Chapter 4 (River Noodles)

The next day

Sunlight shone in through the window.

Yan Qiushu had slept enough, so she woke up and stretched.

In just a few days, her night owl routine had changed.

But compared to people who lived here, she still slept in. By 5 o’clock, the area was already busy.

Everyone went to bed early and woke up early.

After getting up, Yan Qiushu asked for hot water. The person who brought it reminded her, “The river fish from yesterday had sand on them. After changing the water, they’re clean now.”

“Thank you, I’ll handle it,” Yan Qiushu replied, rubbing her eyes.

After the person left, Yan Qiushu washed her face and slowly began to comb her hair.

Her movements still felt a little awkward. Even though she had the original owner’s memories, her hands didn’t move as smoothly. So, she could only style her hair simply.

Once she was done, she looked at herself in the bronze mirror. The original owner’s face was similar to hers, but with a more bookish air^[1]refers to a person who gives off an impression of being intellectual, studious, or focused on reading and learning. because of the aristocratic background.

This body was only sixteen years old, still young with some baby fat.

Yan Qiushu pinched her face. 

At least this body made her look a few years younger.

She smiled, cheered herself up, and went out.

It was time for breakfast.

Yan Xiang brightened, smiling gently. His voice was more upbeat than yesterday. “Miss Ah Shu, the general wants you to meet him on the third floor after breakfast.”

Yan Qiushu smiled and replied, “Okay. I’ll make breakfast now. Have you eaten? There’s still food from yesterday. If you haven’t, you can eat it with me.”

“No! I’m hungry!” Yan Xiang said quickly. He ignored the midnight snack from last night and the buns from this morning. He added with a smile, “It’s perfect for me to light the fire for you.”

Yesterday, he was suspicious of her, but after tasting the delicious food, he relaxed. Now, when he heard she was making breakfast, his first thought was…what’s the delicious food today?

Yan Qiushu smiled, entertained by his clear anticipation. She was also looking forward to breakfast now.

Today, let’s have river noodles.! 

The two went to the small kitchen together.

The kitchen door was slightly open, the pots and pans were clean, and the water tank was full.

She had delivered something last night, and when she returned, Yan Xiang was still eating. Seeing her coming back to clean, he told her to leave, promising to clean it up himself.

She was tired, so she didn’t argue.

At that moment, Yan Qiushu felt satisfied.

She first walked around the kitchen, grabbed a large handful of noodles, and started preparing the ingredients.

There were some small fish, shrimp, and freshwater clams left over from yesterday. She fried the fish until it was golden brown, then added the shrimp and clams. She added onions, ginger, garlic, salt, soy sauce, and a little wine to remove the fishy smell. Once the aroma came out, she put the fish back in. Finally, she added water and put in the noodles when the water boiled.

The steps were simple, the ingredients fresh, and the seasonings rich. As the water boiled, the delicious aroma filled the air.

The smell grew stronger over time.

Without the strong flavor of pepper, the taste was still tempting, like a cup of strong tea, making people want more.

Fortunately, noodles are quick to eat.

Yan Qiushu scooped out a portion for Yan Xiang and took a small bowl for herself.

The original owner didn’t have a big appetite.

“Thank you!” Yan Xiang took it eagerly, sniffed the delicious aroma, and said with a satisfied smile, “Your cooking skills are amazing!”

The noodles were a creamy yellow, with lots of noodles, river shrimp, clams, a small yellow croaker, and a fried egg on top. She added some chopped green onions for garnish. The soup swayed slightly as Yan Xiang moved, making him dizzy with hunger!

Yan Qiushu smiled, but felt a little shy at the compliment. “As long as you like it, eat quickly.”

She also picked up her bowl.

The thin noodles were very chewy, blending with the delicious soup. She seemed to eat in one bite, and the soup burst in her mouth. Three words formed—fresh! Salty! Fragrant!

She tried the clams, which were tender and chewy. The shrimp were firm but tender, and their slightly sweet taste made her feel like she was tasting the best food in the world.

Her tongue almost trembled from the delicious taste!

Yan Qiushu’s eyes widened in surprise. She blew on the noodles again, and the soup trembled. She took a small sip of the soup, and the even richer flavor hit her. 

She was sure now.

The food here was much better than what she had in the modern world!

Maybe it was because there was no industrial pollution back then?

She guessed, but it couldn’t be that her cooking had improved after traveling back in time.

In her previous life, she often made seafood noodles. Once, she even went to the beach, caught seafood, and cooked it right there. The seafood was so delicious she was amazed.

But the food here was from rivers, not the sea. Still, her taste buds told her it was just as good, maybe even better.

So delicious!

Yan Qiushu couldn’t stop eating, and Yan Xiang next to her made the sound of slurping noodles.

Neither of them spoke. The kitchen was so quiet, the only sound was the noise of them eating noodles.

Until Yan Xiang finished first.

He burped, feeling satisfied, but still wanted more. However, he had already eaten enough and could only watch in regret.

There was only about one bowl left in the pot.

Yan Qiushu thought he wanted more, so she apologized, “Sorry, I want to give the rest to General Xiao.”

“No, no!” Yan Xiang shook his head shyly. “I’m full. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll serve you some food and clean up.”

“That’s a help,” Yan Qiushu said. 

She liked cooking, but she didn’t like washing dishes! In her previous life, she bought an extra-large dishwasher when she had the money. Ever since then, she always disliked washing dishes and would gladly accept help with it.

Yan Xiang felt a little embarrassed. He had eaten a lot, and washing dishes was a small thing, but she was so polite. He thought for a moment and said, “Miss Yan, don’t worry about the general. I heard the general sent someone to the capital to contact your family. This is a good thing.”

He had heard some news, and that was why he felt comfortable asking Yan Qiushu for food. Now that his identity was clear, he wasn’t a spy anymore.

That’s all he knew.

After hearing this, Yan Qiushu’s heart skipped a beat. She thought yesterday’s incident was over. So this was the case. But it was also true that the original owner seemed to have known the news in the past two days. After the shock of learning about her “death,” the original owner had committed suicide.