Chapter 90: Cooking “How can you cook like this be considered proper cooking!…

Lin Meizhu was truly infuriated by his shameless demeanor. Just as she said the word "you," Shen Changfeng sighed and explained with a hint of self-mockery, "I was penniless at the time, so poor I couldn't even afford to eat. I really had no other choice. Yu Shizi's injury hadn't healed long, and if she followed me around day and night, I was afraid her old injury would relapse. I couldn't bear to let her go..."

Lin Meizhu scolded, "So you just threw it outside my house like that? You're willing to let it go just because it's starving and wandering around out there? Do you know that it almost died because of the hunger strike it went through because of being abandoned?"

Shen Changfeng frowned, "Is there such a thing? Too willful! Let me ask you what's going on." Then he walked towards the wall again.

Lin Meizhu pulled him back and scolded him, "What are you asking?! If you understand, then go ahead and ask! Isn't all this your fault? How can a master like you have no sense of responsibility at all?"

Shen Changfeng had figured out her personality from the beginning, and he was confident that the Jade Lion Zhaoye wouldn't suffer, so he resorted to this self-torture tactic. But at this moment, he was just going along with what she said and flattering her. After thinking it over, he admitted his mistake and said, "It's my fault. From now on, I'll keep everything I raise in my pocket. Don't be angry."

After Lin Meizhu had scolded enough, Shen Changfeng said, "Thank you for taking in the Jade Lion."

Lin Meizhu glanced at him and said in a strange tone, "It's not your turn to say thank you. That's my own horse."

Shen Changfeng said: "What?"

Lin Meizhu stepped onto the two steps and, with her eyes level with his, felt more confident. She said, "I chose an auspicious day to sign the engagement contract. I also prayed to the Kitchen God and the Earth God with the jade lion. Naturally, it's mine."

Nowadays, if someone wants to adopt a cat, they must prepare salt, fish and sugar as betrothal gifts, write the date of adoption and the cat's appearance on the deed, ask the Queen Mother of the West and the King Father of the East to witness it, put the cat in a wooden barrel or cloth bag and take it home, and finally worship the Kitchen God before the ceremony is considered complete.

Shen Changfeng suppressed his laughter and asked, "Have Jade Lion, Big Yellow, and Little Black asked?" According to the etiquette of hiring a cat, the cat must greet the "elders" in the family.

Lin Meizhu nodded, "Of course, there are also cicadas. There are also a few rabbits. And those fish in the tanks."

Shen Changfeng sighed softly and said with some regret: "It seems that this is an unchangeable fact. It is already your horse."

Lin Meizhu breathed a sigh of relief, "That's right."

Shen Changfeng had only heard of betrothing a cat, but this was the first time he'd heard of betrothing a horse. He also understood why she'd been so anxious just now; she was afraid he'd ask for the jade lion back. If she wanted it, if she liked it, he'd have offered it to her with both hands, so how could he possibly steal it away? He also felt that her childish insistence was truly pitiful, and his heart softened as he softly said, "Okay, whatever you say."

Lin Meizhu was a little unconvinced. What did he mean by "I'll do whatever you want"? It was as if he had compromised and given the jade lion to her! She had clearly found it at her doorstep!

Just as he was about to retort, he heard someone call out from the side door: "Who's outside?"

Lin Meizhu was startled by Chen Huisheng's voice. Hearing the footsteps approaching, she subconsciously pulled Shen Changfeng to hide against the wall.

There are some Guanyin bamboos of medium height planted on both sides of the alley, with dense leaves like feathers, swaying and beautiful.

It was a hot day, and the bamboo leaves blocked out the wind. Both of them were sweating and panting slightly. The moment their skin touched, the green leaves on the pink wall trembled slightly.

Lin Meiju released the hand that was holding his forearm, pressed herself against the wall, tried hard to ignore the heat on her side, turned her head to listen to the movement on the other side of the door, and waited for Chen Huisheng to leave.

Amid the rustling sound of bamboo leaves, she suddenly heard someone calling her name. The voice was not loud, but clear enough.

"Lin Meizhu, can I hug you?"

Lin Meizhu turned back and looked at the speaker, thinking to herself how strange it was that he could actually say such a thing. In the past, he could hug her whenever he wanted, kiss her whenever he wanted, and do whatever he wanted.

Shen Changfeng saw the surprise and suspicion on her face clearly. She almost asked directly, "Are you possessed by a ghost?" Shen Changfeng grinned and asked again in a low voice, "I'm serious. I really want to hug you." He stood up straight and turned to walk towards her.

With a creaky sound, the side door opened.

Lin Meizhu quickly pushed the person back and made a gesture to silence him. After exchanging glances, she poked her head out to see if the person had left. However, Shen Changfeng quickly moved closer and whispered in her ear, "If you don't object, I'll treat you as..."

Lin Meizhu was startled and reached out to cover his mouth. Shen Changfeng, mouth slightly open, allowed her to move, feeling the force of her smooth fingertips pressing against his lips, his breath trembling uncontrollably. His warm breath gently fell on her palm, and he could no longer hold back and embraced her.

It’s still too early to say anything. It’s easy to change the country but difficult to change one’s nature. Shen Changfeng is still the same Shen Changfeng.

Shen Changfeng held her waist, his warm breath gently caressing her neck. He held her like a treasured possession, carefully and with deep cherishment. He wondered how there could be such a person in the world, someone who could be so attuned to his every whim, whether laughing, crying, angry, or scolding. He couldn't bear to let go, someone who haunted him, someone he yearned for, someone he was obsessed with, someone who made him willing to compromise time and time again, yet he was content to do so.

His strength was not great, because he used all his strength to suppress the powerful and surging emotions. The love that had occupied all his heart finally melted into his flesh and blood at this moment, and completely became a part of the depths of his soul.

He reached out and grasped her left hand, slowly inserting his fingers between them, and then clasped their fingers tightly together, saying, "Lin Meizhu, I love you so much."

He slowly moved closer to her face, feeling the side of her face that was also rapidly heating up due to trembling. His long eyelashes brushed her pink cheeks. He sighed, closed his phoenix eyes that were filled with sadness, and murmured, "Lin Meizhu, I really love you so much."

"Meizhu...Meizhu, my Meizhu..."

His voice was soft and low, full of pity and deep affection. He called her name over and over again, as if he was performing some forbidden technique, causing chaos in Lin Meiju's mind.

He just lay quietly on her shoulder, his dark eyes bright, not the kind that could capture people's attention, but with a soft, watery glow, gentle and harmless. Lin Meizhu found it incredible that she actually saw such a gentle quality in Shen Changfeng.

Even though he'd held her recklessly during the day, this time, Lin Meizhu clearly sensed something was different. Those surging, frantic emotions were tamed, becoming deeper and more intense, like an undercurrent lurking beneath the surface of the sea, seemingly calm, but once it erupted, the tidal wave of love would be far more difficult to resist than one might imagine.

Even when she returned home, Lin Meiju was still a little dazed. She put the washed dishes away in a daze. When she turned around, she saw Aunt Zhang standing outside. She didn't know how long she had been there.

Lin Meizhu was inexplicably flustered, but she didn't show it on her face. She wiped her hands and asked, "Auntie, why are you up?"

Aunt Zhang curled her lips and asked, "I couldn't sleep, and I heard those kittens crying, so I got up to check."

Xiaoman usually feeds the cats and dogs at home. A few days ago, Xiaoman was guessing how many kittens Xianchan had in her belly, saying anyone who guessed wrong would have to drink a penalty. Now Xianchan has given birth, but she doesn't know where they are. Aunt Zhang's eyes turned red as she spoke.

Seeing that her eyes were swollen from crying, Lin Meizhu wiped her tears gently with a wet handkerchief and asked, "Auntie, do you believe me?"

Aunt Zhang choked up and clenched Lin Meizhu's hand tightly. "I'm a widow, and I've been with Xiaoman for all these years. I've endured so much coldness and hardship. Only you... only you treat us so well. From the day we went south, I entrusted my life and Xiaoman's to you. I believe everything you say."

Lin Meizhu said with tears in her eyes: "Xiaoman is fine, she will come back."

Aunt Zhang heard the certainty in her tone, which didn't seem like a casual reassurance. She tried to puff up her swollen eyelids and asked, "Really...?"

Lin Meizhu nodded and said, "Really? There will be news in the next two days."

Aunt Zhang knew clearly that the losses caused by the horse bandits' invasion were heavy. The government had no time to deal with the missing girl's case. The staff of Huishengtang had searched for a whole day but found nothing. So why was Lin Meiju so confident?

Lin Meizhu met Aunt Zhang's eager, inquiring gaze, turned slightly away, and said, "I used my connections to find some people in the underworld. They...are more experienced."

Lin Meizhu didn't know why she was so sure that Xiaoman was fine. Maybe it was because of intuition, or maybe it was because Shen Changfeng had told her with certainty that Xiaoman was not in danger of death after searching. Shen Changfeng was undoubtedly a gangster and a scoundrel, but she couldn't deny that he was a gangster and a scoundrel with strong ability to get things done.

The lights in the kitchen weren't particularly bright, but Aunt Zhang, ever so observant, still noticed the change in Lin Meizhu's expression. She let out a blank "Ah," staring blankly at the still-draining dishes, her gaze a bit dull. Suddenly, a bitter feeling welled up in her heart. She asked, "Eleventh Lady, where have you been so late?"

Lin Meizhu replied, "I just went back to the pharmacy for something." Then she advised people to go back to their rooms to rest.

Aunt Zhang nodded stiffly, took two steps, and then asked as if she suddenly remembered something: "Eleventh Lady, what do you want to eat tomorrow? I'll make it."

After Aunt Zhang came back from outside, she felt dizzy and couldn't get out of bed. Even Lin Meiju had to prepare her meals.

Lin Meizhu said, "Let me take care of it for the next few days. You should take a good rest first."

Aunt Zhang shook her head. "You've been working hard enough, running back and forth between the pharmacy and home, and also helping me find people. I should also cheer myself up and do what I can."

Lin Meizhu thought it would be good for Aunt Zhang to have something to do, so she said, "I've already told the vendor to bring some fish and meat tomorrow. I'll just make a few side dishes... Cook more rice, and I'll take some back to the pharmacy."

Aunt Zhang agreed and asked, "What kind of fish is it? Or do you want to make spicy food?"

Lin Meizhu chuckled and said, "It's bream. Bream are fresh and delicious these days... Let's steam it. I've been feeling a bit irritated these past few days."

Aunt Zhang suddenly thought of something and rushed forward, saying in a very urgent tone, "Are you going to look for the prince... for that person?"

Lin Meizhu didn't know how she figured it out. Afraid Chen Huisheng might hear her, she quickly pulled him into the depths of the kitchen. She sighed inwardly and whispered, "Yes, it was his people who helped me find Xiaoman."

Aunt Zhang asked in a trembling voice, "What does he want you to do?"

Lin Meizhu replied in a muffled voice, "He wants me... wants me to take care of his daily life, like cooking and delivering meals."

Aunt Zhang's eyes flashed with disbelief, tears wetting the fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She said with heartache and guilt, "Girl! Xiaoman is here to find me, but I can't let you go and beg him! You've done enough for us. You barely escaped that man's clutches. I can't go against my conscience and push you back into the sea of ​​fire! I'm not that kind of a heartless person!"

Lin Meizhu comforted her, "Don't worry, it's just for a while... He's not in the city often."

Aunt Zhang looked at Lin Meizhu's slightly swollen lower lip from being sucked, and said bitterly, "How can you say that this is proper cooking?"