Chapter 7: The Uninvited Little Dumpling

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“So that’s how it works. Can I buy some?” He Qing rubbed his hands together, pleading.

If she could make even mud vegetables taste delicious, surely everything else would be just as good.

Summer vacation was almost here, and they would be going to Star Training. He absolutely refused to drink nutrient fluid every day!

He was going to make those little brats crave themselves into tears!

“Of course. Just check the ingredients and seasonings on the machines. Once you’ve bought them, put them into the machines according to what each dish requires. Oh, and prepare your own containers.”

He Qing immediately went to inspect the side-dish and seasoning machines. He began placing orders for ingredients, only realizing after he had finished that he had no idea how to cook.

He scratched his head awkwardly. “Cousin, all of these require machines to prepare. How am I supposed to cook them after I take them away?”

“I’ll record a preparation video for you.”

Qiao Xin fetched a portable stove and began recording with her optical computer.

“First, take one portion of the prepared ingredients and pour it into the pan. Then add one portion of the corresponding seasoning. Turn the heat up high and stir-fry. That’s how you make a stir-fried dish.”

While she cooked, Xiao Ruyi had already pulled He Qing into the courtyard and set up a table.

The dishes Qiao Xin had prepared in the cooking machine were ready and needed to be plated.

Since the He family had come all this way, she had to entertain them.

Naturally, He Qing was recruited as free labor.

“It smells wonderful! It smells so good!”

“Don’t drool into the food, or I’ll skin you alive!” Xiao Ruyi warned him fiercely.

He Qing shrank his neck, carried the dishes to the table, called out to each of the adults, and swiftly arranged the tableware.

Feng Qiuwan could barely bring herself to look, but her husband, He Qiu-fang, was completely unreserved. After greeting Xiao Linfeng, he began sampling every dish.

“Darling, try this. It’s delicious!” He Qiu-fang took a bite himself, then insisted on feeding one to Feng Qiuwan, leaving her both amused and exasperated.

But the instant she tasted it, she pushed him away in disgust. “You’re in the way. I can feed myself!”

The three members of the He family picked up their chopsticks. The food was so delicious that they stopped talking altogether.

Xiao Linfeng and the other two had not been hungry at first, but the sheer satisfaction on the He family’s faces soon whetted their appetites.

Fortunately, Xiao Ruyi had planned to prepare a large amount for them to take away, so she served another round.

The cooking machine could make only ten portions at a time. She served two, leaving eight to be packed.

The nanny robot was already helping her package them.

Qiao Xin was still recording her video when a little bundle suddenly climbed onto her lap.

“Big sister, I’m hungry~”

The little bundle wore a beautiful princess dress, with two tiny pigtails tied atop her head. She blinked up at Qiao Xin with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes, her little mouth glistening with drool. Qiao Xin’s heart melted at the sight.

All the stir-fried dishes were ready. Only the potato-and-meat stew was still simmering in the pot.

The portable stove had a timer, so Qiao Xin took a small bowl, picked out some food, and smiled down at the little girl.

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“Can you eat by yourself, sweetheart?”

“I can!”

The little girl looked about three or four years old. Happily clutching the bowl, she scooped food into her mouth with a spoon.

Seeing how quickly she was eating, Qiao Xin had no choice but to remind her from the side, “Slow down.”

“Whose child is this?” Xiao Linshuang exclaimed in surprise when she noticed the extra little bundle.

How had she wandered into the courtyard?

The adults were utterly irresponsible, letting such a young child run around alone!

“I don’t know. I only picked out things she could eat. I didn’t give her anything unsuitable.” In her own world, Qiao Xin had never dared feed another person’s child carelessly, and she naturally did not dare do so in the interstellar era either.

It was just that the little one’s drool had already soaked her leg, and in the end she could not help giving her a little food she was able to eat.

All that knowledge she had studied aboard the starship had not been learned for nothing!

“Big sister, I want meat!”

The little girl finished the small bowl, yet it still was not enough.

“You can’t eat those pieces of meat, but I can give you some rice mixed with the gravy.” Qiao Xin filled half a small bowl with star rice, ladled in some meat broth, mixed it together, and handed it to her.

The little girl puffed out her cheeks unhappily and wrinkled her tiny nose. But when she caught the delicious aroma, her eyes lit up at once. She took the bowl and began eating again.

“No wonder she’s so fair and plump. She certainly has a good appetite,” Xiao Linshuang remarked.

Qiao Zhenxing and Xiao Linfeng came over as well. When Xiao Linfeng saw the little girl, he immediately took a picture and posted an inquiry on the StarNet.

The families in their district had a private regional network. If the child did not belong to their district, they would have no choice but to hand her over to the Star Police.

“Didn’t you ask her what her name was?” Qiao Zhenxing asked.

Qiao Xin and Xiao Linshuang exchanged embarrassed smiles. “We haven’t had the chance yet.”

Xiao Linfeng: …

Had he asked too soon?

“I’ve never seen this little girl before. She’s certainly bold, wandering into someone else’s home like that.” Xiao Ruyi had finished putting away the next batch of dishes and came over while waiting.

The three members of the He family also approached with their bowls, but none of them recognized her.

With so many people staring at her, the little girl hid behind Qiao Xin. After finishing her meal and giving a satisfied burp, she reluctantly raised the bowl high and returned it to Qiao Xin.

“Big sister, I’m full~”

Qiao Xin set the bowl aside, squatted down, and looked at her.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?”

The little girl smiled at her, revealing a row of tiny baby teeth.

“My big brother says I mustn’t tell other people. But big sister gave Ya-ya food, so I’ll tell you. My name is Lei Miaomiao.”

Everyone found that amusing, but no one interrupted.

Qiao Xin suppressed her laughter as well and poked the little girl’s chubby cheek.

“Then where is Ya-ya’s home?”

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“I don’t know. I was playing hide-and-seek with my brother. He’ll find me!” Little Lei Miaomiao patted her chest and spoke with complete seriousness.

“Pfft…” Xiao Ruyi could not hold back. She covered her mouth and turned away to laugh.

That poor child’s brother really had terrible luck.

He must be driven half-mad searching for her every day!

“Someone with the surname Lei? I seem to remember that a family with that name recently moved in nearby. Their son is a major general!” Feng Qiuwan suddenly recalled.

The moment Lei Miaomiao heard the words “major general,” she nodded her little head.

“Ya-ya’s big brother is very impressive!”

“Little Qing, go pass along the message.” Xiao Ruyi patted He Qing, who had just set down his bowl.

He Qing pointed at himself. After looking around and realizing there was indeed no one better suited, he walked dejectedly toward the door.

The moment he stepped outside, he collided head-on with a man radiating a murderous aura.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Have you seen this little girl?” The man immediately projected an image of a young girl—the very same little bundle in the courtyard.

“You’re surnamed Lei, aren’t you?” He Qing asked first.

The man nodded coldly. He Qing turned and walked back inside.

“She’s here. Come in.”

As he walked, he shouted, “Sister Ruyi, the little girl’s brother has come to find her!”

His cry instantly drew everyone’s attention toward the entrance.

The man’s expression stiffened, but he still entered the courtyard with his back straight and his bearing imposing.

When he saw He Qiu-fang and Xiao Linfeng, he paused, then greeted them.

“Commander Xiao, Colonel He. Sorry to disturb you.”

“Major General Lei, you’re too polite.” Xiao Linfeng and He Qiu-fang smiled and welcomed him.

They had not expected him to know them.

“Big brother found Ya-ya again,” little Lei Miaomiao sighed. She rested her face in her hands with a sorrowful expression, then waved to Qiao Xin. “Big sister, can you make meat that Ya-ya can eat next time?”

Seeing her suddenly put on the air of a solemn little adult, Qiao Xin could not help laughing. She nodded.

“Next time I’ll make meat specially for children.”

“Mm, thank you, big sister~”

Little Lei Miaomiao gave her a formal bow of thanks, then ran over to her brother. She tugged him all the way to Qiao Xin.

“Big brother, add big sister as a contact. I’ll tell her before I come next time!”