Food: Senior year internship, you take over the university cafeteria

Chapter 45 Platoon Leaders

The afternoon sunlight of autumn streamed obliquely through the cafeteria's glass windows, slicing bright patches of light onto the white dining tables.

Su Mingyuan picked up the taro dumpling, held it up to his eyes and examined it carefully. Its surface was crystal clear like mutton fat jade, and it shone with a warm luster under the light.

The steam rose in wisps, faintly revealing the grayish-purple color of the filling.

He carefully blew on it, letting the heat dissipate slightly, before solemnly taking his first bite.

The moment the teeth break through the outer skin, a slight "pop" sound is heard, and the thin, resilient dough cracks. Then, the initial powdery, grainy texture transforms into a silky, muddy consistency.

The sweet aroma carries a hint of natural glutinous rice aftertaste, a perfect blend of savory and salty flavors, yet neither greasy nor dry, stimulating every taste bud in just the right way.

The taro's powdery and delicate texture perfectly balances the oiliness of the meat filling.

The layers of texture unfold in the mouth: first the chewy dough, then the glutinous taro paste, followed by the fresh meat filling, and finally the rich and mellow aftertaste.

"Not bad—" Su Mingyuan's eyes narrowed into slits, his throat bobbed violently, and after a long while he finally let out a long breath, "These taro dumplings—are delicious."

As a seasoned gourmet who has been working in the catering industry for twenty years, Su Mingyuan has tasted countless delicacies.

The family-run "Sunanji" specializes in exquisite local cuisine, and the chefs in the kitchen are all highly skilled.

But this simple, unpretentious canteen dumpling gave him a long-lost sense of amazement.

He couldn't resist picking up another one, this time dipping it in Brother Liu's special garlic chili sauce.

The sauce was a bright red color, with minced garlic and chili flakes floating on the surface, and a tangy aroma wafted from it.

The moment you put a dumpling in your mouth, coated in sauce, your taste experience is instantly elevated. A spicy and sour kick hits your taste buds, the sweetness and glutinousness of the taro paste are amplified by this kick, and the juices of the fresh meat burst forth like a spring. The three flavors collide, blend, and sublimate in your mouth.

My entire mouth felt like it was being conquered by this wonderful sensation; my salivary glands were secreting saliva like crazy, and before I could even swallow a bite, I wanted to have a second one.

Su Mingyuan turned to his wife, Shen Jing, his eagerness like that of a child discovering a new toy: "Honey, you have to try this! This isn't an ordinary dumpling. The taro filling is absolutely divine! It's fragrant, juicy, and incredibly flavorful! It's even better than the pastry chefs at our shop!"

Shen Jing picked up a sauerkraut dumpling, but instead of eating it right away, she first held it to her nose and smelled it.

The crisp, fermented aroma of the Dongbei pickled cabbage filled her nostrils, not the pungent, industrial sourness of supermarket pickles, but a natural, mellow acidity mellowed by time, mixed with the savory flavor of minced meat—it even had a magical power to whet her appetite. Only then did she gently take a bite—

With a soft "crunch," the pickled cabbage crunched crisply between my teeth, a delightful sensation. Immediately afterward, the meat juices burst forth, a savory and slightly spicy aftertaste, the acidity perfectly balancing the richness without overpowering the flavor, just enhancing the aroma of the meat.

The chewy dumpling skin wraps everything perfectly, releasing new flavors with every bite.

Shen Jing's brows relaxed unconsciously, and she couldn't help but chew a few more bites, savoring the taste.

"Hmm—" She nodded thoughtfully, "These sauerkraut dumplings are good too! They're tangy and appetizing, and the meat filling is tender and juicy, unlike the overly salty ones from the supermarket. The seasoning is perfectly balanced."

She paused, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, "The taro one—let me try it."

No sooner had she finished speaking than she had already "snatched" a taro dumpling from her husband's bowl—after more than twenty years of marriage, they still had this much tacit understanding.

One bite, and Shen Jing's eyes lit up: "Old Su, how come this taro filling is so smooth? It's as sticky as freshly steamed taro cake, yet it has a meaty aroma—it's perfectly harmonious!"

She took another bite, savoring it carefully. "They used Lipu taro, right? The starch is so fine, and the steaming was just right. This stall is full of hidden talents; no wonder they've teamed up with Shengji." While eating, I even wanted to try this recipe at our shop.

The two of them took turns eating, devouring two bowls of dumplings in a whirlwind.

Su Mingyuan wiped his mouth, let out a satisfied burp, and his face had the rosy glow typical of a gourmand—the heartfelt joy of eating something delicious.

"Boss,"

Su Mingyuan waved, "Where did you learn this skill? I've had taro dumplings from the South, and the ones in Guangzhou teahouses are quite authentic, but none are as glutinous and fragrant as this. The pickled cabbage dumplings are also authentic, and the spiciness is just right to cut through the richness. Is it a modified version of the Northeastern style? How much is it?"

Brother Liu was busy packing for another student couple when he heard the noise. He rubbed his hands and walked over, beaming. "You two are 27! Thanks for the compliment. My skills were taught to me by Brother Wang and Aunt Wang from Shengji. I'm just a rough guy from Northeast China, and I only learned the basics."

He pointed to the back of the cafeteria, "Shengji window number 07 is the real deal. They open for late-night snacks. You two should try it. Their rice noodle rolls, rice cakes, and boat congee are amazing, a campus specialty! Students say that if you haven't eaten at Shengji's late-night snacks, you've wasted your four years of university."

Su Mingyuan was taken aback: "Shengji? Window number 07?"

Isn't that exactly what they wanted?

What a fantastic window!

"Yes, that's it!" Brother Liu nodded vigorously. "The late-night snack starts at 6:30 pm, and the line is always long, so you have to get there early to get a seat. Breakfast is also popular, but the late-night snack is even more lively, with many people from outside the school coming specifically to eat here."

Shen Jing glanced at her phone; it was only a little past three in the afternoon. She patted her husband's arm: "Old Su, since we're here, why don't we take a walk around the school area? Weiwei didn't even say she'd come pick us up; she's probably at the library again—she called last week saying she was preparing for some animal dissection exam."

She shook her head helplessly, "I'm too lazy to go find her now. Let's stroll around the campus first and reminisce about our youth. We can come here for a late-night snack tonight and see what magic Shengji has that makes our daughter post food photos on her WeChat Moments every few days."

Su Mingyuan wholeheartedly agreed.

As the two paid and got up to leave, Brother Liu enthusiastically slipped two homemade coupons into their hands: "Next time you come, buy ten get one free!"

Stepping out of the cafeteria, the autumn sun shone brightly. Mr. and Mrs. Su strolled along the tree-lined paths of Jinling University. The leaves of the plane trees were beginning to turn yellow, and as the autumn wind blew, the fallen leaves fluttered like golden butterflies.

Students strolled around campus in small groups, some discussing books, others riding bikes to class. A few boys in sportswear ran past, carrying basketballs, creating a youthful atmosphere.

"Old Su, look how nice this school is."

Shen Jing linked arms with her husband, her voice full of emotion, "Weiwei is studying veterinary medicine here. After graduation, she'll work in a pet hospital or research institute, a stable and respectable job. Back when we started our business, we didn't have time to stroll around campus. We were either in the kitchen overseeing the cooking or at the front desk doing the accounting all day."

Su Mingyuan smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out: "Yes, more than twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye."

"These dumplings are amazing today! I'll have to try Shengji's late-night snacks tonight. Maybe I can even steal some inspiration to use at the shop—could we improve our taro pastry?"

The two strolled around aimlessly on campus, as if they had returned to their dating days in their youth.

They strolled around the library—not going in, afraid of disturbing the students; they watched the boys play basketball on the playground for a while; they even sneaked into a teaching building and listened to a ten-minute open class on ancient Chinese food culture. Su Mingyuan listened with great interest and almost didn't want to leave.

Time flies, the sun sets in the west, the sky is dyed orange-red, and the campus is gradually shrouded in twilight.

Just after five o'clock, Su Mingyuan couldn't contain himself any longer. "Let's go check out the cafeteria. Judging from what Boss Liu said, we'll have to wait in a long line if we go late."