Daddy's Gourmet Shop-Chapter 237 - 229: Your Birthday Is in the First Lunar Month!
The winter afternoon sunlight is always so lazy and powerless.
Even so, it doesn’t stop the already retired and idle neighbors from basking in it, warming up and chatting about daily life.
In the past!
They would sit on their own balconies, sipping tea and enjoying the leisurely afternoon.
Occasionally, they’d gather together, sitting around a table, playing mahjong, and recounting their embellished past...
But now!
They’ve all changed their base of operations.
Bringing their own chairs, they come to sunbathe in front of the Delicious Restaurant.
Of course, their real intention isn’t sunbathing but securing the best spot in line ahead of time.
Indeed, they manage to line up and sunbathe without missing either!
So!
They refreshed their own record for queuing frenzy once again.
From the original four o’clock, it’s now pushed to three o’clock.
Plus, with other customers being so eager for West Lake Vinegar Fish and Honeyed Ham, it’s probably a mix of wanting desperately to eat and the thought that what you can’t have is the best.
By not even four in the afternoon, people start queuing early.
Who would’ve thought, outdoing those college students with no classes, but still couldn’t surpass these idle retired seniors.
Ah!
These days, even getting a meal involves such a fierce competition!
When Huang Tao stepped out to pick up Xuanxuan from school, he saw the queue already reaching the neighbor’s door, extending quite far!
It looked like there were about 200 people!
The number of returning customers is increasing day by day!
The neighbors saw Huang Tao come out and greeted him with smiles: "Boss Huang, heading to pick up Xuanxuan from school?"
"Yeah."
He nodded with a smile, caring as he said: "As it’s getting colder, there’s no need for you to queue so early. Coming around 5pm would be just fine."
The neighbors waved their hands: "No, no, no, if we arrive by five, we might not get what we want to eat. If that happens, there would be no time for tears, we can’t risk that."
"Exactly! We’d rather face the cold wind than miss out on your cooking!"
Hearing this, Huang Tao couldn’t help but laugh helplessly.
Since everyone insisted, he couldn’t say much more, so he rode his e-bike to pick up Xuanxuan.
At this moment, there were already many parents standing outside the kindergarten, all waiting to pick up their kids home.
"Mr. Xuan, you’re here."
The other parents looked at Huang Tao smilingly, eyes gleaming with a different kind of light, and greeted him warmly.
It’s often said that to win someone’s heart, you have to win their stomach first.
This saying does have truth to it.
At least most of the kindergarten parents and teachers in various classes knew Huang Tao and had a good impression of him.
"Yes, I’ve arrived, and you all are here to pick up the kids too!"
Huang Tao responded politely with a smile, then went to where Xuanxuan’s class lined up.
Jiangling chuckled and asked: "Mr. Xuan, I heard your restaurant launched two new dishes for lunch, West Lake Vinegar Fish and Honeyed Ham?"
He nodded: "Yes, that’s right."
Jiangling asked the question he was most concerned about: "Will there be any left for tonight? I was busy tending to the shop today and didn’t have time to queue for it!"
After speaking, a look of helplessness flashed across his face.
Huang Tao honestly said: "We only have Honeyed Ham for tonight, but not much, so you have to come early."
"Okay, I’ll head directly to your store after I pick up Qianqian." Jiangling looked determined to get it.
At this moment.
Xuanxuan, led by Ye Wen, queued with other children to the kindergarten gate.
Huang Tao immediately spotted his precious daughter trying to tiptoe and search for him in the crowd.
He quickly waved to signal her.
Seeing this, Xuanxuan spotted Huang Tao right away.
Daddy!
Her rosy little face immediately displayed a sweet smile.
Though she really wanted to dash into her father’s embrace right away, she obediently stayed in line because Ye hadn’t called her name yet.
But to let him know she’d seen him, she waved back too.
When it was her turn, Ye gestured to her and gently called: "Xuanxuan, your daddy is here to pick you up."
"Daddy~"
Xuanxuan quickly ran towards her father.
"Slow down..."
Huang Tao hurriedly stretched out his hands, lifting her up and into his arms.
Seeing the several red stickers on her forehead, Huang Tao joyfully said: "Oh, my Xuanxuan got more red stickers today, it seems you did great at school today!"
"Yes, yes~"
Xuanxuan nodded, recounting accurately: "Daddy, I cleaned my plate today at lunch and helped Ye wipe the tables. Ye awarded me two red stickers, and I got another for good drawing this afternoon..."
"Is that so! My Xuanxuan is so wonderful!"
He kissed her cheek.
Ye Wen testified from the side: "Mr. Xuan, Xuanxuan’s recent performance in kindergarten has been outstanding."
"Xuanxuan is getting better mainly because Ye’s teaching is excellent."
"Not at all, you flatter me."
After chatting for a bit, Huang Tao and his daughter bid farewell to Ye Wen and headed towards where their e-bike was parked.
Xuanxuan, hugging his shoulder and rubbing her cheek against his, said: "Daddy, it’s Haohao’s birthday today."
"Haohao?"
He thought for a moment: "Is he the boy who cries a lot?"
Xuanxuan blinked her pretty big eyes: "Yes, it’s him!"
He asked curiously, "Oh, so how did you know it’s his birthday today? Did he tell you?"
"Nope!"
Xuanxuan shook her head like a rattle and continued, "His mom brought a birthday cake and shared it with us, that’s how I found out."
Huang Tao asked with a smile, "Did you say thank you to the auntie and happy birthday to Haohao?"
"I did!"
Her little head leaned on Huang Tao’s shoulder, and she whispered softly into his ear: "Daddy."
"Yes!"
Huang Tao responded and, guessing his daughter’s little thoughts, asked with a smile, "Are you thinking about celebrating your birthday again, Xuanxuan?"
"Uh-huh~"
Xuanxuan nodded vigorously, blinking her eyes as she asked, "Daddy, when can I have my birthday again?"
Huang Tao told the truth: "After the New Year, after the Lantern Festival, that’s when you can celebrate, because your birthday is in the first lunar month!"
Xuanxuan tilted her little head, thinking!
But she couldn’t remember the date of her own birthday.
In her confusion, she asked her dad: "Daddy, what date is it?"
"The eighteenth of the first lunar month!"
Huang Tao answered with a smile and then thought carefully, "When it’s your birthday, you should be in school. Then Daddy can bring a birthday cake to your kindergarten and share it with your friends, okay?"
"Yay~"
Xuanxuan nodded, but then shook her head: "Hmm, Daddy, I think, when it’s my birthday, I’ll invite them to eat Dongpo Pork, Yellow Croaker Noodles, and Crab Stir-fry Cake. They say they love your dishes the most!"
Huang Tao chuckled, "Alright, when it’s your birthday, invite them to our restaurant, and Daddy will cook!"
"Yes, yes!"
Xuanxuan happily hugged Huang Tao’s neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek, asking sweetly: "Daddy, when is your birthday?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Hmm, December 6th!"
Huang Tao curiously asked, "Why are you asking?"
Xuanxuan’s big round eyes rolled as she played mystery: "Not telling you!"
"You little rascal..."
Huang Tao gently tapped her tiny nose with his finger, not minding, and laughed: "Daddy saved a fish for you. I’ll make West Lake Vinegar Fish for you."
Xuanxuan couldn’t help but lick her lips: "Daddy, is there any Honeyed Ham?"
This little rascal was still thinking about it!
"Yes!"
Huang Tao placed her on the front of the electric scooter. The little girl squatted inside the windproof cover like a cute little hedgehog.
Back at the restaurant.
The little girl jumped off the scooter.
At the entrance, the neighbors greeted warmly.
"Xuanxuan, you’re back?!"
"Xuanxuan, it’s getting cold, remember to wear more clothes!"
"Your little lips look dry, drink more water!"
She gave a sweet smile and politely said: "Thank you, grandpas and grandmas, for your concern. I know! When it’s my birthday, I’ll treat you all to something tasty."
This left the neighbors a bit puzzled before they laughed and said: "Okay!"
Then she ran into the restaurant to wave and greet Mimi lounging in the cat bed: "Mimi, good afternoon."
"Meow~"
Mimi responded lazily.
Ding Suqin smiled and greeted her: "Xuanxuan is back."
"Yes, hello Aunt Suqin, hello Haozi, hello Zifeng."
She waved her hand and greeted them, not forgetting to invite: "When it’s my birthday, I’ll treat you to something delicious."
Ding Suqin and the others paused, puzzled, and asked: "Xuanxuan, when’s your birthday?"
Xuanxuan’s little face was serious: "Next year, on the eighteenth of the first lunar month!"
Ah, it’s next year in the first lunar month!
Plenty of time to prepare gifts.
After Xuanxuan finished speaking, she went to play with her new Barbie doll.
Huang Tao entered the restaurant, put down Xuanxuan’s backpack and water bottle, changed into his chef’s outfit, and washed his hands to make West Lake Vinegar Fish for Xuanxuan.
Before long.
The West Lake Vinegar Fish and Yellow Croaker Noodles were ready, and he brought them over.
"Smells great!"
The little girl’s nose twitched involuntarily.
Huang Tao thoughtfully removed the fish bones from the West Lake Vinegar Fish and placed it into a small bowl for her.
"Eat up!"
She picked up her chopsticks and started on the bowl of West Lake Vinegar Fish.
Bite after bite, she ate like a little hamster, her cheeks smeared with some sauce.
"Eat slowly, no one’s going to take it from you." He grabbed a few napkins and wiped her little face and mouth.
"It’s delicious!"
She tilted her little head, squinted her crescent-like eyes, and happily swung her thin little legs.
Outside, the neighbors, catching the familiar smell of West Lake Vinegar Fish, couldn’t help but look towards the full-length glass window.
Vaguely, they saw Xuanxuan delightfully eating the West Lake Vinegar Fish that Huang Tao had served her.
Their eyes revealed a touch of envy.
They all envied Xuanxuan for having a father so skilled in cooking, able to make whatever she wanted to eat!
Oh, they envied her!
