Chapter 177: Chapter 169: The Magical Power of Food

“Thank you… I’m sorry to trouble you…”

Li Xiuxian took the thermal lunch box handed by the delivery guy, a grateful smile on her face as she watched him leave.

At this moment.

Yuanyuan’s small hand was tightly clutching her hem, her bright eyes full of anticipation as she stared at the thermal lunch box, exclaiming, “Mama, my tummy is so hungry… I want to eat, I want to eat…”

Looking at her daughter’s impatient expression, Li Xiuxian responded with a mix of helplessness and indulgence, “Alright, alright, Mama knows, don’t worry, we’ll start eating now…”

Ah!

Ever since Yuanyuan’s fever symptoms alleviated, her energy was like a battery recharged, becoming extraordinarily active. Her first act upon waking in the morning was clamoring to go to kindergarten to have a snack.

If it weren’t for Yuanyuan’s condition not being fully recovered, she really wished she could immediately send this little spirit back to the kindergarten to study.

This would give her a moment of peace.

After getting up this morning, her mother-in-law coaxed Yuanyuan into drinking some millet porridge.

Just before the delivery guy brought lunch, the little one was at it again, saying her tummy was hungry and insisting on having the kindergarten’s meal immediately.

If she and her mother-in-law hadn’t tasted the kindergarten lunch yesterday, they might have dismissed the little one as just being fussy and ignored her.

But ever since they tasted the kindergarten’s dishes yesterday, they entirely understood Yuanyuan’s obsession.

That taste…

It’s truly unforgettable once you’ve tried it; you keep longing for another taste…

“Mama, Papa… I’m so hungry too… I want to eat too…” Tiantian’s eyes were fixed on the thermal lunch box in Li Xiuxian’s hands, and she unconsciously licked the corner of her lips.

Apparently… she was already craving even before the food was served.

The sight made Tiantian’s father, Zheng Yuanzhou, smile with relief.

Yesterday, when his wife informed him that their daughter’s appetite was returning, he was surprised, even a bit skeptical.

But now, witnessing Tiantian’s eagerness and excitement for food, all his doubts melted away.

However, there was one thing puzzling him…

Why was Tiantian uninterested in other foods, even throwing up when she ate them? Yet she was so fond of the kindergarten’s meals on the next bed, feeling no discomfort after eating them.

Speaking of which.

What exactly was special about the kindergarten’s food, not only awakening Tiantian’s long-lost appetite but also making her feel so comfortable and satisfied after eating?

The next moment…

The aroma from the food in the adjacent bed wafted over, and Zheng Yuanzhou’s nose followed that scent involuntarily.

This aroma was simply irresistible…

It’s like an invisible hook directly stirring the appetite, making it utterly unresistible…

Moreover, this aroma was not only a sensory pleasure but also an emotional solace and strength…

At this moment, he seemed to have found the answer…

“Tiantian, here, have a piece of potato…”

Ni Shujing took some food over from Li Xiuxian, walked to Tiantian’s bedside, sat by the edge, picked up a potato from the braised pork with potatoes, and brought it to Tiantian’s mouth.

Tiantian eagerly opened her little mouth, taking the potato in one bite.

The soft and glutinous texture burst forth on her tongue.

The potato had fully absorbed the essence of the meat juice; every bite was filled with rich meat fragrance, yet carried the potato’s natural sweetness…

“Soft, glutinous, fragrant, so delicious…” Tiantian savored it, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

Her biggest interest now was waiting for lunchtime every day to eat the kindergarten’s meal.

“If you find it delicious, have some more.” Ni Shujing watched her daughter’s satisfied expression, a gratified smile curling up at her lips.

Zheng Yuanzhou noticed his daughter’s condition improved significantly from yesterday; her complexion was no longer pale but appeared healthy with a rosy glow, her eyes regaining their usual sparkle.

Especially the satisfied and joyful look she had while eating, filled his heart with delight.

“Mama, I want to eat by myself, I want to eat by myself…” Yuanyuan protested discontentedly, waving her small hand, her impatience showing.

Sigh!

She disliked her mother feeding her too slowly, unable to satisfy her urgent craving for the delicious food, thus insisting on handling it herself.

The disdained Li Xiuxian: “…”

Forget it, given how enthusiastic she is about eating, let’s not argue with her!

Besides, feeding is such a torment for her…

Smelling the aroma but not getting a bite was really a hardship.

Therefore.

To avoid dying of craving herself, she went along with Yuanyuan’s wish.

She smiled wryly, handed the spoon to Yuanyuan, lifted the folding table on the bed, and carefully placed the thermal lunch box on it so Yuanyuan could easily eat on her own.

Yuanyuan took the spoon, eagerly scooping a large mouthful of food into her mouth, savoring the rich flavor.

While chewing, her face beamed with satisfaction and joy,

“Oh~ Not easy, not easy…” Xu Caihong couldn’t help but sigh seeing Yuanyuan’s ’self-reliance’ attitude.

At home, Yuanyuan wasn’t this enthusiastic about eating; they had to coax her every time.

But today, Yuanyuan seemed like a different person. She proactively asked to feed herself, and ate with great enthusiasm, which surprised and comforted her profoundly. It made her fully believe what Yang Yuxi had said before.

Watching her daughter Yuanyuan eat so heartily, Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but show a look of envy, and said, “Kids these days are so lucky… they get to eat such delicious food at kindergarten. It’s really enviable. Too bad the kindergarten doesn’t take big babies older than three hundred months; otherwise, I’d follow along every day just to have some of their meals.”

Yuanyuan heard her mom’s words and curiously looked up, her bright eyes full of questions.

Then, she blinked and seriously corrected her, “Mom, you’re wrong, the kindergarten does take big babies! The kids in the big class are also big babies!”

It seemed they weren’t on the same level of understanding.

Xu Caihong laughed and explained from the side, “Yuanyuan, when your mom talks about big babies over three hundred months old, she’s referring to adults like your mom. If your mom went to kindergarten, her appetite would be much bigger than yours, eating as much as five kids in one meal, leaving no food for the children.”

This explanation became a scary story to Yuanyuan’s ears.

She quickly shook her head, firmly expressing that she didn’t want her mom going to kindergarten, fearing her mom would actually eat all the other kids’ meals like grandma said.

Then…

She scooped a big spoonful of food into her mouth, giving herself quite the scare!

“Hey, little ones, everyone’s eating!”

Dr. Pan and the nurse caught a whiff of the fragrant aroma, walked into the hospital room, and immediately saw Yuanyuan sitting on the bed, burying her head in food.

Yuanyuan heard the sound, looked up at the doctor, blinked, and showed a sweet smile despite her mouth being full, muttering unclearly, “Hello doctor uncle!”

“Hello!”

Seeing Yuanyuan’s cute, hamster-like look, Dr. Pan couldn’t help but laugh, nodded at her, and kindly advised, “Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Saying that, he nodded to Li Xiuxian and her in-laws, making a silent greeting.

“Mmhmm!”

Yuanyuan nodded unclearly, continuing to enjoy her meal.

Dr. Pan turned his gaze to Tiantian’s hospital bed.

He saw Ni Shujing feeding Tiantian, who seemed to be eating quite well.

Observing carefully, he found Tiantian’s appetite seemed greatly improved, which was hard to imagine considering she had no interest in food just a few days ago.

Her complexion was much rosier than before, and her spirits obviously better.

All these changes made Dr. Pan very surprised.

Originally, the nurse had told him Tiantian’s appetite was improving, able to eat now, and he was somewhat skeptical.

But seeing Tiantian eating so well now, he couldn’t help but marvel at the magical power of food.

Could it really be just because of these meals?

He observed Tiantian’s eating for a while longer, then nodded satisfactorily, saying, “It seems Tiantian’s recovery is quite good. Maintaining this positive state is very helpful for her recovery.”

Ni Shujing and Zheng Yuanzhou listened and smiled happily.

Ni Shujing looked at Dr. Liang and asked worriedly, “Dr. Pan, Tiantian’s appetite at lunch was even better than yesterday’s. She’s already eaten half a bowl of food and wants more. Do you think in her current condition, eating more is okay?”

Dr. Pan smiled and said, “Tiantian’s body is gradually getting better, and her improved appetite is a very good sign. You can let her eat a little more while maintaining nutritional balance, but be careful not to overeat as it might burden her stomach.”

Ni Shujing and Zheng Yuanzhou listened, both sighed with relief, and showed gratified smiles.

Ni Shujing gratefully said, “Thank you, Dr. Pan, I will keep that in mind.”

Dr. Pan nodded, “Besides paying attention to her diet, encourage her to engage in moderate activity to promote recovery of bodily functions. This helps her recover faster.”

After giving these instructions, Dr. Pan walked out of the hospital room.

Once outside, the nurse couldn’t help but exclaim, “Their food really smells amazing~”

Dr. Pan nodded in agreement, “Indeed. It takes great culinary skills to make food smell so good that even children with no appetite can’t help but want to taste it.”

The nurse smiled and suggested, “Should we try some of the same food for lunch?”

Dr. Pan thought for a moment, feeling tempted, and nodded, “Alright, go and ask them where they got it from.”

Earlier, they endured watching the little patients without eating.

In one hospital room, two little patients were eating heartily with the aroma filling the air. Deep down, their curiosity about the taste had long been piqued.

Before long…

The nurse walked hastily into Dr. Pan’s office with an inexplicable look of melancholy.

“Dr. Pan, I just inquired, and their food didn’t come from takeout. It was directly packed from the Dorami Kindergarten where Yuanyuan goes.”

Dr. Pan heard this and felt a surge of indescribable disappointment.

Finding something you want to eat but can’t buy even with money, this frustration and anger almost felt palpable.

What could be done?

He could only let go of this yearning.

Silently, he etched the name “Dorami Kindergarten” into his heart.

By the way.

This kindergarten named “Dorami”—what a heavenly kindergarten it must be?

To be able to make such tempting food!

By the way.

How come when I was in kindergarten, I never encountered such a kindergarten?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep