Chapter 47: engrossed in reading, accidental meeting on the streets
(Part 1)
Filled with doubt and belief, Lu Anran picked up her chopsticks to take a mouthful of the 7-julienne vegetable stir-fry and put into her mouth to chew.
Crunch. Crunch.
The vegetables were fresh and crunchy and does not feel stir-fried at all, but instead feels crunchier and taste fresher before it was cooked! Lu Anran tasted this in not only the vegetables but also in the soup. She could taste the exquisite fragrance of the soy sauce within the soup, and also clearly taste the original flavour of each ingredients. As such, at the same time achieving harmony and unity that has never been achieved before. Each ingredient has its own texture, flavour and unique characteristics, and exhibits its most beautiful and beneficial side impartially. Lu Anran’s tastebuds which has never experienced such enjoyment before, led her to eat mouthful after mouthful until the entire plate of stir-fry vanished.
Even after swallowing down the last mouthful, Lu Anran could still taste the flavour of the dish lingering in her mouth. She is very confident in her tastebuds, although Lu Jianhao just cooked this dish in front of her, Lu Anran was unable to tell how this dish was made to have this taste and texture. This perfect flavour that she enjoyed on her tastebuds led Lu Anran to remain intoxicated within it.
Seeing Lu Anran finish the entire dish, Lu Jianhao smiled and looked at his beloved granddaughter. He has not cooked for years and did not know how much his skills have regressed, but his granddaughter likes it, so he is very happy. Also, this dish was enough to express what he meant. “All ingredients restrict each other, and at the same time enhances each other. Taking shape in the most perfect and natural coexistence. What we want to do it to lead the ingredients back to their origins and maximize the quality of the ingredients via cooking! This is the quintessence of Lu Family cuisine! And also, the morality of Lu Family cuisine!”
Lu Anran listened to Lu Jianhao’s words and solemnly nodded her head. Now, she understands what Lu Jianhao meant before, this is the morality of Lu Family cuisine. Instead of utilising seasonings to change the original flavour and characteristics of the ingredients, she uses seasonings and fire to display the most beautiful side of the ingredients. At the same time, allow the ingredients to restrict and enhance each other, the morality of Lu Family cuisine, she got it!
Looking at Lu Anran’s face, Lu Jianhao smiled happily. He knew this granddaughter of his would not let him down, this ability to comprehend is completed inherited from his most beloved son Lu Junhao. Thinking of his son, Lu Jianhao expression turned distressed, he does not know where in the world Junhao is now, and whether he is alive or dead…..
This lesson is very meaningful for Lu Anran. Both of them talked for a while and then Lu Jianhao let Lu Anran bring back the book Tao Te Ching to her room to read.
Lu Anran obediently read the book carefully, and when she met words she did not understand, she would go on the internet to find translations of it. Tao Te Ching can really be counted as a treasure of the world, the more Lu Anran read the more engrossed she became in it. When it was lunchtime, the maid knocked on the door to alert her, but Lu Anran was not hungry and declined eating lunch. It was until dinnertime that the maid came to knock on her door once more, Lu Anran was still reading the book and sent away the maid with 2 words ‘not hungry’.
After a while, someone knocked on the door again and this time the person was Ji Rou. “Anran? Can I come in?”
Lu Anran moved her eyes away from the book, “yes, the door is not locked.”
Ji Rou pushed open the door and came in. “Anran, why don’t you want to eat dinner? Are you ok?”
Lu Anran slanted her head to look towards Ji Rou, “Mummy, I’m fine, just not hungry.”
Ji Rou came to stand beside Lu Anran, touched her forehead and said, “the maid said that you didn’t eat lunch.”
Lu Anran caught the sight of Ji Rou’s worry in her eyes and explained, “today morning, grandpa cooked for me and I ate the entire plate. So, when it was time for lunch, I was too full and naturally can’t eat lunch. It’s not that I don’t feel well, mummy you don’t need to worry.”
Hearing Lu Anran’s explanation, Ji Rou felt relieved. “But that is in the morning, it’s so late already, you should be hungry already. Let’s go, wash your hands and follow mum down for dinner!” Ji Rou said as she tugged on Lu Anran’s small and soft hands. “You are growing your body now, can’t go without eating.”
Lu Anran looked down at the book she has yet to finish reading, hesitated for a bit and then nodded, “En…ok!”
She carefully placed the book on her table, washed her hands and followed Ji Rou downstairs.
Chapter 47: engrossed in reading, accidental meeting on the streets
(Part 2)
When she reached the dining room, Lu Anhu opened his mouth to ask first, “Anran, you have shut yourself in the room for a whole day. What were you doing ah?” He was going to ask Lu Anran to learn some defence moves with him this afternoon, but this dude did not even turn up during lunch. Since it seems like there was an important matter, he did not want to disturb as well.
Lu Anran sat in her own seat and answered, “Nothing ah~ I was reading!”
“Reading?” Lu Anhu was surprised, “We have finally finished taking all our examinations. Why are you reading ah!”
“There’s a book that is pretty interesting, but it is of no importance.” Lu Anran felt that she should keep a low profile about matters concerning Lu Family’s cuisine, so she dealt with it in this manner. When she turned and met Lu Anwei’s inquiring gaze, Lu Anran chuckled and added, “It’s not a romance novel.”
Hearing what Lu Anran has said, Lu Anwei bowed his head and continued to eat. Somehow, after knowing that Lu Anwei liked to read romance novels, Lu Anran has always felt that Lu Anwei has a very cute tsundere1 side.
“Let’s go out shopping after dinner!” Ji Rou lifted her head and said, “I haven’t bought clothes and stuff for Anwei and Anhu even though both of them have been here for a while already. Usually, I’m working weekdays and have no time. It is just nice that I can bring the three of you out to shop.”
“It’s alright Eldest Aunt.” The 2 brothers Lu Anwei and Lu Anhu waved their hands in refusal and said, “The clothes we brought back with us are sufficient to wear, don’t need to spend any more money.”
Lu Anran thought that Ji Rou’s words were also reasonable, but to handle these two brothers, it was useless to invite them openly, so Lu Anran grinned and said, “Mum, you don’t have to force them la. As for me, I want to buy two sets of fitted sportswear and ask Brother Anwei and Anhu to teach me a little of defence or something from tomorrow onwards.”
“This……” Ji Rou looked into her daughter’s crafty eyes, and immediately understood her daughter’s intentions, so she echoed, “All right then! Anwei, Anhu, Anran and I will be going shopping in a while. I’ll leave the issue of security in the hands of you brothers.”
“No problem!” Lu Anwei and Lu Anhu agreed immediately. This is the responsibility of the two brothers and they naturally, will not shirk it.
Ji Rou and Lu Anran looked at each other with a smile, as they read the plan from each other’s eyes.
After eating, Old Zhang sent the four of them to the shopping plaza at the city centre. Once they reached the shopping plaza, Ji Rou first bought Lu Anran two sets of sportswear, and then started visiting men’s apparel stores.
“This……” With just a glance, the two brothers Lu Anwei and Lu Anhu knew that Ji Rou was going to pick out clothes for them.
“Come and try these two pieces.” Ji Rou handed over a t-shirt and an outer wear to Lu Anwei, then she found a set of sportswear and passed it over to Lu Anhu, “You can try this set.”
“Eldest Aunt, I… We don’t want.” Lu Anwei and Lu Anhu refused, “The both of us really brought enough clothes over.”
“What’s wrong with just trying!” Ji Rou looked at Lu Anran, “Anran ah, your two cousins are not willing to try out the sizes orh……”
“No biggie ah! Just buy all of them. As long as we buy all the four sizes, there will be one that should fit!” Lu Anran placed her hands on her hips and said dramatically, “Mum, which other clothes do you think is suitable for them ah?”
“I have taken a fancy to ten over suits, all not bad!” Ji Rou said.
“Then let’s buy them all! Same attire in four sizes, there will be one that they can wear!” Lu Anran concealed laughter in her eyes.
“Don’t ah!” The two brothers panicked. Both of them were brought up in the military. Although they never lacked for money, but they were used to being frugal. Now they were actually going to extravagantly purchase so many clothes, with even a few that cannot be worn. That’s not right ah!
Lu Anran persisted, “Then are you trying or not trying ah?”
“Try! We’ll try!” Lu Anhu completely surrendered and entered the fitting room after taking the sportswear that Ji Rou has picked out for him. When Lu Anwei saw that his younger brother has gone in, Lu Anwei also took the clothes and went into the fitting room.
Seeing the both of them obey and enter the fitting room, the pair of mother and daughter gave each other a victory sign. They bought about four to five sets of clothes for Lu Anwei and Lu Anhu before leaving apparel store. After shopping around for a while, Lu Anran suggested to everyone to eat supper before going home, no one had any opinion about it.
They found a dessert store on the third floor. As soon as they entered, Lu Anran saw a familiar figure. Ji Rou and the rest also saw her.
“Teacher Qin!” Lu Anran smiled and hollered.
“En?” Hearing someone calling out to her, Qin Shuhan turned around and saw the group of four that stood not far behind her. Instantly, a glimmer of alarm and bewilderment arose. She was deceived by her father to come over today. Her parents said that they did not have any money when shopping and would wait for her at this dessert shop. In the end, when she hurried over with her purse, she realised it was actually all a big hoax. Her father had cheerfully laughed as he watched her come in. When she saw that there was a 27 or 28 year old male stranger next to him, her heart went cold. As expected, it was a match- making deception by her Dad. Dad Qin had casually said a few sentences of conventional greetings before leaving her and this male stranger to stare at each other.
She was already angry enough, yet she still met Lu Anran and all at this time, making her feel even more embarrassed. Unconsciously, her gaze lingered onto the face of the person she cared about, but when she saw him deliberately avoiding her look, Qin Shuhan’s heart could not help tightening.
“Teacher Qin, what a coincidence ah!” Ji Rou smiled and said, “Are you on a date with your boyfriend?”
“No!” Qin Shuhan hurriedly denied and explained, “This is my father’s colleague. My Dad had a last- minute appointment and asked me to entertain on his behalf.”
“Entertain your father’s colleague in a dessert shop?” It did not make sense no matter how much Lu Anran thought about it, especially since this “colleague” was of the same age as Qin Shuhan. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed more like a blind date!
Of course, it was not only Lu Anran who thought this way.
Seeing the expression on everyone’s face, Qin Shuhan also knew that her reasons were weak and pitiful, so she said awkwardly, “Why don’t we all sit down together?”
“Together?” Ji Rou was temporarily at a loss and exchanged a look with Lu Anran.
“Won’t we be intruding ah……” Lu Anran asked.
1 Tsundere is a Japanese term referring to people who acts cold/ curt but is actually very soft/ affectionate on the inside.