Rosiley rested at home for a few days. She was either watching pointless idol dramas, or learning how to cook from Auntie Wu. The days passed, monotonous and somewhat dull.
On this day, Auntie Wu said that she would teach her how to cook Sachin’s favorite dish?? sweet and sour pork ribs.
She immediately scampered into the kitchen with her notebook.
In the kitchen, Auntie Wu was rinsing pork ribs. The moment she entered, she smiled and teased her. “Young Madam, why did you run here so quickly the moment I said this is Young Master’s favorite dish?”
Rosiley knew that she was teasing her, but she was not mad. She looked as though it was only right and natural. “They say that in order to capture a man’s heart, one must start from his stomach. Once I learn how to make Sachin’s favorite dishes, I’m sure he will never leave me.”
When she said this, an image could not help surfacing in her mind?? Sachin tearfully begging her to make sweet and sour pork ribs for him. He was crying so piteously and sadly.
“Haha…” She started giggling.
Auntie Wu did not know what she was thinking. She just saw her giggling foolishly to herself and asked, quite amused, “What are you thinking? Why are you giggling so happily?”
Auntie Wu’s voice pulled her wild thoughts back to reality. She saw Auntie Wu’s puzzled look and laughed drily, twice. Then she changed the subject. Pointing at the pork ribs in the basin, she asked, “Auntie Wu, how many times must you rinse these pork ribs?”
Auntie Wu’s attention was immediately diverted. “You just need to rinse them two or three times, then boil them in hot water.”
“Oh, I see.” Rosiley seemed to get it and started nodding. Then she pointed at her notebook and smiled at Auntie Wu. “Let me write that down.”
She spread her notebook on the clean countertop, lowering her head and scribbling a few words with her pen.
By this time, Auntie Wu had rinsed the pork ribs clean.
After that, Auntie Wu taught her how to cook Sachin’s favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, step by step.
She recorded everything she needed to know in her notebook.
Cooking sweet and sour pork ribs would take some time. Moreover, as she was being taught the steps, it took more than an hour to cook this dish.
The completed dish looked good, although she did not know how it tasted.
“Young Madam, try it. See if it tastes good.” Auntie Wu handed Rosiley a pair of chopsticks.
Rosiley took them and picked up a pork rib. She blew on the hot steam and then put it in her mouth, taking a careful bite.
Auntie Wu watched her, expectantly and nervously.
The sweet and sour flavor instantly permeated her entire mouth. She narrowed her eyes and gasped in wonder. “It’s delicious!”
The moment Auntie Wu heard her say that, she heaved a sigh of relief. She smiled happily. “It tastes good because Young Madam is smart and has mastered the steps well.”
Auntie Wu’s praise left Rosiley quite embarrassed. “You flatter me, it’s your great culinary skills. This dish was made almost entirely by you. If I cook it myself, I’m sure it won’t taste as good.”
Her modesty made Auntie Wu shake her head helplessly. “What a girl…”
Rosiley stuck out her tongue, picked up a pork rib, and brought it to her mouth. “Come on, Auntie Wu, have one. It tastes great.”
Auntie Wu stared at her, entranced by the winsome smile on her face.
In a daze, she seemed to be back to 20 years ago. It was another girl with a winsome smile, carrying a freshly cooked plate of sweet and sour pork ribs. The girl could not hide the joy on her face. “sister Wu, I have finally learned how to make sweet and sour pork ribs. Come and sample my cooking.”
Auntie Wu’s blank look made Rosiley frown. Auntie Wu was staring straight at her, nostalgia in her eyes. “Is she thinking of someone else?”
“Auntie Wu…” She called out cautiously.
“Huh?” Auntie Wu came back to herself and stared confusedly at her. When she saw her bewilderment, she hurriedly smiled. “Young Madam, I trust your taste buds. I won’t sample it.”
After saying that, Auntie Wu lowered her head and turned around to clean up the kitchen.