Chapter 12: The Kitchen God

She had thought Emma had been behaving excellently lately, but the problem was precisely that—she had been too excellent, too perfect!

It wasn’t like a child of eight should behave...

And just now, had Emma deliberately knocked it over?

So, was it all an act?

Ellis’s brow tightened further.

Though it wasn’t hard to understand—she was probably faking it to win the medal. Many children had become much more restrained lately, no longer mischievous, but Emma had gone further... deliberately knocking it over...

“I must be overthinking it. After all, she’s just a child; it’s unlikely. But I’ll give the award to another child who’s more natural.”

After the teacher left.

Emma turned her back and pulled a glittering wristwatch from her pocket, her eyes gleaming with delight, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Nightfall.

Emma stared at the wristwatch again and again, then finally put it away and began her homework.

David walked in, placed a glass of milk on the table, “Need help?”

“No, Dad, I know you’re busy.”

David smiled, a hint of pride beneath his resignation—Emma was always so considerate.

He said, “Alright then, if I give you a hug, what will you give me?”

“A kiss,” Emma said with a smile.

Warmth filled the father-daughter moment.

David smiled and turned toward Louis.

Emma watched this scene, her expression gradually growing flat. Facing the mirror, she pulled up the corners of her mouth, replicating that same smile: “A kiss...”

She lowered her lips, then smiled again.

As if practicing.

In the next room.

Louis was also doing homework, but had already finished. No surprise—though his intellect was no longer at its peak from his senior year of high school, elementary-level material was still effortless.

Having completed his homework, Louis stared at the package that had taken nearly half a month to arrive—glacially slow!

Inside was a statue of a kind old man, smiling warmly, with fruits and food piled before him, flames flickering around him.

Beside him stood two child-like statues, each holding a jar inscribed with the characters “Good” and “Evil.”

It was the Kitchen God of folk and Daoist mythology. While a painting would suffice for worship, Louis felt a statue might be more effective.

Though the Kitchen God seemed unremarkable in popular talk, he was a deity who truly reached Heaven’s ears; in pre-Qin and Han times, he was among the primary deities worshipped, attesting to his status.

The ashes from incense and hearth fires used in his worship were traditionally believed to possess exorcistic power—the longer the worship, the stronger the effect. This was the principle behind the Ash Method.

Now that the statue had finally arrived, his next lineage transmission was about to begin.

At this moment.

David entered.

Seeing the statue in Louis’s hand, David paused, then realized Louis was mixed-race—perhaps this was a tradition from his former family.

He respected it.

“Louis, have some milk,” he said, placing a warm glass on the table. He was used to Louis not doing homework—after all this time, he had recognized Louis was a genius.

“Uncle, thank you.”

Watching David leave, Louis tidied his room, placing the statue on the north wall, taking out incense sticks from the package, and began his offering.

Three days later.

The award ceremony was about to begin.

Emma had put on her red dress again, with a pearl necklace, radiating a distinctly princess-like aura.

Louis played idly with a needle from an embroidered robe, sitting quietly in the car. In the car, David and Emma chatted, David praising with a smile, “Emma will definitely win the award.”

Emma smiled demurely, but couldn’t help tilting her head up slightly—clearly, she believed she would win.

David brought Emma and Louis to school. The campus buzzed with students and parents. The female teacher held a palm-sized golden medal, preparing to award it.

Soon, the teacher stepped onto the podium and began listing the four exemplary virtues for the Citizen Award.

“Faith, honesty, cultivation, compassion—these are the most beautiful qualities a child can possess. I believe any child who embodies them is a gift from angels.”

“Now, I am honored to present the award and let this child bask in applause and praise.”

“The recipient of this year’s Citizen Award is...”

Below the stage.

Children craned their necks; parents exchanged glances.

But the most attention fell on Emma—why? Her outward appearance was simply too perfect, her smile consistently demure, her demeanor refined—she looked exactly like someone here to receive an award.

Sensing these gazes, her smile grew even brighter.

But...

“Milo Curtis!”

Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap...

Applause erupted.

Emma’s seatmate, a little boy with curly blonde hair, stared in disbelief, then hugged his mother in excitement.

Emma’s smile vanished in an instant.

The heel of her delicate little leather shoe tapped the floor incessantly.

Louis, seated beside David, watched her the whole time. Next, this poor little curly-haired boy would be targeted—what a terrifying sense of jealousy...

Soon.

The award ceremony ended.

David and Ellis spoke in the hallway. David had missed the last parent meeting due to a factory project in town, and he had questions about why Emma hadn’t won this time.

But after briefly discussing her studies, Ellis brought up Louis first.

“...”

“I heard Louis is also your child?”

“Oh, Louis is a relative’s child—I’m just looking after him for a few days. What about him?”

“Nothing much. I just think... he’s too mature, out of sync with most children here. He’s a genius, yes, but interpersonal skills are vital for a child’s childhood—I’m sure you understand that.”

Budebushuo , this Black teacher’s insight was sharp—though this also had to do with Louis not hiding anything.

David nodded. He thought of the kidnapping. Perhaps someday he should take Louis to a psychologist?

Louis never imagined the one who most needed psychological help wasn’t being seen—instead, he might become the first target.

At that moment, David realized and asked, “How did Emma perform?”

Ellis frowned, as if choosing words carefully.

“Emma is excellent, outstanding. She possesses many admirable qualities all children should learn from—in fact, she could easily be class monitor.”

“Most commendable is her courage. But... she seems to lack physiological fear, and always presents her successes precisely when observed, leaving a strong impression—like a politician or a seasoned professional.”

“I believe she’ll become an excellent actress one day.”

Was this... praise?

(End of Chapter)