Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Scouting the Candidate
"Are you trying to find me a mommy?"
"Yes, don\'t you want your dad to find you another mommy?"
"Of course, I do!"
Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands, "But I like them pretty, and also nice to me! At least like Teacher Tong Ya!"
The old men and women were amused and laughed, not expecting Tuan Tuan to be so picky.
"Oh my, this teacher is like a fairy, it\'s not easy to find someone as beautiful as her!"
"Kid, you want your dad to be a bachelor for life!"
"The child has quite the opinion! Then you\'d better help your dad look carefully!"
Who knew that Tuan Tuan pouted slightly with an air of arrogance.
"Do I even need to look? I just like Teacher Tong Ya, and I doubt there\'s anyone prettier than her, so I say it should be her!"
With that, everyone\'s gaze was drawn to Tong Ya.
Even one of the old women moved closer, "This girl is so beautiful, there must be plenty of suitors. Maybe she already has someone!"
Tuan Tuan immediately seized the opportunity, "Teacher Tong Ya, do you really already have someone?"
Tong Ya\'s face flushed red in an instant, and she subconsciously glanced in Chen Yu\'s direction, slightly raising her tone.
"I\'ve never been in love before."
"Then do you have someone you like?" Tuan Tuan continued to pry.
"No!" Tong Ya said almost reflexively, but in that moment, her gaze was fixed on Chen Yu.
Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands excitedly, "Dad, did you hear that? Teacher Tong Ya is still single!"
Chen Yu merely bowed his head and continued with his work, completely ignoring Tuan Tuan. In his eyes, this little girl was just following the elderly crowd, making a fuss over nothing.
Immediately, Tuan Tuan felt a sense of disappointed frustration.
The old men and women were all laughing heartily.
"Young man, did you see that? Your daughter is taking your matters to heart and even plans to introduce this beautiful teacher to you!"
Chen Yu replied with a polite smile and continued making fried cakes, treating it as just a joke.
Tong Ya, however, felt flustered by these jokes and pretended to look down at her phone to hide her bashfulness.
As soon as she unlocked her phone, she saw a message from Tang Xiaowei.
"Have you seen him yet? Quickly take a photo and send it over, I want to see who has hooked you so soullessly."
Tong Ya subconsciously glanced at Chen Yu.
"He\'s busy, how can I take a photo?"
"Aiyah, Miss Tong has learned to guard her food," Tang Xiaowei\'s text carried a hint of jealousy.
"Talk nonsense again and see if I don\'t tear up your mouth when I get back!"
"Just kidding, send me a selfie and your exact location! I\'m not worried about your safety, I\'m just afraid you\'re harboring improper thoughts about that father and daughter!"
"Beat it!"
Nevertheless, Tong Ya still picked up her phone, ready to take a selfie.
"Teacher, are you going to take a selfie? Can I join you?" Tuan Tuan suddenly came over.
"Of course you can!"
Without refusal, she subconsciously hugged Tuan Tuan into her arms and struck a pose.
For some reason, holding Tuan Tuan, Tong Ya suddenly felt an impulse never to let go.
After taking several photos, she reluctantly let go of Tuan Tuan.
Tang Xiaowei had just received the photos when she suddenly screamed.
"Oh my god, this is too cute! Isn\'t this the daughter of your male god?"
"Yeah!" Tong Ya replied to the message, her face unexpectedly brimming with inexplicable happiness.
"No wonder you\'re willing to become their stepmother, with such an adorable girl, I\'d be willing too!"
"Don\'t get any ideas about my male god."
"I\'m not competing with you! But there are some things you really need to think through, the Tong Family\'s higher-ups would never let you date a divorced man!"
"Just eat your hotpot!"
Tong Ya retorted and then put down her phone.
At this point, the food stall had long become a bustling scene, all the folding tables and chairs were already set up on the adjacent open ground, clearly not enough to accommodate everyone.
Most people were standing nearby, wolfing down their fried cakes.
Even Tuan Tuan was too busy to come over and talk to Tong Ya, looking somewhat flustered as he took money and noted down orders.
Suddenly feeling a tad uncomfortable, Tong Ya instinctively stood up and went over to Tuan Tuan\'s side.
"Let the teacher help you with taking notes!"
"No need, Teacher, I can manage on my own! It\'s Dad who seems to be overwhelmed, making fried cakes and packing orders at the same time!"
Tong Ya instantly understood Tuan Tuan\'s implication, and her heart rate kicked up a notch.
"Then I\'ll go help your dad!"
Tong Ya, while trying her best to maintain her composure and dignity, uncontrollably hastened into the food stall.
In the kitchen area, Chen Yu was proficiently frying with both hands, managing two woks simultaneously.
At the bar area, there were five wooden tray boxes neatly arranged with five different flavors of fried cakes.
Next to the trays was a stack of thick orders listing the flavors, quantities, and names.
Without any hesitation, Tong Ya grabbed a pair of spare gloves and began packing the fried cakes according to the orders.
"Uncle Chen, three brown sugar, three white sugar, two black sesame."
Her crisp and gentle voice suddenly rang out, startling Chen Yu.
He hadn\'t expected that Tong Ya would come to help him in such a greasy environment.
The addressed Uncle Chen immediately rushed over.
"Ah, truly a teacher, so kind and even helping the students\' parents with work!"
Uncle Chen took the fried cakes and seized the chance to compliment her.
Chen Yu was immediately a bit embarrassed, "Ah, Teacher Tong, I apologize for the inconvenience, I\'m already embarrassed, how could I let you do the work?"
"It\'s okay, I\'d be idle anyway!"
As she spoke, Tong Ya began packing the fried cakes as quickly as she could, as if to show Chen Yu that she definitely wouldn\'t be in the way.
Chen Yu didn\'t know what else to say, and after all, he was indeed busy frying and packing.
"Teacher Tong, Tuan Tuan really hasn\'t done anything wrong at school, you\'re not here for a home visit, right?"
Tong Ya paused for a moment, inwardly cursing him as a blockhead.
"Didn\'t I already say it, I\'m here specially to taste the fried cakes you made!"
To prove it, Tong Ya directly grabbed a piece of purple sweet potato fried cake and took a bite.
The pure savory flavor exploded in her mouth in an instant, causing Tong Ya\'s pupils to dilate considerably.
"Wow, this is too delicious!"
Tong Ya had never imagined that someone could make such a small fried cake so mouthwateringly delicious.
Chen Yu\'s face now bore a more confident smile; after all, receiving a compliment from a beautiful woman like Tong Ya would cause any man\'s heart to ripple.