“My brother and sister in law, and grandmother too, have fairly regular daily routines. When it is time, they usually need to take a short afternoon nap. My parents are the same.”
Zeng Xiaoya said, “The one who should apologise is me. If it were not for hosting me and keeping me company in conversation, Sister Hai Tong and the others would have gone to rest much earlier. Everyone is usually so busy with work, and it is rare to get a couple of days off, so of course they all want to rest properly.”
“Grandma Zhan having such a regular routine is a good thing. Perhaps that is why your grandmother is so healthy and long lived. Grandma Zhan takes very good care of herself. From her appearance, you really cannot tell that she is already ninety years old.”
Seeing that she wanted to help, Zhan Yue took a pair of clean gloves and handed them to her, so as not to dirty her hands.
Everyone going to take a nap also had another meaning, which was to let Zeng Xiaoya chat with Zhan Yue when she felt bored, so the two of them could have some time alone.
It was not that they were neglecting a guest, but that they were giving Zhan Yue an opportunity.
“How many dishes are you planning to make for dinner? You prepared so many ingredients,” Zeng Xiaoya asked when she saw how abundant the ingredients were.
Zhan Yue said, “There are many people, and tastes differ, so I have to take everyone’s preferences into account. I prepared twelve dishes. There are four dishes that the children like, and the rest are what we adults enjoy.”
There were also a few dishes that Zeng Xiaoya liked. In short, Zhan Yue had considered everyone who would be eating at his home today.
Zeng Xiaoya said, “You have thought things through very carefully.”
“Everyone is usually busy. Even though we all live in the city, we rarely get together. Today it is rare that everyone is here, so it is lively. Of course I want to host everyone well.”
Zhan Yue continued, “I am not entirely sure what dishes you like. Last time we ate together, I paid attention, so I prepared a few that you like, and that I also enjoy.”
“Although I grew up eating good food, I am not picky. It may be because when I was young, my grandmother required us to learn how to cook. When you first learn, the food is definitely not good. Grandmother insisted that whatever we cooked ourselves, we had to finish ourselves.”
“After eating a lot of really awful food, even the pickiest tongue loses its edge. Really, when we were first learning to cook, the dishes we made were truly terrible.”
“After practising for a period of time, they slowly became a bit better. Only when what we cooked was good enough to compare with chefs outside would grandmother grace us by tasting our food.”
Zeng Xiaoya smiled and said, “Practice makes perfect. No one does well at the beginning. I am the same.”
“I did not learn from anyone though. I figured things out on my own, or searched for tutorials online and followed them. After making things a few more times, you start to understand.”
She had not yet tasted Zhan Yue’s cooking, so she did not know whether his dishes were good, or who would be better between the two of them.
With Zeng Xiaoya helping, both their hands and mouths kept busy, and they soon finished.
Zhan Yue asked Zeng Xiaoya to wash her hands and go sit outside for a while. He had baked some pastries earlier, and they were ready now. He planned to take them out for Zeng Xiaoya to try.
He had made several kinds of pastries. Some were prepared for the children, shaped like various little animals. There were also flower shaped ones prepared for Xiaoya, and some other styles as well. In short, they were very pretty and delicate.
Zhan Yue took out the finished pastries and used three nice small plates. He placed the exquisite pastries on the plates, three pieces on each, arranging them beautifully.
He then placed the three small plates on a tray and carried it out.
Zeng Xiaoya had just turned on the television with the remote. When it came on, the volume was a bit loud, so she quickly lowered it, afraid of disturbing those who were napping.
Seeing Zhan Yue come out, she casually asked, “What do you usually watch on television? Do you have any good television series to recommend?”
“I also rarely watch television.”
Zhan Yue walked over, set down the tray, then lifted the three small plates of pastries and placed them in front of Zeng Xiaoya.
“Xiaoya, I made these pastries. Try them and see if they are good. They just came out of the oven.”
