Chapter 250 Preparation

Seeing this heartwarming scene, the slight irritation Lin Fan had felt in the coffee shop earlier vanished instantly.

No matter how scheming and calculating the outside world is, as long as he returns to this shop and sees his daughter looking peaceful and content, his heart is at peace.

"Daddy!" Tuantuan heard footsteps, turned around, and held up a small comb. "I'm brushing Xiajiao's fur; it's shedding!"

"Comb it gently, don't hurt it." Lin Fan walked over, squatted down, and gently rubbed his daughter's soft hair.

"I don't care about it, I'll just blow on it." Tuantuan lovingly leaned close to the kitten's head and gently blew on it.

Lin Fan smiled and stood up.

He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was 4:30 PM.

"Xiaoxiao, the cleaning is almost done, don't bother anymore." Lin Fan rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the sink. "If you don't have class today, eat at the restaurant tonight, I'll stew some ribs."

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, and she quickly put the mop away: "Okay, Brother Lin! I'll take out the trash in the front hall and lock the front door while I'm at it."

Lin Fan carefully washed his hands twice with clean water, dried them with a towel, and tied on the clean white chef's apron.

He walked into the open kitchen and opened the freezer.

I took out a piece of black mountain pork rib that I had specially set aside that morning. The rib had been chopped into even pieces, and the meat was bright red with beautiful marbling.

Light the stove.

Blue flames instantly leaped up, licking the bottom of the iron pot.

Lin Fan poured a little oil into the pot, added a few rock sugar pieces, and started to caramelize the sugar.

The spatula is quickly stirred in the pot, the rock sugar melts as it heats up, slowly turns into caramel color, and produces fine bubbles.

Pour the blanched and drained ribs into the pot and stir-fry quickly so that each piece of rib is evenly coated with the bright red sugar color.

Next, sauté the chopped scallions, ginger, and star anise until fragrant, then pour in the brewed soy sauce, and finally add enough hot water to cover the ribs. Cover the pot and simmer over low heat.

Soon, the rich and mellow aroma of meat began to permeate the quiet shop.

After taking out the trash, Su Xiaoxiao came back and locked the glass door with a "click".

The streetlights on Jin Street were already on, and through the glass doors, one could see the hurried crowds heading home from work.

The passersby, wrapped tightly in their coats in the cold wind, stood in stark contrast to the warm and comforting atmosphere inside the store.

"Brother Lin, the ribs smell so good." Su Xiaoxiao walked to the bar, poured herself a cup of hot water, and held it in her hands to warm it.

"Simmer for another half hour to reduce the sauce, then it'll be ready to eat." Lin Fan took a rag and wiped the water stains off the counter.

He turned his head and looked at his daughter sitting on a small stool, petting the cat. He couldn't help but recall Su Qing's arrogant and condescending attitude in the coffee shop earlier, as if she thought money could solve everything.

five million.

In Su Qing's eyes, this money was enough to buy out a father's companionship with his daughter, and enough to buy out all the backbone of a person from the bottom of society.

But she will never understand that for Lin Fan, even exchanging the entire Su Group wouldn't compare to the smile Tuantuan is giving him right now.

This 300-square-meter shop only does business for half a day.

Once I've earned enough money, I spend the rest of my time behind closed doors, drawing with my daughter, playing with the cat, and cooking a hot dinner.

This kind of down-to-earth life, free from the constraints of anyone's approval and the influence of capital and desire, is the kind of growth environment Lin Fan truly wants to provide for Tuantuan.

"Glug glug..."

The broth in the pot slowly reduced, making a thick, bubbling sound.

Lin Fan lifted the pot lid.

Reduce the sauce over high heat. The glossy red sweet and sour sauce coats each piece of rib evenly, emitting an enticing aroma of caramelization and sweet and sour flavor.

He deftly placed the ribs into a deep white porcelain plate, sprinkled them with a little white sesame seeds for garnish, and pressed the order bell.

"Dinner's ready." Lin Fan carried the dishes out of the kitchen.

Su Xiaoxiao had already prepared three bowls of white rice and placed them on the solid wood square table by the window in the hall.

"Tuantuan, wash your hands and eat."

"Coming!" Tuantuan put down the little comb in her hand, ran to the sink, tiptoed to wash her little hands clean, and then skillfully climbed onto her special high chair.

Lin Fan picked up a piece of the tenderest spare rib, blew on it to cool it down, and placed it in Tuan Tuan's bowl.

The little girl didn't care that it was hot; she grabbed the ribs with her hands and nibbled on them in small bites.

Sweet meat juices clung to the corners of her mouth as she ate with a beaming smile, her little legs swinging happily under the chair.

Shrimp Dumpling smelled the meat and crawled out of its cat bed, ran under the table, tilted its head back, and gave Lin Fan a soft, sweet "meow."

Lin Fan smiled, placed a small piece of unsalted minced meat that had been boiled in water in the kitchen earlier on a small plate, and pushed it in front of the shrimp dumplings. The kitten immediately lowered its head and began to wolf it down.

Three people and one cat.

A warm breeze was blowing gently in the hall, and the food on the table was steaming.

The sky outside the window slowly darkened.

After dinner, Su Xiaoxiao took the initiative to collect the dishes and chopsticks and put them in the kitchen to be washed.

Lin Fan had told her many times that she didn't need to clean, but the girl was still very diligent.

Lin Fan took a clean, damp towel and wiped Tuantuan's mouth and hands, which were covered in sweet and sour sauce.

"Go upstairs to draw, Daddy needs to talk to you downstairs." Lin Fan lifted his daughter off the chair.

Tuantuan nodded obediently and carried the strawberry bear upstairs to the second floor.

Not long after, the shop door was pushed open.

Qin Lang led in a middle-aged man wearing a navy blue suit and carrying a briefcase.

The man had slightly gray hair, wore black-rimmed glasses, and had sharp eyes. He was Wang Zhengming, the vice president of the Jiangcheng Lawyers Association.

"Brother Lin." Qin Lang walked over and pulled out a chair. "I've brought Attorney Wang with me."

"Attorney Wang, please have a seat." Lin Fan poured two glasses of warm water and handed them over.

Lin Fan knew very well that Su Qing was a businesswoman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

She brought a top-tier legal team from Jiangcheng Dacheng Law Firm, ready to leverage assets and social class in court.

Although he has nothing to hide and has earned all the money these days, lawsuits ultimately require legal procedures and the presentation of evidence.

Professional matters should be handled by professionals; he cannot risk Tuantuan's custody in any way.

So on his way back to the store, he called Qin Lang and asked him to help him find a reliable lawyer who was knowledgeable about economic disputes and custody cases.

When Qin Lang heard on the phone that Su Qing dared to cause trouble at the court, he was so angry that he laughed on the spot. He patted his chest and promised that he would bring the toughest lawyer in Jiangcheng to the store that night.

Without any formalities, Wang Zhengming sat down and immediately opened his briefcase, taking out a thick file.

"Boss Lin, Young Master Qin already told me your basic situation on the way here."

Wang Zhengming adjusted his glasses and got straight to the point.

……