Chapter 676: Chapter 660: That Spicy Kick
The dawn slowly drew back the curtain, marking the beginning of another colorful morning.
Gradually.
The sun rose higher and higher, casting thousands of golden rays, and the few white clouds floating in the sky were instantly gilded with a bright golden edge.
At 8:10.
Xu Hao handed a pile of receipts and invoices to Huang Tao, who came every morning for breakfast and to inspect the store: "Boss, these are the invoices and receipts for yesterday’s various ingredient purchases. Have a look."
The new store had been managed by Xu Hao and Jiang Chao, but all purchasing and payment expenses needed receipts and invoices. Xu Hao had kept them well and noted each one for Huang Tao to reconcile.
Huang Tao took them and carefully flipped through them.
Every expense was clear and had the corresponding receipts and invoices.
Huang Tao nodded in satisfaction: "No problem. You’ll have to work hard in the future. If there’s ever a shortage of money, just let me know."
These words.
Warmed Xu Hao and the others’ hearts.
Xu Hao chuckled foolishly: "Don’t worry, boss. We all have enough money right now; you just need to pay our salaries as usual."
"Boss, eat up. I’ll get back to work."
"Alright, you go ahead!"
Huang Tao smiled as he watched Xu Hao head to the kitchen, then picked up his phone, opened WeChat, and transferred the payment to each vendor boss.
Each vendor boss responded shortly after receiving the payment.
Mostly messages like "Received" and words of thanks.
"Daddy, hurry, hurry up, we’re going to be late~!"
Xuanxuan finally finished a full cup of fresh milk and jumped off the chair impatiently after making sure there was no milk left in the cup, urging Huang Tao beside her.
In kindergarten, Teacher Ye had told the kids not to be late during school days because at 8:30, they would gather on the playground for morning exercises, and if they were late, they’d have to stay in the classroom alone.
If it were only this, she wouldn’t think much of it.
But mainly because Teacher Ye said that kids who weren’t late for school would be awarded a little red flower.
So!
For the sake of this little red flower symbolizing honor, Xuanxuan was determined.
She was determined to earn it.
She changed her usual sluggish manner, becoming very positive and upbeat.
"I know, I know~"
Huang Tao put away his phone and wiped her mouth with a napkin: "You just want to leave daddy and play with Qianqian and your friends, huh? Daddy’s sad, daddy’s heartbroken."
While helping her fill her small water bottle with some lukewarm water, Huang Tao pretended to be jealous, looking secretly heartbroken.
However, it was unclear how much of it was pretend.
Of course.
There was some genuine feeling in it too!
"Alright then!"
Xuanxuan sighed heavily, as if an invisible burden had suddenly weighed down on her shoulders, and she shrugged helplessly, saying like a little adult: "Actually, I really want to spend more time with you, daddy, but Teacher Ye said that kids who are late for school are not good and won’t get the little red flower, so I don’t want to be late!"
Her little expression made Huang Tao chuckle and he couldn’t help but tousle Xuanxuan’s sister Xixi’s little head affectionately, saying: "Don’t worry, daddy won’t let you be late. You’ll surely get the little red flower."
Saying this, Huang Tao picked up Xuanxuan’s little backpack and water bottle, held her little hand, and left the store.
Ding Suqin happened to be standing by the counter next to the store entrance. Seeing them, she waved and reminded them, smiling: "Xuanxuan, off to school now, listen to the teachers at kindergarten..."
Xuanxuan nodded hard: "Yes!"
Agreeing, she stepped out eagerly, unable to wait any longer.
Leaving the store,
Huang Tao drove Xuanxuan to Golden Sun Kindergarten.
Since they avoided the congested roads, they made a small detour but arrived at the kindergarten smoothly.
After getting out of the car,
Huang Tao initially intended to walk Xuanxuan to the school gate, but the little one rejected him: "Daddy, I’ll go in myself, you don’t have to walk me over."
Huang Tao nodded in agreement with her suggestion, smiling: "Alright, you go ahead, daddy will watch you go in."
"Daddy, bye~"
Xuanxuan waved her small hand at him and then made a heart gesture at him, sweetly saying: "Daddy, love you~"
This unexpected declaration of love made Huang Tao’s heart fill with joy!
Baby, daddy loves you too~
He waved with a smile, watching the tiny figure disappear at the kindergarten gate.
Then he drove to the new store in the city center.
Inside the store,
The employees were all busy.
Old Qian, who was preparing the ingredients needed for the day with other sous chefs, saw Huang Tao come in and said with a smile: "Boss, I bought the chicken legs and those ingredients you wanted yesterday."
"Alright, got it. You guys grab breakfast first!"
Huang Tao nodded and, as usual, placed the breakfast he brought on the dining table, inviting everyone to have breakfast.
Li Chengzhan took a big bite of a pan-fried bun and asked with his mouth full: "Boss, are you making a new dish?"
"Yes."
Huang Tao smiled slightly: "Chengzhan, do you like eating spicy food?"
He personally could handle it well, finding that occasionally eating spicy food could dispel dampness, and, of course, he loved that kick.
These words made Li Chengzhan immediately realize that the new dish his boss intended to make today was a spicy dish!
His wealthy second-generation friends all envied him for being the first to taste the various new dishes Huang Tao came up with.
Of course,
Having his culinary desires greatly satisfied, Li Chengzhan looked far healthier now, as he used to be quite weak.
He nodded and said: "I can eat average spiciness, but if it’s too spicy, I might end up with diarrhea."
What he said was the plain truth.
He used to really like spicy food, often eating snacks like street-side hot bars and barbecues, and he’d even order spicy dishes at restaurants and opt for spicy flavors when eating grilled fish.
Yet ever since he fell in love with the food at the Delicious Restaurant, he hadn’t had other spicy dishes for nearly half a year now.
"Alright, I’ll prepare some Kung Pao Chicken for you guys to try later."
After Huang Tao shared his idea, he indeed saw Li Chengzhan’s eyes light up.
He seemed to like it.
Everyone else felt the same!
They all expressed their anticipation: "Ah, good, good; it’ll be delicious for sure!"
You have to admit, this group are really the perfect cheerleaders!
Li Chengzhan belatedly remembered the reminders from his wealthy second-generation buddies.
Oh~
He helplessly pulled out his phone, found their small group of a dozen people, edited a message, and sent it.
"Major news! Major news! Major news! My boss is making a new dish..."
The phone buzzed with replies before he had a chance to put it away.
Ma Junwen: At the new store? I’ll be right there!
Lin Anan: I’ll be there in five minutes!
Shao Yuqiao: Wait for me, I’m coming right away!
Liang Lu Yang: Thanks, brother, on my way!
Geez~
The replies came in super fast...
These guys must be glued to their phones...
Thinking they’d be arriving soon, Li Chengzhan had to inform Huang Tao of the unfortunate news: "Boss, sorry, I mentioned in the group chat that you’re making a new dish, and once Junwen and the others heard about it, they couldn’t wait to come over."
Understandingly, Huang Tao laughed: "No problem, I’ll just make more later! They can try the dish too."
Actually, this tasting process was optional.
He considered himself the most qualified taste tester.
But since Li Chengzhan had already spilled the beans, he couldn’t just turn away Ma Junwen and these other rich second-generation kids!
After all, it was just a few more pairs of chopsticks, so let them come!
