Chapter 381 The Brother and Sister Are of One Mind

"Little sister, you must remember your promise. From now on, your brother's happiness for the rest of his life depends on you."

Xiao Qi was very satisfied with the answer. If he didn't want to arouse his younger sister's suspicion, he would have had Lin Yuesha sign and put her fingerprint on it.

"Although I am not a man, I am still a man of my word."

Lin Yuesha, completely oblivious to the hidden meaning in Xiao Qi's words, patted her chest and declared boldly, "Big brother, we siblings are of one mind!"

As long as her stepbrother is happy, it doesn't matter if her parents object. She supports her brother and helps persuade her parents. After all, she will have to rely on herself in the future, and her parents should be open-minded.

Xiao Qi gained a lot from his trip to the Bai residence. He only hoped that his younger sister wouldn't change her mind, since giving herself away was quite difficult.

After leaving the girls' school, Lin Yuesha did not forget the rules. She took the initiative to find Qingxing and Qi'er and asked them to help her with some guidance.

In the past, Lin Yuesha was forced to learn the rules, and she did so unwillingly. But now it was different. She truly felt how terrifying these young ladies were, and just in case, she absolutely could not be found to have made a mistake.

The next day, Fang Dazhuang was picked up from the manor by Liu Quan. Upon learning that he was to accompany the young master to the capital to take the imperial examination and broaden his horizons, he was very willing.

"Miss, I know how to make dumplings, cook noodles, and steam buns."

Fang Dazhuang volunteered, fearing that Lin Yuesha wouldn't believe him, so he went to the kitchen to demonstrate his skills. He was strong and could knead dough quickly, making the steamed buns with a chewy texture.

"Hmm, a promising talent."

Lin Yuesha circled Fang Dazhuang once, nodding with great satisfaction.

Fang Dazhuang felt uneasy under her gaze and asked nervously, "Miss, may I accompany the young master to the capital?"

"Can."

Lin Yuesha looked at Fang Dazhuang with admiration. She was talented in cooking, but because she was a woman, she was still lacking in strength.

Fang Dazhuang is tall and strong, and he can flip a large wok as if it were child's play. Judging from his skill, he must have a talent for cooking. If he were to become her apprentice, her culinary skills would not be wasted, and there would be a successor.

Snacks were just small fry; Lin Yuesha had never made any of the real main dishes.

"This time when we go to the capital, we will bring our own carriage, which will be filled with pots, pans and other utensils."

It was already summer when we entered the city in the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Traveling south, the carriage was stuffy and poorly ventilated, making the heat unbearable.

Lin Yuesha learned that the escort team was about to open fire, but those were rough men who traveled all year round, eating dry biscuits and drinking water to get by, while her stepbrother was a scholar and was a bit more delicate.

When it gets hot, food is more likely to spoil and cause stomach upset, so we can't be careless.

Thinking about it that way, it would be better to bring my own cooking utensils on the road.

Fang Dazhuang knew that making some staple foods was far from enough; he also needed to learn other dishes. With time pressing, Lin Yuesha chose refreshing and light side dishes to teach Fang Dazhuang.

"Miss, I can cook home-style dishes, but the taste is not as refined as that of a professional chef in a restaurant."

Fang Dazhuang tried making a dish of stir-fried shredded cabbage with vinegar. Although it had some flaws, his control of the heat was precise, making it a top-notch dish among ordinary home-style dishes.

Lin Yuesha gave a thumbs up, saying that the taste was already very good.

It's not that Fang Dazhuang's cooking lacks refinement, but rather that he uses too few seasonings, only oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

“You should learn from him. My older brother likes to eat boiled fish, smoked meat, and spicy snacks.”

Under the blazing sun, the journey might be sweltering, and Lin Yuesha had considered this detail, teaching Fang Dazhuang how to make fried rice noodles, cold skin noodles, cold noodles, braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, and steamed cakes for a late-night snack.

"My older brother prefers salty food and doesn't like sweet food, so don't add too much sugar when making pastries."

Fang Dazhuang was illiterate, so Lin Yuesha gave Liu Quan a notebook that recorded Xiao Qi's preferences, which he would use to remind him from time to time.

Behind his back, Liu Quan sighed to his wife, "Miss really cares about the young master. In most families, the wife doesn't even remember what her husband likes."

Liu Quan was implying something; he was about to set off, but his wife hadn't made a sound, remaining even more composed than he was.

Seeing how attentive his young mistress was to his young master—even more so than a married couple—he felt inexplicably envious.

What do you know?

Liu Quan's wife raised her eyelids slightly. As a servant, one shouldn't speak ill of the master, but as someone with experience, she was certain that the young master had different feelings for the young lady.

That day, she was in the kitchen when she saw the young master standing outside the door, staring intently at the young lady's back.

"Perhaps the young master is hungry but too embarrassed to ask?"

Liu Quan had met many people, but none had a temperament as good as the young master's. He rarely ordered his servants around and was always polite, showing none of the aloofness of a scholar.

"It's not that I'm hungry, it's the cakes I just delivered."

Liu Quan's wife pursed her lips; she couldn't possibly say this to anyone else, so she only talked about it with her husband.

"Women gossip about others. How could a pure young master possibly have feelings for a young lady? They are step-siblings!"

Liu Quan was very annoyed. These words were best left unsaid between the couple behind closed doors, as they could damage the reputation of the young lady and young master if they got out.

"I'm not stupid."

Liu Quan's wife rolled her eyes at her husband. After years of marriage, they had a tacit understanding. She said firmly, "Don't make promises you can't keep. If the opportunity arises, then really..."

"Don't make things up. This matter must never be spread. No one else should know about it except me."

Liu Quan lowered his voice even further as he instructed his wife.

"There won't be anyone else. I regret telling you."

Liu Quan's wife couldn't stand her husband's nagging and covered her ears. She had noticed it long ago but kept it to herself. Today, when Liu Quan brought it up, she chimed in with a few words.

This secret must remain buried in my heart from now on. As a servant, I must know what to say and what not to say.

Furthermore, the young lady was the daughter's savior, and Liu Quan's wife could not repay this kindness even if she gave her life; it is no exaggeration to say that the debt of gratitude was as heavy as a mountain.

"You women just love to gossip behind people's backs. You've made the young master sound like a wolf, staring at the young lady. Really..."

Liu Quanfei was very serious and looked down on his wife. He thought it was immoral to make up stories about siblings who were not related by blood but had a good relationship. Even though no one else knew about it, he shouldn't have said it.

Liu Quan's wife really wanted to slap herself. She had no choice but to confront this troll. She said, "How about we make a bet?"

Liu Quan's wife put down the clothes in her hands and said with a smile, "How about this, if what I said really comes true, you can stay in the chicken coop for one night and sing little tunes to the chickens."

My husband has a secret: he's terrified of live chickens. Apparently, when he was a child, he used to play and hide in a villager's chicken coop. The next day, he came out covered in wounds, pecked all over by the rooster.

The young master's thoughts will be seen through sooner or later, and that will prove that she wasn't talking nonsense.