Chapter 20: Lin Xiang Saves a Life

“Here, here!” Lin Xiang hurried over, wrapped in her coat. “I’ve packed everything. Let’s get going.”

Old Sun drove steadily, and not a single river shrimp in the wooden bucket filled with water was jostled out.

At dawn, in the deep autumn mist, a thin fog had already risen. The road was dark, visibility low, and what usually took half an hour took a full forty minutes today.

When Lin Xiang arrived at the state-run restaurant just after 7:30 a.m., a long queue was already forming at the door, everyone eager for the large meat buns.

As she reached the entrance, a few big meat buns were shoved into her arms. She looked up and caught Chef Shen’s cheerful smile. “You came so early, you probably haven’t had breakfast yet. Have a few buns to fill your stomach first. Once you finish, you’ll have to get cooking right away.”

Lin Xiang took one and bit into it. At a dime apiece, the buns weren’t cheap, but the ingredients were solid and real. With each bite, she tasted the perfectly balanced fatty and lean meat. On such a cold morning, biting into one was pure comfort.

Thinking that Old Sun had brought her to town early without eating, she passed him one.

“No, no, these buns are too expensive—keep them for yourself. I brought my own dry food,” he said.

Old Sun’s dry food was a steamed multigrain bun from the night before.

Lin Xiang insisted, “Grandpa Sun, just eat it. I’ll be coming to town often, so I’m bound to trouble you more.”

His rough, knobbly hands cupped the warm meat bun. Deep inside, he felt moved—this girl was really different from before, polite to boot.

Lin Xiang ate two buns and drank a cup of warm water before diving into the kitchen.

“Chef Shen, here’s my menu for today. Take a look first, and if anything doesn’t seem right, I can change it early on.”

Chef Shen waved her off. “You’re the expert at Western food. I don’t know what to make of this menu. You just decide.”

Knowing Shen wouldn’t meddle with her menu, Lin Xiang still made sure to show her respect.

“I observed the foreign guests’ tastes last time, so this time I planned crispy roast chicken, Italian-style meatballs in tomato sauce, black pepper steak, salt-grilled river shrimp, and tomato mixed baked rice.”

The best for grilled shrimp would be large prawns, but this wasn’t a coastal city, so no sea shrimp were available—river shrimp would have to suffice.

For a professional chef, ingredient quality was paramount, but good cooking skills were even more crucial.

Tying on her apron and donning her chef’s hat, Lin Xiang began her work.

***

In the morning, Chef Shen didn’t cook but stood aside to watch Lin Xiang.

He even pulled over his two assistants to stand by her. “Watch carefully how Comrade Lin cooks. If your skills don’t improve before the contract ends, I’ll kick you out!”

Lin Xiang cooked without flashy moves, her technique crisp and efficient. Watching her was a pleasure.

After prepping all ingredients, she had the two assistants watch the stoves while she started kneading dough.

“You’re making noodles? We have fresh dough from this morning. I can slice some for you to use directly.”

Lin Xiang shook her head. “I plan to make some Italian pasta.”

“Italian pasta? What’s that? Some foreign food?”

Without missing a beat, she continued kneading while explaining, “Yes, it’s the kind of noodles foreigners eat. Though it’s also noodles, it’s a bit different from ours and takes more effort to make.”

Italian pasta had more chewiness, a different texture from their local noodles.

After cooking the pasta, Lin Xiang made a sauce with minced meat and tomatoes, mixing it all together. The taste was exquisite.

Just as Lin Xiang finished preparing all the dishes, the town officials arrived at the state-run restaurant with the foreign guests.

In the private room, Lin Xiang personally served the freshly made Western dishes to the guests, conversing fluently with them in a foreign language.

After the meeting, the foreigners deliberated and decided to place an order for a batch of fabrics.

Among the fabrics Lin Xiang had introduced at the cotton mill, the guests ordered a considerable amount. The total deal amounted to twenty-seven thousand dollars.

According to the 1977 exchange rate of 1 to 1.73, twenty-seven thousand US dollars equated to over forty-six thousand in Chinese currency.

At first glance, it wasn’t a huge sum, but it was the very first foreign exchange order for Mianyang Town!

This marked a milestone.

When the contract was signed, Lin Xiang couldn’t be present. She found an empty table in the hall to sit at.

It wasn’t mealtime, and the restaurant had only a few scattered patrons. Lin Xiang yawned and rested her head on the table for a quick nap.

***

She had dreamed again last night. The voice in the dream told her the male lead’s feelings for her still weren’t strong enough for her to return. That upset Lin Xiang, keeping her awake half the night. Now, with some free time, she felt drowsy.

“Sweetie! Sweetie, don’t scare Mommy! Sweetie, wake up!”

“The child’s face is turning blue. We have to rush her to the hospital, no time to lose!”

“The county hospital is about twenty minutes from our state-run restaurant. Even if we take her there now, it might be too late. Let’s see if anyone has a bicycle we can borrow!”

Half asleep, Lin Xiang heard anxious voices and suddenly opened her eyes. She saw a woman in her thirties holding a seven- or eight-year-old child, sobbing uncontrollably.

She stepped closer and asked the waitress Yang Rong, “What’s going on? The child’s sick and needs to get to the hospital fast! If we miss the golden rescue time, there will be serious trouble!”

The child’s face was pale as death. If they didn’t get her to the hospital, it could be fatal.

Yang Rong whispered, “The child just ate a rice dumpling and probably choked on it. Her father borrowed a bicycle and should be back soon.”

Choking on food?

“The rescue window for choking is only two or three minutes. Even if the bicycle’s returned, it might be too late!”

Lin Xiang said as she hurried toward the mother and child.

“Sister, can I see your child?”

The mother turned to her tear-streaked eyes. “Are you a doctor or nurse?”

“No, but I know how to save her. Sister, don’t waste time. Saving the child is the most important thing!”

With that, Lin Xiang took the girl from the mother’s arms, turned her back to herself, placed her hands under the child’s ribcage, and began the Heimlich maneuver.

Just then, the child’s father returned with the bicycle. As he stepped into the state-run restaurant, he saw a slender young girl holding his daughter, shaking her. His heart clenched in fear. He shouted hoarsely, “Put my daughter down, now!”