Chapter 015: The Magical Use of Space

 Uncle Chen gave Jing Shu a meaningful look. “Cost price means a loss. I heard that a newcomer has joined the company and is working with your dad on government contracts. They plan to sell the tempered glass to the government at a high price.”

So in her previous life, when her father didn’t block anyone’s financial interests, nothing happened. Is the butterfly effect of Jing Shu requesting the tempered glass causing this trouble in this life?

Uncle Chen blew out a smoke ring. “The best outcome is to add the profit margin of the tempered glass and settle the matter. After all, returning the shares is a temporary fix; dividends are the long-term solution. You should go home and persuade your dad to admit his mistake. After all, President Wang still has some feelings for him.”

This was truly an unintended gain. Jing Shu had been thinking about how to get her dad to withdraw his shares. After all, he’d worked there for over 20 years and was emotionally attached. Unexpectedly, circumstances were leading him to be forced out and compensated, providing another sum of money to buy supplies.

“Okay,” Jing Shu tried hard to put on a sad expression, afraid she might burst into laughter. She might just be a fake daughter.

After finishing up at the villa, Jing Shu went home early to prepare a shrimp feast to comfort her father’s wounded heart.

She transferred over a hundred large shrimps over 8 centimeters long from her space into a separate 1-cubic-meter area. Utilizing her “absolute control” over anything within the space, she quickly completed cleaning and deveining the shrimps, peeled some into shrimp meat, and marinated others with cooking wine, soy sauce, and salt. She prepared chopped green onions, shredded ginger, crushed garlic, and other auxiliary ingredients.

In reality, just cleaning and deveining the shrimps would take at least one or two hours. In her space, Jing Shu finished it in five minutes.

She started a pot of rice porridge, fried the shrimp heads to make shrimp oil. Once the pot boiled, she added the shrimp oil and shrimp meat, seasoned it, and continued to simmer. Meanwhile, she sautéed minced garlic until fragrant, brushed oil on a baking tray, skewered the large shrimps, sprinkled minced garlic, and placed them in the oven for ten minutes.

She heated oil in a pan, stir-fried the large shrimps until fragrant, then set them aside. In the same pan, she added oil to sauté ginger and garlic until aromatic, stirred in tomato sauce to release its red oil, added back the shrimps and seasonings, brought it to a boil over high heat, then simmered on low. After two minutes, she added chopped green onions and reduced the sauce over high heat. Jing Shu tasted it, nodded, and plated the Braised Prawns.

She boiled water with ginger and green onions, cooked the large shrimps for one minute, removed and plated them, added a dipping sauce—the Boiled Shrimps were ready.

She coated the marinated shrimps with starch, egg wash, and breadcrumbs, heated oil in a pan, fried them over low heat until golden brown—the Breaded Fried Shrimps were done.

She beat six eggs from her space, added water and salt, mixed in shrimp meat, covered with plastic wrap, and steamed it. Once done, she drizzled steamed fish soy sauce and sesame oil—a Steamed Egg with Shrimp was ready.

The oven beeped; Jing Shu took out the last dish—Garlic Grilled Shrimps. The Shrimp Porridge was bubbling with a rich aroma, ready to be garnished with green onions when her parents returned.

When her father opened the door, the house was filled with a delicious aroma—grilled, fried, and the rich scent of a hearty broth. Jing Shu peeked out with sauce still on the corner of her mouth, “I made dinner…”

To her surprise, her father was followed by three people!

“Wow, I knew such a delicious smell couldn’t have come from Aunt Su’s cooking,” said Sun Zijian, whose face was covered in acne. Holding hands with a girl in an ultra-short skirt and fur coat, he walked in first.

“Sun Zijian?” Jing Shu exclaimed in surprise. At this time, although Sun Zijian’s face was acne-ridden, he was tall and chubby, unlike ten years later when he had become skin and bones.

“Jing Shu, this is my girlfriend, Xiao Cao. Your dad said he’d make up a birthday for me and planned to take us out to eat,” Sun Zijian reached out and grabbed a fried shrimp, stuffing it into his mouth. “Wow, this is freaking delicious! Dad, let’s just eat at Uncle Jing’s place.”

Jing Shu clenched her fists tightly, closed her eyes, and held back—she had to hold back. If she hit Sun Zijian now, her dad would be put in a difficult position, and they would have more reason not to repay the money.

“Alright, wherever you want to eat,” said Uncle Sun. Ten years ago, he looked quite fair-skinned, sporting the standard beer belly of someone who attended many social events, unlike Jing Shu’s dad who kept fit through regular exercise.

“Hello, sister,” Xiao Cao’s sweet voice gave Jing Shu goosebumps. She clung to Sun Zijian’s arm with both hands, swaying left and right, showing a timid expression as if only Sun Zijian could make her feel safe.

This really made Sun Zijian feel quite pleased.

“Then let’s eat. Why is this shrimp so delicious?” Sun Zijian had already picked up a shrimp skewer and started eating, casually telling Xiao Cao not to be shy and to make herself at home, acting as if he were the host.

“My mom hasn’t come back yet!” Jing Shu felt utterly disgusted, as if she had been fed something vile. Her carefully prepared meal was being ruined by these ill-mannered people. Her inner rage was about to explode; she was on the verge of losing control!

Her father invited Uncle Sun to sit down and said, “Your mom is working late; let’s not wait for her.”

“Then I’ll save a portion for her,” Jing Shu picked up the pot and began scooping out servings, reminding herself to stay calm and not act impulsively.

“Hey, hey, hey, there’s not much to begin with; if you keep taking it out, there’ll be none left. Aunt Su can’t eat that much anyway…” Sun Zijian grabbed Jing Shu’s arm in dissatisfaction but was scared into silence by her fierce glare. “Seriously, isn’t this supposed to be my birthday celebration?”

Facing these ingrates who had betrayed her family in her previous life, Jing Shu wished she could beat them up right now. Of course, she wasn’t going to show them any kindness and couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

Everyone had a big bowl of Shrimp Porridge and quickly devoured the various delicious and juicy shrimp dishes. Jing Shu ate the fastest—picking up a grilled shrimp, opening her mouth, and with a gentle pull, the whole shrimp meat slid into her mouth. A big spoonful of Steamed Egg with Shrimp melted as soon as it touched her tongue. She grabbed a fried shrimp tail and bit off the shrimp in one go, her other hand already holding another shrimp, using both hands in coordination with her mouth.

Even the delicate Xiao Cao couldn’t maintain her image anymore. She aimed her chopsticks at the Steamed Egg with Shrimp, picking out only the shrimp pieces. Frustrated with peeling shrimp and his hands covered in oily sauce, Sun Zijian directly grabbed the Steamed Egg dish and scooped it into his mouth with a spoon, finishing the eggs and shrimp in just two bites.

Her father wanted to mention the repayment several times. The company had suddenly demanded he settle the outstanding accounts, forcing him to find an excuse to invite Uncle Sun over to quickly get the money back. On top of that, he might be fired from the company, so his mood was at rock bottom.

“Burp, Dad, let’s pack a portion for Mom,” Sun Zijian said, still unsatisfied after devouring the feast. He had downed three bowls of Shrimp Porridge and was too full to eat more.

Eating at someone else’s house and then wanting to take extra food to go—Jing Shu was impressed.

Her father was so consumed with thoughts about the money that he ignored Sun Zijian. In the past, he would have proactively offered to pack a portion.

“You’ll have to ask Jing Shu about that,” Uncle Sun said, his mouth still greasy. A picky eater, he had never tasted such delicious shrimp before, especially the Shrimp Porridge.

“Jing Shu, could you spare your mom’s portion?” Sun Zijian said with a cheeky grin.

“Aunt Wang would surely love such delicious food,” Xiao Cao added, putting on a demure look.

In her previous life, they had been like this. Because her parents had said, “Make yourselves at home,” they really treated it as their own home. Her father was always grateful and never thought anything was wrong.

“My mom has been looking forward to eating a meal I cooked; it’s my assignment and can’t be shared,” Jing Shu directly refused, leaving no room for negotiation.

“Humph, first time I’ve ever left someone’s house still hungry. Xiao Cao, let’s go out for barbecue,” Sun Zijian snorted.

“Okay, Brother Zijian, I’m still not full,” Xiao Cao replied.