Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Lin Shengjin lifted his head from his hands, knowing he couldn't avoid it anymore. He looked at the sides of the street to distract himself.

Professor Liu could see a hint of despair on his young apprentice's face.

He thought to himself that during his illness, Xiaolin must have been quite exhausted. This time, he should give the child a few days off to rest properly.

Lin Shengjin had no idea that he had mysteriously gained a rather long vacation.

The corn along the way had grown much taller, now reaching about half a person's height. The lush green fields were a pleasant sight. Most of the roads in the outskirts were still unpaved, and the pickup truck jolted frequently.

Sometimes, Lin Shengjin even felt like he was flying off the truck, defying gravity!

Lin Shengjin: "…"

This made it impossible for him to even focus on feeling hopeless.

Physical conditions did not allow it.

He had to hold onto the pickup's side panel with one hand to steady himself.

"Thank goodness we put the machine in the passenger seat," Professor Liu remarked, accustomed to the rough road conditions.

Lin Shengjin nodded in agreement. "Teacher, if you're uncomfortable, you can lean on me."

"Haha, with your small frame? Forget it. In my youth, I climbed mountains and crossed rivers for surveys, carrying equipment without breaking a sweat."

His recent illness was due to not wearing a coat when it got cold; it had nothing to do with his physical fitness!

"Yes, yes, yes." Lin Shengjin didn't argue; the old man was getting more stubborn with age.

"By the way, in a few days, let's gather with Xiao Wen. She's having an enrollment celebration."

Lin Shengjin was surprised. "Did the acceptance letter arrive?"

"It did."

"Changxiang got into Jianying University's Computer Science Department. I recommended she choose Architecture, but she insisted on Computer Science. I heard she jumped for joy when she received the acceptance letter!"

Professor Liu's wrinkled face showed no particular joy, as a civil engineer, he often dealt with creative designs from architects.

In his heart, this was still somewhat related to his field.

For a girl, drawing plans seemed like a good choice.

Lin Shengjin, however, thought this was a great decision. He tactfully said, "Changxiang is smart, and computer science is advancing rapidly. I find it interesting too; learning it would be good."

Professor Liu suddenly turned to glare at Lin Shengjin.

Facing his teacher's stern gaze, Lin Shengjin smiled shyly but didn't change his opinion.

He couldn't lie just to comfort his teacher.

Moreover, studying should be based on interest; otherwise, it would be painful.

Choosing a major should ultimately be up to Wen Changxiang herself.

Professor Liu conceded defeat.

This young apprentice, usually obedient, stood firm when it mattered.

"Sigh, let her be. If she's happy, that's enough. We were going to celebrate earlier, but Changxiang wanted to travel, so it got delayed. When the time comes, I'll call you," Professor Liu said with a bitter smile, waving his hand. He could only offer suggestions.

Young people make their own choices.

Regarding the Wen family, Professor Liu had always felt conflicted. He had taught a promising student, hoping he would shine in the industry, but Wen Shouhong went into the car business instead.

It was completely unrelated!

Why?

Was their field so unappealing?

Every time he saw Wen Shouhong, Professor Liu felt frustrated. His wife even said he was being petty.

Therefore, although Lin Shengjin had a good relationship with his teacher, he had limited interactions with Mr. Wen's family.

Lin Shengjin understood his teacher's concern and didn't bring up the topic again.

However, he felt a bit happier. Changxiang was doing well and had a bright future ahead. As a teacher, such news always brought him joy.

Suddenly, a waft of meat aroma reached them.

The scent was somewhat familiar.

It was a bit like... braised pork rice?!

But it was slightly different.

It wasn't as fragrant as Shen Siqin's braised pork rice.

Yet, it was very similar!

Curious, he followed the scent.

Soon, he saw a food stall near the construction site of a newly developed neighborhood, selling boxed meals.

Many people were buying them.

As they got closer, Lin Shengjin became more certain that the smell was very similar to that of braised pork rice, with other fragrances mixed in.

"Is someone selling boxed meals this early in the morning?"

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Professor Liu smelled it too.

"Smells pretty good," Professor Liu said, turning his head to look. "No wonder so many people are buying this early."

Lin Shengjin frowned slightly.

He didn't know what was going on. Although Shen Siqin's dishes weren't likely his own creations, Lin Shengjin had lived in N City for years and had never seen similar dishes.

To say Shen Siqin had nothing to do with this was hard to believe.

But how exactly he was involved, Lin Shengjin couldn't figure out.

He tilted his head, pondering for a moment before suddenly remembering that Shen Siqin always cooked outside the convenience store!

Shen Siqin seemed too lazy to teach anyone proactively, and Lin Shengjin hadn't heard of him taking any apprentices.

Had someone learned his recipes by stealth?

How foolish!

"Achoo!" Shen Siqin grabbed two tissues to cover his nose, but there was nothing there.

"Someone must be thinking about me," Shen Siqin muttered.

He wouldn't guess that someone was talking about him negatively.

He balled up the tissues and threw them into the trash bin.

After washing his hands again, he went to get some milk.

Yesterday, he made a pot of honey red beans.

He refrigerated them in the freezer.

Today, he planned to make double-layered milk pudding with the milk he ordered!

The process is relatively simple, but making it well isn't easy.

First, the milk needs to have a high fat content; apparently, water buffalo milk is best.

But he didn't have any.

So he used regular milk, though the skin might be slightly thinner.

He separated four egg whites, keeping the yolks for making fried rice for himself and his nephew at noon.

He put sugar in a pot, turned on the stove, added about 400 milliliters of milk, and heated it until it started to bubble, then poured it out.

He waited for the milk to cool down.

His luck was good; the milk had a high fat content, and a thick layer of skin formed on its surface.

Gently breaking the skin, he poured out most of the milk, leaving a little bit to keep the skin intact in the bowl.

He mixed the eggs with the milk, stirred them thoroughly, and strained the mixture once to make the pudding smoother.

Then he poured the egg-milk mixture back into the bowl with the skin, pouring along the edge to avoid damaging the skin.

He sealed the bowl and steamed it for about ten minutes.

Two servings of double-layered milk pudding were done!

He soaked the red beans overnight and preferred using a pressure cooker to cook them with rock sugar.

After making the honey red beans yesterday, Shen Siqin refrigerated them.

Now, he placed the slightly chilled honey red beans on top of the pudding.

The thick skin of the pudding held the red beans, keeping them on the surface.

The shiny red beans atop the tender pudding looked delightful.

Just looking at it was a pleasure.

Shen Siqin admired his creation for a moment before carefully finding a porcelain spoon. He carried the pudding and spoon to the cash register, turned on the TV, and selected a food show to watch while eating.

After setting everything up, he scooped a spoonful of pudding with honey red beans and savored it.

The smooth, creamy pudding combined with the cool, sweet red beans, creating a delightful taste.

It truly was one of his two favorite desserts!!

It was delicious.

Shen Siqin watched the show while enjoying his favorite honey red bean pudding.

Suddenly, he felt a bit sentimental, wishing he could see Lin Shengjin right now.

As he thought this, he caught sight of a green pickup truck out of the corner of his eye.

He quite liked this type of vehicle.

Unable to resist, he looked up and took a few more glances.

Is there someone back there?

Lin Shengjin instinctively curled up his body, not wanting to get out of the car.

Then he felt strange.

Did he used to worry so much about losing face?

It’s not the first time he’s been to a construction site.

Even if Shen Siqin saw him, it shouldn’t really matter, should it?

With that thought, he relaxed and jumped down from the truck bed before his teacher.

Then he reached out to support his teacher’s arm, helping him step down slowly.

The porcelain spoon was gently placed on the double-layered milk.

Shen Siqin quietly watched outside the window.

Just now, he seemed to see Lin Shengjin, covered in dust, jump down from the pickup truck!

He looked like a pretty, dusty stray cat, nimbly leaping from a height.

Shen Siqin didn’t blink, savoring the moment.

So this is another side of Lin Shengjin.

How cute.

"Old Chen, is this the stall you mentioned?" Professor Liu asked.

Master Chen nodded: "This is called a Jianbing Guozi. It’s delicious, and you can choose your toppings. The soy milk here is good too. Go ahead and order; I’ll pay."

"You old miser, getting even more stingy," Professor Liu said with a laugh, pointing at him.

How much could this cost?

The bald Master Chen touched his shiny forehead: "Hey, as long as it’s tasty, who cares about the rest?"

Lin Shengjin followed behind his teacher and Master Chen, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

He hadn’t passed through the North Gate for many days, but he heard from colleagues who stayed on campus that the place selling fried dough sticks had great breakfast.

Lin Shengjin originally kept his gaze forward intentionally.

But when he saw Wang Qiutao skillfully flipping a pancake with her spatula, he was instantly captivated.

He hadn’t eaten this kind of Jianbing Guozi before, but it looked quite delicious.

Lin Shengjin maintained a blank expression.

What should he add?

Shen Siqin walked out of the convenience store and quietly asked Uncle Zhang, who was munching on a fried dough stick, to watch the shop for a bit.

Zhang Qi assumed he was going to buy breakfast and nodded, signaling him to hurry.

Shen Siqin thanked Zhang Qi and quietly joined the line behind Lin Shengjin.

In front of Lin Shengjin were his teacher and his teacher’s friend, so Lin Shengjin naturally stood at the end of the line.

Oh, no, now Shen Siqin is at the end.

Lin Shengjin secretly tiptoed to see what toppings were available.

Ham sausages sound good.

Hmm! There’s cilantro. I don’t want that.

A little bit of scallions would be fine.

Is that spicy strips?

If my teachers are here, adding spicy strips might make me seem childish.

Ah, better not add them then.

Later, if it’s convenient, he could ask colleagues to bring him breakfast, just like he asks others to bring him lunch now.

He could add the spicy strips then.

There’s even crispy pork!

Crispy pork is a must-have.

Maybe some greens too.

As the line moved forward, Lin Shengjin stepped forward as well.

"I want a Jianbing Guozi without cilantro, with an egg, crispy pork, ham sausage, two pieces of greens! And spicy!" Lin Shengjin repeated the words he heard from regular customers, blurting out his order all at once.

Shen Siqin smiled slightly.

Clearly, he loves meat, but why has Lin Shengjin become so thin?

"Sure thing." Wang Qiutao responded. As she looked up, she saw Shen Siqin standing behind Lin Shengjin.

Wang Qiutao’s smile instantly became warmer: "Xiao Shen, you’re here! I thought you weren’t coming today."

Lin Shengjin: "???!!!!!"

What?

Who?

He whipped around and saw Shen Siqin standing quietly behind him!

Lin Shengjin's pupils dilated sharply.