"Tongtong, why are you suddenly thinking of cooking yourself? Is it that Dad and Grandpa's cooking doesn't suit your taste?" Liu Yifeng walked over, lifted Tongtong down, and quickly stirred the rice in the pot.
"I saw Grandpa and Dad working so hard to take care of me, so I wanted to make you a breakfast myself, but I failed. I'm sorry!" Tongtong looked a little sad.
Liu Yifeng looked at the distinct grains of rice and praised, "Tongtong hasn't failed. You've done so well on your first attempt at fried rice. You're already great, don't be so modest!"
However, his words were merely meant to comfort her, so Tongtong wasn't very happy about her dad's praise. "Dad, please don't comfort me. Look, this rice is so dark, and I didn't control the heat well. I can smell something burnt. It definitely can't be eaten."
"Dad isn't comforting you, it's really delicious. Dad likes fried rice with a bit of crispy bottom, that's how it tastes good. Also, when making egg fried rice, putting more soy sauce makes the color deeper, which looks more appetizing. Don't believe me, taste your own cooking later!"
Seeing her dad speaking so earnestly, a light finally appeared in Tongtong's eyes. "Dad, is everything you're saying true? I didn't fail?"
"Not only did you not fail, but you were very successful. The first time Dad made egg fried rice, *that* was a failure. Not only was the rice completely burnt, but it was also incredibly salty. In Grandpa's words, it was salty enough to sell to a salt merchant. And at that time, I was already eight years old. Tongtong, you're only three, and you've already made egg fried rice like this. That's truly amazing."
"Grandpa, is everything Dad said true?" Tongtong looked up at Liu Chunsheng.
Liu Chunsheng smiled and nodded. "Your dad is absolutely right. I even spanked him back then, telling him he was wasting food."
Hearing that his dad had been spanked, Tongtong couldn't help but giggle.
Seeing that Tongtong was no longer unhappy, Liu Yifeng said seriously, "Tongtong, your filial piety is felt by Grandpa and me. But you're still so young, a time when you need to be cared for. You don't need to go out of your way to cook for us. As long as you're happy every day, that's Grandpa's and my greatest wish."
"Your dad is right. You're still young, and cooking is something adults should do. Cooking involves lighting a fire, cutting vegetables, and pouring oil – these are all very dangerous actions. What if something unexpected happens during the process? That would endanger our lives. If you really want to cook for us, wait until you grow up, okay?" Liu Chunsheng added.
Tongtong nodded heavily. "Okay, then I'll listen to Dad and Grandpa and won't do these dangerous things."
"That's a good child. But Dad still thanks you for your thoughtful gesture. Dad will have two bowls of fried rice later." Liu Yifeng looked at the dark rice, thinking that whether it tasted good or not, he would eat more to not let down Tongtong's filial piety.
Seeing that the rice was no longer too moist, Liu Yifeng transferred the rice into a large iron basin and carried it to the dining table in the living room. Afterwards, the three of them stood in the backyard, brushing their teeth in perfect unison.
After brushing their teeth, it was time for breakfast.
The fried rice was still steaming. Liu Yifeng served each of them a bowl. Tongtong looked at the dark rice, always feeling it would taste terrible, so he hesitated to take a bite. Liu Yifeng and Liu Chunsheng, however, picked up their chopsticks and started shoveling rice into their mouths.
The fried rice tasted about as they expected – very strong soy sauce flavor, and a bit salty. But seeing Tongtong's expectant eyes, they immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
"Tongtong, this fried rice tastes really great, delicious!" Liu Yifeng's mouth was full of rice, and he looked very much like he was enjoying it. Liu Chunsheng wasn't good at expressing himself, he just kept shoveling rice into his mouth with his chopsticks.
Tongtong, seeing them eating so heartily, ate a bite with half belief. As soon as it entered his stomach, he couldn't help but spit it out, his little face wrinkled like a bun. "It's so bad!"
"Dad lied! This is clearly very bad. I knew you were just comforting me."
"Dad didn't lie, I genuinely think it's delicious!" Liu Yifeng said, and then took another large mouthful. But Tongtong had tasted it himself and didn't believe his dad's words. He stood up and stopped his dad and grandpa from eating.
"Dad, Grandpa, stop eating. This rice is so bad, you don't need to force yourselves to eat it just to make me happy. It will make you sick. I want to eat noodles now. Dad, please cook me some noodles!" Though he was young, his mind was remarkably mature.
"Tongtong, I genuinely think it's delicious. I can taste your love for Dad and Grandpa in this fried rice. It's incomparable to any delicacy from outside, and no amount of money can buy it," Liu Yifeng said sincerely.
Liu Chunsheng also nodded in agreement. "What your dad said is true. This is the most delicious egg fried rice Grandpa has ever had."
Tongtong was touched. He knew how bad his fried rice tasted, but seeing his dad and grandpa eating it so enthusiastically made him feel incredibly happy. He had shown his dad so many skills, yet his dad had never forced him to do anything for him, but simply loved him. And Grandpa too, though not good at expressing himself, always thought of him first when there was good food.
Liu Yifeng looked at Tongtong, who was on the verge of tears from emotion. He didn't want him to think that he was eating so heartily just because of his cooking. Instead, he wanted him to believe that his fried rice was indeed delicious. So, he called for Da Hei and Da Bai. Hearing their master's call, Da Hei and Da Bai ran into the living room from the backyard at lightning speed, wagging their tails frantically at Liu Yifeng. When their master called them during mealtime, it surely meant there would be food for them too.
Liu Yifeng stood up, carrying the basin of rice, and walked over to where their food bowls were. Then, he scooped two large spoonfuls into each bowl. "This is fried egg rice made by our little master Tongtong. Eat up!"
Da Hei and Da Bai, after hearing this, immediately buried their heads and began to eat. Perhaps they didn't have a sense of taste, unable to distinguish between good and bad, but they ate with great gusto.
"Tongtong, look how happily Da Hei and Da Bai are eating. Even if I could lie to you to comfort you, they are animals. Can they lie to you? Delicious is delicious, and bad is bad."
Tongtong watched the two dogs eating with relish and finally believed his dad. But why did it taste so bad when he ate it himself?
Liu Yifeng knew what Tongtong was thinking and said, "Tongtong, the reason you think it's not good is because you know you made it yourself, so your standards are a bit strict. You don't want to eat fried rice, do you? Then Dad will go cook you some noodles!" Liu Yifeng said and stood up, preparing to go back to the kitchen to make something else for Tongtong.
Tongtong didn't want to trouble his dad and quickly said, "Dad, don't bother. Tongtong wants to eat fried rice again." After saying that, he lowered his head and started eating his own egg fried rice. However, he still found the taste very unpleasant. But seeing his dad, grandpa, and Da Hei and Da Bai all eating so happily, he tried to overcome the taste and forced himself to eat it.
Soon, Da Hei and Da Bai finished the egg fried rice in their bowls and then quickly ran out of the yard, disappearing to do who knows what.
"Dad, why are Da Hei and Da Bai acting so strange today? They ran outside right after eating. Did something happen?" Tongtong asked, a little puzzled.
Liu Yifeng put down his chopsticks. "Tongtong, you and Grandpa keep eating. I'll go take a look!"