Chapter 27

Upon returning home, Old Bai greeted Zhen Linqi before joining Old Zhen to observe the chess game between the Jia brothers.

Meanwhile, Jia Fuhai was busy in the kitchen preparing lunch. Over time, Jia Fuhai had developed a discerning palate and found it difficult to enjoy food outside.

His wife's and his children's taste buds had been similarly spoiled, so he was always in charge of meals at home.

Despite not formally studying cooking, his culinary skills steadily improved thanks to his natural talent. Jia Fuhai was now eagerly waiting for his elder son to grow a bit older, imagining the dishes his son's talent might produce.

While washing vegetables, an idea popped into Jia Fuhai's mind. He realized that some dishes, like desserts and bread, mainly required an oven—relatively safe for a child to handle.

The lazy side of him started to think it might be time to start teaching little Jia Qiyi, who was nearly one year old, some basic cooking skills. After all, baking could be a safe introduction, and it would be a great way to nurture his son's culinary abilities.

At that moment, Jia Qiyi, engrossed in his chess match with his younger brother, shivered as if sensing a looming challenge.

"Old Zhen, I swear, if my son could give me granddaughters like these, I'd be set," Old Bai exclaimed, watching the brothers play. "We could become in-laws!"

"Sure, if your son doesn't mind his daughters playing a secondary role," Old Zhen joked, his neck in a mock chokehold.

Old Bai sighed, knowing well his son wasn't one for settling down or finding a partner. It made him anxious.

Meanwhile, the chess match reached its end, with Jia Qiyi emerging victorious. His younger brother, Jia Naji, pouted, frustrated at having lost again. Their intense match had drawn all eyes to the board, with even their grandparents feeling dizzy from trying to follow the game.

"Lunch is ready," Jia Fuhai called from the kitchen.

The irresistible aroma of the food instantly lifted Old Bai's spirits. The Jia brothers immediately abandoned the chessboard, rushing to the kitchen for lunch.

"You're about to witness a master chef at work," Old Zhen teased, grinning at Old Bai's expression of delight. He was proud of his son-in-law's dedication to cooking, even if it was just for the family.

Seated at the table, Old Bai took his first bite. The flavors exploded in his mouth, and he closed his eyes, savoring the experience. When he opened them again, he gave Jia Fuhai a big thumbs-up.

"Jia, your cooking is out of this world!"

"If you like it, I'm happy," Jia Fuhai replied modestly.

"This is top restaurant quality. If you opened a place, I'd be there every day," Old Bai praised, still amazed by the food.

"Too bad, he's lazy," Old Zhen laughed, shaking his head. "He only cooks at home."

"You've ruined me, Zhen. How am I supposed to go back to regular food after this?" Old Bai joked as he rubbed his full stomach.

After everyone had eaten, the plates were completely clean, as always. Since Jia Fuhai's culinary skills had improved, there were never any leftovers. Even the young brothers polished off their food with gusto.

With their bellies full, the brothers grew drowsy and took a short nap. Meanwhile, Old Zhen and Old Bai continued their playful bickering in the living room.

An hour later, when the brothers woke up, they headed back to the living room, unable to watch TV due to their age. Instead, they engaged in another round of chess.

"Kiyi, Naji, there's a skilled player who wants to challenge you two. Interested?" Old Bai asked softly.

"Sure!" The brothers responded eagerly.

"What's the level of this guy from the chess club?" Old Zhen asked, curious.

"He's a five-dan player," Old Bai replied, thinking back to the club's master. A five-dan rank was nothing to scoff at—it put him among the top players globally.

"I hope Kiyi and Naji can handle this," Old Zhen muttered, a bit worried about the challenge potentially overwhelming the boys.

Old Bai, having secured the boys' permission, quickly phoned Xiao Zhang to let him know. The rest of the family gathered around, eager to watch the match.

On the other side, in the chess club, the master was preparing to face his young challengers. He had heard a lot about these two prodigies, but seeing them on the video call gave him pause. The image showed two adorable toddlers barely old enough to walk, let alone play chess.

Could it be that these infants were the ones who bested his pupil yesterday, causing the poor lad to shed tears? His apprentice, who had never lost so humiliatingly before, was now close to four-dan level.

The chess master narrowed his eyes, refusing to underestimate the boys. If they really were that talented, he would have to bring his A-game. There was no way he could afford to lose to two toddlers.