CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 147: FEELING PROUD

Xie Liangchen was busy in the kitchen.

She took the stewed chicken out of the big pot, poured the milky white chicken broth into an earthen pot, added rice to continue simmering, then shredded the chicken breast meat, and added it in when the porridge was almost done.

The rest of the chicken was fried in a big pot until fragrant, then stewed with chestnuts. Soon, the aroma of chestnuts and chicken filled the entire kitchen.

Mrs. Gao stood by, watching Xie Liangchen cook, swallowing involuntarily. Anything that came into Liangchen’s hands turned out so delicious.

Hmm, even though she hadn’t tasted it, it looked and smelled delicious. The food in those restaurants outside surely couldn’t match Liangchen’s skills.

"Liangchen, how did you come up with this?" Mrs. Gao asked with a smile, "If it were left to me, I’d just boil it—truly a waste."

On another stove, eggs were being boiled with mugwort leaves.

Xie Liangchen smiled and said, "I’m just muddling through it, not sure if it will taste good."

Mrs. Gao laughed, "I’m sure it will be delicious."

Xie Liangchen picked up a spoon to stir the eggs in the pot, "Once the mugwort eggs are cooked, everyone can have some."

Mrs. Gao did not respond for a moment, and Xie Liangchen, knowing Mrs. Gao was busy, paid no attention and continued to work.

After a while, Mrs. Gao still hadn’t spoken, so Xie Liangchen looked up.

At some point, Mrs. Gao had left, and a tall figure stood at the kitchen door.

Xie Liangchen was startled, but just as her eyebrows raised, she recognized him—it was Song Xian.

"General Song." Only in private did Xie Liangchen call Song Xian "Sir."

Seeing she was about to greet him, Song Xian said, "Carry on, I’ll go to the Familiar Medicine Institute to fetch grandmother."

Xie Liangchen replied, and adjusted the heat under the eggs, "The food will be ready soon."

Song Xian watched her roll up her sleeves and busily move back and forth in the kitchen, not knowing what method she used to make the fragrance spread.

Standing at the doorway, he even seemed to feel the warmth of the stove, warming his face slightly.

Xie Liangchen thought Song Xian would leave after speaking, but when she looked up again, he was still standing there, not sure what he was watching.

Xie Liangchen said, "I didn’t make any medicinal food today, only brewed some Chinese foxglove radish soup as I heard the old lady’s throat is a bit hoarse."

Song Xian replied, "I went to Zhaozhou recently and just returned last night. We had a doctor see grandmother; he said it was a minor ailment, so grandmother refuses to take medicine."

Xie Liangchen smiled, "Perhaps the old lady has been taking medicine every day and understandably isn’t happy about it. When I was making medicinal dishes, I saw the medicine bowl heated up several times. With too much medicine, she might lose her appetite and claim many dishes taste bitter. Actually, it’s not the food—it’s her mouth that feels bitter.

Since it’s a minor ailment, not taking medicine and drinking some radish soup is always good."

Song Xian recalled, "Like Sanqi Tea?"

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but laugh, "Yes, Sanqi Tea." It wasn’t really tea, just a name change, hoping Song Xian wouldn’t think he was taking medicine when drinking it.

In this regard, both grandfather and grandson were quite similar.

Standing at the kitchen door, Song Xian suddenly said, "Are you laughing at me?"

"No," Xie Liangchen naturally dared not offend the stakeholder—better to keep thoughts to oneself than to share them all around.

Song Xian said, "Words spoken offhand are not to be trusted."

Xie Liangchen didn’t dispute this, knowing full well it was better to keep quiet.

"What’s that?" Song Xian pointed at something on the plate.

"Dried tangerine peel," Xie Liangchen replied, "Over there, I also braised beancurd with preserved plum."

Hearing about dried tangerine peel and preserved plum, Song Xian felt a sourness creep into his teeth as if it seeped straight into his heart.

Seeing Song Xian frown, Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but say, "The old lady likes sweet and sour dishes, and I wasn’t aware General Song would be visiting."

Outside the kitchen, Mrs. Gao was pouring water for Chang An and others.

Chang An looked over at the large figure in the kitchen doorway, drained his water cup in one go, and stretched out his hand to Mrs. Gao.

Mrs. Gao was stunned—how thirsty must the person brought by General Song be, drinking up the water like a whirlwind! Yet the water was only recently boiled; wouldn’t it be hot?

Xie Liangchen naturally didn’t know that Mrs. Gao had been held up by Chang An. Before Song Xian could get angry, she quickly added, "But since General Song is here, I can make a few more dishes."

Song Xian asked, "What to add?"

Xie Liangchen’s gaze landed on the bamboo basket nearby, and Song Xian followed her gaze, "Pig’s trotters?"

Xie Liangchen wasn’t looking at the pig’s trotters, but at the lamb beside them. Upon hearing this, she couldn’t help saying, "Alright then," matching things by appearance, though truly thinking, "What to eat to aid what."

Watching her slightly raised eyebrows and a brilliant smile subtly suppressed within them left Song Xian feeling a slight sense of loss.

Song Xian asked, "What were you just thinking? Tell me, and I won’t hold it against you."

Not saying anything seemed like it would lead to trouble.

Seeing Song Xian’s expression slightly darken, Xie Liangchen showed not a hint of fear but still said, "Matching things by appearance, just a sudden thought, nothing else."

Matching things by appearance—was it his foot like a pig’s trotter or the pig’s trotter like him?

Xie Liangchen began kneading dough, her face showing no fear, seemingly having already forgotten the guardian god standing there.

Song Xian said, "You’ve helped me with a few things, aren’t you afraid I might take action against you?"

"Not really," Xie Liangchen quickly cleaned her hands and respectfully saluted Song Xian, "I am afraid, but the General also said you wouldn’t easily take my life now. The General is true to his word."

Though a compliment, it didn’t feel as pleasant as those words "matching things by appearance."

"Alright," Song Xian waved his hand, "Continue with your cooking!"

Having just said it, he realized he had fallen into a trap. Unfortunately, Xie Liangchen had already turned away; who knows if she was secretly laughing.

Be happy! Be proud! Earlier he shouldn’t have made that promise, seizing on that he couldn’t pursue further.

Xie Liangchen focused on kneading the dough, thinking that Song Xian must be in a good mood, which is why he stood there and talked to her for a while.

Glancing back, Song Xian’s figure was no longer in the doorway.

Xie Liangchen’s gaze returned to the basket. She didn’t pick up the pig’s trotter; instead, she eyed the lamb, then let out a long sigh of relief.

"This job isn’t easy, you know..." Mrs. Gao said as she entered the room, "All that water, gone in no time. If it were me drinking that much, I wouldn’t even be able to eat, yet they seemed like they couldn’t get enough."

Mrs. Gao almost suspected a honey pot had fallen into the water.

Mrs. Gao then whispered, "General Song sent over two lambs, some mountain chickens, and rabbits. Your second uncle had people prepare the rabbits, which will be brought over shortly."

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but laugh again—speaking of matching things by appearance, rabbit feet were more fitting.

"Sister, the table is all set," Hei Dan shouted from outside the kitchen.

Mrs. Gao reached out to pinch her son’s ear, "Why didn’t you speak when you saw me?"

Hei Dan grinned, "Mom."

Mrs. Gao joked, "All you have in your eyes is your sister. Your sister still needs to make a few more dishes, go in and stoke the fire."

Just as Xie Liangchen had put the rabbit into the pot, Chen Yongsheng came in and said, "It’s really lively today; County Magistrate Qu is also here."