Everyone says daughters are their fathers' sweet little cotton-padded jackets, and it's true.
"No, no, my dad is the best dad."
Hua Bao was so angry her eyes turned red. Just as she was about to say something else, she was suddenly scooped up. Turning, she saw Zhang Liunian and immediately hugged his neck with a grievance, "Daddy, they said you..."
Zhang Liunian kissed his daughter's little face and smiled, "It doesn't matter, as long as Hua Bao likes Daddy, that's good."
"Hua Bao likes Daddy, Daddy cooks such delicious food, Hua Bao is hungry." Hua Bao patted her little belly, her small eyes constantly glancing at the braised pot.
Zhang Liunian stroked her head, "Then Daddy will get you something to eat, okay?"
"Okay."
The father and daughter ignored the children in the yard and went straight to the braised pot in the main hall.
Since it hadn't been braising for too long, only the vegetables were barely edible at this time.
"Hua Bao, sit here and eat well. Daddy will get you more after you're done." Zhang Liunian helped his daughter scoop a bowl, gave her a reminder, and intended to leave.
"Slurp!"
A series of greedy slurping sounds echoed from outside. Zhang Liunian looked up and saw a group of children standing in the yard, their mouths watering.
These children were all thin and looked like they weren't doing well.
But these days, all children were the same.
Before, his Hua Bao's health was worse than theirs. If it weren't for the better meals these past two days, she might not have had the strength to walk.
Thinking this, Zhang Liunian felt even more affection for his good daughter.
"Don't look at me, this is what my dad made. If you want to eat, go ask your dad to make it!" Hua Bao, while eating, looked up and saw the group of children outside staring fixedly at her. After swallowing the fragrant vegetables, she said, holding her bowl.
She wouldn't let them eat it. Who told them her dad was a lazy bum? She was angry.
The children then remembered that they had come because of the aroma, wanting to eat delicious food.
"But my dad doesn't know how to cook."
"My dad doesn't either."
"My mom doesn't either."
"..."
Hua Bao was overjoyed to hear that their parents couldn't cook such delicious food, "My dad is the most amazing."
The children outside were choked. After a long while, they nodded in unison. Indeed, Zhang Yehua's dad was the most amazing because he knew how to cook delicious food, which their parents combined couldn't do.
"Your dad is the most amazing."
"Your dad is the most amazing."
"..."
Seeing them all admit that her dad was the most amazing, Hua Bao's mouth stretched to the sky. She put down the braised food, crossed her arms, nodded like a little adult, and said, "That's more like it."
Zhang Liunian was amused by his daughter's expression. He patted her little head and went to the kitchen to stir-fry lobster.
What he didn't see was that after he left, Hua Bao still shared her food with these children, and these children never dared to say anything bad about Zhang Liunian again.
Zhang Liunian didn't see it, but Jiang Qingqing saw the whole process.
When she saw her daughter defending Zhang Liunian like this, her face couldn't hide her joy.
She was happy that her daughter could defend her man like this.
Zhang Xiaomei, who also watched the whole process, held her niece and wouldn't let go, constantly praising her for being smart and cute.
At five in the afternoon, Zhang Liunian arrived at the county town with a flatbed cart. As soon as the cart was placed next to the noodle vendor, the latter immediately stepped forward to inquire about the morning's events.
"Little comrade, what truth did the factory director ask you about this morning?" The noodle vendor had thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure out why the factory director of the machinery factory would ask Zhang Liunian for the truth.
What truth did this Comrade Zhang know that the director didn't?
Zhang Liunian paused slightly and changed the subject, "Don't you want to know about the work at the machinery factory?"
Seeing this, the noodle vendor guessed that there must be something. He quickly put down his spoon, leaned closer to Zhang Liunian, and secretly inquired, "Did it work out? Did the factory director really agree to give you a job?"
Zhang Liunian nodded, "That's right."
The noodle vendor's hands were too excited to find a place. "You still want to sell it to me?"
"As long as you can offer the market price, I'll give you priority," Zhang Liunian intended to sell one job to this old man, as he still had a use for the other.
"Don't worry, it's just 390 yuan. Give me two days, and I'll definitely raise it." The noodle vendor was so happy that he did a somersault when he saw that he wasn't going back on his word.
390 yuan? It was a bit higher than he had heard in his previous life.
"Little comrade, you're amazing, actually getting the factory director to agree. How did you persuade him?"
The noodle vendor was too excited and spoke too much. After saying it, he realized his slip-up and added, "You can pretend I didn't ask, I'm going to sell noodles."
As soon as he left, the construction workers began to finish their work.
Zhang Liunian didn't unload his things. He directly used stools to support the tail of the flatbed cart, turning the cart into a stall.
Unlike this morning, he also brought a pot of braised food to break the ice and test the waters.
As soon as the lid was opened, the aroma immediately spread.
The noodle vendor was the first to smell the irresistible aroma and immediately stretched his neck to look over, "Comrade Zhang, is this your new dish? It smells so good?"
Zhang Liunian smiled and nodded. Of course, it smelled good. He had put a lot of spices in it. It would be strange if it didn't.
"Your culinary skills are absolutely amazing, each one more fragrant than the last." The noodle vendor envied talents like this. Although being a self-employed vendor wasn't very dignified and people would laugh at you, Zhang Liunian's skills couldn't be denied.
"Uncle, have a bowl on me, it's free." Being a stall owner himself, Zhang Liunian wanted to build good relationships. He took out a bowl and filled it with braised food for the old man to taste.
The noodle vendor refused, "No, no, we're all struggling, I can't take advantage of you."
"Take it, it's just a little token of appreciation from a junior."
The noodle vendor still refused, "Really not. If you can give me that opportunity, I'll be very grateful. How can I still want your food? Hurry and take it back."
Zhang Liunian didn't want to argue with him. He directly placed the bowl on his stall and then began to serve customers.
"Give me a portion of 'Flying Dragon in the Sky', hey, what is this dish?" A dusty worker was ordering food with his own lunchbox but noticed the braised food in the pot and curiously asked.
Actually, the food in this pot was just ordinary home-style cooking, but the taste was really fragrant and enticing.
"This is the braised food I just made. It's the first day of trial sales. If you want to try it, I can give you two free bites." Zhang Liunian served the lobster for the man and then used two chopsticks to put some vegetables on top of the lobster.
The dusty worker was delighted to have such a good deal. He handed the money to Zhang Liunian, picked up the vegetables with his chopsticks, and put them in his mouth. The next moment, his expression lit up, and he looked extremely satisfied, making his fellow workers drool.
"Is it delicious?" A brother nudged him, eagerly wanting an answer.