"My good girl!"
Huang Ling reached out, paused, and wiped her hand on her apron before gently stroking the little girl's hair.
She thought to herself that she absolutely had to make her daughter something delicious another day to properly make it up to her.
She felt the same way about Zhou Cheng.
Naturally, neither of those two chicken drumsticks was likely to fall to Zhou Cheng, either.
"Mom, the birthday cake's almost ready. You take it out, and I'll carry the chicken soup over," Zhou Cheng spoke up again.
"All right. Be careful. Don't burn yourself or drop it." Huang Ling rubbed Zhou Cheng's head. Without thinking any more of it, she gave him that reminder, turned around, and carefully ladled the chicken soup into a large porcelain bowl. Then she set it on a tray and handed it to him.
The chicken soup was scalding hot; even the bottom of the tray burned his hands. Holding it steadily with both hands, Zhou Cheng finally managed to set it down.
The entire Zhuang family sat around the square table. Seven or eight dishes already formed a ring on it, with the chicken soup set in the middle and a space left for the birthday cake.
No sooner had Zhou Cheng returned the tray to the kitchen than Huang Ling came out carrying the steaming birthday cake.
The cake, with red dates arranged across its surface into a large character for "longevity," filled the last space on the table.
"Ling, you're so skillful. What a lovely birthday cake."
Granny Zhuang offered a sham compliment. Huang Ling merely smiled, twisting her hands together, somewhat embarrassed.
She stood beside the table with Zhou Cheng and Xiaoting, while all four sides were already full.
There were just enough seats for everyone except the