Chapter 541 Your mother is calling you back home for dinner

Lin Yuesha wanted to persuade Madam Xu, but seeing that Madam Xu had specially made an apron for this purpose, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Moonlight Veil, isn't one dish a bit too little?"

Madam Xu decided to prepare two dishes and a soup, and then sent someone to deliver a message to Xu Da, asking him to come back to the mansion for a meal.

"Well……"

Lin Yuesha closed her eyes and took a deep breath, wanting to apologize to the dog. She tried, but Madam Xu was too enthusiastic and she couldn't persuade her.

"Make a meat dish."

Madam Xu said excitedly, "This morning I specifically instructed Uncle Xu to buy fresh pork belly. Yue Sha, you can stay at the mansion for dinner today."

The house was quiet and deserted, and since Xu Da was not married, there was no one to talk to.

Madam Xu regretted it. If she had known this would happen, she would have been better off having another child, so that she would have a child by her side for company.

"Since we have pork belly, let's make braised pork."

Unable to refuse Madam Xu's hospitality, Lin Yuesha decided to reconsider. She thought for a moment that braised pork was a common dish and not difficult to make; all she had to do was remember the steps.

Another thing is that she went into the kitchen with Madam Xu, so with her watching over things, she wouldn't end up making a terrible dish.

Lin Yuesha was already mentally prepared before Madam Xu started cooking, but Madam Xu was very efficient once the two entered the kitchen.

Following Lin Yuesha's instructions, Madam Xu completed the preparations, leaving only the final step of stir-frying.

At noon, Madam Xu took Lin Yuesha out to visit a friend, taking her directly to an armory where the old craftsman crafted a self-defense item for her.

"Auntie, no need, I have a dagger."

Lin Yuesha was startled. The weapons shop belonged to the Ministry of War of the Great Qi Dynasty, and not just anyone could enter.

"A dagger can only be used for self-defense at close range."

Madam Xu waved her hand, saying that the old craftsman was her father's apprentice and that there was no craftsman in the entire capital who was more skillful than him.

Madam Xu spread her arms, revealing her gold-inlaid jade bracelet, allowing Lin Yuesha to see it up close.

Next to the bracelet is a mechanism; once pressed, the bracelet will fire silver needles.

“I have practiced martial arts for many years and my wrists are thick and large, not the same size as yours. Otherwise, I would have given this bracelet to you for protection.”

Madam Xu shook her wrist. The silver needles in the bracelet were short, but they were almost always accurate and impossible to dodge. The silver needles were poisoned, but not with any deadly poison. Instead, they were coated with the juice of a kind of herb. As soon as the silver needles pierced the flesh, the person's face would immediately turn into a pig's head.

"However, these silver needles are all disposable, and the bracelet will be useless after they are used up."

Madam Xu cherished this bracelet. When disciplining her husband and son, she never used it, because it was too expensive and troublesome to make. So, if she could use her hands, she would just beat them.

After some hesitation, Lin Yuesha finally accepted Madam Xu's generous gift. The bracelet did indeed have the function of self-protection, which was exactly what she needed.

At the Prince's Mansion flower viewing party, Lin Yuesha offended Madam Qin and Lin Yue'e. Even though it was just a brief encounter, Lin Yuesha was already wary of the two. It's no wonder she was cautious; those with malicious intentions were probably thinking about how to ruin her reputation. They might even hire thugs to rob her. In any case, they would come up with some bad ideas, that's the usual pattern.

More than an hour had passed since they left the weapons shop. Madam Xu immediately sent the coachman to the Five Cities Garrison to find someone.

"Sir, Madam Xu is calling you home for dinner."

The people at the door saw that Madam Xu dared not delay and immediately went in to report.

"Go and tell my mother that Yu Zicheng is to be interrogated today, and the Five Cities Garrison is unable to leave."

Xu Da's eyelids twitched. He had just been sitting with his legs crossed, drinking tea, but upon hearing this, he immediately sat up straight. This was his conditioned reflex when he heard that his mother had come to find him.

"But Madam Xu said that she is cooking today and hopes you will return to the mansion."

A moment later, the messenger returned, looking troubled.

He was afraid to go home because his mother cooked!

Lin Yuesha is unreliable; she takes gifts but doesn't do anything. Xu Da was in a difficult and distressed state. No, he had to struggle; he absolutely could not give in.

"Tell my mother that I really can't get away, but I'll be back home later."

Having said this, Xu Da made up his mind that he would sleep in the Wucheng Military Command that night and would not go home no matter what.

His father was in mourning and did not return to the capital. Xu Da was heartbroken. In the past, his father would charge into battle and suffer the consequences, but now he was left to fight alone. Xu Da still remembered his father patting him on the shoulder when he left the capital, everything was understood without words.

"Madam Xu said it's alright, her carriage is waiting for you at the entrance of the Five Cities Garrison."

The messenger, sweating profusely and panting heavily, said...

Xu Da struggled in vain and could only stand up helplessly. He stood at the door and peeked out. Sure enough, the Xu family's carriage was parked at the back gate of the Five Cities Garrison.

His mother didn't arrest him and take him back immediately; in fact, she was saving face for him.

This is a long and drawn-out battle; whoever gives in first will lose.

Thinking of his miserable past, Xu Da immediately wanted to turn back. He left through the front gate and went to the Prince Luo's mansion to hide. His mother was concerned about her reputation and absolutely could not go to the Prince Luo's mansion.

"Xu Da, I see you. You've shown half your face, what are you hiding?"

Mrs. Xu opened the car window and shouted.

Xu Da staggered and almost fell to the ground. Was his eyesight really that good? He was very discreet.

"Xu Da, hurry back to the manor. It's not your turn to be on night duty tonight."

Madam Xu called out again.

Inside the carriage, Lin Yuesha followed Madam Xu's gaze but saw no one. She asked in confusion, "Why don't I see anyone?"

"Of course you didn't see it, because I didn't see it either."

Madam Xu calmly held her teacup. She knew Xu Da was probably hiding somewhere watching, thinking she was just joking.

She came to pick him up in person; Xu Da was welcome to try and spoil her fun.

One by one, they looked down on her cooking skills, which aroused Madam Xu's fighting spirit. Like practicing martial arts, she could only become more courageous with each setback.

Lin Yuesha: ...

Madam Xu's trick was quite effective. Before long, Xu Da lowered his head and took small, quick steps out the door. The distance from the door to the carriage was only a few meters, but he seemed to want to walk hundreds of steps.

In fact, the Five Cities Garrison was not far from the mansion. When Madam Xu saw people coming, she immediately ordered the coachman to return to the mansion first, leaving Xu Da stunned.

Blanch, stir-fry, color, add water.

Lin Yuesha simplified the process of making braised pork into a few steps, detailing even the exact amounts of ginger and star anise to use. As long as you add the ingredients according to the steps and cook them at the right temperature, you can make a quick and easy dish with almost no difficulty.

Since Madam Xu couldn't remember, Lin Yuesha wrote it down on a list and had Madam Xu memorize it, which made things much easier.

"Is this part of the coloring process?"

Mrs. Xu held the spatula and stirred the food, performing each step meticulously, learning with utmost seriousness.

"Yes, add water after coloring."

There are several ways to make braised pork. You can color it first or later. Lin Yuesha tried to simplify the process as much as possible so that Madam Xu could remember it.