Chapter 32 (Part 1): The Culinary Tycoon

Going On A Date

After finishing the preparations for the next day’s snack stall, Yu Qingze and Chang Hao sat together in the main room to study. Chang Hao was working on the assignments given by their master, while Yu Qingze held a book and practiced writing traditional characters on Chang Hao’s wooden tray.

At first, Yu Qingze was quite focused, but as he continued reading, his mind started to wander.

Since the morning when he had decided to confess his feelings to Brother Le on the Gers’ Festival, Yu Qingze had been excited for a long time. His lips remained curved with anticipation, and his heart was filled with excitement.

He secretly pondered, should he do this first and then that on the Gers’ Festival day, or should he do that first and then this? His mind simulated various scenarios of dates and confessions, and he became so immersed in his thoughts that he couldn’t help but let out a silly laugh.

“Hehe…”

Chang Hao shook his hand while writing, causing the brush tip to press heavily, resulting in a misshapen stroke with a big belly in the middle.

Chang Hao: …A perfectly good character, and it got ruined like this.

The young boy sighed and looked up at Yu Qingze beside him with a puzzled expression.

Does Big Brother Yu find the book so interesting? He’s still on the same page, but I’ve already finished writing on my paper…

“Hehehe…”

Chang Hao: …Hmm, why does this laughter sound more and more eerie?

“Big Brother Yu, is this book really interesting? What’s it about?” Chang Hao curiously asked.

Unfortunately, his Big Brother Yu’s eyes were fixed on the book, his mind wandering elsewhere, and his ears seemed to be blocked, as he didn’t hear his question at all.

Chang Hao: …

“Big Brother Yu?” Chang Hao called out expressionlessly and waved his hand in front of him, finally startling the “lost in a book” Yu Qingze.

“Huh? What? Xiao Hao, what did you say?” Yu Qingze exclaimed, looking at Chang Hao’s helpless and speechless expression. He realized that he had been too engrossed in his thoughts, unable to even hide the silly smile on his face.

Chang Hao pointed to the book in Yu Qingze’s hands and asked, “Does this page tell an interesting story? You’ve been reading it for a long time, laughing hehehe.”

“Really?” Yu Qingze wiped his face with his hand, composing his expression, and then answered Chang Hao’s previous question, “I was lost in my thoughts, not reading the book.”

Chang Hao became curious and asked, “What were you thinking about? You were so lost in thought that you didn’t even hear me. Is it something good?”

Yu Qingze’s mind flashed with what he had just been thinking, and he grinned, saying, “It’s something good. Hey, Xiao Hao, let me ask you, who did your brother used to go to the city with to see the lanterns on the Gers’ Festival?”

“Gers’ Festival?” Chang Hao shook his head and said, “My brother doesn’t celebrate the Gers’ Festival. In my memory, he has never gone to the city to see the lanterns on the Gers’ Festival. He only goes with me and Grandpa to see the lanterns on the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Lantern Festival.”

Yu Qingze was astonished, his mouth involuntarily wide open, as he asked, “He has never gone even once?”

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Chang Hao nodded firmly and said, “As far as I can remember, we only went to the city to see lanterns on the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Lantern Festival. My brother definitely hasn’t gone on the Gers’ Festival.”

If Chang Le never went, then it would be troublesome. If he was to invite him, based on his personality, he definitely wouldn’t go.

Yu Qingze furrowed his brow, thinking and pondering, how could he bring Chang Le to the city?

“Big Brother Yu, do you want to go to the city to see the lanterns?” Chang Hao asked him, wide-eyed.

Yu Qingze looked at Chang Hao, suddenly had a brilliant idea, and asked, “Yes, I want to go. I also want to bring your brother along. Do you have any ideas?”

Chang Hao’s eyes lit up, and he asked in a hushed voice, “Are you planning a secret meeting?”

“What secret meeting! Don’t use the wrong words!” Yu Qingze patted Chang Hao’s head and corrected him, saying, “It’s a ‘date’.”

“Oh, a date~” Chang Hao imitated with squinted eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Yu Qingze gave him an exasperated pat and then said, “Quick, come up with a plan. If I directly ask him to go, he definitely won’t agree. You have to help me.”

“It’s simple.” Chang Hao replied.

Yu Qingze anxiously asked, “How?”

Chang Hao’s eyes twinkled, and he smiled mischievously, “Big Brother Yu, every time there’s a lantern festival, there are vendors selling small sugar figurines on the streets. They’re delicious. Every time I go, my brother buys one for me.”

What a foodie!

Yu Qingze laughed and scolded, “You only think about eating! Fine, I’ll buy it for you. Tell me, what else do you want to eat? I’ll get it all for you, okay? Hurry up and tell me.”

“And roasted chestnuts and hawthorn skewers!”

“Alright, alright, tell me quickly, your brother will be done with his shower soon!”

“Come closer.” Chang Hao mysteriously beckoned to Yu Qingze, signaling him to come closer.

Yu Qingze leaned in, and Chang Hao whispered a series of things in his ear.

After hearing it, Yu Qingze had some doubts and said, “Will it work?”

Chang Hao patted his chest confidently and said, “It will definitely work! My brother, I understand him!”

Yu Qingze looked at him skeptically and said, “Isn’t it just for the small sugar figurines, roasted chestnuts, and hawthorn skewers?”

Chang Hao grinned, pinched his fingers, and made a tiny gesture, saying, “That’s just a very small reason. Don’t worry about it. The most important thing is that this plan will work.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you this time. Just make sure you cooperate well.”

“No problem.”

On the eighth day of the lunar calendar, which was the Gers’ Festival, the snack stall was closed for the day.

The entire family had good habits and rarely slept in. They were all early risers.

Grandpa Chang liked to take a walk in the fields in the morning. Sometimes he would even bring back some grass for the pigs. Chang Le would usually go to cut the grass or do the laundry. Since Chang Hao started attending school, he had to practice martial arts and recite his lessons in the morning.

The young boy was diligent in his studies. Apart from completing the tasks assigned by his master, he also asked Yu Qingze to teach him how to recognize characters. With his good memory, intelligence, and diligence, he learned quickly. Even Yu Qingze praised him. This made both Chang Le and Grandpa Chang very happy.

Yu Qingze deliberately woke up early and prepared a rich breakfast: Xiaolongbao, soup dumplings, crystal dumplings, seaweed salad, and preserved vegetable and dried radish porridge.

Normally, they would have a simple breakfast before setting up the stall. But now that they had time, Yu Qingze wanted everyone to have a good and hearty meal.

Moreover, it was the Gers’ Festival today.

At the breakfast table, everyone looked at the bountiful spread of dishes with surprise and happiness.

“Brother Le, come here. Today is the Gers’ Festival, which is your day. I wish you a happy festival and happiness every day.” Yu Qingze picked up a crystal dumpling and placed it in Chang Le’s bowl, smiling as he spoke.

It was the first time Chang Le had received such a greeting for the festival. He felt a bit shy, his face turning slightly red. He extended his hand to make a gesture of gratitude.

Chang Hao followed suit and picked up a soup-filled dumpling, placing it in his brother’s bowl, saying, “Then I wish you, brother, a happy festival, good health, and may everything go smoothly!”

The young boy rarely spoke such eloquent greetings that gave people goosebumps. He stumbled for a moment but then chuckled to himself.

Chang Le smiled, gestured his thanks, and also picked up a soup-filled dumpling to put in his brother’s bowl.

Grandpa Chang smiled and didn’t say anything. He picked up a chopstick of seaweed and put it in his grandson’s bowl. “Eat more.”

Chang Le received the bowl with both hands and nodded with a smile at his grandfather.

They enjoyed their breakfast happily and with a pleasant aroma.

Since the lantern festival was in the evening, they all went to the fields during the day, except for Chang Hao who went to school. Taking advantage of being at home, they sowed radish, Chinese cabbage, and coriander seeds. By the time of the Lunar New Year, they would be able to harvest and enjoy them.

At noon, when Chang Hao returned from school, he started to act spoiled to his brother, saying, “Brother, there’s a lantern festival tonight. Let’s go and see it, okay? Everyone in the school is going, so let’s go too. It’s been a long time since we last went.”

Chang Brother Le gestured that they should wait a few days because Mid-Autumn Festival was coming up, and they could go then.

“We can go in a few days, but let’s go today as well. I’ve never been to a lantern festival on the Gers’ Festival before. I heard that the lanterns sold on the Gers’ Festival are different and very beautiful.” Chang Hao looked at his brother with pleading eyes, his expression full of pitiful longing. He really wanted to go.

Initially, Chang Le subconsciously didn’t want to go out on the Gers’ Festival, but seeing his brother so eager, he couldn’t help but soften his heart. After struggling for a while, he finally nodded.

Chang Hao, thrilled that his brother agreed, happily ran to the kitchen to report the good news to Yu Qingze.

“Well done, little guy! I’ll bring you some delicious snacks tonight!” Yu Qingze praised him with a thumbs-up. The young Chang Hao happily dashed out to find his grandfather. Grandpa also needed to be informed and involved in Yu Qingze’s plan.

In the afternoon, since they had decided to go and see the lanterns at night, they had dinner a bit earlier. After Chang Hao finished school in the afternoon, they began their meal, taking advantage of the daylight before it got dark.

After enjoying the delicious dinner, they freshened up a bit, changed into clean clothes, locked the door, and happily set off towards the town.

There were quite a few people with the same idea, and many villagers were heading to the town at this time as well.

When some villagers saw Chang Hao and Chang Le, they struck up a conversation. “Hey, Chang Hao, are you going to see the lanterns today too?”

Chang Hao’s mouth curved up, and he replied, “Yeah, Uncle Feng, are you and your family going too?”

“Yes, let’s go and join in the fun.”

The two of them continued chatting along the way, and when they reached the intersection of the small road and the main road, Chang Hao suddenly exclaimed.

“Oh no, I messed up!”

The others turned to look at him, and Yu Qingze asked with fake concern, “What’s wrong?”

Grandpa Chang glared at him and said, “You little monkey, why are you shouting like that?”

Chang Le also looked at his brother in confusion.

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Thingyan: Thank goodness the author didn’t write what Yu Qingze cooked for dinner. Otherwise, I couldn’t help but search for the food pics and put them up in chapter. Say no to food porn 🙅🏻‍♀️ 🥲