Wow! Why was this guy bringing it up now of all times?
An Ling had thought Li Yang hadn’t noticed the spicy strips incident at all.
And didn’t he know some things were better left in the past?
“No, not at all. I didn’t eat any snacks after I got home last night. I probably just grabbed the wrong pack without paying attention.”
“Really? I thought a certain young lady’s hurried little movements last night were her secretly swapping out the snacks.”
“How could that be… It was just… I accidentally took the wrong one.”
An Ling said guiltily.
“Then Lady An Ling probably doesn’t eat spicy strips, right? This little kid didn’t touch your beef jerky either. Want me to swap them back for you?”
Li Yang looked at her with a mischievous grin.
“It’s too much trouble going back and forth.”
An Ling quickly grabbed the shopping bags and rushed into the kitchen.
“There’s no time. I need to start cooking.”
Li Yang watched her hurry into the kitchen.
Man, this girl is so fun.
The kitchen wasn’t big, but it was very clean.
The stove was spotless, and the pots, bowls, and utensils were neatly arranged.
An Ling had already organized all the seasonings they bought today.
Suddenly remembering something, she shouted toward the living room, “Don’t go upstairs! Or I’ll kick you out!”
“Am I that nosy?”
Li Yang replied righteously while silently pulling back the foot he had just placed on the first step of the stairs.
I was just adjusting the position of my slippers, that’s all.
“Whatever. If she says no, then no.”
Since the homeowner had specifically said so, Li Yang simply took out his phone and called Grandma.
Having Grandma come over would give him more of an excuse for being here.
Ring~ Ring~ Ring~ The call connected.
“Hello, Grandma.”
“Yeah, I’m at An Ling’s house. We just got back from buying groceries not long ago.”
“No, no~ Of course not. We definitely carried everything back together. Would I be that lazy? How could I let An Ling go by herself?”
“Ah, I’ll go pick you up. An Ling is cooking right now.”
“Oh, that works too. Be careful on your way out.”
Li Yang put down his phone.
Grandma said she would get ready and come over herself since it was so close; there was no need for him to keep going back and forth.
Li Yang sprawled on the sofa, watching An Ling busily working in the kitchen.
A strange thought suddenly popped into his head. It really looked like a virtuous wife busy in the kitchen while he, after a long day, sat on the sofa watching her. It felt quite warm and cozy.
Maybe it was because An Ling looked so much like a girl now.
With the apron tied on, she looked even more so.
The clothes hugged her figure tightly, showing off her slender waist and round little butt.
It would be nice if An Ling really was a girl. This thought kept surfacing in his mind.
Slap… Li Yang smacked his own face. What am I thinking?
How can I be having these kinds of thoughts about my childhood friend while sitting on her sofa?
I have a normal sexual orientation.
Better refresh my brain by watching some videos. Li Yang deliberately pulled up a few clips of ridiculous people.
Knock knock knock~ There was a knock at the door.
At this time, it could only be Grandma.
“Coming!”
Li Yang walked to the entryway with flap flap sounds from his ill-fitting slippers.
Li Yang opened the door.
Grandma Li stood at the entrance carrying a small bag, a smile on her face.
“Li Yang, the slippers are on the second shelf of the shoe cabinet. Take a pair out for Grandma,” An Ling called loudly from the kitchen after hearing the knock, then continued cooking.
Following An Ling’s instructions, Li Yang took out a pair of slippers for Grandma.
They fit her perfectly.
“Where’s An Ling?”
“She’s in the kitchen.”
Li Yang jerked his chin toward the kitchen.
Grandma Li looked toward the kitchen.
Through the half-open door, she could see An Ling’s small figure busily working in front of the stove.
She was wearing a light blue apron with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her slender forearms.
The oil in the pan was already hot.
She placed the cut pieces of pork belly into the pan one by one.
Sizzle—the sound rang out immediately, and the delicious aroma of meat quickly filled the air.
“This child is really capable,”
Grandma Li said with emotion as she handed the bag in her hand to Li Yang.
“I brought some fruit. We can wash it later and eat it together.”
“Alright. Grandma, go sit on the sofa for a bit first.”
Li Yang led Grandma to the sofa and sat down beside her.
“You rotten boy, you’re just sitting here playing?” Grandma Li looked at her grandson.
“You’re not going to help in the kitchen? You’re just going to let An Ling do everything by herself?”
“It’s not like that, Grandma. You know how bad my cooking is. I can’t handle cooking at all~”
“Can’t you at least help out? Go on, go help.”
Li Yang was forcefully sent into the kitchen by Grandma to assist.
An Ling looked at Li Yang standing there blankly.
“What are you standing here for?”
“Aiya, you looked really busy, so I came to help. Give me something to do, please,” Li Yang said pitifully, acting cute.
“Fine.”
An Ling looked at him. “Then you can help…”
***
A while later, an explosive scolding came from the kitchen.
“Get out, get out! Go lie on the sofa! Please stop causing trouble! I don’t need you in here!”
This time it was An Ling begging Li Yang as she hurriedly chased him out of the kitchen with both hands and feet.
Li Yang returned to the living room and shook his head helplessly.
“No can do, Grandma. An Ling kicked me out.”
In the kitchen, An Ling cleaned up the mess Li Yang had made with his clumsy hands, then got busy again.
***
After the braised pork had simmered for half an hour, the sauce began to thicken and the rich aroma filled the room.
An Ling lifted the lid, poked the meat with chopsticks—it was perfectly tender.
She nodded in satisfaction, turned the heat up high to reduce the sauce, sprinkled on some chopped green onions, and plated it.
The stir-fried shepherd’s purse with bamboo shoots and shredded pork was quick too.
Hot wok, cold oil—the meat strips were stir-fried until cooked and set aside.
Then ginger and garlic were sautéed until fragrant, followed by the bamboo shoots and shepherd’s purse for a quick stir-fry.
Finally the meat went back in, everything was seasoned, and it was plated once well combined.
The tomato and egg soup was the simplest.
Tomatoes were cut into chunks and stir-fried until they released their juices, water was added and brought to a boil, then the beaten eggs were drizzled in.
A bit of salt and sesame oil was added, finished with chopped green onions.
An Ling carried all three dishes to the table.
She wasn’t sure what level her cooking was at.
She had only ever cooked for herself, her mom, and her dad before.
She didn’t know if Grandma Li would like it.
“Grandma Li, Li Yang, dinner’s ready!”
An Ling took off her apron and called out to the living room.
Grandma Li had already been drawn in by the delicious smells.
She stood up and walked to the dining table. Looking at the dishes on the table, her face lit up with a big smile.
“Oh my, An Ling is so capable. You’re much better than that boy Li Yang who only knows how to open his mouth to eat.”
“Of course.”
Li Yang didn’t mind what Grandma said at all.
He knew exactly how useless he had been in the kitchen.
He leaned over, looked at the food on the table, and swallowed hard. “It looks delicious.”
“Not at all.” An Ling’s face reddened from the praise.
The three of them sat down.
An Ling served a bowl of rice to Grandma Li first, then to Li Yang.
“I’ve only ever cooked for Mom, Dad, and myself before. I don’t know if Grandma will like it.”
Grandma Li picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly.
“Delicious!” Grandma Li’s eyes brightened. “It’s tender, flavorful, and really good!”
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