The next day, Wang Cheng brought the braised dishes he’d prepared and accompanied Chu Yifeng to the Chu residence. He had planned to bring some clothes, but Chu Yifeng told him they were already taken care of.
Chu Wenting and Shen Qing had left the previous day for the honeymoon they had repeatedly postponed since their wedding. Their son Kun Kun had been born in the meantime, leaving them even less free time. At last Chu Wenting insisted they shouldn’t delay any longer, and the couple departed.
Seeing little Kun Kun toddling toward them, Wang Cheng suddenly remembered that his parents hadn’t taken him along. Wouldn’t someone else have to look after him? As he thought about it, something tugged at his leg. He looked down to see Kun Kun clinging to his trouser leg and looking up expectantly.
“What’s gotten into him? Doesn’t he usually like you best?”
Wang Cheng asked Chu Yifeng. He’d assumed the child was heading toward his uncle, only to find that he’d switched targets.
Chu Yifeng shrugged and took the food container. “Maybe he likes you now. Carry him inside.” Then he walked off.
“Hey, wait!” Wang Cheng called, but Chu Yifeng didn’t turn back. He was left with the little boy still holding his trousers.
Wang Cheng looked down helplessly. “Kun Kun, don’t you like your eldest uncle best? We’ve only met a few times.”
Kun Kun blinked at him without a word.
After a moment’s silent staring contest, Wang Cheng surrendered and picked him up. Inside, he met Chu Yifeng coming out of the kitchen. “Are Chu Wenting and his wife really leaving Kun Kun with your family? Isn’t everyone busy? Why not send him to Shen Qing’s parents for a few days?”
In the countryside, when a husband’s family was busy, the wife’s parents usually took care of the children temporarily. That was what Wang Cheng knew.
“Shen Qing’s parents, like my aunt and uncle, work for the government. They’re rarely free.” Old Master Shen and Old Master Chu had fought alongside each other when they were young, but the Shen family was smaller, and few members stayed home.
“Here, take him.” Wang Cheng tried to hand over the child.
Chu Yifeng refused. “He likes you. You can hold him a little longer.”
“Come on! His arms are open. He clearly wants you.” But the boy immediately pulled his outstretched arms back. Wang Cheng was speechless. Children these days were practically becoming little geniuses.
In the drawing room, Kun Kun became restless in Wang Cheng’s lap. At first Wang Cheng was worried he’d fall. Eventually, he simply let him crawl around on his own.
Old Madam Chu appeared in time for lunch. Old Master Chu was still at the military district and wouldn’t return until evening, so lunch was shared by three adults and Kun Kun.
They ate the braised delicacies Wang Cheng had brought. Old Madam Chu couldn’t tolerate strong flavors, so she tried some mildly sweet braised tofu. It was soft enough for her to enjoy. Because Old Master Chu loved braised food, the household chef made it every day or two. She knew its usual flavor well, so she immediately noticed the difference.
“Who made this plate of braised tofu? It tastes different, and better than the usual kind.”
Wang Cheng cleared his throat. “Grandma Chu, I brought it from home. I made it yesterday. I heard Grandpa Chu loves braised dishes, so I brought some to share. I have a few different flavors. If you like them, I’ll make more next time.”
“You cook as well? I imagine you make meals for Yifeng quite often.” Old Madam Chu smiled.
“Cooking at home is more convenient than eating out or ordering delivery, and it’s cleaner. I feel more comfortable knowing how everything was prepared,” Wang Cheng said.
The old lady nodded. “Quite right. Make some for the old man tonight when he comes home.”
After their conversation, Wang Cheng turned and saw Kun Kun, sitting quietly beside him, watching him. His bowl was empty. Wang Cheng had heard the boy had a huge appetite and now believed it. He resigned himself to preparing another bowl of rice.
Kun Kun was two and a half. Though he already had quite a few teeth, some foods were still too hard for him, so Wang Cheng made him rice mixed with braised tofu. This time he added crumbled braised egg and shreds of meat pulled from a braised chicken leg.
The boy’s eyes shone as soon as he saw the egg and meat. He stretched his neck and watched Wang Cheng’s every movement, impatient to begin.
Old Madam Chu couldn’t help laughing at the sight.
Perhaps the braised dishes improved her appetite. She ate more than usual and even finished an extra bowl of porridge. The Chu family’s chef was astonished and wanted to ask Wang Cheng for tips, but because he was a guest, the chef kept the idea to himself.
After lunch, everyone moved into the drawing room.
Wang Cheng carried Kun Kun tucked under his arm. The boy’s stomach was round from eating. Once seated, Wang Cheng put him on the floor to crawl around and digest his meal.
Kun Kun, full of energy after lunch, began crawling around the coffee table. Every time he completed a circuit and reached Wang Cheng’s feet, he looked up at him and started another lap. This happened repeatedly. Wang Cheng had no idea what he was doing.
Old Madam Chu burst out laughing. “There’s a popular saying that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. It seems to work on children too.”
“Grandma’s right. Kun Kun has been won over by his cooking,” Chu Yifeng agreed.
Wang Cheng was speechless. Why would he want to win over a toddler’s stomach? No, wait, his heart! What was he supposed to do with a little child besides watch him act cute?
After tiring himself out, Kun Kun tried to climb onto the sofa. Wang Cheng lifted him up with one hand but, instead of putting him on his own lap, deposited him in Chu Yifeng’s arms. Kun Kun saw his uncle and immediately grinned, wrapping both arms around one of Chu Yifeng’s.
Old Madam Chu grew tired and went upstairs to rest. Kun Kun soon fell asleep in Chu Yifeng’s arms and was carried to his own little room.
Wang Cheng thought about all the Chu family members who would return for dinner. The braised food he’d brought had already been eaten, so he decided to make more in the kitchen. The chef joined him, helping with preparations while discussing his methods.
The secret of delicious braised food lay in the cooking liquid, but preparing it was complicated. Red braising liquid in particular required more ingredients than yellow or white varieties. Because Old Master Chu loved the dishes, the household kitchen kept a wide assortment of seasonings and other ingredients on hand.
Strictly speaking, Wang Cheng wasn’t as accomplished a cook as the Chu family’s chef. A professional chef could make many dishes delicious, whereas Wang Cheng specialized in a single kind. He’d made braised food for years, and the old monk had been extremely picky, which was why he’d honed this particular skill. In a contest involving other dishes, Wang Cheng might well lose.
After discussing techniques with Wang Cheng, the chef learned a great deal. His newly prepared braising liquid tasted almost indistinguishable from Wang Cheng’s.
Meanwhile, other members of the Chu family began returning home one after another.
They didn’t notice Wang Cheng, who was still in the kitchen, until he emerged.
Old Madam Chu and Kun Kun had woken and were seated in the drawing room with Chu Yifeng. Wang Cheng carried out a large bowl and found himself somewhat embarrassed by all the people present, but greeted everyone in turn. Apart from Chu Yifeng and Kun Kun, all were elders. Old Master Chu had returned with his third son, Chu Lei. The only absent family member was Chu Li, who had phoned earlier to say he wouldn’t be home for dinner.
“You’re in for a treat tonight. Zhou Cheng and the chef cooked dinner together, and he’s especially good at braised dishes.” Old Madam Chu smiled at Old Master Chu.
“Then I’ll have to taste them carefully,” Chu Lei said with a laugh.
Chu Hong added, “I hear plenty of men cook nowadays, but few do it especially well. If even Mom is praising you, Zhou Cheng, you really are full of surprises.”
Jiang Zhuqing looked around. She’d been about to say the men of the Chu family had no need to cook, but hearing their comments, she wisely closed her mouth. She once again realized that her niece had no chance with Chu Yifeng. Yet remembering what her niece had told her gave her a headache. She’d been thinking about the situation a great deal lately.
When dinner was ready, everyone went to the table.
Chu Hong deliberately hung back and caught his wife’s arm. In a voice only she could hear, he warned, “Zhuqing, I don’t want to repeat myself. Remember that you’re now a daughter-in-law of the Chu family. You’ll be spending the rest of your life with the Chus, not the Jiangs.”
Jiang Zhuqing trembled.