Chapter 160: Food Is Ready
That evening, Sunnie decided to celebrate their successful return with the crops. She offered to prepare something special for everyone.
The bags of crops they had acquired were stored in the storage space that had been built while they were away. During their absence, those who had stayed behind had constructed a storage area for keeping crops, ingredients, cooking condiments, and similar items. The bags were safely placed inside.
They didn’t have many extravagant ingredients for preparing something grand, so Sunnie went through the bags to find something they could at least use. She found plenty of vegetables and decided they would make something out of that.
"We’ll be making some vegetable soup," she announced.
Little Black didn’t seem happy at all. "Ah, no! I don’t like vegetables!"
"But it’s healthy for you," Zukka told him.
"I still don’t like it," Little Black insisted, arms folded.
Eris and Luka sighed. "We also don’t like it," the two of them said at the same time.
Sunnie stared at them. "Are you guys kids or what? How can you not like vegetables?"
Eris pouted as Luka sighed. "Can we just have some meat or something? Don’t worry, we’ll go and look for some meat," Eris suggested.
But Sunnie shook her head. "No. Don’t worry, I’ll prepare this, and I’ll make sure you love it."
Luka sighed. "Impossible. I never like vegetable-heavy meals."
Sunnie smiled. "Don’t worry, I’ll change that after tonight."
---
It was a quick meal. Sunnie gathered the necessary vegetables and washed them clean. She cut the vegetables and mixed them together while gathering other necessary ingredients.
She made some purchases from the system—modern ingredients that would help boost the flavor of the vegetables.
Sunnie was transforming the vegetables into something that non-vegetable lovers would find appealing without losing their healthiness.
She boiled water with the ingredients while Zuna assisted her. Elza later joined as they prepared the vegetables and added the rest of the ingredients after boiling for some time.
After the basics, Sunnie stirred in some additional ingredients and allowed everything to cook for a while. She monitored it for awhile while cooking in the right temperature before it was done and ready for everyone to eat.
Then she announced as she put out the fire with the assistance of Zuna and Elza, "Food is ready."
Everyone was sitting around when she announced this. They were gathered around the campfire placed in the middle and were surprised. "So fast?"
This was the fastest they had ever seen Sunnie make a meal. They wondered if it would even be good at all.
Sunnie smiled. "Yes, it’s fast because there’s nothing extravagant to make of it. So everyone, get ready to eat."
Eris and Luka stared at each other and sighed. "Oh well, we’re doomed."
---
They all sat around the fire, their plates filled with the vegetable soup Sunnie had prepared. There was silence as they stared at the plates in their hands, wondering what to do with them.
Sunnie smiled as she said, "What’s with the hesitation? Try it. It’s not like I’d poison you or something." She smiled as she took a sip and a bite from her plate.
She smiled as she tasted the flavor, which reminded her of her mother. She recalled not liking vegetable meals when she was little. Her mother would make this dish to convince her to eat, and she ended up liking it. She had asked her mom to teach her, and now she had made it for them.
"Not as good as the one Mom made, but at least it’s okay," she said, carrying Maren in her arms and trying to convince her to eat. Maren had already sniffed the vegetables and immediately looked away, unwilling to take a bite.
The little chipmunks stared at the bowls before them. They didn’t hate vegetable meals. In fact, they ate a lot of them. But they worried that Sunnie wouldn’t make it to their liking, especially since they had high standards—particularly their critic leader.
But as they tasted it, they went quiet. Everyone stared at them in silence.
"So?" Sunnie asked.
No one said anything, but the leader took another spoonful, and then another, and another. For the first time, he smiled. "This is actually... so good."
Sunnie smiled. "Told you so."
The rest approved as well.
"It feels like a better version of vegetable soup—one without the unnecessary bitterness and all," the chubby chipmunk praised.
"I know, right? And it feels fresh and all... I think this will be my favorite type of vegetable dish," a female chipmunk said.
Sunnie smiled as she stared at the rest. "So don’t worry, try it out."
The mouse beastmen had all tried it and simply enjoyed it. Zukka and Zuna also liked it after tasting.
Now Sunnie stared at her husbands. "So?"
Azure was the first to try it. He smiled. "This tastes better than ordinary vegetables."
Zayn and Karl also tried it—they were hungry after all and didn’t have any alternative. But from their expressions, Sunnie could tell they were impressed by the meal, even if they didn’t say it.
"So? How is it?"
The two of them hesitated, surprise on their faces as they stared at each other and then at the meal.
"It’s okay, I guess," Zayn said.
"Yes. It’s okay," Karl agreed as they continued eating.
Sunnie scoffed as she smiled. "Okay? Yeah, sure." She rolled her eyes as she turned to the three issues she had—other than the babies.
Little Black, Eris, and Luka sat there staring at the meal in their hands, still skeptical.
Sunnie smiled as she asked, "What’s wrong? Do you want me to feed you before you eat? Because it seems like y’all are still babies." She teased.
"Don’t worry, I’ll feed Little Black," Zukka offered as Little Black instantly put the meal in his mouth.
"I can eat myself," he insisted after taking a bite.
Luka and Eris instantly admitted at the same time, "Yes, feed us."