Could it be that the plumbing in 1990s apartment designs ran all the way to the front door?
Sheng Qiu set down her chopsticks and stood up, planning to go see what was going on at the door.
“Auntie, what’s wong?” Sheng Nian looked at his aunt, his mouth stuffed full of food.
“Niannian, you keep eating. I’ll go check the door.” Sheng Qiu hurried over, but the moment her hand touched the doorknob, she immediately pulled it back.
Even though it was broad daylight, it was still just the two of them at home—her and Sheng Nian. If there was a bad guy outside, their combat effectiveness was practically zero.
For people like them, they still needed to be cautious.
Sheng Qiu first looked through the peephole. She didn’t see anyone.
But she still wasn’t at ease. Before opening the door, she grabbed the broom from behind it.
Whoosh—she swung the door open, and what came into view was a little kid lying on the ground with his butt sticking up in the air.
Zhang Hao had originally been coaxed back home by his parents. His mom had said she’d make him fragrant braised pork, but after waiting a while, it still wasn’t ready. He really, really wanted to eat something savory.
Taking advantage of his parents not paying attention, Zhang Hao opened the door and slipped out, following the aroma straight to a certain door.
This place had the most fragrance.
Especially when he lay on the ground—the smell made him drool uncontrollably.
Suddenly, the door in front of him swung open, and the savory aroma seemed to surround him. Zhang Hao’s drool dripped even more frequently.
“Little one, which family are you from?”
Seeing it was just a child, Sheng Qiu let her guard down, but worry took its place.
He was chubby and short, clearly very young, and he was alone at her doorstep. His family must be so worried.
Hearing her voice, Zhang Hao looked up and saw a pretty auntie.
“Pretty auntie, you have so many yummy smells at your house!” After saying that, Zhang Hao couldn’t help but swallow, but his saliva kept flowing like a flood he couldn’t stop.
This was the first time Sheng Qiu had seen such a gluttonous little kid in real life.
She had imagined a pipe at the door, even imagined a bad guy—but never in her wildest dreams did she expect to be greeted by a little foodie drawn in by her cooking.
Sheng Qiu found it hilarious.
Because Zhang Hao was adorable, and since his drool hadn’t dripped on her, Sheng Qiu thought he wasn’t so bad.
“Haohao.”
Sheng Nian’s puzzled voice sounded.
Sheng Qiu turned to look at him and asked, “Niannian, do you know this little one?”
Sheng Nian nodded. “This is Haohao from Aunt Hu’s house.”
Brother.
He didn’t want to say the last word, because Haohao wasn’t even taller than him, and Haohao was only a few months older.
“So where does Aunt Hu live?” They’d have to take him back eventually.
Before Sheng Nian could answer, Zhang Hao had already wrapped his arms around Sheng Qiu’s leg, looking up at her with pitiful eyes. “Pretty auntie, Haohao wants to eat the yummy meat.”
If he weren’t drooling, Sheng Qiu might have been fine with it. But right now, the little guy’s saliva was completely unstoppable—what if he wiped it on her pants later?
Sheng Qiu was a bit exasperated.
The next second, Sheng Nian hopped off his stool and ran over, prying Zhang Hao’s hands off his aunt’s leg.
“We can give you food, but you’re not allowed to hug my aunt.”
His aunt was his aunt. No one was allowed to fight him for her.
Zhang Hao only caught the part about getting food and nodded frantically. “Okay.”
Sheng Qiu watched as Sheng Nian communicated with Haohao, led him to the dining table, and then—using his still-clumsy chopstick skills—picked up a piece of braised pork for him.
But Haohao didn’t have his own bowl. Sheng Nian frowned, unsure where to put the meat.
As for Haohao, once he was at the table, his eyes were glued to those dark, red-brown pieces of meat. He couldn’t bear to blink. Especially when Sheng Nian lifted that piece over—his barely-stopped drool threatened to overflow again.
“Haohao, Auntie doesn’t like kids who aren’t clean. If you drool, you can’t eat.” Actually, it wasn’t just Auntie—Sheng Nian didn’t like it either.
He and his aunt had worked hard to clean the house. If Haohao’s drool made the floor dirty, his aunt would have to clean it all over again.
Sheng Nian didn’t want his aunt to work so hard.
Just as the drool was about to drip down, under Sheng Nian’s words, Haohao slurped it back and clamped his mouth shut.
He wanted to eat the yummy meat.
Sheng Qiu watched the two little ones interact from the side and found it very amusing. Sheng Nian was her own kid, so that was one thing—but although Haohao seemed a bit messy at first glance, he was dressed nicely and his fingernails were clean. Clearly, he was usually well taken care of.
Kids at this age rarely stayed that clean. Of course, her Niannian was the exception—well-behaved and tidy.
Even though Haohao really wanted to eat, he didn’t cry or throw a tantrum. He just waited obediently.
Just that one point made Sheng Qiu think Haohao was raised well.
As for Haohao craving her cooking, Sheng Qiu didn’t mind. She had made more than enough for lunch anyway. Sharing some with him was no big deal—how much could a little kid eat? Plus, her Niannian knew him. Entertaining a friend wasn’t a big deal.
But kids weren’t like adults—she still needed to be careful.
Sheng Qiu took a clean bowl and placed it in front of Haohao. “Haohao, Auntie and Niannian don’t know which of these dishes you can eat. Niannian will help put some in your bowl, and you can take it home to ask your parents before eating, okay?”
She had seen plenty of stories online where kind-hearted people gave food to kids, only to get slapped with a lawsuit later. So it was better to be safe than sorry.
Although Zhang Hao didn’t understand why—since Niannian was already willing to give him the yummy meat—the pretty auntie still wanted him to take it home and ask his parents first, he did know that the pretty auntie was the adult in Niannian’s family, so he had to behave.
Seeing Haohao nod, Sheng Qiu turned to Sheng Nian. “Niannian, can you help Haohao put whatever dishes he wants into his bowl?”
“Of course I can.”
Sheng Nian felt like he was playing host. Especially since his aunt trusted him so much, he felt energized all over. Following the way his aunt had served him earlier, he added not only braised ribs but also some vegetables.
After a few pieces of braised ribs were placed in the small porcelain-white bowl, it was already more than half full. With some vegetables added, it quickly filled up. With Sheng Qiu’s help, Sheng Nian also scooped in two spoonfuls of scrambled eggs with shrimp—a bowl full to the brim.
Once the food was packed, Sheng Nian accompanied Haohao, and Sheng Qiu followed behind them as they headed out the door.
Sheng Qiu guessed that Haohao’s home was somewhere in the same building, but she never expected they lived right around the corner on the same floor—they were neighbors.
Soon they stopped in front of an identical door, and Sheng Qiu knocked.
In the kitchen, Hu Li was carefully making braised pork. But since she wasn’t much of a cook, the meat only gave off a strong soy sauce smell. Zhang Yuejun, smelling how far it was from the aroma they’d caught earlier, couldn’t help but hover and offer guidance.
The two of them together still couldn’t produce a plate of braised pork that looked and smelled appetizing.
Staring at the somewhat dark braised pork in front of her, Hu Li felt a bit embarrassed. Normally her cooking wasn’t this bad—it was all her husband’s fault for butting in with bad advice. Now this beautiful piece of pork belly was ruined.
Zhang Yuejun had grown up with not enough food or clothes. To him, as long as there was something to eat, it was good enough. Especially if it was meat—as long as it wasn’t raw, it was excellent.
“Yuejun, do you think this will fool Haohao?” Hu Li wasn’t sure.
“This is such good pork belly—Haohao will definitely love it.” He certainly loved it, especially since his wife made it. He had enough sense not to criticize the dish.
Hearing that, Hu Li felt a bit reassured. “Come on, let’s take it out and satisfy Haohao’s craving.”
But just as they stepped out of the kitchen, they heard a knock at the door.
Zhang Yuejun and Hu Li carried the braised pork to answer it, wondering who could be visiting at this hour.
To their surprise, when they opened the door, they saw their son standing at the entrance with the neighbor’s little boy.
“Haohao, how did you get outside?” If Hu Li remembered correctly, her son should have been in the living room looking at his picture books.
Zhang Hao held up the bowl in his hands. “Mommy, the pretty auntie and Niannian gave me some yummy meat. Can Haohao eat it now?”
Hearing her son’s words and seeing the little boy standing outside with the young woman behind him, Hu Li quickly pieced together what had happened.
Her son must have been unable to resist the smell and gone over to their place asking for food.
Hu Li’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she couldn’t help but glare at Zhang Yuejun, who was standing beside her holding the braised pork.
Zhang Yuejun felt completely wronged. It was clearly his son who had the craving—that wasn’t something he could control. But he didn’t dare say anything and just tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
“You’re Niannian, right? And this is…?”
Hu Li hadn’t had much interaction with her neighbors, but she had seen them a few times when going out. Niannian’s mother didn’t seem to be the young woman standing behind him.
“Hello, I’m Niannian’s aunt. My name is Sheng Qiu. My sister has some business and is temporarily away, so I’m here to take care of Niannian.”
“Oh, I see. I’m Haohao’s mother, Hu Li. Thank you so much for bringing Haohao back today!” If he had wandered off, Hu Li didn’t know how worried she’d have been.
Seeing that Haohao was safely returned, Sheng Qiu felt relieved. “No problem at all—we’re neighbors. Well, we’ll be heading back now.”
Hu Li nodded repeatedly, thanking her profusely. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her own son holding the bowl and drooling uncontrollably. She quickly called out to stop Sheng Qiu.
Sheng Qiu was a bit puzzled by Hu Li’s words, but soon Hu Li came out with a large bowl filled with the braised pork she had just made.
“Miss Sheng, thank you so much. My Haohao’s craving made him mooch off your lunch. This is the braised pork I made—if you don’t mind, please take it home as an extra dish.”
Even as she said it, Hu Li had already pressed the bowl into Sheng Qiu’s hands.
If she didn’t accept, the other woman would feel indebted. Besides, Sheng Qiu could tell Hu Li was being sincere, so she didn’t refuse and took it.
Watching Sheng Qiu leave with Sheng Nian, Hu Li took a liking to her.
As the saying goes: a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.
Hu Li had previously thought about getting closer to their neighbors, but Niannian’s mother seemed afraid of being indebted to anyone—she would never accept anything, and even if something was given for the child, she wouldn’t let Niannian have it either.
Eventually, Hu Li gave up on building that relationship.
Now Niannian’s aunt seemed different from Niannian’s mother.
Maybe they could interact more in the future.
Hu Li’s interest was reignited. She was about to go discuss it with her husband when she saw him snatching food from their son.
“Zhang Yuejun, what are you doing?!” Hu Li stormed over angrily.
But before she could unleash her fury, a piece of rib was stuffed into her mouth.
The rich, soy-glazed rib overwhelmed her senses completely, making her forget what she was about to say. She could only join the food-grabbing fray.
By the time she came to her senses, all that was left in front of them was an empty bowl and her son’s tearful little face.
“Oh no—their cooking is so good. My braised pork is just embarrassing in comparison!”
Then she looked at her son, who was sucking his fingers and refusing to even touch the braised pork, and her husband, who still looked like he wanted more.
The anger that had been dispersed by the braised ribs came rushing back.
“Zhang Yuejun, why aren’t you eating the braised pork?!”