Chapter 13: It’s a Bit Complicated

Lord Qin’s words were overly concerned, and Pei Xi’s eyes were full of suspicion. Fortunately, he kept his head lowered, and his eyes were so tiny that even Lord Qin, despite his intense gaze, couldn’t discern any hidden emotions.

Realizing he had overstepped, Lord Qin’s eyes flickered slightly. He rose and said, “I apologize for my momentary impatience and abruptness. Since the Marquis’s wife is indisposed today, I will return another time to pay my respects.”

Pei Xi replied, “Lord Qin, please take care on your way.”

***

Shortly after Lord Qin departed, Steward Pei returned to Pei Manor upon receiving the news.

With the arrival of the twelfth lunar month, the end of the year approached. It was time for Pei Manor’s various shops, manors, and fields to tally their profits and losses. Steward Pei had been working tirelessly these past few days, barely able to catch his breath.

“Xiao Xizi, where’s Lord Qin from Shangbao Manor?”

As soon as the carriage stopped outside the Marquis’s Estate, Steward Pei called out to Pei Xi, his voice loud and clear before he had even fully disembarked.

Pei Xi, on gate duty that day, had just seen Lord Qin off and remained diligently at his post. Hearing the call, he hurried forward.

“Quick, take me to Lord Qin! Has anyone informed the master? This fat duck waddled into our trap—we can’t let him slip away!”

Pei Xi’s small eyes darted nervously, and his tongue twisted into knots. “U-Uncle Pei… Lord Qin… he’s already… already left.”

“What?!” Steward Pei’s eyes widened into perfect circles. “Xiao Xizi, repeat that!”

“Lord Qin, he…”

“Enough! You don’t need to say any more!”

“Xiao Xizi, what exactly is rattling around in that head of yours all day? Qin Chengyu came to our door of his own accord, and you just let him walk away?”

Steward Pei raised his hand and gave Pei Xi a sharp rap on the head. “When the master returns, he’ll give you thirty lashes for this!”

Pei Xi yelped, tears welling in his eyes as he rubbed his head. “Steward Pei, please don’t be hasty. Before leaving, Lord Qin said he’d return another day. From what I saw, he seems to have a deep connection with the madam. His sudden visit was likely to see her.”

“The madam?”

Steward Pei’s hurried strides came to a sudden halt. He turned sharply to face Pei Xi. “Explain yourself… carefully.”

***

When Song Huan arrived in the kitchen with Jin Yue and Jin Le, Master Li was leaning on his cane, directing the staff to buy provisions for the Marquis’s Estate.

“Buying a whole month’s worth at once?” Song Huan asked after Jin Yue explained. She immediately sensed she and Master Li were likely to clash over kitchen matters. “Going out to shop at dusk? By then, the fruits and vegetables won’t be fresh.”

“It’s cheaper at this time,” Jin Yue whispered.

Song Huan: …… Are everyone in this Marquis’s Estate demons?

Why does everything they do give her the impression that Pei Yan is desperately poor?

“Won’t eating like this cause health problems?” she asked, lowering her voice.

Jin Yue glanced furtively at Master Li, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “Occasionally, someone gets a headache, fever, or diarrhea,” she whispered back. “Fortunately, Doctor Chen is here. He treats them quickly, so it’s… not really a problem.”

Though she said this lightly, seeing Doctor Chen every few days for diarrhea was still rather embarrassing.

Even Jin Le had begun to feel self-conscious. As a young woman among mostly male staff, Jin Yue had no choice but to quietly endure the teasing.

“Madam, are you using the kitchen again today?” Master Li asked gruffly, approaching with his cane. The thud-thud of its tip echoed against the stone floor.

Jin Yue and Song Huan fell silent.

“Yes, Master Li,” Song Huan replied with a bright smile, adopting the demeanor of a respectful junior.

To deal with stubborn people, one must use softness to overcome rigidity.

Master Li’s clenched fist struck a ball of soft cotton, leaving him feeling deflated. He snapped, “Don’t waste any food.”

“Of course, of course! You have my word,” Song Huan nodded eagerly.

Master Li harrumphed and left.

***

Pei Yan was away tonight, and Master Li had taken the main kitchen staff out to shop, leaving Chen Hu in charge. Burly and honest, Chen Hu followed orders well but…

But when it came to his knife skills… well, it was hard to describe in just a few words.

Shredded potatoes? He could cut them into chunks.

Tofu cubes? He could somehow turn them into tofu mush…

Because of this, Song Huan only dared to let him help Jin Yue and Jin Le wash vegetables. She didn’t dare let him anywhere near the cutting board.

Still, when it came to keeping an eye on the fire or adding firewood while cooking, he could manage that much.

Before starting to cook, Song Huan took a sip of the water. After tasting it, she furrowed her brows in confusion. This water tasted very fresh—sweet and clean. So why did the porridge in the residence always have a bitter taste?

Could it be the pot?

Leaning forward to peer into the large iron pot, Song Huan asked Chen Hu, “Was the pot scrubbed clean?”

Chen Hu nodded honestly. “It’s clean, clean. Madam, Brother Chen scrubs this pot three times every time.”

Then it should be clean.

Song Huan nodded and first added a bowl of clean water into the pot.

The water was crystal clear.

With a wave of her hand, Song Huan said, “Chen Hu, add more water.”

Chen Hu asked, “How much should I add?”

“How much do you usually add?” she asked.

“We usually cook three full pots,” Chen Hu replied.

Song Huan: “…”

She suddenly understood why the porridge always tasted bitter.

Cooking such large quantities made it difficult to control the heat.

“Let’s start with… half a pot and see how it goes.”

“Alrighty.”

Chen Hu, strong as ever, hoisted a bucket of water and poured it into the pot.

“That’s enough, that’s enough.” Song Huan kept her eyes fixed on the pot, not daring to get distracted.

After setting the bucket down, Chen Hu turned to fetch the rice. He came back carrying half a sack of it and was about to dump it straight into the pot—

“Wait!” Song Huan puffed out her cheeks. “Can you… rinse it first?”

Chen Hu stared blankly at her. “Rinse it?”

Taking a deep breath, Song Huan asked, “Don’t tell me… you’ve never rinsed the rice before?”

Chen Hu shook his head.

Song Huan: “…”

She had thought cooking in large pots was already the worst of it—but clearly, she had been too naive…

She grabbed a clean wooden basin used for washing vegetables and handed it to Chen Hu. “Pour in half a basin of rice, then add water. The water should cover the rice. Then, rub the rice like you’re washing vegetables. If it’s not clean after the first rinse, pour out the water and repeat.”

Chen Hu looked troubled. “…Madam, that sounds… kind of complicated.”

Song Huan: “…???”

Is this a joke?

What’s so hard about it?!

“…Jin Yue, did you understand?”

Jin Yue nodded. “This servant understands.”

Song Huan beamed. “Good, Jin Yue. You’re in charge of rinsing the rice, then. Chen Hu, can you handle watching the fire and boiling water?”

That was simple enough.

Chen Hu scratched the back of his head. “Yes, Madam.”

Tonight’s meal was originally planned to be plain rice porridge with pickled vegetables, plus two steamed buns.

The buns had been delivered directly from a local bun shop. They tasted normal.

The pickles were also bought from an outside shop. Also normal.

When Pei Yan wasn’t in the residence, this was the standard dinner for the servants and errand boys.

Song Huan found it… kind of pitiful.

But there were nearly a hundred people in the residence. If she had to cook dinner for all of them by herself, she’d surely collapse in the kitchen tonight.

So while it was pitiful, it was what it was. Song Huan only had the energy to cook for a few people in her own courtyard.

At most… she could save a portion for Chen Hu.

As for the leftover meat in the kitchen, one look told her it wasn’t worth using. Instead, she found some relatively fresh vegetables and stir-fried a few seasonal dishes in a mix.

As they cooked, the aroma filled the kitchen.

Chen Hu was tending the fire, but his eyes kept drifting toward the stove. Watching her cook, he couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

It smelled so good.

Why was it that even with the same vegetables, Madam’s cooking smelled so much better than Uncle Li’s?

Author’s note: Song Huan: Actually, my cooking skills are just average. Really. Just average.