Chapter 732
Chapter 732
Chapter 732 Tears Of Excitement
Avery finally relaxed when she learned that Cayden was safe and sound.
As noon approached, Cal started to complain about being hungry. Meanwhile, Blake kept muttering about his craving for mushroom pot pie, a delicacy from his hometown.
As people age, they often find themselves yearning for the taste of their hometown's cuisine. Considering the elderly man's declining health, his newfound selectiveness in food was quite reasonable.
Avery also missed the taste of porcini mushrooms.
She grew up in the countryside with her grandfather, living in poverty. Their most common meal was mushroom pot pie.
Back then, Blake would often bustle about in the kitchen. As a little girl, she would watch, wide-eyed, as he made pot pie. She learned how to make it herself at a very young age.
Even though mushroom pot pie was a humble dish, to her, who was impoverished and often hungry back then, it was unquestionably a cherished delicacy. With her current affluence, her daily menu was filled with indulgent meats and fish that would sometimes result in excess nutrition.
Opting for an increased intake of vegetables was a wise choice for promoting overall well-being. It could also play a favorable role in supporting Blake's physical recuperation.
Therefore, Avery dispatched her driver to the supermarket to procure a substantial quantity of porcini mushrooms. She decided to personally make mushroom pot pie for Blake.
After buying the porcini mushrooms, one housekeeper took care of Blake in the courtyard, while another assisted Avery in the kitchen.
Cal stood on a small stool half his height, his round, curious eyes wide open as he watched his mother and housekeeper bustling about.
Even though Avery hadn't been in the kitchen for a while, her culinary prowess remained exceptional.
She poured all-purpose flour into a bowl in a certain ratio. Then, she added a bit of white sugar, fine salt, and cold water into it, stirring it all together with chopsticks until it formed a dough.
Once the dough gradually took shape, Avery began to knead it with her fair hands. NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
While she busied herself with her own tasks, she softly instructed the housekeeper, “Ms. Spencer, please wash the porcini mushrooms. After washing it thoroughly, blanch it in boiling water. Once you've done that, chop it finely.”
While Jasmine Spencer washed the porcini mushrooms, she expressed her admiration, “Mrs. Moore, I must say, I didn't anticipate that you'd be adept at making a mushroom pot pie. I wouldn't even know where to begin. It's a bit embarrassing to admit.”
She was a true city native, having spent her entire life growing up in the urban environment. Rural living was unfamiliar to her, so naturally, she was unfamiliar with the process of making pot pie.
The reason she became a housekeeper was because she had two sons at home. In order to buy them houses and get them married, she had not only spent all her life savings but also owed the bank a significant debt. To alleviate the financial burden of her sons and daughters-in-law, she had no choice but to work as a housekeeper and supplement the family income.
Thankfully, her employer was kind-hearted and beautiful, offering her an extremely high salary.
Furthermore, the elderly gentleman of the household was affable and undemanding, the children were well-mannered and perceptive, and the lady of the house exhibited kindness and gentleness. She approached her work with a sense of devotion, treating the family she served as though they were her own.
Avery chuckled lightly. “Ms. Spencer, you have never lived in the countryside, so it's understandable that you don't know how to make mushroom pot pie. Actually, it's been many years since I last ate pot pie myself. If it wasn't for my grandpa mentioning that he wanted to eat it this time, I would have almost forgotten how delicious it is.”
They stopped talking and got engaged in their own tasks.
Once Jasmine had finely chopped the porcini mushrooms, Avery skillfully made the filling. Then, she rolled out the dough. Next, with nimble fingers, she placed the filling in a ramekin, and the dough on top of it.
That was how a pot pie was made.
“Mommy, I want to learn how to make pot pie.” Cal excitedly played with a small piece of dough.
He tried to mimic his mother, attempting to make pot pie. However, he was too weak, and the result was a shapeless lump, too ugly to look at.
Watching her son clumsily knead the dough, Avery couldn't help but laugh. However, she didn't want to discourage him and lied, “Keep going, Cal. Practice more and you'll definitely get better at kneading in the future.”
Cal pouted and blushed in embarrassment. “Mommy, you're annoying!”
With a smile, Avery tenderly kissed Cal's cheek, then skillfully carved a few animals on the puff pastry.
She carved lively little foxes, quirky little monkeys, and adorable, naive little white rabbits.
The distinctive and lifelike designs left Cal in a state of wonder, his small mouth hanging open in astonishment. Even Jasmine couldn't help but stare in disbelief.
She had to admit that Avery was truly talented.
Half an hour later, the mushroom pot pie was ready.
Avery opened the oven and was greeted by the refreshing aroma of porcini mushrooms.
She retrieved the pot pies from the oven and placed them on the plate. After removing her apron, she eagerly carried the mushroom pot pies over to Blake.
Blake's mouth was nearly toothless, with only three or four teeth remaining. Yet, as he ate the pot pie
his granddaughter made, he sighed contentedly and said slowly, “Not bad. It tastes like home. Thank you, my dear granddaughter...”
Although the elderly man's speech remained unclear, there was no mistaking the joy that illuminated his aged face.
His trembling old hand even gave Avery a thumbs up.
Avery crouched down, tenderly kneading Blake's legs, which were draped with a blanket on the wheelchair. “Grandpa, your happiness is what counts the most. If there's anything else you desire to eat, please don't hesitate to tell me. As long as it's within my capabilities, I'll ensure you have it.”
Even if I can't do it, I'll still find a way to satisfy you. This sentence, however, remained unspoken in Avery's heart.
Tears shimmered in Blake's eyes. His lips trembled as he repeated, “Good, good...”
As Blake was almost wolfing down his food in excitement, Avery gently advised, “Grandpa, please eat slowly. We have plenty of pot pie today, and no one's competing with you. Don't choke.”
Cal was also munching on the pot pie greedily.
He even said innocently, “Mom, the pot pie is so delicious. It's the best thing I've ever tasted. Can we have pot pie every day from now on?”
The little one has always been fed with the finest foods, exclusive to affluent households. He had never tasted something as simple as this.
Thus, he thought that the pot pie was simply the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.
Avery found it both amusing and touching to see the old and the young treating mushroom pot pie as a delicacy.
Cal was truly blessed. He had been pampered with luxuries since childhood, completely oblivious to the hardships of the world. When he experienced the real struggles of life, he'd realize how fortunate he is now.
Many years later, on a particular day, when Cal had indeed risen to prominence as a formidable and influential figure, he found himself confined to a remote mountainous region due to a classified special assignment. He had no alternative but to consume mushroom pot pie for three meals a day, to the point where he nearly experienced stomach discomfort and felt on the verge of vomiting blood.
At that time, he recalled the foolish things he had said in his youth and wished he could slap himself for his past stupidity!
After finishing all her tasks, Avery returned to her room and dried her hands. She picked up the phone, about to call Cayden, when she saw the mansion's front gate automatically swing open.
A familiar black Bentley drove into the courtyard.
Seeing the handsome man in the driver's seat, Avery was so moved that she was on the verge of tears!