Chapter 238: That Bowl of Egg-Fried Charcoal (1/2)
Chapter 238: That Bowl of Egg-Fried Charcoal
Translator: E.3.3.Editor: Vermillion
A weird odor drifted out of the kitchen, smelling like something half-burnt and faintly bitter. It was a scent that put a frown on everyone's face.
”Ah, my lassie, why are you in such a sorry state?” Grandpa Ouyang felt his heart ache when he saw Ouyang Xiaoyi charging out of the kitchen covered in ashes.
But Ouyang Xiaoyi's eyes were sparkling. They shone brightly as excitement flickered across her eyes.
She wiped off the ashen marks from her face, chuckled, and then raised the porcelain plate in her hands up to Grandpa Ouyang's nose. ”Grandpa, come here and have a taste. This is my first time cooking Egg-Fried Rice!” She said excitedly.
”Ah, sure thing, let your grandpa give it a try.” Grandpa Ouyang patted Ouyang Xiaoyi's head fondly with loving eyes. He took over the porcelain spoon handed to him by a nearby maid and glanced at the porcelain plate that Ouyang Xiaoyi shoved before his eyes with hesitation.
”This…”
On the porcelain plate sat a lump of steaming… um, oddly colored… rice. The grains of rice gave off a blackish hue, and somewhere amidst that were also traces of red. A huge slab of over-cooked egg was mixed within the rice, coming off as rather eye-catching.
What was this? Grandpa Ouyang was baffled. The hand holding his porcelain spoon quivered slightly.
”A typical Egg-Fried Rice demands that every grain of rice comes with a certain amount of egg. You have chosen a convenient path here, an entire slab of egg with a huge lump of rice. More importantly…why was the color of this rice so peculiar?”
Gulp.
Grandpa's long beard shook a little as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
”Grandpa… have a taste! Go on!” Ouyang Xiaoyi was somehow very much confident in herself as she egged him on.
”Of course. Since this is the first time my little lassie has cooked a dish, then… grandpa shall have a bite. Just one though.” Grandpa Ouyang's heart even trembled as he dug up a spoonful of rice. With a stealthy shake of the hand, nearly a third of the content fell out of the spoon. That move, alas, went unnoticed.
He brought the spoon before his nose and gave it a sniff. In that very instant, a burnt, pungent smell gushed forward. Grandpa Ouyang's lips trembled, he felt a dreadful sensation inside. ”Lassie…Grandpa is really going to eat it now.” Grandpa Ouyang flared his nostril and announced.
”Grandpa! I'm waiting to win Owner Bu over with this Egg-Fried Rice!” Ouyang Xiaoyi wiped her face again and declared with the utmost confidence.
Grandpa Ouyang could only force a smile. Win him over? Murdering Owner Bu was more like it…
How satirical would it be if Owner Bu, having survived an eighth grade War-God, ended up poisoned to death by her bowl of Egg-Fried Rice.
”Eat!” Ouyang Xiaoyi glared.
Grandpa Ouyang immediately poured the entire spoon of Egg-Fried Rice into his mouth.
All of a sudden, the colors from Grandpa Ouyang's face drained. His complexion changed three times in a single breath, turning from white to red, and then from red to purple, and finally from purple to black.
Creak, creak…
Grandpa Ouyang, with watered eyes, summoned up great courage and chewed the food ferociously. Loud crispy sounds echoed from his mouth, much like the noise of hard rocks colliding into each other.
In this very moment, Grandpa Ouyang's heart was filled with all sorts of mixed feelings. It was much like an assortment of sauces getting knocked over and spilling everywhere. He could taste astringency, bitterness, numbness, and even a reeking stink…
The only one missing was savoriness!
There was simply nobody else who could cook up an Egg-Fried Rice like this! You are the one and only… my lassie!
Grandpa Ouyang's entire body trembled. He took several steps back, took a deep breath, and finally forced himself to swallow the Egg-Fried Rice in his mouth.
”How is it? How is the taste?” Ouyang Xiaoyi asked curiously.
”Oh, a simply electrifying experience. It is like burning flames once down your stomach. After swallowing, I felt as if I have risen from the ashes. You have fully inherited this gift of cooking from your father.” Grandpa Ouyang gave his critique with a blank face.
Ouyang Zongheng was dumbstruck, very much puzzled at what his father just said.
”My lassie, grandpa is tired. I'm afraid I'll have to go get some rest. Let your father and brothers have a taste and ask for their feedback.” Grandpa Ouyang wrinkled his face and suggested with an almost weeping tone.
Ouyang Xiaoyi felt more excited than ever. It seemed like her Egg-Fried Rice turned out pretty great. Grandpa's review was uplifting! Who would have thought he could feel completely revived after eating her food.
Grandpa Ouyang was already nowhere to be seen when she looked up again. Xiaoyi was baffled, but instantly turned her attention towards Ouyang Zongheng and the three Ouyang barbarians.
This was meant to be a sleepless night. The Ouyang Quarter stayed brightly lit as people ran back and forth between the bedroom and bathroom all night long…
A couple more small explosions erupted in the kitchen. Smoke lingered about as weird scents drifted out.