Shepherd's Purse Dumplings 2

The spicy sensation burned from his throat all the way to his heart, causing him to stick out his tongue in response. Li Erpao gulped down several mouthfuls of water before he could recover.

"Damn, I completely forgot to make yours less spicy," Wang Dalong said, watching Li Erpao chug water wildly. It dawned on him that Li Erpao might not be able to handle much heat.

But Li Erpao just waved his hand, "It's fine, I want it just like this."

The flavor of this chili was extraordinary. It wasn’t that he disliked spicy food; he simply hadn’t found a spicy dish that truly delighted his palate before. Yet, the spice from Tian Can Tudou left him tingling all over, unforgettable despite the burn.

After a brief pause, Li Erpao resumed eating.

Seeing that his friend was fine, Wang Dalong relaxed and picked up a dumpling for himself. The translucent, plump, snow-white dumpling steamed gently in his hand.

He blew on it, then popped it into his mouth. The moment he bit down, he was captivated by the unique flavor and his eyes widened in surprise.

First came the fresh sweetness of the vegetables, swiftly followed by the savory richness of the meat, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet mingling harmoniously.

The taste was exquisite. The dumpling’s skin was chewy and smooth, while the filling was layered with flavors. He swallowed it immediately, savoring the lingering fragrance, then quickly grabbed a few more to eat.

Eating too fast, he burned his lips, but he was too immersed in the deliciousness to care.

“Is this one good too?” Li Erpao, having just finished a serving of spicy shredded potatoes, eyed the shepherd's purse dumplings on Wang Dalong’s plate with growing envy.

Wang Dalong wasn’t stingy by nature. He had planned to share some dumplings with Li Erpao but couldn’t bring himself to part with such a delicious morsel.

“Go line up and get another serving! And bring one for me too!” Wang Dalong said, clapping his brother on the shoulder while eating.

Li Erpao was speechless. After so many years of brotherhood, he was outdone by a single dumpling.

He said nothing and turned his gaze toward Window No. 18.

The scene there left him dumbfounded.

The line stretched from the window all the way to the cafeteria entrance.

He had never seen such a fervent crowd before. Usually, when students came to eat, if one line was too long, they’d simply switch to another window because all the food was equally mediocre.

But this Window No. 18 was different. It had somehow inspired students to patiently queue, willing to wait for the food.

Anyone who had tasted the dishes made by Wen Jiu found it irresistible.

“Next!”

Qiao Shishi wiped the sweat from her brow. More customers had come today than last night, and she was getting dizzy from verifying orders.

But Wen Jiu remained calm and collected, skillfully preparing dumplings and mixing potatoes without a hint of panic.

“Two orders of Tian Can Tudou and two orders of shepherd’s purse dumplings,” Wen Jiu said, handing the finished dishes to Qiao Shishi, who quickly placed them on the counter.

“Your food is ready, please be careful, it’s hot!”

Yu Ruman and Li Qin Zhen smiled as they accepted their food and found a seat.

They had been friends for many years. Today, Yu Ruman had specially brought Li Qin Zhen to eat at Wen Jiu’s place.

At first, Li Qin Zhen thought Yu Ruman was just trying to be considerate to students, but after tasting the shepherd’s purse dumplings, she understood why Yu Ruman insisted on coming here.

“This tastes great, doesn’t it?” Yu Ruman said, seeing Li Qin Zhen’s expression mirrored her own from yesterday. She knew her friend had been won over by Wen Jiu’s cooking.

“Not just great, it’s absolutely delicious!” Li Qin Zhen exclaimed.

A food lover by nature, she was usually too busy with academy affairs to enjoy fine dining, often relying on Yu Ruman to bring back gourmet meals from upscale restaurants.

Even after tasting signature dishes from high-end eateries before, she had never reacted like this.

Fearlessly, she stuffed dumplings into her mouth one by one.

When only a few dumplings remained, Li Qin Zhen had a sudden idea. She dipped a shepherd’s purse dumpling into the bowl of Tian Can Tudou chili oil.

A burst of fragrant spiciness spread instantly through her mouth.

“Spicy!” Li Qin Zhen gasped, feeling tears well up at the edges of her eyes.

The chili’s heat was sharp yet paired perfectly with the natural sweetness of the filling. The flavors were distinct but never clashed, instead invigorating her entire being with clarity.

The dipping sauce was fragrant, numbing, and spicy, but it didn’t upset her stomach like other spicy foods she usually avoided because they left her feeling uncomfortable and choked.

“Wow, this is so good!” After the initial burn, Li Qin Zhen eagerly continued dipping and eating the dumplings.

Seeing Li Qin Zhen enjoy the food so thoroughly, Yu Ruman wasn’t about to be outdone. She dipped one herself and ate it.

Her lips turned red from the spice, but the fiery aroma was profoundly satisfying.

Neither of them had large appetites, yet these dishes had thoroughly whetted their hunger.

They ate until their bellies were slightly full and then stopped.

“I’ll go ask Wen Jiu for a takeout box,” Yu Ruman said. It was rare for her to feel so satiated, and seeing a few dumplings leftover on the plate, she didn’t want to waste them.

Li Qin Zhen nodded and suddenly realized Wen Jiu’s name sounded familiar.

When Yu Ruman returned with the takeout box, Li Qin Zhen spoke up, “Is Wen Jiu the student working at Window No. 18?”

Yu Ruman packed the dumplings into the box while replying, “Yes, but she runs that window all by herself.”

Li Qin Zhen was even more astonished.

“So you mean all this food is made by her?”

“Yes.” Yu Ruman sealed the box and prepared to leave with Li Qin Zhen. “What’s wrong? You look surprised.”

“I have a student named Wen Jiu in my morning class,” Li Qin Zhen recalled. “She was the first in the class to manifest her abilities, so I remember her.”

Yu Ruman smiled, “That must be her. She’s a promising talent I took under my wing.”

Li Qin Zhen couldn’t deny it. Wen Jiu’s enrollment records showed she was a dual-ability student, and now, with such culinary skills, who knew what surprises the future held.

Wen Jiu and Qiao Shishi had underestimated the passion students and teachers held for good food. Everyone who tried it yesterday enthusiastically recommended it to their friends.

Today’s customers had doubled or even tripled.

“Only thirty servings of Tian Can Tudou and seventeen servings of shepherd’s purse dumplings left! Attention, everyone in line!”

Qiao Shishi felt more exhausted than after a full day of classes.

But seeing the eager, expectant faces of the students gave her the strength to carry on.

Wen Jiu hadn’t been this busy in a long time, but she remained composed, though the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her fatigue.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before they finished the lunch service. They washed the dishes together before dragging their tired bodies back to the dormitory.

“I think we need a dishwasher,” they both agreed.