Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Not Answering the Phone

Tong Ya was currently watching cartoons with Tuan Tuan.

The sight made Chen Yu feel an inexplicable warmth.

Just as he was about to brush his teeth and sit down to join them, his phone rang with a video call.

Seeing it was Fang Yuan, Chen Yu hung up with some annoyance.

"Chen Yu, why did you hang up my call? I have some time right now, let me video chat with Tuan Tuan,"

the message still rang with a presumptuous commanding tone.

"Dad, why didn't you answer the phone?" Tuan Tuan asked, lifting his little head.

Without avoiding Tong Ya beside him, Chen Yu handed the phone to Tuan Tuan directly.

"Your mom wants to video chat with you, do you want to take it?"

Tuan Tuan's small face scrunched up, and he immediately turned his head away.

"No, she doesn't want us anymore, so why should I answer her call? Besides, is she really my mom?"

Chen Yu chuckled softly, then replied with a text message.

"Tuan Tuan doesn't want to video chat with you."

Afterward, he set his phone to silent and tossed it aside.

Seeing this, Tong Ya felt a bit excited inside.

At least she could be certain that there was no chance of Chen Yu reconciling with his ex-wife.

After brushing his teeth and taking a quick shower, Chen Yu put on the pajamas that Tong Ya had prepared for him and went back to his room.

He had become accustomed to Tong Ya preparing all sorts of things for him in advance during this recent period.

"You guys should go to sleep early too, don't stay up too late!"

After saying this, Chen Yu went to bed.

The next day at four o'clock in the morning, Chen Yu got up and went downstairs to open the door.

The stock of half-finished dumpling shells was running low, so he had to get up early to knead the dough.

By the time the six girls arrived for work, Chen Yu made some new arrangements.

Li Yu was in charge of the second-floor kitchen, preparing the fried cakes and the half-finished products.

Chu Hong, as usual, took care of the first-floor opening.

The rest were in the first-floor kitchen, preparing the fried cakes and the half-finished dumpling shells.

Chen Yu was busy today, constantly moving between kneading dough, preparing ingredients, and processing pig's heads and knuckles.

It felt like he was back to the busy days when he worked at the food cart.

Until six-thirty in the morning, Chen Yu hadn't stopped for a moment.

Kneading dough was not only a technical task but also one that required a lot of physical strength.

Continually kneading batch after batch of dough without stopping would wear anyone down.

By now, the shop was bustling, and Su Qing was the only one left making half-finished products in the first-floor kitchen.

It must be said that this girl's skills had become faster and even surpassed Chen Yu's, after the training of the past few days.

This morning, the dumpling shells were consumed faster than the fried cakes.

The previously made half-finished dumpling shells had already sold out, but thankfully they could be replenished in time.

At six forty-five, Tong Ya had already gone to the kindergarten with Tuan Tuan out of habit.

But just after stepping out the door, she sent a text message to Chen Yu.

"Ah, what should I do, I didn't get to say goodbye to you before leaving, and now I'll miss you for the whole day!"

Chen Yu glanced at it, then put his phone back in his pocket.

Even if he wanted to reply now, he couldn't, as he was indeed too busy.

Chu Hong had to handle the fried cakes and dumpling shells on the first floor, so most of the time, cutting and selling meat was still Chen Yu's job.

By twelve o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu was feeling somewhat exhausted.

However, remembering that it used to take only two days to prepare all the half-finished products, Chen Yu gritted his teeth and persevered.

After all, this meant he could relax for three days afterward.

By five in the afternoon, all the marinated meats had sold out.

During this period, Chen Yu had already accumulated a substantial flow of people here, including the residential community behind the store and several building complexes around it.

Even the merchants on the nearby streets had come to regard this place as their fixed dining hall for both breakfast and dinner.

Now with the addition of braised dishes, the shop was bustling even at noon.

Chen Yu even considered getting more pork tonight and introducing a few new flavors.

Just then, Tong Ya suddenly called.

"Hello, my dear future boyfriend! Do you need me to bring you some flatbreads today?"

Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, Tong Ya was becoming increasingly bold in her flirtations.

The little modesty that remained before had completely disappeared.

Moreover, since being rejected the last time she confessed, Tong Ya seemed to have skipped the process altogether.

She directly pushed their relationship to a state that was more than friends, but less than lovers.

And under Tong Ya's influence, Chen Yu had surreptitiously come to accept this state.

Chen Yu cleared his throat twice, taking a moment to calm his emotions.

"Yes, like yesterday, fifty flatbreads." Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

At this moment, Tong Ya had already arrived at the farmers' market with Tuan Tuan.

As soon as she hung up the phone, Tuan Tuan looked at her with expectant eyes.

"Teacher Tong Ya, you seem to have moved one step closer to becoming my mom."

Tong Ya's face turned red as she pinched Tuan Tuan's chubby little face.

"I'm just tentatively trying to test your dad's bottom line, in case I touch it one day and mess things up."

Tuan Tuan, acting like a little grown-up, patted her chest.

"Don't worry, you've still got me! The two of us together, I don't believe we can't win over my stubborn old dad."

Tong Ya chuckled and pinched Tuan Tuan's little nose.

"Then I'll count on you!"

With that, Tong Ya pointed to a snack stall not far away.

"Pick whatever you want to eat, today it's my treat."

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands with excitement and ran straight toward the stall.

Half-past five in the afternoon.

Xie Jiang rushed into the shop, looking disheveled.

"Old Chen, I heard your shop has launched new products, quickly let me have a taste."

Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed, as the sign on the braised meat already displayed a "sold out" notice.

Just like yesterday, only ten pounds were reserved for the staff meal.

With the addition of braised foods, the past two days had been very busy, with hardly any time to rest at noon.

The six girls previously could still go back to rest a bit and bring back some fried cakes and turnovers for lunch.

Now, working straight until seven or eight in the evening, they definitely deserved a good, filling meal.

"Old Xie, there really isn't any left today, how about I save you two pounds especially tomorrow noon?"

Xie Jiang sighed resignedly, looking as if he had just returned from finishing a construction job.

"What a pity, too late no matter how I rushed! Alright then, make sure to save me some for tomorrow."

"And tomorrow is Friday, I've got a lot of workers coming over, I'll arrange a dinner party at your place."

After saying this and buying some fried cakes and turnovers, Xie Jiang left.

By this time, Tong Ya had also returned to the shop with Tuan Tuan.

As soon as she entered, she headed straight for the kitchen, put down the flatbreads, and made her way to Chen Yu.

"Have you secretly drugged me these past two days?"

The sudden question bewildered Chen Yu, and he quickly reached out to touch Tong Ya's forehead.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Tong Ya giggled and took the opportunity to hold Chen Yu's hand.

"No, it's just that, for some reason, I can't help but think of you."