Chapter 266 | The Food Exchange
People were beginning to gather across the main field, and the atmosphere around the picnic area had changed. Earlier, families had mostly remained within their individual groups, eating snacks, talking, and enjoying the attractions.
Now people were moving around, carrying plates between mats and opening large containers while children ran around holding bowls and adults approached neighboring families with trays of food.
The air itself seemed different, with dozens of aromas mixing together—grilled meat, fresh bread, spices, soups, pastries, roasted vegetables, and sweet sauces.
Dexter slowed. "Looks like it’s starting."
Mira looked around. "The meal exchange?"
"Seems like it."
Dexter scanned the field, and his enhanced eyesight quickly found their picnic spot. His eyebrows rose, because they had neighbors now. Several people were seated close to their mats, and Tessa was among them. Beside her sat her father, who was currently removing several baked dishes from a large picnic basket.
There were also two elderly people Dexter didn’t recognize, and sitting comfortably among them, looking as though she personally owned the entire garden, was an old woman Dexter had seen around the neighborhood.
Old Lady Lucy was already eating, and not delicately either. She held a plate in one hand while enthusiastically discussing something with Tessa’s father.
Dexter smiled. "Looks like Tessa wasn’t joking."
Mira followed his gaze. "About?"
"Everyone taking this food exchange seriously."
A family walked past carrying a massive roasted beast leg. Dexter looked toward his wives. "How about we head back?"
Lyra’s expression fell slightly, and Dexter immediately knew why. "We’ll come back." Her eyes brightened again. "Food exchange first. Then we’ll continue exploring."
Mira nodded. "That’s fine."
Selene smiled and nodded.
Dexter looked at Lyra, who was already walking toward the picnic field. "Of course." He started pushing Mira after her. "At least pretend you’re interested in the community."
Lyra didn’t look back, but her voice entered his mind. ’I am interested.’
"In the community?"
’In their food.’
Dexter laughed. "Close enough."
---
"Finally!"
Tessa’s voice reached them before they arrived, and one of the old men there turned. "So this is the troublesome young man everyone’s been talking about."
Dexter scratched his head in embarrassment.
"I’ve barely done anything."
Old Lucy smiled as she nodded confidently. "Definitely troublesome."
Tessa covered her mouth, hiding a laugh.
Dexter sighed and guided Mira toward their mats. Tessa’s father stood and greeted him warmly. "There you are, Dexter."
"Sorry. We got distracted."
"So I heard."
The man’s eyes went toward the massive teddy bears they’d left nearby, then toward Lyra, then Mira, then Selene. He chuckled. "You clearly had fun."
Dexter cleared his throat. "Important festival activities."
"Naturally."
Dexter helped Mira transfer from her wheelchair onto the mat again, carefully positioning her legs and making sure she was comfortable. Selene sat beside her, Lyra sat down next, and Dexter took his place across from them.
Old Lady Lucy watched the entire process, and her sharp old eyes briefly rested on Mira’s right arm. Something flickered through them but she didn’t comment. Instead, she looked toward Dexter.
"So?"
"So?"
"Where’s your food?"
Dexter blinked, and Tessa laughed. "I told you."
Dexter raised his hands. "Fine, fine."
He pulled the cooler closer, and the moment he opened it, a rich aroma escaped. Conversation around them noticeably weakened, and Dexter paused as several heads turned. Mira noticed. Selene noticed. Lyra definitely noticed, her eyes immediately dropping toward the cooler.
Dexter lips curled as he looked at her.
Lyra licked her lips in excitement.
Dexter removed the first containers—the Grade one and two dishes he’d deliberately prepared for the festival.
He had kept the Grade Five meals separately reserved for Mira, Lyra, and Selene. Even so, the dishes were far beyond ordinary cooking.
Dexter opened another container. Then another. Rice. Tender meat cooked with herbs. Vegetables. A rich stew. Several smaller side dishes. Nothing looked absurdly luxurious—that was intentional. Dexter had deliberately avoided making anything too conspicuous.
Still...
Tessa inhaled. "That smells incredible."
Her father leaned forward. "That’s what you’ve been selling through the bakery?"
"Similar," Dexter replied.
Tessa stared at him. "Similar? You’ve been holding out on us."
Dexter laughed. "It’s only food."
Old Lady Lucy’s gaze immediately moved toward him as she smiled. "Give this old woman some."
Dexter chuckled. "Of course."
That was the entire point of the festival. People exchanged dishes, and nobody was supposed to hoard everything for themselves.
Dexter served portions, and Tessa’s father offered them some of his family’s food in exchange.
Other nearby families gradually approached too.
A woman brought grilled meat skewers, another family offered a fragrant vegetable soup, and someone else had prepared several trays of pastries.
Children moved between picnic spots exchanging sweets, and within minutes, Dexter’s mat looked less like a private picnic and more like a miniature banquet.
"Try this."
Tessa handed Dexter a pastry, and he bit into it. His eyebrows rose. "Good."
Tessa’s father looked offended. "Good?"
Dexter swallowed. "Very good."
"Better."
Mira took a small bite from another pastry. "It’s excellent."
Tessa’s father immediately smiled. "See? She understands."
Dexter rolled his eyes.
Then someone finally tasted Dexter’s cooking. It was one of the elderly men, who took a spoonful of the stew, chewed, and then stopped. Dexter noticed, and the man’s expression changed as he slowly looked down at his bowl and took another spoonful.
Tessa watched. "Well?"
The old man didn’t answer. He took a third.
Old Lady Lucy immediately slapped his arm. "Stop eating and speak."
The man frowned. "I’m still evaluating it."
Lucy glared at him. "You’ve evaluated three spoonfuls."
The old man huffed. "Quality requires thorough investigation."
"Greedy old fool."
"You’re calling me greedy?"
While they argued, Tessa tried Dexter’s food, and her reaction was almost immediate. Her eyes widened, and she stared at Dexter. "This is Grade One?"
Dexter pursed his lips but ultimately nodded. "Yes."
"You’re sure?"
"Kinda."
The food was in between grade one and grade two and some even almost entered grade 3 but he had mixed them so they basically almost looked like grade one meal. Moreover, it was tiring to hold back which was why these happened.