nownovels Chapter 71 Xingruo in Everyone's Eyes
Chapter 71 Xingruo in Everyone's Eyes
Mengmeng sat on a solid wood stool, her short legs swaying back and forth.
She tilted her head, her large, dark eyes fixed on Xingruo, who was sitting opposite her, grinning foolishly again.
In a child's world, the underlying emotions are far clearer than the pretense of adult rhetoric.
Mengmeng still remembers what it was like when she first met Sister Xingruo yesterday.
At that time, Xingruo seemed to be shrouded in a layer of gray mist.
She always kept her head down, her shoulders hunched, and her eyes revealed a cold desolation that frightened Mengmeng.
Like that dry well at the end of the old street, where no water can be drawn anymore and only withered leaves remain, it looks like "life is meaningless".
But Xingruo has changed.
Mengmeng noticed that Xingruo's hands, which were resting on her knees, were no longer constantly clutching her skirt, and she seemed much more at ease.
Although her face was still pale and there was still some fear in her eyes, it seemed as if you could see a glimmer of light in them.
This light was very subtle, yet it made Xingruo look much more vivid.
Mengmeng remembered what her father said when he held her last night:
"Mengmeng, some people are like wounded little birds. It's not that they don't try, they just temporarily forgot how to fly."
Give them a little warmth, a little hope, and they will become stronger than anyone else.
"Daddy is right," Mengmeng thought to herself, a smug look unconsciously appearing on her little face.
She felt like a little detective who had seen through the truth of the world.
And Sister Xingruo is the experimental subject being altered by "healing magic".
She even had strange guesses in her mind:
Is it that Sister Xingruo originally had a "heart that wanted to fly"?
Or is it that Dad's cooking skills and the sink really have some kind of magical power?
"Dad is definitely the best." Mengmeng chuckled, then quickly pursed her lips, awkwardly trying to look mature.
She jumped off the stool, walked over to Xingruo with her chubby little legs, and imitated how Chen Feng usually took care of her.
First, she awkwardly pushed the half-finished glass of watermelon juice in her hand toward Xingruo's hand.
Then she reached out her little hand and carefully patted Xingruo's hand.
"Sister Xingruo, the dishes you washed today are as bright as the stars in the sky!"
Mengmeng's voice was clear and melodious, filled with affirmation.
She raised her chin, like a mature and prudent elder mentoring a junior:
"Dad said that people who can wash dishes clean will definitely make a lot of money in the future."
So, Xingruo, keep up the good work! Let's help Daddy make lots of money together!
Xingruo was taken aback by Mengmeng's "mature" appearance.
She stared blankly at the little radish in front of her.
Looking at Mengmeng's feigned composure, but with a hint of smugness in her eyes.
My heart was once again held firmly in the arms of a soft little hand.
"Thank you... Mengmeng." Xingruo's voice was very soft.
She gently squeezed Mengmeng's chubby little hand.
The warmth emanating from Mengmeng warmed my heart.
Zhang Qiang slumped in the chair next to him, wiping the sweat from his neck with a towel while watching the two little girls interact with a smile.
Although he is a very easygoing man, he has a keen eye for detail.
He also witnessed Xingruo's transformation from being a "living dead" yesterday to now seemingly "coming back to life."
He was deeply moved.
"Hey, Xingruo."
Zhang Qiang spoke, his voice very low.
"Meng is right. When you were teaching Su Er how to wash dishes, you were as majestic as a great general."
"That's amazing! Fengzi is so lucky to have you as his apprentice!"
Xingruo lowered her head somewhat shyly and replied softly:
"Uncle Qiangzi, you must be joking... I just happen to know how to wash dishes, it's good enough that I didn't cause any trouble for my master."
"What trouble are you causing?" Zhang Qiang glared at him, feigning displeasure, and lightly slapped the table with his large hand.
"You're underestimating yourself."
Let me tell you, if it weren't for you holding up the logistics for that group of people this morning, Fengzi and I would probably have collapsed from exhaustion under the stove.
You weren't just causing trouble; you're the anchor of our everyday life, you know?
Xingruo raised her head, pointing to herself in disbelief: "The pillar of strength...me?"
"Of course!" Zhang Qiang laughed heartily.
"So, you need to straighten your back."
"We're definitely going to get busier and busier here. That young master Su is probably just a figurehead. We'll have to rely on you for the real technical work."
Although Zhang Qiang didn't forget to tease Su Chen in his words, his appreciation for Xing Ruo was genuine.
He watched as the light gradually gathered in Xingruo's eyes, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought that Xingruo was like a tender sprout just peeking out from a crack in the bricks, looking delicate and seemingly unable to withstand too much wind and waves.
But he believes that as long as they can silently protect her and give her some room to grow, one day this tender sprout will grow into a towering tree.
"Alright, stop spacing out." Zhang Qiang stood up, stretched his aching shoulders, and looked at the rich aroma wafting from the kitchen.
"Dinner's ready! We, the most important contributors to our 'human touch,' can't go hungry."
Inside the kitchen.
Chen Feng was bending over, carefully preparing the last pot of vegetable and tofu soup.
He added the remaining pork cracklings, and only after the caramelized aroma seeped into the soup did he add the snow-white tofu cubes and emerald green vegetable tips.
The water gurgled and bubbled, and tiny white bubbles danced merrily in the pot.
Chen Feng turned his head slightly and looked at the three people in the shop through the thin layer of steam.
He saw Mengmeng showing Xingruo her childish rabbit drawings, just like a little housekeeper.
They saw that although Zhang Qiang was exhausted and his face was flushed, he was still trying to amuse Xing Ruo with clumsy jokes;
I also noticed Xingruo's relaxed state and the smile on her lips.
Chen Feng tightened his grip on the spoon, then slowly loosened it.
Chen Feng looked away and sprinkled a small handful of fine salt.
He sighed inwardly once again: Humans are really amazing.
No matter what kind of wounds you've suffered, no matter what shape life has molded you into.
As long as we can sit together and share a hot meal, as long as we can hear a sincere "thank you," those so-called despairs don't seem so terrible.
In his view, she seemed willing to believe in the kindness of the world again.
This made Chen Feng feel at ease.
"Xingruo, Qiangzi, Mengmeng. Get your bowls, it's time to eat."
Chen Feng extinguished the fire.
In that instant, the noise in the kitchen subsided, leaving only the delicate aroma emanating from the pot.
Chen Feng came out carrying the heavy tray.
A plate of bright green and translucent garlic vegetables, a plate of homemade shredded pork with double the amount of shredded meat, a plate of sweet tomato and egg stir-fry that Mengmeng loves, plus a bowl of vegetable and tofu soup steaming with milky white vapor.
Three dishes and a soup. Simple yet full of ritual.
"Wow--!"
Mengmeng exclaimed in surprise, sniffing the air with her little nose, "It smells like Daddy! It's scrambled eggs with tomatoes, so wonderful!"
"You can tell happiness just by looking at it?" Zhang Qiang chuckled, pinching Mengmeng's cheek before casually ladling a large bowl of rice and handing it to Xingruo.
"Come on, Xingruo, you're the hero, the first bowl must be yours."
Xingruo accepted the bowl, feeling somewhat flattered.
The white rice was packed very tightly.
"Master...you should eat too." Xingruo looked at Chen Feng with eyes full of respect.
"Okay, let's eat together."
Chen Feng pulled out a chair and sat down.
As the warm rice entered my mouth, the fatigue of the morning gradually dissipated.
Zhang Qiang began to talk at length about the interesting things he had seen that morning.
Mengmeng giggled with delight.
Even the usually quiet Xingruo relaxed a lot because of this atmosphere.
She ate her food heartily, and occasionally laughed along when Zhang Qiang told her funny stories.
The crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks clattering together, accompanied by bursts of hearty laughter, echoed throughout the shop.
It has lasted for a long time.