The room was more or less as the father and daughter had imagined.
Though simple, it was clean and had its own bathroom.
Huo Xiaozheng quickly tidied up the room and neatly arranged their luggage.
Huo Guining became a little flatterer: "Dad, you're so fast at organizing! You're amazing!"
Huo Xiaozheng had studied abroad alone before, and because of his mild obsession with cleanliness, he often organized his own belongings.
The corners of his mouth quirked up: "You think that's impressive?"
Huo Guining nodded without hesitation.
After settling in, it was time for lunch.
According to the director's requirements, the children needed to go to a designated spot to choose ingredients for their families, and then have their fathers cook.
Huo Xiaozheng thought for a moment and instructed, "Ning Ning, take whatever you want to eat."
Huo Guining nodded without delay.
Upon reaching the designated spot, whether intentionally or not, there were two good-looking pork ribs on the table.
Unlike the other bewildered children, Huo Guining, almost without hesitation, claimed the ribs.
Considering that the variety of ingredients wasn't particularly abundant, she only took one rib, along with a handful of greens and two eggs.
On the way back, the cameraman asked her why she didn't take more.
Ning Ning looked confused: "Why take so much? We should leave some for others too."
Cameraman: Why did I even bother asking her? [Mind blown]
Seeing Ning Ning return, Huo Xiaozheng put down his tablet and went to greet her.
Seeing the ingredients she brought, Huo Xiaozheng frowned: "Why did you only take this little?"
Based on her usual appetite, it probably wouldn't be enough.
Ning Ning smiled sweetly: "The show didn't provide much, so I was worried others might not have enough. That's why I took less."
Huo Xiaozheng understood.
Cameraman: ? Your tone was quite different when you told me earlier.
"Go play for a while, Dad will call you when the food is ready."
Huo Guining followed him into the kitchen like a little tail: "I want to help you."
Huo Xiaozheng rolled up his sleeves past his elbows and put the greens in a basin of water for her to play with: "Then you can help Dad wash the vegetables."
Huo Guining excitedly sat down on a small stool and started washing diligently.
Hearing the sound of chopping ribs from the kitchen, Huo Guining thought her dad was even more impressive, so she washed with even more vigor.
Ten minutes later, Huo Xiaozheng looked at the vegetables in the basin. Although he felt puzzled, he immediately praised Ning Ning: "Great job, they're so clean!"
Production team: Of course they're clean! If you wash them any more, they'll be cooked. What's the point of stir-frying then?
Huo Guining had never really done housework in her previous life, so she believed Huo Xiaozheng's praise.
She enthusiastically asked for the next task.
Huo Xiaozheng looked around and put the bowls and chopsticks in a basin for her to wash slowly.
With her previous experience, Huo Guining's confidence soared, and she washed the simple bowls with the intensity of a scientific experiment.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, the production team watched the swirling smoke and cautiously spoke up: "Mr. Huo, why don't you turn off the fire first?"
Huo Xiaozheng was stunned for a moment, also feeling that the smoke was a bit heavy.
He turned off the gas, lifted the lid, and a mix of savory and burnt smells wafted out.
The simple exhaust fan was working frantically, its blades almost sparking, but it couldn't dispel the heavy smoke.
Huo Xiaozheng and the cameraman fled the kitchen like refugees.
In the yard, Huo Guining had finished washing the dishes and was staring absent-mindedly at the white clouds in the sky.
Seeing them come out, Huo Guining's eyes lit up: "Dad, is the food ready?"
Because he was worried Ning Ning might get hurt in the kitchen, Huo Xiaozheng had forbidden her to enter.
Huo Xiaozheng, unusually sheepish, said: "We need to wait a bit longer."
Huo Guining nodded good-naturedly and pointed to a cloud on the horizon, saying: "Dad, look at that cloud. It's so fluffy, it looks delicious."
Cameraman: ? What's she on about?
Huo Xiaozheng responded unsympathetically: "Don't even think about it. Your sugar intake for this month is already over the limit. Cotton candy is out of the question."
Huo Guining wasn't discouraged and even showed a silly smile: "How about next month?"
Huo Xiaozheng thought for three seconds: "Alright."
Cameraman: It's not that Ning Ning is hard to understand, it's that we're not on the same wavelength.
The aroma from the kitchen wafted out on the breeze, and Huo Guining took a deep breath, her almond-shaped eyes widening: "Dad, your cooking smells so good!"
Cameraman: ?
The corners of Huo Xiaozheng's usually straight mouth lifted slightly: "We can eat in just a moment."
As the smoke in the kitchen had mostly cleared, the cameraman reluctantly followed him in. In the pot lay black, unidentifiable objects that were supposedly ribs.
He zoomed in for a close-up.
Huo Xiaozheng calmly scooped out the mass and put it in a bowl.
He heated the wok, added oil, threw in the nearly pulverized vegetables, and then, guided by his excellent intuition, added salt and chicken bouillon in succession.
Remembering that vegetables on the dining table usually had some soup, Huo Xiaozheng added half a bowl of water and covered the wok.
A minute later, Huo Xiaozheng lifted the lid and satisfiedly dished out the vegetables.
"Ning Ning, lunch is ready."
Huo Xiaozheng's voice came from the kitchen, and Huo Guining cheerfully responded, quickly walking towards him.
The father and daughter properly set out the bowls, chopsticks, and dishes, sitting in the small courtyard, enjoying today's lunch under the warm sunlight.
Upon seeing the ribs, Huo Guining's expression froze for a moment.
But it was only for an instant.
Seeing Huo Xiaozheng come out with the steamed egg, she flashed a sweet smile.
"Dad, you're amazing! You actually made three dishes."
Huo Xiaozheng carefully washed his hands, making sure there was no lingering smell of cooking oil, before picking up his bowl to start eating.
"It's Dad's first time cooking, I'm not sure if it's good. Give it a try."
Huo Guining picked up a piece of 'rib'. The sauce-covered rib delivered a texture entirely consistent with its appearance, difficult to describe.
Huo Guining gave an enthusiastic thumbs up, her eyes flickering as she said: "These ribs are so delicious! They melt in your mouth!"
Huo Xiaozheng took a bite, somewhat skeptically, but felt satisfied: "I'm glad you like it, Ning Ning."
Huo Guining tasted the vegetables and the sponge-like steamed egg in turn.
The mushy vegetables tasted a bit fishy, but were still tolerable.
As for the steamed egg, although it looked like a sponge, it was actually so hard that chopsticks could barely pierce it.
Huo Xiaozheng found a stainless steel spoon, which finally allowed Huo Guining to taste some of it.
Huo Guining was very supportive, and soon her bowl of rice was empty.
As she swallowed the last mouthful of rice, Huo Guining couldn't help but make a retching sound.
The courtyard suddenly fell into silence.
After a while, Huo Guining made an excuse that she had eaten too quickly, and put down her chopsticks.
The cameraman insincerely praised: "Ning Ning ate with such gusto! She finished a bowl of rice so quickly!"
Huo Xiaozheng: At home, Ning Ning usually eats three bowls of rice.
Huo Guining glanced lightly at the camera: If you don't know how to make conversation, you don't have to.
