Because they’d eaten so much for dinner, the baked milk Sheng Qiu had prepared earlier couldn’t be eaten at the moment.
The kids all stared longingly at the milky dessert set before them, especially Haohao and Feizai, who were practically drooling. But their stomachs just couldn’t fit any more.
Actually, they felt like they could still eat a little more. Just as they were about to quietly reach out, they noticed Niannian’s auntie smiling at them.
“If you’re full, don’t force yourselves to eat more—you’ll upset your stomachs.”
It wasn’t that Sheng Qiu didn’t want them to have more, but she’d already made more than enough food for everyone. Their bellies were all round and full. If they ate any more, she was worried they’d get sick.
Hearing that, the kids all looked a little disappointed. Sheng Nian was fine—even if he couldn’t have it today, he could have it another time—but the others wouldn’t get to eat it once they went home.
“Alright, alright. Don’t make such long faces—it’s not cute at all. You can each take some of this baked milk home with you.”
Haohao jumped up. “Yay! Thank you, Auntie!”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
“Auntie, you’re beautiful and kind-hearted!” Mingming couldn’t hide his joy and even used a new word he’d learned.
Kangkang lifted his little face and looked sincerely at Sheng Qiu. “Thank you, pretty Auntie.”
While the others were showering her with praise, Sheng Nian just hugged his auntie’s arm, tilted his head up, and said, “My auntie is the best.”
Surrounded by a group of adorable little kids all complimenting and thanking her, Sheng Qiu felt wonderful. They might not have been a bunch of handsome grown men, but a group of handsome little boys fawning over her wasn’t bad at all!
“Alright, alright. Aren’t you all going to Haohao’s house to play? After you’re done, come back here to pick up your baked milk.”
It wasn’t that Sheng Qiu wanted to make things complicated—she just knew that kids had poor self-control. Without an adult watching, they’d probably eat the baked milk right away. She felt better keeping it under her own supervision.
Though reluctant, the kids headed off to Haohao’s house to play.
Zhang Yuejun had been waiting for his son and his friends to come back. He’d even brought out the pastries and snacks Hu Li had bought earlier. But the little ones just greeted him and walked in carrying the lingering aroma of dinner—they were only interested in the toys and didn’t spare a second glance at the snacks.
Still, just from the scent clinging to them, Zhang Yuejun could tell that Sheng Qiu must have made an amazing dinner.
Too bad he couldn’t have any. Suddenly, the roast duck he’d eaten earlier felt like it had been for nothing.
He felt hungry again.
Kangkang was picked up by his grandmother. On the way back, he cradled the warm baked milk in his hands, drooling with desire but unwilling to eat it just yet.
He’d take it home and let Grandma, Mom, Grandpa, and Dad each have a bite first, and then he’d have his own share.
“Kangkang, did you eat your fill tonight?”
Hearing his grandmother’s question, Kangkang looked up and showed her his round belly. “I’m full! Auntie’s cooking was all so delicious—there were shrimp and meat, all sweet and sour and yummy. Kangkang ate two bowls of rice.”
Kangkang felt that Niannian’s auntie’s cooking was truly amazing. Plus, she was pretty and gentle and never rushed him while he ate.
“Kangkang, would you like to eat at Niannian’s house every day?” Kangkang’s grandmother asked tentatively.
“Can I? Can I go?” Kangkang’s face lit up with surprise, but then he hesitated. “But what about Daddy, Mommy, Grandpa, and Grandma?”
Kangkang’s grandmother smiled at him. “Of course you can. Daddy, Mommy, Grandpa, and Grandma will stay at home.”
“Can’t we all eat together? Auntie’s cooking is so good.” Kangkang said, holding the baked milk up to his grandmother. “Grandma, this baked milk must be delicious too—Auntie made it!”
“Alright, alright. Let’s take it home and share it with Mommy, okay?”
Kangkang’s grandmother didn’t answer his question directly. She already had an idea in mind.
The next day, after dropping Kangkang off at kindergarten, Kangkang’s grandmother didn’t rush home. Instead, she waited at the kindergarten gate for Sheng Qiu. Soon, she saw Sheng Qiu arrive, holding Sheng Nian’s hand as she walked him to school.
After watching Sheng Nian go inside, Sheng Qiu planned to head to the market to buy some ingredients.
Having made so many dishes the night before, Sheng Qiu didn’t feel like stir-frying anything today. She was feeling a bit lazy and wanted something simpler—maybe just a main dish for dinner. But she hadn’t decided what yet.
As she was thinking, a familiar elderly woman walked up to her.
“Niannian’s auntie.”
“Oh—Kangkang’s grandmother?” Sheng Qiu was a little puzzled. The woman didn’t look like she was here by coincidence; it seemed she had been waiting specifically for her.
“Niannian’s auntie, I have something I’d like to ask your help with. Do you have time to sit down somewhere?”
Sheng Qiu had no idea what Kangkang’s grandmother wanted, but it was still early, and she could go grocery shopping later—there was no rush.
“Sure, let’s find somewhere to sit.”
Looking around, Sheng Qiu didn’t see any suitable places nearby. There were no cafés, and she figured Kangkang’s grandmother probably wouldn’t drink coffee anyway. So she simply found a breakfast stall and sat down.
This morning, Sheng Qiu had made lean pork congee for breakfast, but she could still eat a little more now.
“Boss, two servings of cheung fun (rice noodle rolls).”
Kangkang’s grandmother quickly waved her hand. “No, no, I’ve already had breakfast.”
“It’s okay. If you can’t finish it, you can take it home.”
Since Kangkang’s grandmother was the one asking for a favor, and Sheng Qiu had already said that, she didn’t insist further. While they waited for the cheung fun to be prepared, Kangkang’s grandmother got straight to the point.
“Niannian’s auntie, I came to ask for your help. Could you possibly include Kangkang in your dinners? Don’t worry—our family has money. Just name your price.”
The night before, after Kangkang’s grandmother had shared this idea with the family, everyone had initially been reluctant. But after hearing Kangkang happily talk about the food he’d eaten at Sheng Nian’s house—and after tasting the baked milk he’d brought back—they were won over by the delicious flavors.
She had prepared herself for a long argument, even a drawn-out battle, to convince the rest of the family. But to her surprise, they agreed so easily. So early this morning, she’d wanted to find Sheng Qiu right away—though her husband had held her back, suggesting she wait outside the kindergarten instead.
Hearing Kangkang’s grandmother’s request, Sheng Qiu was a little surprised.
“Kangkang’s grandmother, what do you mean? I don’t have any plans to open a restaurant right now,” Sheng Qiu declined tactfully.
For now, she just wanted to take good care of Sheng Nian and find Sheng Chun as soon as possible—though the police station hadn’t had any news yet. As for her entrepreneurial plans, it was still too early.
“Niannian’s auntie, to be honest with you, our Kangkang has been a picky eater since he was little. There’s very little homemade food he likes. But he absolutely loves what you make. So I wanted to ask if you could include Kangkang in your dinners.”
“Because of his picky eating, he’s smaller than other kids his age. We just want him to eat his fill so he can grow stronger and not get sick so easily.”
Picky eating hadn’t just made Kangkang small—it also made him prone to illness. Now that he was a bit older, it was better, but when he was younger, he would cry when hungry but refuse to eat anything he didn’t like.
Sheng Qiu frowned as she listened. “Maybe you could take Kangkang to see a doctor.”
“We have. The doctor didn’t have much advice—just said to let him eat more and get the nutrients he needs.” As for medicine, the doctor had recommended against it or to use as little as possible, since the child was still young and too much medication could affect his health.
“Then… has Kangkang ever liked anything since he was little?”
“Yes, there are a few restaurants he’ll eat at, but he doesn’t like many things there either—and once he’s had too much of something, he loses interest. Plus, those places are far from home.” The family had even considered moving if necessary, but then this new opportunity appeared.
“Kangkang doesn’t like vegetables. For meat, he’ll only eat a bit of beef. He doesn’t like rice either, and milk makes him throw up. But yesterday, he kept talking about how delicious your cooking was—especially dishes that contained ingredients he normally won’t eat.”
“So, Niannian’s auntie, I sincerely ask for your help.”
Everyone living in New Times Community was well-off, but Kangkang’s grandmother didn’t know how to convince Sheng Qiu, so she could only try to appeal to her emotions.
“But I don’t know what Kangkang can’t eat. I’m afraid he might get an upset stomach.”
Judging by how Kangkang’s grandmother had spoken, Kangkang was clearly the treasured child of the family. Just thinking about something going wrong gave Sheng Qiu a headache.
Seeing that Sheng Qiu seemed to be wavering, Kangkang’s grandmother immediately pulled out a handkerchief-wrapped bundle from her pocket and pressed it into Sheng Qiu’s hands. “Niannian’s auntie, please help our family out. This is Kangkang’s meal money for a week. I’m counting on you.”
Sheng Qiu could clearly feel the thickness of the bundle through the handkerchief and felt it was like a hot potato. “No, no—this is too much, too much.”
Kangkang’s grandmother smiled with squinted eyes, taking Sheng Qiu’s words as acceptance!
“It’s fine, it’s fine. The extra can just go toward next week.”
Sheng Qiu couldn’t bear to refuse a grandmother’s love for her grandson, but she had to make a few things clear.
“Kangkang’s grandmother, I can’t promise that every meal will be elaborate. Kangkang will eat whatever we eat at home. Would that be acceptable to you?” Sheng Qiu couldn’t prepare a special meal every time. Aside from making what Sheng Nian specifically wanted, most of the time she just cooked whatever she felt like eating.
Just as Kangkang’s grandmother was about to agree without hesitation, Sheng Qiu spoke again.
“Kangkang’s grandmother, don’t rush to agree. Why don’t you come over to my house for a meal today first, and then decide?” With that, she returned the handkerchief-wrapped money to Kangkang’s grandmother.
“Alright,” Kangkang’s grandmother agreed readily. But she didn’t think she’d change her mind—she had already tasted Sheng Qiu’s cooking, after all.
Before long, the two servings of cheung fun arrived.
The smooth, slippery rice rolls had a hint of egg flavor, and dipped in the accompanying sauce, they were incredibly satisfying. Sheng Qiu ate with great contentment, already thinking about bringing Sheng Nian here to try them tomorrow.
At the same time, an idea for tonight’s dinner came to her.
Hmm… maybe beef noodle soup.