Chapter 272: Who Wouldn’t Want a Sister-in-Law Who Has Your Back?
Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Who Wouldn’t Want a Sister-in-Law Who Has Your Back?
Yang Jing was a bit apprehensive. She had been ignored for far too long, and Liu Qiang usually handled all their social interactions. She was afraid she would say the wrong thing, or worse, that no one would respond to her at all.
But her worries were clearly unfounded.
Shen Lu had introduced her as her mother, and they were her employees. Unless they no longer wanted to work for Shen Lu, they all naturally responded with enthusiasm.
The smile on Yang Jing’s face instantly grew, and her tense shoulders relaxed. This was especially true when Grandma Wang took the initiative to pull her to a seat, which immediately made her feel grounded.
Shen Lu was happy to see things turn out this way.
It wasn’t that she was determined to change Yang Jing, but she could be inexplicably overbearing at times.
For instance, Yang Jing wanted to join today’s dinner party, so she couldn’t just rely on Shen Lu to do all the socializing for her.
She wasn’t Yang Jing’s real daughter; she wasn’t obligated to run interference for her.
And Shen Lu had a slightly mischievous side. She wanted to know if Yang Jing would change under her subtle influence.
What kind of person would she become?
And would the men of the Liu Family, so used to her being meek and submissive, be able to accept this new Yang Jing?
Shen Lu was incredibly curious!
It was already past six o’clock. If they didn’t start eating soon, the dinner might not even be over by nine.
Shen Lu clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention.
She started by giving a detailed introduction to the three types of hot pot bases, letting everyone choose their own according to their preferences.
Soon, the small copper pots in front of each person were filled with their chosen bases. Then, Shen Lu led them over to pick out their favorite ingredients.
The freshly fried crispy pork was a hit with everyone. The adults dipped it in chili powder while the kids used ketchup, and everyone ate with delight.
The adults were more reserved. When they tasted something delicious, their eyes would light up at most, and they would offer a sincere compliment like, "Boss Shen, your cooking skills are incredible."
The children were more direct, like a flock of chirping little sparrows, making no effort to hide their surprise and delight.
"Sister Shen, this crispy pork is so delicious! It’s crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. I could eat a whole plate by myself!"
"Sister Shen, your cooking is even better than my mom’s!"
"Sister Shen, you’re not just beautiful, you cook delicious food too! I want to be as amazing as you when I grow up!"
...
Influenced by Xiao Lang, the other children all started calling Shen Lu "Sister Shen," each one shouting it more cheerfully than the last.
Compared to "Boss Shen," Shen Lu much preferred being called "sister" by the children and accepted the new title without hesitation.
Xin Yu was the only one there by himself. He had chosen the spicy tallow hot pot base, and as he waited for his food to cook, the billowing steam blurred his vision.
In a daze, he thought he saw his family who had passed away.
His home had been this lively when he was a child, just as boisterous as it was tonight.
His cheerful personality was largely thanks to his harmonious and happy family.
But now, he was the only one left.
He had thought he would be alone for the rest of his life, but he never expected that a single decision made on a courageous impulse could lead to such a different life.
Xin Yu wiped away his tears, but Fan An Kang, who was sitting beside him, noticed.
"Big brother, why are you crying?" Fan An Kang asked, confused.
Shu Meng gently tugged on her son’s arm, signaling him to stop asking. She had a good idea why.
Xin Yu forced a smile. "The boss’s hot pot is so delicious. My mouth is a little sore lately, so the spicy food hurts. It hurt so much I started crying."
Fan An Kang didn’t realize Xin Yu was lying. Hearing his explanation, the boy picked a piece of luncheon meat and some lettuce from his own tomato pot and placed them on Xin Yu’s plate. "Don’t cry, big brother. My hot pot isn’t spicy. Here, you can have this."
Xin Yu almost lost his composure. He bit his lip hard, forcing back the lump in his throat and the stinging sensation in his nose, and whispered, "Thank you."
Young Fan An Kang returned a beaming smile.
He might be a little vain, but he was still a very sweet and loving child.
"Fu Cheng, do you want some shrimp? I can grab some for you while I’m up," Shen Lu said as she stood to get more ingredients, asking the man beside her.
Fu Cheng hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No, thank you."
’You have to peel shrimp, and with only one hand, it’s too much trouble.’
Shen Lu just said, "Oh," but when she returned, her tray was piled high with ingredients.
Shen Lu placed ingredients like tender beef and tofu skin into her own spicy pot, then dropped the shrimp and clams into Fu Cheng’s congee-base hot pot.
Fu Cheng gave her a puzzled look. Shen Lu said nonchalantly, "Seafood tastes better cooked in a congee base. Plus, the congee absorbs all the savory flavor from the seafood, making it extra delicious when we eat it at the end."
’After all, I called dibs on a bowl of his congee from the very beginning. That gives me the right to control its flavor.’
Fu Cheng remembered this as well, so he let her do as she pleased. Besides, her cooking was always delicious.
Fu Cheng fished a slice of fish out of the hot pot and placed it in Shen Lu’s dipping saucer. "It’s ready to eat."
The fish was just cooked through, the point at which it was most tender and smooth. Shen Lu loved fish slices, so she had put some not only in her own spicy pot but in Fu Cheng’s congee-base pot as well.
"Mhm, I’ll eat it once it cools a little," Shen Lu replied casually.
Fu Cheng lowered his head to eat his own food. Suddenly, several peeled shrimp appeared in his saucer.
The shrimp, glistening and coated in red chili oil, looked exceptionally delicious.
"In return for the fish slice."
Fu Cheng turned to look at her. Shen Lu, wearing disposable gloves, was still wrestling with a large, cooked shrimp.
There were no peeled shrimp on her own plate; she had given all the ones she’d just finished to him.
Fu Cheng felt a sudden flutter in his chest, as if a string had been plucked. A pleasant tingle shot up from the base of his spine.
"That’s too many," Fu Cheng said, leaning closer to Shen Lu, his voice low. "Aren’t you going to eat any?"
"Of course I am!" Shen Lu wasn’t a picky eater; she loved shrimp.
"Then let me feed you," Fu Cheng replied smoothly, picking up a shrimp and bringing it to Shen Lu’s lips.
Shen Lu leaned forward and ate it, then offered a suggestion. "Dip it in the sauce."
She hadn’t made the spicy hot pot base very salty, so the cooked food needed the dipping sauce to suit her taste.
"Mm."
Fu Cheng picked up another one, and following her instructions, dipped it in his sauce before feeding it to her.
Shen Lu accepted being fed again quite naturally. As she chewed, her cheeks puffed out slightly, their movement reminiscent of a little squirrel nibbling on a nut.
"Okay, you eat them too. I’m done peeling," Shen Lu said, taking off the gloves and starting to feast on the shrimp she had just shelled.
Ye Fan chewed forcefully on the vegetables in his mouth, making a loud CRUNCH. "Sigh," he muttered. "The more I watch, the more I think the boss doesn’t stand a chance."
Anyone with half a brain could see that Xue Can had feelings for Shen Lu.
Ye Fan and the others weren’t as close to Xue Can as Mo Bei was, but having been in the same Mercenary Corps for so long, they had some understanding of his personality.
They were more than happy to see Xue Can try to pursue Shen Lu and steal her away from Fu Cheng.
Not to mention Shen Lu’s access to miraculous ingredients, the mere fact that she could cook—and cook so deliciously—was a fantastic thing in itself.
Besides, Shen Lu had a great personality. She would definitely be the kind of "sister-in-law" who would look out for the rest of the guys.
And who wouldn’t want a sister-in-law who would stick up for them?