In the kitchen.
Both Qingqing and Weiwei are very thoughtful and helped Huang Jun wash the scallions.
Qingqing, who completed the task first, raised the few scallions in her hand and proudly showed Huang Jun, saying, "Daddy, look at the scallions I washed…"
The expression on her upturned little face was full of "please praise me."
Huang Jun praised, "Wow, washed so clean!"
Hearing the compliment, Qingqing's face showed a satisfied smile.
At this moment, Weiwei also couldn't wait and raised her washed scallions, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, "Daddy, how about mine? How about mine?"
Looking at Weiwei's lively big eyes, Huang Jun smiled and affirmed, "Just as clean."
However, Weiwei seemed unsatisfied.
With her little mouth pouting, she questioned, "Daddy, you didn't say 'wow', does that mean Weiwei didn't wash it as clean as my sister?"
Huang Jun: "..."
They even compete for this...
He chuckled, shook his head, and gently patted Weiwei's head, "It's not that, Weiwei. The reason Daddy didn't use 'wow' is because I was pleasantly surprised to find that you and your sister are both able to wash the scallions so clean. You're both my little helpers and you're both fantastic!"
"Hee-hee~"
Hearing this, Weiwei showed a happy smile and enthusiastically said, "Daddy, what else do you need help with? Weiwei can do anything!"
"Then you guys… help Daddy peel the garlic!"
Huang Jun reassigned tasks to them, and the two little ones started their busy mode again.
Huang Jun wasn't idle either and began washing various ingredients.
Fortunately, the chicken, small yellow fish, and such ingredients were already cleaned by the stall owners, only requiring a simple wash.
After cleaning everything.
He then cut the chicken into suitable sizes, and the chopping board resounded with a sound of "duk-duk-duk," showcasing his impressive knife skills, causing the two little ones' mouths to unconsciously open wide and exclaim, "Wow, Daddy is amazing."
This compliment made Huang Jun's heart feel sweet, and once all the ingredients were ready, he began cooking.
Braised chicken with mushrooms, steamed small yellow fish, and oil-braised shrimp were cooked together.
One in the electric crockpot, one in the steamer, and one in the frying pan; seasoning and preparation like removing fishy smell were all done, and in less than ten minutes, the steamed small yellow fish was done, and the oil-braised shrimp could be served. The fragrant aroma of fish filled the entire kitchen.
As the waves of aroma teased them, Qingqing and Weiwei's pink noses involuntarily twitched slightly.
Weiwei was even drooling, circling around Huang Jun, "Daddy, smells so good, when can we eat?"
Qingqing also stood on tiptoe, craning her neck toward the stove.
Huang Jun glanced at the braised chicken with mushrooms in the electric crockpot, "Probably half an hour more!"
"Why don't you go watch some cartoons first?"
Weiwei shook her little head like a rattle drum, firmly stating, "No!"
"Me neither!"
Qingqing slightly shook her head, expressing her own wishes, "I want to stay with Daddy!"
Oh!
For a bite to eat, even forsaken their favorite cartoons...
Huang Jun smiled softly and picked up a few oil-braised shrimps with chopsticks, handing them to Qingqing and Weiwei, "Then eat some shrimp to fill your stomach, other dishes still need some time!"
Qingqing and Weiwei stretched out their little arms, happily accepting the food, their eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
So delicious~
Although they had tasted the delicious oil-braised shrimp in the afternoon, eating it now still made them indulge.
He opened the steamer lid, and the small yellow fish lay neatly in the wine-red broth, looking very appealing.
He grabbed a handful of scallions and garlic, sprinkling them in.
Then casually made a tomato scrambled egg.
In the crockpot, the braised chicken with mushrooms was bubbling hot, the chicken pieces golden-yellow, shimmering under the light, the mushrooms, like little umbrellas, blossoming in the chicken soup, exuding a fragrance that combined the deliciousness of chicken and the aroma of mushrooms.
Huang Jun served Granny Jiang a big bowl and also put some oil-braised shrimp and small yellow fish on a plate.
"Qingqing, Weiwei, you eat well at home, I'm going to deliver this."
"Daddy, I'll help you open the door."
Qingqing saw Huang Jun holding bowls in both hands, and quickly ran over,
This action naturally led Weiwei to imitate, who also ran over, opened the door together, and then obediently ran back to their seats to sit down.
Seeing them eating obediently, Huang Jun felt at ease to head to Granny Jiang's house.
The door wasn't closed, leaving a small gap.
Maybe they knew he was coming and left it that way on purpose!
"Granny Jiang, are you home? I've come to deliver some dishes."
To his surprise, the quickest response came from Uncle Jiang.
"Coming, coming!"
Uncle Jiang opened the door and immediately saw Huang Jun, his gaze then shifted to the dishes in Huang Jun's hands.
Seeing the rich colors and smelling the mouthwatering aroma of the dishes, the smile on his face deepened.
At the same time, he was certain that the enticing aroma of ribs at noon and the smell of chicken just now came from Huang Jun's cooking.
"Your Granny Jiang said you'd bring dishes this evening, I thought she was joking with me!"
Huang Jun laughed and said, "How could I? You two elders always help me, I wouldn't joke with you two!"
"But you brought too much, next time you shouldn't..."
Uncle Jiang knew he was having a tough time, supporting a family with even just one child is hard, let alone him raising two kids alone!
"Alright, I know, it won't happen again." Huang Jun entered and placed the dishes on their dining table.
Uncle Jiang couldn't refuse: "I heard you applied for a chef position at the kindergarten today and got it, that's really great, a good start."
At this moment, Granny Jiang came out of the kitchen holding a large watermelon: "Xiaojun, this is a Kirin watermelon, it's very sweet, take it back and eat it with Qingqing and Weiwei."
Huang Jun received it with both hands: "Thank you, Granny Jiang."
"No need to be polite, I just smelled the aroma of your chicken stew from your house."
"Then help me taste it and see if I'm qualified to be a kindergarten chef."
"Okay, okay, I'll get some chopsticks."
"Mmm, no rush."
Granny Jiang picked up a piece of chicken and ate it.
Instantly.
A delicious flavor spread in her mouth.
Her entire mouth was filled with the rich aroma unique to the chicken.
She picked up a mushroom, which broke with a single bite.
The mushroom was soaked with the broth, soft and carrying the taste of chicken, causing her to close her eyes in pleasure.
Is this the chicken stew with mushrooms?
It's just ordinary chicken, but this flavor, this texture, is absolutely amazing.
She would make this dish during holidays too, but never achieved this flavor and texture before.
Carefully picking up a small yellow croaker with chopsticks, she gently sucked at it.
The fish meat separated from the bones, leaving only an intact skeleton.
The unique tenderness and fragrance of the fish filled her mouth, the soy sauce and cooking wine seasoning perfectly, removing the fishy smell and making the taste even purer.
Even the oil-braised prawns were so delicious that she wanted to eat the shells too.
"So delicious, Xiaojun, your cooking skills have improved remarkably... No wonder you got the kindergarten chef job."
At first, she worried that Huang Jun didn't have a wide range of dishes and would struggle with the kindergarten chef role, but now it seems she was worrying for nothing.
Huang Jun smiled: "As long as you like it."
Exchanging a few pleasantries with Granny Jiang, he didn't stay long and bid farewell.
Meanwhile, in the dining room, Granny Jiang was scolding: "You old man, you've eaten more than half the chicken stew with mushrooms and oil-braised prawns, only fish bones are left from the small yellow croaker, don't you feel stuffed and sick of it? What did you leave for me?"
Huang Jun never thought his kind gesture would almost make the ever-loving Granny Jiang and Uncle Jiang argue!
Back home.
Qingqing and Weiwei had already eaten more than half of their bowl of chicken stew with mushrooms, and had a lot of prawns and small yellow croaker, they also ate half a bowl of rice.
The chicken stew with mushrooms was tasty but not greasy, combined with the fragrant oil-braised prawns and tender small yellow croaker, their mouths were filled with lingering flavors, Qingqing and Weiwei filled themselves up again.