Chapter 38 (Fried Tofu)

Two o’clock in the afternoon

It was mealtime for the Xiao family.

At this time, the aroma of Yan Qiushu’s cooking always wafted through the air—sometimes strong, sometimes subtle—but it never failed to make mouths water with anticipation.

Today was no exception.

The only unusual thing was the second bedroom’s yard.

Since Yan Qiushu’s yard was close to the main house and not far from the second house, the delicious scent drifted over there.

Song Mingdai also caught the aroma, her calm eyes momentarily flickering before growing cold again.

Xiao Pingsong couldn’t sit still.

At twelve years old, he was taller than his mother due to martial arts training. Strong and healthy, he had a big appetite. When he was at his grandmother’s house, he would snack an hour before lunch.  

Today, I was delayed returning to the Xiao family, and I felt hungry even before my snack. As the delicious aroma of food wafted in, my stomach growled in protest.

Fortunately, the kitchen staff arrived to deliver the dishes just then.

I looked forward to it, and when the food box was opened, everything smelled heavenly, but nothing compared to that enticing aroma.

Xiao Pingsong felt an itch in his heart, like being scratched by a cat—irritating yet impossible to ignore!

For the first time, he found himself asking about the food: “Wait a minute, I just caught a whiff of something really fragrant. Why isn’t it in this dish?”

The maid serving the food smiled and said, “Master Pingsong, that is a dish prepared by Miss Yan in the mansion. I’m not sure what it is, but I can ask her if you’d like.”

“Oh, is that so…” Xiao Pingsong waved his hands awkwardly. “No need.”

Although he had heard there was an exceptional cook in the mansion, many parents of children from the Imperial Academy had sent their own cooks to learn some tricks because of Dongdong’s influence. 

He hadn’t expected the food to taste so good.

Feeling unfamiliar with the cook, he hesitated to ask, but the dishes the maid brought were delicious—at least better than what he remembered from the Xiao family.

Xiao Pingsong picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

Hmm, this meat is tasty! I think it’s called spicy diced chicken?

The maid had mentioned how good it was, and it would be great to pair it with something to drink.

And this chicken wing tastes good, too.

He ate eagerly, like a little mouse in a rice jar, feeling incredibly satisfied. But just as he was enjoying his meal, someone else entered the yard, saying, “Miss Yan sent me with some food for the Second Young Master’s wife and Young Master Pingsong.”

Xiao Pingsong’s eyes brightened as he looked at his mother.

Song Mingdai nodded subtly. “Thank you.”

The maid hurriedly brought the dishes over: “Miss Yan said to eat while it’s hot. With New Year’s Day approaching, she thought everyone might be tired of fish and meat, so she made fewer meat dishes, but they’re still very tasty.”

Then, the dishes were presented one by one.

There was a casserole with minced meat and eggplant, pan-fried tofu smothered in gravy, and a milky white tofu and fish soup.

As the familiar fragrance wafted toward him, Xiao Pingsong eagerly reached for his chopsticks before the maid left.

The first bite of the minced meat and eggplant stew was divine!

He chewed a couple of times and quickly grabbed a big mouthful of rice. The sweet, light rice blended perfectly with the salty, sweet, and sour taste of the eggplant stew. The eggplant was soft, tender, and smooth, wrapping around the rice as he swallowed it eagerly.

Delicious!

This combination is great with rice!

Xiao Pingsong’s eyes sparkled with excitement; he had never realized eggplants could taste so good!

He turned to his mother, eagerly saying, “Mom, you have to try this! It’s delicious!”

“Mom doesn’t like such strong flavors,” Song Mingdai said, shaking her head gently as she continued to eat the vegetables.

Feeling disappointed, Xiao Pingsong picked up a piece of fried tofu. It was meant to be off-white, but it was covered in thick brown sauce, looking quite appetizing. He expected it to have a strong flavor.

But when he took a bite, he first tasted a subtle spiciness followed by a rich, salty flavor. The crispy outer layer of the tofu crumbled under his teeth, revealing the tender tofu inside. It was indeed crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, but not bland; the tofu had soaked up the sauce.

Not heavy, yet flavorful—just the right texture and taste.

Xiao Pingsong immediately looked at his mother, wanting to share this experience. After a moment of hesitation, he directly offered her a piece of tofu: “Mom, you should try this.”

A square piece of tofu fell onto the white rice, turning the surrounding rice brown.

Song Mingdai felt a bit helpless. She didn’t usually enjoy strong-tasting foods, but since her son had offered it, she decided to give it a try.

She took a small bite, expecting a strong flavor, but to her surprise, the sauce was rich yet not overwhelming. After the crispy tofu shell, the taste was sweet and tender.

The flavors of numbing, spicy, and salty were all mild, making it easy for her to enjoy without overwhelming her palate. This tofu was definitely more appealing than plain rice.

As Song Mingdai contemplated this, her son’s eager voice interrupted: “Mom, what do you think of it?”

Looking at the tofu she had just eaten, then at her son, she replied calmly, “Not bad.”

“You’re clearly enjoying it!” Xiao Pingsong complained, giving her another piece of tofu along with some eggplant. “Eat more, Mom! You’re not having enough!”

Song Mingdai’s expression softened, and she reluctantly sampled the eggplant.

By the end of the meal, it turned out to be the largest she had eaten in recent years.

Not only did she have a bowl of rice and four pieces of tofu, but also a bowl of fish soup and several pieces of eggplant!

A wonderful lunch came to an end.

The children in her yard returned to their homes. Yan Qiushu yawned lazily, took a stroll in the inner courtyard, and decided to rest.

The two dishes and one soup she made that day were so delicious that she felt quite full.

While walking, she suddenly spotted a somewhat thin little boy approaching from the opposite direction. Judging by his path, he seemed to be heading toward a specific yard.

However, upon noticing Yan Qiushu, the little boy turned and walked toward her, forcing a smile as he called out, “Hello, Sister Shu!”

Zhou Zhaoheng was now the emperor’s eldest grandson.

Despite this, the little boy remained simple, straightforward, and easygoing.

When Yan Qiushu first learned of his identity, she was a bit confused, but she quickly regained her composure. Since she had never asked for anything from him, it didn’t really matter. She thought he was just a good friend of Dongdong’s, so she smiled back instinctively: “Hello, Ah Heng.”

Noticing his forced smile, she shifted the topic: “Is something bothering you, Ah Heng? Are you feeling unwell?”

Due to Zhou Zhaoheng’s special status, he always had to follow Madam Xiao around during meals and other activities. Even yesterday, when he came to her place for snacks, palace servants tested everything for poison. Logically, nothing should have gone wrong.