txolops Chapter 60 The Allure of Bento Boxes
Chapter 60 The Allure of Bento Boxes
7:30 in the morning.
Parents were constantly dropping off their children at the entrance of Qiming Bilingual Kindergarten.
Lin Chen and Wang Hai got off the tricycle.
Lin Chen carried a pink insulated lunch bag and led Tangtang to the reception area in front of the gate.
"Tangtang, pack your lunchbox for today."
Lin Chen bent down and carefully hung the lunch bag strap on Tangtang's wrist. "Open it when you eat lunch."
Remember your promise to Daddy to share with Xiaomeng.
"Okay, Daddy!"
Tangtang nodded vigorously, clutching the lunch bag tightly with her little hands, and looked up earnestly, saying, "I must let Xiaomeng taste Daddy's cooking!"
Wang Hai stood to the side, waving happily at Tangtang: "Tangtang, come in quickly, eat more at noon!"
Your chubby uncle and dad will pick you up on time this afternoon!
"Goodbye, Uncle Fatty! Goodbye, Daddy!"
Tangtang turned around and followed Teacher Liu, who was in charge of her class, into the kindergarten gate.
Lin Chen stood there, watching his daughter's small figure disappear around the corner of the corridor before turning his back.
"Brother Chen, let's go."
Wang Hai straddled the driver's seat of the tricycle. "Let's hurry back to the rented house. We need to get the ingredients for the 150 servings of fried rice we're selling tonight, as well as that bucket of clear soup."
It's getting late.
"Um."
Lin Chen opened the passenger door and got in. "Let's go back to work."
Wang Hai turned on the ignition, and the tricycle smoothly merged into the morning rush hour traffic, heading towards the urban village.
……
11:30 a.m.
In the classroom of Class 3, Grade 3 at Qiming Bilingual Kindergarten.
When lunchtime arrived, the atmosphere in the classroom became exceptionally lively.
The teacher in charge, Ms. Liu, clapped her hands to signal the children to quiet down.
"Children, please return to your seats and sit down."
Ms. Liu said gently, "Today is our bento sharing day."
Now everyone can take out the lunchboxes that their parents prepared this morning.
In a little while, everyone can sample each other's food and learn to share!
"Good!" The children's neat and innocent cheers rang out in the classroom.
The children opened their backpacks and carried their various food containers onto the table.
The children who can attend this bilingual kindergarten all come from well-off families.
At this moment, the classroom tables were filled with lunches carefully prepared by the parents.
There are salmon rice balls shaped like cartoon animals, as well as delicate Italian meat sauce pasta and fruit salad.
Xiao Meng sat next to Tang Tang.
Xiao Meng stretched out her two little hands and untied a pretty wooden lunchbox.
The box was lined with clean oil-absorbing paper, on which several slices of sandwich were neatly arranged.
"Tangtang, look!"
Xiaomeng sidled up to Tangtang and happily pointed to her lunchbox, "This is a Wagyu beef sandwich that my mom specially asked the aunt to make this morning."
The meat inside is so tender, and there's lots of stretchy cheese too!
Have one piece!
Xiaomeng picked up a sandwich and was about to hand it to Tangtang.
Tangtang looked at the sandwich, shook her head, and didn't take it.
"Xiaomeng, don't eat this yet."
Tangtang carefully placed her pink insulated lunch bag in the center of the table, her big eyes sparkling. "I promised you yesterday that I would give you the food my daddy made today."
My dad's cooking is the best in the world!
"Really?"
Xiao Meng withdrew her hand and stared curiously at the pink bag in front of Tangtang.
Tangtang didn't say anything, but with her two little hands she unzipped the insulated bag and took out the pink lunchbox inside.
"Clatter."
Tangtang gripped the buckles on the edge of the lunchbox with both hands and gently lifted the lid.
The moment the lunchbox was opened, a fragrant aroma of noodles mixed with the freshness of shrimp and the sweetness of vegetables wafted out, carried by the remaining heat inside the insulated container.
"Wow!"
As soon as Xiaomeng saw what was in the lunchbox, her eyes widened instantly, and she let out a gasp.
Several children who were eating cartoon-themed rice balls nearby turned around to look when they heard the noise.
Upon seeing this, the eyes of several children nearby were immediately drawn to it.
The lunchbox contained twelve small and exquisite pastries.
They look like blooming four-leaf clovers, and the dough comes in four different colors: emerald green, magenta, pink, and pure white.
Each "little flower" has four symmetrical openings, filled with golden corn kernels, bright green tender peas, dark brown shiitake mushroom pieces, and orange carrot pieces, respectively.
Vibrant colors, vivid and tempting.
For three- or four-year-old children, such pretty things are very attractive.
"How beautiful! What is this? Is it a little flower?"
"How come there are green and purple skins?"
The children next to her all came over from their seats and surrounded Tangtang's table, staring curiously at the pink lunchbox.
The commotion quickly caught the attention of Teacher Liu.
"What's wrong, kids?"
Don't crowd together.
Teacher Liu walked over quickly.
When she looked down and saw what was in Tangtang's lunchbox, she stopped abruptly, a look of surprise flashing across her face.
Teacher Liu had been to high-end Western restaurants, but she had never seen pastries with such natural color matching and such exquisite shapes.
"Candy."
Teacher Liu looked at the little girl and asked, "Is this the lunchbox your father made for you this morning?"
What's its name?
Seeing everyone gathered around her lunchbox, Tangtang happily puffed out her little chest and shouted loudly.
"Teacher Liu, my dad said this is called Four Happiness Steamed Dumplings!"
Tangtang pointed to the steamed dumplings in the lunchbox and carefully introduced them to everyone, "Daddy said that the green wrappers are made from spinach juice, the purple ones are from purple cabbage, and the red ones are from dragon fruit."
It's filled with my favorite shrimp and meat!
"Four Happiness Steamed Dumplings?"
Teacher Liu repeated it to herself, sighing inwardly.
Without adding any coloring, Tangtang's father is truly a hidden master at making this traditional delicacy entirely by hand.
Sitting next to her, Xiaomeng couldn't help but swallow hard, and she tugged at Tangtang's sleeve.
"Tangtang, is this little flower really edible?"
Little Meng stared longingly at the green steamed dumpling. "Can...can I try one?"
"Of course! I was going to share it with you anyway."
Tangtang generously picked up the small plastic fork that came with the lunchbox, speared a green spinach dumpling, and put it into the empty plate in front of Xiaomeng.
"Xiao Meng, try it! The skin is green!"
Tangtang's face was full of anticipation.
Xiao Meng couldn't wait to put down her sandwich, pick up her little fork, and feed the warm steamed dumpling into her mouth.
Biting through the slightly chewy and soft dough, you instantly touch the rich filling inside.
The tenderness of the prawns and the smoothness of the pork tenderloin, combined with the crispness of the corn and peas on top, created distinct layers that blossomed in Xiaomeng's mouth.
The noodles have a subtle, refreshing spinach aroma as you chew them.
It's not greasy at all, and it's soft, chewy, and easy to eat.
Xiao Meng chewed twice, then stopped abruptly.
Her big eyes shone brightly.
"Mmm...it's so delicious!"
Xiao Meng shouted, not caring about what to say, and stuffed the remaining half of the steamed dumpling into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel, chewing vigorously.
After swallowing, Xiaomeng turned around without hesitation and pushed the beautiful wooden box full of Wagyu beef sandwiches in front of her to the very edge of the table.
She turned her head, hugged Tangtang's arm with both little hands, and stared intently at Tangtang's pink lunchbox with her big eyes.
"Tangtang! I don't want that sandwich anymore!"
Xiao Meng swallowed hard and said eagerly, "I want to eat your little flowers too!"
"Can I have another one of those red dragon fruit?"
Seeing that Xiaomeng, who is usually a picky eater, would not even eat the fancy sandwich she brought, but only begged for one more steamed dumpling.
The children standing around immediately became anxious.
"Candy, I want some too!"
"Candy, how about I trade you my little bear-shaped rice ball?"
"Tangtang, give me a purple one!"
Just a tiny bite!
In an instant, the originally exquisite bento boxes in the classroom were left to the side in the cold.
A group of children crowded around Tangtang's table, stretching out their little hands and staring longingly at the box of Four Happiness Steamed Dumplings.