The next day —
Yurihana Hyakuryo felt quite awkward seeing Lu Ping'an early in the morning, after all, Jashin-chan had done such a thing last night.
Even with her strong psychological fortitude, and usually not caring much about other people's gazes, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed at this moment.
However, seeing that Lu Ping'an had no intention of mentioning last night's events and his attitude towards her remained consistent, Yurihana Hyakuryo breathed a sigh of relief and gradually returned to her original state of mind.
“Speaking of Jashin-chan, has she not gotten up yet?”
Lu Ping'an, who had taken on the task of making breakfast and was simmering porridge in the kitchen, didn't see the scummy snake's figure and asked casually.
“Her…”
Mentioning Jashin-chan, Yurihana Hyakuryo's small face darkened, “She's still recovering.”
“…” Lu Ping'an's expression was subtle.
He didn't know what Jashin-chan had gone through last night, and frankly, he wasn't particularly keen to know, so he decisively changed the subject:
“The porridge is almost ready. I made a pot of Colorful Assorted Beef Porridge with the ingredients at home.”
“Colorful?”
Yurihana Hyakuryo tilted her head, her attention somewhat diverted, and asked curiously:
“Does it have five colors?”
She was actually more curious if this dish would glow!
“Yes, I added diced carrots, diced broccoli, diced mushrooms, and diced beef to the porridge. Plus the white of the porridge itself, that makes five colors.”
Lu Ping'an spoke eloquently.
When it came to food, he was truly super confident now and especially looked forward to it.
He wondered how delicious this porridge would taste!
Yurihana Hyakuryo was also very much looking forward to it. She nodded, said the porridge smelled very fragrant, and then casually asked:
“Do you usually drink porridge for breakfast over there?”
“Yes, some southerners have this habit. Mainly, there are just too many breakfast options. You can buy all kinds of steamed buns, noodles, wontons, dumplings, various rice balls, Wenling Qiaogao, Jianbing Guozi, Guangdong Changfen, and various pastries everywhere.”
“I usually rotate what I eat; sometimes, I don’t repeat a dish for a whole week.”
Of course, sometimes he woke up late and ate breakfast and lunch together.
In the mornings, he could also eat rice bowls, braised chicken with rice, and the like.
There were truly many choices!
“That’s so nice!”
Yurihana Hyakuryo couldn't help but feel a little envious upon hearing this:
“There are very few places selling breakfast here. We usually get it at convenience stores, buying some rice balls, bread, sandwiches, or meat buns.”
She was really envious; being able to buy so many delicious things in the morning!
Some of them she had never even heard of.
First time hearing about them!
“Hahaha.” Lu Ping'an laughed.
“…”
While chatting, the porridge was almost done. Lu Ping'an turned off the heat and said to Baihe Ling:
“Let it simmer for a while. This will make the porridge taste richer and also help the rice oil to separate.”
“Rice oil?”
Hearing a strange term, Yurihana Hyakuryo was stunned for a moment, looking utterly bewildered.
“It’s the thick liquid that floats on top when cooking rice porridge. After cooling, it becomes a delicate, viscous, creamy substance. Once dried, it even turns into a thin, cicada-wing-like ‘porridge skin’.”
Lu Ping'an explained.
“I see! This is the first time I’ve heard of this in my life. I’ve learned something new!”
Yurihana Hyakuryo felt her horizons broaden.
“This is also considered a professional term; only some professionals understand it.”
Lu Ping'an took out two bowls from the cupboard and said:
“By the way, rice oil is also known as porridge oil and has the effects of nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, and promoting diuresis. It primarily treats symptoms such as spleen deficiency with emaciation, kidney deficiency leading to infertility, and turbid urination.”
“In traditional Chinese medicine theory, rice oil is believed to nourish yin and tonify the kidneys, making it particularly suitable for consumption by those weakened after illness, infants, postpartum women, and the elderly. Furthermore, rice oil can benefit qi and nourish yin, moisten dryness, and is not overly greasy, making it suitable for nourishing the body.”
“This falls under a nutritionist's knowledge.”
Yurihana Hyakuryo nodded silently and decided to drink more later.
…
Soon, ten minutes passed.
Lu Ping'an wrapped his hand with a cloth and lifted the lid of the clay pot.
Immediately,
A white steam, like a mushroom cloud, rose up, and a shimmering glow bloomed within the clay pot.
A rich aroma of rice, mixed with the fresh scent of mushrooms and beef, the smell of broccoli and carrots, a hint of spicy ginger, and the fragrance of pepper, wafted over.
Just smelling it made one's appetite soar!
‘It’s glowing!’
Yurihana Hyakuryo, standing by, watched the Hikarimono Cuisine in the clay pot, her eyes gleaming slightly.
Seeing Hikarimono Cuisine again, she still found it incredibly unbelievable, and there was a strange sense of excitement.
Smelling the rich and enticing aroma in the air, and looking at the various ingredients dotted within the snow-white rice grains in the clay pot, her salivary glands couldn't help but secrete faster.
She was craving it!
Lu Ping'an gracefully sprinkled a handful of pre-prepared chopped green onions into the pot, then added a few drops of sesame oil, stirred it evenly with a ladle, scooped out a bowl, placed a spoon on it, and handed it to Baihe Ling, saying:
“Here, Colorful Assorted Beef Porridge, please enjoy!”
“arigado!”
Yurihana Hyakuryo took it with both hands, full of joy, like a little girl receiving a gift.
Her fingertips inadvertently touched Lu Ping'an’s hand, bringing a warm, smooth sensation.
Seeing her so happy, Lu Ping'an's mood also brightened a bit.
He served himself a bowl, took a spoon from the multi-functional chopstick holder nearby, and was about to start eating when he felt a hand grabbing his pant leg.
He looked down and was startled.
He saw Jashin-chan, with dry hair, thick dark circles under her eyes, sunken cheeks, and dry lips, as if she had been hungry for a long time, or was very weak after a serious illness, lying on the ground, tugging at his pant leg, and looking up with a face full of longing, saying:
“Porridge, I want porridge!”
“Alright, alright… Here you go, here you go, don’t pull my pants!” Lu Ping'an grabbed his pants and complained speechlessly, then squatted down and placed the glowing, visually appealing, and richly fragrant porridge in front of Jashin-chan.
It was hard to imagine what this fellow had gone through last night to end up like this…
“…”
Coming to the living room, Yurihana Hyakuryo placed the porridge on the low table and sat down, casting a glance at the two of them.
Her life motto was to take revenge on the spot, never dragging it out until tomorrow. Jashin-chan had already been punished last night, so she didn't say much at this moment.
“Mmm~~~, it smells so good~!”
Smelling the porridge up close, and looking at its vibrant colors, Jashin-chan couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. Then she picked up a spoon and, despite the porridge being scalding hot fresh out of the pot, scooped a spoonful and devoured it.
This spoonful included diced mushrooms, diced beef, diced carrots, diced broccoli, and chopped green onions—one could say it contained all the essence and deliciousness of the Colorful Assorted Beef Porridge.
As a spoonful of porridge entered her mouth, Jashin-chan's expression visibly softened, and her complexion rapidly recovered.
Then she began to devour it wildly, wolfing it down!
“...It’s truly delicious!”
The rice grains were delicate and sweet, melting in her mouth. The diced beef was tender and juicy, with a pleasant chewiness, while the vegetables retained a perfectly crisp texture. The textures of the various ingredients complemented each other, creating distinct layers, and every bite felt like a feast for the taste buds!
“Ah ah ah ah ah —!”
When she came to her senses, Jashin-chan was already standing on a snow-capped mountain peak.
She held ski poles in her hands, wore goggles on her face, and had a snowboard under her tail, then suddenly slid down from the peak!
…
…