Chapter 143

"Alrighty, done! Claire, how's it going on your end?" Jasper had just finished his take on stir-fry pork—nothing fancy, but he'd thrown in some deep-fried pickled cabbage, which wasn't exactly traditional. The twist gave the dish a tangy kick without that strong pickled smell, thanks to the quick fry. Honestly, if you pair this with some hot rice, you could easily knock back three bowls, no problem. Lately, the guys in the kitchen had been eating way more—probably the reason why rice had been disappearing so fast. By the time Jasper plated his dish, Claire had also finished prepping. "All set over here too. Let's bring these out." Her dish was three-cup chicken, a hometown specialty often craved by Old Mr. Blackwell, who, despite living in Jadewick for years now, still missed the flavors of home. He'd stop by Lotus Smoke just to get a taste of something that reminded him of the past. The three-cup chicken was Jasper's idea, hoping the nostalgia could win the old man over. But consideri