"Cluck cluck cluck, cluck cluck cluck~"
"Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo~"
"Quack quack quack, quack quack quack~"
"Coo coo, coo coo~"
As soon as they entered the market, Qingqing and Weiwei were captivated by the chickens, ducks, and pigeons in the poultry section. Squatting in front of a chicken stall, they watched with great interest as the chickens, ducks, and pigeons squirmed in the cramped cages. They even enthusiastically mimicked the sounds of these birds.
No amount of calling could get them to leave!
What else could Huang Jun do but humor them by staying?
Luckily, the chicken stall owner seemed used to such scenes and didn't shoo them away for not buying anything. He just watched them, amused.
But taking up the stall owner's space for too long without buying anything made Huang Jun feel a bit guilty, so he suggested, "Qingqing, Weiwei, why don't we buy a chicken to take home?"
"Daddy, why are we buying a chicken?"
Weiwei tilted her little head in puzzlement, and as if a thought suddenly struck her, her eyes lit up like light bulbs: "To keep as a pet?"
Chicken stall owner: ヾ(●´∀｀●)
Huang Jun: (*ﾟｪﾟ*||)
Sweetheart, you've got quite the imagination...
"Daddy, are we really going to keep it?" Qingqing asked expectantly.
Huang Jun: (*ﾟｪﾟ*||)
Sweetheart, you're joining in too...
Sigh!
He confessed helplessly, "Well, of course, we're buying it to eat!"
"Ah!"
Qingqing and Weiwei looked as if they'd seen a ghost, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Qingqing opened her mouth slightly and whispered, "Daddy, the chicken is so cute, how can we eat it?"
"Yeah, yeah, the chicken is so cute, why eat it?"
Weiwei glanced at the chickens in the cage, full of pity.
If it's going to be eaten...
Then.
She'd rather not buy it.
Faced with his daughters' questions, Huang Jun looked utterly defeated.
Does this really need an explanation?
Since ancient times, haven't chickens been for eating?
But seeing his daughters' determined looks, he relented and gave a reason: "Because chicken meat is delicious. If you stew it with mushrooms, when you lift the lid, the enticing aroma fills the whole room. The chicken is not too soft or too hard and absorbs the mushroom flavor, making it even more delicious. The mushrooms are soft and carry the chicken's flavor, making it extremely tasty..."
He enthusiastically described the deliciousness of chicken stewed with mushrooms.
"Gulp~"
"Gulp~"
Listening to their dad's description, Qingqing and Weiwei seemed to already smell the enticing aroma and see the delicious chicken stew. Remembering how tasty their dad's spare rib noodles and braised shrimp were, they couldn't help but salivate and swallow.
Even the chicken stall owner found his mouth watering at Huang Jun's words, uncontrollably swallowing as he decided he'd have his wife make chicken and mushroom stew for dinner too.
"Daddy, is the chicken stew with mushrooms really that good?"
At this moment, Weiwei was torn between two inner voices.
They were battling between eating and not eating.
Qingqing felt the same way.
So conflicted!
Huang Jun chuckled, "Of course, it's good. When have I ever lied to you?"
"Then..."
Weiwei twisted her fingers around each other, deliberating for a long time before saying, "Then you buy it, Daddy..."
Qingqing nodded in agreement, too.
With their approval, Huang Jun asked the stall owner to help pick a chicken under three pounds.
Weiwei piped up, "Grandpa, make sure to pick the prettiest one..."
Oh dear!
Even such young kids care about looks...
The chicken stall owner was a little speechless but amused by Weiwei's sweet, childish voice. He promised, "Alright, Grandpa will pick the prettiest one for you."
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
Weiwei pouted her rosy little lips and added, "And make it a little cheaper, okay~"
This request made the stall owner pause, then he silently praised her.
Wow!
Truly a little genius!
So young and already helping her parents haggle.
Incredible!
She'll surely be successful when she grows up!
Before he could reply, Qingqing also lifted her rosy little face and said in her childish voice, "Grandpa, my dad is a chef at the kindergarten, and he needs to buy a lot of vegetables in the kitchen. If you give us a discount, my dad will definitely come back to buy from you in the future…"
The chicken stall owner's eyes widened.
Wow!
This one's even more impressive!
So young yet already knows how to play the emotional card.
Incredible, incredible indeed…
The chicken stall owner praised them in his heart, while looking at Huang Jun with envy, thinking that since Huang Jun is a chef at the kindergarten, he will surely need to stock up regularly.
As long as they maintain a good relationship, Huang Jun will definitely think of him when he needs chicken and duck meat in the future.
So, both emotionally and logically, he had to offer a discount.
"Alright, just because you two called me grandpa, I must give you a little discount, so it's 35 yuan in total, but I'll charge you 30 yuan."
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
Qingqing and Weiwei happily looked up at Huang Jun, their little faces filled with expressions saying "Praise me, please!"
Huang Jun was not stingy with his praise: "Qingqing, Weiwei, you're both amazing!"
"Hee hee~"
Upon receiving their dad's praise, Qingqing and Weiwei were all smiles, their dimples showing.
After buying the chicken, Huang Jun took the two little ones to the seafood section and the vegetable section to purchase the ingredients they needed.
Once they had bought everything, they headed back home with the two children in tow.
Just as they got to the entrance of their community, they ran into their landlord Granny Jiang, who was coming back from chatting in the community activity room.
"Hello, Grandma Jiang!"
"Oh, it's Qingqing and Weiwei…"
Granny Jiang saw the sweat on their faces, and quickly took out her fan to provide some breeze for them: "Look at how sweaty you are, where are you coming back from?"
Qingqing smiled sweetly: "Grandma Jiang, we went to register at kindergarten."
"Grandma Jiang, Grandma Jiang, do you know? My dad went for a job interview at the kindergarten today. He's going to be the chef there~"
Weiwei shared happily.
But this surprised Granny Jiang, who looked at Huang Jun with disbelief.
"Yes."
Huang Jun quickly recounted the events of the job interview to Granny Jiang.
Listening to this, Granny Jiang was genuinely happy for him: "That's great! Becoming a chef at the kindergarten means a stable job, plus you can take care of the kids, and it's convenient for you to drop them off and pick them up."
Huang Jun smiled: "I think so too."
To tell the truth, over the years, his biggest luck was meeting such a kind landlord.
She often helped take care of Qingqing and Weiwei and even gave them food and other essentials from time to time.
The rent was only a symbolic five hundred a month.
Even for a top-floor apartment, it's entirely impossible to find a place with a kitchen for five hundred in the city.
"Xiaojun, since you've found a job, you must work hard, you hear?" Granny Jiang advised.
Huang Jun nodded: "Understood!"
Granny Jiang turned her head to the two little ones and lovingly said: "Qingqing and Weiwei, you must study well too."
"Hmm hmm~"
The two little ones nodded vigorously.
While chatting, they climbed the stairs together.
Granny Jiang saw Huang Jun carrying all the bags and offered to help, but Huang Jun politely declined, so she continued climbing the stairs, holding Qingqing and Weiwei's little hands.
Upon reaching Granny Jiang's door, Qingqing and Weiwei waved their little hands saying "Goodbye."
Granny Jiang also reminded the two little ones to watch their step while climbing the stairs. As she was about to open the door, she suddenly remembered: "Xiaojun, was it your house that made the ribs for lunch? It smelled delicious; Uncle Jiang and I could smell it from home."
"Yes, we made rib noodles for lunch, and these two little ones each had three small bowls!"
Huang Jun chuckled: "I bought some groceries and plan to make chicken stew with mushrooms, braised prawns, and steamed yellow croaker for dinner to celebrate. Once it's done, I'll bring some over to you and Uncle Jiang."
Granny Jiang was very pleased: "Alright, then I won't be polite with you. You better get home; see how hot the kids are."
Huang Jun continued up the stairs with the two little ones.
Back home.
Not to mention the two little ones who were so tired they collapsed onto the couch, unwilling to move; even as an adult, the first thing Huang Jun did was put down everything in his hands, turn on the air conditioning, and head straight to the kitchen for a drink of water.
After the three of them drank some water, they sat on the couch for a break.
Weiwei's big, sparkling eyes were full of a plea: "Dad, can I watch cartoons for a while?"
"Okay, but only for 30 minutes."
Huang Jun nodded and, seeing the time, told the two little ones: "I'll go make you dinner."
"Dad, do you need help?"
Qingqing, being sensible, volunteered: "Qingqing can help you wash vegetables~"
"Dad, I won't watch cartoons either, I'll help you wash vegetables~" Weiwei immediately followed suit.
If her sister can do it, she can too!
Huang Jun chuckled and nodded: "Sure, everyone can come…"
The two little ones immediately slid off the couch and ran over, their little legs going thump-thump-thump.