Chapter 419: I Only Have One Daughter, and I Hope She Can Get Married in the Capital City

Chapter 419: I Only Have One Daughter, and I Hope She Can Get Married in the Capital City

In the afternoon.

In the Capital City's Finance Department residential complex.

In the two-bedroom apartment, Deng Yunshong and Pei Qinghua were preparing dinner.

Since they officially started dating, although most of the time they still ate out, they would occasionally buy some ingredients to cook at home when they had the time.

Although both were mediocre cooks, cooking could be a tedious task, but it could also be a romantic activity. It all depended on the mindset while cooking and whether one was cooking alone or with a companion.

In short, for Deng Yunshong and Pei Qinghua, cooking together was a romantic activity, and the taste of the food was secondary.

At this moment, Pei Qinghua was in charge of the kitchen, and she was planning to make a simple fried egg, while Deng Yunshong was watching and occasionally giving suggestions.

Once the oil was hot, Pei Qinghua cracked an egg into the pan, and it started sizzling. After a few seconds, she said, “Should we flip the egg now?”

Deng Yunshong, watching from the side, nodded and said, “I think it’s ready to flip!”

Pei Qinghua tried to flip the egg with the spatula but found it stuck to the pan. She frowned and said, “Why is the egg sticking to the pan? And even the spatula is sticking! Is the egg bad?”

Deng Yunshong looked at the egg in the pan and said, “It shouldn’t be. The egg looks fresh.”

Pei Qinghua had already mashed the egg to a pulp, and while mashing, she said, “If the egg wasn’t bad, why would it stick like this? I’ve seen my mom fry eggs, and they never stick!”

Deng Yunshong was also puzzled and said, “It’s indeed strange. I’ve seen my dad fry eggs, and they never stuck either, let alone to the spatula.”

Pei Qinghua transferred the fried egg to a plate and said, “I’ll try again. If the next egg sticks too, it must not be the egg’s fault.”

She added a bit more oil, waited for it to heat up, and cracked another egg into the pan.

When trying to flip the egg, the familiar feeling returned, and the egg stuck to the pan again, along with the spatula, which was quite uncomfortable.

Pei Qinghua frowned at the mashed egg and said, “what’s going on here? Is there something wrong with the pan or the spatula?”

Deng Yunshong laughed and said, “What could be wrong with the pan and the spatula?”

Pei Qinghua looked frustrated and said, “then what’s going on?”

Deng Yunshong shook his head and said, “I don’t know either. If the egg and the pan and spatula are fine, the problem must be in the cooking technique. I’ll call my dad after dinner; he should know what’s going on.”

Pei Qinghua, somewhat awkwardly, said, “When you ask, make sure to say you can’t fry eggs, not me. I don’t want to lose face in front of your uncle.”

Deng Yunshong laughed and said, “What’s the big deal? Not knowing how to cook is normal. No one says you have to know how to cook, and I’m no different!”

Pei Qinghua glanced at him and said, “You’re a man, but a girl who doesn’t know how to cook isn’t proud.”

Deng Yunshong said, “Alright, I won’t say you can’t cook. I’ll say I can’t.”

Pei Qinghua was satisfied and said, “That’s better. Since we can’t make a good fried egg today, let’s make fried eggs instead.”

Deng Yunshong nodded and said, “Sure, whether it’s a fried egg or a fried egg, as long as it’s made by you, it’s a delicious meal to me.”

Pei Qinghua smiled and said, “You’re so sweet. If it doesn’t taste good, you’d better not complain.”

Deng Yunshong solemnly said, “I promise not to complain.”

...

A few minutes later.

Deng Yunshong was “enjoying” the fried eggs Pei Qinghua made. After a bite, he even scooped up a few mouthfuls of rice, looking like he was enjoying it.

Seeing this, Pei Qinghua smiled in satisfaction. It seemed that although the eggs didn’t look good, they tasted pretty well. She also reached for her chopsticks, ready to taste the eggs.

Deng Yunshong quickly stopped her, saying, “Qinghua, I’ll have this plate of eggs today. You eat the other dishes!”

Hearing this, Pei Qinghua’s heart sank, and her face fell. She said, “Tell me, how bad did it taste?”

“Uh...”

Deng Yunshong hadn’t expected her to react so quickly. She was indeed a brilliant graduate, quick-witted. Since he couldn’t hide it from her, he had to be honest. “Actually, the taste was pretty good, just a bit too salty.”

Pei Qinghua was annoyed and said, “I should have added enough soy sauce at first, and I shouldn’t have added salt later. I’ll taste it to see how salty it is.”

Seeing her reach for her chopsticks again, Deng Yunshong didn’t stop her this time.

The moment the egg hit her mouth, Pei Qinghua spat it out immediately. Deng Yunshong quickly brought water to her.

Pei Qinghua drank a large mouthful of water and looked at Deng Yunshong with a mix of emotion and concern. “You said you could enjoy such a salty egg. If I hadn’t tried it, would you have planned to finish the plate?”

Deng Yunshong laughed and said, “Actually, it’s not that bad. Just eat more rice to balance out the saltiness.”

Pei Qinghua coughed a couple of times and said, “I’ll practice more with the seasoning. It’s not a big deal if the dish isn’t tasty, but at least the saltiness should be right. Otherwise, eating my cooking would be a torture for you.”

Deng Yunshong said, “Let’s practice together. If it’s too bland, we can add more salt. If it’s too salty, we can eat more rice. After a few tries, I believe we can master it.”

Pei Qinghua resolved, “That’s right. I solved such difficult math problems during the college entrance exam. I don’t believe I can’t get the seasoning right.”

Just as they were talking, a knock came from the door.

Both of them exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the unexpected visitor at this hour.

Pei Qinghua whispered, “Quick, go open the door. Maybe someone has an urgent matter to discuss with you!”

Deng Yunshong nodded and got up to open the door.

When he opened it and saw who was outside, his eyes widened. “Dad, why are you here?”

Deng Shirong smiled and said, “I had nothing to do, so I brought some canned food over for you. Have you eaten yet?”

“I’m eating right now!”

Saying this, Deng Yunshong turned to call out, “Qinghua, my dad is here!”

Pei Qinghua walked over, a bit shy, and greeted, “Uncle Deng.”

Seeing Pei Qinghua, Deng Shirong greeted her with a full smile and then said, “Xiao Pei, I brought the beef jerky you like, as well as some new canned beef brisket and spicy crab. Xiao Song, help me bring them inside.”

Deng Yunshong then noticed the large burlap bags outside and helped carry them into the apartment.

Pei Qinghua, surprised, said, “Uncle Deng, why did you bring so many things? It must have been so inconvenient to carry them from so far away.”

Deng Shirong smiled, “It’s no problem. I just paid someone to help me carry them. It’s not a hassle at all.”

Deng Yunshong asked, “Dad, have you eaten yet? Let’s go out for a meal!”

Deng Shirong said, “No need to go out. I brought all these cans, and I have a few large steamed buns in my bag. We can just eat at home.”

Hearing this, Pei Qinghua gave Deng Yunshong a meaningful look, clearly wanting him to claim the dishes on the table as his own, so she wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of her future father-in-law.

Deng Yunshong, without showing any change in his expression, said, “Okay, let’s eat at home. Qinghua, clean up the dishes on the table. Today, we’ll try the cans Dad brought. They’re much better than my cooking.”

“Sure.”

Pei Qinghua responded and then cleared away the two failed dishes, leaving only the two bowls of white rice.

Deng Shirong didn’t stop her. He knew the dishes weren’t good just by looking at them. Whether his son or his future daughter-in-law made them was unimportant. He opened his bag and took out five steamed buns.

Then, he opened the burlap bags and took out a can of beef jerky, beef brisket, and spicy crab.

Sitting down at the table, Deng Shirong opened the cans one by one and said to Pei Qinghua, “Xiao Pei, try the beef brisket and spicy crab. This is my first time making them. If you like them, I’ll make more next time.”

“Thank you, Uncle Deng. I’ll try them.”

With that, Pei Qinghua picked up a piece of beef brisket and tasted it.

Deng Shirong looked at his son and said, “Xiao Song, the beef brisket tastes better when heated. Heat it up!”

Deng Yunshong handed his father the chopsticks and nodded, “Sure, I’ll heat it up.”

Pei Qinghua praised, “Uncle Deng, your cooking skills are amazing. The beef brisket is spicy and delicious, and it gets even better the more you chew. It’s just as good as the beef jerky!”

Deng Shirong smiled, “I’m glad you like it. When I canned the beef brisket, I added the original broth used for stewing. This broth is excellent for mixing with noodles or rice. Don’t waste it.”

Pei Qinghua nodded in agreement, praising, “You really know your food, Uncle Deng!”

Deng Shirong laughed, “My greatest hobby is figuring out how to cook. Try the spicy crab.”

Pei Qinghua responded and picked up a piece of spicy crab to taste. The flavor did not disappoint her. It was fresh, spicy, fragrant, and crispy. Once she took a bite, she wanted more. It was a delicious treat that no food lover could resist.

“It’s really delicious!”

Pei Qinghua kept praising while eating. Compared to the over-salted fried eggs, the spicy crab was truly a heavenly delicacy.

Soon, Deng Yunshong also brought the heated beef brisket to the table.

Food is a strange thing. Some dishes taste better cold, while others are more delicious when hot.

And there was no doubt that the beef brisket belonged to the latter. The aroma of the heated beef brisket was fully unleashed, filling the entire house with its fragrance, making everyone’s appetite soar and eager to taste how delicious the dish was.

Spared from further words, Deng Yunshong and Pei Qinghua couldn't stop eating.

After finishing the meal, Deng Yunshong, still yearning for more, said, “Dad, your cooking really hits the spot.”

Pei Qinghua also nodded in agreement, “Uncle, your skills aren’t just hitting the spot for him; anyone who eats it will be satisfied. You are truly at the level of a master chef.”

Hearing this, Deng Shirong couldn't help but smile. For someone who loved cooking, the greatest enjoyment was seeing the dishes he made being greatly appreciated. This was a very fulfilling feeling. In his previous life, his culinary skills were already excellent, and after being reborn, he had spent the past decade refining his techniques, bringing his cooking to a whole new level.

Now, to say it without exaggeration, his cooking was truly on par with professional chefs. In some dishes he specialized in, even chefs couldn't compare to him.

After a few more praises, Deng Yunshong couldn't resist asking, “Dad, I have a question. When I was frying eggs earlier, for some reason, the eggs kept sticking to the pan, even the spatula stuck. I couldn’t even make a simple fried egg. What’s going on?”

Pei Qinghua also perked up, as she was also puzzled. She had seen her mother fry eggs effortlessly, so why did the eggs misbehave when she tried?

Deng Shirong laughed and said, “Frying eggs sticking to the pan is due to a lack of technique. Solving this problem is actually quite simple.”

Deng Yunshong asked, “Dad, what should I do to prevent sticking?”

Deng Shirong explained, “First, heat the clean pan until it starts to smoke, then add some oil and use the spatula to spread the oil around the pan. Once the pan is well-oiled, pour out the hot oil and add cold oil. This way, the eggs won’t stick.”

Deng Yunshong was surprised, “Is it that simple?”

“Just that simple.”

Deng Shirong nodded and said, “If you’re worried about doing it right, repeat the process twice. Heat the cold oil added the second time, then pour it out, and add cold oil for the third time. At this point, no matter how you fry the eggs, they won’t stick.”

Deng Yunshong realized, “I see, I understand now!”

Deng Shirong added, “It’s not just for frying eggs. If you’re worried about any dish sticking, you can do this. It ensures that the pan is well-lubricated before cooking, making the dish both non-stick and more delicious.”

Deng Yunshong excitedly said, “I’ll try it next time.”

Pei Qinghua also looked enlightened. She had learned a useful trick today, and now she wouldn’t have to worry about her dishes sticking to the pan.

After chatting a bit more about cooking, Deng Shirong brought up the main topic, “Qinghua, now that the two of you are dating, I think it’s time to meet your parents and talk things over. Is that convenient?”

Though a bit shy, Pei Qinghua still responded, “Of course, I’ll call my mom right away.”

Deng Shirong said, “The time and place can be arranged by your parents. I’m a free man with plenty of time, so I don’t want to interfere with your father’s work.”

Pei Qinghua replied, “Alright, I’ll let them know.”

After a bit more small talk, it was getting late, and Pei Qinghua got up to leave.

Deng Shirong said, “Xiao Song, see Xiao Pei out.”

Deng Yunshong responded and then went out with Pei Qinghua.

After they left, Deng Shirong began to think about what to discuss when meeting Pei Qinghua’s parents.

His trip to the Capital City was just a stopover. His ultimate destination was the soon-to-be-dissolved old superpower, thousands of miles away.

This year, the old superpower was to announce its dissolution, a period of domestic turmoil. Deng Shirong planned to take advantage of this time to slip in and use his system space to plunder ruthlessly.

Yes, plunder. Deng Shirong didn’t intend to go the barter route but to directly leverage his advantages for the greatest profit.

Of course, his targets would be selective. He wouldn’t go after everyone.

The first target was the old superpower's state assets. After all, the old superpower wasn’t a good actor. Over the decades, while it had helped them, it had also greatly harmed their interests, even planning a surgical nuclear strike against them. Therefore, Deng Shirong felt no guilt in plundering.

The second target was to take advantage of the chaos. During this turbulent period, many people would try to profit by embezzling state assets. If he encountered something useful or suitable for resale, Deng Shirong wouldn’t hesitate to take it.

In short, this trip to the old superpower was intended to make him rich in one fell swoop.

...

In the residential complex of a certain ministry.

After dinner, Pei Qinghua’s father went to the living room to brew tea, preparing to watch the news broadcast on the national channel.

In the residential complex of a certain ministry.

After dinner, Pei Qinghua’s father went to the living room to brew tea, preparing to watch the news broadcast on the national channel.

Pei Qinghua’s mother had just tidied the dishes and was walking to the living room when the phone rang suddenly.

Pei Qinghua walked over and answered the phone, “Hello, Mom!”

On the phone, came her daughter Pei Qinghua’s voice, “Mom, it’s me, have you eaten yet?”

Pei Qinghua’s mother laughed and said, “I just finished eating. Have you eaten yet?”

Pei Qinghua said, “I have eaten too. I called you because there was something I wanted to discuss.”

Pei Qinghua’s mother asked, “What is it?”

Pei Qinghua replied, “Deng Uncle mainly came to the Capital today, to meet and discuss things with you.”

Pei Qinghua’s mother was surprised, “Xiao Song’s father suddenly came? Is it to discuss your and Xiao Song’s marriage?”

Pei Qinghua continued, “Deng Uncle mainly came to bring us canned food. He personally made a lot of canned beef jerky, new canned beef brisket, and spicy crab. I just tasted them, and they are no less delicious than the beef jerky.

Since Deng Uncle came to the Capital, he must want to meet you all. After all, I am the object of Xiao Song’s marriage, he also knows about it.”

Pei Qinghua’s mother said, “Alright, let’s meet then. I am quite curious about this Deng Uncle, a genuine countryside man who taught a son who passed the college entrance exams for Peking University and Tsinghua University, which is quite impressive.”

Pe Qinghua replied, “Then it’s settled for this Sunday?”

Pei Qinghua’s mother nodded, “Yes, this Sunday then!’

Pei Qinghua asked, “Mom, where are we meeting?”

Pei Qinghua’s mother asked, “Has Deng Uncle mentioned where to meet?”

Pei Qinghua replied, “Not yet, Deng Uncle said let’s decide the time and place.”

Pei Qinghua’s mother pondered for a moment and then said, “Let’s meet at noon on Sunday at Lai Fu Restaurant!’

Pei Qinghua agreed, “Alright, I understand.”

After a few more words, the two of them hung up the phone.

Pei Qinghua’s father heard the conversation and sighed when he hung up the phone, he then remarked, “Seems like our daughter is about to get married soon!”

Pei Qinghua’s mother said, “The man’s family has come to the Capital to discuss their daughter’s marriage with Xiao Song. What do you think about it?”

Pei Qinghua’s father replied, “What can there be to think? Xiao Song is no longer a child. Since we all think Xiao Song is excellent, it is only right to discuss the marriage at this stage.”

Pei Qinghua’s mother nodded, “Yes, it’s better to decide on the wedding date first and then hear what they think. But let’s talk about it now.”

...

In no time, it was Sunday.

After breakfast, Pei Qinghua took the first step to visit her parents.

While Deng Shirong and his son waited until 10 a.m., then carried the cigarettes and gifts to the agreed restaurant.

After settling in the booth, Deng Shirong and his son drank tea in the restaurant’s first-floor lounge while waiting for Pei Qinghua’s parents to arrive.

After about twenty minutes, the three of them arrived.

After a brief introduction and exchange, there was no need for more words.

Returning to the agreed booth, they exchanged greetings and then placed the dishes.

After the waiters left the booth, they politely chatted.

This conversation made Pei Qinghua’s parents realize that the genuine countryside man in front of them was not at all simple, and in the face of Pei Qinghua’s father, such a high official, they felt no restraint, as if he were just a passerby instead of a ministry’s gatekeeper.

Another was the other’s presence and insight, which also surprised Pei Qinghua’s parents.

In short, in less than ten minutes, Deng Shirong overturned their initial impression.

Quickly, the dishes started coming, and everyone continued to eat and chat.

When they were almost finished eating, Deng Shirong spoke up, “Relatives, I came to the Capital this time to meet and discuss Xiao Song and Qinghua’s marriage.”

Upon arrival, Pei Qinghua’s parents looked at him, and his intentions matched their guesses.

Pei Qinghua’s mother opened, “Relatives, what do you think?”

Deng Shirong replied, “I’ll be straightforward. They love each other freely, and you as parents have not disapproved of Xiao Song’s conditions. My suggestion is to set the wedding date, not knowing if your side has any requirements?”

Pei Qinghua’s mother said, “We do have one.”

Deng Shirong said, “Please tell, then. Whatever the requirements are, as long as I can meet them, I will not back out.”

Pei Qinghua’s mother looked at her daughter and said, “We only have one daughter, and we hope she can get married in the Capital. Is that possible?”

...

Up to now, they have received thousands of tickets, with the support of their relatives.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end