Chapter 98: Chapter 95: The Farce Triggered by Sneaking a Bite

“The aroma of this seaweed egg drop soup, it smells so good…”

“Yes, it smells incredibly fresh…”

Aunt Lin and Aunt Li were drawn to the enticing aroma that filled the room.

Their stomachs, which weren’t hungry before, started to growl.

Once Huang Jun had ladled all the egg drops into the soup pot and casually sprinkled some fresh green onions on top, the two of them eagerly picked up a small white ceramic bowl and each scooped themselves a bowl.

In the ceramic bowl, as white as jade, the golden egg drops contrasted with the deep seaweed and vibrant green onions, creating a visually appealing scene, like three colors of aquatic plants gently swaying in the water.

They carefully scooped a small spoonful of soup, gently blew on it, and brought it to their lips.

Into their mouths it went.

In an instant, the delicious flavor blossomed in their mouths, making their somewhat dull eyes brighten, as if injected with new vitality.

“This seaweed egg drop soup tastes so fresh and delicious… it’s the best seaweed egg drop soup I’ve ever had in my life.”

“With just a pinch of salt and no other seasonings, it’s still so tasty. Chef Huang, your skills are truly impressive!”

Aunt Lin and Aunt Li were full of praise for the seaweed egg drop soup and genuinely admired Huang Jun’s culinary skills.

The completely ignored Qian Guoxiang, smelling the seductive aroma in the air and observing their indulgent expressions, couldn’t help but let a glimmer of longing show in his eyes.

Indeed.

He also desperately wanted to taste the seaweed egg drop soup and delve into Huang Jun’s culinary expertise.

Unfortunately.

Aunt Lin and Aunt Li were entirely captivated by Huang Jun’s cooking skills, as if the world contained only the three of them; meanwhile, Huang Jun was busy ladling fragrant and tantalizing pork rice into food containers, too occupied to notice anyone else.

Thus, Qian Guoxiang was overlooked, consigned to being a conspicuous part of the background.

Yet his pride wouldn’t allow him to easily reveal his longing, so he could only strive to restrain himself.

But his gaze remained fixed on the enticing seaweed egg drop soup and pork rice.

At just this moment.

Several exclamations suddenly rang out:

“Oh, Aunt Lin, Aunt Li, you’re sneakily eating behind our backs!”

“Oh my, Aunt Lin, Aunt Li, with such delicious food, you didn’t even call us!”

“Aunt Lin, Aunt Li, you’re at it again with the sneak eating!”

Caught in their sneaky eating, Aunt Lin and Aunt Li were momentarily awkward: “…”

“What nonsense are you talking?”

“We’re just tasting it for you!”

“Besides, chefs tasting food, how can that be called sneaking a taste? Isn’t that right, Chef Huang?”

Facing the teasing from the preschool teachers, Aunt Li remained unfazed, responding with a steady heart.

Indeed, for chefs, tasting the flavor of a dish is standard practice, not sneaking a taste!

What?

They and Aunt Lin aren’t chefs?

Well…

They are kitchen staff, and more importantly, the right-hand assistants of Chef Huang. They personally process and clean these ingredients, so helping Chef Huang taste the food is perfectly normal, right?

Qian Guoxiang watched this “drama that almost unfolded due to sneaky eating,” then looked at the preschool teachers whose faces all showed expressions of “beloved items being snatched away,” feeling a bit surprised.

It also made him all the more curious about Huang Jun’s culinary skills.

He couldn’t help but ponder to himself: what level has Chef Huang’s culinary craft reached to make these teachers and kitchen staff so obsessed, even making the teachers anxious simply because the kitchen staff tasted it first, seemingly afraid that the two kitchen staff would finish it all…

At this moment, he really wanted to try Chef Huang’s handiwork.

But how should he express his desire to them?

Should he ask openly?

Or hint at it subtly?

Qian Guoxiang was contemplating various feasible plans in his heart.

Facing Aunt Li’s question, and the gaze of the preschool teachers, Huang Jun could only mediate and break the stalemate: “Dear preschool teachers, you’re just in time, the pork rice and seaweed egg drop soup are ready, and I’ve packed yours, you can take it back to your classrooms to share with the children!”

With these words, the preschool teachers no longer lingered to joke with Aunt Li and the others. They each picked up their portion of the meal and wheeled their small carts away.

Meanwhile, yearning to see his two darling daughters, Huang Jun helped Wang Wenxia deliver the food to Class 4.

And with that.

The kitchen returned to its original tranquility.

After seeing off the preschool teachers, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin were about to serve themselves some rice when they suddenly realized Qian Guoxiang was still there.

Uh…

Why hasn’t he left yet?

The two exchanged glances, discovering surprise and confusion in each other’s eyes.

Thinking about his acquaintance with Director Liang, they dared not neglect him.

So…

Aunt Li smiled and politely inquired, “You haven’t left yet? It’s already lunchtime, how about you join us for a meal?”

This question struck exactly at Qian Guoxiang’s heart.

He nodded without hesitation and said, “Sure!”

Then, realizing he might be a bit presumptuous, he quickly added, “Sorry for the trouble!”

Seeing him agree immediately, Aunt Li was momentarily stunned, unsure whether she should laugh or cry.

She had only invited him out of politeness, not expecting him to accept so unreservedly!

She strongly suspected that he had stayed just to mooch a meal, but unfortunately, she had no evidence.

Oh!

If she’d known this would be the outcome…

She wouldn’t have said anything.

Now she had unwittingly added a guest to share the meal with.

Oh!

Since the invitation was extended by herself, she had to carry it through even if it made her cry.

“It’s no bother!”

Aunt Li wore a wide smile on her face, but cried inside.

She dished out a shallow bowl of pork rice and seaweed egg drop soup with teary eyes, served it to Qian Guoxiang, and silently vowed to change her overly hospitable habits in the future.

What?

Hospitality is a traditional virtue that cannot be discarded?

Then…

Everything else stays the same, but Chef Huang’s dishes will be the exception!

Completely unaware of Aunt Li’s regret, Qian Guoxiang gratefully said, “Thank you!”

After speaking, he picked up the spoon and took a sip of the seaweed egg drop soup.

The broth entered his mouth, the fresh flavor of the seaweed instantly blossomed, with the salty taste of the ocean, making one feel as if standing by the seaside.

The richness of the eggs added depth to this freshness.

The soup’s temperature was just right, gently awakening the taste buds, smoothly sliding down the throat.

The smoothness of the eggs and the crispness of the seaweed tangled in the mouth, forming a wonderful texture.

After drinking it all, a faint aftertaste lingered in his mouth, making one reminisce about the wonderful flavor.

“Not bad, not bad…”

He speculated that the seaweed egg drop soup would be delicious but had not expected it to exceed his expectations in taste.

Compared to his cooking… it’s almost on par!

With limitless anticipation, he dug into the pork rice.

He scooped up a spoonful, the rice grains dipped in the melted lard and dark soy sauce glistened translucently under the light, each grain was distinct and plump.

Sliced lean meat embraced the rich aroma of golden pork fat and tender taro, their colors colliding passionately, with a rich soy sauce flavor.

A spoonful in his mouth.

One could feel the fullness and sweetness of the rice.

Next, the fragrance and flavor of the pork began to spread, with a hint of crispness, yet the middle layer of meat remained rich and juicy, perfectly melding with the chewy, delightful rice, bits of flavor lingering with each bite.

The addition of taro made the taste even more rich and unique.

The smooth texture and fresh aroma of taro intermingled with the pork and rice, creating an indescribable deliciousness.

And as these flavors intertwined and collided in the mouth, a sense of satisfaction arose from the heart, as if all taste buds were fully enjoying themselves at that moment.

What’s even rarer…

This pork rice had a flavor of home.

Each bite evoked memories of the pork rice his mother used to make during his childhood, a sensation of warmth and familiarity surged through him.

He remembered that in childhood, they could only enjoy pork rice during the New Year.

To him, that was already a super luxurious meal.

He could eat two large bowls at once, and his two younger siblings were not to be outdone, gobbling up their bowls while their eyes were still glued to the pot’s contents.

But their mother always watched them eat silently, only having a small half bowl herself before stopping.

He once curiously peered into his bowl of pork rice and asked his mother, “Mom, why do you eat so little? And why does your bowl have only taro and no meat?”

Mother always replied, “I have a small appetite, that’s enough, I don’t like pork, you guys eat well!”

After they finished eating, Mother would scrape the bottom of the pot with a spatula, gather the bits stuck at the bottom, put them in a bowl, mix with boiling water, and then drink it down.

Not until he established his own family, became a chef, had a car, and owned an apartment, did he suddenly realize that his mother’s appetite was no different from anyone else’s.

In good times, Mother could even drink two taels of rice wine.

And could finish a full bowl of pork rice in one sitting.

Sadly, by the time he realized this, Mother was already old and gravely ill, struggling to swallow even a spoonful of millet porridge…

Thinking of this, his nose tingled with a rush of sadness.

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