Bai Da smiled and took the bowl, picking up a piece of potato. Hmm, it's cooked, although not as delicious as Bai Zhi's, it was indeed cooked.
"It's very tasty, Xixi. You're amazing. This is your first time cooking and it's already so delicious. When Bai Zhi first tried cooking, everything was burnt and inedible. In the end, we had to wash it in water over and over before it was barely edible."
How old was Bai Zhi back then? Probably six years old. None of them were at home. Little Bai Zhi stood on a stool, learning to cook and do housework all by herself.
"Really?"
Xixi looked up, her big eyes sparkling. It seemed like Bai Da's words gave her new confidence.
She believed in Bai Da so much.
Bai Da felt a warm feeling in his heart, Xixi was always as comforting as a little cotton-padded jacket, making his heart feel warm and cozy.
"Really, Xixi, it tastes great. And this fish mint, weren't you guys planning to sell it? How come you used it to make cold dishes? You worked so hard to dig it up, don't do this next time, okay?"
Bai Da felt a bit distressed. The three children dug up the fish mint under the scorching sun every day, and now they were eating it like this. It really pained him!
Xixi picked up a piece of meat and some more fish mint for Bai Da, a sweet smile on her face.
"Dad, I don't feel bad giving this to you. You're the one working hard to earn money. Tomorrow we'll sell the fish mint and buy wine for you, and some good food for sister. She needs nutrition because she's injured."
Xixi's cute demeanor made Bai Da even happier. He patted her little head, making her hair messy.
Xixi felt a bit frustrated, pouting and looking very aggrieved.
"Dad, my hair is all messed up! Dad, why don't you bring sister back? It's because of me that she got hurt. I feel so bad, and I miss her."
Sitting beside Bai Da, Xixi held his hand, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
Bai Da felt a bit troubled. He knew his father's temper—once a decision was made, it wouldn't change. Xixi was so well-behaved, and she said she missed Bai Zhi...
"Dad, Bai Zhi should come back home. Otherwise, we can't manage everything here. How can we keep digging fish mint? Even if she doesn't help us, she should at least keep the house tidy, right? And we're using the money we make to buy food for her anyway."
Bai Ye snorted coldly, speaking through gritted teeth while eating.
He was very angry with Bai Zhi this time. It was clearly her fault, yet she complained and made Xixi suffer.
Didn't they all fall and hurt themselves when they were kids?
Didn't everyone get back up after falling and bleeding? Yet, she was precious, going to their grandpa's house and getting two hundred yuan from Dad—that was their school tuition.
"Bai Ye!"
Bai Da slammed his chopsticks onto the bowl with a loud bang, scaring Xixi, making her shiver.
"Dad, you scared sister!"
Bai Yu frowned, looking at Xixi with concern.
Xixi quickly shook her head, tugging at Bai Da.
"Dad, don't be mad. Brother didn't mean it. He's just worried about you. We all know you work so hard to make money. You go lug cement every day. Dad, I can stop going to school, so you don't have to lug cement anymore."
Xixi's eyes glistened with tears as she looked at Bai Da with concern.
For Xixi, Dad brought her home, giving her a new family. Brother treated her well too. She was genuinely happy and wanted to do something for them. If her going to school made Dad work so hard, she would rather not go to school.
"Xixi, what silly things are you saying? You must go to school. All three of you must go to school. Only through education can you have a bright future and secure jobs, so you won't have to worry for the rest of your lives. Dad has the strength to handle this."
After comforting Xixi, Bai Da's gaze shifted to Bai Ye. He glared at Bai Ye, visibly angry.
"Bai Ye, you are also responsible for Bai Zhi's injury. You should know that your sister had to get several stitches on her forehead. She needs nutrition. How can you say that? She may have faults, and you can tell me, but you shouldn't talk about her like that. She is your sister, do you understand?"
Bai Da didn't want there to be a rift between them. Indeed, Bai Zhi was wrong this time, but that wasn't a reason for Bai Ye to speak about her like that.
It was his duty to earn money for their tuition. As their father, wasn't it his responsibility to pay for their schooling?
Whether it was Bai Ye, Bai Yu, or Xixi, it was all the same.
"Also, Bai Zhi is at grandpa's place to take care of him. Grandpa is old, and I can't take care of him, which is already unfilial. Bai Zhi helping me take care of him is also a good thing, understand?"
He didn't want the children to harbor a grudge because of the previous incident. How could there be overnight grudges between siblings?
They were the closest people to each other.
"Oh..."
Bai Ye replied indifferently, not wanting to discuss this issue further. He knew that neither he nor his father could convince the other. He was clear on one thing: if not for Bai Zhi, Dad wouldn't have to lug cement every day, and they wouldn't have to waste time cooking; they could earn more money.
"Brother, eat up,"
Xixi's innocent and lively demeanor as she served him made Bai Ye's face soften a bit.
It seemed that this slightly burnt food was actually quite delicious. Sometimes, changing flavors wasn't so bad.
...
Bai Zhi, of course, had no idea about Bai Ye's opinions of her. Even if she knew, she wouldn't care.
She was destined to reach the pinnacle of life and protect the heroine for a lifetime, which had nothing to do with her.
What she looked forward to most now was… getting up early tomorrow to make fries, sell all the green bean cakes and fries. If she sold everything, she would buy a braised duck to eat.
She saw that the braised ducks at that house looked pretty good. As a foodie, how could she not try it?
Why make money? Of course, to buy more delicious food!
...
When Bai Zhi woke up, she didn't know what time it was. The sky wasn't light yet, but it should be soon since the rooster was crowing.
Not having a clock was really inconvenient, but watches, whether wristwatches or digital ones, should be expensive now. She would get used to it,
In the future, when she earned money, she would buy a digital watch to keep track of time.
Ah, there were so many things she wanted to buy, but she had no money. It was truly a pity!
After lying down for a while, Bai Zhi quickly got up, started the stove, added oil, and fried the fries. Then she packed them into bags using oil paper.
When Bai Dan got up, Bai Zhi had already packed everything and was snoozing on the small dining table in the kitchen. There was even breakfast she cooked in the pot, tomato and egg noodles—one egg, one tomato, cooked into a tomato and egg soup, then added the noodles.
The noodles fully absorbed the tomato and egg soup's flavor, making them taste particularly delicious. Lastly, she sprinkled some chopped green onions, and the flavor was wonderful.
Bai Dan felt a bit distressed. What time did Xingxing get up? She had slept deeply because she was tired last night, but this shouldn't continue.