Daddy's Gourmet Shop-Chapter 296 - 287: Whose Little Tabby Cat Is This?
On Sunday morning, Huang Tao was awakened by the piercing alarm sound of an electric bike outside the window.
This was the soundest and most comfortable night he had slept in days.
A night without dreams.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Turning his head, he saw Xuanxuan beside him.
The little one was still sleeping soundly at this moment, with a sweet smile lingering at the corner of her mouth.
Seems like she had a beautiful dream!
Huang Tao leaned over and softly kissed her smooth forehead, then tiptoed up, got dressed, and walked out of the room.
His mother, Song Cailian, had gotten up early.
At this time, she was on the balcony, soaking the clothes Huang Tao and Xuanxuan had taken off after their baths last night in a basin.
Planning to wash them for her son and granddaughter later.
After putting the clothes in the water.
She heard a sound, looked up, saw her son coming out of the bedroom, and asked:
"Where’s Xuanxuan? Is she still asleep?"
"Yes."
Huang Tao nodded: "We’re not going to the store today, so let her sleep in a bit."
Song Cailian felt sorry for her little granddaughter.
Being so young, she had to get up early and work late with her dad.
If she didn’t have a job, she really wanted to come and take care of Xuanxuan especially.
At least Xuanxuan could sleep in a bit more in the morning.
But...
Realizing she would retire in a couple of years.
She had to wait it out!
By the time she retires, Xuanxuan will just be starting elementary school.
She could then take responsibility for picking her up from school and helping with her homework.
Huang Tao glanced into his mom’s bedroom and the living room, not seeing his dad, and curiously asked, "Mom, where’s Dad? Why haven’t I seen him? Did he go for a morning exercise?"
"I sent your dad to the nearby market to buy wonton wrappers and pork."
Song Cailian replied with a smile and then asked, "Tao, is it okay if we have wontons for breakfast?"
"Sure!"
Huang Tao smiled slightly: "Whatever you make, I love to eat!"
This made Song Cailian’s heart flutter with joy; she beamed and said, "You are just a sweetheart."
Just then, the door sounded.
It was Huang Yide who had returned.
As soon as he entered, he cheerfully said, "Cailian, I’ve bought all the ingredients you wanted."
Seeing his son already up, he casually asked, "Son, you’re up? Xuanxuan is still asleep?"
"Dad, you’re back..."
Huang Tao nodded: "Yes, Xuanxuan is still asleep! I’ll go wash up first."
After saying that, he walked into the bathroom.
Song Cailian poked her head around and called, "Old Huang, put the groceries in the kitchen. I’ll come over after washing my hands."
"Oh! Okay."
Huang Yide quickly complied.
Song Cailian washed her hands and immediately followed him into the kitchen.
The two of them started getting busy.
Huang Yide was responsible for washing.
Song Cailian put the clean pork bones, chicken frames, and Chuanbei seafood into the pressure cooker to simmer.
This was her usual soup base for making wontons.
An hour later, this soup would be the soul of the delicious wontons.
Next, she prepared the filling.
She cleaned the fresh tenderloin and removed the sinews.
This way, the filling would be smooth and tasty.
"Chop chop chop~"
She began chopping the meat filling.
To avoid disturbing Xuanxuan’s sleep, she deliberately slowed her pace and lowered the volume.
After washing up, Huang Tao stood in the kitchen doorway and asked, "Mom, need any help?"
Song Cailian cared about her son and wanted him to take proper rest during his vacation.
She shook her head and refused: "No need, your dad and I got this. You go back to your room and get some more rest!"
Huang Yide shook his hand and said, "Don’t worry, I’m here to help! You just go along with your things!"
Huang Tao respected his parents’ wishes and asked, "Really don’t need help?"
"Really."
"Alright, then, I’ll go back to my room."
"Quickly go, don’t wake Xuanxuan, and check if she’s kicked the quilt off."
"Got it!"
When Huang Tao returned to his bedroom, Xuanxuan was already awake and sitting on the bed, dressing herself.
"Papa~"
Seeing her dad come in, she called out with a cheerful smile.
"Ah, you’re up..."
He walked over and helped her straighten her clothes.
Though Xuanxuan had learned to dress herself, she was still little and not very strong, and would often end up with her clothes crooked and unpresentable.
Somewhat disheveled.
He picked Xuanxuan up from the bed, grabbed her little slippers, and helped her put them on: "Come, wear your shoes properly. Let’s brush our teeth and wash up first. After breakfast, Daddy will take you to see the snow outside, okay?"
A father’s first rule is to keep promises to his children.
When you’ve promised something, you need to find the time to fulfill it.
Unless there are irresistible factors, it must be done.
"Watching the snow?"
Xuanxuan’s beautiful big eyes suddenly lit up like light bulbs, and she asked in disbelief, "Really?"
In her childish memory, she had only seen snow once in her life.
Although it was a long time ago, and she was very small then, with a blurry memory, she still remembered the little snowflakes floating in the sky, disappearing when they touched the ground.
Couldn’t have a snowball fight or make a snowman...
But she still longed for snowy days!
"Of course it’s true!"
Huang Tao smiled and said, "But daddy has a condition!"
Xuanxuan blinked her eyes, "What condition?"
"Hmm!"
Huang Tao bent down, pointed to his cheek, and said, "Give daddy a kiss."
Xuanxuan immediately puckered her small rosy lips and gave Huang Tao a peck on the cheek.
"Very good!"
Huang Tao laughed and led her to the bathroom to wash up.
After washing up, Xuanxuan ran with her little legs to the kitchen, blinking curiously, "Grandpa, Grandma, what are you doing?"
"Oh, Xuanxuan is awake!"
Song Cailian turned around with a kind smile and replied, "Making dumplings!"
Xuanxuan was eager to try, "Let me help you make them!"
"Alright, come over here, Grandma will teach you."
"Okay!"
Song Cailian followed Xuanxuan’s lead, teaching her hands-on, "First, spread the dumpling skin on your palm, scoop a spoonful of filling and place it in the center, then fold it up, like this, and it’s done."
The little one had pretty good hands-on ability and quickly got the hang of it.
Huang Tao joined in as well.
With Huang Tao’s help, Song Cailian’s speed increased a lot.
In the kitchen, four figures stood side by side.
After a while, over a hundred dumplings were neatly placed on the board.
The pink of the tender meat evenly showed through from the skin.
Whetting the appetite.
"Daddy’s dumplings look the best, like little ingots, Grandma and Grandpa’s look like dainty little squares! Mine..."
With such a comparison.
Xuanxuan felt her own dumplings looked a bit ugly.
Huang Tao encouraged with a compliment, "Xuanxuan’s are varied in shape, very cute!"
"Xuanxuan, they really are quite good."
Huang Yide chuckled, "When I was Xuanxuan’s age, I didn’t even know how to make dumplings!"
Hearing Grandpa and Daddy say so, the little one’s mood instantly improved.
Huang Tao glanced sideways at Xuanxuan, her chubby little face had some flour on it.
The little one’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her fair tender skin had a faint pink hue.
With flour on her face, she looked even more playful and cute!
"Oh my, whose little kitten is this?"
Xuanxuan: ⊙(・◇・)?
Huh?
Did Daddy say a little kitten?
Where is it?
Xuanxuan quickly looked down all around but didn’t see any sign of a little kitten.
Her little face couldn’t help but show a hint of confusion, thinking, "Daddy, we only have Mimi, the little yellow cat, not a little kitten!"
Huang Yide and his wife couldn’t help but laugh seeing her face like a little kitten.
"Hahaha... Xuanxuan, you got flour on your own face and turned into a little kitten?"
"Oh..."
Xuanxuan suddenly realized who Daddy’s little kitten was referring to...
Turns out it was her!
She quickly got off the stool and ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror.
Huang Tao followed closely, ready to help her wash her face again.
Song Cailian put the dumplings into boiling water to cook.
They immediately swam like fish in the water.
Turning over, rising.
Huang Yide started another stove to fry eggs.
According to their preferences, she added seaweed, pickled vegetables, shrimp skins, and ladled some broth into each bowl.
The clear broth flowed down into the bowl.
Instantly blooming!
Carefully putting the cooked dumplings into the bowls, tender yellow pickled vegetables and translucent shrimp skins floated on the surface, releasing a fresh aroma.
She sprinkled some egg slivers over the soup and added a few onion slices.
Amidst the steamy heat, a beautiful and unique bowl of dumplings was ready.
When Huang Tao returned with Xuanxuan’s freshly washed face, the distinct savory aroma of dumplings wafted through the air.
Seeing the father and daughter come out, Song Cailian called out, "The dumplings are ready, eat while they’re hot."
The family sat neatly around the dining table.
Xuanxuan ate with relish.
The small dumplings melted in her mouth with the tender fragrant broth, tasting very good.
Of course, in her heart.
If you count the best cook...
It’s still Daddy!
