Chapter 64 - 64 Cooking for Huo Chen

He thought of it and promptly flicked his finger against Xu Ying’s forehead.

Xu Ying, wincing in pain, touched her head, “Huo Chen, what are you doing?”

Huo Chen realized what he did and apologized with a desperate face, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Xu Ying glared at him, said nothing, turned around and went into the kitchen to start bustling around.

When it came to Huo Chen, she was not the least bit polite, “Come here and chop this hare into small pieces for me.”

Feeling guilty, Huo Chen hurriedly ran in and quickly chopped up a four to five pound hare, then he looked at Xu Ying and asked, “Is there anything else I can help with?”

“Light the fire,” Xu Ying commanded.

Upon hearing it, Huo Chen quickly grabbed the matches and lit the stove.

Xu Ying placed the pan on the fire, and as the oil heated up, she added spices, followed by the hare meat, filling the air with a pungent chili smell.

“Achoo, achoo, achoo,” Huo Chen sneezed several times, twisting his head to look at the unaffected Xu Ying, his eyes filled with admiration, “Doesn’t it irritate your nose?”

Xu Ying smirked proudly, “Don’t forget what I do.”

Huo Chen didn’t understand; even chefs should be bothered by the smoke, right?

Xu Ying was hugely amused. The system really came in handy as it activated a barrier mode on her, she couldn’t smell even a hint of chili.

As for Huo Chen, he kept sneezing one after another, and in no time, his healthy wheat-colored complexion turned bright red.

Xu Ying felt incredibly satisfied.

As the rich aroma spread through the air, Granny Huo woke up from the bed, and drawn by the smell, she came out, “Huo Chen, what delicious dish did you make? It smells so good! It even kept this old woman from sleeping!”

Huo Chen forced a smile, seeing his granny’s demeanor, he really didn’t feel like talking.

“Yo, isn’t this the captain’s daughter? What brought you here to our house?” Granny Huo said in astonishment.

Xu Ying’s sparkling eyes met Granny Huo’s, “Granny Huo, you’re awake. Are you feeling OK?”

Granny Huo laughed heartily, “What can be wrong? Just a slight cold, it’ll pass; this boy insisted on taking me to the doctor. Isn’t that just a waste of money? Ah, how kindly foolish this boy is!” Granny Huo spoke proudly as she looked at her grandson.

Initially, when she had found Huo Chen, everyone laughed at her, choosing to nurture a child over her own son was like raising a wolf cub.

Everyone said wolves are cold-blooded and unemotional beasts, and Huo Chen, having grown up with Old Hui, must also be an ingrate.

But now, Granny Huo felt immensely proud of her foresight.

This boy was far more filial than her own sons.

Xu Ying could see her boasting, but Huo Chen truly was a filial child, and she followed with praise, “Exactly, who else in our village would willingly spend money on a doctor? We just tough it out, it’s only Huo Chen who really cares about you.”

Granny Huo loved to hear others praise her grandson, her lips could hardly close as she beamed at Xu Ying, “Xu Family daughter, what brings you here?”

“Huo Chen saved me before. I saw you were sick today and figured you wouldn’t have time to cook dinner this late, so I came to help out.”

Granny Huo nodded, and even though her hair was all white, her mind was still sharp. She glanced at her grandson’s lopsided smile and knew instantly, like looking into a clear mirror.

“Dinner’s ready, let’s eat,” Xu Ying called out as she began to serve the dishes.

Huo Chen reached for the dish, just as Xu Ying also reached out, their fingertips touched, and they both withdrew their hands instantly.

Xu Ying felt a bit awkward for a moment but quickly said, “Then you go ahead and hold it.”

Huo Chen nodded, his ears turning red down to his neck.

Granny Huo, oblivious, smiled as she smelled the rabbit meat brought by her grandson, “This spice is just right, I love it just from the scent.”

“Granny Huo, you shouldn’t eat that, you’ve just recovered. Have some chicken soup to nourish your body,” Xu Ying said.

She had originally wanted to make Mandarin Duck Chicken, but considering that Granny Huo had just had a cold, she switched to chicken soup.

Granny Huo was unhappy upon hearing this and exclaimed, “It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m feeling strong. A little bit won’t hurt.”

As she reached for the rabbit meat, Huo Chen caught her hand, “Granny, just have the chicken soup.”

“That won’t do, the smell alone is delicious, and who knows if there will be another chance to eat this later,” Granny Huo protested.

As Huo Chen and she were at a standoff, Xu Ying couldn’t help but laugh, “Granny Huo, I’ll come and cook for you again next time, there’s no rush this time.”

Granny Huo then complied and took a sip of the chicken soup, squinting her eyes in approval, “Yingying, your cooking skills are truly great. I never thought I’d get to drink such delicious chicken soup in my lifetime.

People outside really talk nonsense. I see Yingying as a diligent girl who can cook well, yet they still talk nonsense, saying you’re lazy and can’t do anything.”

Xu Ying felt a bit guilty when she heard this, as she used to be just like that.

However, she couldn’t very well speak ill of herself, so she followed up, “Isn’t that so?

Those people just love to gossip. Although my parents do spoil me a bit, I do cook at home.”

“Exactly, those people also badmouth our Huo Chen, but I think he’s a good kid.”

Xu Ying nodded, “I also think Huo Chen is good. He’s filial and capable, not at all as scary as everyone says.”

“Sigh, it’s all my fault as an old woman; otherwise, Huo Chen wouldn’t be criticized.”

Xu Ying quickly waved her hands, “Granny Huo, I think what Huo Chen did was absolutely right.”

Huo Chen paused his eating, surprised as he listened to Xu Ying continue.

“If it were me, I would have done the same as Huo Chen did. But those people simply lack the ability. Who would stand by and watch their loved ones being bullied?

If someone would, they’re either too cowardly or they simply don’t care.”

Huo Chen’s eyes sparkled, this was the first person besides his grandma to think he had done the right thing.

He didn’t think he was wrong about that situation, so he continued to be unapologetically himself. If being a good person meant watching his family suffer, then he’d rather be the bad guy.

“Thank you, Xu Ying,” Huo Chen said before he started gobbling down his meat.

Xu Ying hadn’t even had the chance to respond when the system’s voice rang out [Congratulations host, goodwill value +10, +10]

Xu Ying, thrilled, almost jumped up, “Why did it increase so much?”

If only she knew, she would have cooked more dishes and earned even more goodwill value.@@novelbin@@

[Not sure, System Level too low, unable to determine the cause.]

Useless!

Xu Ying cursed.

The system’s screen twisted and then disappeared.

Xu Ying looked at Huo Chen as if seeing a treasure, her gaze fixed intently on him.

Huo Chen, feeling embarrassed under her stare, didn’t know how to hold his chopsticks anymore, and a piece of rabbit meat fell onto the table with a plop.

Xu Ying laughed pleasingly, picking up a piece of rabbit meat for Huo Chen, “Oh dear, you’re so clumsy, eat slowly, I’ll make it again next time.”

In an instant, a fire that had extinguished in Huo Chen’s heart suddenly rekindled.