Gourmet: Twins' Father and Chef of the Kindergarten

Chapter 325 - 303: Outwitting Oneself and Missing a Golden Opportunity

The Liu family, in the living room.

Liu Qiangtao’s family of three sat neatly on the soft, comfortable sofa, each holding a book, enjoying the reading time after dinner.

But, as for reading...

In fact, only little Yuanyuan was truly immersed in the sea of books.

At this moment, her round eyes were fixed on the images on the page, captivated by the stories within the drawings, her little hands occasionally flipping the pages, completely immersed in her own world of imagination.

Beside her, although Liu Qiangtao and Li Xiuxian were also each holding a book, there was more than met the eye hidden between their book pages...

That’s right.

On the surface, they seemed to be reading seriously, but in fact, each of them had a phone tucked between the pages, their attention long drawn to the information flow on their screens...

Their fingers gently swiped across the screen, silently browsing social media, news, or other online content...

The reason for their meticulous efforts was merely to create a good reading atmosphere for Yuanyuan, so that she would develop a good reading habit from a young age.

If only Yuanyuan had a kindergarten diploma, she wouldn’t be so easily fooled by her parents...

"Honey, I’m free tomorrow. How about I go to the ’Parent Experience Day’ event instead?"

Liu Qiangtao expressed his wish with a smile while browsing on his phone.

But as soon as he finished speaking.

Li Xiuxian firmly replied, "No way, I’ve been looking forward to this event for ages, I’m definitely going."

Hearing their son and daughter-in-law argue over the slot for the ’Parent Experience Day’, Xu Caihong stayed silent on the side, but she was secretly calculating her plan: if her daughter-in-law got the chance, she would remain quiet; but if the chance went to Liu Qiangtao, she would snatch the slot and go herself.

Liu Qiangtao persisted, "Honey, I’ve actually been looking forward to this ’Parent Experience Day’ for a long time too. I’m free tomorrow, no need to take leave, please let me go."

"I promise, just this once, I won’t fight with you next time!"

"Honey, please agree, I really want to go~"

"..."

To persuade Li Xiuxian, the usually tough Liu Qiangtao started to show his rare knack for whining.

If it weren’t her own husband, Li Xiuxian would have slapped him right then.

But as someone who had once benefited from the kindergarten’s lunch, Li Xiuxian naturally wanted this opportunity, to ’legally’ enjoy a meal at the kindergarten.

So...

Ignoring her husband’s pleas, she continued to refuse, "Honey, I’m the one who usually takes care of Yuanyuan, and I know all about her life in the kindergarten. I believe this event should be attended by me. It’s really important for me, I wish to gain deeper insight into Yuanyuan’s kindergarten life. As for you, just continue being the ’hands-off manager’."

Liu Qiangtao: "..."

He didn’t want to wear the ’hands-off manager’ label forever.

He actually wanted to be more hands-on, especially for this ’Parent Experience Day’...

Both spouses wanted to go, and neither would yield, reaching a stalemate...

They had no choice but to leave the decision to Yuanyuan: "Yuanyuan, for tomorrow’s ’Parent Experience Day’ event, do you want mom to go, or dad?"

Without any hesitation, Yuanyuan crisply responded, "I want mom to go!"

Li Xiuxian’s face bloomed with a proud smile, feeling deeply gratified, thinking her usual love for Yuanyuan truly paid off.

She happily stretched out her arms, pulling Yuanyuan tightly into a hug, the two snuggling together affectionately.

Meanwhile, Liu Qiangtao’s sadness overflowed like a river...

People say daughters are dads’ little sweethearts, but why isn’t his daughter even a bit considerate?

More like she’s leaking! Leaking to the point his heart turns icy cold!

He muttered in disbelief, "No way, I think our daughter is too biased this time, her choice doesn’t count, I absolutely disagree."

Upon hearing this, Xu Caihong couldn’t resist chiming in, "Qiangtao, how could you do that? You already agreed to let Yuanyuan decide, how can you go back on your word now? This isn’t good for family harmony."

Liu Qiangtao: "..."

Mom, who’s your real child here?

Why are you siding with them?!

He smiled bitterly, "Mom, I am your son..."

"Precisely because you are my son, I can’t favor anyone. After all, what you did was unfair."

Xu Caihong looked at him sternly, then smiled, "How about this, why don’t I go to the ’Parent Experience Day’ event, to avoid you two quarreling over it?"

Li Xiuxian: "..."

This is definitely the case of "when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman stands to gain"...

Mother-in-law, you’re calculating quite shrewdly...

Liu Qiangtao: "..."

Mom, if you want to go, just say so...

Why blame it on me?!

Li Xiuxian and Liu Qiangtao said in unison, "No, mom, we were just discussing it, how come you’re the one going now?"

Xu Caihong gave Liu Qiangtao a sidelong glance, "Then tell me, how should we decide?"

"How about we draw lots?" Li Xiuxian suggested.

Liu Qiangtao readily agreed, "Drawing lots is a good idea, how do we play it exactly?"

Li Xiuxian explained in detail, "We can find three strips of paper or cards of the same size, write ’attend’ on one, and ’not attend’ on the other two. Then the three of us will each pick one randomly, whoever gets ’attend’, will go to the ’Parent Experience Day’ event."

Both Liu Qiangtao and Xu Caihong had no objections.

Li Xiuxian promptly got to work, grabbing paper and pen to prepare the lottery.

She first wrote ’not attend’ on two slips of paper.

While writing on the third slip...

A mischievous thought suddenly sprang to her mind...

If she also wrote ’not attend’ on the third slip, and let her husband and mother-in-law draw first, no matter how they drew, the result would be ’not attend’.

This way, they would think the last note says "attend," and then she could logically say: since you’ve all drawn "not attend," I don’t need to draw anymore...

Thinking of this, Li Xiuxian couldn’t help but laugh triumphantly.

She quickly wrote "not attend" on the third piece of paper as well. Then she crumpled all three pieces into balls, placed them in a bowl, and said with a smile, "Husband, Mom, you draw first."

Xu Caihong didn’t suspect anything, casually picked up a paper ball from the bowl, and opened it...

The words "not attend" pierced her eyes like needles, making her feel completely unwell.

She helplessly spread open the note to show them.

Seeing this, Li Xiuxian was secretly delighted but maintained her composure, pretending to announce casually, "Mom, you drew ’not attend.’"

Saying that, she turned to Liu Qiangtao, urging, "Husband, it’s your turn."

"Wife, why don’t you draw first! Ladies first!" Liu Qiangtao was a bit nervous.

Li Xiuxian politely said, "Husband, you are the head of the household, you go first."

This unusual action made Liu Qiangtao feel suspicious.

He stared at Li Xiuxian, trying to discern something from her expression.

But unfortunately...

She didn’t show any flaw on her face.

Being cautious, he directly grabbed a paper ball, stuffed it into his mouth, and ate it.

At this moment...

Li Xiuxian and Xu Caihong were both stunned!

Xu Caihong anxiously exclaimed, "Son, are you crazy, how can you eat the paper ball? Quick, spit it out!"

"Yes, husband, spit it out..." Li Xiuxian was also anxious.

"It’s okay, I just wanted to taste what paper is like..."

After swallowing it, Liu Qiangtao smiled and said, "Wife, it’s your turn now, open the remaining ball to see who goes, it’s all up to this note."

Li Xiuxian: "..."

Isn’t this a case of lifting a stone only to drop it on one’s own foot?!

This truly is the case of being too clever for one’s own good, missing a great opportunity...

Li Xiuxian regretted it...

But what can she do?

The notes she prepared herself, even with tears, she has to continue drawing...

Of course.

She also briefly suspected if her husband had seen through the trick and ate the paper ball to eliminate evidence?

Speaking of which.

To eat Huang Jun’s cooking, he’s really went all out...

At this point, she was helpless as she unfolded the last paper ball, seeing the words "not attend" written on it.

Seeing this, Liu Qiangtao was as happy as a 200-pound fatty and said, "Haha, not attend, so the one I just ate must have been ’attend’!"

"My luck is just unstoppable..."

...

At Mingxiu Mountain Villa, in the living room of Villa No. 6, at the Liu family’s home.

"Husband, let me attend tomorrow’s ’Parent Experience Day,’ you’ve already been to the kindergarten for several lunches, but I haven’t even been once! Surely, it’s my turn this time, right?" Wen Xueqian snuggled up to Liu Shiwei’s chest, tugging at his tie, coquettishly.

"No way!"

Liu Shiwei chose food over beauty without hesitation.

But seeing his wife’s playful annoyance instantly disappear, and her turning her face away unhappily, he quickly added: "But to make it up to you, you can go shopping tomorrow, buy whatever you want, bags, clothes, shoes, jewelry, take your pick, how about that?"

"Not good, who cares~"

Wen Xueqian replied with a face of disdain.

Liu Shiwei was immediately surprised to see Wen Xueqian, not expecting her to lose interest in shopping, not even her favorite bags seemed appealing.

Wen Xueqian’s eyes lit up immediately, "Husband, don’t you go to Dorami Kindergarten for lunch with Assistant Dong now! So, let me attend tomorrow’s ’Parent Experience Day’ event, okay?"

Words awakened the dreamer!

Liu Shiwei then remembered he indeed had this special privilege.

Thinking he doesn’t have to worry about meals at the kindergarten, he had no reason to refuse his wife’s request. He nodded in agreement: "Alright, you go tomorrow!"

"Thank you, husband, you’re so kind!"

Wen Xueqian showed a satisfied smile, gratefully hugged Liu Shiwei, and gave a big fragrant kiss.

After separating...

Wen Xueqian traced circles on Liu Shiwei’s chest with her finger and said, "Husband, what about the shopping tomorrow?"

Liu Shiwei selectively forgot," What shopping?"

Got it!

The opportunity for a shopping spree was withdrawn...

Although Wen Xueqian was a bit disappointed, thinking she could have Huang Jun’s lunch tomorrow instantly lifted her spirits...

...

That night...

Countless families fought tooth and nail for this "Parent Experience Day" spot...

That night...

Some were happy, some were worried...

Many who were worried did not give up, each became more creative, coming up with strategies...