"Yao Yao, sweetheart, are you hungry? Grandpa will take you to eat something delicious."
The Mercedes-Benz sedan drove into a courtyard estate on the outskirts, where a secluded Private Chef restaurant was located.
The dishes were brought to the table.
Shen Hongda and Jiang Qin each ate two bowls of rice.
Food abroad simply could not compare to food back home, and neither of them had gotten used to it.
Lu Xiyao only sampled a few bites of the dishes and did not eat much.
"What's wrong, Yao Yao? There are so many delicious dishes here. Why aren't you eating?"
Shen Hongda asked in confusion.
"Grandpa, I'm not very hungry."
The little girl really was not hungry. She had eaten Ice Crystal Cake earlier, then had ice cream and fries while playing at the amusement park.
Besides, although the dishes at this Private Chef restaurant looked exquisite and delicious, and the ingredients were all top-notch—
After taking a few bites, the little girl still felt they were not as tasty as Lu Qin's home-cooked food.
"That's fine. When Yao Yao gets hungry, Grandpa will take you to eat something else."
When they returned to the villa, it was already six-thirty.
Lu Xiyao made a video call to Lu Qin.
Lu Qin had already finished dinner and was preparing ingredients to set up his late-night food stall at University Town.
Shen Hongda and Jiang Qin did not appear on camera. They merely sat outside the frame, watching Lu Qin on the screen.
He was sorting through the ingredients on his food cart, looking busy and exhausted.
Shen Hongda and Jiang Qin exchanged a glance. Neither of the two elderly people felt good about it.
After the divorce, Lu Qin not only had to earn money to support the family, but also take care of the little girl.
It was simply too hard on him.
He even had to set up a stall at night.
It was not easy for a man to raise a child alone.
Jiang Qin's nose stung, and her eyes reddened.
She hurriedly got up and went to the bathroom.
Shen Hongda also stood up, walked into a corner, took out his phone, and called an old friend.
That evening.
Jiang Qin stayed upstairs with Lu Xiyao, playing games in her room.
In the living room, a half-gray-haired elderly man sat beside Shen Hongda as the two sipped tea together.
"Oh, I think I understand what's going on."
"Your son-in-law—no, your former son-in-law—can't find a job now, and it isn't convenient for you to step in yourselves. So you came to me and want me to find a way to help him get a better job."
"That's easy. A small matter."
Shen Hongda said, "Old Chen, it has to be subtle. He can't realize that someone is helping him."
Chen Dahai said, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
"Say, Old Shen, how did your daughter end up getting divorced out of the blue?"
"Ah, young people's relationships. We old men don't pry into such things."
"It really is a shame. Xiao Lu is truly a good kid. I've always treated him like my own son."
"Old Shen, how are you going to thank me for helping you?"
"Hey! Chen Dahai, didn't you say it was a small matter?"
"There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Shen Hongda shot Chen Dahai an annoyed look. Spotting two simply packaged boxes of pastries on the coffee table, he said,
"Here! These two boxes of ri—ah, Rice Cake. Take them and eat them. I specially brought them back for you from abroad."
"Rice Cake? Brought back from abroad?"
Chen Dahai picked them up and examined them with a look of disdain.
Shen Hongda and Chen Dahai had been friends for many years.
The two had never been polite with each other.
When Chen Dahai asked for compensation, Shen Hongda tossed him the few boxes of unfamiliar pastries on the coffee table, casually using them to brush him off.
It seemed the driver had taken the two boxes of pastries out of the car.
The little girl had brought them.
Judging by the packaging, they looked like the kind sold on the street. Maybe children liked this sort of thing.
Chen Dahai disdainfully picked up a box of Ice Crystal Cake, glanced at it, and glared at Shen Hongda.
"Well, well, Old Shen. You think you can brush me off with these two lousy boxes of pastries?"
"You said they were brought back from abroad? Who are you trying to fool?"
"These were obviously bought off the street."
"Cut the nonsense. Hurry up and bring out a bottle of the Moutai you've been saving for years. I'm taking it with me."
The moment Shen Hongda heard that he wanted his treasured Moutai, he immediately argued back.
"What nonsense are you talking about? What street-bought pastries? These are exquisite pastries made by a famous dessert chef abroad."
"That dessert chef has been featured on foreign television and in magazines. I wouldn't even be willing to give them to just anyone. Try one if you don't believe me!"
Chen Dahai was taken aback and looked at Shen Hongda suspiciously.
"Really? Then I'll try one."
Feeling a little guilty, Shen Hongda smiled and said, "Well... try them when you get home. It's getting late, so you should head back first. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
The moment Chen Dahai saw Shen Hongda's expression, he knew the man was trying to fool him.
He sneered. "No, I'm trying one now."
"I want to see just how delicious these pastries made by that famous foreign dessert chef you mentioned really are."
"Then... go ahead and try one."
Shen Hongda's expression did not change, but he felt a little uneasy inside.
Chen Dahai opened the plastic box, revealing five crystal-clear pieces of Ice Crystal Cake.
"Hmm... they do look rather exquisite."
"Still... pastries and desserts like these usually look pretty, but taste just average. Sickeningly sweet."
Chen Dahai glanced at Shen Hongda and asked, "Old Shen, are you sure these are Western pastries?"
"Why do they look like Chinese pastries to me? They even resemble Osmanthus Cake a little."
Shen Hongda glanced at the Ice Crystal Cake in the box and said impatiently,
"Who cares whether they're Western or Chinese? As long as they taste good."
"Fine, then I'll try one. If they don't taste good, I'm definitely taking a bottle of your Moutai."
With that, Chen Dahai picked up a piece of Ice Crystal Cake and took a bite.
Shen Hongda did not want to bring out his treasured Moutai.
If Chen Dahai said it was not good, he would just say that tastes differed, and that Old Chen's palate was too picky.
People abroad loved it, after all.
Yes, that was what he would say.
Chen Dahai chewed and swallowed.
Then a delighted look appeared in his eyes.
"Mmm, it really is delicious!"
Chen Dahai praised it sincerely.
"Old Shen, I'll give you credit—you old fox do have good taste. These pastries really are a rare delicacy."
"I've never eaten pastries this delicious in my life!"
"Old Shen, what are these pastries called?"
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