Today was the day that little Xiao Sijin would officially become a resident, and Xiao Jun had specially set aside time to prepare a celebration.
Evidently, little Xiao Sijin himself did not know about this matter.
The impact of the epidemic was slowly declining to the lowest point, and everyone seemed to have returned to their previous days.
The spring breeze brought warmth, and the streets were once again filled with people coming and going.
Du Rourou darted in from the entrance, "Ah ah ah! I almost arrived late!"
Wang Wenhao was sitting in the lobby peeling potato skins. Seeing Du Rourou, he curled his lips. "Couldn't you have come earlier? You're late every day..."
"I was just dawdling..." Du Rourou said helplessly.
"You know you're dawdling and you still don't hurry up or come early." Wang Wenhao said.
"I know, I know! I'll pay attention next time!"
"It would be good if you could pay attention!" Wang Wenhao didn't believe her at all.
Du Rourou muttered under her breath as she washed her hands and sat down to peel potato skins. "Why are there so many potatoes?"
"You just peel them, what's the point of asking so much? I'll tell you but you won't understand anyway."
"You, one day without insulting me and you'll feel awful, right?" Du Rourou was unhappy.
"I didn't--" Wang Wenhao flatly denied it.
"Hmph, as if I'm willing to reason with you." Du Rourou threw down the potatoes and went to the back to find alum powder.
Wang Wenhao looked at Du Rourou's back with a hint of regret.
"If you like her, why are you so harsh with your words?" Xiao Jun said quietly.
He had been watching for quite a while.
"Ah! You scared me!" Wang Wenhao nearly jumped up from his chair.
Seeing it was Xiao Jun, he relaxed. "Master, you nearly frightened me to death!"
"Do you think you can win a girl's heart like this?" Xiao Jun asked again.
"I..." Wang Wenhao hemmed and hawed, not knowing what to say for half a day.
Xiao Jun waited half a day and still did not see him make any move to speak, so he returned to the kitchen.
When Du Rourou came out, Wang Wenhao suddenly called out to stop her. "What...kind of boyfriend do you like?"
Du Rourou was stunned for a moment. "Why ask this?"
"Just asking."
"I like...handsome ones, rich ones, ones who treat me well." Du Rourou gave a few vague characteristics.
When Wang Wenhao heard this, he felt half of himself had turned cold.
"Oh." He gave a muffled, gloomy response.
"Why are you being weird?" Du Rourou asked curiously. "Could it be..."
She leaned on Wang Wenhao's shoulder in a chummy way, mysteriously yet humorously moving closer to him.
Wang Wenhao's heart thumped rapidly. Could she know...
But Du Rourou whispered gossipily, "Could it be...your mom is forcing you to go on a blind date?"
Wang Wenhao was stunned for a moment. "No."
He looked at Du Rourou's expression, smiled and shook his head. Never mind, take it slowly.
Xiao Jun had hired a yuesao (postpartum caregiver) to take care of Ding Sha for a month, while also bringing along the child.
He didn't want Ding Sha to put her entire life focus on Ping'an, so he carefully selected a barely satisfactory yuesao to complete this task.
At first, Ding Sha felt it was unnecessary, but on the first day the yuesao arrived, Ding Sha was visibly relieved and felt much more relaxed.
She no longer needed to get up in the middle of the night to breastfeed, or constantly walk around carrying the baby all day without stopping, or be bothered by changing diapers and the baby's cries.
Instead, she had much more time for herself, whether to hone her cooking skills or relax her mood.
She even went to the museum on a work day to take a quick tour around.
Da Zhuang rushed in hurriedly. "Sis, I have something I'm hoping you can help me with, I thought it over and you're the most suitable. Can you do me a favor?"
"Go ahead and tell me," Ding Sha said generously.
"It's like this - I have a chance to bid on a building project in the suburbs of Xicheng District, and I'd like to be able to undertake this project. I finally got the person with the authority to make decisions from the other party to have dinner with me. I figured coming to your place would be good."
Da Zhuang was a little embarrassed. "I asked around, and found out he especially loves Cantonese cuisine. Could you..." He looked to Ding Sha pleadingly.
Ding Sha considered it briefly. "Sure, any dietary restrictions? When will they come? How many people total?"
"No dietary restrictions, he just loves authentic Cantonese cuisine. They'll come tomorrow afternoon. Probably six or seven people."
"Alright, you can bring them directly to the private room when they arrive."
After settling on the plan, Ding Sha went to check on ingredients in the kitchen.
She decided to make soy braised fish belly, taro and pork ribs soup, squid with broccoli, pickled plum stewed pork trotters and barbecue pork fried rice.
These few dishes were all relatively classic Cantonese cuisine that she was quite skilled at making.
After calling the grocery shop to order the necessary vegetables, Ding Sha also told Madam Zhuang to remember to tidy up the private room.
The next morning at dawn, Ding Sha began her preparations.
The freshly delivered pork trotters were washed clean with water to remove the fishy smell, then gently simmered to boil off impurities before being poured into the wok to stir-fry briefly. Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce and soy sauce were added, and lastly 5-6 pickled plums, before topping up with water to continue stewing.
Green onions, ginger and pickled plums were added to the sandpot before switching to high heat to continue stewing vigorously.
After about 40 minutes, the pickled plum stewed pork trotters were done. Eaten, they gave a sweet flavor accompanied by the light fragrance of pickled plums.
Da Zhuang brought the partners over fashionably late. The representative of the partners was quite displeased. "You brought us to a little shop like this?"
"The shop may not be big, but the dishes the boss and boss's wife make are all extremely delicious."
Da Zhuang seemed very confident.
The partners suppressed their dissatisfaction and skepticism, waiting for Ding Sha to serve the dishes.
The first dish out was soy braised fish belly, tender when bitten into.
After just one bite, the partners were very happy. "Now this is the taste! Although I haven't been back home in a long time, this flavor left a deep impression."
As he spoke, the remaining dishes were also brought up one by one.
The partners ate with great relish, barely setting down his chopsticks. Da Zhuang watched on also very happily.
Who knows, maybe the partners would happily agree to sign the contract after this meal.
Finally, with the wine and food settling contentedly, the partners began to discuss news of the new project with Da Zhuang in a dignified manner.
After seeing them off, Da Zhuang returned, ecstatic to the point he seemed ready to start jumping for joy. "Sis! Sis! Thank you! I got the deal!"
He yelled loudly enough to call everyone else out. Seeing him make a fool of himself, Madam Zhuang couldn't help laughing too.
"Congratulations, we'll throw you a celebration banquet when the job is done," Xiao Jun joked.
Da Zhuang swaggered around very pleased with himself. "With Da Zhuang on the job, it'll absolutely be fast and good!"
Da Zhuang happily awaited the partners sending over the contract they had discussed, as promised, but after waiting a long time it still didn't arrive.
Ding Sha felt somewhat confused - what was taking so long just to mail a contract...
Da Zhuang waited another day before finally unable to endure and started pacing back and forth by the entrance.
He couldn't help but call the partners using the contact information they had left behind, wanting to ask what was going on.
The polite receptionist gently informed him, "We're very sorry, but this project has already been contracted with Longteng Company..."
Da Zhuang didn't hear anything else the receptionist said after that. His mind was filled with just two words...
"It's over!!"
