Volume One, Chapter Seven: Utmost Devotion, Dishes with Warmth
Amidst Li Huange’s worries, Shen Qi began to work.
First, he took out some spare ribs, placed them in cold water with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine to remove the fishy smell. Then he took a piece of meat and minced it.
The rhythmic sound of chopping minced meat echoed repeatedly.
The minced meat was mixed with egg whites, finely chopped scallions and ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce...
Everything was done methodically, with practiced ease.
Countless online viewers watched with shining eyes.
“Ahhh, a handsome man who can cook, I’m in love.”
“Don’t say he’s a kept man. Shen Qi is handsome and cooks well. Some kept men don’t even know how to do that.”
“What dish is he making? Could the lady of the house be coming back?”
“I think Shen Qi is plotting something—deliberately making delicious food to tempt Xiao Kun, just to get him to wash the dishes next time.”
Lin Xiaolu and Bai Qinghe felt a sudden unease. They knew full well their husbands couldn’t cook...
At the same time, the fleeting envy in their hearts betrayed their true feelings.
How long had it been since they last tasted a meal made by someone who truly cared?
“I think the lady of this house must be very happy...” Zhuo Yiyi sighed. “I want to find a man who’s good at cooking too. So handsome...”
Li Huange felt a warm glow inside.
Wasn’t this exactly the purpose of signing up for the show “Mom’s Away on a Business Trip”?
To showcase Xiao Kun’s talents as well as Shen Qi’s devotion to family.
...
The green peppers were cut into sections, slit open on one side to remove the seeds, and the marinated minced meat was stuffed inside.
The pan was heated with oil, and the stuffed peppers were placed inside to fry until both sides turned golden. Then Shen Qi poured in the sauce he had prepared earlier.
The steam rising from the pan seemed to waft through the screen, making the viewers almost smell the fragrance.
Shen Qi suddenly pulled out a handful of smoked plums, which left the online audience a little puzzled.
“I can cook many home dishes too, but I’ve never heard of using smoked plums like this.”
“Could this be some kind of dark cuisine? If Xiao Kun doesn’t wash the dishes, is the father going to poison him while the mother’s away?”
“Hey! This handsome man is truly sinister. Is he planning to poison his son so he can divorce his wife and come chase me instead?”
“Lady upstairs, if you keep dreaming, I’ll pee on you. I smell like urine.”
Host Fang Qian asked with curiosity, “There are three married members among the observers. Do you know what Shen Qi is making?”
Zhuo Yiyi and the others shook their heads.
Li Huange smiled slightly and said,
“This dish should be called Smoked Plum Sauce Spare Ribs. My husband has made it for me.”
Bai Qinghe immediately scoffed, “Oh? Queen Huange, are you bragging? None of us have ever tasted it.”
Lin Xiaolu caught on quickly, “Does Professor Huange know how it’s made?”
Li Huange paused for a moment, then shook her head.
She was used to the delicious meals Shen Qi made at home, but had she ever really watched him cook?
---
Every morning, just after washing up, Shen Qi would have breakfast ready.
Whenever he was sure he would be home for dinner, he would have that prepared in advance as well.
Each dish, tasting better than those made by renowned chefs in famous restaurants, always delighted Li Huange’s palate.
This routine continued for three years.
At this moment, Li Huange suddenly realized a problem.
When she was too busy to return home because of work, she always thought about the meals Shen Qi made.
Whenever hunger struck, her mind pictured some of the dishes he had cooked.
She suddenly understood that over these three years, Shen Qi’s cooking had become a habit, even a dependence, for her food cravings.
It turned out... he was even more important to her than she had imagined.
Li Huange smiled softly.
“My husband really has made this dish for me, but because of my neglect, I never watched how he made it.”
Lin Xiaolu and Bai Qinghe still didn’t believe it, or rather, forced themselves not to believe.
Zhuo Yiyi and Fang Qian showed looks of envy.
“Looks like Queen Huange’s husband really loves you.”
“If a dish is made with such care, could it be anything other than love?”
“That man stole my Huange. If he treats her badly, I’ll kill him.”
“I’m so jealous of Queen Huange. I wonder what kind of man can marry her.”
“Look, Shen Qi really seems to be making smoked plum sauce. Could Queen Huange be right?”
“No way! This dish actually exists?”
Sure enough, Shen Qi first pitted the smoked plums and blended them into a sauce, then added two spoonfuls of the plum sauce into the ribs he had prepared earlier in the pan.
A fragrant steam rose.
While stirring, Shen Qi suddenly exaggerated his expression and began to sing to himself.
“Your gentle smile is like smoked plum sauce,”
“I tasted the mint flavor of your lip balm at the corner of your mouth,”
“It’s sweet love, so certain,”
“Because of every shy reaction of yours...”
...
“Hmm?” Zhuo Yiyi exclaimed in surprise, “What... song is this?”
Li Huange grabbed the armrests of her chair.
It happened!
It happened again!
Shen Qi was singing again!
Li Huange was slightly stunned... why say “again”?
Well, if that song about collecting manure counted.
---
But this song was nothing like “Getting Up Early to Collect Manure.” It was a catchy, pleasant pop song.
The live comments exploded.
“What song is this? I’ve never heard it before.”
“It’s sung beautifully, simple melody, very catchy.”
“Is it by some obscure singer?”
“I checked; this song doesn’t exist anywhere!”
“So...”
Zhuo Yiyi covered her mouth. “Could it be... an original?”
“Impossible!” Lin Xiaolu immediately said, “No way! How could a househusband without a job compose?”
“I second that!” Bai Qinghe chimed in.
Zhuo Yiyi looked puzzled at them.
Li Huange glanced at the two.
“China is full of talents. No one knows which ordinary family might have a genius.”
“Five-year-old Xiao Kun’s calligraphy and piano skills—are they comparable to other children his age?”
“Shen Qi pointed out Xiao Kun’s piano problems. Could an ordinary piano teacher do that?”
“So if Shen Qi can compose, why can’t you understand it?”
Lin Xiaolu and Bai Qinghe were suddenly speechless.
Fan Binfen nodded in agreement.
“Queen Huange is right. Shen Qi is no ordinary househusband.”
“Maybe Shen Qi really has many talents that allow him to live comfortably at home with a rich wife.”
“Seriously, the bar for being a kept man nowadays is so high. Besides matching Shen Qi in looks, I can’t compare.”
“Hey, young man, I know your ID. Now it’s my turn to roast you.”
...
After simmering gently for thirty minutes, the smoked plum sauce spare ribs were finally done.
Shen Qi seemed to sprinkle sesame seeds into the dish with a hint of reverence.
“As a perfectionist, what I make is not just food, but a kind of tenderness!”
Shen Qi solemnly and ceremoniously plated the smoked plum sauce spare ribs, lifted the dish to his nose to sniff, and nodded in satisfaction.
“Only with utmost care can a dish have warmth!”
“Only then can it be filled with love!”