As the sun sets, its slanting rays cast a warm orange glow on the road.
Ling Miao glanced outside; it was quiet and peaceful. Knowing that there were probably no guests coming, she simply called Susan to help her organize the ingredients they had bought at the market yesterday.
By the time the ingredients were sorted and placed away, the sun had already set halfway down.
Looking at the dazzling array of ingredients in front of her, Ling Miao suddenly had an idea.
"Susan, could you send a message to Grandma Audrey tonight..."
"What a coincidence, I just got to the door and overheard you two talking about me."
Odea strode in, looking energetic and sprightly.
Ling Miao smiled and said, "I was just about to call you. We're having hot pot tonight."
"Then I'm very lucky."
Odeya smiled, when suddenly two identical little boys darted out from behind her.
Before Ling Miao could express her surprise, she introduced, "My daughter brought her two grandchildren back to visit me."
She led the little boy on her left, saying, "This is the older brother, Lesen," and then pointed to another little boy, "That's the younger brother, Lelin."
"My daughter is still behind."
Ling Miao burst into laughter, "I was worried that I bought too many groceries yesterday, but now I have a helper."
"Eating hot pot is all about having a lively atmosphere!"
Ling Miao looked at the two little boys; their dark eyes darted around, looking quite clever. What captivated her most were their two large, pointed, triangular ears.
The black fur twitched slightly with its owner's movements, making Ling Miao's hands itch with desire. And then there was the large, fluffy tail behind it, also blackish-red.
Fluffy and glossy.
It was constantly tempting her shallow self-control.
Ling Miao suppressed her thoughts and was about to speak when another person walked in through the door.
"mom"
“This is my daughter, Rella.”
"Hello." Ling Miao extended her hand, and the other person shook it in a friendly manner. Both of them smiled.
After exchanging greetings, Ling Miao and Susan went to prepare the ingredients together.
Audrey sat in the dining room, looking at her two grandsons, their big, bright eyes darting around, seemingly plotting something again. She suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Rella looked at her mother and immediately saw through her thoughts, and couldn't help but smile and say, "They're much more sensible now."
Odeya's headache worsened upon hearing this. She didn't think the two little ones were sensible at all; at most, they were just getting older and better at feigning innocence.
Rella looked at her mother without speaking and felt a little helpless. The two children were naughty when they were born, but they were indeed much more well-behaved now.
She glanced around and changed the subject: "Is this the restaurant you were talking about that has such a great food?"
Audya perked up and nodded, "Yes, when you weren't here, I was home alone and I was basically here every day."
"That girl is really something."
Seeing the satisfaction in her mother's eyes, Rella couldn't help but feel hopeful as well.
The hot pot was prepared very quickly.
Rella looked at the two pots in front of her, one filled with red soup and the other with clear soup, on which floated a few mushrooms with crosses and a few red fruits.
She became interested. "How do you eat this?"
As Susan served the prepared ingredients, she explained, "Just put the prepared ingredients into the pot you want to cook them in, and you can also try the dipping sauces."
That sounds intriguing.
Rella looked with great interest at the steaming pot in front of her, with a fire burning underneath, bubbling and gurgling.
The twins, drawn by the aroma, curiously approached.
"Mom, can we eat now?"
Rella rubbed her son's head. "We'll have to wait a little longer."
Plate after plate of ingredients were brought to the table. Rella looked on in surprise and said, "Mom, there are quite a few ways to eat hot pot."
She saw so many different ingredients; won't they mix flavors if she cooks them all together?
The twins leaned against their mother, staring intently at the table.
Audrey looked at her two unusually well-behaved grandchildren and smiled kindly, "Yes, I've had her fish before, it tasted amazing."
Odea smacked her lips, savoring the memory.
It's tangy and slightly spicy; as you swallow the last drop of broth with your tongue, your whole body warms up.
"Is it really that delicious?"
Rella watched her mother's behavior with curiosity.
My mother was never someone who cared much about food.
"You'll know once you try it yourself."
Odeya replied with this.
Because of this, after Ling Miao and Susan finished serving the dishes, Rella couldn't wait to put the ingredient closest to her into the red soup.
The steam rose and gurgled, and white mist gradually filled the space along with the air currents.
Rella stared expectantly at the bottom of the pot in front of her, ignoring the shouts of her twins beside her.
"It's ready to eat."
Ling Miao observed the pot; the other person had put in a shrimp paste.
Handmade shrimp paste has plump shrimp meat pieces. It's not as fine as machine-made paste, but it better brings out the original flavor of the shrimp.
One bite, and the shrimp meat coated in chili oil is pure satisfaction.
Seeing the shrimp paste change color and hearing the sound, Rella couldn't wait to scoop it up.
The bouncy shrimp paste melts between your teeth, smooth and plump, and you can feel the shrimp pieces bursting on your tongue as you chew.
With its spicy and slightly numbing sensation, it spreads along the tip of the tongue.
Rella squinted her eyes happily, her eyes curving into crescents with joy.
It's so delicious!
His mother didn't lie to him!
She quickened her chewing pace, putting in all the ingredients she had, both familiar and unfamiliar.
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