Gourmet: Twins' Father and Chef of the Kindergarten

Qingqing eagerly volunteered, "Daddy, let me help you..."

"No need, you go play with your sister. I can handle it by myself!" Huang Jun replied with a smile, gently refusing.

"Alright then!"

Though Qingqing felt a tiny bit disappointed, she obediently nodded and took Weiwei’s hand to play in the living room, leaving Huang Jun busy in the kitchen.

After setting the rice to cook, Huang Jun turned and selected a few succulent chicken thighs and some fresh vegetables from the refrigerator, carefully washing each one.

He picked up a sharp kitchen knife, the tip gently touching the joints of the chicken thighs, and with a subtle twist of his wrist, the blade slowly moved along the edge of the bone.

The chicken skin and meat gradually separated under the guidance of the blade, and Huang Jun’s fingers deftly navigated through the gaps, gently pulling and lifting until the chicken meat slid off the bone like silk.

He repeated this action, every deboning appearing so calm and unhurried, without the slightest sign of hesitation.

In no time...

All the chicken thighs were deboned, and he used the tip of the knife to poke a few evenly spaced small holes to help them absorb the flavors better.

"Swish, swish, swish~"

With a slicing technique, he lightly scored a few parallel lines on the chicken thigh meat.

These cuts not only enhanced the appearance of the chicken thighs, but more importantly, during cooking, they prevented the chicken meat from contracting and deforming, maintaining its perfect shape.

Of course.

He was extremely careful while doing this, ensuring not to cut through the chicken skin.

At this point, the pre-treatment of the chicken thighs was complete.

Huang Jun placed them in a dish, evenly sprinkling a suitable amount of salt and black pepper powder.

He extended his hands and gently massaged each piece of chicken, so the seasoning could deeply penetrate every fiber of the meat, adding endless flavor.

He skillfully turned on the gas stove, set a frying pan on it, patiently waited for the pan to heat evenly, then slowly poured in an appropriate amount of olive oil. The surface of the oil gently rippled with fine waves as it embraced the heat.

When the oil reached the optimal temperature...

He slid the marinated chicken thighs, skin-side down, one by one into the hot pan.

In an instant.

The kitchen was filled with the delightful sizzling sound.

Maintaining a moderate heat, he patiently stood by, watching as the chicken thighs slowly transformed in the hot oil, their skins blossoming from raw to a tempting golden hue, the color deepening to reveal a radiant gloss that was hard to resist.

At the right moment, he lightly flipped the chicken thighs with a spatula, letting the other side also bask briefly in the oil bath, frying quickly and evenly to a golden crisp before contentedly transferring them to a plate for later use.

In the remaining base oil in the pan, he swiftly added sliced ginger and chopped scallions, quickly stir-frying them as a rich, enticing aroma immediately filled the air.

In sequence, he poured into the pan cooking oil, soy sauce, steamed fish soy sauce, sugar, and honey, finally slowly adding water while gently stirring to allow the various flavors to intermingle and fuse together.

As the liquid in the pan began to bubble...

He carefully placed the golden, alluring chicken thighs back into the pan, covered it with a lid, and simmered on medium heat for eight minutes, allowing the chicken to absorb the essence of the sauce, becoming even more tender and juicy.

Meanwhile, he did not idle but quickly brought another pot of water to a boil, tossing in the clean, cut broccoli and carrots for a quick blanch to lock in their vivid color and crisp-tender texture.

After a short while.

He timed it perfectly, scooped them all out, drained them, and set them aside.

By now, the chicken thighs in the frying pan were nearly done cooking. He immediately turned up the heat, concentrating on reducing the sauce to a richer, thicker state.

Grasping the panhandle firmly, his wrist gently moved, allowing the chicken thighs to glide within the pan, while continuously spooning the boiling sauce over them, ensuring they absorbed the rich flavors of the glaze until the honey-glazed chicken thighs perfectly presented themselves.

He scooped the delicious dish from the pot, placed it on the quiet cutting board, then picked up the sharp knife to cut the chicken thighs into evenly sized pieces, setting them aside for later use.

He turned to the rice cooker, lifted the lid, and a puff of steam accompanied by the aroma of rice came rushing out.

He scooped up the steaming rice and poured it into the bowl, forming a fluffy mound of rice that exuded a faint fragrance.

After serving three bowls of rice, he laid the chicken steak coated with rich sauce piece by piece on top of the rice, supplemented with the prepared green broccoli and bright carrots, which were arranged in an attractive manner, making the dish even more tempting.

He slowly poured the remaining cooked chicken sauce over the chicken steak, the rich sauce gently seeped through, adding an appetizing glaze. Finally, he didn’t forget to sprinkle some roasted white sesame seeds, adding a touch of elegance.

Just like that, three bowls of fragrant honey soy chicken thigh rice were perfectly created.

"Dinner’s ready, Qingqing, Weiwei..."

He cheerfully announced, carrying the three carefully prepared dishes into the dining room with steady hands.

Only to see Qingqing and Weiwei already waiting eagerly, sitting at each side of the dining table, eyes full of anticipation directed at him.

"Hey, look at my little Qingqing and Weiwei, such impatient little foodies, already at the table waiting!"

He teased as he placed the steaming dishes in front of them one by one, eyes full of affection: "Come on, tell Daddy, how did you girls know it was time for dinner?"

Qingqing’s little face wore a look of pride, her nose twitching slightly, catching the aroma wafting through the air: "Haha, because my nose is super sharp. The moment I smell the delicious fragrance from the kitchen, I know that Daddy’s cooking is almost ready! So I dragged my sister to wash our hands and then obediently sat here waiting!"

Weiwei’s eyes were fixed on the plate of enticing honey soy chicken thigh rice in front of her, her little hands already eagerly picking up the chopsticks. As she reached into the bowl, she said, "Me too, Daddy’s cooking smells so good. As soon as I smell it, I know dinner is ready!"

Huang Jun laughed and lightly tugged their little noses: "Alright, since your little noses are so amazing, hurry up and taste Daddy’s cooking!"

Qingqing and Weiwei nodded vigorously: "Mmm, it smells so good, it must taste just as delicious!"

With that,

Weiwei carefully picked up a piece of honey-glazed chicken steak, the sweet aroma wafting straight to her nose.

She took a bite, her eyes squinting into a thin line, and mumbled, "Daddy, this chicken steak is so yummy!"

Qingqing also scooped one spoonful after another of rice, topped with chicken steak, broccoli, and carrots. She ate with great enjoyment, occasionally looking up to smile at Huang Jun, then continued to devour eagerly, completely immersed in the delicious food.

While eating, she praised, "Daddy, this sauce is so sweet, so delicious!"

"Eat more if it’s good, there’s more in the pot, take your time and don’t choke."

Watching the two kids eat happily, Huang Jun felt delighted inside.

He started to eat as well, first tasting the rice. The rice was perfectly fluffy and had absorbed the essence of the sauce, making it even more flavorful.

He picked up a piece of chicken steak and took a gentle bite. The crispy outer layer and the tender, juicy inside blended in his mouth, making him smile with satisfaction.

The taste was indeed delightful~

...

The next morning, sunlight shone through the sparse clouds, over the kindergarten entrance, adding a touch of warmth to the cozy morning.

"Good morning, kids..."

The teachers of each class stood by the door, their faces filled with gentle smiles, offering the warmest greetings to each small figure stepping into the kindergarten. At the same time, they didn’t forget to convey an important message to the parents who arrived: "Attention all parents, please listen carefully. Next Friday, our kindergarten will hold a wonderful garden party. We sincerely invite every parent and child to participate, and we believe it will be a day filled with laughter and beautiful memories."

Upon hearing the news about the upcoming kindergarten event, the parents’ first reaction wasn’t to inquire about the specifics of the event, but they couldn’t help but ask eagerly: "By the way, Miss Yang, will the kindergarten provide food on the event day? Do we have a chance to join for a meal, haha?"

In response to the parents’ inquiry, Yang Yuxi smiled and shook her head, replying: "Dear parents, this garden party will not include breakfast or lunch prepared by us. However, rest assured, we have meticulously planned a variety of activities to ensure you have a good time.

With those words, the smiles on the parents’ faces, who had been looking forward to a delicious meal at the kindergarten, instantly froze.

A wave of disappointment washed over them!