Chapter 21: Yun Zihao's Mother Arrives

Sunday evening.

Jiang Suisui parked the food truck and, seeing that there were not many customers visiting the night market area for the moment, fished a piece of braised meat out of the rice cooker. She minced it finely, mixed it with chopped green peppers, and tucked the mixture into a warmed-up white-crust bun.

"Xingxing, Yueyue, one for each of you. Eat up so you have the energy to work."

Jiang Suisui had noticed last night that although she gave Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yueyi dinner at 5:30, their stomachs would start growling by around 9:00. Perhaps it was because they were still growing and easily got hungry. That was why she had specifically braised an extra piece of pork belly today and prepared a few more buns. She made these delicious meat sandwiches so the two little ones could eat their fill before working; she couldn't have them wearing themselves out.

The pork belly, braised for nearly an entire day, was saturated with the fragrance of the marinade. The lean meat was tender and not stringy, while the fat was rich without being greasy. Minced together and topped with a spoonful of thick, savory broth, it was extraordinarily succulent. Paired with the crisp, refreshing green peppers, the slight, fresh heat of the peppers cut through the oiliness of the meat and elevated the braised flavor to a new level. The bun holding it all was equally impressive, with a crispy, flaky exterior and a soft, flavorful interior soaked in the savory juices.

Jiang Suisui finished one and washed her hands, ready to get back to work. But at that moment, an unexpected customer arrived.

"Hello, excuse me... are you Jiang Suisui?"

Jiang Suisui looked at the woman in front of her. She was dressed simply but with an air of intellectual refinement. Her long hair was tied up neatly, and she wore framed glasses. She wore a light gray linen long-sleeved top paired with a khaki skirt.

Jiang Suisui had never seen this person before and did not know her. Still, she greeted her politely: "Hello, I am Jiang Suisui. How can I help you?"

"Phew, that’s a relief. I am Yun Zihao’s parent. My surname is Qin, and my given name is Wulan," Qin Wulan said, beckoning toward a maple tree not far away. "Zihao, come over here. Didn't you say you wanted to find Sister Suisui?"

So, it was Yun Zihao's parent. Jiang Suisui smiled with realization. "It’s nice to meet you. I didn't expect to run into you here."

Qin Wulan said with a helpless, gentle expression, "I was planning to pay you a formal visit next week, but Zihao was so eager to be discharged from the hospital just to see you." She paused, then lowered her voice. "This child was crying in the hospital, wanting to eat the crispy fried meat you make. I had no other choice, and I felt I owed it to him. After asking Director Cheng, I found out you were selling it here, so I brought him over right away."

Well, it seemed it was just a case of a craving gone wild. Jiang Suisui followed Qin Wulan’s gaze to the maple tree. She thought for a moment and asked, "Would you like a small or large portion of the crispy fried meat? We have spicy, salt-and-pepper, and original flavors."

Qin Wulan checked the price list. "Let's have two small portions—one spicy and one salt-and-pepper—and two cups of plum juice."

Soon, Jiang Suisui began frying the meat. Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yueyi also started working, one packing the plum juice and the other delivering it. Jiang Yueyi handed a cup to Qin Wulan first, then carried the plum juice toward the tree. Although Yun Zihao was hiding behind the maple tree, it couldn't fully conceal him; a small part of his body was still visible.

Jiang Yueyi found it somewhat amusing, but she said in a soft voice, "Yun Zihao, here is your plum juice."

Yun Zihao didn't make a sound and retreated further behind the tree.

"...Coward," Jiang Yueyi said, walking directly behind the tree to face him. "Take it, your plum juice. I have to go back to work."

Yun Zihao’s face turned bright red. "I—I—I’m not a coward!"

Jiang Yueyi shoved the plum juice into his arms and trotted away in her little leather shoes.

Yun Zihao called out anxiously, "You gave me the plum juice, does that mean you’re willing to be friends with me?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yueyi stopped and made a face at him. "You haven't apologized to me or my brother yet, so I won't be your friend~"

Yun Zihao’s face turned even redder, like a ripe tomato. He stood in place, clutching the plum juice and looking down, silent.

In truth, he hadn't intended to fight with Jiang Yueyi and Jiang Xingran. It was just that for some time, his parents had been busy with work, leaving him in the care of a cold, robotic nanny, which made him feel very miserable. That day had also happened to be his birthday, but his parents still hadn't had time to accompany him or even make a phone call. His frustration had boiled over, which led to the conflict with Jiang Xingran. Of course, he had also tried to snatch the meat because he had grown arrogant at kindergarten. He hadn't expected to run into a tough opponent like Jiang Yueyi.

"Sigh, it was my and Zihao’s father’s fault, too. We shouldn't have brought him to Vermilion City and then left him to be raised only by a robot while we focused on work," Qin Wulan sighed, feeling more guilty as she looked at the stubborn-faced boy. "He was spoiled rotten by his grandparents before and was always domineering. Recently, with his father and me being so busy, the character we finally managed to correct has regressed again."

To better manage Yun Zihao, Qin Wulan had programmed the nanny robot with an emotion setting of absolute, cold-hearted logic, which caused the robot to be permanently icy toward him, sometimes behaving in an overly ruthless manner. She hadn't expected it to backfire.

Jiang Suisui listened while packing the food, her voice soft. "You should try to find some time to spend with him in the future. I heard from Teacher Yu that Zihao was actually quite well-behaved when he first arrived at the kindergarten; it was only recently that he became increasingly mischievous."

"This kind of situation is mostly due to parental neglect or lack of sufficient care. So, the child acts out in an abnormal or rebellious way to attract the parents' attention and love."

Qin Wulan really had no experience in raising children. She thought about it and realized it was true; Yun Zihao had indeed been obedient for a while after she and his father brought him here. It was only when they got busy and stopped caring for him that he became more rebellious and started getting into trouble more often.

She took the packed crispy meat. "Thank you, little Jiang. His father and I will take care to improve. I hope you can forgive Zihao for his behavior."

Jiang Suisui, wiping oil off her equipment, replied calmly, "This is a matter between the children; it's best to let them resolve it themselves."

Qin Wulan nodded and walked over to Yun Zihao. Upon finally getting to eat the crispy meat, Yun Zihao was instantly satisfied. He wanted to leave with Qin Wulan, not wanting to lose more face in front of Jiang Yueyi. But Qin Wulan patiently persuaded him, "Zihao, if you make a mistake, you must have the courage to admit it and learn to apologize. Only then can you become a better person."

Yun Zihao shook his head. "I don't want to. I want to go home."

Seeing that Yun Zihao still refused to apologize, Qin Wulan didn't blame him but cleverly changed tactics. "But Sister Suisui is the one who makes this meat. Don't you want to eat it again in the future?"

At the thought of not being able to eat the fragrant, crispy, and juicy meat again, Yun Zihao immediately became compliant. Encouraged by Qin Wulan, he gathered his courage, walked to the food truck with a stiff gait, and poked his little head out from behind the door.

"I... I’m sorry. I shouldn't have snatched your meat, and I shouldn't have fought with you."

Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yueyi, who were busy working, exchanged a glance, understanding each other's thoughts. Jiang Xingran set down a cup. "We can forgive you, but an apology alone isn't enough. You have to take action to prove you know you were wrong."

Yun Zihao was a bit confused. "What do you want! My mom is right there! If you hit me, I'll have her send lots and lots of robots to hit you!"

Not long after, Yun Zihao found out what Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yueyi wanted. He held a small megaphone, his face flushed red, shouting constantly to remind customers to pick up their orders by number and not to litter or affect the hygiene of the area.

His milky voice rang out continuously, making Qin Wulan want to laugh; she even used her Star-Net camera to record it. Those who had spoiled Yun Zihao rotten in the past would never have imagined he could ever be this obedient.