Chapter 186

Haotian had a sheepish smile on his face as he quickly waved his hands, pleading: "I don't understand, I don't understand! Little sister is right."

Hmph!

Yao Ji rolled her eyes, thinking you're sensible enough; otherwise, you'll regret it!

Appearance, conduct, and talent.

After carefully examining Yang Chan from head to toe, Yao Ji shook her head silently. Judging by her attire and demeanor, Yao Ji felt her daughter's talent level could be easily discerned.

All are far from qualified!

No, Yao Ji felt her heart sink. When she returns, she must properly nurture her daughter; only then can she be sure to win Chen the shopkeeper's favor!

"Hurry up, hurry up, this should be fine now, right?" Xiao Tian looked at the meat slices in the pot that had completely changed color and couldn't help urging, "This old master can't wait any longer!"

Yang Chan's face looked somewhat unpleasant, but constrained by Yao Ji's presence, she didn't dare to lash out, only managing to do it sullenly and unhappily.

Holding chopsticks, Yang Chan scooped out meat slice after meat slice from the fiery hot pot, placing them all into the plate that had just held raw meat.

While holding the meat, Yang Chan not only didn't leave it empty of juice, but instead, with ill intent, she rinsed it several more times.

"Eat, eat!" Yang Chan let out a soft hum in her heart, "Spicy to death with you!"

"You've put all this on one plate for this old master—how is this old master supposed to eat it?" However, Xiao Tian didn't buy it, but continued to nitpick.

"This old master hasn't even dipped this in sauce yet, and you're being so perfunctory?!"

Yang Chan: "..."

She now wished she could punch Xiao Tian's dog in the head with one fist, knocking that lowly dog to the ground. But her mother was nearby, so she didn't dare act rashly.

Yang Chan felt resentful and indignant in her heart, not knowing what her mother was thinking, why she kept helping this dog? Who exactly is her biological parent?

Helpless, Yang Chan casually picked up three or four slices of meat, jabbed them toward the new sauce bowl Chen Nuo had prepared, and placed them on an empty plate.

"Nuò! Eat!"

Xiao Tian's dog paws were crossed, just like a person hugging their chest, the dog's mouth slightly upturned, shaking head and swaying brain as it said: "This is about right."

He had originally prepared to let Yang Chan blow air on its meat slices again, but after thinking carefully, if he really did that, even his wife might not be able to protect him!!

He, Xiao Tian, still has some self-awareness, knowing what the bottom line is.

Then, he repeatedly leapt sideways on the edge of the bottom line!

After regaining his composure, Xiao Tian stretched his neck to look at his plate, seeing the meat slices presenting an enticing maturity, soaked in the fiery broth, even faintly showing a uniform hue, like grain patterns.

Embellished, it seemed as if this wasn't meat slices but a beautiful object, making one reluctant to destroy it.

Of course, he's a dog!

Without the slightest hesitation, the dog's mouth nearly touched the plate, tongue licking out, Xiao Tian directly rolled the meat slices on the plate into his mouth.

After chewing just a couple of times, the next moment the hidden spiciness in the meat slices erupted like a volcanic eruption, eroding Xiao Tian's entire mouth.

The burning pain, in an instant, left Xiao Tian's whole dog dazed.

Seeing this, Yang Chan instead felt pleased with the misfortune.

Stupid, huh? Called you to eat spicy!

She saw the pot's base broth, red as could be, and knew that if anything was cooked in here, it must be terrifyingly spicy!

She couldn't handle spicy food well, so she simply gave up.

Now it seems, she was right!

Yang Chan's lips curled up, self-inflicted harm cannot survive, but she can't blame herself.

Xiao Tian's dog hoarsely laughed while sucking in cool air, wanting to ease the pain a bit; he had eaten sauce-board duck before, which was already quite spicy.

He thought he had some tolerance, utterly fearless, but never expected this hot pot to be this spicy!

Panicking, he swallowed the meat slices without choosing a path, but what followed was a fiery sensation in his throat, making it even worse.

The meat slices landed in his stomach, also like a warm stove,

His whole body instantly heated up; if it were an ordinary person, it would be fine, but as a dog with a full coat of fur, covering himself made it somewhat uncomfortable, also fortunate that his fur is short.

"Chen the shopkeeper... Chen the shopkeeper! Water!" Xiao Tian couldn't bear it anymore, hurriedly calling for Chen Nuo's help.

Chen Nuo didn't speak, just lightly tapped his finger, and on the table beside Xiao Tian, instantly appeared a cup of this gurgling, bubbling peach juice.

Normally, if one wanted to relieve spiciness, they should drink his freshly squeezed peach juice, and drinking peach soda while eating spicy food would undoubtedly be like pouring oil on fire.

But who let Xiao Tian just order this peach soda?

At the sight of the peach soda, Xiao Tian seemed to see a savior, his eyes brightening considerably.

Trembling with his dog paws, Xiao Tian strained to pick up the cup, raising it to his mouth.

The icy soda surged into his mouth, truly having some effect in suppressing the spiciness, though only for a moment.

When the bubbles in the peach juice erupted in his mouth, everything changed—the previously unsoothed spicy pain suddenly surged!

This violent spiciness nearly broke through Xiao Tian's heart and mind all at once.

Fortunately, relatively speaking, Xiao Tian could still tolerate some spice, and he managed to pull through, bitter end turning to sweet.

After drinking the peach juice, instead, he felt an indescribable refreshment!

Xiao Tian's eyes brightened, and before Yang Chan could make a move, he directly grabbed the meat slices, dipped them into the sauce bowl himself, and swallowed them in one bite.

Then he took another sip of icy peach soda, the spiciness intertwining and colliding, the spicy meat slices paired with icy soda—just how refreshing it was needs no mention!

Yang Chan stared, mouth agape; from Xiao Tian's earlier performance, she could infer how spicy this red pot base must be.

Eating this kind of hot pot and still being able to taste the original flavor? At least she doesn't have this ability to eat it.

Watching Xiao Tian, both suffering and joyful, his expression shifting constantly, Yang Chan felt a chill in her heart, guessing in her mind, is he seeking pain?

Could Xiao Tian have some bad habits? Why does he feel so strange?

Switching to her own chopsticks, Yang Chan lightly picked up ingredients, dipped them in sauce, and brought them to her mouth.

Her bright eyes narrowed into a slit, the taste of happiness!

Her mother's revival made her feel as if the giant stone hidden in her heart had been moved, and all at once, she felt lightened.

Being able to see her mother again was her lifelong wish.

Now, thanks to Chen the shopkeeper, she finally achieved it.

However...

After swallowing her food, Yang Chan pursed her cherry lips, gazing at Yao Ji drifting in midair, swaying slightly, and felt somewhat speechless.

This very mother of hers, with a slight tendency to favor outsiders, didn't speak up for her but instead went to help a dog!

Just as she was about to continue picking vegetables, Yang Chan suddenly seemed to recall something, lifted her head to look at Haotian opposite her, pondered for a moment, then finally gathered her courage and whispered softly: "Uncle, uncle."

Having just called out once, she then fell silent again; at first, Haotian showed no reaction, but after a few breaths, he finally responded.

He opened his mouth, his face filled with excitement: "You, you just now, what did you call me!"

Yang Chan was unnerved by Haotian's sudden strong reaction, leaving her somewhat frightened; even though she now knows Haotian is not the cold-hearted uncle of her impression, this already belongs to the shadow of her childhood.

There was no way, a sudden transformation.

"Uncle... uncle?" Yang Chan tentatively spoke.

Could it be that he's angry? Was my calling him like this too presumptuous? Yang Chan's heart felt a little uneasy.

"Ah!" Haotian nodded repeatedly, responding with a joyful, beaming face.