bookbashuk Chapter 16 A bento box sent to the Tang Dynasty
Chapter 16 A bento box sent to the Tang Dynasty
On the other side, the Li family mansion
After being supervised by Li Qi to finish her "run," Xiao Qingyi was now sprawled on the large sofa in the living room, looking like a little mushroom that had wilted in the sun.
She stretched her short legs with effort, then let them fall back down, her little face filled with utter despair: "Daddy... why can't I feel my legs anymore? Did they... did they run away by themselves?"
Li Qi stood to the side, pinching his brow. He was already used to his daughter's exaggerated acting. "Is that running? You shuffled around the fountain five times; even a tortoise could do that." He mercilessly exposed her, "Li Qingyi, that's called taking a walk. And you still have the nerve to say your legs aren't your own?"
He deliberately put on a serious face and made a solemn decision: "It seems the amount of exercise is far from enough. Starting tomorrow, add two more laps."
"No! No way!" These words struck like a bolt from the blue. Xiao Qingyi suddenly sat up in shock, her big eyes filled with accusatory tears, as if she were looking at the most cruel "tyrant" in the world.
She puffed out her cheeks, looking as angry as a little pufferfish, and declared with what she thought was great power, "If Daddy makes me run again... I'll get Grandpa to teach you a lesson!"
Li Qi raised an eyebrow, unmoved: "Even if you bring out the ancestors from our ancestral hall, they still have to run every single lap."
Humph! Bad daddy! Dictator! Little Qingyi mentally made a note of this in her little notebook.
However, the words "ancestor" acted like a small key, suddenly unlocking a corner of my memory. Oh right... it seems like it's been two days since I last visited that "very handsome ancestor."
Although the food at her grandparents' house tasted a bit strange, and the meat wasn't very tasty, he would still give her meat, ask for food when she said she was hungry, and tolerate her little tantrums when she didn't want to drink that weird-tasting milk. He would also hold her, even if his movements were a bit stiff, and play hide-and-seek with her behind the rockery for so long.
Thinking of this, Xiao Qingyi's "anger" towards her father was instantly replaced by a sense of eager anticipation. She stopped protesting and her little brain began to work quickly, calculating the best time for her next "visit" and... a gift.
.........
In the afternoon, an enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen. Chef Li was preparing ingredients for dinner when he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
"Uncle Li~"
A soft, sweet child's voice rang out. Chef Li looked down and saw his little princess looking up at him with her big, blinking eyes.
"Oh dear, young lady, are you hungry? Uncle will get you something delicious right away." Chef Li immediately smiled kindly and bent down.
Little Qingyi quickly shook her head, her little tuft of hair swaying as she said, "No, no! Uncle Li, can you make me some really delicious dishes now?"
"Delicious dishes?" Chef Li chuckled. "What would you like to eat, young lady? Just tell me."
"Hmm..." Xiao Qingyi thought seriously for a moment, trying hard to organize her thoughts, "I want fragrant, meaty, and delicious food!"
"Are you going to share this with your friends?" Chef Li understood; children always like to eat together. "Wait here, Uncle will make you some of his signature snacks. I guarantee you'll love them."
"No, no!" Xiao Qingyi shook her head like a rattle-drum. "It's not for the little one! It's...it's for my big silver friend! I don't want snacks, I want real rice, the kind with lots of meat!"
"Big friend?" Chef Li was slightly taken aback, then thought he understood—the young lady probably felt sorry for her father being "angry" by her in the morning, and wanted to make something to eat for the president at the company herself (although she was the one who said it, and her uncle did it), but was too embarrassed to say it directly, so she used "big friend" in a roundabout way.
"Okay, okay, Uncle understands." Chef Li's smile deepened, finding the little girl truly thoughtful and adorable. "Wait here, Uncle will make it for you right away, I guarantee it will be delicious and nutritious."
"Thank you, Uncle Li!" Little Qingyi immediately smiled sweetly and thanked him in a childish voice, using the manners her mother had taught her.
Before long, several carefully prepared, delicious-looking home-style dishes were packed into a multi-layered insulated lunchbox. Chef Li came out carrying the heavy lunchbox: "Young lady, your meal is ready."
Little Qingyi's eyes lit up instantly, like two little stars. She stretched out her two short arms: "Uncle Li, give me some! I'll take it myself!"
Chef Li looked at the rather heavy insulated container in his hand, then at Xiao Qingyi's thin arms, and said with a bit of worry, "Little Miss, this lunchbox is a bit heavy. It might be inconvenient for you to carry it. Tell Uncle where you're taking it, and Uncle will help you carry it there, okay?"
"No!" Xiao Qingyi insisted, her little face full of unwavering determination. "This is a gift for my friend, I want to take it myself!"
Seeing her unwavering gaze, Chef Li couldn't refuse any longer. He carefully and slowly handed the handle of the insulated lunchbox to the eager little hands that reached out to her.
"Heave-whoosh!" Xiao Qingyi gripped the handles tightly with both hands, straining with all her might, her little face turning red, and finally managed to steadily (under Chef Li's apprehensive gaze) lift the lunchbox into her hands. Although it was indeed a bit heavy for her, the solemnity of wanting to personally convey her "heartfelt wishes" made her try her best to straighten her little body.