Chapter 29

“It is very good,” said the neighbor as she recalled the taste in her mouth earlier and gave Cheng Huan a thumbs up. “I have never had barbeque that’s better than yours. When are you going to start? I’ll go and support you.”

“Soon.” Cheng Huan was quite happy that her neighbor approved of her cooking. She gave her the rest of the skewers saving only one for herself.

The neighbor tried to turn it down but finally Cheng Huan’s passion won over. She took the skewers and gave a couple to her daughter. Looking at the little kiddo on one side that was about to start drooling, she asked, “Does XingXing want some?”

XingXing’s mouth was salivating madly, and he really wanted it. But instead of accepting the meat, he turned and looked at his mother.

“I saved this one for him, so you don’t need to give him yours.” Cheng Huan handed the last one over to XingXing, and the little kiddo couldn’t wait to take it from her.

Cheng Huan had purposefully put less spices on the one reserved for XingXing, and its taste wasn’t as strong. But the meat had already been marinated in advance, so it would have tasted good even with no spices added.

XingXing got grease all over his mouth and was still able to squeeze out in between chewing that, “This is soooo good.”

Cheng Huan rubbed him on his head before she started cleaning up after herself.

Her task for the day was already finished, and she could kill off the coals. She had already found a spot that she liked a couple of days ago. If all went well, she could start her stall tomorrow.

Thinking that she’d no longer have to live her days with just expenses and no income, Cheng Huan let out a big sigh of relief.

With only just one skewer in his hand, XingXing treasured it a lot. He chewed as slow as he could and chewed many, many times after he tore a piece into his mouth before he’d swallow it.

He brought the skewer closer to himself and gulped from the aroma coming off of it. Then, forcing himself to look away, he took a couple of steps forward and handed the remaining half over to Cheng Huan and said, “Mom, have some.”

Little kids would usually make a mess when they eat; there was his saliva on the remaining meat. Cheng Huan took a look at it and looked away, “Mommy doesn’t want any. XingXing can have the rest.”

XingXing couldn’t believe that anyone could resist this kind of deliciousness.* He drew in his saliva and tempted her, “Mom, this is really, super-duper good.”

XingXing finally happily withdrew his hand after his mother had declined it again and happily pulled off a large chunk with his teeth.

Before the barbecued meat, the best food in XingXing’s mind was fruit rice. Now that he has had barbecued meat, fruit rice got bumped down to second best.

Applying his principle that he’d want whatever was delicious day after day, XingXing brought up the request that he’d like to have barbecued meat again the next day, but that was rejected by his mother right away.

“Why not?!” XingXing’s eyes widened in disbelief. His mother had never said no to him when he expressed that he wanted to eat something again.

Cheng Huan pressed the elevator button and said to him, “Because having too much barbecued meat will stunt XingXing’s height growth.”

She gestured to a height that was just a tad taller than the little kiddo and tried to scare him off by telling him, “If XingXing has too much barbecued meat, you will only be able to grow to this height. All your little friends will make fun of you then.”

XingXing’s eyes widened. He stared at Cheng Huan’s hand for the longest time then he turned his head with a hrmph. “Mommy is lying!”

“Why do you say that?”

“Aunty Gu had some too. She’s tall.” The little kiddo’s cheeks were all puffed up and then he added, “Even taller than mommy!”

Okay, he was pretty good with logic reasoning…