Chapter 239: It Smells So Good!

Chapter 239: Chapter 239: It Smells So Good!

However, immersed in his own joy, Ling Qianfan remained entirely oblivious to his mother and sister’s inner thoughts. He gave a hard sniff, his keen nose catching the fragrant wafts of seafood porridge drifting slowly from the kitchen. The tantalizing aroma acted like an invisible hand, gently plucking at his heartstrings.

He instinctively opened his mouth to speak, but to his surprise, his stomach beat him to it. It launched a loud protest, letting out a resounding GRUMBLE. As if set off by the rolling rumbles of Ling Qianfan’s stomach, Hua Buwan and Ling Qianjun’s bellies also began to chime in, drumming out a chorus of growls.

This sudden symphony immediately diverted Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge’s attention, right as they were about to ask their questions. The two quickly grabbed Hua Buwan and Ling Qianjun by the arms and hurried them toward the house, chattering non-stop along the way.

Xu Panqing affectionately looped her arm through Ling Qianjun’s, her tone incredibly gentle. "Come on, Qianjun! Yunge and I specially cooked up a pot of delicious seafood porridge for you all. We didn’t just add plump crabs; we threw in fresh, juicy shrimp, too. You have no idea how savory it is! Let’s get inside quickly so we can eat and have a good chat."

On the other side, Ling Yunge wore a matching bright smile as she clung to Hua Buwan’s arm. "Sister Buwan, besides the porridge, Mother and I also fried up some crispy, tasty fish! You have to eat a lot of it later. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you—I even ran up the mountain myself to pick some fresh wild toon shoots. Then I bought a few free-range eggs from a neighbor. The scrambled eggs we made with those shoots taste absolutely incredible!"

Hearing this, Ling Qianjun smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Sounds great!" Hua Buwan softly replied. Before her voice even faded, the group quickened their pace and headed indoors.

Hua Buwan was eager to taste the wild toon shoots with scrambled eggs. Growing up, had she ever even eaten toon shoots before? She had never expected the mountains here to have them growing wild.

The moment they stepped through the door, Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge wasted no time. They swiftly brought out all the prepared food and carefully arranged it on the table. Seeing this, Hua Buwan, Ling Qianjun, and Ling Qianfan immediately stepped forward to lend a hand, setting out the bowls and chopsticks.

In no time at all, a rich and sumptuous feast was laid out before them. The mouthwatering aroma permeated the entire house, leaving everyone drooling.

"Come on, everyone, dig in. There’s no need to wait," Xu Panqing urged, gesturing for them to eat. She led by example, scooping up a bowl of seafood porridge for herself. The others promptly followed suit, ladling the porridge into their own bowls.

The seafood porridge had been simmering on the stove this whole time, so it was still scalding hot. Hua Buwan didn’t rush to eat it. Instead, she picked up a bite of the toon shoots and scrambled eggs, curious to see what the plant tasted like. With just one bite, the unique flavor of the toon shoots perfectly blended with the richness of the eggs. Hua Buwan’s taste buds felt as if they had been ignited; she absolutely loved the taste.

Next, she picked up a piece of fried fish and took a bite. With a loud CRUNCH, the flavor practically exploded in her mouth! The fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The first bite broke through the crunchy exterior, and then the savory juices from the well-marinated meat burst forth. The fresh, umami flavor flooded her palate, leaving a lingering, endless aftertaste.

It was simply far too delicious!

Hua Buwan polished off the small fried fish in just a few bites. Even the deep-fried, crispy fish bones went straight into her stomach.