Chapter 11 Three Meals a Day

After resting for two days, Bai Hua was able to move freely and was in good health. After she recovered, Ning Jue never mentioned the subsequent trials to her again, and even Zang Fan stopped coming up the mountain frequently and making things difficult for her.

She slowly deduced that this might be an intention to keep her, but she wasn't sure, so she took the initiative to approach Ning Jue and ask him tactfully.

Inside the main room, Ning Jue sat on a stool, intently wiping a sword scabbard. The scabbard was covered in green rust, looking old and worn, but after being wiped with a damp cloth, it shone and looked much newer.

Noticing the hesitant figure approaching from behind, Ning Jue didn't turn around but spoke first: "What is it?"

Bai Hua walked over, stood in front of him, slightly clenched her sleeve, and said softly, "Young master, my injuries have healed. Why don't we switch rooms as soon as possible? You are the master, how can you wrong yourself for my sake? Besides, you still have an old wound on your right arm."

Ning Jue continued wiping with a fresh cotton cloth, replying, "My injury is nothing serious. You can stay in the bedroom for now. You're a young lady, so it's good for you and me to have some privacy."

Hearing this, Bai Hua felt even more confident and cautiously asked, "Does Young Master mean that you've decided to let me stay?"

Ning Jue stopped, looked up at her, and gave a positive reply: "Yes."

When Bai Hua met his gaze, her heart started racing.

She made the right gamble back then, gaining Ning Jue's trust with minimal sacrifice and successfully staying by his side.

However, she dared not relax in the slightest. She had only made a good start. More importantly, she needed to find out the secret of Ning Jue's second-stage sword technique as soon as possible, record it, and tell her cousin. Therefore, the road ahead was destined to be even more precarious.

"What are you thinking about? Your reaction doesn't seem as joyful as I expected," Ning Jue said calmly, sizing her up.

Bai Hua snapped out of her daze, her mind racing, and quickly shook her head to explain, "No, being able to stay by your side is something I've longed for for ages. Now that my wish has finally come true, I'm overjoyed, but I can't help feeling anxious and worried that if I do anything wrong, I might displease you and be driven away by you."

For a moment, she couldn't think of any other reasonable excuse, so she had to use Zang Fan as a shield.

Ning Jue had seen how Zang Fan had made things difficult for her before, so this reason wasn't abrupt or forced.

To make the performance more vivid, Bai Hua deliberately lowered her eyelashes, pretending to be timid and afraid to speak. She stood gracefully in front of Ning Jue, her waist slender and delicate, her eyes half-raised, revealing a hidden expectation, as if waiting for him to make a decision for her.

Ning Jue's eyes darkened, and he turned his gaze away, saying, "You are my person. Whether you stay or leave is up to me. As for what others say, you don't need to pay attention to it."

Bai Hua's cheeks flushed slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. She nodded happily and said, "Thank you, young master."

Ning Jue stopped talking to her and focused on his hands, continuing to use a cotton cloth soaked in white vinegar to clean the exterior of the sword sheath.

Bai Hua did not leave, but stepped forward and took the initiative to speak again: "Young master, this sword sheath looks quite old."

Ning Jue gripped the scabbard head, tightening his grip even more, and replied, "It was given to me by my master years ago, and it has indeed been quite a few years now."

Bai Hua pondered. Her cousin had mentioned that Ning Jue's swordsmanship was unpredictable, without any sect or affiliation, and its origin was unknown. So, she initially subconsciously thought that Ning Jue had no sect affiliation. Unexpectedly, she learned from him today that he actually had a master.

If that's the case, his swordsmanship should be the same as his master's, so why is it so similar to the Lone Goose Sword Technique practiced by his cousin, causing the Guihong Sword Hall to be deeply wary of him?

There are too many unknowns and mysteries waiting for her to explore.

She hesitated for a moment, but decided to ask again, "Where is your master now? Is he also in Jiling?"

Ning Jue replied expressionlessly, "He has already passed away."

Bai Hua was taken aback for a moment, unable to ask any more questions, and unsure how to continue the conversation.

Ning Jue showed no other reaction; his face remained calm, and his eyes did not reveal any sadness or displeasure.

Seeing that Bai Hua hesitated to speak, he calmly raised his hand and handed her the cotton cloth, asking gently, "Could you please wash this cotton cloth with clean water for me?"

Bai Hua nodded, took the hand, and as she turned her back, the breath she had been holding in slowly eased.

She wondered if she had said too much.

Ning Jue watched her leave. After the door closed, her slender, willow-like figure disappeared from sight. He lowered his eyes, and in that instant, a trace of sorrow and sadness flashed in his eyes.

...

After confirming that she could stay, Bai Hua became even more attentive.

While Ning Jue was out, she couldn't stay idle and kept looking for things to do in the bamboo house.

She meticulously cleaned the bed, furniture, tables, cabinets, and chairs. After finishing inside, she took a broom and wandered around the yard, sweeping away all the fallen leaves from every nook and cranny. At lunchtime, she even gathered the pile of fallen leaves into a small mound to use as firewood, as if trying to prove that she was alone in the bamboo house, making things very different from usual.

When Ning Jue returned, he saw that the interior and exterior were clean and brand new. He sighed helplessly and called the person into the main room for questioning.

"Did you clean all the furniture and furnishings inside the house? And all those fallen leaves in the yard, did you sweep them all up too?"

Bai Hua had put in the effort, so how could she not take credit? Upon hearing this, she quickly nodded and admitted, "Yes, since I am responsible for taking care of the young master's daily life, I naturally dare not slack off or shirk my responsibilities. These are all things that a maid should do. The young master is willing to keep me here, so I need to play a role and not stay for nothing..."

Her tone was sincere, her eyes filled with gratitude, and she looked at him earnestly, making Ning Jue feel as if he were her savior.

He asked, "What should be done?"

Bai Hua answered honestly: "For example, trivial matters in life, including housework, daily labor... all of these count."

Ning Jue instructed, "From now on, you only need to prepare three meals a day for me. You don't need to do anything else."

Bai Hua was confused and doubted herself, saying, "Am I clumsy and my work did not meet your standards? Please tell me what I am lacking so that I can learn to improve."

Ning Jue remained silent, glancing at her with a sidelong glance.

Her fair and delicate face was free of any makeup, and she wore only a simple wooden hairpin in her hair. She wore a grayish-blue cloth dress that had been washed many times since she came up the mountain, with the cuffs and collar slightly faded. Her shoes were grayish-white with no embroidery or patterns, the kind of dress most commonly worn by women in the village.

Apart from his unparalleled eyes, there was truly nothing bright about his entire body.

She stood there, and if you looked at her from a distance, she would look like an ordinary village girl.

But when she turns around, she doesn't need makeup or hairpins; a single glance is enough to amaze people and last a lifetime.

Therefore, those closest to her at this moment should know the feeling of a precious pearl covered in dust and gold and stone covered in mud. The dazzling light that should have belonged to her was all covered up. A beautiful woman who was as pure as a fairy and untouched by the world was now, for some unknown reason, willing to become a humble and subservient maid.

For the first time, Ning Jue unconsciously became a little curious about her.

What was her past like?

Bai Hua stood there, her gaze still worried as she waited for his answer. Seeing Ning Jue remain silent for a long time, she felt increasingly uncertain, afraid that she might make a mistake and cause him to change his mind and keep her.

Unexpectedly, Ning Jue spoke up, suddenly saying, "Let me see your hands."

After he finished speaking, he stretched out his hand first, palm up, gesturing for her to reach out.

Bai Hua was puzzled and somewhat taken aback, but in her moment of confusion, she couldn't think too much about it. She lowered her eyes and hesitated for a moment before trustingly extending her wrist.

However, just as she was about to touch his palm, Bai Hua hesitated for a moment.

Ning Jue acted first to dispel her hesitation, pinching her fingers and pulling hard, leaving her no chance to refuse.

Her delicate, slender hands were now red at the joints, and there were faint signs of frostbite on her skin. If she continued to touch the cold water, she would soon develop frostbite.

Ning Jue released her, his expression serious, and said, "With hands like yours, you can't do chores like carrying water or chopping wood. From now on, you'll be in charge of meals, and I'll take care of the rest."

Bai Hua misunderstood Ning Jie's meaning, thinking that he disliked her for being weak and useless, which was why he said that.

She believed she had done her best. The journey to fetch water was long, and the return trip involved climbing a mountain, so the hardship was unimaginable. But she gritted her teeth and persevered, daring not to give up. Chopping wood was strenuous, and she didn't know how to use her strength skillfully. Every time she swung the axe, her palms were sore from the impact. But even so, she gritted her teeth and finished chopping and tidying up the wood.

If she still couldn't satisfy Ning Jue, she really had no other choice.

A feeling of grievance instantly spread through her heart, and all the hardships she had endured over the past few days turned into melancholy. Helplessly, her eyes reddened, and she didn't look at Ning Jue, but just lowered her head and silently processed it on her own.

Ning Jue was surprised to see this.

He only said one sentence to her, so why does he suddenly feel like he's the bad guy?

"Why are you crying?" Ning Jue asked, sensing that the situation was becoming tricky.

Bai Hua tucked her sleeve behind her ear, wiped her eyes, and asked softly, "Young Master, do you think I'm working too slowly and wasting time? Yesterday, when I went down the mountain to fetch water, I saw some children playing by the stream. Perhaps because I gave them the mask last time, the children were very affectionate towards me. During our chat, they asked me where the swordsman's attendant had gone. I thought they were referring to Zang Fan, but many details didn't add up. Later, after asking around, I learned that Young Master previously had a servant. Compared to him, am I clumsy and not doing a good enough job?"

Ning Jue frowned, puzzled, and said, "How can you compare him to me?"

Why not?

Bai Hua spoke her mind: "If it were someone else, fetching water from the mountain would only take one trip, but I have to make three trips back and forth to fill the water vat. And then there's chopping wood. The axe is heavy, and it's difficult for me to lift. A man could finish it in a few strokes, but it takes me more than an hour to barely manage to do it..."

Her voice trailed off, and in the end she even admitted, "I am not as good as him."

Ning Jue finally understood, his brows relaxed, and he said helplessly, "This is something that should be done by men, which is why I didn't let you do it. I also feel a little wronged that you're getting angry with me for this."

He deliberately imitated her tone of voice.

Bai Hua looked up in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed red from his teasing.

"I...I didn't lose my temper." She stammered, her beautiful eyes wide, "Apeng wouldn't dare..."

"You've already done it, what's there to be afraid of?" Ning Jue's lips curled up slightly. He enjoyed watching her expressive face, but he knew when to stop and said seriously, "Such beautiful hands. It would be a waste if they got frostbite from helping me fetch water and wash clothes. I don't want to bear such a blame. Even asking you to help me start a fire and cook would feel like a burden, let alone chopping wood and doing hard labor."

Bai Hua had something to say: "Then..."

Ning Jue interrupted her in a casual tone: "You are not as strong as Aman, but in one area, he is far inferior to you."

Bai Hua thought for a moment, her mind quick, and she soon guessed: "Is it... cooking skills?"

Ning Jue nodded: "These past few days, you've spoiled my appetite. I can't even get used to the food that Zang Fan brought from his residence. What do you suggest we do?"

His tone was light and casual as he asked her question, his gaze languid as he stared at her intently.

Bai Hua was naturally happy to hear this. With Ning Jue acknowledging her unique value, she would gradually become an irreplaceable presence.

However, what took hold of her heart even before the secret joy was an uncontrollable panic that spread like a tidal wave. Before she even realized it, her parched heart was being gradually soaked.

She lowered her eyelids slightly and answered in a low voice, "I said before that if you are satisfied with my cooking, I am willing to cook for you every day."

Ning Jue asked, "Really?"

Staring at her like that, Bai Hua's heart skipped a beat. She replied, "Of course it's true."

Ning Jue smiled, her eyes holding a unique meaning that drew people in to explore. But when she looked up and met his gaze, she noticed a thin mist separating them, making it impossible for her to see through him.

"Then it's settled. From now on, you'll be in charge of all three meals a day. All you need to do is prepare these meals."

Bai Hua replied, "I will obey your orders, young master."

Bai Hua was happy to have some peace and quiet after not seeing Zang Fan on the mountain for several days, but since he had just been mentioned, she changed the subject and asked him about it.

"Young Master Zang hasn't come up the mountain for some time."

Ning Jue said, "Zang Fan is the only son in his family. The Zang family is in the business of escorting goods. As the young master, he naturally needs to help out. How can he come here every day to avoid being idle?"

Bai Hua nodded: "I see."

...

Smoke curled from the thatched shed in the courtyard, the aroma of cooking wafting far and wide, bubbling and simmering, making one's mouth water.

The once secluded courtyard, hidden deep in the mountains and forests, now seems extraordinary with the addition of a person. The warmth of the cooking fire wards off the chill of late autumn, and there are more than one person's footprints on the bluestone path. Bamboo leaves rustle and fall on the shoulders of the two. This is probably the everyday yet rare and precious warmth of life.

Ning Jue glanced outside, then looked back at Bai Hua and asked, "What did you make for lunch? I could smell the delicious aroma when I entered the courtyard. Did you stew a fish?"

Bai Hua was surprised by Ning Jue's keen sense of smell. Even though the smell of food was quickly and cleanly dissipated after cooking outdoors, he still guessed it accurately.

She gestured for Ning Jue to sit down, her worried expression vanishing as she smiled again: "Please sit down, young master. Since this is A Peng's responsibility, you can simply wait for the food to be served and enjoy it."

Ning Jue looked at her lively and enthusiastic expression and did not object.

Bai Hua went out lightly, walked to the pot in the shed, lifted the lid, and steam billowed out, enveloping her like a fairy from the Jade Pool riding the clouds.

The door was not closed. Ning Jue sat facing the courtyard and watched Bai Hua bending over and busy herself. His eyes softened unconsciously.

Since his master and mistress passed away, he has rarely experienced such a warm and affectionate atmosphere. Although Zang Fan would occasionally come up the mountain to drink with him to relieve his boredom, the cold wine still made him feel lonely and uneasy, far less so than having a caring and warm-hearted woman by his side now.

even if……

He quickly looked away, deliberately avoiding thinking too deeply about Bai Hua's original intention in leaving.

The food was served, and it looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.

Ning Jue's guess was correct; the main dish was fish soup. This dish required a lot of effort to make well. First, you needed to prepare chicken broth from an old hen that had been simmered over low heat for several hours. Then, you needed to prepare shredded fish, add ginger to remove the fishy smell, marinate it with seasonings, and then blanch the shredded fish, mushrooms, wood ear fungus, bamboo shoots, etc. in boiling water. Finally, you would put them into the pre-simmered, fragrant chicken broth and slowly thicken it with cornstarch until the soup was rich and flavorful.

Ning Jue got up to serve himself a bowl, first handing it to Bai Hua, then serving himself a bowl.

Bai Hua made a move to take the spoon, but Ning Jue waved his hand, indicating that she should sit down and not continue working.

The two sat facing each other. Ning Jue took a sip of the soup, savored it for a moment, and looked up at her, saying, "The taste is very fresh and mellow."

Bai Hua said apologetically, "Actually, I put in a bit too much pepper, and perhaps too much white vinegar too. Does it taste sour?"

Ning Jue shook her head and replied, "No, I've eaten just the right amount."

After he finished speaking, Bai Hua took a sip with some skepticism. The vinegar was noticeably sour, and she frowned, blaming herself for not keeping her hand steady when pouring it.

Bai Hua pouted and said, "So you were just teasing me, young master. You clearly put too much vinegar in. What a waste of such fresh mandarin fish. You even went to the trouble of going down the mountain to buy it."

Ning Jue looked at her and said very seriously, "I'm not picky about food. This is already delicious to me, and it's not hard to go down the mountain. You don't need to feel guilty. I like it very much."

After saying that, he lowered his head and continued to savor the food, enjoying it immensely.

There was no exaggerated expression on his face as if he was deliberately pretending to enjoy the food to appease her. He ate quietly and slowly throughout, which made people's appetites grow the more they watched.

Bai Hua smiled gently, lowered her eyes, and recalled his words "I like it" as she unconsciously tightened her grip on the bowl and chopsticks in her hands. After a moment, she took the initiative to push the plate closest to her forward.

"These honey-glazed kumquats are simmered in honey and sugar. They are sweet and sour, with just the right amount of sugar that isn't cloying. Would you like to try some, young master?"

"good."

"And this soup, plum blossom pickles, can dispel dampness and cold. The frost on the mountain has been quite heavy lately, young master, please drink more to warm your stomach."

"Um."

Ning Jue showed his support, trying each dish in turn, and praising them after each bite.

Bai Hua suppressed a laugh, secretly thinking to herself, "Young Master Ning is really easy to take care of."

Her confidence soared, and she looked at Ning Jue with bright eyes, saying, "There are still some raw chestnuts in the shed. How about I make chestnut cakes for you tomorrow, young master?"

Ning Jue met her smiling eyes and replied, "You've worked so hard, you deserve a reward. Besides the usual allowance, what else do you want?"

Bai Hua was surprised that Ning Jue would say that.

She had intended to casually decline, but just as she was about to speak, her cousin's earnest voice suddenly rang in her ears—"Hua'er, I am ashamed, the success or failure of this matter rests entirely on your shoulders..."

The lighthearted and joyful mood vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy feeling.

Bai Hua pursed her lips, trying to hide her nervousness, and finally tentatively asked, "Young master, I've heard that you are a renowned swordsman in the martial world. If possible, A Peng would like to see you perform a sword dance. I wonder if this request is presumptuous?"

She was very careful with every word she used.

Ning Jue put down his chopsticks, his gaze sharper than before as he looked at her, asking instead of answering, "Why do you want to see?"