Time rewinds slightly.

In the Dorami Kindergarten kitchen, the bustle of lunch had just subsided, with the lingering aroma of dishes still wafting through the air.

After finishing the cleanup, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin began a new round of preparation — dealing with the newly washed fresh lotus roots.

Their technique was adept and steady, as the peeler glided gently over the lotus root, and slices of skin peeled off gracefully, revealing the milky white flesh inside.

The peeled lotus root flesh was neatly placed in a large stainless steel basin set aside for later use.

Meanwhile, Liu Suyu and other kindergarten leaders stayed in the kitchen, helping out by peeling the lotus root skins.

Though not as skilled as Aunt Li and the others, everyone worked earnestly.

Such enthusiasm was driven by the enticing anticipation of the osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root dish, hoping to be among the first to taste it and snag some extra portions.

"Snap——"

With this crisp sound, Qian Guoxiang’s knife quickly and precisely sliced off an end of the lotus root that Aunt Li and the others had peeled, cutting a stem about 2.5 centimeters in length.

The small piece that was sliced off was carefully set aside, for it would play an important role later on.

Once the lotus root was filled with glutinous rice, this intact stem would serve as a natural "lid" to close it, preventing the rice from overflowing during the steaming process.

On the other side, Huang Jun busily picked up a handful of glutinous rice that had been soaked for a long time.

Upon careful observation...

The glutinous rice had fully absorbed the water, becoming plump and rounded, with each grain appearing crystal clear.

Thus...

He lifted the large stainless steel basin of soaked glutinous rice, placing it by the sink, and carefully poured out the excess water.

The sound of water was rushing, and the rice rolled gently in the basin, producing a soft rustling noise.

At that moment.

Liu Suyu noticed Huang Jun’s actions, immediately put down her work, and eagerly offered assistance, "Chef Huang, let me help you!"

"Thank you!"

Huang Jun turned his head slightly, with his lips curving into a warm smile.

As they say, "When men and women work together, tasks become easier."

Together they transferred the soaked glutinous rice into another container, preparing for the next step of stuffing.

Huang Jun picked up a piece of cut lotus root, with the opening facing up, grabbed a handful of soaked glutinous rice, and began methodically stuffing small amounts into the holes of the lotus root, gently shaking the root periodically to help the rice fill every corner evenly.

During the stuffing process, Huang Jun occasionally used a chopstick to lightly press down, checking if the rice was well-packed. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

It is worth noting.

In this step, the control of strength is crucial; one must not apply too much force.

Since the rice will swell slightly during cooking, there’s no need to overfill it during stuffing.

He skillfully left just enough space, ensuring the lotus root’s integrity, preventing it from breaking due to rice expansion during cooking.

Once the rice stuffing was complete, Huang Jun placed the previously cut head of the lotus root back onto it, aligning them closely.

He then took some toothpicks, skillfully and methodically inserting them into the "lid" of the lotus root to seal it.

When sealing with toothpicks, it’s appropriate to insert a few more for a tighter seal, ensuring that the rice doesn’t spill out during cooking, maintaining the lotus root’s integrity and appearance.

With the insertion of the last toothpick, the stuffing of one lotus section was officially completed.

"Chef Huang, may I give it a try?"

Watching the entire process, Liu Suyu’s eyes sparkled with eagerness, feeling that the process seemed simple, she volunteered to step forward.

Huang Jun turned around, seeing Liu Suyu’s enthusiastic expression, smiled and nodded, "Of course you can, Manager Liu, give it a try!"

He moved aside to make space for Liu Suyu while handing her a piece of white lotus root.

Liu Suyu took the lotus root, mimicking Huang Jun, grasped a handful of rice, and prepared to fill the holes.

Unfortunately...

The reality is often harsher than one imagines!

The rice in her hand behaved like mischievous raindrops, slipping out of control, scattering everywhere, with only a few grains actually entering the holes.

This was awkward indeed!

A hint of embarrassment flashed across her pretty face, yet she didn’t lose heart.

Adjusting her strategy, she patiently inserted the rice grains one by one into the holes, occasionally shaking the lotus root, trying to distribute the rice more evenly.

Seeing this, Huang Jun couldn’t help but smile, jokingly said, "Manager Liu, with your speed, you wouldn’t finish even by evening..."

Liu Suyu: "..."

Oh, Chef Huang, life is already so hard, some things are better left unsaid, isn’t it?

She playfully rolled her eyes at Huang Jun.

"Come, let me show you!"

He said, taking her hand in his, beginning a hands-on lesson.

From the amount of glutinous rice to how to use the wrist’s skill to fill the lotus root holes, every detail was instructed and explained thoroughly.

But unfortunately...

The "student’s" thoughts seemed to drift afar, unfocused.

After all, the sudden hands-on teaching caught Liu Suyu off guard, leaving her a bit stunned. When she realized Huang Jun was holding her hand, an inexplicable warmth spread across the back of her hand, causing her cheeks to blush lightly and her heartbeat to quicken...

Noticing her distraction, Huang Jun gently asked, "Manager Liu, did you understand everything I explained just now?"

"Huh?"

Liu Suyu snapped back to reality, realizing she had been distracted earlier, and replied a bit awkwardly, "Chef Huang, could you please repeat that? I didn’t catch it all just now."

Huang Jun: "..."

"Alright then!"

Huang Jun had no choice but to start explaining again from the techniques of filling glutinous rice so that Liu Suyu could grasp it.

This time, Liu Suyu listened intently, her eyes closely following Huang Jun’s every move, afraid to miss any detail.

Under Huang Jun’s patient guidance, Liu Suyu gradually mastered the technique, her movements becoming increasingly proficient and smooth.

When the glutinous rice was successfully filled into the lotus root holes, a sense of accomplishment welled up inside her, and she was filled with gratitude for Huang Jun’s meticulous teaching.

"Honestly, listening to your guidance is more beneficial than studying for ten years! Chef Huang, you should really start a culinary class. Learning from you would undoubtedly teach a lot."

Huang Jun laughed and said, "Holding a cooking class is too much for me. I prefer the freedom of cooking in the kitchen."

Then, Qian Guoxiang also joined in, using the same method to stuff all the lotus roots with glutinous rice, seal them, and set them aside.

Once all the lotus roots were prepared, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin placed them in a basin, added a proper amount of water, and washed them thoroughly.

After cleaning, they set them aside for later use.

Huang Jun then took out two pouches for soup preparation. He carefully placed red yeast rice and osmanthus into each bag, tying the openings tightly to prevent the ingredients from leaking out.

If there are no soup bags at home, small cloths can be used as substitutes, ensuring the soup remains clear in the end.

Next.

Huang Jun took out a large pre-cleaned stainless steel pot, filled it with an appropriate amount of water, then added some rock sugar according to taste, and a small bottle of maltose to give the dish a sweet flavor.

Once the water boiled...

Huang Jun tossed the prepped red yeast rice and osmanthus soup bags into the pot.

The addition of red yeast rice is to give the dish a captivating hue, while osmanthus imparts a unique aroma.

Given the higher sugar content in this dish, to prevent sticking during cooking, Huang Jun placed a bamboo mat at the bottom of the pot, preventing the candy from sticking to the base.

Then, he placed the glutinous rice-filled lotus roots into the soup, starting a long cooking process.

This dish requires enough patience and time to slowly cook, so the water level in the pot must be ample to ensure the lotus roots can fully absorb the soup’s essence.

Once the pot’s soup boiled again, Huang Jun covered it, reduced the heat to medium-low, allowing the lotus roots to simmer in the soup slowly.

This level of heat can ensure the lotus roots turn tender while preventing the soup from evaporating too quickly, maintaining the dish’s rich yet delicate flavor.

"Tired, Chef Huang? Come, have some water and take a break!"

Suddenly.

A cup was handed over to Huang Jun, and turning his head, he saw it was Liu Suyu offering it.

"Thank you, Manager Liu!" Huang Jun smiled slightly, reaching for the cup, "Not gonna lie, I was a bit thirsty."

Saying so, he drank it in big gulps.

With one gulp...

The cool water flowed down his throat, the refreshing sensation sweeping the heat and fatigue away.

"To make so much osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root in one go was really hard work. Next time, don’t cater to the parents too much, your forehead is sweating."

While speaking, Liu Suyu picked up a tissue, intending to wipe the sweat off Huang Jun’s forehead.

But reconsidering...

She thought the gesture might be too intimate, so she paused and handed him the tissue.

Huang Jun took the tissue, gently wiping the sweat off his forehead himself, and gave Liu Suyu a grateful look, "Thank you for your concern, Manager Liu. However, sometimes it’s good to meet parents’ small wishes within our capacity, as it shows our kindergarten’s care towards them."

Liu Suyu’s initial worry stemmed from concern over Huang Jun’s health, fearing he might overwork himself.

Since Huang Jun expressed his stance, she didn’t say much more, only smiled and nodded, showing understanding and support.

As time went by...

The kitchen gradually filled with a faint osmanthus fragrance and the fresh sweetness of lotus root, enticing one’s palate, as if even the air turned sweet.

Occasionally, Huang Jun opened the lid, gently stirring with a spoon to ensure the lotus roots heated evenly and the glutinous rice cooked thoroughly.

"Chef Huang, is it ready to eat?" Chu Qiweng, drawn by the aroma, came over, her eyes fixated on the pot.

Huang Jun looked up at Chu Qiweng’s expectant eyes and smiled, "Not yet, Qiwen. This dish needs to stew a bit longer to let the lotus roots and glutinous rice absorb more flavor."

Chu Qiweng seemed a bit disappointed but quickly smiled again, "Alright, I’ll wait then."

After all, deliciousness is worth the wait!