The living room was warm and cozy, with the charcoal fire crackling softly.
“Today, we roast one whole—lamb!”
Ziya stood on her tiptoes, enthusiastically helping Lü Erlu roast the whole lamb.
The fluffy purple hair on her head swayed gently with her movements.
“Ziya, help me mix the seasonings evenly, then just sprinkle them on,” Lü Erlu said warmly as he adjusted the heat of the roasting rack.
“Okay, Father! I can already imagine the delicious scent!”
“Haha, you can’t eat too much. This is mainly for Longjiu.”
“Fine… I’ll just have one leg.”
“Don’t worry, Daddy won’t be biased. I’ll make an extra cake for you later.”
“Long live Father!”
Ziya was overjoyed, hopping around on her little legs.
Her purple hair stood up high as she bounced, looking the very picture of excitement.
“Oh, right, Father! Last time I heard in a story that where there is a cause, there is an effect. I’ve been reflecting on that for a long time!”
“Cause and effect? …Oh, you mean the Story of the Hero Slaying the Dragon from that night…”
Ziya’s small hand, which was holding the spice jar, paused.
Her eyes shone with meticulous seriousness.
She scooped up one spoonful of seasoning mixed with cumin, salt, and honey powder, then carefully sprinkled it onto the golden, oily lamb.
The fat sizzled, and the aroma instantly filled the room.
She couldn’t help but sniff the air, her mouth watering.
“Look, Father!”
She pointed at the sizzling, oily lamb on the rack, her voice full of joy.
“Right now, we are seriously marinating the meat and roasting it slowly. This is the cause!”
“Later, when little Sister Longjiu eats the delicious roasted lamb, her eyes will definitely light up, and she’ll secretly bring the fattest lamb chops to Father. And Sister Baining will nag us for eating too much greasy food while she can’t help but take two extra bites. That is the sweet effect!”
Lü Erlu was turning the roasting spit, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at her words.
“You little girl, you’ve actually applied the theory of karma to roasting a lamb.”
“But it’s true!”
Ziya pouted and picked up a small brush dipped in butter sauce, meticulously brushing it onto the lamb leg.
“Just like how we are preparing this roasted lamb for Sister Longjiu because she’s been hiding in her room lately. This is the ’cause’ of our concern for her. It will definitely lead to a happy ‘effect’ later!”
She suddenly remembered something and leaned closer to the rack.
Her nose almost touched the steaming meat, and her soft voice drifted over, mingling with the scent of the roast.
“It’s just like the Bakery Granny you used to buy bread from when you were little, Father. She woke up early every day to work hard and bake bread. That sincere ’cause’ earned her everyone’s love and remembrance. That’s a case of good deeds being rewarded!”
Lü Erlu’s movements slowed as he turned the roast.
He looked at his daughter’s serious side profile, his eyes filled with doting affection.
Ziya put down the spice jar and placed her hands on her hips, her purple hair curling up proudly.
“See, Father! Not all good causes lead to bad effects. Just like this roasted lamb—we spent time carefully selecting the lamb, marinating it thoroughly, and roasting it with plenty of patience. The heart we put into this is the best ’cause,’ which is why it smells so good and makes people want to take a bite right now!”
Ziya suddenly stood on her tiptoes and leaned into Lü Erlu’s ear, whispering.
“Father, you used to worry about our status as Monster Girls, but we have always been obedient. And Father has always done his best to protect everyone. That is the most precious ’cause’ of all! That’s why we can always live together in harmony, have stories to listen to, good food to eat, and Father’s love. This is the sweetest, sweetest fruit of all!”
Lü Erlu stopped what he was doing and leaned down to pick Ziya up, letting her sit in the crook of his arm.
The little one immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his.
She smelled of roasted meat and her own unique, fresh scent.
“My little Ziya, you’re absolutely right.”
He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“The sincerity, kindness, and love we give are the best causes. Naturally, they will bear the most precious fruits.”
The meat on the rack was already roasted to a golden, crispy perfection, shining with oil.
Ziya looked at the perfectly roasted lamb and couldn’t help but lick her lips in anticipation.
“Father, it’s almost ready! I can’t wait to eat the lamb leg! We also have to wait for Sister Longjiu and Sister Baining to come back so I can share this good karma with them!”
Lü Erlu nodded with a smile, but his hand on the spit tightened involuntarily.
His palm was slick with sweat, and a trace of undetectable gravity flickered in his eyes.
“Ziya, Daddy is almost done. You can go back to your room and rest for a bit. We’ll enjoy this feast as a family in a moment.”
“Okay, Father!”
Ziya was obedient and well-behaved, skipping back to her room.
The tenderness on Lü Erlu’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of deep anxiety.
He muttered to himself.
‘…Ziya, a good fruit is naturally a good result, but once bad karma is planted, what awaits might be total ruin… Some hidden dangers cannot be resolved through sincerity alone. The world is unpredictable…’
Even the Bakery Granny had been forced to close down because she couldn’t afford the high taxes and rent…
*Click.*
The door lock turned softly.
“I’m back, Dad.”
Just then, Baining pushed the door open and entered, carrying a small bag in her hand.
“Baining, you’re back. We’re having roasted whole lamb tonight.”
Lü Erlu quickly masked his expression, putting on a gentle smile once more.
“What’s so good about that greasy stuff… but since Father made it, I suppose I’ll force myself to have a few bites.”
Baining’s words were sharp, but a hint of a smile flashed in her eyes.
“Haha, alright, alright. I’ll make a dessert for you next time,” Lü Erlu teased.
“By the way, did you meet any boys at work today who caught your eye?”
“Here we go again! Dad, how many times do I have to say it? I’ll handle that myself. Stop nagging me endlessly!”
Baining stamped her foot impatiently.
She suddenly seemed to remember something and pulled a glass bottle filled with a deep red liquid from her bag, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“Oh, right, Dad. This is a Premium Red Wine that’s been popular lately. Since we’re having roasted lamb tonight, let’s open it to liven things up.”
“Oh? Children shouldn’t drink…”
Lü Erlu said reflexively.
“Dad, you’ve been pushing for me to get married every day, and yet you still care if we drink?”
Baining raised an eyebrow, her tone playful.
“I suppose that makes sense… Then we’ll all just have a little taste. Just one small sip,” Lü Erlu conceded helplessly.
“Mm-hmm, that’s more like it. Dad, it would be such a buzzkill not to have some wine.”
Baining smiled radiantly, her ruby-like eyes shimmering with a hidden surge of emotion.
This bottle of wine looked ordinary, but it held a secret—one that was likely far from simple.—
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