She glared fiercely at Su Xiaomei and at Ruanruan, who was still chatting happily with the aunties.
A little annoyed, she snapped, “You two—stop making noise! Sit quietly and behave!”
After saying that, she slammed the door shut angrily and turned to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Liu Qianqian’s family felt awkward because of Su Ting’s attitude and could only leave in embarrassment.
Soon the clanging of pots and pans came from the kitchen. Su Xiaomei sniffled, secretly glared at Ruanruan, and went back to her room.
Ruanruan sat on a small stool. She looked like she was daydreaming, but in reality she was browsing the system’s shop.
Besides snacks, there were many daily necessities inside—almost everything one could need.
Little Ruanruan was already happy just looking at them and didn’t buy anything.
She had loved saving money since she was young, and now she had turned to saving points instead.
Suddenly, a strange smell drifted out—something hard to describe, mixed with burnt and overly salty odors.
Her little brows furrowed as she looked uncertainly toward the kitchen.
Inside, Su Ting was busily cooking, coughing from the smoke and heat.
…No way. It couldn’t be what she was thinking, right?
When dinner was finally served—
There was a plate of extremely salty stir-fried vegetables, a plate of small yellow croakers burnt black on both sides that looked unappetizing and tasted bitter, and a bowl of dough-drop soup so watery you could practically see your reflection in it.
Ruanruan’s little bun-like face scrunched into a lump.
Su Ting and Su Xiaomei calmly picked up their chopsticks as if they were already used to it.
Ruanruan held her chopsticks tightly.
She truly… had no idea where to start.
She seriously suspected her stepmother was taking revenge on purpose—using terrible food to get back the dignity she lost earlier when Ruanruan made a scene.
Sneaking a glance at Su Ting, she bit her lip and gathered her emotions before suddenly bursting into tears.
“Waaah—!”
“Mom! The veggies are so black! The soup is so watery! The fish is so salty! Ruanruan doesn’t want to eat it! Ruanruan wants tasty food! Waaaah—!”
She cried with such genuine emotion, as if her heart were breaking.
Anyone who heard it would feel sorry for her.
The courtyard walls had poor soundproofing, and since the earlier commotion had just ended, quite a few neighbors were still listening.
As soon as Ruanruan’s earth-shaking cries rang out, Auntie Wang next door and Auntie Li immediately ran over.
“Oh dear, Ruanruan, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so hard?”
“Doctor Su, the child is still small, and her father isn’t here. If you’re upset about something, you can’t hit the child!”
Everyone spoke at once, all suspecting that Su Ting, the stepmother, was bullying Ruanruan.
Su Xiaomei looked at Ruanruan, then at the aunties. Her eyes shifted slightly before she spoke softly.
“Maybe Ruanruan just doesn’t like eating our food? Kids shouldn’t be picky eaters. We’ve always eaten like this before. Why is it only Ruanruan who can’t get used to it?”
Her words implied that Ruanruan was deliberately making trouble.
Ruanruan blinked her big eyes, sniffling as tears covered her face. She threw herself into Aunt Chunhua’s arms and spoke in a childish, pleading voice.
“Auntie… Ruanruan isn’t trying to make trouble… Ruanruan is hungry… but… but the food Mom made… sob… when Ruanruan eats it her mouth hurts. It’s too salty!”
When it came to that, the aunties believed her even more—because Su Ting’s cooking skills were famously terrible.
Su Ting was so angry the veins on her forehead popped out. She said stiffly, “This is what we have at home! Eat it or don’t!”
Auntie Wang wiped the tears from Ruanruan’s messy little face and comforted her.
“Ruanruan, your stepmom didn’t mean it. Her cooking has always been like this. There’s nothing she can do about it.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Ruanruan widened her eyes, a tear still hanging at the corner.
Wait… so it wasn’t directed at her?
She really just couldn’t cook?!
Seeing her pitiful expression, Auntie Wang immediately said to Su Ting, “Doctor Su, the child is young and her stomach is delicate. Maybe she really can’t eat this. How about letting Ruanruan come to my house for a bite?”
Auntie Li also persuaded, “Yes, the child definitely didn’t mean it. Don’t let her go hungry.”
Surrounded by the neighbors’ comments, Su Ting’s face turned livid.
But Ruanruan suddenly lifted her head from Auntie Wang’s arms. Her tear-filled eyes blinked as she looked at Su Ting with innocent seriousness.
“Mom! Ruanruan knows how to cook delicious food! Ruanruan can teach Mom! Okay? Then Mom’s cooking will smell good too! Just like… just like the fairy cooking in storybooks!”
Ruanruan didn’t forget to flatter her stepmother a little.
After all, she couldn’t keep eating at the neighbors’ houses forever.
For the sake of her own mouth and stomach, she decided to solve the problem at its root—
She would fix her stepmother’s cooking!
The neighbors all laughed when they heard this.
Auntie Wang chuckled. “Oh my, our Ruanruan is so capable? You can even teach cooking?”
Su Ting’s face darkened.
Auntie Li also thought the child was bragging. “Kids say silly things. Doctor Su, just let her ‘teach’ you. It’ll make her happy.”
Su Ting looked at the neighbors who were clearly enjoying the show, then at Ruanruan, who seemed ready to keep crying if she refused.
A surge of irritation rose in her chest.
Fine! If you’re so capable, let’s see what you can actually do!
Perfect timing for the neighbors to see whether it was her cooking that was bad or the child making trouble.
Suppressing her anger, she practically gritted her teeth.
“Fine! You teach! Let’s see what you can make!”
Ruanruan immediately stopped crying and broke into a bright smile. She kicked her short legs, slid down from Auntie Wang’s arms, and ran into the kitchen.
Su Xiaomei quietly put down her chopsticks and stood at the kitchen doorway, watching with mocking eyes.
She sneered inwardly, waiting to see Ruanruan embarrass herself.
After all, no one believed a little child could know anything about cooking.
Inside the kitchen, Su Ting continued cooking while holding back her anger.
Ruanruan had already bought seasonings from the system store. After removing the packaging, she pretended to rummage through her little pocket and pulled out a small bag of dry hotpot seasoning.
Using the experience she gained as a foodie in the Heavenly Realm, she began directing things seriously.
“Mom! The pan is hot now! Add oil… just a little!”
Su Ting: “!”
Forget it. She would endure.
“The oil’s hot! Add minced garlic… yes, the white one! Stir until it smells nice! And chili and star anise… put those in too!”
Her tiny hands passed over a small bowl of red-looking ingredients.
No one even knew what it was.
“Why are you standing there?! Put it in quickly! The oil is about to splatter!” Ruanruan urged anxiously.
Fine!
Su Ting clenched her teeth and poured the seasoning into the pan.
“Mom! Why are you standing there? Add the fish! Flip it quickly! Don’t let it burn!”
Ruanruan stood with her hands on her hips like a little adult, directing everything while Su Ting scrambled in panic.
Finally—
One hour later.
A fragrant spicy fish soup was placed on the table. The rich aroma of fish filled the air, completely different from before.
Auntie Wang and Auntie Li sniffed the air and smiled.
“Oh! That smells pretty good!”
Even Su Ting herself was stunned.
She picked up her chopsticks hesitantly, grabbed a piece of fish, and put it into her mouth.
The fish skin was crispy and soaked with flavorful broth. It was fragrant, spicy, and refreshing, while the fish meat inside was tender and juicy…
This… was this really something she made?