Food Intelligence King

Chapter 118. Headmistress Mom. Chestnut Ice Cream.

The word "Mom" helped Chen Zhou clarify the relationship between the two customers.

This time it's all right.

The boy, who lives in a vine-covered area, said his mother is too busy to take care of him.

The headmistress is busy with summer enrollment, looking for children everywhere.

The two arrived at the kitchen. The headmaster was exceptionally polite, first quickly settling the bill on the IOU, and then thanking Chen Zhou profusely.

"I had a fight with my son and caused you trouble. Thank you so much, boss."

Chen Zhou laughed and said, "It's nothing, just a meal of steamed buns."

The headmaster glanced down at the IOU his son had written when he got home—ten steamed buns, two bowls of porridge, and a tea egg. That's enough for two meals for someone else.

She thought to herself: Did they not give you money for food or what? You're so hungry.

The principal chatted with the shop owner for a bit, then realized the owner looked increasingly familiar. "Sir, does your child attend the Fifth Kindergarten?"

Chen Zhou nodded, "Yes, Principal, the little girl's name is Chen Taotao."

The principal vaguely remembered, "Isn't it the senior class, the one Teacher Li teaches?"

"Yes. We should have met once before. Usually, my wife is the one who contacts you."

The kindergarten director exclaimed, "Haibin City is really too small."

Actually, it's not small, Chen Zhou thought, mainly because the kindergarten and Haibin No. 2 Middle School are both within a five-kilometer radius of the community canteen.

There's an old saying that you can meet all the strangers in the world through six people.

Moreover, it's such a small area.

When there are more customers, that's how it is.

The two exchanged a few polite words and didn't talk much more.

The kindergarten principal and her son came to the store for lunch this time. They ordered steamed buns, loofah and egg soup, and the boy, seeing that the community canteen had some new snacks, also ordered a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).

Chen Zhou couldn't help but be curious and silently observed the mother and son.

What follows will likely be a story of mutual understanding and reconciliation, which will surely be heartwarming and touching.

However, after the two sat down, they hadn't even exchanged a few words yet.

The principal then received a phone call.

"Well, Ms. Li, I'll be back in a bit. You guys can take the kids for a walk after dinner."

This is about arranging the work in the park.

Then another phone call came: "No problem. It's only been a few days since school started. Sending your child here now will help them adjust. Um, the fee isn't set by us."

This is a call from a parent inquiring about their child's school enrollment.

The headmistress's son looked at his mother, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

He finally smiled and accepted reality with resignation.

Although my mother is busy with work every day, he has received attention from different teachers from kindergarten to high school.

Now seventeen years old, he can easily understand the reasoning behind it.

This definitely involved his mother asking his teachers to help take care of him.

The boy looked at his mother and was shocked to find that she already had gray hairs at her temples.

"I hadn't noticed that before."

—"What are you saying? Just eat your food."

The boy smiled again: Although his mom didn't have time to listen to him, she was enjoying the steamed buns.

Bite after bite.

The boy waved to the waitress, "Excuse me, could you please bring three more?"

By noon, the buns were almost all made, and they were just waiting to be sold.

Chen Zhou was in the kitchen, fiddling with the chestnuts that Lao Chen had sent over.

Brother Mengda has provided an idea, but since it's been added to the system's recipes, it's definitely worth a try.

The store has a ready-made steamer.

After washing the chestnuts, make a slit in them with a knife, put them in and steam them.

Time passed slowly, and the chestnuts ripened and expanded in the high temperature, gradually widening their small openings. A rich aroma wafted through the gaps in the steamer. After steaming, Chen Zhou called over Aunt Zheng and his junior sister to try some first.

Sugar-roasted chestnuts are sweeter.

However, steamed ones have more moisture.

Of course, the things Old Chen sent were really good; they were delicious no matter how you ate them.

Chen Zhou took a picture and sent it to him.

They didn't mention sending it to the wrong address, only saying, "Received it."

Old Chen: "I know, Tao Tao loves this, make some for her."

We chatted, but not for very long.

After giving the two shop assistants a quick taste, Chen Zhou put the remaining chestnuts in the refrigerator.

Although Aunt Zheng didn't know much about it, she didn't suspect anything when she saw Chen Zhou freezing the chestnuts.

The boss must have his reasons for doing this.

The junior sister is different; she always has to ask questions in a lot of babbling to find out the truth.

Chen Zhou could only tell her:
"I'll take it out and try it when I come to work on Sunday."

The junior sister tilted her head: "Does this turn into chestnut-flavored ice cream?"

Chen Zhou and his staff tidied up the store, did some simple preparations, and then said their goodbyes.

To say that one is passionate about their work and seeks to realize their life's value through it might be an exaggeration.

But working here is really comfortable.

Aunt Zheng felt particularly at ease.

She had worked at a soup dumpling shop before, and also did odd jobs, but after a period of free time, none of them felt as good as working at the shop.

Aunt Zheng still took the steamed buns home to eat.

The junior sister hesitated for a while in the shop.

Seeing that she was behaving strangely, Chen Zhou asked curiously, "What's wrong? What's wrong with you?"

Zhao Yilin put away her phone. "Senior, do you and your wife have any plans for the weekend?"

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "Just say you're asking for a free meal. What's with all this hesitation?"

"So, what do you want to eat tomorrow?"

"Hmm," the junior sister shook her head after hearing this, and said to Chen Zhou:
“Wang Meng wanted to treat us to dinner, so I told him we should all go together. So I was wondering if you and your wife had time.”

If it were my junior sister from before, she would definitely have asked directly and bluntly.

Chen Zhou didn't believe she hadn't noticed Comrade Wang Meng's intentions.

This young lady is probably facing a life-changing decision as well.

"It's a bit unfair that Captain Wang didn't call me, but it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go with him either," Chen Zhou continued to reassure her.

"But most importantly, what are you really thinking?"

"I don't know either, should I go or not, senior brother?" The junior sister realized that this was a problem she had to face alone.

Chen Zhou reassured her:

"It's nothing, your senior brother will back you up. This shop will stay open until I retire, at least. If you have any ideas, feel free to give it a try."

If you don't want to go, just tell him directly.

"Ok."

The junior sister left with a heavy heart.

A little while later, Chen Zhou had already returned home.

He received a message from Captain Wang:

"Master Chen, are you free to have dinner together this weekend? Thank you for arranging it last time."

Chen Zhou could roughly guess how his junior sister would respond. She most likely used him as a shield.

Chen Zhou felt that he might need to encourage Comrade Wang Meng:
"Go ahead and give it a try, Master Chen will cover for you."

(End of this chapter)