Chapter 93 (Hot Pot Noodles)
Yan Qiushu looked back and thought that Xiao Huaiting was busy, so she didn't say anything.
But she didn't expect him to follow her all the way to the small kitchen in the yard.
Yan Qiushu then asked, "General Xiao, what do you want to eat?"
Xiao Huaiting shook his head. Seeing that she was still looking at him, the always decisive general hesitated and asked, "Why aren't you wearing the jewelry I gave you last time?"
Yan Qiushu laughed when she thought of this: "What you gave me is too expensive. I dare not wear it."
Xiao Huaiting frowned and said, "It's not expensive. Wear it with confidence. It doesn't matter if you drop it or lose it."
Yan Qiushu was at a loss for words: "That won't do. I've never used so many good things before. I wouldn't feel at ease holding them. I happened to bring the box with me this time. I'll leave it at your place later."
Xiao Huaiting pursed his lips, a look of loss visible on his dark face. "No need, if it's lost, it's lost. You don't have to feel burdened. My mother and second sister-in-law all have it."
Seeing him like this, his handsome eyebrows were furrowed. Yan Qiushu felt a little soft-hearted and explained, "But I don't come from a high family, and I'm not used to using such good things. I'm not in a good mood, and I feel uneasy holding it in my hands, always worried that someone will steal it. Why don't you keep it for me first?"
Xiao Huaiting wanted to say that there was no need to feel burdened, as property could not be taken away after death. These were all spoils of war, and he just left them for her because they looked nice.
But what she said made sense, so she said, "Well, can you accept this?"
As he spoke, Xiao Huaiting handed over a small rectangular box.
Yan Qiushu took it and showed joy and anticipation when she saw Xiao Huaiting, so she opened it directly. Inside was a silver hairpin, which was very beautifully made. Her eyes lit up.
This thing is actually quite simple.
Although gold and silver are hard currencies, the current times are peaceful and prosperous, and everyone likes things like jade and pearls. Such a bare silver hairpin is too simple.
But Yan Qiushu liked it very much. After thinking about it, she took off the hairpin on her head and replaced it with this one: "Thank you, I like it very much."
Xiao Huaiting's bright black eyes suddenly lit up like light bulbs. He looked at the top of the head of the person in front of him, and the silver color on the black hair, and smiled happily.
He didn't say that he actually brought this thing when he bought local specialties in Wucheng, but because it was too cheap, he didn't feel comfortable giving it away. However, she was coming over today, and he had just dealt with the court affairs, so he didn't have time to buy a gift. Thinking of his mother's request to give her gifts often, he brought it with him.
Yan Qiushu felt that his smile was like that of a big dog being caressed by its owner. The strangeness in her heart caused by the change in their identities dissipated, and she also smiled brightly at him.
Xiao Huaiting was stunned for a moment, and then a blush appeared on his cheeks, which even his slightly dark skin could not suppress.
Yan Qiushu came to get the noodles, but in the end it was Xiao Huaiting who served the plate.
When crossing the steps of the restaurant, the steady young man's steps were still light. He delivered the things to the table in one stride, then stepped aside and waited for Yan Qiushu to sit down before he sat down.
Everyone at the table was still chatting and laughing, as if they hadn't noticed that the two people went out and came in together.
But in fact, Mrs. Xiao giggled and lowered her head to drink tea to cover it up.
Xie Qingyun secretly poked her husband, suggesting him to look over there. Xiao Huaiqi smiled slightly, and everything was said without words.
This younger brother who shoulders the heavy burden of the family always pretends to be mature, so why is he acting like a child now, almost running and jumping?
Xiao Huaiyu was the most attentive. He noticed at a glance that the hairpin on her head had turned into a silver hairpin. His eyes lit up and he winked at Madam Xiao in a hint.
Madam Xiao glared at her and pretended not to see it.
I'll be shy.
They just pretend not to know.
Xiao Huaiwu was just about to make a joke when Xiao Huaiya touched her arm and she pouted unwillingly.
But when she picked up a piece of fish and ate it, she was happy again.
This grilled fish is so delicious!
The dishes cooked with the grilled fish soup are also delicious. The taste is different from that of hot pot, with a little more sweetness. For someone like her who is not very strong in stretching, it tastes better.
Mrs. Xiao and others, however, had a special liking for hot pot. They ate until they were sweating profusely and were reluctant to change to clear soup. Only when the spiciness became unbearable, they replaced the spicy hot pot with the soup from the grilled fish.
Wan'er and the other children couldn't bear it anymore after taking two bites. They drank the delicious soup in the mushroom soup pot and looked at the adults with admiration.
It's amazing that he can eat such spicy food without changing his color.
At the end of the meal, Yan Qiushu put noodles in the hot pot.
The hot pot was boiling all the time, with a lot of meat cooked in it, and the spicy soup was full of meat flavor.
As soon as the noodles were put in, their color turned into a light reddish-brown color. As the soup rolled, the noodles would pop out from time to time.
Because the hot pot base is wrapped in gauze, there is no pepper, chili pepper or other spices in the soup, and the noodles are very easy to pick up after being cooked for a while.
After putting it into the bowl, Yan Qiushu added a little chili and stirred it. She blew on the hot noodles and ate them after they cooled down a little.
The taste of the fish has become much better after being boiled in alkaline water. It has absorbed the hot pot soup and is salty, spicy and soft. It is the perfect ending to the hot pot.
Yan Qiushu ate with gusto. The Xiao family members who were about to put down their chopsticks saw how delicious she was eating and showed curiosity in their eyes. They followed her and put the noodles into the pot.
Some are particularly clever and put the same method into the pot for roasting fish.
There is soup in both pots, but the taste is different.
As the noodles were cooking, they were almost done. Everyone took them out and ate them. They were amazed: "This noodle is so delicious even without adding anything to the hot pot!"
Dongdong secretly picked up a piece of grilled fish and put it in his mouth. The spicy and sweet taste made him very surprised, but he patted his stomach helplessly.
Woohoo, I'm full! I can't add any more.
Otherwise I’m going to vomit!
There were two people eating each, and the plate that Yan Qiushu asked Xiao Huaiting to bring was empty.
The group was very satisfied with the meal. They had eaten the spicy grilled fish with lychees until only the bones were left, and they had also eaten most of the various meat dishes that came with the hot pot. After more than a dozen people were full, the table was cleared away and they talked in groups of three or four.
Mrs. Xiao was in a good mood and didn't feel tired after the busy morning. She even chatted and laughed with her daughter-in-law and daughters for a while.
When it was almost time to send Yan Qiushu back, she tentatively took Yan Qiushu's hand and said, "It's great that you are all here. When you marry Lao Liu, our Xiao family will be complete. It's just that Ping Yu didn't come back."
Yan Qiushu was playing with her hair with her other fingertips. After hearing this, she did not explain as usual, but instead gave Madam Xiao a shy smile.
Mrs. Xiao's test paid off, and she was overjoyed.
She had seen the two children go out alone for a while before, and her son looked abnormal when he came back. She didn't expect that this naughty boy of hers would actually make Yan Qiushu give in.
"The engagement was a bit hasty and the wedding date hasn't been set. What do you think?" Mrs. Xiao asked again.
This kind of thing should be asked to Yan Qiushu's elders, but she is alone now, so she can only discuss it with her directly.
Yan Qiushu's heart skipped a beat, and she was a little panicked. Are they going to get married now?
But when I think about the ancient times, engagement basically meant marriage, and Xiao Huaiting is already over 20 years old, an older bachelor, so it seems like it's time for him to get married.
Yan Qiushu knew the Xiao family inside and out. After a brief moment of panic, she lowered her eyes and said, "Then Auntie will make the arrangements."
Madam Xiao felt relieved and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll have someone arrange an auspicious time right away."
When they reached the inner courtyard gate, Madam Xiao stopped seeing them off: "Sixth Brother, you take Ah Shu back."
The young man who was talking to his eldest brother with his head down immediately responded: "Okay, mother, sister-in-law, you go back first, I'll go see you off."
Dongdong and Wan'er hurriedly said, "I'll go see Sister Shu off too!"
Xiao Huaiwu quickly grabbed her son, whispered a few words to him, and then let him go.
Dongdong walked to Yan Qiushu with a thoughtful look on his face.
Yan Qiushu didn't notice and was still saying goodbye to Madam Xiao and the others: "Aunt, Madam..."
But this time, as soon as she opened her mouth, Xie Qingyun smiled narrowly and said, "You're still calling me Young Madam?"
Yan Qiushu blushed and stammered, "Thank you, sister."
"Puff!" Xiao Huaiwu laughed: "Sister-in-law, stop teasing Ah Shu, she is shy. Forget it, you should go back first. If you are any later, the city gate will be closed when Lao Liu comes back."
"Okay." Xiao Huaiting took two steps forward and walked to Yan Qiushu's side: "Let's go."
Yan Qiushu's nervousness about her upcoming marriage had not yet dissipated. When Xiao Huaiting came over, she felt even more uncomfortable. She hurriedly pulled her two children's hands and walked out, her steps a little chaotic.
Dongdong and Wan'er, on the other hand, were jumping around, happy because they had eaten their fill.
But before they reached the gate, Wan'er's voice sounded somewhat uncomfortably: "Sister Shu, you pinched me and hurt me!"
Yan Qiushu was startled and quickly let go, her face redder: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
She glanced at Wan'er's hand.
Fortunately, she didn't have much strength and didn't use too much force, so there was no red mark on her fair and tender hands.
Wan'er shook her head, pursed her lips and smiled, with an innocent look on her face: "It's okay, Sister Shu, are you feeling unwell?"
Only when you feel uncomfortable will you feel so distracted.
Yan Qiushu quickly shook her head: "No, no."
Wan'er showed suspicion and stared at her as if trying to see something.
Yan Qiushu felt even more uncomfortable, with waves of heat on her face. She didn't dare to lower her head. She walked forward, looking straight ahead. Then she found that perhaps Xiao Huaiting had noticed her discomfort, and was walking in front of her without her knowing when.
He was tall and always liked to wear dark clothes. At this moment, he was walking with his hands behind his back, taking each step very steadily.
Yan Qiushu touched the silver hairpin in her hair. It was cool, and in this hot summer, it finally calmed her down. When she reached the door, she said, "General Xiao, there's no need to see me off. I came here in a carriage."
Xiao Huaiting shook his head and said, "It's okay, it's not far, let's get in the carriage."
While Yan Qiushu was hesitating, Wan'er had already climbed onto the carriage.
But the next second Dongdong came over and pulled her: "Sister Wan'er, let's not go there, just drop her off here!"
Wan'er looked at him puzzledly: "Why?"
Dongdong was making faces. He had a fat face and his eyes were invisible when he made faces like that. It was really funny.
Wan'er still couldn't understand and looked at him unhappily.
My uncle said that he can bring them back, so it doesn’t matter if he walks a little further.
Dongdong was anxious: "We need to let Sister Shu and Uncle develop a relationship!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the two doormen couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Yan Qiushu felt so hot all over that she was smoking. Looking at Dongdong's chubby little face, her hands were itching to touch it.
But Wan'er was a simple girl and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. After hearing Dongdong's words, she nodded as if she had suddenly understood something: "Okay then."
She stepped back.
Yan Qiushu: "..."
She subconsciously looked at Xiao Huaiting.
The young man seemed to be blushing a little, and he didn't dare to look her in the eye. He looked sideways at her and said, "Then get in the car."
Yan Qiushu felt as if she had been pardoned, and she quickly climbed onto the carriage with nimble hands and feet.
Shui Yu looked at the people in the carriage, then at Xiao Huaiting, and stepped forward silently: "Young Master, please come in."
Xiao Huaiting stared at the carriage for two seconds, lifted the curtain, and stepped on.
There was silence inside the carriage, but outside the carriage, Wan'er and Dongdong's quarrel was very loud.
The space inside the carriage seemed even smaller.
Yan Qiushu felt like her breath had stopped. She secretly glanced at the young man next to her, but because she was too embarrassed to look him in the eye, she could only see his beautiful hands.
Oh, it's not as pretty as before.
Maybe he just came back from the battle, and the war along the way left some obvious scars on his hands. Even after healed, there are still some marks, which destroys the overall beauty.
Yan Qiushu watched it seriously and didn't feel uncomfortable for a moment.
The person being looked at, however, glanced at his own hands which had become hot from being looked at, and wondered what was so good about it.
But he's pretty much the same.
Relying on his tall stature, he secretly looked at the hairpin on the head of the person next to him. When he saw Xiao Huaiting, his eyes softened a little.
It was the first time for both of them to have this kind of relationship with the opposite sex, and they were a little at a loss.
Fortunately, Xiao Huaiting is a man after all, and his mother has talked to him a lot in the past few days. Therefore, after a brief period of discomfort, he adjusted himself. Xiao Huaiting took the initiative to bring up the topic, breaking the silence in the room: "By the way, my mother's fiftieth birthday is in a month."
"Ah? Fiftieth birthday?" Yan Qiushu came back to her senses and scratched her head. "Fiftieth birthday, it must be very important. What gift should I give?"
If it's a child, it's quite convenient, she can just bring the food.
But Mrs. Xiao’s birthday was a bit awkward.
But she didn't seem to have anything else. Most of the hundreds of taels she had saved had been spent on the farm. The little she had left couldn't buy anything good. Apart from cooking, she had no other special skills. What should she do?
Xiao Huaiting said hurriedly: "I have already prepared a gift for you. I just want to tell you that I heard that your manor is receiving guests, and I am afraid that you will not be able to rest that day."
"Thank you very much." Yan Qiushu was a little embarrassed, but now that their relationship was tacitly accepted, she shamelessly accepted it and said, "My manor just received a guest once, and I asked Dongdong to bring him to me."
But her frankness was always what Xiao Huaiting admired most, so he smiled and said, "It's nothing. How are the guests Dongdong brought? Are they well entertained?"
"They're all pretty good. I haven't met anyone with bad manners." Yan Qiushu brightened up when she talked about this. "By the way, did you know? There was a Miss Hong who went there that day."
Xiao Huaiting raised his eyebrows. Hong family?
But it was really a coincidence. He was quite curious: "How do you say it?"
Yan Qiushu held her forehead in distress. Although gossip was not good, this matter concerned the changes in the court situation and the life and death of the Xiao family. She could only apologize to Hong Chufu: "She was drunk that day and accidentally revealed..."
She recounted everything that happened that day, and concluded, "I think she probably took it in."
Xiao Huaiting's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he laughed out loud: "A Shu, you are actually quite amazing."
Yan Qiushu was startled by the sudden change of address, but looked at him in confusion.
The man in front of her had a pair of bright black eyes and gave her a gentle smile: "Nothing, just praising you for being so lucky."
After meeting her, it seems that many things are no longer a problem.
For example, the prince who was so devastated by his own father that he could no longer be close to his former brothers; for example, the mother who was determined to follow her husband and son; and for example, the current Hong family.
Yan Qiushu didn't realize it, she said with a smile: "It's just a coincidence, I have never seen silver on the street since I was a child!"
As they talked, the awkwardness between the two of them dissipated, leaving only the increasingly familiar language.
When they returned to the farm and saw Xiao Huaiting riding away on horseback, Yan Qiushu realized that he had changed his address to calling her Ashu.
She rubbed her face, wondering whether she should change her words.
Yan Qiushu thought of several names, but she was too shy to accept any of them.
She sighed in frustration, blaming herself for being single since birth and having no mood for love. In her previous life, she was busy playing as a child, and when she grew up, she was busy making money and eating. She didn't know how to get along with her lover.
"What are you thinking about!" Zhao Shuhong suddenly appeared and patted her shoulder.
"Ah!!!" Yan Qiushu was so frightened that she dodged away immediately.
Zhao Shuhong didn't dare to move, and subconsciously raised her hands: "I didn't mean to do that. I'm sorry, I scared you."
Yan Qiushu came back to her senses and took two deep breaths before saying helplessly, "Sister Zhao, it's you. What's wrong?"
Zhao Shuhong approached cautiously, and after confirming that she wouldn't be frightened, she said, "I'm happy. After you left this afternoon, someone came and wanted to book a strawberry picking trip tomorrow. They said it was recommended by Miss Fu."
"Really?! How many people are coming? When will they arrive?" Yan Qiushu suddenly forgot about Xiao Huaiting, and her mind was filled with the fact that her career was really about to take off!
Zhao Shuhong smiled and said, "Tomorrow morning at noon, they know you're a good cook and want to come over for breakfast and then pick some strawberries, so they don't get sunburned if you stay out too late..."
"No problem, no problem. I'll get up early tomorrow. Are you going to rest now? If not, let's work out the menu for tomorrow."
"OK!"
As they talked, the two of them went into the study, took paper and pen and began to prepare for tomorrow's reception process.
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