"Ding ling ling~" An alarm rang, precisely at five in the morning.
Chu Rong rolled out of bed, dressed quickly, and hurried out.
The Lijin Agricultural Market was already bustling, even at five. Workers responsible for transportation were arranging fresh fruits and vegetables in front of the stall owners, with prices being calculated and goods being counted, a cacophony of voices filling the air.
In such a setting, Chu Rong, dressed in a suit, walked into the wet market. His air of wealth was starkly out of place. Workers and vendors alike cast curious glances his way.
Chu Rong, as if no one else was there, calmly entered the vegetable section. He went from stall to stall, asking, "Do you have sweet potatoes?" After comparing three or four, he finally bought ten pounds of them.
With the sweet potatoes purchased, he moved on to other sections, for chicken, duck, fish, eggs, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. In total, half an hour later, he returned home carrying two large bags.
Five forty. Arriving home, Chu Rong checked the time. While putting the newly bought vegetables and fruits into the refrigerator, he called the butler, Old Li.
Old Li's wake-up time was six. Honestly, when the phone rang, he cursed internally, "Which little brat is being so inconsiderate?"
But upon seeing it was the young master's call, his sleepiness vanished instantly. He sprang up, full of energy, "Hello, Young Master, what are your orders?"
"The children's rooms are to be redone. Start with Lijin Yuncheng. Everything must be finished by five this afternoon," he stated his decorating requirements concisely.
Old Li, after hearing this, was a bit surprised. "Young Master, are the young master and young lady really only four or five years old?"
Chu Rong thought of his well-behaved daughter, who had spoken to him with such maturity and righteous indignation last night, and couldn't help but smile. Ah Jiu had given birth to two remarkable little treasures.
"By five this afternoon," Chu Rong emphasized one last time before hanging up.
On the stove, some sweet potatoes, yellow beans, peaches, and eggs remained.
Chu Rong first peeled the sweet potatoes, sliced them, and put them in the pot to steam. After fifteen minutes, the sweet potatoes were soft and mushy. He then took them out, mashed them into a pulp, mixed in an appropriate amount of flour, and formed a sweet potato dough. He divided it into small portions, let them rest for five minutes, and then pressed them into flat cakes.
He brushed a small amount of oil into the frying pan, heated it over low heat, and finally placed the sweet potato cakes in the pan, frying them on both sides until the skin was golden brown and crispy before removing them.
Eight sweet potato cakes were quickly made. Chu Rong arranged them on a plate, then began to make soy milk, boil eggs, and cut fruit. By the time everything was done, it was exactly six forty.
He looked at his creation with satisfaction, took out his phone, and opened the pinned message.
"The breakfast is ready. I've hung it on the doorknob."
After sending the message, he immediately picked up the lunchbox bag and went out.
Quan Jiu always woke up at six and was busy making breakfast in the kitchen when she suddenly heard a text message notification.
The only people who still sent text messages were her grandfather and no one else. Quan Jiu thought the elderly gentleman had something urgent early in the morning, so she quickly turned off the stove to check her phone.
But upon seeing the message, she was stunned. After a two-second pause, she hurried to open the door.
A lunchbox bag was hanging on the doorknob. Quan Jiu didn't see her grandfather's figure either.
She was a bit dazed, carrying the lunchbox bag into the house.
Sweet potato cakes, boiled eggs, soy milk, a small dish of pickled carrots, and a box of diced peaches.
They were all her favorite foods. Sweet potato cakes were what her grandmother made for her every morning when she was a child. As for pickles, her favorite was pickled carrots.
Quan Jiu picked up a sweet potato cake and took a bite. The skin was crispy and chewy, while the inside was fragrant, soft, and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness, fine and glutinous, leaving a lingering aroma.
Paired with a piece of pickled carrot, the sweet and the savory-spicy flavors collided in her mouth, creating a masterpiece.
While she was savoring the food, she received another text message: "Don't wake up so early from now on. I'll prepare breakfast and dinner for you and the children. If you really feel bad about it, consider it repayment for your care over the past three months."
Despite his words, Quan Jiu still couldn't accept it. How could she let an elderly person cook for her?
She thought about it and simply dialed his number, but the call was hung up after only two rings.
Quan Jiu sighed softly. It seemed the elderly gentleman's social anxiety was even more severe than she had imagined. She decided not to call again and continued to text.
"It is the duty of a junior to take care of an elder. Besides, I'm used to it. I wake up at the appointed time. Grandpa, please don't worry about me and the children. I have plenty of time and it doesn't delay anything."
Unexpectedly, the text message was quite persistent. "What do you want to eat tonight?"
Quan Jiu was so exasperated that she tilted her head back to look at the ceiling and continued to refuse, "Really, no need, Grandpa. How can I, an adult, let an elder take care of me?"
"Although I'm a bit older than you, I'm not particularly old. Taro stewed chicken, is that okay?"
Quan Jiu was almost in tears from laughter and exasperation. "Grandpa, please don't trouble yourself. Your health is important."
Chu Rong, on the other end of the phone, raised an eyebrow and his lips curved slightly. "My health is very good."
After that, no matter what Quan Jiu texted, she received no reply.
Quan Jiu was distressed. How could she, an adult, be at ease being taken care of by an elder? But this elder seemed a bit stubborn.
Sigh... I'll see how it goes, Quan Jiu consoled herself. She tidied up the kitchen. By seven twenty, the two children, dressed and ready, came out of their rooms.
Quan Jiu laid out breakfast on the table. After the three of them had eaten, at seven forty, Quan Jiu took the children out and headed towards the kindergarten.
On the way, Tu Tu said to Quan Jiu, "Mom, today's sweet potato cakes were delicious. I want to eat them again tomorrow."
Quan Jiu smiled helplessly. "Today's breakfast was made by the grandpa next door. When we get home tonight, we need to thank Grandpa properly."
Mi Mi and Tu Tu were both surprised. The siblings exchanged glances, looking very pleased.
Mi Mi said, "Grandpa used to say he liked to cook, but unfortunately, no one ate it. Now someone finally does."
Quan Jiu's heart ached a little. "Does Grandpa really like to cook?"
"He likes it a lot," Tu Tu exaggerated with gestures.
Quan Jiu fell silent. If this was the elderly gentleman's wish and preference, she really couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"Mom, just let Grandpa do what he likes. That way, you won't have to wake up so early anymore. Sleeping only six hours a day will ruin your health," Mi Mi said with concern. Her mother had always been busy, taking care of her and her brother while also managing her work, constantly like a donkey pushing a millstone.
Tu Tu quickly added, "Then you can sleep until seven twenty to wake up, and there will be breakfast ready for you. How wonderful."
Faced with her son and daughter's earnest persuasion, Quan Jiu could only tell herself with a troubled heart: I'll prioritize the elderly gentleman's feelings for now.
After dropping the two children off at kindergarten, Quan Jiu drove directly to the company.
The company was much livelier than usual. The twenty-person public relations team was all present, constantly answering phones, and the keyboards were clacking away as if it were a year-end competition to hit KPIs.
Quan Jiu walked past the office area, greeted all the busy and enthusiastic staff, and then slipped into her office, taking out Shen Lu's information.