Chapter 6 (Lean Meat Porridge (Part 2)..)

“It’s ready!” Yan Qiushu smiled, happy with how it turned out, and began to serve the porridge.

But just as she was about to start, Shui Yu quickly took the ladle and said with a smile, “Miss, you’ve been busy. Let me do this.”

As her maid, it was Shui Yu’s job to serve her. If the housekeeper found out that Yan Qiushu was doing everything herself, Shui Yu might get in trouble.

Yan Qiushu didn’t argue. She wasn’t used to being served in the kitchen, but seeing Shui Yu’s worried expression, she stepped back: “Alright, thank you.”

“You’re too kind, Miss. This is my job,” Shui Yu said, smiling more warmly now.

She grabbed a small bowl from the cupboard.

The bowl was beautifully designed, very light and delicate, but… it was tiny.

Women from rich families usually ate with small bowls because they didn’t eat much.

But Yan Qiushu was different. Even though she didn’t have a big appetite, she had been eating more since she arrived. Plus, she was hungry now. A bowl this small wouldn’t be enough!

But since she was new here, she decided not to eat too much at night. “Serve me three bowls,” she said.

Shui Yu asked, “Are you expecting guests?”

Yan Qiushu paused, then said, “No, I’ll eat it all myself.”

Shui Yu was confused: “?”

She stared at Yan Qiushu, trying to figure her out.

What kind of noble lady eats this much?!

Especially since Yan Qiushu looked so thin and delicate. She didn’t seem like someone who could eat much at all!

But after a moment, Shui Yu quickly lowered her head again and went back to work.

Yan Qiushu pretended not to notice and walked out of the kitchen calmly. Cooking takes a lot of energy, so of course, she needed to eat well!

She wasn’t embarrassed at all.

Yan Qiushu thought this, but after walking out, she rubbed her face in frustration. In modern times, her appetite was normal, but in this ancient setting, it seemed like she was eating too much! The original owner of her body had a small appetite, but she had increased it a bit!

Shui Yu smiled secretly, thinking that Yan Qiushu was much easier to get along with than she had expected.

The dining room was in a side hall. The Xiao family was generous enough to treat Yan Qiushu, a guest, well. Her courtyard was spacious, and the dining hall even had a large round table.

Yan Qiushu sat down, and Shui Yu brought over the porridge and placed it in front of her. “Young lady, enjoy your meal.”

Yan Qiushu nodded and reminded her, “By the way, I’ll eat three bowls. Can you share the extra ones?”

“Thank you for the reward, young lady,” Shui Yu said sweetly.

Yan Qiushu felt a bit embarrassed. “What kind of reward is this?”

“Of course, it’s a reward. The lean meat porridge made by you smells so fragrant and must be delicious,” Shui Yu praised, her tone filled with admiration. For the servants, meals were usually basic and occasionally rewarded snacks, so eating something personally made by a noblewoman was rare.

No wonder the Sixth Young Master had specifically asked the butler to build a kitchen.

“Go and eat. No need to serve,” Yan Qiushu reminded her. Only after Shui Yu left did she pick up her spoon.

The color of the lean meat porridge wasn’t purely beige; it was slightly darker with some tender green bits mixed in. Served in a thin white porcelain bowl, the simple porridge seemed even more luxurious.

Due to the earlier delay, the porridge had developed a thin film on its surface. When the spoon touched it, the film broke, releasing steam and intensifying the aroma.

She scooped a small spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and eagerly tasted it.

The porridge, filled with chopped green vegetables and small pieces of meat, had a sweet and slightly salty taste that whetted her appetite. The rice grains, cooked until they bloomed, were soft and smooth, melting in her mouth. Occasionally, she chewed on some firmer meat, which added texture to the dish.

Yan Qiushu’s eyes sparkled with joy as she ate. It was indeed more delicious than she had remembered!

“Is ancient food really this magical?” she wondered, full of doubt but delighted by the simple yet delicious meal. Without realizing it, she finished all three bowls of porridge, feeling satisfied but wanting more.

However…

When she glanced up, she saw several servants in the kitchen, happily enjoying their meal. She didn’t want to disturb their moment, so she decided it was enough for now. She could take a walk, wash up, and get ready for work tomorrow!

_

The dining room was quiet, but in the kitchen, the sound of people slurping porridge filled the air.

Porridge wasn’t considered a delicacy. Although the Xiao family provided good welfare, with meat on occasion, the servants had rarely eaten something made by a noblewoman.

Especially since this porridge tasted so good!

It wasn’t bland but had a light, refreshing flavor. The texture was soft, with bits of minced meat adding more richness.

Aunt Xu finished eating first and wiped her mouth, smiling. “I didn’t expect this girl to cook so well. I used to need pickles with porridge, but this one is perfect. It’s neither too salty nor bland, and I don’t even need water to go with it!”

Shui Yu, still sipping her porridge slowly, nodded gracefully and said, “Yes, this girl has a good nature. No wonder the Sixth Young Master personally brought her back~” Her tone was playful, adding a hint of teasing.

Aunt Xu chuckled.

From the side, a maid with an oval face named Shui Lu scoffed. She looked at Shui Yu with disdain and sarcastically said, “You’re really good at flattering. It’s just a bowl of porridge, but you’re still talking like this.”

“I’m not!” Shui Yu frowned. “I’m just being honest.”

Shui Lu sneered, stirring her half-eaten porridge. She licked her lips but put down the bowl as if disgusted. “Whatever you say, but let me remind you, which noblewoman has such good cooking skills? I think she’s just an orphan the Sixth Young Master brought back out of pity. At best, she’ll be a concubine. You’ll all just be his maids in the future!”

“Shui Lu!” Shui Yu scolded sharply.

But Shui Lu wasn’t afraid. She and Shui Yu were of the same rank, so she deliberately ignored her.

Successfully, Shui Lu made the usually good-natured Shui Yu so angry that her face turned pale.

Aunt Xu patted Shui Yu’s shoulder. “Ignore her. Shui Lu has big ambitions and only wants the young master’s favor. She’s not targeting you.”

Aunt Xu, an elder who had married into the Xiao family, had taken two years off after giving birth. Recently, she returned to work but found few roles left in the declining family. Now, she served as a cook for Yan Qiushu.

The two maids, Shui Yu and Shui Lu, had grown up under her watch.

The Xiao family had fallen on hard times recently. The eldest master had an accident, the second master and his sons-in-law were gone, and the fifth young lady refused to marry. Few children were left, and the task of continuing the family line now rested on the sixth young master. Many maids were hoping to catch his eye.

A few days ago, word spread that the Sixth Young Master was returning, and the maids secretly bought rouge and powder to dress up and attract his attention.

These things weren’t secrets.

Shui Yu sighed, calmed herself, and continued eating her porridge.

The lean meat porridge had cooled down, making it easier to savor. It wasn’t as hot, allowing her to enjoy the taste more carefully. Again and again, she couldn’t help but think—

“It’s so delicious!”

It was far better than the usual plain porridge and large servings of rice!

Shui Lu is so wasteful!

_

Next morning

The Xiao Mansion felt a bit lonely.

Yan Qiushu sighed as she washed up.

In her memory, the Yan family—though not a top family—had a large number of people. The mansion was always lively, especially in the mornings, with maids and servants bustling around.

But the Xiao family was different. It was quiet and felt as if it were enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere.

She didn’t dare make any noise, understanding the situation of the Xiao family.

Just then, Shui Yu, who was combing Yan Qiushu’s hair, asked, “Miss, the lean meat porridge is ready, and the kitchen also sent over some buns. Would you like to try some?”

Yan Qiushu nodded quickly. “Yes! Just one bowl of porridge, please.”

“Okay~” Shui Yu said with a smile.

She then fixed Yan Qiushu’s hair with a hairpin and said, “It’s done, you look so beautiful!”

After hearing this, Yan Qiushu still felt a bit dazed. She turned to look at the bronze mirror. Although the reflection’s color was a little off, it was still polished enough to show her face clearly. Her delicate long hair could be seen easily.

Underneath her beautiful hair was her face, which now looked full of energy after a good sleep. She seemed a bit plumper than when she first arrived. Even though she was tired from the journey, she had been eating well, and her cheeks were rounder. Her smile looked even more radiant.

How could she not look good with such nice hair and a lovely face?

Feeling happy, Yan Qiushu walked cheerfully to the restaurant for breakfast. While eating, she thought about what to cook for the bosses at noon.

But as soon as she took a bite of the food, her expression changed.

She carefully examined the bowl. There was minced meat, a bit of salt, and some vegetables, all cooked until soft. It was prepared the same way as yesterday, and it looked the same.

However, for some reason, it didn’t taste as good as yesterday’s meal.

Yan Qiushu took another spoonful and tasted it slowly. She finally confirmed her suspicion—it wasn’t as tasty.

The taste was similar to what she remembered, but the texture and aroma weren’t as good as what she had casually made last night!

Yan Qiushu took a deep breath and felt her heart beating faster. She was happy but also a little unsure.

Was it really what she thought?!