CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 281: CINDERELLA’S COMEBACK 26

Wu Linna was startled: "Why, why are all of you looking at me?"

Some students who were on good terms with her immediately jumped up: "Dumplings? You’ve finished those tasty dumplings without leaving us any to try?"

Wu Linna hid behind Anning in fright: "Who would have thought the dumplings were so delicious that I ate them all without realizing it? I still want to eat more now."

She clung to Anning’s arm: "Dear Ningning, the dumplings your mom makes are way too delicious. I... I want to go home with you for dinner tonight, I even want to live at your house."

Then, many classmates looked at Anning with eager eyes: "Anning, can we come to your house for dumplings?"

Anning smiled: "Sure, but there are so many of you, you won’t be able to eat much if you do go. However, our family is about to open a shop soon, selling these dumplings, and then you all can eat your fill."

"Really?"

Several students were particularly interested, gathering around Anning to ask when her family’s shop would open, where it would be, and telling her they would definitely come to support it.

Anning responded with a smile.

Then, when Mr. Gu came to pick up Anning from school that day, he was also taken aback, because Anning was bringing a long queue of people home.

The students were still craving the dumplings from Anning’s house and wanted to try them, and some thick-skinned ones insisted on following Anning home.

When Mr. Gu heard that the students loved his family’s dumplings and wanted to visit, he immediately said with a beaming smile: "Welcome, welcome, I’ll call Mrs. Gu right now to ask her to prepare more."

Mr. Gu called Mrs. Gu and then went to the market to buy meat, vegetables, and the like.

Anning took the students on the bus to go home.

Ever since Anning’s family moved to the new community, it was much closer to the school—just two bus stops away.

Mrs. Gu too was shocked by the large group that came to her house seeking dumplings but then warmly welcomed everyone.

Anning had never brought classmates home before.

For one thing, their old house was very small, and for another, Mr. and Mrs. Gu didn’t have the time to entertain.

Moreover, at that time, the original owner of the body knew the family was poor and was afraid of inviting classmates over for meals, which would add a burden to the family.

But now, Anning had made some money, got along quite well with her classmates, and she wanted to advertise her family’s dumplings, so she brought so many people home.

Mrs. Gu had already prepared the dough and mixed some filling. Seeing so many people come over, she quickly started making dumplings and steaming them.

Fortunately, the kitchen at home was large now, with two stove tops and an induction cooker. Mrs. Gu used all of them, and it didn’t take long before three pots of dumplings were ready.

The classmates, smelling the fragrance of the freshly steamed dumplings, were like hungry wolves, not minding the heat of the dumplings, and grabbed them with chopsticks to eat.

Mrs. Gu hurriedly took out many bowls and plates for the students to hold the dumplings.

Freshly steamed dumplings naturally tasted better than those that had cooled down. Biting into one, the rich flavorful broth oozed out, making the aroma even more tantalizing. The dough soaked in the broth was chewy and mixed with an overflowing aroma, instantly made everyone feel warmth enveloping them.

Moreover, this fragrance was not from spices but a very natural aroma.

The scent of the dough was like the harvest time in the height of summer, that sense of abundance from the wheat, and the piping hot dumpling’s dough carried the taste of a summer harvest, while the filling conveyed the lively atmosphere of a family sitting together in the cold weather, eating and laughing, as well as the joyous feeling of the New Year.

Such delicious dumplings made one crave another after eating one, and several students were almost moved to tears by the taste.

"Gu Anning, I’m really envious of you."

Several classmates told her: "Your mom’s cooking is truly amazing. I really want to trade moms with you."

Of course, those who said this had mothers at home who really couldn’t cook well.

Anning smiled and served everyone more dumplings.

And at that moment, Mr. Gu returned.

He came back full of energy and started cooking dishes in the kitchen.

Mr. Gu was cooking on one stove, while Mrs. Gu used the other stove and the induction cooker for steaming dumplings.

It didn’t take long before another two pots of steamed buns were ready, and moreover, Mr. Gu had prepared several cold dishes and fried two hot dishes.

Mr. Gu’s cooking skills are genuinely superior; not to mention the hot dishes, even the very ordinary cold dishes he mixed tasted delicious.

Wu Linna ate quite a few buns and a lot of dishes, so much so that she felt too stuffed to get up from the couch at Anning’s house.

She clutched her stomach, but her eyes kept darting towards the kitchen, imagining what dish Mr. Gu would bring out next.

That day, all of the students from the class overate at Anning’s house.

By the time they were full, it was quite late, so Anning, concerned for their safety, left messages for their parents in the First Middle School group chat to pick them up.

Wu Linna, the foodie that she is, didn’t want to leave when her dad came to pick her up, insisting on staying overnight at Anning’s house.

She was planning to continue devouring Anning’s house’s breakfast the following morning.

In the end, her dad had to drag her away forcibly.

Wu Linna’s dad, a bit plump like her and not too tall, had a very amiable smile. He kept apologizing to Mr. Gu: "This child is getting less sensible as she grows, causing you trouble, I’m so sorry."

Mr. Gu just smiled: "Our Ningning and your Nana are very close friends. If the child really wants to stay, let her stay; it’s no problem at all."

Nevertheless, Mr. Wu thought it wasn’t good to trouble another family too much and still dragged Wu Linna away.

When Wu Linna was leaving, her eyes were teary as she looked at Ningning: "Ningning, open your family’s steamed bun shop soon. I’ll have to rely on your buns to sustain my life. Those Michelin-starred restaurants don’t serve food that’s as tasty and affordable as your family’s buns..."

Anning waved her off smilingly: "Yeah, we’ll definitely open up soon, don’t worry."

After sending Wu Linna off, Anning went to the kitchen to help Mrs. Gu clean up.

Mrs. Gu quickly stopped her: "You go back to your room and do your homework; I’ve got this."

Ever since Teacher Li called Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu had become especially attentive to Anning’s studies.

She figured it out on her own, thinking that since Olympiad Mathematics and the Olympic all bear the word ’Olympic,’ they should be the same.

She also observed the upbringing of many Olympic champions, noticed how their families placed great importance on them, and felt increasingly that they had neglected Anning.

She thought about how difficult it is to nurture an Olympic champion, requiring the full effort of the whole family, letting the children focus all their energy on what they are good at, without letting trifles delay them.

In Mrs. Gu’s mind, Olympic champions are incredibly distinguished, and thinking of Anning possibly winning a champion title for the country in the future made her unspeakably proud; she wouldn’t allow Anning to do those chores.

After eating steamed buns at Anning’s house, the classmates from the class treated Anning even better, somewhat indebted to her.

Anning found it quite amusing.

However, the classmates were now always hurrying Anning about when her family’s bun shop would open.

Anning relayed this to Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu actually got a bit anxious about it.

He would visit the shop every day to check the progress.

Due to Mr. Gu’s eagerness and the small size of the shop, the renovation was completed very quickly.

During this time, an incident occurred.

Anning’s house was sold.

Three days after the new owner moved in, some thugs went there to cause trouble, scaring the new owner terribly.

They even called the police, and the thugs ran away when the police arrived, leaving the new homeowner’s family too frightened to venture outside at night.

Anning also heard about this incident from Mrs. Gu, who mentioned things like the new owner must have offended someone.

But Anning felt that those people were probably targeting her home.

They probably didn’t expect her family to have moved and got the wrong place.