The Secret of the Yoga Club: The Women's Identity is Not Simple

"I heard your voice when Mom called," Niu Niu said, taking the lollipop out of her mouth and giving him a scrutinizing look. Then she took a piece of candy out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Here, have this. It's strawberry flavored. My mom says you have to be polite to people."

"Thank you." Lin Feng took it, unwrapped the candy, and put it in his mouth.

The strawberry flavor melts on the tongue, with a hint of artificial flavoring, but it's not unpleasant.

"My mom's cooking is so delicious," Niu Niu said in a low voice, glancing towards the kitchen. "But she doesn't usually cook much; she only makes this much when we have guests over."

"Then I'm in good luck today."

Niu Niu peeled one for herself, put it in her mouth, and her cheek swelled up again. The TV was turned back on, and the music from the cartoon started playing in the living room again. The cartoon characters on the screen began chasing each other on the grass, and the background music was so cheerful it was almost noisy.

The sound of spatulas in the kitchen continued for a while, mixed with the low voices of Ouyang Qian and the nanny, and the aroma of food wafted out from the kitchen one after another.

First came the aroma of braised sauce, then the refreshing spiciness of minced garlic, followed by the sweet and sour flavor of sweet and sour sauce, layer upon layer, filling the living room with the smell of food.

The nanny brought out a plate of braised fish and placed it on the table. The fish was scored, and the sauce glistened on the skin. "Be careful, it's hot," she warned, then turned back to get a plate of garlic broccoli, followed by stir-fried pork with green peppers. The pork slices were thin, and the edges of the green peppers were slightly charred, just right for cooking.

"This is so lavish, there's no way there's any more, is there?" Lin Feng couldn't help but ask as he looked at the ever-growing array of dishes on the table.

"There's more, please wait a moment." The nanny smiled and went back into the kitchen.

Spicy shrimp tails, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised carp... one dish after another was served. The sweet and sour pork ribs had a deep amber color, and the sauce clung to the bones with just the right consistency.

Finally, there was a large bowl of pork rib and corn soup, its broth thick and white, with corn pieces lying horizontally on top, steaming hot. The table was almost completely filled with nine dishes, the cups, bowls, spoons, and chopsticks reflecting the light, all neatly arranged.

Ouyang Qian came out of the kitchen, took off her apron and draped it over the back of the chair. A few beads of sweat glistened on her forehead; she wiped them away, glanced at the dishes on the table, and said, "Go wash your hands, dinner's ready. Niu Niu, turn off the TV."

This time, Niu Niu was very obedient. She turned off the TV, jumped off the sofa, and ran to the bathroom in her little slippers. The faucet ran for a while, and when she came out, her face was still wet. Ouyang Qian handed her a tissue, "Dry yourself off."

The three people sat down at the dining table.

Lin Feng picked up his chopsticks, glanced at the dishes on the table, and then looked at Ouyang Qian. Her mouth was still rolled up on her forearm, revealing a section of her wrist with a little soy sauce stain on it that she hadn't had time to wipe off.

"I never knew you were such a good cook." Lin Feng picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and put it in his mouth. The meat was stewed until tender and the meat easily separated from the bone. The sweet and sour sauce was perfectly balanced in terms of sweetness and sourness. It was sweet but not cloying, sour but not overpowering, and it was also just right, clinging to the meat without dripping down.

"I get used to it by doing it a lot when I'm at home and have nothing to do." Ouyang Qian picked up the wine bottle, poured herself a glass of red wine, and poured another glass for Lin Feng.

The liquor, a deep red, shimmered under the light as it hit the glass. "After eating so many boxed lunches at the office, I always have to cook myself a decent meal at home. Those boxed lunches, after a while, all taste the same in your mouth."

"Do you usually do it yourself?"

"Not every day," she said, putting down the bottle and twirling her finger on the stem of the glass. "I make more on weekends. Aunt Zhao makes it when I get off work late on weekdays. But I think hers isn't as good as mine."

Raymond Lam picked up another piece of pork rib. "This sweet and sour sauce is just right, better than what you get at restaurants. Seriously, if you ever decide you don't want to be a director anymore, you can come and be my personal chef."

Ouyang Qian picked up her wine glass, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

He drank with elegance, not in small sips or gulping it down, but by holding the glass by the rim and slowly bringing it to his lips, letting the red wine linger on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. "That depends on what price Mr. Lin is willing to pay; my fees are very high."

"Then name your price."

"Five percent of your company's shares."

Lin Feng chuckled. "Do you know how much five percent is worth?"

"So," Ouyang Qian smiled, raised her glass and clinked it against his, the glass making a crisp sound, "If President Lin wants to poach people, he has to show some sincerity." A thin layer of red wine clung to the glass, she swirled the glass and watched the wine slowly flow down.

Niu Niu sat next to me, not quite adept at using chopsticks yet. She tried twice to pick up a piece of pork rib. The rib was slippery, and the first time it slipped out of her chopsticks, falling back into the plate and splashing a small drop of sauce onto the table.

She wasn't annoyed. She picked up another piece and focused intently on eating, her mouth smeared with sauce. Ouyang Qian placed a piece of stir-fried vegetables in her bowl and wiped her mouth with a tissue. "Eat more vegetables, don't just eat meat."

"I like to eat meat," Niu Niu mumbled, still chewing on a rib.

"You need to eat meat, but you also need to eat vegetables. I've told you this so many times."

"Okay." Niu Niu poked at the vegetables in her bowl with her chopsticks, reluctantly picked them up and stuffed them into her mouth. She chewed them a couple of times and swallowed them. Then she reached for the sweet and sour pork ribs.

Lin Feng smiled as he watched the interaction between the mother and daughter, then picked up his wine glass and took another sip.

after eating.

Niu Niu yawned widely, her eyes squinting. She rubbed her eyes, almost getting sauce on her face, but Ouyang Qian grabbed her wrist and wiped it clean with a tissue.

"Go to sleep if you're tired. You have to get up early for tutoring tomorrow." Ouyang Qian put down her chopsticks and glanced at her.

"I want to watch TV for a while longer."

"No, it's so late." Her tone was gentle, but there was no room for negotiation. "You'll make a fuss again if you can't get up tomorrow morning."

The nanny came out of the kitchen, wiped her hands on her apron, and led Niu Niu towards the bedroom. After a few steps, Niu Niu turned back and waved to Lin Feng, "Bye-bye, Uncle. Next time you come to my house, I'll treat you to chocolate candy."

"Bye-bye, it's a deal." Lin Feng waved to her.

"It seems like she can never finish her candy," Ouyang Qian said with a smile, watching her daughter's retreating figure. "She can always pull something out of her pocket. Last time we went to the supermarket, she secretly stuffed five different flavored bags of candy into the shopping cart when I wasn't looking."

"Kids are all like that."

"Too."

……