Chapter 9
Cooking
Gu Zi tilted her head to look at Aunt Chu. She turned her body to shield the meat behind her and asked, “I’m preparing to cook. Is there a problem?”
Aunt Chu’s eyes were red. She stretched her neck to look at the meat behind Gu Zi.
That piece of meat was sent over by Su Shen this morning. Aunt Chu had intentionally hidden it, planning to take it back home for her beloved grandson to eat tonight!
If this woman hadn’t discovered the meat, it would definitely have ended up in her precious grandson’s belly!
“No…” Aunt Chu could not bear to part with that piece of meat. Her eyes were red and her voice trembled. “You took such a big piece of meat; it’s such a waste!”
When Gu Zi heard this, she immediately chuckled and replied, “Aunt Chu, this is my house. Even if I waste it, it’s my family’s waste. What’s it to you?”
“You…”
“Besides, if we don’t eat this meat, it might end up in someone else’s stomach, right?” After Gu Zi said that, she washed the meat briefly and began to cut the meat into slices.
Aunt Chu watched as the piece of meat became smaller and smaller until it became pieces of meat. Her heart ached so much that it bled. She was so angry that she had a headache. She turned around and walked out. When she saw the two children sitting at the table and drinking the soup silently, she glared at them fiercely.
“You both heard it, right? Look at your stepmother. She’s a wasteful woman. She only thinks about eating and drinking well all day long. Despite that, she talks all high and mighty with a mouthful of principles.” Aunt Chu complained with one hand on her waist.
When she saw Gu Zi starting to crack eggs, her heart could not take it anymore. She quickly turned her head.
“She’s so arrogant and looks like a vixen. When she’s together with Little Su, she’ll probably bewitch him and might even kick you three out!” Aunt Chu ranted, then stormed off.
Su Li, the second brother, was so scared that his chopsticks fell to the ground. He sat there dumbfounded, not daring to speak.
Su Bing clenched his chopsticks tightly in his hand, his lips tightly sealed.
As for Gu Zi in the kitchen, she had no idea what was happening outside.
She planned to make noodles and then braised pork with cabbage.
After preparing the pork, she started washing the cabbage, then set these ingredients aside to knead the dough and roll out the noodles.
Once the noodles were ready, she placed the pot on the left burner, filled it with water, and began cooking the noodles. On the right burner, she started simmering the cabbage in another pot.
Lele sat in the kitchen, quietly observing Gu Zi’s activities.
Su Li forgot about his chopsticks on the ground. He got up and walked to Su Bing’s side, asking cautiously, “Big brother, she…”
Su Bing didn’t say a word, but his face tightened further, and his eyes grew even colder.
Gu Zi quickly cooked the noodles, then prepared three large bowls of noodles and a small bowl of egg custard. Finally, she brought out the pork stew with cabbage.
Gu Zi only took half an hour to do this.
Su Li stood by the dining table, staring at the dishes with stars in his eyes. He couldn’t help but swallow and said excitedly, “Oh my, it smells so good!”
Su Bing also found the aroma incredibly tempting. He had barely eaten anything earlier when Aunt Chu served them what she called “soup,” which was more like water with a few grains of rice.
“And there’s meat!” Su Li’s mouth watered, and his eyes turned red. “Big bro, I haven’t had meat in so long. This meat smells amazing!”
Su Bing also hadn’t had meat in a long time. He swallowed hard, gently grabbed Su Li’s arm, and whispered, “Let’s go upstairs to do our homework.”
“Big brother,” Su Li’s eyes welled up with tears due to his craving.
As for Lele, who was sitting in the kitchen, she was already drooling. She kept making “Yi Yi Ya Ya” sounds as she sat on her chair.
Gu Zi carried three large bowls of noodles to the table, along with a small bowl of egg custard.
Su Li stood beside the dining table, looking at the food on the table. His eyes were sparkling, and he kept wiping the saliva from the corner of his mouth.
His hand reached out almost instinctively toward the dish, but Su Bing’s quick action prevented him from touching the meat.
Su Li snapped out of his trance and looked at Su Bing with a pleading expression.
Su Bing, facing Su Li’s gaze, gently shook his head, silently advising him not to indulge just yet.
Gu Zi retrieved four pairs of chopsticks from the kitchen. She noticed Su Li’s eager anticipation and chuckled. With warmth in her voice, she said, “Enjoy the noodles!”
Su Li stared at the enticing bowl of noodles before him. Each one was crowned with a golden egg pancake, its aroma wafting through the air.
Su Li mechanically accepted the chopsticks Gu Zi offered him, while she extended another pair toward Su Bing.