Daddy's Gourmet Shop-Chapter 287 - 278: A Good Beginning

"Uncle, Aunt, Sitong, take your time eating, I need to go get busy..."

After having a few quick bites with his uncle’s family, Huang Tao noticed it was getting late and smilingly got up to excuse himself.

Song Gaohua looked concerned and said, "You haven’t had enough to eat, and you need to get back to work?"

Song Cailian and Huang Yide also looked worried and said in unison, "Son, have a bit more."

Huang Tao chuckled, "I’m already full, you all enjoy your meal. If it’s not enough, I’ll make more for you..."

Seeing him speak that way, the group didn’t insist on keeping him.

They let him go.

After all, keeping those customers waiting outside in line wouldn’t be nice, right?

As Huang Tao took his position.

The lunch service at the Delicious Restaurant began.

These days, customers have a remarkably keen sense of smell.

The moment Ma Junwen, the first in line, walked into the restaurant, he sniffed the air and couldn’t help but ask, "Hey, I think I smell West Lake Vinegar Fish. Are you serving it for lunch today?"

As soon as he said that, a few wealthy friends behind him also took a deep breath and sniffed.

Indeed, it was!

The vinegar was strong, with a hint of crab aroma.

Instantly, they all got excited.

"Yeah! I also smell West Lake Vinegar Fish. We’re all friends here, tell us quickly, is West Lake Vinegar Fish on the lunch menu?"

"Boss Huang is finally serving West Lake Vinegar Fish again? I’ve been waiting for days!"

The vinegar aroma lingered in the kitchen and dissipated a bit with the ventilation, but who knew these customers’ sense of smell was still so sharp!

Indeed, the dish would be served at lunch today, so Li Chengzhan simply told them straight out: "Hey guys, we’re indeed serving West Lake Vinegar Fish for lunch. The quantity is already entered into the automated ordering machine, so if you want it, hurry up and order!"

Lin Anan couldn’t help but complain vehemently to Li Chengzhan and Lin Qiuyu: "Zhan, Qi Yu, you’re both so unfair! You’re serving West Lake Vinegar Fish for lunch, and you didn’t inform your brothers. Fortunately, we came early, or we probably wouldn’t get any~"

They came early just to be the first to enjoy all the delights of Delicious Restaurant.

"I’ve been busy all morning, where would I find the time to think about this?"

Li Chengzhan helplessly rolled his eyes at them: "But you guys, doing nothing but lining up every day. If you still can’t get it, that’s because you’re too lazy..."

The implication being, if you come to line up first every day, you won’t face the issue of missing it.

The bunch of idle rich kids: "..."

Is it that they didn’t want to work?

No!

It’s because Boss Huang didn’t hire them.

They were out of options...

Shao Yuqiao chuckled and said, "Zhan, since you’re so busy and tired, why don’t you let me take your job then."

"Get lost!"

Li Chengzhan looked at Shao Yuqiao with an expression of "there’s always someone eyeing my position," and harshly said, "I’ll be damned if I let you take my job even if I’m super busy."

Goodness!

Such admirable determination!

But, if it were them, they wouldn’t change for another position either.

"Let’s just order our food first! We don’t want the people behind us to get impatient."

Shao Yuqiao, along with his buddies, quickly moved to the automated ordering machine to place their orders.

And then waited for their meals.

As more customers came in to order, the restaurant became lively and crowded.

Although many nearby locals and students chose to take food away.

There were still quite a few customers without seats and had to eat at small benches or folding chairs at the entrance.

Even so, everyone dined happily, enjoying their lunch.

After a long wait.

It was finally Hu Jinlin’s family’s turn.

Hu Jinlin, being familiar, instructed Lin Xinjie to take Doudou to find seats, while he went to the automated ordering machine to place their orders.

But the West Lake Vinegar Fish and Honeyed Ham were already sold out.

Fortunately, there were still other dishes available.

To his delight, today there were new Braised Chicken Leg Rice and Braised Chicken Wing Rice.

He ordered a portion of each, a Lotus Leaf Glutinous Rice Steamed Spare Ribs Rice, and a bowl of Fish Ball Soup, along with two bowls of Nourishing Fish Soup and Braised Prawns, Dongpo Pork.

After paying.

He sat across from Lin Xinjie, looking up to see Doudou’s little face showing a rare shy smile, glancing around curiously.

Clearly, his mood was cheerful.

Seeing her husband settle in, Lin Xinjie smiled and said, "Doudou said as soon as we entered the shop that he was hungry. I smelled the aroma in the shop and felt a bit hungry too."

She shared what their son had just said with her husband, which made Doudou sitting next to her feel bashful, leaning closer to his mom, trying to hide his little face.

"Oh my, my Doudou is shy! Come on out, Daddy promises not to laugh at you."

Hu Jinlin, rarely seeing his son showing a childish side, found it novel and was a little thrilled.

He has always focused on encouraging Doudou to talk and socialize more outside.

He bent over and coaxed, "Doudou, look how lively it is here to have meals! Let’s visit the nearby park or amusement park every weekend, and when we’re tired of playing, we’ll come here for a meal. How about that?"

Lin Xinjie had always thought of taking Doudou to the nearby park or amusement park.

First, to get more sun, and also because the park and amusement park would have lots of kids, so Doudou could interact with peers.

Hopefully, he would play along with them.

But whenever this was brought up.

The child just kept quiet.

He would either curl up on the sofa reading comic books or play puzzles on the children’s mat.

In short, he immersed himself in his own world, giving her no response.

Lin Xinjie felt quite helpless!

Regarding this, she’d even complained to her husband a few times.

Unexpectedly, he brought this up in front of Doudou now.

Doudou sniffed the aroma spreading in the shop with his little nose.

Oh, in his heart!

He’s really conflicted!

He sat in the dining chair, his little legs dangling in the air, but he just wouldn’t speak.

Just at this moment.

Li Chengzhan came over with a plate of braised chicken leg rice, braised chicken wing rice, and lotus leaf sticky rice steamed ribs. He ran back twice to bring the rest of the dishes and soup.

The whole table was full of dishes, with enticing colors and aromas, making one’s mouth water...

At this point.

Doudou couldn’t hold back any longer.

Seeing his parents looking at him expectantly, he had to nod like a little chick pecking at rice and softly said, "Okay, I’ll eat, I’ll go."

Meaning as long as his parents took him to eat at this restaurant, he would be willing to go to the park and the amusement park.

This response...

Was naturally what Hu Jinlin and his wife had longed for.

At this moment, having received the response they wanted, they beamed with smiles.

"Ah, good."

Hu Jinlin grinned from ear to ear and said, "Then it’s settled, every Saturday and Sunday, we’ll go out for a walk."

Lin Xinjie demonstrated everything through her actions.

She was the first to serve the lotus leaf sticky rice steamed ribs that her son had been yearning for, placing them in front of Doudou.

Then she picked up chopsticks and placed a piece of Dongpo Pork and braised prawns into her son’s bowl.

She said with a smile, "Here, these braised prawns smell so good, Doudou, eat more."

The greatest charm of the Delicious Restaurant is that the son loves to eat and isn’t picky.

Doudou held his chopsticks, pulled his bowl closer, nodded with a "good," and then bowed his head to eat.

He even actively brought the Fish Ball Soup in front of him to drink.

Hu Jinlin looked at his wife and smiled, "Do you want the braised chicken leg rice or the braised chicken wing rice?"

"Braised chicken wing rice!"

Lin Xinjie thought for a moment and chose the braised chicken wing rice, eagerly picking up a wing and taking a bite.

The meat was tender and juicy!

Soft, delicate, and flavorful!

She was hooked on the first bite of the braised chicken wing rice.

Lin Xinjie’s eyes lit up, "This chicken wing rice is definitely the best chicken wing rice I’ve ever eaten in my life."

Hu Jinlin was indulging in the delicious braised chicken leg rice, took a bite of the greens, and said carelessly, "My braised chicken leg rice is also delicious. Let me tell you, these greens are spectacular too, they melt in your mouth, without fibers or strings, crisp, tender, and fresh."

"It’s one thing for the braised chicken wings to be tasty, but even the braised eggs are flavorful. Just look at the color, it’s fantastic, the egg white is braised to a deep color and even the yolk is full of flavor," Lin Xinjie said with a smile.

Doudou ate a piece of rib, then had a piece of Dongpo Pork, took a sip of Fish Ball Soup, glanced up at mom, then looked at dad across the table, and bowed his head again to keep eating.

Really strange, can chatting be more appetizing than eating?

Lin Xinjie, while eating, picked up a few more braised prawns for her son.

Doudou gave her a smile and continued eating.

The family of three stood up satisfied after eating, ready to leave.

At the door, Doudou saw Mimi lying in the cat bed, was instantly attracted, and couldn’t help but crouch down, wanting to pet Mimi.

Xuanxuan saw this, came over with a smile, and said, "This is my friend, it’s called Mimi."

Doudou looked up at Xuanxuan, but his eyes didn’t quite dare meet Xuanxuan’s gaze. He lowered his eyelids, gently nodding to show he understood.

It’s a good start for a child to talk to Doudou on their own!

Lin Xinjie and Hu Jinlin turned to look at Xuanxuan, giving her a slight smile, trying to come across as very friendly, "Little girl, what’s your name?"

Xuanxuan politely replied, "My name is Xuanxuan. My dad owns this store..."

So she was Boss Huang’s daughter!

So cute!

So pretty!

And so lively and cheerful!

Lin Xinjie and Hu Jinlin were full of envy, marveling that Boss Huang was not only a superb cook but also an exceptional parent!

He raised his daughter to be so lively and cheerful.

Lin Xinjie gave a gentle smile, "Can Auntie call you Xuanxuan?"

Xuanxuan nodded, "Sure~"

"Xuanxuan, this is Doudou. He is Auntie’s son, and he just started first grade this year."

Lin Xinjie pulled Doudou to the front, introducing him to Xuanxuan, and then smiled as she asked, "Would you like to share some interesting things about Mimi with Doudou?"

"Sure!"

Xuanxuan smiled with her eyes arched and said, "Big brother Doudou, let me tell you, Mimi can do a backflip!"

Doudou was a bit nervous, but there was still a hint of disbelief in his eyes.

Xuanxuan looked at Mimi and said with a smile, "Mimi, come on, do a backflip."

Mimi looked a bit resentful but obediently did a backflip.

"Wow..."

Though Doudou was a bit shy, he was still a child. Seeing something so novel, he was immediately captivated, his mouth opening wide involuntarily.

Hu Jinlin and Lin Xinjie were also amazed, thinking how impressive this cat was!

Xuanxuan gave a sweet smile and continued, "Mimi, turn around three times."

Mimi dutifully complied.

One circle.

Two circles.

Three circles.

Doudou’s little mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

When he came back to his senses, he showed a smile and clapped his hands, "Mimi is so amazing..."

Seeing their son smile again, Hu Jinlin and Lin Xinjie felt immense relief.

All of this was a good start!