Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
When Qin Baobao and Wang Zijin ran to the living room excitedly, Qin Ze was sitting at the dining table chowing down on his food. In front of him, there were braised pork trotters, vegetable bean curd, steamed yellow croakers, and chicken mushroom stew. All the dishes were exuding hot air, and their fragrance triggered one’s appetites.
Qin Baobao’s first reaction was: heck, my brother was eating behind my back alone.
“Where did you buy this takeout from? It smells heavenly.” Qin Baobao’s index finger moved, and she kicked Qin Ze’s leg. “Is there still rice? Scoop one bowl for me.”
Qin Ze was still chewing the food in his mouth and did not really want to serve his sister. He rebutted, “Didn’t you eat already?”
“Just go when I tell you to. Don’t talk so much.” Qin Baobao extended her hand and grabbed a piece of chicken to stuff it inside her mouth. The tenderness of the chicken instantly filled her throat and stimulated her taste buds. She squinted her eyes in enjoyment.
Was this chicken mushroom stew?
This taste… this texture… it was perfect.
Was the chicken mushroom stew I ate before fake?
Qin Ze stood up unwillingly and went to the kitchen to scoop rice for herself.
“Qin Ze, help me scoop a bowl, too. No, just half a bowl will do.” Wang Zijin sat down as well, but her manners clearly won Qin Baobao by a few streets. Even though she could not take her eyes off the food, she could control herself unlike Qin Baobao.
When Qin Ze went to scoop the rice, Qin Baobao kept picking up the chicken to eat again and again. Wang Zijin slapped her hand. “Baobao, you didn’t even wash your hand.”
Wang Zijin was mainly afraid that she would finish the food.
Qin Ze brought the two bowls of rice to the table, and the three of them surrounded the delicacies and started eating. Qin Baobao wanted to just grab her favorite chicken mushroom stew and put it in front of her face. Other than that, she loved the sour vegetable braised pig trotters the most.
The pig trotters melted immediately in her mouth. It was fat but not surfeiting, tender but the taste was not compromised—especially the pig’s skin which had lots of collagen. The moment she sucked it into her mouth, the pig skin slid down her throat. It was an enjoyment to eat the pig trotters.
“Huha, huha…”
Qin Baobao was burnt by the food and kept gasping for air as she fanned her mouth.
Wang Zijin had gastric problems and did not like to binge on food, but the sour vegetables were very appetizing. After eating one mouth of the pig trotters, she could not be stopped as her chopsticks flew; and she had a conflict with Qin Baobao.
“Baobao, it’s okay if you push the chicken mushroom stew to your side. Don’t occupy the pig trotters, too.”
“The pig trotters are high in collagen; it’s perfect for my beauty.”
“I also want it for my skin.”
“You’re a natural beauty; you don’t need it.”
“Then, I have gastric pain, is that acceptable? I just love to eat appetizing dishes.”
“Then, tell Qin Ze to order another portion for you.”
Wang Zijin thought for a while and felt that it was logical. She smiled and told Qin Ze, “Brother, can you order one more portion for me?”
Qin Ze was confused. “What do you mean to order another one? I only bought this much. It’s too late; the markets are all closed.”
Wang Zijin blinked and was very surprised. Was this table of dishes done by Qin Ze? Qin Baobao was not lying when she said that he was good at cooking.
Qin Baobao raised her head from the bowl and giggled, “Don’t fool around. Where did you buy this takeout from? It’s super delicious. Next time, we should just order from this place and treat it like our canteen.”
Qin Ze picked up a piece of yellow croaker. Slurp! He sucked up all the fish meat. “I’m too lazy to talk to you.”
Qin Baobao made a face at him.
The trio continued their battle with the delicacies. Not long later, the dishes were cleaned. Qin Baobao leaned against the chair and caressed her bulging stomach. She gained an advantage, and yet she was still sighing, pretending to be obedient. “It’s all your fault. All your fault. I’m practicing my dance now and need to maintain my figure.”
Wang Zijin teased, “You need to dance, but you don’t know how to control yourself. You don’t have self-discipline at all…” Burp!
She smiled happily as she had never eaten such a hearty meal in a long time.
“Qin Ze, where did you buy this food from? Let’s go check it out tomorrow and order something else.” Wang Zijin passed a piece of tissue to Qin Ze, implying that he should wipe his mouth.
“I made it,” Qin Ze said seriously.
“You’re so petty. What will happen to you if you tell us?” Qin Baobao said unhappily.
Wang Zijin laughed and did not say anything as her relationship with Qin Ze was not good until they could play around with each other.
At this time, there was a crisp whistling sound coming from the kitchen. It was the sound of the pressure coming out from the hole in the pot.
Qin Ze pouted his lips to the kitchen. “There’s still one last dish—soup. Do you want to try it?”
“You really cooked those up?” Wang Zijin started to believe him.
“Aish, don’t be fooled by him. I think the soup is the only thing he made.” Qin Baobao frowned. “Would I not know his standards? If you want to drink, then drink yourself. Anyway, I can’t finish it.”
After Wang Zijin listened to her, she shook her head and smiled. “Then, I won’t drink it as well. I’m too full.”
It was up to them then.
Qin Ze wore the insulation gloves and took the carrot pork bone soup out, placing it in front of him. The carrot was cooked until it was tender, and the meat with the pork bone in the soup caused the soup to be creamy white. There was also a layer of crystal oil on it.
Qin Ze ignored the two sisters and scooped a bowl for himself. There was only a little salt in the soup and was very light, but after binging on food, the soup was perfect and refreshing. The soup had the freshness of the carrot and fragrance of the pork bone. Qin Ze gave it 99 points as an after-meal soup; he deducted one point as he did not want to be arrogant.
When Wang Zijin smelled the thickness of the soup, she could not resist but scoop a bowl of soup for herself. She blew air into the soup and drank a small mouth herself.
Instantly, she felt that her calmed taste buds were alive again. The freshness of the carrots and the thickness of the pork bone, when combined, were clearly very light; but it gave her the feeling of a substantial meal. The key was that the timing was perfect, and it could sweep away the oiliness left in her mouth and stomach. She could not take it and drank a few more mouthfuls.
Wang Zijin burped inelegantly and said in surprise, “I still want another bowl.”
“Is it really that nice? Qin Ze’s soup-making skills are just average and are not half as good as my Mom’s.” Qin Baobao had the expression of ‘I might not have much education, but you could not fool me’ on her face. She also scooped a bowl for herself and sipped it a little. Then, her eyes lit up. “Qin Ze, this is another takeout, right?”
“Crazy.” Qin Ze grumbled and buried her face to drink the soup.
Qin Baobao said unhappily, “I want another bowl.”
There was not a lot of soup, only the amount of four or five bowls. After the three of them each took a bowl, they almost saw the bottom of the pot.
Wang Zijin smiled, “Qin Ze, Sister is a guest. Can you leave the last bit of soup for me?”
Qin Ze was holding the spoon and was just about to add soup for himself. He unhappily glanced at his sister’s pretty best friend.
He only drank one bowl.
“Your stomach isn’t good. Don’t drink so much.” Qin Baobao immediately snatched the spoon in his hands and scooped the last bit of soup for herself. She drank it happily.
Wang Zijin pressed her lips together and glared at her sadly.
Qin Baobao totally ignored her best friend’s gaze and put on a fake smile as she extended her hand to pinch Qin Ze’s ears. “Ah Ze, Sister believes that you cooked all of these. Are you happy?”
Qin Ze leaned back and avoided her hand. “Happy.”
“Stick your head over.”
“Only a fool would do that.”
Qin Baobao was angered, and she pounced over dramatically. “Sister suspects that the slave has secretly hidden his culinary skills. You have a serious crime, and I want to tear your ear to eat it.”
Once Qin Baobao finished her sentence, she yelled bitterly as Qin Ze retaliated and trapped her hands, flipping her around and pressing her under his legs.
“Qin Baobao, did I give you too much sunlight and water—causing you to be so bright—that you’re going to combust yourself? You’re sparkling so much; you’re going to win the Eastern pearl.”
“Qin Ze, let go of me. My stomach is so full; I’m super uncomfortable.”
“Hurry and admit it’s your fault.”
“Sister would rather die than give in.”
“Vomit out all of my food right now.”
“Good brother, Zijin is still watching at the side. Give me some face.”
Wang Zijin looked at the siblings playing around, and she smiled gently with a warm gaze.
At 10:30 in the evening, Qin Baobao was blindly walking around the room to digest her food. Qin Ze was holding his laptop as he sat on the couch while looking at the email that Old Master sent over, which contained the important details from lessons that might be on a test.
In the washroom, Wang Zijin was showering. Hualala! The water sounded.
While Qin Baobao walked, she was raising her knees to her hip level. “How is Sister’s best friend?”
Qin Ze asked back, “In what aspect?”
“All aspects.”
Qin Ze commented. “There’s nothing to be picky about her appearance. I still need to observe her inner beauty. Honestly, it’s rare to see such a beauty.”
When he finished his sentence, he saw Qin Baobao holding her waist and glaring at him. He immediately added, “Other than you, my sister.”
Qin Baobao twisted her hips and asked, “What do you think if I introduce her to you? To be your girlfriend?”
Qin Ze was so shocked that his hand trembled. “Are you testing me? I swear I don’t have any ill intentions towards her.”
Qin Ze said in his heart: “You’re just worried that I would do indescribable things to your undergarments.”
Qin Baobao said seriously, “Don’t you like this kind of gentle and kind girl? She doesn’t have a boyfriend yet.” She paused, and there was a look of despise on her face. “I’m trying to divert the trouble. If not, you’ll do things with my…”
Qin Ze had no strength to retaliate and was too lazy to do so.
Qin Baobao changed her tone. “However, Zijin doesn’t look up to you. She has too many people chasing her and doesn’t have time to look at the nobodies around her.”
“Sure, anyway, in your eyes; I’m that useless brother that can’t marry a wife.” Qin Ze was long used to her insults.
Qin Baobao pouted as if she had lost a battle, and she angrily jogged over to kick Qin Ze before retreating to a safe place. She looked at him teasingly.
“What kind of best friend do you have?” Qin Ze closed his stocks software and ignored his sister’s tease and started talking about Wang Zijin instead. Qin Baobao knew him pretty well and knew that Qin Ze’s ideal type was a warm and gentle girl.
Qin Baobao leaned her head to the side in deep thought. “She’s from the capital. I think her parents are government officials. I only know this much. Why? You can’t wait to understand her?”
“I feel that your best friend definitely comes from a decent family. There’s nothing to find fault with her mannerism. The important thing was that she asked me to scoop rice for her just now.”
“What can scooping rice represent?”
“Can you activate the brain you’re proud of? If you go to other people’s houses, would you feel at ease when someone else helps you to scoop rice?” Qin Ze analyzed, “This is because she’s too used to being served. What does this show? She definitely has a nanny at home.”
“That makes sense.” Qin Baobao giggled. “Then, I despise you even more. Hurry, beg me. Beg me to be your matchmaker.”
Honestly, Qin Ze was swayed; but when he considered that his sister would only hold him back with a previous anecdote as proof, he silently eliminated the idea of getting Qin Baobao’s help.
Besides, Wang Zijin was pretty; but Qin Ze was very immune to beauties since young and did not have the possibility of falling in love with them at first sight. He still had to observe this pretty sister from Beijing’s personality.