Submission (#978) Approved

Word Count: 700+
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It’s a warm, sunny day in Baotato valley, and Cousin Cabbaoge is getting primed for Baonding Bites!

The humble farmer has yet to find that special someone in her life, but she fawns from afar over Rosebeary whenever she makes deliveries for Rosebeary’s cafe. She’s always happy to make the long trip from Baotato Valley to New Bao City just to drop off the farm-fresh ingredients for the special cafe, and not only for the beans!

This year she’s made extra special efforts to show her affection for the sharp-tongued chef, hoping that maybe this time around he’ll take notice of her feelings and maybe even return them.

Her cart is loaded up with the most pristine produce that she’s lovingly grown, all of it special from her normal crops. It took a lot of time and effort in the months leading up to Baonding Bites for her to make this special delivery, and she’s exceptionally proud of herself for having gotten everything together in time.

This batch of crops is EXTRA big, and there’s a few strawbaorries in the shapes of hearts along with a number of big, juicy peachuchus. She’s sure Rosebeary will appreciate it, because Rosebeary is the sort of bao who shows his favor by acts of service too.

He puts so much hard work into making good food for people, and all that effort is the sort of thing Cabbaoge finds so special in another bao! Cabbaoge thinks they’re a perfect match, considering they both are so passionate about making things for other people to enjoy, albeit in their own little ways.

Rosebeary’s love language is, of course, centered around food just like Cabbaoge’s is, just in a different way. Rosebeary’s good heart is put one hundred percent into the yummy meals and desserts that he makes for the cafe, and for his friends. Even if he can’t always use his words softly and sweetly, the way he feeds people lets them know how much he cares.

Cabbaoge daydreams about how happy Rosebeary will be when he sees her shipment. All the way to New Bao City, she pulls her cart along and plays out silly little out of character interactions with the chef.

When she finally gets there, she goes around back to the employee entrance and knocks.

Upon opening the door, Rosebeary looks cranky but relieved to see her and her goods. “Oh, thank goodness! I really needed peachuchus for this month’s peachuchu pie special. They look so big and plump! Thank you for the delivery, Cabbaoge.”

Cabbaoge bashfully takes her hat off and rubs her cheek shyly. “Oh, well, anything for you Rosebeary. And I know you’re real busy with Baonding Bites season and all, so I wanted to bring you something special.”

“Wow, no kidding! They’re all so big, and those strawbaorries look perfect for the season! Why don’t you come inside and have some food while I get all this unloaded into the pantry?,” Rosebeary invites.

“We can do that together,” Cabbaoge suggests instead, pitching in a helping hand is just another way for her to show her affection. “More paws make for lighter work. And if we get done quicker, surely you can spare a little time to sit and have a snack with me before I go home?”

“Certainly,” Rosebeary says after a moment’s thought. There’s always work to be done in the cafe, but Cabbaoge is so practical and provides such a good excuse that he can accept the opportunity for a break.

They get the cart unloaded together, and afterwards have a nice relaxing cup of rosehip tea and some strawbaorry muffins that Rosebeary baked earlier that day.

“Let me send you home with some food,” Rosebeary says after they’ve sat in comfortable silence for a little while.

It’s his way of showing he cares about her, wanting to make sure she’s fed. It makes her happy, so she agrees easily. “I’d be much obliged,” she says. “I’d never turn my nose up at a dish from your cafe.”

He’s pleased by it, she can tell. He bustles out of the employee break room to get her some take-out boxes loaded up with enough to feed her for a few days, and then insists on carrying it out to her cart himself.

Cabbaoge leaves the cafe feeling warm in both her heart and her tummy.