Gourmet Kindergarten

5:30 pm, Changlin Road University Town.

Even before the setting sun had faded, the food street was already bustling with activity.

The clanging of iron woks against iron spatulas, the sizzling of frying skewers in oil, mixed with the shouts of touts, created a sound that could practically shake your head off.

A mere 300 meters long, yet over a hundred stalls are crammed in—a feat comparable to the Spring Festival travel rush.

But even in this hellish environment, Lin Minghui's fried rice noodle stall has managed to maintain its leading position.

He didn't rely on location; he carved out a path to success purely through his skills.

After five years of running a stall, I've worn out three iron pots, and upgraded my equipment from tattered folding tables to fully custom-made stainless steel.

His reputation, like the patina on the bottom of a pot, only gets brighter with wear.

At this moment, the stall was surrounded by people.

All the faces were young—roommates sharing meals, couples hugging and kissing, and graduate students with messy hair who had just crawled out of the lab, all staring at the pot and swallowing hard.

"Boss, extra egg, extra sausage, extra spicy!"

"Thin rice noodles! Extra spicy! No scallions!"

"Mine's not ready yet?! I'm starving—"

Lin Minghui stood amidst the smoke and flames, not even looking up: "Queue up, don't rush us."

Toss the wok with your left hand and use a spatula with your right.

The pot is sizzling and boiling over high heat, the rice noodles tumbling and leaping in the hot oil, coated with amber-colored soy sauce, glistening and distinct.

With a flick of the spatula, the rice noodles were tossed half a meter high, then fell back to the bottom of the pot with precision, like a rainstorm, without a single strand sticking together.

Flowing like clouds and water, like a fish in water.

Just as this "master of stir-fried noodles" was radiating his powerful aura—

"dad!"

A childish howl pierced through the noisy, bustling atmosphere.

Lin Minghui paused for a moment, holding the shovel, and looked in the direction of the sound.

Then I saw his wife leading their son, squeezing through the crowd to get to this side.

The son's short legs moved incredibly fast, one hand held by his mother while the other was frantically waving at him.

"How did you two get here?"

Lin Minghui's aloof demeanor instantly shattered, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, making the shovel in his hand move a little lighter.

"Can't I come see you?" Lin Xi rolled her eyes at him and pushed her son forward. "This kid keeps asking for his dad after school."

The words had barely left his mouth—

"Holy crap, boss, is this your own son?"

"Your sister-in-law is so beautiful! And your son is so handsome!"

"Those small eyes are practically a carbon copy of the boss's, amazing!"

"The boss has great genes!"

College students who get into trouble never talk about martial ethics.

Surrounded by a group of tall people, the little guy wasn't intimidated at all. Instead, he puffed out his little chest and said in a clear and articulate voice:

"My name is Lin Zhuangzhuang! Thank you everyone for liking the rice noodles my dad makes!"

"Hahahaha—"

The whole place burst into laughter.

Lin Minghui was overjoyed. He pointed at his son with the shovel, then glanced at his wife, his eyes filled with undisguised pride.

The spatula was swung again with great force, the rice noodles soared beautifully into the air, and the aroma suddenly burst out.

"Damn, this skill is no joke..." A boy next to him stared in disbelief.

"Alright, alright, if you keep flattering me, I'll get too cocky." Lin Minghui said modestly, but he was secretly pleased.

Lin Xi ignored his arrogance, smiled, silently put on an apron, stood to the side, and skillfully handed him a takeout box.

One cooks, the other prepares; the husband-and-wife team works together seamlessly.

"Wife and son, are you hungry?"

As Lin Minghui tossed the wok, he shouted, "After I finish cooking for this handsome guy, I'll immediately make two of your signature dishes for you and your son!"

The words were spoken with extreme concern.

But beneath this concern, he harbored a burning anger.

This morning, the mother and daughter stabbed him in the heart—they actually said that the kindergarten director's cooking skills were better than his.

How could he, the undisputed king of fried noodles on Changlin Road, lose to a kindergarten principal with a child?

joke!

Today, this pot of noodles must be served to get revenge and wipe away the shame!

however--

His son responded by silently taking half a step back.

The little head shook like a rattle.

"Dad, I don't want to eat."

"Honey, I'm not hungry either," his wife said expressionlessly, delivering a precise and scathing remark.

"what?"

Lin Minghui was stunned. The shovel was hanging in mid-air, and the flames were still burning at the bottom of the pot.

"It's so late, why aren't you hungry? Son, why don't you want the noodles Dad made?"

Zhuangzhuang nodded his little head thoughtfully.

His tone was three parts helplessness, three parts world-weariness, and four parts nonchalance.

"I'm just tired of it."

I'm tired of it.

Three words, each one piercing to the heart.

Lin Minghui felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

"...So what do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you, fried chicken? Coke? Pizza? French fries?"

"No, no, no," the little one said, counting on his chubby fingers, his eyes shining brighter as he counted. "I want to eat the sweet and sour pork, steamed shrimp with garlic and vermicelli that the headmaster makes, and crispy pork tenderloin and cumin pork tenderloin that I've never tried before..."

It's like reciting a menu; it just won't stop.

As he spoke, he swallowed hard.

Lin Minghui's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

I rely on!

Why is it the headmaster again?

So you can't get over this hurdle, are you?!

"Hahaha……"

Zhang Qian, a college student who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But after laughing, he paused for a moment.

To make a six or seven-year-old remember so many dish names and look so hungry, his eyes shining like he'd seen his own father...

What kind of divine flavor must that be?

"Little friend, are those dishes you're talking about really that delicious?"

Zhuangzhuang nodded vigorously, his eyes shining like two little light bulbs: "Delicious! Especially delicious! The sweet and sour pork is sweet and sour, and it's crunchy when you bite into it, but still soft inside! The garlic and vermicelli steamed shrimp has vermicelli that soaks up all the broth, and I always finish the vermicelli first!"

As he talked, he made himself hungry and smacked his lips.

The girls nearby listened in a daze.

"Wow, this kid's got some skills! His descriptive abilities... are on par with food bloggers!"

"Damn it, I'm actually getting horny just listening to it..."

"..."

Zhang Qian's interest grew even stronger, and he raised an eyebrow:

"Little one, how does it compare to the rice noodles your dad makes?"

That's a tricky question.

And attack their hearts!

Zhuangzhuang tilted his little head and thought about it seriously.

Lin Minghui gripped the shovel tightly and pricked up his ears.

"Dad's rice noodles are delicious..."

Lin Minghui had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard his son slowly utter the second half of the sentence:

"But it's not as good as the dishes the headmaster makes."

Lin Minghui: "..."

"Lin Zhuangzhuang, you?!"

"Oh dear~" Lin Xi quickly tried to smooth things over, "Honey, don't be angry. Actually, Zhuangzhuang isn't wrong..."

Lin Minghui's face darkened even more.

Honey, whose side are you on?!

Zhang Qian, the culprit, chuckled, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and deliberately added another blow:

"Little one, how does this dish, which tastes even better than your dad's stir-fried noodles, compare to 'Wangjianglou' restaurant around our university town?"

The moment these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.

Wangjiang Tower!

This is a long-established local restaurant, an absolute must-visit for college students in the university town to have gatherings during holidays!

The craftsmanship is superb, and the prices are affordable, making it unrivaled in the surrounding food scene.

Now, there's no comparison, is there?!