When Qin Baobao and Wang Zijing ran excitedly into the living room, Qin Ze was sitting at the dining table, feasting away. Before him were soy braised pork knuckle, Vegetable Tofu, Steamed Yellow Croaker, and chicken stew with mushrooms, all steaming hot, their rich aromas stirring up the hunger in their bellies.
Qin Baobao's first thought was, Damn it, little brother is eating all by himself behind my back.
"Where did you order this takeout from? It smells amazing." Qin Baobao's appetite was instantly awakened. She kicked Qin Ze's shin. "Is there any rice left? Get me a bowl."
Qin Ze chewed his food, not particularly interested in waiting on his sister. "Didn't you already eat?"
"If I tell you to go, then go. Why are you talking so much nonsense?" Qin Baobao grabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed it into her mouth. The tender meat instantly filled her mouth and awakened her taste buds. She narrowed her eyes blissfully.
This is chicken stew with mushrooms?
This flavor, this texture... it's absolutely incredible.
Was all the chicken stew with mushrooms I ate before fake...
Qin Ze reluctantly got up and went to the kitchen to serve her some rice.
"Qin Ze, get me a bowl too. No, half a bowl is enough." Wang Zijing took the opportunity to sit down. Her upbringing was clearly miles ahead of Qin Baobao's. Though her eyes were glued to the dishes, she restrained herself from copying Qin Baobao.
While Qin Ze was serving rice, Qin Baobao kept picking at the chicken, eating one piece after another. Wang Zijing slapped her hand away. "Bao Bao, you haven't even washed your hands."
Wang Zijing was mainly afraid Qin Baobao would eat all the food.
Qin Ze brought over two bowls of rice, and the three of them dug in. Qin Baobao loved the chicken stew with mushrooms most and practically wanted to pull the entire dish in front of herself. Her next favorite was the sauerkraut stewed pork knuckle.
The pork knuckle melted in the mouth, rich without being greasy. It was tender, yet the flavor remained full. The skin especially was packed with collagen; once sucked into the mouth, it slid straight down into the stomach. Eating it was simply a pleasure.
"Phew, phew..."
Qin Baobao blew out breaths from the heat, fanning her mouth nonstop.
Wang Zijing had stomach problems and didn't usually like heavy meat dishes, but the sauerkraut was so appetizing. After taking one bite of pork knuckle, she couldn't stop. Her chopsticks moved like lightning, and soon she and Qin Baobao were at odds.
"Bao Bao, fine, you moved the chicken stew with mushrooms in front of yourself, but don't hog the pork knuckle too."
"Pork knuckle is rich in collagen. It's perfect for my beauty treatment."
"Then I need beauty treatment too."
"You're naturally gorgeous. You don't need it."
"Then what if I say I have stomach problems? I like appetizing dishes."
"Then have Qin Ze order another serving for you."
Wang Zijing thought about it and found it reasonable. Smiling, she said to Qin Ze, "Little brother, order another one for your sister."
Qin Ze blinked. "Order what? I only bought this much. What time is it? The market's already closed."
Wang Zijing blinked in surprise. Qin Ze had made this entire table of food? Qin Baobao said he was good at cooking, and apparently she hadn't been bragging.
Qin Baobao lifted her head from her rice bowl and gave a dry laugh. "Stop messing around. Which restaurant did you order this takeout from? It's so good. From now on, we'll only order from this place and treat it like our cafeteria."
Qin Ze picked up a Small Yellow Croaker and slurped the flesh clean in one go. "Can't be bothered talking to you."
Qin Baobao made a face at him.
The three continued their battle against the delicious food. Before long, every dish on the table had been picked clean. Qin Baobao leaned back in her chair, rubbing her swollen little belly as she sighed shamelessly, "It's all your fault, all your fault. I was practicing dance, you know. I have to keep in shape."
Wang Zijing teased, "If you're practicing dance, shouldn't you diet? You have no self-control at all... burp!"
She laughed happily, because it had been a long time since she had enjoyed such a satisfying meal.
"Qin Ze, which restaurant made these dishes? Let's go check it out tomorrow and order some other things to try." Wang Zijing handed Qin Ze a tissue, signaling for him to wipe the oil from the corner of his mouth.
"I made them," Qin Ze said seriously.
"Stingy. What would it hurt to tell us?" Qin Baobao said unhappily.
Wang Zijing only smiled without saying anything. Her relationship with Qin Ze hadn't reached the point where they could joke and fool around.
At that moment, a clear whistle came from the kitchen. It was the sound of steam escaping through the vent as pressure built up in the pot.
Qin Ze jerked his chin toward the kitchen. "There's one last soup. Want to try it?"
"You really made these dishes?" Wang Zijing was beginning to believe him.
"Hey, don't let him fool you. This soup is probably the only thing he made." Qin Baobao curled her lip. "Wouldn't I know exactly what he's capable of? Drink it if you want. I can't fit another drop."
After hearing that, Wang Zijing shook her head with a smile. "Then I won't drink either. I'm stuffed."
Drink it or don't.
Qin Ze put on heat-resistant gloves, carried out the Radish Bone Soup, and set it in front of himself. The radish had stewed to mush, and the bones still had meat clinging to them. The soup was milky white, with a glossy layer of oil floating on top.
Qin Ze ignored the two sisters and served himself a bowl. There was only a little salt in the soup, making it very light, but after all the rich dishes, it tasted especially right. It was fragrant and smooth, with the crisp freshness of radish and the deep aroma of the bones. As an after-meal soup, Qin Ze gave it a ninety-nine out of a hundred. He deducted one point only because he was afraid of getting too full of himself...
Unable to resist the rich aroma, Wang Zijing served herself half a bowl too. Holding it in both hands, she blew on it and took a small sip.
In that instant, her settled taste buds came alive again. The fresh fragrance of the radish and the deep aroma of the bones blended perfectly. It was clearly light, yet it gave the feeling of a grand feast. More importantly, it came at exactly the right time, washing away the grease left in her mouth and stomach. She couldn't help taking several more sips.
Wang Zijing let out a very unladylike burp and said in delight, "I want another bowl."
"Is it really that good? Qin Ze's soup-making skills are only so-so, not even half as good as Mom's." Qin Baobao wore an expression that said, I may not have studied much, but you can't fool me. She served herself half a bowl too, took a tiny sip, and her phoenix eyes instantly lit up. "Qin Ze, did you order takeout again?"
"Crazy woman," Qin Ze muttered, lowering his head to drink his soup.
Qin Baobao gulped hers down in one go. "I want another bowl too."
There wasn't much soup, only enough for four or five bowls. With each of them having a bowl, the pot was nearly empty.
Wang Zijing smiled sweetly. "Qin Ze, your sister is a guest. Can you let me have the little bit of soup that's left?"
Qin Ze had just picked up the ladle to serve himself more soup when he cast an unhappy glance at his sister's pretty bestie.
He had only had one bowl.
"Your stomach isn't good. Eat less." Qin Baobao snatched the ladle from his hand and scooped the last bowl of soup into her own bowl, drinking it with a beaming smile.
Wang Zijing pursed her lips and glared at her, looking quite unhappy.
Qin Baobao completely ignored her bestie's little glare. With a fake smile, she reached out to twist Qin Ze's ear. "A Ze, your sister believes you cooked all these dishes now. Are you happy?"
Qin Ze sidestepped her hand. "Happy."
"Bring your head over here."
"Whoever does is an idiot."
Qin Baobao flew into a rage and pounced on him with claws bared. "Your sister suspects you, you dog servant, have been hiding your cooking skills. Your crimes are unforgivable. I'm going to twist off your ear and make it a drinking snack."
As soon as Qin Baobao said that, she let out a miserable cry. Qin Ze had seized both her hands, flipped her over, and pinned her across his lap so she couldn't move.
"Qin Baobao, have I given you too much sunshine and too much water these past few days? You're blooming so brightly you're about to combust, and flooding so badly you're about to wash away the Oriental Pearl Tower."
"Qin Ze, let me go. My stomach's stuffed, it hurts like hell."
"Say you were wrong."
"Your sister would rather die than submit."
"Then hurry up and spit out what you ate of mine."
"Good little brother, Zijing is watching. Leave your sister a little dignity."
Wang Zijing watched the siblings fool around with a gentle smile and warm eyes.
At ten-thirty that night, Qin Baobao wandered aimlessly around the living room to walk off her meal. Qin Ze sat on the sofa with his laptop, looking over the key points Old Man had sent to his email—knowledge that might appear on the exam.
In the bathroom, Wang Zijing was taking a shower, water splashing noisily.
As Qin Baobao walked, she did high-knee exercises. "What do you think of your sister's bestie?"
Qin Ze asked in return, "In what way?"
"In every way."
Qin Ze assessed, "Her outward beauty is flawless. Her inner beauty remains to be seen. Honestly, it's rare to see such a beautiful woman."
After saying that, he saw Qin Baobao with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. He hurriedly added, "Other than you, Sis."
Qin Baobao twisted her waist as she asked, "How about introducing her to you as your girlfriend?"
Qin Ze's hand trembled in shock. "Are you testing me? I swear, I've absolutely never had any improper thoughts about her."
Qin Ze thought, Is she afraid I'll use underwear to do something unspeakable again?
Qin Baobao said seriously, "Don't you like girls who are gentle and graceful? She doesn't even have a boyfriend." After a pause, contempt appeared on her face. "Your sister is redirecting trouble, so you won't use mine to do that thing again."
Qin Ze was too weak to refute her, and too lazy to bother.
Qin Baobao abruptly changed the subject. "But Zijing won't think much of you. Lots of people pursue her, and she hasn't even given those lovesick fools a second glance."
"Yeah, yeah. In your eyes, I'm just a useless little brother who'll never find a wife." Qin Ze had long since grown used to her insults.
Qin Baobao repeatedly lost their verbal battles. In anger, she ran over and kicked Qin Ze, then quickly retreated to a safe distance and looked at him provocatively.
"What kind of background does your bestie have?" Qin Ze closed his stock trading software. Instead of responding to his sister's provocation, he brought up Wang Zijing. Qin Baobao knew him well—gentle and graceful girls were Qin Ze's ideal type.
Qin Baobao tilted her head and pondered. "She's from the capital. Her parents seem to be Civil Servants. That's all I know. Why? Can't wait to learn about her?"
"I think your bestie's family must be pretty well-off. Her speech and manners are beyond reproach. Most importantly, she had me serve her rice just now."
"What does serving rice prove?"
"Use that intelligence you're so proud of and think about it. When you go to someone else's home, would you comfortably ask them to serve you rice?" Qin Ze analyzed. "She's completely used to having food brought to her. What does that mean? Her family definitely has a maid."
"That makes some sense." Qin Baobao chuckled. "Then she'll look down on you even more. Hurry and beg me. Beg me to play matchmaker for you two."
To be honest, Qin Ze was tempted. But considering that his sister would only drag him down in this matter, and given past experience, he silently abandoned the idea of recruiting Qin Baobao to help.
Besides, Wang Zijing was beautiful, but Qin Ze had been highly immune to beautiful women since childhood. There was no chance of love at first sight. He still needed to observe what this pretty sister from the capital was like as a person.
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