After making the milk and testing the temperature, Liu Suqin took the milk bottle from Han Yan. She even snatched the right to feed the baby. In her words, she was able to raise the unlucky boy Song Zhiwen back then. Would it be a problem to feed a baby who was less than a month old now?
Qiqi saw the pacifier extended to her mouth. She opened her small mouth obediently and gently sucked on it. Her big sparkling eyes looked at her father for a while, and then turned back to look at the young grandmother who was holding her. Liu Suqin looked at Qiqi, and the deep wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out. She looked ten years younger.
"Han Yan, Han Yan." Liu Suqin didn't even raise her head as she called out, "Hurry up and bring a wet towel over. Qiqi still has some eye mucus at the corner of her eyes when she woke up."
Han Yan slowly took out Qiqi's small towel from his backpack. He moistened it with hot water and felt that the temperature was suitable before bringing it over.
"Why are you so slow?" Liu Suqin, who was impatient, urged. She put the milk bottle on the table before taking the towel. Qiqi saw that the pacifier was pulled away and cried out unhappily.
"Oh, my little ancestor, don't worry, don't worry. Let grandma help you wipe your eyes before you drink!" Liu Suqin hurriedly coaxed her while gently wiping Qiqi's eyes with the wet towel. Then she turned it over and used the clean side to wipe Qiqi's face.
Han Yan took the small towel and took it to the kitchen sink to wash it.
"Han Yan, Han Yan," Liu Suqin called out again. "Come out, come out."
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Han Yan hurriedly wrung the towel and walked out.
"She wants to cry when she can't see you." Liu Suqin was a little annoyed. "Really, she doesn't listen to grandma!"
As soon as Han Yan came out, he saw Qiqi's small mouth puckered and tears rolling in her eyes. He hurriedly walked over, and Qiqi finally saw the body that made her feel at ease through her hazy tears. She blinked, and finally stopped crying. Alas, the towel was washed for nothing! Han Yan grabbed a towel and wiped her tears.
"You have to let her see me." Han Yan smiled.
"She's really your biological daughter!" Liu Suqin said unhappily. "You have to follow her closely!"
Han Yan laughed and said, "Godmother, let me show you something." He took out a file from his backpack and took out a stack of documents. He sat down and flipped through them for Liu Suqin to see.
"Han Yan is Han Luoqi's biological father," Liu Suqin read the line and smiled. "You little brat, hurry up and put it away. Do I still need to look at this thing? Look at her and you, you're practically made from the same mold! You can't run away!"
"Are these the things that Old Song was talking about?" Liu Suqin asked.
"Yes, the paternity test report, ID card, household register, and photocopies are all here." Han Yan patted the file.
"When Old Song comes back later, remember to give them to him."
At around half-past five, the nanny came.
"Hey, Han Yan is also here today!" The nanny greeted as she changed into slippers by the shoe cabinet.
"Hello, Auntie Mao." Han Yan stood up.
"Since you're here, I'll have to hand over the responsibility of cooking over to you again. I wonder what delicious dishes you'll be able to secretly learn today?" Auntie Mao smiled.
"You're too modest, Auntie Mao. The soup you make is the best!"
"Sister Liu, hey, whose child is this?" Auntie Mao walked in and saw Qiqi drinking milk in Liu Suqin's arms.
"Haha, look, isn't she standing right in front of you?" Liu Suqin smiled.
"Han Yan's?" Auntie Mao said in surprise. "I've never seen you bring her here before."
Auntie Mao came from the countryside and had seen too many young people getting married and having children in their teens, so she wasn't as surprised as others that Han Yan had a child in his early twenties.
"She was born at the end of last month." Han Yan said with a smile.
Since it was time to cook, Liu Suqin had to carry Qiqi to sit in the dining room. The kitchen door was transparent so that Qiqi could see Han Yan's figure and wouldn't make a fuss.
"Shall we cook pork rib soup?" Auntie Mao asked.
"Okay." Han Yan nodded.
They took out bass, prawns, pork belly, beef, pork ribs, vegetables, carrots, corn, lotus roots, onions, and chives from the fridge.
Auntie Mao picked up the prawns and was about to peel the shells when Han Yan stopped her and said, "Auntie Mao, you don't have to peel all the prawns today. Just remove the prawns, cut the shell with scissors, and then remove the prawns."
Han Yan took out the vermicelli from the cabinet and soaked it in water. Then, he started to cut the pork belly. A long strip of pork belly was cut into pieces by Auntie Mao. She heard a series of knife sounds. When Auntie Mao looked back, the pork belly had been cut into pieces that were half a finger wide and two fingers long. Although the speed was fast, the shape of the pieces was actually uniform.
Han Yan put the cut pork belly on the plate next to him and ignored her.
"Don't we need to marinate it?" Auntie Mao asked curiously.
"No, we need to braise it later to infuse the flavor." Han Yan said as he cut the beef. "By the way, Auntie Mao, marinate the prawns with salt and cooking wine later."
The beef was cut into thin slices that were about one centimeter thick. Han Yan added corn flour, ginger slices, pepper, cooking wine, soy sauce, and soybean oil to marinate it.
After doing all this, Han Yan did not continue to process the bass. Instead, he washed his hands and turned on two stoves. He boiled water in a clay pot and heated up a pot.
Auntie Mao took the knife and chopping board and washed them briefly. Then, she started to process her pork ribs, carrots, corn, and lotus roots.
When the pot was heated up, Han Yan poured some oil into the chopped onions and stir-fried them. He scooped them up and placed them on a plate. Then, he poured the oil into the beef. The beef could not be stir-fried for too long. If it was stir-fried for too long, it would be overcooked. When the color was about to change, he could pour in the onions and Han Yan. Then, he added the oyster sauce and light soy sauce to stir-fry. The main thing was to stir-fry the sauce evenly and put it on a clean plate.
Auntie Mao helped to wash the dishes so that Han Yan would not be in a hurry.
Han Yan boiled a plate of vegetables. After scooping them up, he drizzled the oil and mixed the soy sauce. Auntie Mao quickly carried the dish out and went back to the kitchen to wash a pair of chopsticks and stir them.
With a bang, the door closed, and Song Zhiwen came back.
"Lao Yan! Are you stir-frying? It smells so good!" His voice could be heard even before he arrived.
Song Zhiwen wanted to take Auntie Mao's chopsticks and eat a piece of beef. Liu Suqin scolded him. "You just came back and you already want to eat secretly!"
"Why would I want to eat secretly? I just want to help Auntie Mao mix the vegetables!" Song Zhiwen retracted his hand and said embarrassedly.
"Hmph, do you think I don't know you?" Liu Suqin smiled proudly.
Han Yan poked his head out and said, "Wait a minute. It will be ready soon!"
Qiqi saw her father poking his head out and thought that he was playing games again. She opened her mouth and shouted happily.
Han Yan washed the pot and boiled the water. Then, he put the water into an inverted plate and placed the plate of prawns into it. He covered the lid and steamed it. After estimating the time, he opened the lid of the rice cooker and looked at the perch in the steamer basket. The fish's eyes were bulging. The fish was ready!
After waiting for another half a minute, the rice was ready. Han Yan pulled out the wire.
After two to three minutes, Han Yan opened the lid and took out the prawns with vermicelli and sprinkled some chopped green onions. It's not over yet! He washed the pot and heated the oil. He scooped a spoonful and poured it over the prawns. Finally, he added some soy sauce and sesame oil. He signaled Auntie Mao to bring it out.
Han Yan took out the perch in the steamer basket with a pair of tongs and gently poured the water on the plate. He scooped up the remaining hot oil in the pot and poured it over the fish. Then, he mixed some special soy sauce and drizzled it over. The white and tender fish on the back of the fish formed a sharp contrast with the dark sauce at the bottom of the plate. The smell was enough to make one's mouth water!
At this time, Song Chunfang came back! He was also happily teasing Qiqi in the dining room, while Song Zhiwen was staring covetously at the delicious food on the table, drooling all over the floor.
After Auntie Mao finished washing the dishes, she said goodbye and went home. Liu Suqin asked her to stay and eat with her, but Auntie Mao smiled and declined. She also had a child at home, so it was not convenient for her to stay for dinner.
"The fish is here!" Han Yan was wearing an apron and holding the steamed perch. He shouted, "Wash your hands and eat. The taste will be bad if it gets cold!"
Song Zhiwen was the first to run with a grin.
Han Yan turned off the stove and wrapped a towel around it. He held the steaming pot of pork belly and brought it to the table.
Song Zhiwen picked up his chopsticks and directly picked up a piece of pork belly from the steaming pot. He blew on it twice and stuffed it into his mouth. The pork belly was still very hot. Song Zhiwen grimaced as he stirred the meat in his mouth. He gave a thumbs up and praised, "Oh, delicious! Oh, it's so delicious!" He could not even speak clearly.
Song Chunfang helped to bring out the lotus root corn pork rib soup. Han Yan also took the rice from the rice cooker and put it on the cushion on the table.
He washed his hands and opened the baby stroller. He took Qiqi and carried her to sit in the stroller. Qiqi wanted her father to carry her for a while more, so she cried out, "Ah, ah!" Han Yan kissed her and smiled. "Qiqi, sit for a while. Daddy will carry you after dinner, okay?"
Qiqi quieted down and looked at her father with round eyes as he sat at the table. They ate and gave him a thumbs up as they ate. It was as if this was a family dinner on New Year's Eve. Everyone's expression was very happy, and their smiles were brimming with happiness. The steam from the food softened the lights and made the atmosphere in the dining room more warm.