txolops Chapter 97 Candy Who Can't Wait
Chapter 97 Candy Who Can't Wait
4:30 PM.
The early summer sun slanted down the street; although it wasn't as scorching as midday, the air was still stiflingly hot.
The bread truck stopped at the entrance of Sunshine Kindergarten.
Wang Hai pulled the handbrake, turned off the engine, and casually wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.
"Phew—" Wang Hai let out a long breath. "Brother Chen, today was a really fulfilling day."
After preparing the ingredients in the morning, I took a short nap at noon, and now it's time to pick up our little boss, Tangtang.
Lin Chen, who was sitting in the passenger seat, opened the door and got out of the car.
"Get out of the car and wait at the entrance, the bell is about to ring."
Lin Chen said something and walked to the tightly closed iron gate of the kindergarten.
Wang Hai quickly got out of the car and followed, standing with a group of other parents who had also come to pick up their children.
"Ring ring—"
Less than two minutes later, the kindergarten bell rang on time to dismiss students.
The once quiet campus suddenly became lively, with all sorts of innocent children's voices mingling together.
The large iron gate slowly opened.
Teachers from each class held up their class signs and led the lined-up children out one by one.
Lin Chen spotted Tangtang in the crowd at a glance.
Unlike the other children who were looking around aimlessly, Tangtang gripped the shoulder straps of her backpack tightly with both hands, her big eyes anxiously searching among the parents.
When Tangtang saw Lin Chen and Wang Hai, her eyes lit up instantly.
"Daddy! Fatty Uncle!"
Tangtang called out happily, but didn't run around. Instead, she obediently followed the teacher in charge until the teacher led the group to Lin Chen.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Liu."
Lin Chen nodded slightly and greeted him in a steady voice.
"Mr. Lin, it's time to pick up Tangtang."
Teacher Liu held Tangtang's little hand and handed it to Lin Chen with a smile, saying, "Tangtang was very well-behaved at kindergarten today. She slept soundly during nap time and did exceptionally well in craft class."
Goodbye, teacher!
Tangtang immediately waved her little hand politely.
Goodbye, Tangtang.
Teacher Liu smiled and patted her little head, then looked at Lin Chen, "But Mr. Lin, Tangtang kept saying she wanted to leave school early this afternoon."
She also told me that she had drawn a really beautiful windmill and was going to give it to a pretty aunt.
The little girl is really treasuring the painting in her schoolbag today; she won't even let other classmates have a glimpse of it.
Hearing what the teacher said.
Lin Chen looked down at his daughter, who was clutching her little schoolbag tightly, and said, "Yes, that's a return gift she promised to give to someone. Children take promises very seriously."
"That's a good thing; it shows the parents have done a good job educating their children."
Old Liu nodded. "Mr. Lin, please take care on your journey."
"Thank you, Teacher Liu. Goodbye."
After saying goodbye to the teacher, Wang Hai immediately came over happily, picked up Tangtang, and lifted her up a couple of times.
"Oh dear, our little artist, did you miss Uncle Fatty at kindergarten today?"
"I want to!"
Tangtang hugged Wang Hai's neck and answered in a childish voice, then immediately turned to look at Lin Chen, her big eyes full of eagerness, "Daddy, let's go home quickly!"
I need to hurry to the square; the pretty auntie is definitely already waiting for my windmill!
"Auntie hasn't finished get off work yet, there's no rush."
Lin Chen opened the back door of the van.
"Put me down! I want to sit properly!"
Tangtang urged her on.
Wang Hai quickly put her in the child safety seat and fastened the seat belt.
As soon as Tangtang sat down, she hugged her little backpack to her chest, carefully unzipped it to take a look, and after confirming that the transparent folder and the windmill drawing paper inside were safe and sound, she breathed a long sigh of relief and zipped the backpack back up.
"This little girl is really destined to worry."
Wang Hai looked at Tangtang's possessive expression and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
He closed the car door, turned around and got into the driver's seat, stepped on the gas, and the van drove towards the rental house.
A few minutes later.
"Buzz—" The bread truck stopped downstairs at the rental house.
An electric tricycle was parked in the corner.
"Home! Time to get to work!"
Wang Hai jumped out of the car and took Tangtang out of the car seat.
"Tangtang, don't run around downstairs. Just stand next to the tricycle and watch our things. Your dad and I will go upstairs to get the ingredients."
Wang Hai gave instructions.
"Okay, I'll keep a close eye on things!"
Tangtang nodded obediently and stood next to the tricycle, clutching her little schoolbag.
Lin Chen and Wang Hai didn't delay and ran up to the third floor.
Upon entering, the two headed straight for the freezers in the kitchen and living room.
"Brother Chen, you get that big vat for the broth, I'll move our main event today!"
As Wang Hai spoke, he walked to the large freezer in the corner of the living room, which was specifically used to store food.
"Splash!"
The freezer door was pulled open.
Wang Hai reached inside and grabbed the edge of the tightly sealed stainless steel barrel with both hands.
Thirty pounds of pickled white radishes, plus ice water, is quite a heavy load.
"Hey!"
With a burst of strength, Wang Hai lifted the large bucket out of the freezer and placed it on the ground with a thud.
After being refrigerated for most of the day, a fine layer of water droplets had condensed on the outer wall of the stainless steel drum.
Wang Hai felt a chill in his hands.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he reached out and lifted a small corner of the plastic wrap sealing the bucket.
Instantly, a cool breeze, a blend of the sweetness of white sugar, the slight sourness of rice vinegar, and the subtle spiciness of ginger and chili peppers, swept over me without any obstruction.
"Gurgle..."
Although Wang Hai had eaten a large lunch, he still couldn't help but swallow hard when he smelled the sweet and sour aroma that was fully brought out by the air conditioning.
"Brother Chen! This radish is amazing!"
Wang Hai turned and shouted towards the kitchen, "This smells even better than yesterday!"
And this temperature is freezing! These thirty pounds of radishes are going to be snapped up by those regular customers tonight!
Lin Chen just happened to come out of the kitchen at that moment, carrying a large bucket full of old hen broth.
"Seal it with plastic wrap, carry it down to the car, and don't let the air conditioning escape."
Lin Chen gave a brief explanation.
"Okay!"
Wang Hai quickly tightened the plastic wrap and sealed it tightly, then picked up the heavy cold bucket with both hands and strode out the door.
Lin Chen followed behind, carrying the bucket of broth.
Once downstairs, Wang Hai went straight to the back of the bread truck, opened the trunk, and put the chilled radish bucket inside.
Then, the two made two more trips and carried down all the rice, as well as the local eggs, scallions, and other ingredients.
Lin Chen carefully placed the rice and broth, which are not afraid of being jostled, into the bread cart, while the fragile eggs were placed into the tricycle's special shock-absorbing compartment.
"Everything is ready."
Lin Chen stood in front of the tricycle and began the final checks before setting up his stall.
He bent down and reached out to tighten the valve screws securing the gas cylinder, confirming that they were not loose.
He then carefully inspected the stove's ignition device and wiped it clean from the inside out with a towel.
Just then, Wang Hai's phone suddenly started vibrating wildly.
"Buzz buzz buzz—" Wang Hai took out his phone and looked at it, then burst out laughing.
"Brother Chen, guess what?"
It's only 5:10, and our regular customer group is already buzzing!
Wang Hai held his phone screen close to Lin Chen's face. "Liu Wei said that people from his department had already gone downstairs to reserve spots by the flower bed!"
Several people in the group chat were also asking how many chilled radishes we brought today, worried that if they arrived late they wouldn't even get a radish peel!
Lin Chen glanced at the message on his phone.
"It's about time, let's go."
Lin Chen shouted, "To Yintai Plaza."
"Alright! Let's go!"
Wang Hai scooped Tangtang into the car seat, responded with a comment, and stepped on the gas.