Neither of them could tell whether they were drawn by Lin Xiangxiu’s cooking skills or by the aroma of the meat pie and chicken soup. Before they knew it, their feet had carried them involuntarily to the kitchen doorway.
The siblings stood at the kitchen entrance, their noses filled with the fragrance of the meal.
Both had already eaten breakfast—Lu Xiaoxia had some porridge at home, while Lu Xingzhi had bread and coffee. By all accounts, neither should have been hungry, yet watching the steaming scene in the kitchen, they couldn’t help but swallow and feel their stomachs growling uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiangxiu was still busy in the kitchen. After making the hand-pulled noodles, she cooked them and prepared a chicken noodle soup, sprinkling a handful of chopped scallions over the noodles.
Once the chicken noodle soup and meat pie were ready, the chicken beside them had cooled down.
While the chicken was still slightly warm, Lin Xiangxiu washed her hands thoroughly and began tearing the chicken apart. She removed the bones and shredded all the meat into small pieces, then drizzled it with the ginger-scallion sauce she had just made.
Even before the meal was fully prepared, her efficiency had already impressed Lu Xiaoxia outside the door.
She had never seen anyone make so many dishes in such a short time, and even manage to clean up while cooking.
All the used bowls were washed, and the stovetop was wiped clean. The old grease stains, somehow, were scrubbed away in one swift motion.
Lu Xiaoxia nudged her brother’s arm, seeking credit. “So, what do you think? Didn’t I tell you? How’s this nanny I found?”
“I’m quite satisfied. At the very least, she’s the cleanest among the nannies we’ve hired. As long as the food isn’t bad, I’m more than willing to keep her,” Lu Xingzhi said, taking off his glasses and preparing to eat.
“Just smell that aroma—there’s no way it could be bad.”
“Food’s ready,” Lin Xiangxiu’s voice interrupted their conversation.
She emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of fragrant chicken noodle soup, her fingers red from the heat. Lu Xiaoxia immediately stepped toward the kitchen. “Let me help you. Is there anything else to bring out from the kitchen?”
Lin Xiangxiu wiped her hands and replied with professional courtesy, “No need. Please have a seat and wait to eat.”
She thought that if she got this job, the pay would be much higher than the standard wage for nannies. Since she’d be taking their money, she ought to provide the corresponding service.
But Lu Xiaoxia smiled and said, “Xiao Lin, our family doesn’t stand on ceremony. We’re hiring you as a nanny to cook for my brother, clean, and take care of his daily life—not to hire a servant from the old society. Relax, we don’t have many rules here.”
Lu Xingzhi nodded in agreement.
With that, Lu Xiaoxia rolled up her sleeves and brought out a plate of chicken from the kitchen, while Lu Xingzhi carried out the meat pie.
Lin Xiangxiu brushed off nonexistent dust from her hands. “All the dishes are ready. This is chicken noodle soup, and this is pork meat pie.”
Lu Xiaoxia’s eyes, however, were fixed on the plate of chicken. Unlike most people who preferred greasy pork, she had a particular fondness for the tender smoothness of chicken.
“Xiao Lin, what is this dish?” Lu Xiaoxia licked her lips, completely forgetting her principle of not eating scallions. Since childhood, she had never eaten seasonings like scallions, ginger, or garlic. Even in meat dishes, there must be no visible traces of scallions or ginger, and she couldn’t detect their taste, as she always felt they left a foul odor in her mouth.
But the vibrant green chicken dish before her captivated Lu Xiaoxia. Though she could smell the scallions and ginger, it somehow looked strangely appetizing. How was that possible?
Lin Xiangxiu smiled sheepishly. “This is Cong Jiang Lao Ji. There was an educated youth from the south in our village, and I learned it from her. I thought it might suit your tastes.”
“So it really is scallions.” Lu Xiaoxia wrinkled her nose and took two steps back. She had initially considered trying a bite, but seeing so much scallion and ginger in the dish, she dismissed the idea.
She retreated to the table and signaled Lu Xingzhi with her eyes. “Want to give it a try?”
As soon as the food was served, Lu Xingzhi felt his hunger intensify. Without another word, he pulled the bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup toward himself, picked up some noodles with his chopsticks, and slowly chewed.
His table manners were impeccable—even when eating noodles, he did so calmly and quietly, without any slurping.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiaoxia and Lin Xiangxiu grew anxious beside him. Lu Xiaoxia felt even more nervous than the person involved, thinking that finding a nanny for her cousin was harder than finding a wife. In their family, marrying only required a compatible personality, but a nanny had to adapt to her cousin’s lifestyle and endure his picky, difficult temper. What a challenge!
She rubbed her hands together, unsure why her mouth kept watering.
“Is it good?” Lu Xiaoxia asked.
Lin Xiangxiu stood nearby, her throat tightening slightly.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. She was confident in her cooking skills, but what if Mr. Lu, who had returned from abroad, didn’t like it?
After that first bite of noodles, Lu Xingzhi felt the burning sensation in his stomach ease significantly. Every pore in his body seemed soothed by the Chicken Noodle Soup, and his stomach seemed to cry out for another bite.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, his expression softened considerably. “Not bad.”
Lu Xiaoxia immediately relayed the news to Lin Xiangxiu, beaming with joy. “‘Not bad’ means it’s delicious! He’s very picky—no matter how good the food is, ‘not bad’ is already high praise from him!”
Lin Xiangxiu’s expression relaxed as well. “Please try the Meat Pie and Cong Jiang Lao Ji. If you don’t find the flavors too strong, I can make more dishes in the future.”
“Alright.” Soothed by the delicious food, Lu Xingzhi’s anger dissipated, and he became as gentle as if his personality had transformed. His chopsticks moved toward the Cong Jiang Lao Ji.
Picky eating seemed to be a hereditary trait in the Lu family—he also disliked scallions and ginger. But the Chicken Noodle Soup had been so exceptional that he was willing to give this dish a chance.
The scallions and ginger, stir-fried in oil, had lost their original pungency. Somehow prepared, the chicken was tender and smooth, carrying a seasoned aroma. In one word: fragrant.
Lu Xingzhi no longer felt the need to comment. He ate one bite after another, occasionally scooping up some noodles, his entire being immersed as if soaking in warm hot springs, his brow and eyes completely relaxed.
He ate with relish, bite after bite, and before he knew it, he had finished the entire bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup. Afterward, he even drank up the remaining broth, still craving more.
After finishing one bowl, he felt it wasn’t enough.
Holding up his bowl, he looked at Lin Xiangxiu expectantly. “Is there more?”
Before Lin Xiangxiu could answer, Lu Xiaoxia felt she truly couldn’t hold onto her principles any longer. The saliva in her mouth seemed to secrete uncontrollably—within just a few minutes, she had already swallowed numerous times.
Could it really be this delicious?