Chapter 101 : Delicious

Shen Haifeng watched Yu Feixu showing off but didn’t say a word.  

After all, it was the two brothers who insisted on eating, and no one forced them.  

That evening, Zheng Lanhua made noodles, even preparing noodles with gravy. Rolling out the noodles took a lot of effort.  

Her principle was clear: soft dough for dumplings, hard dough for pancakes, and extra-hard dough for noodles. She added only a little water to the dough, making kneading very labor-intensive.  

When it came time to roll and cut the noodles, it was a real challenge.  

After rolling the noodles and putting them in boiling water, she noticed that they ended up just like always: either stuck together in clumps of two or three strands or broken into short pieces.  

Zheng Lanhua was genuinely puzzled. She had seen Fang Xiaoluo make noodles the same way. Fang Xiaoluo even added cornmeal to prevent sticking. Why wasn’t it working for her?  

But it didn’t matter, what counted was that the noodles were cooked, and the sauce was the star of the dish.  

Shen Zheng returned after a busy day. As soon as he entered the yard, the familiar smell hit him, awakening memories deep in his bones.  

He saw the children playing in the yard and Fang Xiaoluo and Shen Haiping sketching.  

Walking over, he squatted down. “Mom’s cooking?”  

Fang Xiaoluo spread her hands. “As she pleases.”  

Shen Zheng thought for a moment. “Pretend you didn’t see me. I’ll come back later. Wait for me, I’ll go to the cafeteria to grab some food, to see if there’s anything good today.”  

Seeing Shen Zheng’s anxious expression, Fang Xiaoluo laughed, “Alright, go on then.”  

Before Shen Zheng could leave, Zheng Lanhua came out, calling everyone to eat.  

“Shen Zheng’s back! Time for dinner. Tell the kids to wash up, let’s eat.”  

Shen Zheng paused mid-step. Hearing her voice, he knew he had no choice but to eat tonight’s meal.  

Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang were delighted. Shen Haifeng fetched water for everyone to wash their hands.  

Shen Haiping followed Fang Xiaoluo, washed up, and obediently sat at the table waiting.  

Old Shen’s house was bustling, and soon the table was packed with people.  

Shen Zheng brought out a large bowl of noodles, followed by Zheng Lanhua carrying a bowl of braised meat.  

Zheng Lanhua eagerly served big portions of noodles and gravy to Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang.  

“What Grandma made today is very nutritious pork, eggs, black fungus, Chinese cabbage, carrots. It’s perfect for your growth!”  

Yu Feixu stared at the heaping bowl of noodles, feeling unsure. Something seemed… off about the taste.  

Yu Xiaopang felt the same but, ever polite, kept his thoughts to himself.  

Shen Haifeng handed chopsticks to Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang, saying, “Eat more. Every grain is hard-earned.”  

When Zheng Lanhua tried to serve him, Shen Haifeng quickly took the bowl himself. “Grandma, I’ll do it. You worked hard cooking.”  

He served himself a small portion, splitting it with Shen Haiping and Shen Jinxia.  

Zheng Lanhua frowned. “Why so little? You said at noon that Grandma’s cooking was delicious.”  

Shen Haifeng smiled, “I ate too much earlier, Grandma. Not very hungry, don’t want to waste it.”  

Once everyone was served, Shen Zheng filled a large bowl for himself, eating quickly with an unreadable expression.  

Fang Xiaoluo, however, only picked up two noodles, dipped them lightly in sauce, and tasted them.  

The flavor was… unforgettable.

Logically, the ingredients Zheng Lanhua mentioned shouldn’t have tasted so bad together, but once they passed through her hands, the result was…  

The pork was minced so finely that it had a distinct fishy smell, which only intensified when combined with the eggs, creating an overwhelmingly unpleasant taste.  

On top of that, the stew had a strange light sweetness, accompanied by sour and bitter notes.  

Fang Xiaoluo even suspected that she had added sugar, vinegar, and perhaps baking soda.  

As for the noodles, despite repeated advice not to skimp on water while kneading the dough, Zheng Lanhua insisted otherwise. The result was a hard, chewy texture that was anything but appetizing.  

Fang Xiaoluo wasn’t one to complain, but she quietly put her chopsticks down after just a taste.  

Watching Shen Zheng finish one bowl and then go for a second, she couldn’t help but be impressed. ‘He’s truly his mother’s son,’ she thought.  

Meanwhile, Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang ate with visible discomfort, their faces contorting as they chewed, but they were too polite to say anything. They couldn’t help but wonder if Shen Zheng’s bowl tasted different from theirs.  

Having been served generous portions by Zheng Lanhua, the two boys struggled to suppress their nausea as they ate. Each bite was a challenge.  

Shen Haifeng and Shen Jinxia, became veterans of these meals, held their breath, scarfed down their portions in record time, and quickly declared, “Grandma, we’re full!” before putting their chopsticks down.  

Shen Haiping, however, took one bite, spat it out, and bluntly declared, “This isn’t tasty!”  

Without waiting for a response, he hopped off his chair and pulled Fang Xiaoluo out of the room.  

Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang exchanged glances, silently admiring how liberating it must be to be Shen Haiping, free to speak the truth anytime.  

Zheng Lanhua, on the other hand, thought her cooking wasn’t so bad today. It might not compare to Fang Xiaoluo’s, but she believed it was an improvement.  

And besides, her son Shen Zheng seemed to be enjoying it immensely. That was enough for her.  

For Yu Xiaopang, this was a revelation: he never knew eating could be such an ordeal. He now appreciated why Shen Jinxia had tried to dissuade him from staying for dinner.  

Yu Feixu, meanwhile, understood why Shen Haifeng had warned him earlier. But being young, stubborn, and proud, he hadn’t listened.  

Both boys tried their best to finish, but it was simply impossible.  

When Zheng Lanhua noticed how slowly they were eating, she asked, “Is Grandma’s cooking not to your taste?”  

Yu Feixu quickly shook his head. “No, Grandma, it’s just that we’re not very hungry. You did a great job!”  

Yu Xiaopang, struck by sudden inspiration, said, “Grandma, it would be such a waste if I can’t finish this delicious food. Can I take it home with me?”  

Zheng Lanhua, ever generous, agreed. “Of course! Let Grandma pack some more for you.”  

She filled two bowls with the remaining noodles and stew, handing them to the boys. “Be careful not to spill it!”  

Yu Feixu carried the large bowl, while Yu Xiaopang held the smaller one. They politely thanked her, “Thank you, Grandma. Goodbye!”  

Shen Haifeng walked them out of the yard.  

Looking up at the sky, Yu Feixu sighed, “Shen Haifeng, you’re a good person!”  

Shen Haifeng chuckled. “Well, there’s a saying: ‘If you don’t heed good advice, you’ll face the consequences.’”  

Yu Feixu rolled his eyes. “It’s actually: ‘If you don’t listen to your elders, you’ll suffer the consequences.’ You’re so uneducated.”  

Carrying their respective bowls, the boys headed home.  

As soon as they stepped inside, Yu Xiaopang shouted, “Dad, we brought you some delicious food, you have to eat it all!”