Just then, the Fat Boss came up with a large tray, his voice booming, "Dishes are here! Be careful, it's hot!"
With incredibly nimble hands, he skillfully placed the steaming, fragrant dishes on the table one by one.
The Mapo Tofu was alluring with its red oil, and the Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork was sweet and sour, assaulting the nose.
The Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce was as thin as cicada wings, and the Twice-Cooked Pork slices were crispy and fragrant.
The Braised Pork Ribs had a rich, dark red color, and the Candied Sweet Potatoes shimmered golden.
The Kung Pao Chicken had crispy peanuts, and the Sauerkraut Fish slices were tender and refreshing.
In the center, there was also a bowl of milky white hot pot tofu soup, steaming vigorously.
Eight dishes and one soup, accompanied by eight bowls of crystal-clear white rice.
Despite the humble appearance of the small shop, these home-style dishes were truly excellent in color, aroma, and taste.
Various rich aromas intertwined, stimulating the appetite.
"Don't be shy, everyone, try them quickly! See how my cooking is!" The Fat Boss rubbed his hands, a hopeful smile on his face.
"Okay."
Fang Yang and the others had long been enticed by the aroma, and upon receiving permission, they eagerly picked up their chopsticks and began to eat, expressing their satisfaction.
Wu Changkong looked at the table full of familiar dishes, his eyes subtly moving. He also nodded gently and picked up a pair of chopsticks.
He was not as eager as his students, but slowly picked up a piece of Candied Sweet Potatoes, put it into his mouth, and chewed it carefully.
He seemed to be savoring the familiar taste, and also as if he was experiencing the distant past through this taste, his eyes becoming somewhat distant.
"By the way, Changkong, we... it's been at least ten years since we last met, hasn't it?" The Fat Boss said with emotion.
"Yes, it's been over ten years since we last met," Wu Changkong's voice was very soft.
Seeing this, Fang Yang made room, and the Fat Boss naturally sat next to Wu Changkong.
"By the way, this time you only brought students? Why didn't you bring Young Miss Long Bing along?"
The Fat Boss asked naturally, with a hint of nostalgia in his tone, "Young Miss Long Bing loved my cooking the most; she always praised it endlessly every time she came."
As soon as his words fell, silence instantly filled the air.
"Clatter."
The chopsticks in Wu Changkong's hand fell straight onto the table, making a crisp sound.
He seemed to be frozen, and then, tears, without warning, silently streamed down from his always cold eyes.
Drop by drop, they fell onto the tabletop in front of him.
That name, deeply buried in his heart and never easily touched, was like a key that instantly opened the floodgates of his memory.
Past scenes surged like a tide, as clear as if they were just yesterday.
"Wow, Changkong, I love his Candied Sweet Potatoes the most. It's incredible that eggs can be made so delicious."
"When we get married later, I'll learn it well and make it for you at home, okay?"
"Hey, save some tofu for me! They say eating more tofu is good for the face. Although my face is a bit better than yours, I still need to work hard!"
"The Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork is so good with rice, I want another half bowl, okay? Do you think I'll get fat!"
"Look at you, so silly, you have rice grains on your face."
"Hmph, I won't let you kiss it off! Oh, don't lean over!"
...Those coquettish, joyful, and lively voices and scenes.
Every detail reappeared in his mind with incredible clarity, carrying a scorching heat and irreversible pain.
"Bing'er..."
Wu Changkong let his tears flow, murmuring the name etched deep in his Soul.
His voice was as light as a sigh, yet filled with endless sorrow and longing.
"I'm sorry, Changkong, I..."
The Fat Boss was immediately at a loss, not knowing what had happened, realizing he had said the wrong thing.
"Teacher Wu..."
Except for Fang Yang and Gu Yue, who remained calm, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and the others were all surprised, their faces filled with worry.
"It's nothing..."
Wu Changkong's voice was hoarse, filled with deep fatigue and self-reproach, "It was I... who failed to protect her."
"Changkong..."
Seeing this, the Fat Boss felt heavy-hearted.
He silently left his seat and went behind the counter to retrieve something. They were two bottles of white liquor that looked quite old.
"Let's... have some drinks," the Fat Boss's voice was low.
"Mm."
Wu Changkong nodded, not refusing.
He picked up a bottle of white liquor and directly filled the small cup in front of him. Then he tilted his head back and drank it in one gulp.
The strong liquor went down, and he felt a burning sensation in his throat, as if it could temporarily burn away some of the pain.
The Fat Boss remained silent, filled his own cup, and also drank it down in one gulp.
After a few drinks, Wu Changkong looked at the clear liquid in his cup and slowly spoke, his voice low: "Bing'er and I... met and fell in love at Shrek Academy."
"Her father... was the Dark Hummingbird of the Holy Spirit Church. He forced Bing'er to steal information from the Academy..."
"Bing'er was discovered by the Academy during an operation... To protect her, I decided to leave the Academy with her..."
"Soon after we left the Academy... her father, the Dark Hummingbird, appeared."
"He severely wounded me... Bing'er, to save me..."
Wu Changkong's voice choked, and he abruptly poured down another cup of liquor.
He then continued with difficulty, "She took a fatal blow for me... and died."
"Later, my teacher arrived in time... and saved my life again..."
The Fat Boss's eyes reddened upon hearing this tragic past.
"Changkong... I... alas..."
Not knowing how to comfort him, he could only pat his shoulder hard, then filled his own cup again and drank it all down.
"Holy Spirit Church, huh..."
Fang Yang's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but ponder, "I wonder if Zi has placed any pieces there?"
"As for Long Bing... as long as there is still a Soul or even a trace of a Soul fragment, she can be revived."
"Teacher Wu..."
Tang Wulin called out in a low voice, his heart heavy.
He couldn't even imagine what he would become if his senior sister met with misfortune.
Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and the others also remained silent.
A heavy and sorrowful atmosphere permeated the dinner table, with only the occasional clinking of glasses against the table.
The Fat Boss sighed heavily, then refilled Wu Changkong's and his own cups, everything unspoken.
After several strong drinks, an unnatural blush appeared on Wu Changkong's pale face.
His dark green eyes seemed to gaze into the more distant Void Realm.
He stopped speaking, just silently drinking cup after cup, seemingly wanting to drown the never-ending pain in his heart with this fiery liquor.
Fang Yang withdrew his thoughts, his gaze calmly sweeping over Teacher Wu, who was immersed in grief, and then looked at his disheartened friends around him.
He picked up the serving chopsticks and calmly placed a piece of Candied Sweet Potatoes onto Wu Changkong's almost untouched rice.
"Teacher Wu, the dishes are getting cold."
Fang Yang's voice was steady, without much fluctuation, "The boss's cooking is very good, don't waste it."
He then turned to the Fat Boss, his tone with a perfectly appropriate hint of inquiry: "Boss, is there hot soup? Could you bring another bowl of soup?"
The Fat Boss was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted and quickly responded, "Yes, yes, yes! The hot pot tofu soup has been kept warm! I'll go get it right away!"
He almost ran to the back kitchen.
Tang Wulin also reacted and quickly chimed in, "That's right, Teacher Wu, you haven't eaten much all day, please eat a little."
As he spoke, he also picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of Braised Pork Ribs for Wu Changkong.
Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and the others also snapped back to attention.
"Yes, Teacher Wu, this Kung Pao Chicken is delicious!"
"The Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce is also great, please try it..."
Wu Changkong looked at his students' sincere concern, and at the dishes that suddenly appeared in his bowl, and was stunned for a moment.
The intense pain surging in his eyes seemed to be slightly diluted by this sudden warmth.
Wu Changkong silently picked up a new pair of chopsticks and began to eat the food in his bowl very slowly and mechanically, his movements stiff, tasting like chewing wax.
The Fat Boss returned with a large bowl of steaming tofu soup and carefully placed it next to Wu Changkong: "Changkong, drink something warm to warm your stomach."
The atmosphere finally became less rigid, and the others also breathed a slight sigh of relief, beginning to eat silently.
The latter half of this meal proceeded in such a complex and silent atmosphere.
Wu Changkong ate very little but drank a lot of liquor.
The students and the Fat Boss tacitly avoided mentioning that name, only occasionally exchanging worried glances.
After the meal, the Fat Boss firmly refused to accept payment. "This one's on me! Changkong, and these little ones, remember to visit often if you pass through Tianling City in the future!"
He patted Wu Changkong's shoulder hard, his eyes full of concern.
Wu Changkong did not insist, only saying in a low voice, "Thank you."
He glanced at Fang Yang, who instantly understood and quietly left the money for the meal.
When they left the restaurant, the sunlight outside was bright.
Wu Changkong walked at the forefront, his back straight, yet exuding a deep sense of loneliness and fatigue.
The road was unusually quiet; even the usually lively Xie Xie kept his mouth shut, lost in thought.
Returning to the booked hotel, Wu Changkong stopped.
He didn't turn around, his voice low: "Free time this afternoon, don't go far."
After speaking, he walked straight into his room and closed the door.
Fang Yang looked at the closed door, his eyes subtly moving.
"Teacher Wu... is he okay?" Tang Wulin couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Xie Xie gently shook his head: "Let him be alone for a while."
Some wounds can only be licked by time itself; all outsiders can do is offer quiet companionship.
PS: Regarding the character of Wu Changkong, I actually still like him very much. In the original work, he was also good to Tang Wulin and the others.
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