txolops Chapter 49 Little Tasting Officer
Chapter 49 Little Tasting Officer
4:20 PM.
Parents had already formed a long queue at the entrance of Qiming Bilingual Kindergarten.
Lin Chen and Wang Hai arrived on time on their tricycle and parked it in the marked area on the side of the road.
Lin Chen got out of the car and stood outside the pick-up and drop-off isolation zone at the entrance.
"Ring ring—"
The crisp sound of the school bell rang.
Not long after, the kindergarten's iron gate slowly opened.
The teachers in charge of each class led the children, who were lined up, out in an orderly manner.
Lin Chen's gaze immediately locked onto the location of Class 3.
Tangtang was holding Teacher Liu's hand as she walked out with the group.
"Daddy!"
Tangtang spotted Lin Chen at the front of the crowd immediately, raised her little hand that wasn't holding the teacher's, and waved it vigorously.
Lin Chen stepped forward.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Liu."
Lin Chen looked at the teacher in charge and greeted her politely.
"Mr. Lin, you're too kind."
Teacher Liu stopped with a smile, patted Tangtang's head, and said, "Tangtang did a wonderful job at kindergarten today."
She was very well-behaved during her lunch break, and in the afternoon, when playing with building blocks with other children, she knew how to share.
Most importantly, she was very well-behaved today. Not only did she drink water on time, but she also came to me to refill her water bottle afterward.
Upon hearing the teacher's praise, Tangtang immediately puffed out her little chest and patted the pink thermos cup on her chest.
"Daddy, look! Tangtang drank so much water, her cup is completely empty now!"
Tangtang tilted her little face up and reported to the leader in a clear voice.
Lin Chen reached out and pinched his daughter's soft cheek, his eyes gentle: "Tangtang is so good. She listened to her father and teacher and drank more water so she wouldn't get sick."
"Um!"
Tangtang nodded vigorously.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Lin. See you tomorrow."
Teacher Liu smiled and handed Tangtang's hand to Lin Chen.
Goodbye, teacher!
Tangtang waved.
"See you tomorrow."
Lin Chen nodded slightly in greeting.
After saying goodbye to the teacher, Lin Chen led Tangtang to the tricycle.
Wang Hai was straddling the driver's seat, smiling as he watched the little girl run towards him.
"Our little princess is home from school!"
"Get in the car, Uncle Fatty will take you home!"
Lin Chen carried Tangtang to the passenger seat, put her little backpack and water bottle in, and then closed the car door.
"go home."
Lin Chen said from the passenger seat.
"Alright, buckle up!"
Wang Hai turned on the ignition, and the tricycle smoothly merged into the traffic on the street, heading towards the urban village.
A dozen minutes later, the tricycle stopped downstairs at the rental house.
Lin Chen led Tangtang upstairs, took out his key, and opened the door.
"Squeak—"
The moment the door was pushed open, a fragrant aroma wafted out from the kitchen, filling the entire small living room.
It was a pure meaty aroma, with the richness of old hen and the sweetness of pork bones.
Tangtang had just changed into her little slippers in the entryway when she couldn't help but sniffle twice with her little nose.
"Wow--"
Tangtang tilted her head up, her big eyes full of curiosity, "Daddy, what smells in the house?"
It smells so good!
Wang Hai tossed his car keys onto the table, pointed at the stainless steel bucket on the kitchen counter, and chuckled, "Tangtang, you have a really good nose."
Wang Hai walked over, squatted down, looked at Tangtang, and said, "That's the soup your dad cooked all morning."
It's specially made for the uncles and aunties who buy fried rice.
"How about it, Tangtang, do you want to try it for those uncles and aunties first?"
Tangtang's eyes lit up instantly when she heard that it was soup made by her father.
"Okay, okay!"
Tangtang clapped her hands happily and said loudly, "Tangtang wants to drink too!"
Tangtang wants to be Daddy's little taster!
Lin Chen listened to his daughter's clear, childlike voice, and a smile spread across his face.
He walked to the sink and washed his hands with clean water.
"Go sit down at the table, Daddy will scoop some for you."
Lin Chen picked up a clean white porcelain bowl, walked to the stainless steel bucket, and lifted the lid.
As the lid was removed, the trapped heat inside the bucket instantly rose up.
Lin Chen held a long-handled ladle and steadily scooped half a spoonful of clear soup from the stainless steel bucket.
The amber liquid slid down the rim of the spoon into the white porcelain bowl, so clear that the ceramic patterns on the bottom of the bowl were visible.
He carried the small bowl to the table and placed it in front of Tangtang.
"Drink slowly, it's still a little hot."
Lin Chen gave a word of advice.
Tangtang sat on a small stool, holding the edge of a small bowl with her two little hands.
She first lowered her head, brought the bowl close to her mouth, and smelled it carefully. Then she cautiously took a small sip along the rim of the bowl.
The soup enters the mouth.
Tangtang smacked her lips and blinked her big eyes.
She seemed a little confused; how could this liquid, which looked like plain water, have such a strong taste in her mouth?
Then, she lowered her head and took a big gulp.
This time, the deliciousness of the old hen flowed from the tip of my tongue straight to my throat, so smooth and succulent, without any greasiness whatsoever.
"It tastes so good, Daddy!"
Tangtang put down the small bowl, with a ring of glistening soup stains still on the corner of her mouth.
She looked up at Lin Chen intently, "Daddy, this soup looks like water, but when you drink it, your stomach will taste like meat!"
It's not salty at all, Tangtang loves it!
After saying that, Tangtang simply picked up the bowl and gulped down the remaining half bowl of clear soup, then licked her lips with a lingering sense of satisfaction.
Seeing his daughter's empty bowl and satisfied expression, Lin Chen knew what was going on.
This carefully prepared clear broth is so delicious that even a child's most sensitive taste buds will be instantly won over.
The complimentary soup, served with fried rice, completes the flavor cycle.
"As long as it tastes good."
Lin Chen reached out and took the empty bowl, putting it into the sink.
He turned around and glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Alright, it's almost time."
As Lin Chen spoke, he re-tied the faded apron around his waist. "Fatty, get ready to move things out of the stall."
"Okay!"
Wang Hai responded and immediately got to work.
The two worked together seamlessly and began moving the prepared ingredients from the rented apartment downstairs.
Two huge stainless steel insulated buckets were filled with dried stale rice, twelve trays of washed fresh eggs, and several large boxes of neatly chopped scallions.
Finally, and heaviest, was the deep stainless steel barrel filled with broth.
To prevent spillage from the bumpy road, Lin Chen tightened the sealing ring on the edge of the soup bucket lid and then tied it around the outside with a rope.
Wang Hai used all his strength, and together with Lin Chen, they steadily lifted the soup bucket into the innermost part of the tricycle's cargo bed and secured it firmly.
"The takeout containers, disposable soup bowls, and spoons are all in these two cardboard boxes."
Wang Hai dusted off his hands and quickly checked the supplies in the carriage.
Tangtang had already climbed into the passenger seat by herself and was sitting obediently in the seat.
Lin Chen closed the door of the rented room, walked quickly to the tricycle, got into the passenger seat, and closed the door.
"Brother Chen, hold on tight!"
Wang Hai sat in the driver's seat and forcefully turned the ignition.
The tricycle emitted a deep, powerful motor sound.
At 5 p.m. sharp, the tricycle, carrying ingredients for 150 servings of fried rice and a bucket of crystal-clear soup, steadily drove towards the Yintai Building Plaza, bathed in the gentle breeze of early summer evening.