Chapter 21: A Bowl of Clear Broth Noodles
Chapter 21: A Bowl of Clear Broth Noodles
As a child from a rural background, Jerry had mastered various household chores and farm work at a young age in his previous life.
After graduating from university and staying in the city to work, he mostly cooked his own meals.
It wasn't because he thought the food outside was unclean or unhygienic—kids from the countryside didn't care about that. It was simply because cooking at home could save him nearly half the cost compared to eating out.
With the rise in prices, relying solely on eating out in the city would cost at least thirty dollars a day for three meals, and that was just for average food.
If he wanted to indulge in more meat, it would likely cost around forty dollars.
By buying and cooking his own ingredients, especially from the market where he could haggle, he could make thirty dollars last for two days with a very decent diet.
"Poor children grow up fast!"
This phrase was originally meant to praise poor children for being more sensible and hardworking than their wealthier counterparts.
However, in reality, it wasn't something to be proud of.
Children being overly sensible and well-behaved most of the time was often a result of the harsh realities of life, forcing them to be responsible and mature.
Who wouldn't want to be pampered and spoiled?
The life of a poor person was already tough enough. There was the pressure of school, the pressure of work, the pressure of marriage, and the pressure of aging.
The only period of their life that should be free of pressure and full of happiness—childhood—was often cut short by the need to "grow up fast."
This was a very real depiction of Jerry's previous life.
While he wasn't a master chef, he was quite skilled at making home-cooked dishes.
As someone with an adult's soul, he was unwilling to accept Hass's care and attention without contributing. He took on tasks he could manage, such as cooking, housework, and taking care of Elsa.
Of course, part of the reason was that Hass was a typical roughneck.
If Jerry didn't clean up, the house would be a mess within two days, which would give him, with his slight Ocd, a headache.
As for cooking, well, the food Hass made was so bad that even stray cats wouldn't touch it if it were thrown out in the neighborhood.
It's easy to imagine how terrible their meals were during the time Jerry couldn't cook!
"Elsa likes noodles, so I'll make a bowl of clear broth noodles for breakfast!"
Jerry wasn't too fond of certain Western foods, so except for school days when he needed to save time by making Western-style breakfasts, he usually prepared Chinese breakfasts on weekends or during the summer break.
As for whether Hass and Elsa would be uncomfortable with Chinese food, it wasn't a big issue.
While they didn't like all Chinese dishes, there were plenty of options they enjoyed, such as clear broth noodles, Kung Pao chicken, Sichuan boiled fish, sweet and sour pork, and sweet and sour shredded pork.
Hass had once asked Jerry why he knew how to cook so many Chinese dishes. Jerry calmly placed the Chinese cuisine cookbook he had bought from Chinatown in front of Hass.
"Jerry, you're up so early again. It's summer break, you could sleep in a bit more. Dad can order takeout for breakfast!"
As Jerry was taking the necessary ingredients from the fridge, the still-sleepy Hass began to get ready.
As a police chief, Hass didn't have a summer break. He still had to go to work to handle the aftermath of yesterday's bank robbery.
Jerry turned on the gas stove as he replied,
"Nothing to worry about, I'm used to it. Once you're done, you can go wake Elsa up. We're having noodles for breakfast today, and they won't be as good if they get cold!"
"Noodles? Oh, great, I love noodles!"
After quickly tidying himself up, Hass headed to Elsa's room.
Waking up this little one to eat wasn't an easy task, and Hass was sure he would have to put in some effort.
"Elsa, get dressed and come down for breakfast!"
"Death God Hass, you won't take me, the Ice Queen, away from my castle! Take this: Frost Void Ice Lance!"
"Ouch!"
Hearing the sounds of their intense battle from inside the room, Jerry couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
He heated the pan, added some cold oil, and cracked three eggs into it. Once the eggs were set, he flipped them and fried them until both sides were golden brown. He then added pre-boiled hot water, and the golden eggs, when hit by the hot water, released a milky, fragrant, and delicious broth.
When the water in the pot boiled again, he removed the eggs and divided them into three portions. He then added the noodles, along with a few pre-picked baby greens.
While the noodles were cooking, he took out three bowls and added an appropriate amount of soy sauce, aged vinegar, salt, chopped green onions, and, most importantly, lard.
He added more water to the noodles, brought them to a boil again, and then poured the broth into the three bowls. He then placed the noodles, eggs, and baby greens into the bowls, completing a bowl of clear, refreshing, and flavorful clear broth noodles.
By this time, Hass had finally dragged the reluctant Elsa out of her room. Yes, he literally picked her up by the collar of her shirt and carried her out, making sure she brushed her teeth and washed her face.
"My favorite noodles!"
Seeing that breakfast was her favorite noodles, Elsa immediately exclaimed with joy.
"Eat up, they'll get cold if you wait too long!"
Jerry ruffled Elsa's messy hair.
"Seriously, Jerry, if you ever open a Chinese restaurant, it would definitely do great business. These noodles are much better than what I've had in Chinatown!"
Hass took a bite of the noodles with his fork and couldn't help but praise them.
"Maybe, but I think I'll pass. Cooking is just a survival skill for me, not a hobby."
Cooking was just a survival skill for Jerry, not something he was passionate about.
"So, what do you think you want to do in the future? Scientist, police officer, lawyer, or maybe an entrepreneur?"
Hass took a large sip of the soup.
In Hass's eyes, a child as outstanding as Jerry was a rarity, and he believed that if Jerry wanted to, he could excel in any of these professions.
Upon hearing this, Jerry was taken aback for a moment.
Scientist, police officer, lawyer, entrepreneur—thanks to his past life experience, the enhanced learning ability from the Little Red Stars, and his magical abilities, these once-aspired professions seemed easily attainable in this life.
But, were these really what he wanted?
In his past life, he had aspired to these professions not because he loved them, but because they offered good salaries and benefits, which were out of reach for a regular worker like him who had no connections and was not good at socializing.
But in this life, he didn't have to worry about money. So, what did he really want to be and do in the future?
"I haven't really thought about it yet. We'll see when I grow up!"
Jerry put down his chopsticks and smiled as he gave his answer.
Indeed, he hadn't really decided yet. At least for now, he didn't have any specific goals. He just wanted to become stronger and protect Hass and Elsa, ensuring they wouldn't be harmed in the future.
(End of Chapter)
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