Chapter 60

“Mash the sweet potato into a paste. While still hot, add butter and a bit of cream cheese.”

“Add a yolk too.”

“Make some millet and pumpkin porridge—just a small amount.”

Jiang Yuan spoke as he worked, casually passing on a few tips to Li Li. Da Zhuang had been with Li Li for years, surviving on such meager meals—it was no easy life. Every now and then, a decent meal was a welcome change, and daily food shouldn’t be so miserable.

But Li Li clearly didn’t catch Jiang Yuan’s meaning.

She watched him intently, then licked her lips and said, “Make more millet and pumpkin porridge. We’ll eat the leftovers.”

Jiang Yuan snapped his head up and stared at Comrade Li Li.

Li Li glared back like a fierce Rottweiler and said, “What? Eating fried rice makes you thirsty, right? A little millet and pumpkin porridge goes perfectly with it.”

“It really does.” Jiang Yuan glanced at Da Zhuang, saw the dog lowering its head in submission, and silently added another yolk to its bowl.

While the dog’s food was steaming, Jiang Yuan made the Seventeenth Uncle’s version of fried rice for the three of them.

At this moment, the advantages of the Seventeenth Uncle’s fried rice became clear: it saved ingredients, required little effort, and could be whipped up in minutes with just a little spare time.

By contrast, preparing the dog’s meal took longer.

Of course, once done, the dog’s meal looked far better than the Seventeenth Uncle’s fried rice—whole egg yolks, a variety of legumes, tender meat, and colorful vegetables in red, green, and purple. You didn’t even need to taste it; just smelling it and seeing its appearance made your mouth water.

The Cooking [Dog] (LV5) skill truly didn’t lie.

Jiang Yuan couldn’t help thinking: if Chen Manli, the owner of this legacy, hadn’t encountered a demon, her life might have gradually calmed and brightened under the comfort of stray dogs, her spirit becoming whole, her life flowing smoothly…

“Some people are worse off than dogs.”

Jiang Yuan scooped out three portions of millet and pumpkin porridge and placed them beside the fried rice and the dog’s meal.

Li Li looked from the fried rice to the dog’s meal, then to the porridge, and asked suspiciously, “Are you talking about us?”

“No! Of course not! Not at all!” Jiang Yuan quickly denied it.

“Police dogs have official status, with food and lodging provided—it’s normal for humans to be worse off than dogs,” Li Li said, her eyes fixed on the dog’s meal. As she spoke, she plucked a yolk from the bowl and added, “Three yolks are too many. Too many yolks can upset a dog’s digestive system—diarrhea, vomiting, even acute pancreatitis. Long-term consumption leads to obesity and harms its cardiovascular system…”

As she spoke, she placed the yolk on top of her own fried rice.

The bright orange fried rice, crowned with a single bright orange yolk, instantly looked far more appetizing.

Li Li nodded in satisfaction, picked up the two bowls of dog food, and called to Da Zhuang, “See? Other dogs get two bowls—you can have two bowls too, right?”

Da Zhuang sat stiffly, facing forward. Trained as he was, even though he was starving, he only drooled without turning his head.

“Good boy, Da Zhuang. Look at what Jiang Yuan uncle made for you. This is the yolk, this is the sweet potato and cheese ball, this is the poached duck meat…” Li Li pointed at the dog’s meal, introducing each item, then swallowed hard and smiled, “Smells delicious, doesn’t it?”

Da Zhuang let out an eager “Woof!”

Li Li chuckled twice, then patted Da Zhuang’s head and said, “Go ahead, eat.”

At the command, Da Zhuang lowered his head, shoved forward, and began tearing into the food with fierce bites.

Trained police dogs regularly practiced biting; now, devouring food, he looked even more ferocious.

Li Li turned, picked up her own fried rice, and looked back at Da Zhuang’s devouring. She couldn’t help feeling jealous: “He never eats this fast when I cook. Eating too fast is bad for your health—even for dogs…”

Jiang Yuan and Wu Jun exchanged a glance, then both silently dug into their meals.

Li Li sighed and sat down reluctantly to eat, suddenly finding the yolk she’d stolen from the top especially delicious.

Li Li stared at the overflowing dog bowl, then at Jiang Yuan and Officer Wu, suppressing the urge to reach out.

The pleasure the Seventeenth Uncle’s fried rice brought to her taste and spirit quickly diluted the negative emotions.

In the large police dog unit, three people and one dog all ate heartily.

The wind blew through the red brick walls, humming softly.

Amid the wind, the Rottweiler also emitted a contented hum.

The beautiful moment brought by the meal ended with a series of teeth clacking against metal.

Da Zhuang, still dazed after finishing, stared blankly at the two empty bowls before him.

“Alright, finished,” Li Li stood up, pulled the bowls away from Da Zhuang, and patted his head. “Rest for a while. Eat again tomorrow.”

Da Zhuang lifted his head reluctantly, looking from Li Li to the bowls, then to Jiang Yuan, then back to the bowls, stepping slowly away.

“Good dog,” Li Li patted the Rottweiler’s head again as a reward.

Jiang Yuan had also finished his fried rice and smiled. “Looks like Da Zhuang really likes it.”

Li Li was about to reply when a dark shadow shot past her side.

Da Zhuang, weighing a full hundred jin, stretched his body and leapt like a fish—landing squarely on Jiang Yuan, his long tongue lashing out toward his face.

Jiang Yuan: … My first kiss is not for you. He firmly shoved Da Zhuang away.

Li Li rushed forward and grabbed Da Zhuang.

Da Zhuang, dragged by Li Li, howled like a strong young woman torn from her lover: “Woo-oo-oo!”

Officer Wu shook his head. Even dogs prefer the young—pfft!

Jiang Yuan and his master prepared to leave.

Li Li waved goodbye, but Da Zhuang seized the chance and dashed out.

Before the three could react, it bared its teeth and pressed against Jiang Yuan’s leg.

“Woo-oo-oo-oo…” Da Zhuang clamped his two strong yellow paws around Jiang Yuan’s heels, rubbing his head fiercely against Jiang Yuan’s foot.

Da Zhuang hugged Jiang Yuan’s leg with both paws, banging his head against the ground…

And vigorously wagged his thick black tail, butt raised high.

Li Li blushed furiously, feeling she had failed to train Da Zhuang properly.

It was just one meal. How could it be this bad?

But thinking of that single yolk on the fried rice, her throat suddenly flooded with saliva again.

She suddenly felt a pang of envy for Da Zhuang—how openly, how calmly he clung to that leg…

…