Chapter 82

“No, no.” Cheng Huan recollected herself and shook her hand. “The recipe of my marinate isn’t a big deal. I don’t need you to pay me. Consider it a repayment for making sure I get home safely in the past.”

“No, that won’t work. I must pay you for it.” Xu Li was even more determinant after Cheng Huan had turned her down. “It wasn’t a big deal seeing you home safely. It’s not the same scale as your recipe,” said Xu Li. “What kind of person would that make me if I just take your recipe like that?”

“But it really is very simple.”

“As simple as it might be, the others didn’t figure it out. If you won’t take my offer, then I can’t take what’s yours either.” Having said that, Xu Li stood up and was about to take off. Cheng Huan pulled her back before she got to the door.

The two of them negotiated for a while longer and, finally, they both took a step back and decided on 30% of Xu Li’s future income as the fees for the recipe.

Xu Li meant what she said. She brought the contract with her when she came over again. On the contract were the terms that they had previously agreed on, her family’s signature and handprint. Cheng Huan signed her name on it and gave it back to her.

“Okay, now its done!” Xu Li carefully put it away and reassured Cheng Huan again. “Don’t worry. I will keep good track of the money in the future and I am not the ungrateful kind.”

Cheng Huan smiled and said she trusted her then she started showing Xu Li how to marinate the meats.

She bought the meats in the morning and had already sliced them up. Cheng Huan placed the meats in a bucket and explained to Xu Li what she needed to pay particular attention to as she added the seasonings.

Her speed was neither too fast nor too slow. Xu Li listened attentive, even more so than a grade school student.

Cheng Huan also explained in details any questions that Xu Li had.

It wasn’t very early in the day when Xu Li went over and the marinating of the meats took a while. By the time she left, Cheng Huan noticed that it was already past the time to pick up XingXing.

Cheng Huan was made at herself, then quickly washed her hands and left her house.

XingXing’s kindergarten was just 10 minutes from their apartment. By the time Cheng Huan reached the front of the kindergarten, most of the children had already left with their parents.

There was nobody at the front of the kindergarten except a black car parked in front. Cheng Huan panicked when she didn’t see anymore. She ran over to the security guard, panting, and asked, “Do you know where’s Jiang XingChen from the junior class?”

There were a lot of people at the kindergarten and the security guard could remember most of the parents who came on a regular basis. He thought about it for a little while and said, “His teacher brought him back inside.”

“Thank you…” Cheng Huan let out a sigh of relief when she heard his reply. And then she remembered that XingXing had a watch that he could make calls on.

Cheng Huan had forgotten about it during her frenzy state.

She walked inside the kindergarten through the small gate that the security guard had opened up for her. She figured the l would be worried about not seeing her by now.

She called XingXing as she walked inside and her call was picked up after two rings.

From the other end came XingXing’s voice. The first thing coming out of him was, “Mom, all the other kiddos went home already. Why aren’t you here yet?”

Cheng Huan didn’t know what to make of that. She was quite sure he was coached by his teacher to say that.

“I’m sorry, baby. Mommy was tied up by something and will be there soon,” said Cheng Huan as she walked inside the school building.

XingXing said a couple more things before he hung up. Then, he looked up at his Uncle and said to him, “My mom will be here soon.”