Chapter 881: Chapter 856:
"How much is this vegetable?" Ye Chen walked up to a vendor.
"Fifteen yuan per pound for baby bok choy, five yuan per pound for napa cabbage..." The vendor continuously introduced his vegetables. Ye Chen, however, said in shock, "What kind of baby bok choy is this, selling for fifteen yuan a pound? That’s terrifying!"
"Terrifying? This is organic food. Go eat those farm-raised vegetables!" The vendor snorted and continued, "Farm-raised vegetables are all irrigated with chemical fertilizers and mature in ten days, guaranteeing a shorter life span if you eat them. Imagine, my organic food can extend life; the longer the life expectancy, the more prosperous the nation’s economy; when the nation thrives, everyone enjoys prosperity. So, tell me, aren’t my organic vegetables good?"
"Damn, your organic veggies are linked to national plans?" Ye Chen looked at the vendor in disbelief.
"That’s right; I forgot to tell you my vegetables are part of the nation’s 815 project!" The vendor looked at Ye Chen seriously, as if he were speaking the truth. Ye Chen nodded and said, "Alright, you win, not because your vegetables satisfied me, but because your eloquence did!"
"Haha, young man, here, I’ll grab some cabbage for you, then a few stalks of celery, and two pounds of chives..." The vendor wasn’t shy at all, handing Ye Chen a whole lot of vegetables. Ye Chen didn’t stand on ceremony either and took everything, ending up with over ten pounds of vegetables. The King Guangmu beside him was dumbfounded and asked, "Brother Chen, are you planning to have a full Chinese feast of vegetables today?"
"Haha, you don’t understand, do you?" Ye Chen grinned and said, "Buying these vegetables can be satisfying, you know!"
Buying a bunch of vegetables actually cost over a hundred yuan. This really let King Guangmu see what peculiar vegetable shopping looks like. Dragging a cart full of vegetables and a few pounds of meat back, it was already past two in the afternoon by the time they got home—neither early nor late.
Ye Chen walked to the kitchen alone and put on the apron that Zhang Yantong usually wears when cooking. King Guangmu curiously asked, "Brother Chen, are you going to cook?"
"Cook? Of course. You underestimate me!" Ye Chen snorted softly and then sneered coldly, "Today I’m going to show my skills, and not only show my skills but also present my culinary skills nicely!"
"Uh..." King Guangmu was a bit baffled, looking at Ye Chen blankly, not quite understanding the difference between showing skills and cooking. Cooking is just a more common way of saying it, showing skills sounds nicer, exhibiting culinary skills is just more artistic.
Before King Guangmu could continue speaking, Ye Chen had already turned around and walked into the kitchen, starting to wash and cut the vegetables. King Guangmu followed Ye Chen, watching him wash and cut vegetables in the kitchen. Everything was in perfect order, leaving King Guangmu wide-eyed. Everything Ye Chen did made King Guangmu very curious. He looked at Ye Chen in amazement and muttered, "Oh my, Brother Chen can really do these things?"
Ye Chen whistled as he washed the greens and cut the beef. King Guangmu quickly asked, "Brother Chen, need my help?"
"No need. Today you’re in for a treat. No one else has ever tasted my cooking. You’re the first!" Ye Chen glanced back at King Guangmu and said coldly, "So today, you’re in luck!"
"Haha, then I must have a good taste today!" King Guangmu said excitedly.
"Go back and wait, I’m going to cook for an entire afternoon today!" Ye Chen said, then turned back, continuing to whistle. The whistling was full of joy. Ye Chen’s involvement in the meal was entirely full of passion, as if he was happily doing something he loved.
An afternoon quickly passed, and Ye Chen joyfully made the meal. King Guangmu sat on the sofa in the living room, grabbing a bunch of seeds in his hand, cracking them while watching TV, full of joy, just waiting for Ye Chen’s dishes to come out.
In a blink, two hours had passed. By four o’clock, Ye Chen finally leisurely finished washing all the vegetables, cutting them up, and was just waiting to time it for Zhang Yantong’s return home. By five, Ye Chen looked at the time once again, then went back into the kitchen to start stir-frying.
Ye Chen cooked slowly and soon, the kitchen was filled with a fragrant aroma.
At this time, Zhang Yantong came in through the door from outside, accompanied by Fang Qin. The two held vegetables in their hands, and as soon as they entered, they smelled a delicious aroma of cooked dishes. Zhang Yantong was stunned: "Huh? How come someone’s in the house?"
"Is there a thief?!" Fang Qin looked at Zhang Yantong in surprise.
"No thief would come in to cook, right?" Zhang Yantong was puzzled.
"Let’s go see!" Fang Qin revealed a mysterious smile. However, when the two went inside, Zhang Yantong was immediately taken aback—the living room had been freshly decorated, with roses taped to the walls. Entering the living room, she smelled the fresh scent of roses. This left Zhang Yantong dumbfounded, and Fang Qin curiously asked, "Captain Zhang, it seems you have a suitor?"
"Who are you?!" Zhang Yantong looked puzzled at King Guangmu sitting on the sofa.
"I... oh, sister-in-law!" King Guangmu immediately tossed the sunflower seeds he was holding onto the coffee table, then looked nervously at the two of them. Zhang Yantong and Fang Qin were both dressed in police uniforms, looking poised and valiant. Their authoritative police demeanor scared King Guangmu into silence.
"Sister-in-law? Who are you?" Zhang Yantong immediately asked.
"I’m... I’m Brother Chen’s little brother." King Guangmu hurriedly replied.
"Where’s Ye Chen?" Zhang Yantong frowned, wondering if Ye Chen didn’t come and just sent a lackey over. Her anger, which had previously subsided, started to rise again. Zhang Yantong looked coldly at the panicked King Guangmu and asked, "He didn’t come, did he?"
"No, no, he’s here!" King Guangmu immediately replied, pointing towards the kitchen, "Brother Chen is in there cooking!"
"Cooking?!" Fang Qin exclaimed, "Ye Chen can cook? I thought the only thing he knew was killing! Can his killer chopsticks even stir-fry?"
"Of course, he can. Brother Chen said he’s pretty good at cooking. Hehe..." King Guangmu grinned and said, "I also think it looks pretty good, it smells so delicious, just smelling it makes me want to eat!"
Zhang Yantong didn’t say a word and immediately walked into the kitchen. The kitchen door was closed, so Zhang Yantong pushed it open and walked in. Ye Chen was whistling and cooking, looking relaxed, occasionally shaking his hips as if he were doing the robot dance. Zhang Yantong couldn’t help but chuckle at Ye Chen’s antics.
"Tongtong, you’re back?" Ye Chen turned his head and grinned.
"Mm, why are you back so soon?" Zhang Yantong quickly held back her smile and looked sternly at Ye Chen, saying, "I thought you would wait until the last day to return!"
"Hehe, with my dear wife summoning me, how could I not come back?" Ye Chen smiled as he scooped a serving of fish-flavored eggplant into a dish and placed it into a nearby insulated box, then said with a smile, "Go relax, the meal is almost ready!"
"Alright!" Zhang Yantong wanted to be angry, but seeing Ye Chen’s smile, she found herself unable to muster up the anger. She turned and walked into the living room, her face lighting up with a smile of happiness at the flower-filled room. This rare happiness was hard-earned, and it was rare for Ye Chen to make such an effort to please her, which made her heart content.
Next to her, Fang Qin leaned over and smiled stealthily, saying, "Seems like someone is smiling happily, huh? And even blushing! Are you thinking of something inappropriate?!"
"Ah?! Am I?" Zhang Yantong was taken aback and quickly covered her face with her hand. As soon as her hand touched her face, she felt how warm it was.
"So, was I right?" Fang Qin whispered in Zhang Yantong’s ear, "Is tonight going to be all about enjoying the pleasures of love? Is this your first time, Ms. Tongtong?"
"Go, go, what nonsense are you talking about?" Zhang Yantong glared at her and said angrily, "I really need to teach Feng Zhixiao a lesson. Ever since she’s been to Shanghai with you a few times, she’s changed entirely. How did she become so flirty?"
"Hehe, if you’re not a bit flirty when you’re young, it’s a waste!" Fang Qin gave a sly smile.
"Go, go, how dare you, a young girl, say stuff like this?" Zhang Yantong couldn’t help but glare at Fang Qin, who just made a funny face and giggled, saying, "Ms. Tong, you’re too conservative! I tell you, there’s a secret to keeping a man’s heart!"
"What secret?!" Zhang Yantong asked curiously.
"It’s... to be sexy in bed and reserved out of it!" Fang Qin whispered in Zhang Yantong’s ear, then gently blew a breath on her ear, making Zhang Yantong feel ticklish all over. Zhang Yantong quickly stepped away from Fang Qin and burst out, "Oh, you little monster, how dare you do that to me. Just watch how I get back at you!"
"Ah! No..." Fang Qin immediately ran away.