicious."

"Did Grandpa Jiang have some too? I just tried one, and oh man, it’s crisp and fragrant, even better than the chicken pieces."

"Absolutely, and inside the chili there’s a hint of chicken oil aroma, with juice oozing out with each bite. If there were a couple of ounces of liquor, this would be such a luxurious life."

"I don’t know how the young lad did it, but I’m able to chew this chicken with my few remaining teeth. I’ve forgotten how long it’s been since I last ate this joyfully."

"River cuisine needs this kind of authenticity—simple, bold, true to its roots."

...

After the grandpas and grandmas finished lining up, it was the aunts’ turn.

The aunts were shocked at Wang Fan’s offer of unlimited meals for 15 yuan and deeply touched by the free meals for those over 70 years old.

Feeling this moved, they wanted to pay more.

But the crafty Wang Fan had already put a QR code there, with a fixed price of 15 yuan, leaving no room to pay extra.

But even the wisest can overlook something, and despite his efforts, he did miss one thing in the end.