11. Hand-Shredded Chicken

“Lunch is on me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Do you really need a reason to eat? Can you just skip meals?”
“I mean, why are you treating me to lunch?”
“To apologize and admit that I was being silly.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind.”

When Jiang Rong found out that the hero was written by Zhang Tan, she insisted on treating him to a meal. On one hand, she said it was to apologize for all the goofing around and felt truly sorry; on the other, she wanted to seek his advice.

Zhang Tan thought the latter reason was more genuine.

“What’s the matter? Not going to accept the offer?”

Zhang Tan said, “Let me treat you. During the first week after I arrived, you helped me a lot. I owe you thanks.”

Jiang Rong grinned mischievously, “It’s nothing, really. I just helped because you’re handsome. Look at He Chao—I didn’t even pay him any mind.”

Zhang Tan was speechless.

Her remark left him no way to respond, and Jiang Rong laughed heartily. “Just kidding, since we sit near each other. If you treat me now, I’ll treat you next time.”

“Zhang Tan—” the deputy team leader called out, “Come here for a moment.”

“Okay.” Zhang Tan quickly stood up and said to Jiang Rong, “I won’t chat with you anymore.”

Jiang Rong shouted after him, “Alright then, it’s settled. Lunch! Don’t forget.”

Zhang Tan waved silently, indicating he understood.

Inside the conference room, besides the deputy team leader, there was a man in his forties with an ordinary appearance.

The deputy team leader introduced, “This is Luo Ming, the screenwriter of ‘Beneath Tianyu Mountain.’”

He then introduced Zhang Tan to Luo Ming. “This is Zhang Tan. You two talk; I’ll step out.”

After the deputy team leader left, Luo Ming further introduced himself.

He had read the evaluation team’s suggestions for ‘Beneath Tianyu Mountain’ yesterday and found them very spot-on, especially the three points Zhang Tan raised. They hit the mark—something he hadn’t considered before. It’s true what they say: an outsider sees clearly.

As soon as he came to work today, he visited the evaluation team hoping to meet Zhang Tan and have a chat.

Originally, he only planned to talk briefly and then leave, but once they sat down, they ended up talking for more than half an hour without realizing it.

Luo Ming was pleasantly surprised. Zhang Tan’s insights and viewpoints were refreshing and demonstrated a very high level of screenwriting proficiency.

“I heard you just graduated from university?” Luo Ming asked.

Zhang Tan replied, “Yes, I joined the company just half a month ago.”

“Did you write many scripts during college? Have you participated in any projects?”

“I wrote some and took part in a few projects, but all were small-scale.”

After a moment’s thought, Luo Ming said, “You know the ‘Beneath Tianyu Mountain’ project has already started, and I’m currently the only screenwriter on it. We’re short-handed. Would you be willing to come over and assist me?”

Zhang Tan’s heart brightened, though his expression remained calm. “As a screenwriter assistant?”

“Yes, screenwriter assistant. Your suggestion to add a pet character was excellent. If you join, you’d be responsible for designing that character. What do you think?”

“I personally have no objection, but I need to consult with the team leader.”

“Of course. I’ll also ask him for the personnel. You can rest assured.”

After leaving the conference room, Zhang Tan seemed unconcerned, having lunch nearby with Jiang Rong before finding the team leader to discuss joining ‘Beneath Tianyu Mountain.’

Team leader Lao Liu looked at the somewhat late-arriving Zhang Tan and thought to himself that the young man had impressive patience. Luo Ming had already told him he needed someone, and he expected Zhang Tan to come rushing over. Instead, he waited and waited but saw no one until now.

He had no objections; the script evaluation team was meant to train newcomers, and Zhang Tan’s progress reflected well on him.

At the end, the team leader encouraged him, “Luo Ming is very experienced with many projects under his belt. Working with him, you can learn a lot. Like I always say, be patient and don’t rush—opportunities will come.”

He then realized that the young man was already very patient, while he himself almost lost his temper.

This made him regard Zhang Tan even more highly.

After settling this, Zhang Tan called Luo Ming and briefed him. Luo Ming asked him to come by the next morning since the project was tight and Zhang Tan needed to start immediately.

——

At Little Red Horse Academy.

Gatekeeper Old Li saw Zhang Tan returning with groceries again and found it increasingly remarkable.

A few days ago, he was only a bit curious when he saw Zhang Tan buying ingredients and cooking. Now, after several times, he was truly amazed. Zhang Tan used to be a rich young master who rarely cooked or even ate at home, often out partying till late and coming back drunk.

Now, Zhang Tan went out early and returned early every day, often buying groceries and cooking for himself. This was completely unlike before, which greatly surprised Old Li.

Still, it was a positive change. Strange as it was, he was glad.

While Zhang Tan was cooking, a little white-haired girl clutching a soccer ball appeared outside the window, lazily wandering back and forth.

“Uncle, come down and play?”

The girl called out again. Thankfully, this time she didn’t hold up two fingers and ask what number it was.

My mom won’t let me play with you, Zhang Tan thought mischievously.

“I’m cooking right now.”

She sniffled hard, “I can smell it. Smells delicious—there’s ‘gaga.’”

“‘Gaga’? What’s that?”

“Meat.”

“Uh, shredded chicken. Want to come up and try?”

“Bobo chicken? Let me see.”

She dropped the soccer ball and dashed into the building, soon knocking on the door.

Zhang Tan opened it, and the girl peeked inside, now speaking in standard Mandarin.

“Is there any danger?”

Zhang Tan was taken aback for a moment. “Of course not. What danger could there be at home?”

She looked towards the kitchen, curious. “Why do you always cook by yourself? Where are your parents?”

Zhang Tan said, “They passed away.”

The girl sympathized, “Oh, that’s so sad.”

“Come in and sit for a bit.”

“Should I take off my shoes?”

They had been playing soccer in the yard, and her shoes were muddy.

“Go ahead and take them off. Oh, I’ll find you some slippers.”

There were no small slippers for children in the room, so Zhang Tan brought out a pair of his own and placed them in front of her. “Will these do?”

She took off her little white shoes, revealing black socks riddled with holes, through which her tender toes peeked.

Noticing Zhang Tan staring at her little feet, she shyly said, “One, two, three, four… four toes showing, hehe.”

Zhang Tan smiled. “It’s hot weather, your feet want to breathe. Come on in. There are grapes on the table. Can you reach them?”

She rubbed her hands together, slipped on Zhang Tan’s shoes like little sleds, and walked in slowly and carefully.

She sat on the floor, grabbed her feet, and sniffed them, muttering that they smelled quite nice—not stinky at all. Then she asked if she could walk barefoot without shoes.

“All right,” Zhang Tan agreed.

The little girl wandered around the house wearing socks full of holes, looking around with curiosity.

Zhang Tan brought down a plate of grapes and placed it on the coffee table, then turned on the TV.

“You can sit here, watch TV, and eat grapes. I’ll finish cooking dinner soon.”

“Okay, you go ahead.”

Then, embarrassed, she added, “I didn’t cook peanuts today.”

Zhang Tan laughed, “That’s fine. Boiled peanuts are tasty, but my grapes are good too. Give them a try.”

“Can I try one?”

“Try a few.”

An animated show appeared on the screen, instantly capturing her attention.

Back in the kitchen, Zhang Tan had finished the first dish and was preparing the second: shredded chicken.

The chicken was store-bought and cooked. After shredding it, he crushed some millet chili, garlic, and cilantro, then added lemon juice, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce, and Sichuan pepper oil, mixing everything before tossing it with the chicken—thus making a cold shredded chicken salad.

“Need any help, Xiao Bai?” she asked from the kitchen doorway.

“You can cook?” Zhang Tan was surprised.

“Yes, Xiao Bai can make bobo chicken.”

He doubted her, but seeing her serious expression and wanting to keep the peace, he held back.

“Emmmm—actually, it’s not bobo chicken, it’s shredded chicken, like this.”

He tore some chicken to show her.

“Then I can do it too. Want me to help?”

“Thanks, but I’ve already finished.”

He brought both dishes to the dining table.

“Try them and see how my cooking is.”

Xiao Bai shook her head. “Xiao Mi’s here! I heard her voice! I’m going to play with her. Bye!”

Without waiting for Zhang Tan’s invitation to stay, she dashed off.

“Be careful going down the stairs. Don’t run,” Zhang Tan called after her.

Xiao Mi stayed at Little Red Horse Academy in the evening. During the day, she was assigned to a nearby kindergarten by the police station and came here after class.

Just as Zhang Tan sat down to eat, he heard the sound of Xiao Bai quarreling downstairs.

“You silly kid, you’re driving me crazy!”

Eating his meal while listening to their argument was quite entertaining. Even when Xiao Bai was scolding, she somehow sounded cute and playful.

However, the person arguing with her probably didn’t find it amusing at all—completely overwhelmed by her.

It seemed to be Luo Zikang again.

Poor Luo Zikang, utterly defeated in words by Xiao Bai.

Zhang Tan could easily imagine Xiao Bai’s fierce little cat-like demeanor, so different from her polite and courteous visitor persona earlier.

Which side was truly her real self?