Chapter 451: The Secret That Belongs Only to Ling (Zhuo) [Part ]

It seems that today's dish is Japanese barbecue rice.

Zhuo doesn't really like Japanese food. This is not because of Sa Chiko's cooking. Sa Chiko's cooking skills are not good, but they are definitely not bad. It is not difficult to say that you don't like Japanese food. People around Zhuo don't think very highly of Japanese food, but Zhuo doesn't dislike the taste for these reasons.

Compared to the bland and sweet Japanese cuisine, Zhuo prefers spicy food. Although he also likes Western food, from a reassuring perspective, the taste of flower-growing cuisine is more simple and can calm people down.

As Sa Chiko once said, "You should try different flavors from a young age to train your taste buds." So she always serves a variety of dishes, but Zhuo's favorite is the spicy flower dish.

After washing her hands carefully, Zhuo sat down at the dining table, and Sa Chiko sat directly opposite her.

Zhuo looked at the dishes on the table.

Today was the usual white rice, miso soup, high-sugar egg rolls, chicken stew and cold sesame spinach salad, each of which was Japanese cuisine.

“It looks delicious.”

"We need to be in high spirits today, so please eat it while it's hot!"

"Ok."

Zhuo nodded, clasped his hands together and said obediently: "I'm starting." Then he took a sip of the miso soup.

The warm taste slowly seeped into the body. This taste could be described as soft, and it would gradually become warmer after one sip. It could also be described as bland. Zhuo felt that he could drink it all without rice.

Zhuo, who had been warned long ago not to be picky about food, planned to drink it all and did not intend to express his own ideas.

Sa Chiko once told him that liking spicy food means that Zhuo is a boy who prefers excitement, but no matter what you like, there will be a day when you get tired of it. Instead of that, Zhuo should learn to be loyal~——something like that.

So even if it's not his favorite dish, Zhuo will still finish it obediently. Zhuo feels that even if he can't be as loyal as Xiuyi, he should still work hard to learn.

Zhuo put the bland dishes into his mouth bit by bit without saying a word, while Sa Chiko watched with a smile on her face.

...

"Why does mom like Japanese food so much?"

After dinner, Sa Chiko was cleaning up the dishes while Zhuo was worrying about the next itinerary while expressing his own thoughts.

The dishes cooked by Sa Chiko were not bad. Although it was not appropriate to compare them with the instant bento, the dishes cooked by Sa Chiko were obviously more to his liking than the instant bento. Even so, the Japanese cooking style that was almost the same every day still made Zhuo feel incredible.

"Well, I'm much older than you. When I was your age, I couldn't cook either. After becoming a mother, I tried all kinds of cuisines, but I found that I was only good at Japanese cuisine."

"Did dad also learn to cook after getting married?"

This was just a simple question, but Sa Chiko's smile suddenly froze.

She quickly returned to her usual cheerful expression and looked at Zhuo with gentle eyes.

"Shuichi... how should I put it? Shuichi can do everything easily, so daddy was the one who cooked before you were born."

"That's it."

Since it was because of him that he chose the kitchen, there was nothing he could do, and Zhuo quickly gave up asking any more questions.

(Maybe it’s not fair to my mom, but I also want to try different flavors occasionally.)
Father Shuichi is very busy at work and rarely appears in the kitchen except during holidays. He is not always smiling like Sachiko, but he is always running around for this family.

In fact, before today, Zhuo was still confused as to why his father, whose cooking skills were better than Sa Chiko's, always chose Japanese cuisine instead of changing the taste occasionally. Now he roughly understands the reason - it is to appease his mother. Zhuo thought about his father's silent love.

Because the dishes chosen are rarely seen, children may develop a preference for them out of curiosity and no longer look forward to the dishes that Sachinko usually prepares with great effort.

When Zhuo actually tried the oriental food made by his father, he could hardly hide his surprise. His father, who was not often at home, was actually better at housework, which Zhuo realized shortly after entering junior high school.

"What's wrong, Zhuo? Do you prefer to eat the food cooked by dad?"

Hearing Sha Qianzi's question, Zhuo shook his head.

"Dad can't come back... and I don't want to embarrass him."

Zhuo saw his father only a few times during the day.

The only time he could see his father was at night. Even then, it was after Sachiko had prepared dinner. After a tiring day, Shuichi needed to eat and rest.

My father's work seems to be busier than my mother's. Even when he is at home, he should take advantage of his free time to rest. Zhuo doesn't intend to add to his burden.

Zhuo slowly shook his head, and the watermelon-like haircut that only children have began to shake. Seeing this, Sa Qianzi looked embarrassed, and the tail of her eyebrows drooped slightly in an eight-shaped shape.

"Well, I love my mom's cooking. It's delicious every day and I'm happy, so it's okay."

Ling didn't want to make Sa Chiko sad, so he quickly shook his head and smiled. However, this reaction made Sa Chiko even more entangled, leaving Zhuo at a loss as to what to do.

However, that expression disappeared in an instant, and Sa Chiko returned to her usual smile.

Zhuo was surprised at Sa Qianzi's change and wondered what she was thinking.

He only knew that Sa Chiko smiled cheerfully again, trying to reassure him.

"Thank you Zhuo, I am glad to hear your son say this. I must help you find a girlfriend today!!!"

"Uh, that's not my purpose. It's really delicious."

"Yeah, yeah, Zhuo is a good boy. I understand seeing you eating with gusto."

“…Do you really understand?”

Zhuo felt from the bottom of his heart that the food cooked by Sa Chiko was delicious, and it would be a headache if he was mistakenly thought to be lying.

Seeing that Sa Chiko had returned to her usual smile, Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief and watched her pack the dinner leftovers into a lunch box.

The unfinished dinner will be put into the safe like this and become breakfast for the next day. After all, Sa Chiko also has her own work to do, and it is impossible for her to get up early in the morning to cook and then go to work, so she will prepare the next day's portion together.

Thanks to this, Zhuo can see the prepared breakfast every day when he opens his eyes.

Although Zhuo may have the feeling of a child again due to his physical level and the environment, he will not make any willful demands and does not intend to embarrass his parents.

"By the way, do you want to cook together?"

After Sa Chiko prepared breakfast for the next day, she noticed that Zhuo was staring at the food intently, so she clasped her hands and made a suggestion.

Because it was not the first time, Zhuo already had the answer in his heart. It was a bit unexpected for Zhuo that Sha Qianzi mentioned this again at this time. He could not help but raise his helpless eyes and look at Sha Qianzi weakly. "Yada——"

"Don't be like that, Zhuo, Dad is really good at cooking, that's why he's so popular~"

"Yada——"

Unlike her father who is busy with work and serious, Sa Chizi's hobbies are more focused on life. No matter when, Zhuo can always find Sa Chizi's new skills in some strange places. She seems to be very good at playing and socializing. If it is just other aspects, such as taking Zhuo to meet little girls, or how to make small toys, Zhuo does not intend to refuse. However, if it is something that Zhuo does not like, such as cooking, he does not intend to give in.

Even if it's a bit willful.

But Zhuo is a child now, and a child’s willfulness can be forgiven.

"Very good. If you learn how to cook, you will have one less worry in the future."

"Mom, are you listening to me?"

"Yeah, of course I'm listening. You're asking about your troubles, right? For example, when you grow up and have to live by yourself."

Facing Sa Qianzi who was talking to himself, Zhuo looked at him dumbfoundedly, "I don't want to live alone."

"...That won't do~~ I mean when you grow up, you'll have to survive on your own. If you can't cook, how are you going to eat?"

"Can I go home?"

"Zhuo will already have his own home by then, and it may be very far away. Does Zhuo also plan to come and find his parents?"

"Well, go out and buy ..."

If he didn't plan to cook, Zhuo could only think of eating out or taking food home, or hiring a housekeeper to cook for him. However, considering that he probably wouldn't become a rich man in the future, there were only the first two options.

"You can buy it outside, but will Zhuo like to eat instant bento? Zhuo likes to eat spicy food, right? This kind of restaurant is probably hard to find in Japan~ Even if you find it, you may not be able to eat it every day due to distance or time reasons. What is Zhuo going to do?"

“…I could open my own restaurant.”

"Then Zhuo also needs to learn how to cook~~ And if you learn how to cook, don't you think you will be happy every day?"

"……Really?"

Zhuo now couldn't imagine himself being good at cooking. This idea didn't come out of thin air, but was told by his twenty years of experience in his previous life that he wasn't good at it, or in other words, he didn't have the patience to spend time on cooking. Even if Sha Qianzi taught him, Zhuo couldn't think that he would change his mind.

After Zhuo responded reluctantly and half-doubtfully, Sa Chizi seemed to see hope and smiled gently.

"There will always be a time when you need it. Instead of rushing around when the time comes, it's better to start now~"

"Mom too?"

"Yes~ Mom wanted to learn how to cook because of Zhuo, but it's too late now so she can't be as good as Dad. If Zhuo is interested in cooking, as long as it's a dish that Mom and Dad can teach you, we will teach you."

"Well……"

"Whether it's the oriental cuisine that Zhuo likes, the simple western food, or today's stew, Zhuo can learn it."

"Never mind..."

Zhuo was really excited when he heard that he could learn to create all kinds of dishes with his own hands. However, Zhuo, who had a clear understanding of himself, did not think he could stick to it.

"Can I also find a girlfriend who is good at cooking?"

If I could find a girlfriend who is good at housework.

Even if I'm not good at these things, maybe I can still live in peace.

Maybe they can complement each other and both sides will be very satisfied. Zhuo knows that in Japan, many women dream of being a housewife. So this idea is entirely possible. Compared to learning a dish you don't like, it's better for each of you to be responsible for your own strengths.

Zhuo had this thought in mind but did not say it out loud. Instead, he asked Sha Qianzi this.

Sa Chiko paused slightly, then the cheerful smile on her face faded into a gentle smile and she touched Zhuo's head.

Sa Chiko, who usually teased Zhuo and played with his hair, now stroked his hair gently. Zhuo widened his eyes in surprise, then narrowed his eyes in comfort, savoring this comfortable feeling carefully with a little confusion.

"Well, even if you find it, I think you will want to cook sooner or later. Maybe by then you will regret not being able to learn how to cook~"

"Why?"

After Zhuo responded loudly with all his confusion and energy, Sa Chizi did not choose to answer the question this time, but immediately returned to her usual energetic self.

"Well, if you want to know, go with mom and meet some girls, then you can find the answer~~"

"what??"

Zhuo thought that there might be reasons that he couldn't understand, perhaps it was an experience he had never experienced in his previous life. As a result, Sha Qianzi left the topic to his future self.

Even though he had some complaints, Zhuo still followed Sha Qianzi out the door, holding the chessboard.

...

...

Zhuo watched the commercials on TV aimlessly, or rather, his main attention was focused on Yu Guangnei's kitchen.

Through the open door, one could see the busy back of the girl. Her waist-length, soft, light golden hair was tied up behind her head for convenience. She wore a pink apron over her light blue skirt and was working hard in front of the sink.

But whether it was the sizzling sound of the ingredients being put into the pot, the bubbling sound of the food boiling, the rustling sound of the washing, or the aroma wafting from the cooking process, they all made Zhuo realize that Ling was carrying out several tasks at the same time.

Moreover, he also knew that after the dishes were washed, Zero chose to wash them again himself for the sake of cleanliness.

Needless to say, Zhuo ultimately failed to learn how to cook, and still failed to solve the problem at that time.

It should be said that before this, Zhuo had never thought that there would be a day when he would want to help but not know where to start. If he tried his best but was unable to do anything, he would have nothing to say.

Even if Zhuo wanted to learn now, he would not be able to cook food comparable to Zero's.

If he had understood it earlier, Zero would have felt a little more relaxed.

(…How stupid.)
Zhuo sighed with a sense of sudden realization and a hint of self-mockery.

(End of this chapter)