The CEO's Wife and First Love

The next morning, before the sun rose, Anthony could not wait to get out of bed. After quickly washing up, he quickly got into the car and drove straight to Chinatown, USA.

Before setting off, Anthony had done some online research and found only one store that might sell the type of carp he needed. However, when he arrived in Chinatown, he found that the store was not easy to find.

He walked back and forth in the narrow streets, carefully checking the signs of every shop, but he still couldn't find his target. As time passed, Anthony became more and more anxious.

Just when he was about to give up, he suddenly saw an elderly Chinese man standing on the street. The man looked to be about 60 years old, with a smile on his face, giving people a kind and amiable feeling.

Anthony hurried forward and asked the old man where the carp shop was. After hearing this, the old man immediately smiled and seemed not surprised by Anthony's question.

"Is your wife pregnant?" the old man asked with a smile.

Anthony was a little surprised that the old man saw through his intentions at a glance. He nodded quickly and replied, "Yes, old man, you are really amazing!"

The old man smiled and said, "Haha, it's not that I'm amazing, but this recipe is only known to us Chinese. Moreover, it works immediately and is very effective!"

Anthony was delighted to hear this and expressed his gratitude to the old man. He said sincerely, "Thank you, old man! Thank you so much for telling me this."

So the old man immediately told him the specific location of the store. Anthony said goodbye to the enthusiastic old man and immediately went in the direction the old man pointed.

The direction pointed by old man Antonian was found.

Anthony wandered around the streets for a long time before finally finding a shop selling carp. The shop was hidden in a small alley, with a quiet environment, in stark contrast to the noisy streets.

Walking into the store, Anthony was immediately attracted by its unique decoration. The store was decorated very elegantly, with some ancient calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, and the lighting was soft and warm, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

In addition to carp, the store also displayed some medicinal herbs and other items. Anthony looked at these things curiously, secretly marveling at the store's wide range of business.

When he asked the owner if they had carp, the owner replied enthusiastically, "Yes, we have carp. I also have fermented glutinous rice here! Are you buying it for your wife? If she's pregnant, she must have this fermented glutinous rice!"

Anthony was so surprised when he heard what the boss said that he couldn't close his mouth. He asked in confusion: "Boss, how did you know I still want to sell fermented rice?"

The boss smiled and explained kindly, "Young man, this is a secret recipe known only to us Chinese! Pregnant women usually vomit, but this recipe has a miraculous effect on those who vomit constantly after pregnancy! Your wife must be Chinese, right? You've come to the right place today! If you go anywhere else, you probably won't find anything like this. After all, people from other countries don't know this secret recipe! So, when you came looking for carp, I immediately guessed your purpose."

After hearing his boss's words, Anthony felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck him, and suddenly everything became clear. He couldn't help but feel sincere admiration for his boss's professional knowledge and rich experience.

The boss looked to be in her sixties, and although her face bore some marks of age, this did not obscure her kind face. Her smile was like a spring breeze, making people feel particularly friendly, and her eyes were filled with gentleness and kindness, as if they could see through people's hearts.

Seeing Anthony's sudden realization, the old lady smiled and nodded, then turned to the water tank nearby and expertly scooped up a lively carp. Her movements were fluid and effortless, clearly a testament to her extensive experience in handling carp.

The old lady took a sharp knife and gently removed the carp's internal organs, then quickly cleaned them. Then, she scooped some fermented rice from an exquisite glass bottle and evenly spread it on the carp's body.

After everything was done, the old lady put the carp into a clean plastic bag and handed it to Anthony. Anthony took the carp and thanked the old lady with joy. The old lady smiled and waved her hand, indicating that he was welcome.

Anthony carefully carried the carp and hurried home. Along the way, he was incredibly excited, his mind replaying the scene. He couldn't help but sigh, "China is truly an ancient civilization with a long history, and it contains so many wonderful essences."

As Anthony drove, he thought about how to cook this carp into a delicious dish. He imagined the carp being pan-fried until golden brown on both sides, then stewed with various seasonings and finally sprinkled with chopped green onions. The aroma made him salivate.

When Li Min returned home, she found that Li Zhen had already brought her mother-in-law, Jin Lan, home. As soon as she entered the house, Li Min saw Jin Lan busy in the kitchen, with Li Zhen helping her.

Li Min quickly asked Anthony to hand the carp he had just bought to Jinlan. Jinlan took the carp and without a word, she began to prepare it. She then expertly cut the carp into pieces.

Jinlan's movements were quick and efficient, and she had the carp ready in no time. She then turned on the stove, placed the cut carp pieces in the pot, added the appropriate amount of water and seasonings, and began to simmer.

As time went by, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of fish. Jinlan stirred the broth constantly, ensuring that every piece of fish was evenly cooked. After about twenty minutes, a bowl of steaming, fragrant carp soup was finally ready.

"Come on, kid, drink it while it's hot." Jin Lan picked up the bowl, walked over to Li Min, and urged, "If this carp soup gets cold, it will become fishy and unpalatable."

"Thank you, Auntie, you've worked hard," Li Min said softly, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes fell on Jin Lan, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.

Jinlan smiled at Li Min, her eyes revealing a hint of warmth and care. However, this smile was like a sharp sword, piercing Li Min's heart.

Li Min's thoughts drifted away, and she thought of her parents. If they were still alive, they would probably love her as much as Jinlan did. She seemed to see her mother's gentle smile and her father's broad shoulders. The beautiful times she had spent with her parents kept flashing through her mind.

However, the reality was cruel. Her parents had long since left her and gone to another world. In this world, no one else could give her the endless love and warmth they had.

Tears welled up in Li Min's eyes. She tried hard to hold them back, but ultimately, she couldn't suppress the sadness in her heart. A single tear slid down her cheek and landed on the ground, creating a small splash of water.

Jin Lan seemed to notice Li Min's change of mood. She patted Li Min's shoulder gently and asked with concern, "What's wrong, child? Is there something on your mind?"

Li Min raised her head, looked at Jin Lan, forced a smile, and shook her head. "Nothing, Auntie, I just suddenly remembered something."