Iren didn't know why he woke up a bit late this morning. Actually, it couldn't be called too late because, before six o'clock, he was already waking up. It's just that Iren had intended to wake up at half-past five in the morning. Opening his eyes when it was almost six o'clock, as it was now, was certainly a bit of a disappointment for himself. Moreover, all his friends were already awake.
"Why didn't anyone wake me up?" Iren looked at his friends with a bit of annoyance. They were all sitting at the dining table.
Yihshyong laughed. "You slept so well. Of course, we couldn't bear to drag you out of dreamland." He looked at Jenqyih. "Don't you think so too?"
Jenqyih just nodded when he heard Yihshyong's words.
"We all have a clock. Why don't you set the alarm?" Yihshyong turned to Iren.
"Did Shyongge need to set the alarm to wake up?" Iren asked.
Yihshyong shook his head.
"I'm like that too," said Iren. "I haven't set the alarm in a long time. Because I usually wake myself up at the time I set."
"But this time, you didn't wake up automatically." Yihshyong chuckled.
"Maybe because I'm exhausted," said Iren.
"It's a small matter." Shannchyuan opened his mouth. "We don't need to extend it."
"Are you all full?" Iren asked. He had not followed in the footsteps of his friends yet, namely sitting in the dining room.
"Don't be disappointed. We haven't started breakfast either," Shannchyuan said. "Chioujen is preparing breakfast for us."
Iren looked around. One friend, Chioujen, wasn't there. There was a sweet aroma of the dish being cooked. Iren walked into the kitchen. He saw Chioujen was frying rice.
"Fried rice again?" The words automatically came out of Iren's mouth.
"I haven't cooked fried rice in a long time." Chioujen turned his head when he noticed Iren's presence. He was busy stirring the rice in a large frying pan.
"Yesterday morning, we ate fried rice," said Iren.
"Yesterday, Shinnshiow made it. It definitely didn't taste the same as my fried rice." Chioujen chuckled.
<
Iren took the glass. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of boiled water, which was freezing. After that, he took the bottle and the glass into the dining room. Their dining room was between the living room and kitchen. Iren sat on one chair there.
"Why did you only take one glass?" Jenqyih asked.
"If Yihge wants to drink, you can take the glass yourself. The kitchen isn't far." Iren's voice was a bit harsh.
Jenqyih just smirked. He got up and started walking leisurely, not to the kitchen but to the living room. There he turned on the television set. While sitting, he watched television.
"Dahge, did you sleep well last night?" Iren asked.
"Not bad! At least I feel refreshed now," replied Shannchyuan.
"Someone's coming!" Jenqyih shouted from the living room.
"No need to shout like that," said Iren in a loud voice.
"You shouldn't shout either. My ears hurt to hear that kind of sound," said Yihshyong, who was sitting right next to Iren.
"Sorry!" Iren laughed. "Is the gate still locked?"
"Ah! Sorry, I forgot to open the padlock." Shannchyuan stood up. He prepared to leave the house and unlocked the gate.
Iren held Shannchyuan from getting up. "Dahge doesn't need to come out. Let me do it." Iren got up from his chair and walked into the living room. He took a pile of keys that were on the television set. After that, he immediately opened the living room door and hurried towards the gate of their house.
"Sorry, the gate is still locked," said Iren to the newly arrived guest.
<
"It's okay, Uncle! I am the one who came early," said the guest.
Iren quickly opened the padlock attached to the gate. After opening the gate, Iren invited the guest to enter. "Please ask your driver to come in. It's a pity that he has to wait in the car so early in the morning!"
Their guest nodded. He gestured to the driver, who was still in the car. After the driver got out of the car, the three of them entered the house together.
"Tsaehorng has come," shouted Iren.
Tsaehorng waved at Jenqyih, who was still watching television. Shannchyuan and Yihshyong had risen from their seats. The two walked into the living room to greet the people who had just entered the house.
"You came so early. Aren't we going to leave at eight o'clock?" Shannchyuan asked.
"At half-past five in the morning, two of my assistants appeared at the exhibition hall. After spending about ten minutes in the bathroom, I gave some directions to the two of them. Less than half an hour later, I had delegated all the tasks. I waited for a while for my driver to arrive. As soon as the car was ready, I' would go straight here." Tsaehorng explained the things he did that morning.
"You showered early in the morning," Shannchyuan said.
"That's right, Uncle. I'm used to taking a shower early in the morning," said Tsaehorng.
"Then you are already similar to the people from Yeuandong." Shannchyuan smiled so widely.
"So, today, three of your assistants are on duty at the exhibition," said Yihshyong.
"Today, there are five people in all, Uncle! The other two will arrive a little later. Probably around ten o'clock."
"Breakfast is ready!"
From the living room, they could clearly hear Chioujen's words.
"Let's have breakfast first. You haven't eaten, have you?" Shannchyuan said to Tsaehorng and the driver.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Tsaehorng laughed.
Tsaehorng's driver said nothing. He just smiled.
They all walked towards the dining room. Apart from Yihshyong, they all promptly sat down on the chairs there. Iren saw Yihshyong headed straight for the kitchen. Maybe he wanted to help Chioujen serve their breakfast. In an instant, the dish was served on the table.
"Besides the usual seasonings, what spices did you add?" Yihshyong's face brightened as he ate Chioujen's fried rice.
"Isn't it good?" Chioujen asked back.
"Not bad. But just a little different," said Yihshyong.
"Is this not to Shyongge's taste?" asked Chioujen.
"I think this is very good." Yihshyong smiled. "Next time, you have to do something like this again."
"Okay! Shyongge, please, just say it when you want to eat fried rice like this."
"Where did you get this recipe from?" Jenqyih asked. "I remember you saying you've only been working hard the past few months."
"For the past few months, I've only focused on work. I rarely socialize. But two weeks ago, there was a friend of mine, whom I once told you about, who really likes to enjoy food. So he gave me some spices commonly used as food ingredients in Yuehjao," Chioujen said.
"It tastes pretty good," said Iren.
Culinary from Yeuandong usually used a lot of spices. So for those from Yeuandong, the taste of added spices like that was by no means a stranger thing. Among the people eating, perhaps only Tsaehorng's driver felt a little uncomfortable with the dish. Iren realized it when he noticed the expression on the driver's face.
Tsaehorng looked at the driver, who was eating slowly. The driver, noticing Tsaehorng was watching his eating, increased the speed he ate.
"Sorry! My driver is from a place where its type of cuisine doesn't use a lot of spices."
"It's okay," Chioujen said. "Everyone has their own taste."
"Sorry, Sir," said the driver. "Today, I'm a bit unwell, so any dish tastes a little bitter."
"You didn't say you were sick," said Tsaehorng.
"I am okay, Sir. Maybe I'm just tired. I'll be fine later," said the driver.
"What's your name?" Shannchyuan asked.
"Juger Chiouwoei," said the driver.
"Jugers? Wow!" Yihshyong said.