txolops Isn't Chapter 2 just like a lamb entering a tiger's den?
Isn't Chapter 2 just like a lamb entering a tiger's den?
"what!"
Tangtang, who was shoveling rice into her mouth with a small spoon, was startled and dropped the spoon on the table with a "thud".
The little girl's face turned pale, like a frightened little rabbit. She quickly slid off the high stool and hugged Lin Chen's leg tightly.
Lin Chen's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his body reacted instinctively.
He suddenly stood up, pulled Tangtang behind him and protected her tightly, and grabbed an empty porcelain bowl from the table with his right hand.
If anyone who comes in acts strangely, he will absolutely smash them without hesitation.
The hallway outside the door was somewhat dim.
A large, sweaty figure in a faded yellow delivery uniform stepped across the threshold, panting heavily.
Upon seeing the face of the person at the door, Lin Chen's tense body instantly relaxed, and he put the empty bowl he was holding back on the table.
Tangtang, who was hiding behind Lin Chen, peeked out with half her little head. After seeing who it was, her originally red eyes immediately curved into crescents, and she called out in her childish voice, "Uncle Fatty!"
The person who arrived was Wang Hai, Lin Chen's good brother who grew up with him in the orphanage, and also the only close friend that the original owner could still talk to in this world.
Wang Hai strode over, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
Seeing Lin Chen standing there unharmed, he let out a long sigh of relief, then squatted down and gently pinched Tangtang's little cheek.
"Oh dear, Tangtang, did Uncle Fatty push the door open too hard and scare you?"
Wang Hai looked at Tangtang apologetically and quickly comforted her in a soft voice, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Uncle Fatty didn't mean it. Uncle Fatty was just too anxious."
Tangtang obediently shook her head: "Tangtang isn't afraid, Daddy will protect Tangtang."
Wang Hai stood up, looked at Lin Chen, his eyes a little red: "Brother Chen, I'm glad you're alright."
Seeing you so drunk yesterday, I was on edge all day delivering takeout, afraid you'd do something foolish.
"I'm fine."
Lin Chen said calmly, "Please sit down."
Wang Hai pulled out a chair and sat down, reaching into the inner pocket of his delivery uniform to pull out a plastic bag.
He unfolded the stack of banknotes one by one, revealing a crumpled pile of bills, including red hundred-yuan notes and smaller denominations of several tens of yuan.
He pushed the money directly onto the dining table in front of Lin Chen.
"Brother Chen, this is the advance on next month's salary that I just got from the boss. It's two thousand five hundred in total. Here you go."
Wang Hai looked at Lin Chen and said seriously, "Pay this month's rent first. The landlady has a sharp tongue, so don't let her come and bang on the door and scare Tangtang again."
We'll save the rest of the money slowly...
Before Wang Hai could finish speaking, his nose suddenly twitched twice.
He stopped talking and shook his head from side to side in the air.
"What does it taste like?"
Wang Hai's eyes widened, his gaze quickly locking onto the steaming plate of fried rice in front of Tangtang.
Golden rice grains, emerald green scallions, and a rich yet not greasy aroma of eggs wafted into his nostrils.
Wang Hai's Adam's apple bobbed violently involuntarily.
"Brother Chen, where did you buy this fried rice?"
This fragrance is absolutely amazing!
Wang Hai swallowed hard, then leaned forward to grab the small spoon on the table. "I've been running around all morning and haven't had breakfast. I'm starving."
"Can you let Uncle have a taste?"
Seeing Wang Hai's outstretched hand, Tangtang, who had been so well-behaved just moments before, suddenly became anxious.
The little girl suddenly pounced on the table, her two little hands tightly gripping the plate of fried rice, her whole body like a little tiger guarding its food.
"No!"
Tangtang raised her little face, stared at Wang Hai with her big eyes, and said in a very firm tone, "This was made especially for me by Daddy!"
This is the most delicious food in the world! Don't give it to the fat uncle!
Wang Hai's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
He couldn't help but laugh at Tangtang's anxious, food-protecting look. Then, clutching his chest, he put on a heartbroken expression and slumped into a chair, wailing.
"Oh my goodness! Uncle's heart is shattering into pieces!"
Wang Hai slapped his thigh exaggeratedly, "I've spoiled you for nothing, you ungrateful little thing! I bought you so many delicious things, and now you won't even give your uncle a bite of fried rice! Your uncle is so heartbroken, your uncle is starving!"
Tangtang watched Wang Hai writhing and squirming in the chair, looking "painful," and a hint of confusion flashed across her little face.
She glanced at the little fried rice left on her plate, then at Wang Hai, and finally carefully scooped up three or four grains of rice with a small spoon, handing it to him with a heavy heart: "Well... I'll only give you a tiny bit, just a tiny bit."
Lin Chen stood aside, watching Wang Hai's comical performance, and couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Alright, stop playing the victim and trying to amuse the child."
"There's still some left in the iron pot in the kitchen. Help yourself if you want some."
"Okay! Thanks, Brother Chen!"
Upon hearing that there was still food in the kitchen, Wang Hai instantly jumped up from his chair, his heartbroken expression long gone.
He rushed into the kitchen in three strides.
Soon, the sound of a spatula hitting a wok came from the kitchen.
Less than half a minute later, Wang Hai came out carrying a large bowl filled to the brim with fried rice topped with crumbs.
He didn't even take a pair of chopsticks, but just a spoon.
He couldn't wait to pull out a chair, sit down, scoop up a large spoonful of fried rice, and stuff it directly into his mouth.
chew.
Suddenly, Wang Hai abruptly stopped chewing.
He seemed to be put on pause, his eyes widened instantly as he stared intently at the rice in the bowl. His expression shifted from confusion to shock, and finally to utter disbelief.
It doesn't have that greasy, sticky feeling you usually get from roadside stalls.
Every grain of rice is plump and chewy, and the fresh aroma of eggs and the fragrance of scallions blend perfectly in the mouth. With each chew, the soul-stirring deliciousness instantly ignites the taste buds.
Holy crap!
Wang Hai suddenly blurted out a curse.
He didn't even have time to speak; the spoon in his hand became a blur as he frantically shoveled rice into his mouth.
"Smack smack..."
The only sound in the living room was Wang Hai frantically eating rice.
He ate extremely fast, even picking up a single grain of rice that fell on the table with his fingers and stuffing it into his mouth, afraid of wasting even a tiny bit.
In less than two minutes, he finished the whole bowl of fried rice.
Wang Hai even used a spoon to scrape the bottom of the bowl until it shone.
"Burp—" Wang Hai put down his bowl, let out a long burp, his face full of enjoyment and amazement.
He raised his head and stared straight at Lin Chen, as if he were looking at a monster.
"Brother Chen, tell me the truth."
Wang Hai pointed at the empty bowl, his voice trembling slightly, "Did you really cook this meal?"
Didn't you spend hundreds of dollars to get this from some fancy restaurant?
"The pots are all those old, broken iron pots you bought me, don't you think?"
Lin Chen pulled out a tissue and wiped the grease from the corner of Tangtang's mouth, his tone indifferent.
"Absolutely amazing! Absolutely incredible!"
Wang Hai slapped his thigh, his face trembling with excitement, "Brother Chen, the fried rice you used to make required drinking half a bottle of water after just one bite."
Today's food... I swear, I've delivered takeout to the most expensive Michelin-starred restaurants in the city center, and the smell wafting from their kitchens can't even compare to half the aroma of this fried rice!
Did you secretly find a master to teach you martial arts?
Lin Chen didn't continue the explanation, but simply said, "I just had a brush with death yesterday, and things I couldn't understand before suddenly became clear."
Although Wang Hai found it unbelievable, he was happy to see his good brother cheer up and improve his cooking skills.
After the initial excitement, Wang Hai's expression gradually returned to seriousness.
He glanced at the two thousand five hundred yuan on the table, then looked at the bare walls of the rented room, and asked, "Brother Chen, what are you planning to do now?"
No matter how delicious the food is, we still have to live our lives.
The rent has been paid, and the remaining money isn't enough for you two to survive for a month.
"Keep setting up your stall."
Lin Chen's tone was firm, without the slightest hesitation.
Upon hearing these four words, Wang Hai's brows immediately furrowed, and a hint of worry and anger flashed in his eyes.
"Still setting up a stall?"
Wang Hai panicked and leaned forward, "Brother Chen, are you crazy?"
Last night, those bastards who sell fried chicken across the street brought some guys and smashed up your stall and beat you up!
If you go back now, aren't you just throwing yourself to the wolves?
Their bald leader has declared that as long as you're on that night market street, they'll come and overturn your pot every day!
They said our Chinese food is garbage and doesn't deserve to be sold on that street!
Wang Hai got angrier and angrier as he spoke, his fists clenched tightly: "How about this, Brother Chen, you don't need to go set up your stall for now."
"Come deliver food with me. It'll be tough, but at least no one'll cause trouble, and I can earn a stable income to support Tangtang."
Lin Chen listened quietly as Wang Hai finished speaking.
He turned his head, glanced at the kitchen knife, and his eyes remained calm.
That was the absolute confidence he had in his skills as the head chef of state banquets in his previous life.
"Who said I was going back to that night market street?"
Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and looked at Wang Hai.
Wang Hai was taken aback: "Not going back to the night market?"
"Where to? Our beat-up tricycle isn't allowed into other night markets."
Lin Chen stood up, walked behind the door, and reached down to take down the apron hanging on the wall.
"Let's move it to a different place."
Lin Chen tied his apron around his waist, turned his head, and said calmly but firmly, "Set up the stall where they can't go."