Chapter 44

Chen Lina took a bite, feeling like it was explosively delicious, just like her son-in-law's cooking.

Huh?

Like her son-in-law's cooking?

She quickly came to her senses. She knew her daughter well enough. If her daughter had made a cake this good, there was no way she'd believe it.

But she had eaten a lot of her son-in-law's cooking, and her taste buds had become quite discerning.

So, she immediately felt like she understood everything.

Chen Lina eyed her daughter suspiciously and said, her tone unclear, "This was made by Xiaohai, wasn't it?"

"Mom, you don't believe me?" Zhen Lina widened her eyes, as if she couldn't believe it.

"Heh." Chen Lina had a strange look on her face, but still didn't forget to finish the cake.

"Mom, just wait. I'll get Brother Hai to tell you." Zhen Lina was a bit upset. She had made it herself! Sure, she followed Brother Hai's instructions and used the machine for automated production, but she was the one who added the ingredients and pressed the buttons. Without her, the machine wouldn't have done anything! So, saying she made it herself wasn't wrong at all.

Zhen Lina felt as aggrieved as a child. She even considered switching moms!

Unfazed by her daughter's frustration, Chen Lina continued eating the cake while calmly saying, "Heh."

Seeing this, Zhen Lina stormed off.

After Zhen Lina ran off, Chen Lina felt a bit of regret. She knew her daughter's temper all too well. Could it have really been made by her?

Chen Lina was now unsure, but she kept eating the cake.

"Brother Hai."

Jia Fuhai, who was moving things, saw Nana calling him with a face full of grievance. He was puzzled—how could she have been bullied at home? Confused, he asked, "What's going on?"

"You tell me, didn't I make the cakes this afternoon?" Zhen Lina's voice was filled with frustration, her tone even changing.

"Yes, yes, yes." Jia Fuhai thought it was something serious. Well, in a way, she had operated the machine this afternoon, right?

Zhen Lina raised her voice, "Mom doesn't believe me!"

"...It's fine, I'll go talk to Mom." Jia Fuhai felt like his ears were about to go deaf. He thought to himself, "Nana isn't even on her period right now, why is her temper so bad?"

Helpless, Jia Fuhai went to ask Chen Lina, "Mom, what's going on?"

"It's nothing. Nana said she made the cake, but I found it hard to believe," Chen Lina sighed.

"Uh, well, she did operate the machine this afternoon..." Jia Fuhai quickly explained the situation to his mother-in-law.

"So I really did wrong Nana? But Xiaohai, you made the cake really well." Chen Lina understood the situation now. Fine, she would apologize to her daughter later. After all, she hadn't known the specifics, and it was only with Xiaohai's help that it turned out so well. It seemed that anyone could do it with the right guidance.

Later in the evening.

Thanks to the cake, Jia Fuhai was able to enjoy a rare moment of relaxation, just lying down without moving. Everyone was too busy enjoying the cake to care.

Lin Feifei and Qiqi also couldn't stop eating the cake. They both felt that this food factory idea had a lot of potential.

As for naming the factory, Jia Fuhai kept it simple.

He decided to call it "Jia's Bakery."

He thought about other names but decided to follow the trend of Hong Kong-style names. After all, there were many businesses with names like that, and if he tried something else, it would just sound like "Fake Bakery."

Now lying down, Jia Fuhai began to spend money as the client, hiring someone to design the packaging.

Since he had to redesign the star-ranking plan for the cakes, he asked the designer why he had no complaints about the frequent changes.

Of course, it was because there was enough money to keep the designer quiet.

"Kiki, what do you think of this?" Jia Fuhai handed Kiki the designer's plan.

"Simpler, please. Why does it have to be so flashy?" Zhen Linqi frowned as she looked at the design, unable to hold back her criticism.

"Kiki, I'm dividing the cakes into star ratings by taste, and they won't be cheap. What do you think I should do?" Jia Fuhai quickly asked for her opinion.

"Thicker, simpler, and add stars?" Zhen Linqi was a bit uncertain herself.

"Alright, I'll send that over. The designer said any feedback is welcome." Jia Fuhai nodded. If it wasn't good enough, they'd just change it. After all, he'd heard that designers could even make "colorful black," so this should be no big deal.

...

Meanwhile, in a house similar to Jia Fuhai's.

Zhao Xiaoming, a primary school student, was biting his pen, staring at the test questions in front of him, struggling to figure them out.

Gurgle gurgle~

The feeling of hunger hit him, and Zhao Xiaoming quickly ran to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Controlled by his hunger, Zhao Xiaoming shouted, "Mom, I'm hungry! Is there anything to eat?"

From afar, his mother replied, "The food is on the table. If you're hungry, eat first. Mommy's finishing up the laundry."

Seeing the covered food, Zhao Xiaoming's appetite surged. Just as he was about to grab some chopsticks, he noticed a transparent bag of bread nearby.

He thought about how his mom was busy and decided to wait for her to eat together. In the meantime, he would have a cake to tide himself over.

Zhao Xiaoming quickly took out a cake from the bag. There were over a dozen cakes inside.

Opening the packaging, the sweet smell of honey and bread hit his nose.

"This cake smells amazing." Zhao Xiaoming sniffed and immediately started eating.

One bite.

Zhao Xiaoming's eyes curved into crescents.

＞_＜

What was this? It was too delicious.

He started eating faster.

The thought of just "tiding himself over" was forgotten.

Sitting right on the kitchen floor, Zhao Xiaoming began tearing open the cakes and devouring them.

Eat! Eat! Eat!

In no time, only one was left, and his belly was bulging.

Zhao Xiaoming stared at the last cake, starting to have an internal debate.

Mom hadn't eaten yet. Mom worked so hard, he shouldn't eat it all.

But no, Mom had surely already eaten. She bought it, how could she not have had any?

No, his teacher had said good things should be shared with the family. He couldn't be selfish and eat it all himself.

No, it's fine. Mom will buy more later. It's no big deal. Mom always says kids need to eat more!

His hand reached out, then withdrew, clearly indicating the fierce negotiation between his brain, tongue, and hand.

Eat!

Tears welled up in Zhao Xiaoming's eyes as he took a bite, tears and cake both flowing from the corners of his eyes!

"Mom, I'm sorry! Wuwu~"

Zhao Xiaoming sobbed while savoring the delicious cake, apologizing to his mom at the same time...

"Xiaoming, why are you crying?" His mother, seeing her son crying in the kitchen, thought he'd been wronged and hurried over to hug him.

"Mom, wuwu~ the cake is too good! I still want more, wuwu~ I'm sorry! I ate your share too! Wuwu~" Zhao Xiaoming choked up as he cried, not forgetting to swallow at the same time. Clearly, his tongue had won this round of negotiations.

"Silly child, if you want to eat, then eat. Mommy's not going to stop you!" His mother was speechless. What was this about, crying over a cake?

Zhao Xiaoming, being a good boy, immediately gave his mom a tiny corner of the last cake.

For the moment, his brain had overpowered his tongue—though just barely.

"Hmm?" His mother took the small piece from her son.

This cake?

So delicious!

Her pupils shook for a moment.

For a second, it was as if she was floating in a world of honey (like something out of a "Little Chef" animation). But then it was gone.

Her son had given her such a tiny piece, the sensation couldn't last.

She frowned, looking at her son and then at the pile of empty cake wrappers on the floor. The packaging was open, and some of it was even damp with his tears.

Poor kid. No wonder he couldn't hold back—it was too good to resist.

Swallowing her frustration, she thought about scolding her son but decided against it. After all, he was her own child, and she'd let it slide this time.

If it had been her husband, she would have made sure he understood why they called her a "tigress."

"Xiaoming, what about dinner? You've eaten so much cake." Zhao Xiaoming's mother looked at her son, who had cleaned up every crumb, and sighed.

"Mom, can we buy more cakes tomorrow? I really want more." Zhao Xiaoming batted his big round eyes, launching a cuteness offensive at his mom.

"...I'll ask around." She couldn't resist her son's cuteness. But as far as she remembered, the cake had been a gift from a neighbor. It seemed like it came from a place called Jia's Bakery?

"Mom, you wouldn't say no, right? After all, I'm such a good student!" Zhao Xiaoming immediately grabbed her arm, pressing his luck.

"We'll see, we'll see." His mom gave in with a smile.