The ingredients are ready.

Xu Hao and Ding Suqin quickly got to work.

Lin Yuhan thought about how Huang Tao would take time out of his busy schedule to teach her how to cook, and seeing she had nothing to offer in return, she could only help with the chores to repay his kindness.

So then...

She swiftly joined the line of people washing vegetables.

Seeing everyone busy, Shen Qiumo walked over to Xu Hao and started helping to wash the ingredients.

Xu Hao's gaze stayed fixed on her actions, with no intention of looking away.

Sensing someone's persistent glances from the corner of her eye, Shen Qiumo turned her head and smiled at Xu Hao.

"What is it?"

"Nothing..." Xu Hao was caught by surprise and felt a bit embarrassed as he got up, went aside to get a pair of thin rubber gloves, and handed them to her: "Put on these gloves, a girl's hands need good protection."

"Alright, thank you."

Shen Qiumo's eyes sparkled brightly, a sweetness bubbling up inside her.

Ding Suqin looked up at the young couple and couldn't help but smile with an aunt-like fondness.

Lin Yuhan deliberately squinted at Xu Hao, then glanced in Shen Qiumo's direction.

She teased, "Assistant Chef Xu, you're being a bit biased, only giving gloves to our senior sister."

"Well, you have some too..."

"Great!" Lin Yuhan playfully tugged on Shen Qiumo's hand: "Senior sister, he specially prepared these for you, quickly put them on!"

Shen Qiumo smiled and gave her a big sassy eye roll.

Huang Tao watched from not far away.

The lively young people gathered together, enjoying their youth in the best of times.

Just watching it all seemed absolutely wonderful!

Huang Tao's eyes brimmed with envy as he went to check on his braised duck neck to see how it was cooking.

As soon as he lifted the lid...

The duck necks in the pot bubbled away, releasing a rich aroma that filled the air.

This freshly cooked braised broth was prepared with secret spices concocted by Huang Tao, making its fragrance particularly potent.

The scent of the duck necks and the spices melded together over time...

So incredibly fragrant!

This aromatic simmering was the most torturous, penetrating the nose with its incessant teasing.

It stirred up the cravings in the stomach...

Shen Qiumo delicately sniffed with her petite nose: "Hmm, this braised aroma is too fragrant! I've never smelled such a delicious braise before!"

Xu Hao caught every word and kept it in mind.

He thought of asking the boss later if he could buy some in advance to satisfy her cravings.

Lin Yuhan, who wasn't usually too interested in food, couldn't help but swallow her saliva: "This scent makes my mouth water..."

Ding Suqin asked with an enlightened look on her face: "Boss, is this the aroma of the braised duck neck?"

"Yes, we're adding braised duck necks to the menu tonight," Huang Tao smiled.

"Ah, great! Your skills are excellent, everything you make is delicious. My daughter says it's delicious too and constantly praises your cooking skills."

Ding Suqin laughed, saying that ever since her daughter tasted the nourishing fish soup sent by Huang Tao, she couldn't stop praising it and had completely fallen in love with it.

Knowing her mom worked at the restaurant and she could eat its delicious food every day, her daughter was quite envious.

"Is that so! Then save a portion for your daughter to try in the evening," Huang Tao said with a smile, while thinking about his precious daughter: Is she still taking her nap, or has she woken up?

"Ah! Great, she would be very happy to know. Thank you, boss."

Ding Suqin smiled, knowing the restaurant's food usually sells out, so she was too shy to ask to buy a portion in advance without the boss offering.

And it so happened that her daughter particularly loved munching on braised duck necks.

"Everyone's worked hard. When it's ready, let's all have a taste of this braised duck neck," Huang Tao generously offered.

Shen Qiumo graciously thanked him: "Then thank you, Boss Huang..."

Next to her, Lin Yuhan wore an expression of surprise and excitement: "Boss Huang, is this something I can eat without paying?"

"Yes, indeed!"

Huang Tao found her amusing.

He thought: No need to be so excited, you help out here, and I'll treat you to something, just a friendly exchange.

"Thank you, Boss Huang..." She nodded earnestly in Huang Tao's direction.

"Papa..."

"Papa..."

With the urgent childish calling, little Xuanxuan's figure appeared at the shop's entrance.

"Slow down, slow down..." Huang Yide and Song Cailian followed behind her, reminding her with concern.

"Hey... Daddy's right here..."

Hearing his daughter's calls, Huang Tao quickly walked out of the kitchen.

"Papa..."

Seeing her daddy, Xuanxuan happily jumped up, opening her little arms wide for a hug.

Huang Tao promptly bent down, joyfully picked her up, and gently caressed her little head: "Did you have a good nap?"

"Yes! I napped with grandma, but I almost couldn't sleep because I missed papa so much!"

Xuanxuan giggled happily, snugly hugging her daddy's neck, and sweetly asked: "Papa, did you miss Xuanxuan?"

"Yes, of course I missed you!" Huang Tao immediately responded.

Muah~

Xuanxuan gave him a sweet kiss as a reward.

Song Cailian watched the father and daughter with a smile: "This child couldn't fall asleep at first; I sang to her until she did. As soon as she woke up, she insisted on coming to the restaurant to find you. On the way here, I stopped by a nearby store to buy some toiletries, and this little one kept complaining about how slow I was, urging me to hurry. Now that she's seen her dad, she's finally happy..."

"Hmm~" Xuanxuan nodded earnestly.

Song Cailian chuckled and went to find a basin for Old Huang, preparing to place the blue crabs that Xuanxuan brought back into it.

Lin Yuhan and Shen Qiumo looked up at Xuanxuan, exclaiming how cute and pretty she was.

Huang Tao, planning to spend a bit of time with his daughter first, sat her down on a chair while holding her.

"Papa..." Xuanxuan tilted her head, looking at him.

"Hmm?"

"Xuanxuan wants to ask you a question, and you must answer me honestly~" The little one blinked her big watery eyes, her expression extremely serious.

This immediately made Huang Tao nervous.

But he didn't show it on his face and earnestly nodded, "Sure! Go ahead and ask, Daddy will definitely answer you honestly."

"Daddy, am I pretty, am I cute?" Xuanxuan pouted her rosy little lips and asked, with a hint of insecurity in her words.

The answer was obviously a resounding yes!

In Daddy's heart, you are the best, most beautiful, and cutest child in the world!

It's just that...

What made her question this?

Why the sudden lack of confidence?

Huang Tao was quite puzzled but didn't directly ask why. Instead, he immediately answered her question, saying in an extremely affirmative tone, "Of course, you're beautiful and cute!"

"Then I'm relieved."

Hearing her father's definite answer, Xuanxuan let out a long sigh of relief, and a contented smile appeared on her rosy little face.

Feeling a bit shy, she buried her face in her father's chest, showing only one lively eye.

Huang Tao gently patted her little head and softly said, "Xuanxuan, can you tell Daddy why you suddenly asked this question?"

"Daddy, I can tell you, but you can't laugh…"

"Alright, Daddy won't laugh."

"Pinky promise…" she held out her little finger.

Huang Tao cooperatively extended his little finger and locked it with hers.

Then he heard Xuanxuan chant, "Pinky promise, no changes for a hundred years~"

Huang Tao chuckled softly, "Can you tell me now?"

"Just now, on my way here with Grandma and Grandpa, they went to buy something, and I was waiting at the door. An old lady came by. She clapped her hands and said, 'Oh my, this child is so adorable, oh my, this child is so pretty.'"

Xuanxuan narrated, clapping her little hands and vividly restoring the scene, "Then I asked, 'Who, who?' But there were no other kids around me."

"I realized that the grandma was complimenting me! I felt so happy inside, but I didn't express it or show it."

"I just replied to her, 'Thank you, Grandma~'"

"I didn't expect her to start chatting with me."

"She asked if I go to school, how old I am, which kindergarten I attend, if I'm in a junior or senior class, and all sorts of questions."

"There was one last sip of drink in my bottle, and I gulped it down while answering Grandma's question."

"Oh my gosh, Grandma's hand was so quick."

"With a snap, she snatched the drink bottle from my hand, then she left, without looking back or saying anything."

"My hand just froze there, and I thought to myself, huh~ we weren't finished talking yet! Why did she leave…"

Saying this, Xuanxuan made a gesture of her little hand frozen there, showing a puzzled expression, questioning life's realities.

After listening quietly to her account, Huang Tao understood.

Xuanxuan was worried that the grandma's compliments weren't genuine!

And sure enough!

The little one voiced her doubts, "Daddy, why did that grandma compliment me? Was it because she wanted my bottle that she praised me?"

"Xuanxuan, the grandma initially approached you probably because of the drink bottle in your hand, but when she came closer and saw you, she thought you were very pretty and cute and couldn't help but praise you…"

"Is that so?"

"Xuanxuan, you see, all those grandpas and grandmas who visit the store, which one of them doesn't praise how pretty you are~"

Hmm~

It seems that's true.

...

Near mealtime.

Old Qin unusually didn't invite Lao Liu to come together to Delicious Restaurant.

This time.

He brought along the person in charge of the Municipal Business Committee, Ma Deqiang.

Originally!

Ma Deqiang made a special visit.

His visit was for business purposes.

He wanted to invite Old Qin, who is the President of the Food Association, to be an expert judge for this year's 8th Food Festival.

This year's Food Festival focuses on "A Carnival for the Taste Buds, a Festival for the Citizens".

It's about digging into the essence of local traditional culinary culture.

It combines the leading power of local government, the main force of enterprises, the driving force of associations, and the influence of media.

Through premium displays and various food experiences, it gathers local restaurant enterprises, covering specialty foods from all over the country.

It brings dining closer to the citizens, making food more accessible to consumers.

Local signature restaurants and famous snacks shine together, jointly presenting this gourmet feast.

And Old Qin, who is invited every year, naturally agreed to Ma Deqiang's invitation without hesitation.

After finishing the business talk.

As the host, Old Qin, naturally wanted to entertain the guest warmly.

He invited him for a meal outside.

Ma Deqiang initially wanted to decline, but couldn't refuse the hospitality and thus followed along.

Originally thought, Elder Qin would take him to dine in a hotel.

At the very least, it would be a restaurant.

Unexpectedly, he took him to West City Old Street…

The hygiene of these fly restaurants is concerning, let alone the taste…

Being somewhat of a clean freak, he couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly.

But out of respect for Elder Qin, he didn't say anything and quietly followed by his side.

At the entrance of Delicious Restaurant, he saw people already lining up.

Old Qin hurriedly rushed to the back of the line, took a deep breath, and said with relief, "Luckily, there aren't many people, we should have a chance to buy something."

"Elder Qin? Why? It's so early for dinner, and you still have to line up?" Ma Deqiang's eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Manager Ma, you don't know, the food at this place is especially delicious; it's definitely a hidden gem, and the chef's skills are top-notch, comparable to… ahem… someone like me..."

Old Qin waved his folding fan, smiling like an old sage as he explained.

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