Chapter 20: Oden 

Today is a special day. Cao Xi got up early to prepare breakfast. Just as she was about to call Qin Zhao to get out of bed, she heard a knock on the door. Qin Zhao came out wearing old clothes. 

“Why aren’t you wearing new clothes?” Cao Xi asked, puzzled. 

Qin Zhao replied, “I’ll wear them when we leave. It’s easy to get dirty while working.” 

Cao Xi said, “Alright, first help me bring in some firewood. I’ll get hot water ready for you to wash up.” 

Qin Zhao huffed and puffed, running back and forth three times before finally bringing in enough firewood for breakfast. His face turned red from exhaustion, and he saw the basin by the well and went to wash up. 

Cao Xi made a simple breakfast, mixing some pickled vegetables and cooking a bit of porridge. Each of them had a steamed bun, and that was it. Before leaving, Cao Xi packed the utensils she made last night into a cloth bag and placed it in Qin Zhao’s backpack. 

Qin Zhao’s mouth curved up at the corners today, and his steps were noticeably quicker than usual. They soon arrived at Qingsong Academy. 

Just before entering, Cao Xi pulled Qin Zhao aside and instructed, “If anyone bullies you, tell your husband. If your husband is too scared to come back and tell me, I’ll take revenge for you.” 

Qin Zhao seemed a bit reluctant, so Cao Xi reiterated, “If someone hits you, hit back if you can, but if you can’t, run away. Don’t be foolish and just take the beating.” 

“Also, don’t let anyone take off your clothes, especially your pants. Your husband won’t allow that.” 

“Don’t let anyone kiss you either. You…” Hearing this, it seemed like the advice was going off track, as if he was entering a den of tigers and dragons instead of a school. 

Qin Zhao quickly interrupted, “I know, I’m going to school, not a bandit’s den.” He felt that these warnings were unnecessary. 

Cao Xi’s reaction was a bit exaggerated, “Just go in.” 

As soon as Qin Zhao stepped through the school gate, he heard Cao Xi’s loud voice, “Eat lunch early in the cafeteria, or you’ll go hungry later!” 

Qin Zhao stumbled and almost fell. Just as he waved to signal that he understood, a mocking voice came from nearby, “Where did this country bumpkin come from? He doesn’t even know how to eat.” 

Qin Zhao looked up and saw a boy in the academy’s uniform, looking quite refined. They were about the same age, and the boy had a lackey beside him. The mockery in his eyes didn’t seem to fade as Qin Zhao caught him in the act. 

Qin Zhao clicked his tongue twice, “Where did this pitiful creature come from? He even has someone to send him off.” After saying that, he ignored him and stepped into the academy. 

Upon encountering this country bumpkin, he directly confronted him, which made him furious. He grabbed the lackey’s book box and quickly chased after him. 

The lackey, hearing what Qin Zhao said, felt like the young master was like a lion that had just been provoked, and he was confused enough to turn back home. 

Qi Qige only entered the academy gate to find that the country bumpkin had already disappeared without a trace. He searched all around the academy but couldn’t find anyone, so he reluctantly returned to class. 

He threw the book box onto the desk with a loud bang, startling the other students who all turned to look at him. 

“What’s wrong with you?” Just as he was getting angry, the teacher led a boy into the room. He was also wearing the academy’s uniform, but he looked completely out of place. 

Once Qi Qige saw the boy’s appearance, he stood up abruptly, pointed at Qin Zhao, and shouted, “Country bumpkin, I finally found you!” 

Seeing his expression, the new student felt a cold sweat break out. 

Just as the teacher was about to introduce Qin Zhao, Qi Qige’s angry shout interrupted him! 

Qi Qige stood there with an arrogant posture, making the teacher tremble with anger: “What are you doing, Qi Qige? Sit down!” 

Qi Qige, feeling wronged, had to suppress his anger and sat back down, glaring at Qin Zhao without taking his eyes off him.

“His name is Qin Zhao. We should study together, help each other, and not allow fighting.” After saying this, he cast a particularly sharp glance at Qi Qige.

“Sit in the third row,” he pointed in the direction for Qin Zhao.

Qi Qige’s gaze followed Qin Zhao as he moved, and Qin Zhao reasonably took a seat in the designated spot, and the class officially began.

After sending Qin Zhao off, Cao Xi started preparing the ingredients for the oden. First, he made a round in the vegetable market, buying some vegetables and fish, and then stopped by the spice shop to buy some seasonings, since it was the trial cooking period and he didn’t buy too much.

Returning home, he found some waste materials to make bamboo dragonflies and did a simple processing, crafting each one into a delicate piece. Just as he was handling the fish, there was a knock at the door.

“Li Feng: Cao Xi, I’m here, open the door.”

“Coming,” Cao Xi responded as he went to open the door. Li Feng brought in a cart, which was loaded with charcoal.

Cao Xi opened the door wide to let Li Feng in.

“Wow, you managed to bring this stuff in such a short time.”

Li Feng smiled like a spring breeze: “I found it at the second-hand market. What are you making? Do you need my help?”

Cao Xi: “I’m making fish balls, just need some strength, help me pound the fish meat.”

After washing his hands, Li Feng took over Cao Xi’s task, continuously pounding the fish meat as instructed. Cao Xi poured water into the pot and added firewood, taking the opportunity to wash the vegetables and prepare the skewers.

Li Feng: “Why haven’t I seen Qin Zhao?”

That clingy little brat, he hasn’t shown up here for such a long time, which is unlike him.

Cao Xi: “He went to the academy today.”

Li Feng: “You sent him to the academy?”

He was a bit surprised, realizing that Cao Xi really sent Qin Zhao to the academy, which was a luxury for them. Moreover, Qin Zhao wasn’t even Cao Xi’s brother; why would he bother with this?

Cao Xi: “He’s very smart and learns quickly; it would be a waste not to send him.”

Li Feng paused slightly in his pounding, then continued; it was really enviable.

During their conversation, the water had already boiled. Cao Xi squeezed the pounded fish meat into balls and boiled them in water until they were cooked, forming white, round fish balls.

Cao Xi picked up a fish ball with chopsticks and handed it to Li Feng: “Try it, is it good?”

Li Feng was momentarily stunned by the fish ball that looked so appealing, and it took him a moment to react.

Cao Xi urged, “What are you waiting for? Quickly try it.”

Li Feng’s hand was a bit stiff as he took the fish ball and put it in his mouth to chew. Only when he heard Cao Xi ask if it was good did he come back to his senses.

“It’s good,” Li Feng looked up at Cao Xi, unsure of what to say; he felt that the taste of this fish ball was quite different.

Cao Xi: “It’s the base ingredient; it has a bit of a kick.”

“Really?” Li Feng looked up, and his eyes reflected the boiling pot, suddenly realizing that the two of them should be careful.

The base ingredient was fragrant, and with the addition of red chili peppers, it was stir-fried continuously, making the spiciness more intense. Cao Xi was choked to tears by the spice, adding water to cover the pot and simmering it all at once.

The spiciness was too strong, and both of them quickly fled the kitchen. After all the effort, Li Feng was sitting under the jujube tree, sniffling and tearing up, looking quite unkempt.

“Hahaha,” Cao Xi couldn’t hold back, bursting into laughter at Li Feng, who looked quite embarrassed. Seeing Cao Xi’s eyes red like a rabbit, he couldn’t help but laugh along.

They laughed until they were both out of breath, their gazes locking for a moment before hurriedly breaking away. Cao Xi flustered, “I need to check the fire in the kitchen.”

Seeing Cao Xi’s flushed face as he hurriedly ran off, a sweet feeling surged in Li Feng’s heart, and his smile became even brighter.

Cao Xi hid in the kitchen, repeatedly banging his head against the wall, feeling so embarrassed. How could he have stared at him like that?

Li Feng walked leisurely to the door and saw Cao Xi continuously hitting his head, struggling to suppress his laughter.

Cao Xi turned back upon hearing the sound and saw Li Feng leaning against the wall with a face full of suppressed laughter, truly fitting

“Um! So delicious, spicy and numbing, once you eat it, you get addicted. How did you manage to do that?”

Cao Xi: “I saw my parents making it, and I learned to sell it.” To prevent others from being suspicious, Cao Xi explained that it was something his parents taught him.

Li Feng: “This scene should be nice. I ordered some custom utensils, and if they arrive, we can sell them tomorrow.”

Cao Xi: “Okay, I’ll go buy some vegetables and fish later.” Testing the dishes takes a lot of effort, and we need to procure the ingredients again.

Cao Xi: “The water buffaloes have some time; let them make the skewers. We can buy them.” Making the skewers ourselves would really waste time.

Li Feng laughed and said, “Sure, they should be happy to help.”

The two finalized their plans. Li Feng went to the blacksmith shop, while Cao Xi stayed behind to prepare the skewers, planning to cook for Qin Zhao when he returned, unsure if he would be accustomed to it.