CHAPTER 15: CLEVER USE OF SPACE

Uncle Chen revealed a meaningful look in his eyes. "The cost is considered a loss. I’ve heard the company has brought in new people to work with your dad on the government contract, planning to sell tempered glass at a high price to the government."

So, in the past life where Mr. Jing didn’t block anyone’s financial path, he was fine. But in this life, because of Jing Shu’s actions with the tempered glass, had it triggered a butterfly effect?

Uncle Chen blew a smoke ring. "The best outcome would be to add the profits from the tempered glass to the settlement and end this matter. After all, the money from withdrawing shares is only temporary; dividends are the path to long-term income. When you go back, persuade your dad to admit a mistake. President Wang still has some affection for him, after all."

This was truly a stroke of serendipity. Jing Shu had originally been planning how to persuade Mr. Jing to withdraw his shares—after all, he had been attached to the business for over twenty years. But unexpectedly, due to a twist of fate, he was about to be forced out, which meant more money to buy supplies.

"Okay," Jing Shu replied, making an effort to put on a sorrowful expression, fearing she couldn’t hold back a laugh. She might be a fake daughter.

After wrapping up matters with the villa, Jing Shu went home early to prepare a shrimp feast to comfort Mr. Jing’s wounded heart.

She scooped out over a hundred shrimp, each over 8 centimeters long, from the space and transferred them into a one-cubic-meter independent area. Using her ’Absolute Control’ over anything in the space, Jing Shu swiftly cleaned the shrimp and removed their veins. She peeled some shrimp and marinated others with cooking wine, soy sauce, and salt. Scallions were cut into floral shapes, ginger was shredded, and garlic was smashed, all ready to use.

In the real world, just cleaning and deveining would take at least an hour or two. In the space, Jing Shu finished it in five minutes.

She started a pot of rice to simmer a large pot of porridge. She fried shrimp heads to make shrimp oil, then added the shrimp oil and peeled shrimp to the simmering porridge, seasoning it to continue cooking. Meanwhile, she stir-fried minced garlic until fragrant, brushed oil on a baking tray, skewered the large shrimp, sprinkled them with garlic, and baked them in the oven for ten minutes.

In a pot, she flash-fried the large shrimp in oil, then removed them. She poured in more oil and sautéed ginger and garlic until fragrant. Next, she cooked down the tomato sauce until the oil turned red, added the large shrimp and seasoning, and brought it to a boil over high heat. Then, she covered the pot to simmer on low heat. After two minutes, she added scallion pieces and turned the heat up to reduce the sauce. She tasted it, nodded in satisfaction, and served the braised large shrimp!

In another pot, she added water, ginger, and scallions, bringing it to a boil. She cooked the large shrimp for one minute, then removed and plated them. With a side of dipping sauce, the poached shrimp were ready to be served.

The remaining marinated shrimp were coated with starch, dipped in egg wash, and then breadcrumbs. They were fried in hot oil over low heat until golden brown; the breaded fried shrimp were served.

Six beaten space eggs, with water and salt added, were mixed with shrimp. The bowl was covered with cling film and steamed. Once done, it was drizzled with soy sauce for steamed fish and sesame oil. Her steamed egg with shrimp dish was ready to be served.

BEEP. The oven sounded, and Jing Shu took out the final dish, garlic-roasted large shrimp, and plated it. The shrimp porridge bubbled, releasing a rich aroma, waiting for her parents to return so she could garnish it with scallions before serving.

As soon as Mr. Jing opened the door, he was greeted by the delicious aromas that filled the house—from roasting, frying, and the rich scent of soup. Jing Shu, with sauce on the corner of her mouth, peeked her head out. "I made dinner..."

To her surprise, three more people followed behind Mr. Jing!

"Wow, I knew this delicious smell couldn’t be Aunt Su’s cooking," Sun Zijian, his face covered in acne, said as he led a girl in an ultra-short skirt and a leather coat into the house first.

"Sun Zijian?" Jing Shu exclaimed in surprise. The Sun Zijian at this time, although covered in acne, was tall and plump, nothing like the skin-and-bones version of him ten years later.

"Jing Shu, this is my girlfriend, Xiao Cao. Your dad said he’d make up for my missed birthday and was planning to take us out for a meal." Sun Zijian grabbed a fried shrimp and stuffed it into his mouth. "Damn, this is freaking delicious! Dad, let’s just eat at Uncle Jing’s place."

Jing Shu clenched her fists tightly and closed her eyes, forcing herself to endure. She had to hold back. If she lashed out at Sun Zijian now, Mr. Jing would be disadvantaged, giving their family even more reason not to repay the money.

"Sure, we’ll eat wherever you want," Uncle Sun from ten years ago said. He looked clean-cut with a typical social-drinker’s belly, unlike Mr. Jing, who had maintained his physique with regular exercise.

"Hello, sister," Xiao Cao’s coquettish voice made Jing Shu shiver. She clung to Sun Zijian’s arm, swaying left and right, feigning a timid expression as if only Sun Zijian could provide her with safety.

And Sun Zijian was indeed enjoying this quite a bit.

"Then let’s eat! How come these shrimp are so delicious?" Sun Zijian had already picked up a shrimp skewer and started eating. He casually told Xiao Cao not to be polite and to make herself at home, acting as if he were the host.

"My mom isn’t back yet!" Jing Shu felt utterly revolted, as if her heart had been fouled. The meal she had carefully prepared was being spoiled by someone with no manners. Her inner cosmos was about to explode; she was on the verge of losing her temper!

Mr. Jing asked Uncle Sun to sit down and said, "Your mom will be back late from overtime; let’s not wait for her."

"Then I’ll save a portion for her." Jing Shu took the serving pot and vigorously scooped out portions into a container, reminding herself to stay calm and not act impulsively.

"Hey, hey, hey, there’s not much as it is, and you keep taking out more! Aunt Su can’t eat that much..." Sun Zijian complained, pulling on Jing Shu’s arm. He was intimidated by her fierce glare and choked back more words, but then muttered, "Really, isn’t this my birthday celebration?"

Hating these ingrates from her previous life, the family that had betrayed her and colluded with enemies to open the gates, Jing Shu wished she could beat them up right then and there. Of course, she wouldn’t give them a pleasant expression; she was too lazy to even pretend.

Each person had a large bowl of fresh shrimp porridge and devoured the various succulent shrimp dishes with lightning speed. Jing Shu was the fastest. She picked up a grilled shrimp, opened her mouth, and deftly extracted the complete shrimp meat with her hand. The steamed egg with shrimp melted in her mouth. Then, she bit into a fried shrimp, her other hand already reaching for another. Both hands worked in sync with her mouth.

The delicate Xiao Cao also stopped caring about her image. She went straight for the shrimp in the steamed egg with her chopsticks, ignoring the egg itself. Sun Zijian, frustrated with peeling shrimp and his hands now covered in red oil, directly shoveled the steamed egg into his mouth with a spoon. He devoured it, shrimp and all, in two large bites.

Mr. Jing hesitated several times, wanting to bring up the money he needed to repay. The company’s sudden demand to settle outstanding accounts had forced him to find an excuse to meet Old Sun urgently and return the funds. Coupled with the possibility of being fired, Mr. Jing’s mood hit rock bottom.

"BURP. Dad, take a portion back for Mom," Sun Zijian requested after wolfing down his food. He clearly still wanted more, despite having had three bowls of shrimp porridge, but he was simply too full to eat another bite.

To go to someone’s home, eat their food, and then ask for a takeout portion—Jing Shu couldn’t help but admire his audacity.

Mr. Jing, driven mad by his financial worries, didn’t pay any attention to Sun Zijian. In the past, he would have actively offered to pack a portion for Sun Zijian’s mother.

"You’ll have to ask Jing Shu about that." Uncle Sun, his lips also glistening with oil, had never tasted such delicious shrimp, especially the fresh shrimp porridge.

"Jing Shu, could you separate out your mom’s portion?" Sun Zijian said with a teasing smile.

"Aunt Wang would definitely love such a delicious meal," Xiao Cao suggested demurely.

In their previous life, that’s exactly how they were. Because Mr. Jing and Mrs. Jing had told them to make themselves at home, they really did just that. And Mr. Jing had always been grateful and never saw anything wrong with it.

"My mom is looking forward to a meal I cooked even more. This is like homework I turned in; it can’t be divided," Jing Shu flatly rejected him, leaving no room for discussion.

Sun Zijian scoffed, "It’s the first time I’ve gone to someone’s house and not had enough to eat. Xiao Cao, let’s go out for barbecue."

"Okay, Zijian. I didn’t get enough to eat either," Xiao Cao cooed.