The Father's Recipe
父亲去世已经三年了。
Father pass-away already three year (PERF).
It had been three years since his father passed away.
小华住在很远的城市，工作很忙，几乎没有时间回家。
Xiaohua live at very far (POSS) city, work very busy, almost not have time return home.
Xiaohua lived in a faraway city. Work was busy; he rarely went home.
可是今年春天，他突然很想吃父亲做的面条。
But this year spring, he suddenly very want eat father make (POSS) noodles.
But this spring, he suddenly missed his father's noodles.
那是父亲最有名的菜，邻居以前都来家里吃。
That is father most famous (POSS) dish, neighbor previously all come home inside eat.
It was his father's most famous dish — neighbors used to come over just to eat it.
他记得小时候站在父亲旁边，看着他做。
He remember small time stand at father side, look (CONT) him make.
He remembered standing beside his father as a boy, watching him cook.
面、水、油、盐、一些菜，看起来很简单。
Noodle, water, oil, salt, some vegetable, look up-come very simple.
Noodles, water, oil, salt, vegetables — it looked simple enough.
一个周末，他决定给两个孩子做这个面。
One (M) weekend, he decide for two (M) child make this (M) noodle.
One weekend, he decided to make the noodles for his two children.
他在厨房里忙了一个下午。
He at kitchen inside busy (PERF) one (M) afternoon.
He spent the whole afternoon in the kitchen.
做好以后，孩子尝了一口。
Make-good after, child taste (PERF) one mouth.
When it was done, the kids took a bite.
女儿说：“爸，还可以。”
Daughter say: "Dad, still okay."
His daughter said, "Dad, it's okay."
儿子什么也没说，只是慢慢吃。
Son anything also not say, only is slowly eat.
His son said nothing, just ate slowly.
小华自己尝了一口。味道不对。
Xiaohua self taste (PERF) one mouth. Flavor not right.
Xiaohua tasted it himself. The flavor was wrong.
好像少了什么，可是说不出来。
Seem like lack (PERF) what, but say not out.
Something was missing, but he couldn't say what.
下一个周末他又做了一次，更不像。
Next (M) weekend he again make (PERF) one time, more not resemble.
The next weekend he tried again, and it was even less right.
第三次也是一样。
Third time also is same.
The third time was no different.
那天晚上，他打电话给妈妈。
That day evening, he hit-phone give mom.
That night he called his mother.
“妈，我做爸的面条，怎么做都不像。”
"Mom, I make dad (POSS) noodle, how make all not resemble."
"Mom, I'm trying to make Dad's noodles. No matter what I do, it isn't right."
妈妈在电话那边笑了一声。
Mom at phone that side laugh (PERF) one sound.
On the other end, his mother laughed softly.
她说：“你爸爸每次都加一样你不知道的东西。”
She say: "Your dad every time all add one (M) you not know (POSS) thing."
She said, "Your father always added one thing you didn't know about."
“一点点白糖。他说这样汤会更香。”
"A-little white sugar. He say this-way soup will more fragrant."
"A little bit of sugar. He said it made the soup richer."
小华没说话。他想了很久才说：“好，我再试一次。”
Xiaohua not speak. He think (PERF) very long only say: "Good, I again try one time."
Xiaohua was quiet. After a long moment he said, "Okay. I'll try again."
第二天早上，他又站在厨房。
Second day morning, he again stand at kitchen.
The next morning he was back in the kitchen.
他在汤里加了一点点白糖。
He at soup inside add (PERF) a-little white sugar.
He added a little sugar to the broth.
面条做好以后，孩子坐下来吃。
Noodle make-good after, child sit-down come eat.
When the noodles were ready, the kids sat down to eat.
儿子吃了一口，看着他：“爸，这个像爷爷的。”
Son eat (PERF) one mouth, look (CONT) him: "Dad, this (M) resemble grandpa (POSS)."
His son took a bite and looked up. "Dad, this is like Grandpa's."
女儿也说：“真的，像！”
Daughter also say: "Really, resemble!"
His daughter said, "Yeah, it really is!"
小华没说话。眼睛慢慢红了。
Xiaohua not speak. Eye slowly red (PERF).
Xiaohua said nothing. His eyes slowly turned red.
女儿问：“爸，你怎么哭了？”
Daughter ask: "Dad, you how cry (PERF)?"
His daughter asked, "Dad, why are you crying?"
他笑了笑：“我只是想起你爷爷了。”
He laugh (PERF) laugh: "I only is think-up your grandpa (PERF)."
He smiled a little. "I was just thinking about your grandfather."