Chapter 679: A Family of Three
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Lei also thought of this point and was very surprised.
However, he was also a little worried. “You’re so young. Will you be able to learn it?” Cooking was a very physical activity, and it was dangerous to hold a knife and be near the fire. No matter how much Shaohui liked to do housework, he was just a four- or five-year-old child. He was not even as tall as the stove. What if an accident happened?
As if he guessed his worries, Shaohui said, “Uncle, you can custom make a set of kitchen equipment for me and I can just cook using them. You can also make one set for my sister so I can cook for her.”
This child was very smart. Li Lei smiled and agreed.
However, he was still worried that he could not convince Xia Ling. Shaohui said, “Let me think of a way.”
Thus, it was decided.
Li Lei went to the kitchen to cook and Shaohui naturally followed him in. He said, “Uncle, you can teach me how to cook as you make dinner. Let’s cook for sister together.”
Thus, Li Lei taught him how to peel a tomato step by step and which type of grain made the most fragrant rice. He also said that the strength of the fire had to be different during different seasons and he had to put in more thought into it. Shaohui was very focused and listened attentively. He was also skillful and peeled the tomatoes beautifully and properly.
Li Lei praised him. “Compared to the first time your sister did this… No, even now, you’re much better than her.” Sure enough, this child was not Xiao Ling’s biological child. He could tell from his natural talent at cooking.
After being praised, Shaohui was very happy and cutely said, “Uncle, when did you meet my sister? Can you please tell me about you and your sister’s past?”
Li Lei, who was holding a ladle, hesitated for a moment.
He finally came back to reality when Shaohui reminded him that his food was about to be burnt. There was some longing in his voice. “I’ve known your sister for many years. At that time, she…”
Both of them chatted as they cooked.
However, no one noticed that outside the kitchen door, someone was standing there quietly. She was petite and was very casually dressed as she looked at them with complicated emotions.
As Li Lei beat the eggs, he said, “Your sister doesn’t know how to cook and doesn’t like to cook. At that time I thought that it was lucky I liked to cook and could make many delicious dishes. I could cook for her for a lifetime.”
“What happened, then?” Shaohui asked softly, “Why didn’t you end up with my sister in the end?”
“That’s because…” Li Lei started to beat the eggs slower and was quiet for a long time, before saying, “The adult world is not as ideal as fairytales. Perhaps the heavens are testing us, and I’m still trying my best to pass the test.”
Shaohui was confused.
On the other hand, the petite girl slightly lowered her head.
Shaohui asked again, “Uncle, why did you add so many green onions to this tomato egg soup?”
“That’s because your sister likes it.”
“What else does my sister like to eat?”
Li Lei told him all of the dishes she loved like an expert.
Beside the door, the petite girl could not bear to hear more and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, she accidentally hit a chair and created a loud noise. The two people in the kitchen immediately turned around.
“Sister!”
“Xiao Ling!”
Both of them called at the same time.
Xia Ling stood still. Her heart surged as she looked at the handsome face of the apron-wearing man in front of her. He still had her in his heart and still remembered what she liked to eat and her other small habits. After so many years had passed, she was surprised that he did not forget it at all.
However, so what?
Besides cooking for her, wasn’t he also cooking for Su Tang and her son during his leisure time?
Imaging their happy family of three, Xia Ling felt very upset.
“When did you come?” Li Lei delightedly walked towards her. “Take a seat first. Shaohui and I are almost done.”
Xia Ling continued to look at him without moving. Then, she said, “Li Lei, you abducted my child here so that he could help you with your cooking?”
“I was the one who pestered Uncle Li to teach me.” Shaohui quickly explained for his stupid father.
Xia Ling glared at him.
However, Shaohui innocently said, “Uncle Li cooks very well. Sister, after I’ve learned how to cook, I can cook for you every day.”
“That’s not necessary.” Xia Ling coldly said.
“I can also cook for myself.” Shaohui rarely spoke so smoothly. “I just love to eat the dishes cooked by Uncle Li. I just tried a few mouthfuls and it was delicious. Sister, if you aren’t going to let me eat, can you let me visit Uncle Li’s house every day to eat?”
Xia Ling was speechless. Was this child a golden retriever? How could he bought over so easily?
A burnt smell came from the pot.
The few of them were focused on talking and caused the food to be burnt. Li Lei quickly went over to take a look and said to Xia Ling, “Xiao Ling just wait for a while, you can eat soon. No matter how much you dislike me, just eat before you go for the sake of the child.”
Shaohui also said, “Sister, look, I’ve learned how to peel tomatoes today.” He lifted the peeled tomatoes for her to take a look.
Seeing that he was so happy, Xia Ling really couldn’t bear to rain on his parade and waited patiently beside him.
Sure enough, Shaohui was naturally talented at cooking. After a few instructions from Li Lei, he was able to do everything Li Lei did. However, as a child, he lacked strength and had small hands, so he couldn’t hold the cabbage steadily when he tried to peel it.
Xia Ling really couldn’t bear to continue watching him and helped him peel the cabbage. She did not like to cook, but she couldn’t stand seeing her child suffer. Shaohui was very happy. This was the first time he was cooking with his parents and it was very memorial to him. Looking at the house that was like a battlefield, he happily said, “Wait here.”
He ran out and returned with a servant to help them take a photo as a family of three.
Xia Ling was not very happy. “How is this worth taking a photo?”
Shaohui said softly, “I learned cooking for the first time today.”
Xia Ling could not say anything. Although she appeared emotionless, she still accommodated the photo. Shaohui stood in the middle. He held Li Lei with one hand and held her with his other hand. He smiled vibrantly, and they really did look like a family of three. At the moment when the servant was about to press the shutter, the leopard also appeared and interrupted their photo. Thus, the photo showed a family of three and a leopard with a messy kitchen as their backdrop.
It was unexpectedly heartwarming.
Shaohui excitedly looked at the photo and said that he would hang it up when he returned home. Someone had already helped to place the dishes on the table and distribute the tableware. Xia Ling quietly ate. She had not eaten Li Lei’s cooking for a long time and right now, the taste of it evoked many memories. She looked a little forlorn.
Li Lei also did not say much and just looked at her tenderly.
Shaohui was carefree and could not stop talking, so the atmosphere at the dining table was not very awkward. Except…
Suddenly, a wheelchaired boy being pushed in appeared in front of them