NOVPUB
Chapter 462: Chapter 465: Let Me Help You Take It Off_1
Tan Zhenghong chuckled bitterly, "From now on, it looks like our two pitiful kids will have to rely on each other for support."
"I think we’re very happy as it is. It’s that bunch of fools who are pitiable,"
Qiao Duo’er corrected Tan Zhenghong’s mistake.
If the Tan Family and the Qiao Family had been even slightly nicer to them, things wouldn’t have escalated to the point of old age without any contact. At the very least, gifts would be sent for the three major festivals, and red envelopes given for hosting feasts and events.
But perhaps they just wanted to save them some money, considering they started from scratch, which wasn’t easy.
Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Everything my wife says is right."
As for the people in the old residence, let them kick up a fuss if they wanted. He couldn’t care less and didn’t want to intervene, because... he had already severed ties with that family.
Qiao Duo’er rebuked playfully, "Smooth talker!"
Having voiced his thoughts, Tan Zhenghong felt relieved, and his attention was once again captivated by the alluring scent.
Just through talking, the aroma had intensified.
"You’ll know in a moment. Hurry up and serve the rice; the bean sprouts are almost ready, and then we can eat," Qiao Duo’er teased, deliberately keeping him in suspense.
Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard but immediately obeyed his wife’s command.
Soon enough, Qiao Duo’er brought out a black jar, the source of the appetizing aroma.
Upon lifting the lid, the fragrance was almost intoxicating.
Seeing the expression on Tan Zhenghong’s face, Qiao Duo’er’s vanity was immensely gratified.
Qiao Duo’er served two bowls, and they each carefully savored the soup with their spoons.
The broth was exceptionally savory and rich with a blend of flavors, fatty yet not greasy. The most marvelous part was how the ingredients infused into each other, creating a layered taste that made you want to devour even your tongue.
After spending an entire evening savoring it, Tan Zhenghong finally took a moment to ask, "Wife, what is this called?"
"Where we come from, it’s called ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,’ but my version is missing a few key ingredients."
Qiao Duo’er was already quite satisfied with the flavor, despite lacking several crucial elements like seafood and shark’s fin.
Aunt Huang had given her some dried bamboo shoots, so she added scallops, shiitake mushrooms, chicken and duck breasts, wild pigeon, ribs, pig’s trotters and stomach, chicken and duck gizzards, and then she had inadvertently stewed a whole jar.
"Let’s save some. We can’t finish all of this; let’s send some for Erhu and the others to try," she suggested.
Tan Zhenghong gestured dismissively, "No need, I can finish it all. Next time you teach me how to make it, then we can give some to them."
He harbored a small selfish desire. Preparing this dish took a long time, and his wife must have been thinking of him while making it. The dish was full of Duo’er’s love; he didn’t want to share it with anyone else.
Qiao Duo’er felt helpless, but seeing Tan Zhenghong’s childish side was rare, so she indulged him.
The combination of ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,’ with crispy pancakes and stir-fried bean sprouts, was utterly divine. Even Qiao Duo’er couldn’t help but eat half an extra pancake.
True to his word, Tan Zhenghong polished off the entire jar of soup, leaving him with a stomach that was nearly bursting at the seams.
After dinner, the overly full Tan Zhenghong warmed up the floor heating in the washroom.
Winter was fast approaching, and his wife had the habit of taking a bath every day. He didn’t want her to catch a cold without the floor heating.
Qiao Duo’er was very pleased. For the last few days, she had to hurry through her showers because it was too late, but today she could leisurely soak in the bath.
However, she didn’t rush to undress.
Just as she had expected, an hour later, Tan Zhenghong pushed the door open.
Tan Zhenghong didn’t see the partially exposed tempting shoulders he had imagined, and then he mischievously said, "Wife, are you waiting for me to help you undress?"
"Pervert!" Qiao Duo’er exclaimed in feigned annoyance.
Tan Zhenghong took the hint. Since Duo’er hadn’t asked him to leave, that meant she agreed, right?
But in the next second, everything changed.
