A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 92 The Joyful Aftermath of the Competition

Sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves onto the school path. Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin, like two cheerful little birds, hopped and chattered as they came out of the school. Just as they reached the school gate, they saw Liu Qicheng from elementary school rushing towards them like a cannonball, almost causing them to lose their footing.

"Where are you two great heroes headed?" Liu Qicheng asked, tilting his head back.

Li Shiqing raised her eyebrows and said proudly, "We're just about to go home and brag about our glorious victory in the chemistry competition!"

Liu Yixin laughed along, "Little brother, are you interested in listening?"

"Of course! Tell me about it!" Liu Qicheng's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Li Shiqing cleared her throat and began to describe it vividly: "You wouldn't believe it, when the competition first started, just looking at that pile of chemical reagents made me shudder. It felt like I was going to fight a bunch of little monsters. I said to Liu Yixin, 'Xin'er, is this going to be a chemical adventure? Let's not get overwhelmed by all these bottles!'"

Liu Yixin gave her a nudge and said with a laugh, "You're such a busybody. I was so calm at the time, thinking that following the steps we practiced before would be the right thing to do. But who knew that when Li Shiqing was weighing the reagents, her hand trembled and she almost poured the whole bottle in! That scene scared me so much that my heart almost jumped out of my chest!"

"Oh, that was just a little accident. I managed to fix it later, didn't I?" Li Shiqing muttered unconvinced. "Then, when we were mixing the solution, it suddenly started bubbling like it was under a spell. It was all different colors, just like a bottle of soda that had been opened. I even shouted, 'Look, our magic potion is going to work!' All the classmates around me burst out laughing."

Liu Qicheng listened intently and pressed for more information: "So, just how amazing are the soaps you make?"

Liu Yixin said mysteriously, "The scent of our soap is absolutely amazing! After the competition, the judges smelled our soap over and over again, they were practically ready to eat it! And the shapes, we specially made them into all sorts of cute little animals, they're incredibly adorable. One teacher even joked that it's a waste to use this soap for bathing, it should be displayed in a museum!"

They chatted and laughed all the way, and before they knew it, they arrived at Li Shiqing's house. The three of them filed in and saw Li Yuan and Liu Xuan sitting in the living room.

"Mom and Dad, we're back!" Li Shiqing shouted. "We won first place in the chemistry competition!"

"Oh, my darling daughters are so wonderful!" Li Yuan stood up with a big smile and gave each of them a big hug.

Liu Xuan also gave a thumbs up: "Amazing! No wonder she's my daughter! Tell us about the competition."

So, Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin embellished the funny stories they had told on the way, making Li Yuan and Liu Xuan laugh so hard they almost fell over.

Just then, the video call on the computer rang. Li Yuan went over to look and saw it was Aunt Liu, who was traveling in France. After the video call connected, Aunt Liu's bright smile appeared on the screen, with her lovely daughter sitting next to her.

"Sister Li, it's been a long time!" Aunt Liu greeted her warmly.

"Xiao Liu, how's your trip in France?" Li Yuan replied with a smile.

Aunt Liu said excitedly, "Sister Li, I'm having a wonderful time in France! I travel around every day, eat all kinds of delicious food, and see all kinds of beautiful scenery. Most importantly, without my ex-husband Wang Qiang bothering me, I'm living such a carefree life. I really have to thank you. If it weren't for your encouragement and advice, I wouldn't be living such a carefree life now."

Li Yuan waved her hand: "What are you saying? I'm happy if you're doing well. Where did you go in France?"

Aunt Liu began to share her experiences at length: "I went to the Eiffel Tower, and standing at its base, I felt like I was in a fairy tale. And the Louvre Museum, the artworks inside were simply dazzling. My daughter was also very happy, and she kept asking for French ice cream and desserts every day."

Liu Yixin leaned closer to the computer and asked curiously, "Auntie Liu, are there a lot of handsome men in France?"

Aunt Liu laughed and said, "There are quite a few, you can see them everywhere on the street. But I'm not in the mood to look at handsome men right now, I just want to enjoy my trip."

Everyone chatted away, their laughter filling the room. From amusing anecdotes about the chemistry competition to Aunt Liu's travel experiences in France, the topics shifted constantly, like a joyful party.

Li Yuan and Liu Xuan looked at the excited Li Shiqing, Liu Yixin, and Liu Qicheng, smiled at each other, and Liu Xuan waved his hand: "Let's go, let's all go out for hot pot today to celebrate the great results our little geniuses achieved in the chemistry competition!"

"Wow, hot pot!" Liu Qicheng jumped up like a little rocket. "I want to eat tons of meatballs!"

Li Shiqing smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, were you also dazzled by our championship glory? You should reward us properly!"

Liu Yixin chimed in, "Yeah, I want a spicy hot pot, the kind that's so spicy it'll make you breathe fire!"

Upon arriving at the hot pot restaurant, the aroma of steaming food wafted out as soon as the door was opened. Liu Xuan, like a seasoned pro, said to the waiter, "Give me a half-and-half hot pot, one half spicy and satisfying, the other half clear and nourishing."

Everyone sat around the table, Liu Qicheng stared intently at the menu, his mouth practically watering: "I want to order ten plates of beef balls first, no, twenty plates!"

Li Yuan gently tapped his head: "Can you really eat that much? Don't stuff your tummy until it bursts."

Liu Qicheng patted his belly confidently and said, "Mom, don't underestimate me. My belly is like a bottomless pit, specially designed to hold delicious food."

At this moment, Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin started fiddling with the seasonings.

Li Shiqing frowned as she looked at the pile of seasonings: "How do I mix these seasonings to make them taste good? I feel like I'm conducting a chemistry experiment."

Liu Yixin laughed and said, "Just follow my recipe, and I guarantee it will explode in your taste buds. Add a little soy sauce, a little vinegar, plenty of sesame oil, and don't skimp on the minced garlic. Sprinkle on some chopped green onions and cilantro, and it'll be perfect!"

Li Shiqing followed the instructions, took a bite, and exclaimed, "Wow, this is really good! You could apply for a patent for this recipe!"

The hot pot was served, with the bright red spicy broth and clear soup bubbling away.

Liu Xuan picked up a slice of beef and put it into the spicy broth first: "This beef tastes authentic after being dipped in the spicy broth."

Not to be outdone, Liu Qicheng grabbed a slotted spoon and started shoveling meatballs into the pot. In the process, he accidentally dropped several meatballs onto the table. He frantically picked them up, muttering, "Oh dear, just pretend you didn't see them. They just wanted to get some fresh air."

Li Shiqing laughed and said, "Little brother, the way you're eating, have you not eaten for days?"

Liu Yixin, meanwhile, leisurely simmered some vegetables in the hot pot: "You guys eat the meat, and I'll just finish off these vegetables so you won't have an unbalanced diet."

As they ate, Li Yuan looked at her three children and said with emotion, "Seeing you all so happy today makes your father and me feel especially blessed. Whether it's the success in the chemistry competition or this hot pot meal, these are just little joys in life."

Liu Xuan nodded in agreement: "That's right, we should get together more often like this in the future and enjoy happy family time."

With his mouth full, Liu Qicheng mumbled, "Okay, then let's come here for hot pot every week from now on. I want to try everything on the menu."

Everyone was amused by him, and the hotpot meal continued amidst laughter and chatter. Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin shared other interesting stories from school, while Liu Qicheng occasionally chimed in with jokes. Li Yuan and Liu Xuan listened quietly, their faces beaming with happy smiles.