Chapter 50 - 48, Jin Zhu
In the noodle shop, a gigantic pot sat atop the enormous stove, billowing with white steam.
The noodle chef held the dough on one shoulder, while with the other hand, he used a knife to shave off noodles without stop, resembling a swordsman from the jianghu hidden among the common folk.
Strips of noodles flew into the pot, their thickness just right.
Noodles scooped into a bowl, then he ladled out a spoonful of tender beef and broth, simple yet delicious.
The flames and the smoke from the stove were the most unpretentious spectacles of the market’s lively atmosphere.
The Princely Heir waved to the noodle shop waiter, "Waiter, bring me a bowl of shaved noodles."
The waiter recognized him and immediately smiled, "Right away, Your Highness, please wait a moment, it’s coming right up!"
Chen Ji was surprised, "Your Highness, the waiter here recognizes you?"
The Princely Heir took a seat beside a wooden table in the noodle shop, casually wiping the table with his finely spun sleeve, "I used to come here often before attending Donglin Academy. When at academy, I often craved these noodles."
"Why would you, a princely heir, come to this humble noodle shop to eat?"
The Princely Heir pulled a pair of chopsticks out of the bucket on the table, "In the Prince Mansion, food has to travel all the way from the kitchen to your room, taking a full thirty minutes; it’s cold by the time it reaches you. When I was little and said I wanted to eat in the kitchen, they said I was being improper... Not like here, where the noodles are still steaming hot when served to you. Add some vinegar, break a few cloves of garlic, and it’s a comfortable meal."