Since it was still early, with more than two hours before Young Master Yan's lunchtime, Zhu Qianying dawdled around in the kitchen preparing the food. In any case, she preferred to stay in the kitchen rather than go out and run into Young Master Yan.
During this time, Uncle Hai came in several times, wanting to say something, but each time he hesitated and stopped.
Zhu Qianying couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Hai, is there something you need?"
Uncle Hai hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "Young Master is reading and enjoying tea on the terrace. He asked me to check if there are any snacks in the kitchen suitable for tea."
Zhu Qianying immediately understood that Yan Shao's original words must have been to ask Uncle Hai to come and ask her to prepare some snacks suitable for tea. Otherwise, according to Uncle Hai, he would have asked the chef directly instead of making things difficult for her several times before finally speaking to her.
"There are some freshly made mango pastries in the oven. Uncle Hai, take them out and see if Young Master Yan likes them. If he doesn't, have someone go out and buy something else. There isn't much fruit in the fridge, so I only made these!"
Originally, Zhu Qianying had secretly prepared these mango pastries for herself, because after lunch she planned to spend the afternoon at a bookstore and then go directly to Ji Huan's appointment in the evening.
Because it was prepared for herself, Zhu Qianying didn't make many; she only made six.
As a result, Uncle Hai took all six mango pastries out and returned shortly after, saying, "Ying'er, the young master is probably hungry. Is there any more?"
Zhu Qianying was secretly feeling sorry for her afternoon tea when Uncle Hai asked her that question. She couldn't help but reply to Uncle Hai in a bad mood.
"That's all. You've eaten six. Still not enough? If you eat any more, will you even have an appetite for lunch?"
This was the first time Uncle Hai had heard Zhu Qianying speak in such a tone, and he assumed that his young master's rascal behavior had offended Zhu Qianying.
"Yes, that's what I said too, young master. He's almost thirty years old, yet he's still like a child. Even the most delicious snacks can't fill an empty stomach!"
Zhu Qianying snorted and ignored Uncle Hai.
If those weren't her afternoon tea snacks, she wouldn't care whether Young Master Yan was full from snacks or fruit. Whether he ate his main meals or not was up to him; she would just prepare the food according to his requirements.
She can't and doesn't want to care about anything else!
When Uncle Hai saw that Zhu Qianying ignored him, he had no choice but to turn around and go out to report back.
"Young Master, Ying'er said there were only so many mangoes left in the refrigerator. She only made six, and that's all."
Yan Shao was leaning back in his chair, holding a teacup in one hand and a book in the other, his eyelids lowered, as if he was reading the book intently.
Hearing what Uncle Hai said, without even raising his eyelids, he said, "Have someone go out and buy a box of mangoes to make for her."
Uncle Hai secretly groaned inwardly, feeling that his young master had really gone too far.
The young lady rushed over early in the morning, without even having a sip of tea. She went straight into the kitchen to prepare lunch for her young master. Now that lunch isn't ready yet, the young master has asked someone to make him some snacks.
This isn't the treatment a future young mistress should receive! It's clearly exploiting and bullying her like free labor!
Although Ying'er seems easy to talk to, we can't just bully her because she's easy to talk to!
If the person in the kitchen today were the young lady from the Yi family, or even their young master, he probably wouldn't let her touch the water!
Alas, it just goes to show that different people have different fates!
After much deliberation, Uncle Hai finally decided to venture out and try to persuade him, "Young Master..."
Yan Shao finally raised his eyelids to look at him, but interrupted him.
"Besides mangoes, buy a box of durians too, so she can make some durian pastries."
Uncle Hai sighed inwardly, thinking as he walked that he might as well buy some mango pastries and durian pastries outside. That way, he could satisfy his young master without making things difficult for that little girl, Ying'er.
As he stepped into the house, Grandpa Yan's voice followed him from behind, "Don't think you can just buy something from outside to appease me. The taste of her cooking is something no one else can replicate!"
Uncle Hai rarely defied his young master, but this time, he couldn't help but mentally give the young master the middle finger.
After instructing the chef to go out and buy mangoes and durians, Uncle Hai stepped back into the kitchen.
Zhu Qianying thought Uncle Hai wouldn't come in again, so she couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"Uncle Hai, please have a seat. I'll take care of everything and make sure Young Master Yan is well taken care of. Don't worry."
She wasn't a petty person; she had only said something harsh to Uncle Hai because she couldn't help it. She knew very well that Uncle Hai was in a difficult position, just like her.
Therefore, her attitude towards Uncle Hai softened.
But the more she acted this way, the more guilty Uncle Hai felt.
I never imagined that I, an old man in my fifties, would conspire with my master to bully a young girl!
Because of his guilt, he found it even harder to say the words the young master had just spoken.
Zhu Qianying saw Uncle Hai pacing back and forth in the kitchen, neither speaking nor doing anything, but occasionally stealing glances at her expression.
She felt increasingly puzzled, but how clever she was! After a moment's thought, she began to understand why Uncle Hai was in such a predicament.
"Uncle Hai, did Young Master Yan ask me to make him some more snacks?"
Uncle Hai was very reluctant to nod, because if he did, he would become the young master's accomplice.
But he had no choice but to nod!
"Hmm... Ying'er..."
Uncle Hai wanted to say something to comfort her, but how could he say it?
In the end, he couldn't get past his conscience. This girl was easy to talk to, but he couldn't just bully her because she was kind and easy to talk to!
"Uncle Hai, I know you're in a difficult position. Alright, just tell me what kind of desserts he wants me to make. Anyway, there's still more than an hour before lunch, so it's still early."
Uncle Hai sighed, "Ying'er, Uncle Hai is useless and can't help you. Young Master wants to eat mango pastries and durian pastries, and I've already asked someone to go out and buy the fruit."
Zhu Qianying nodded calmly, "Alright, I'll knead the dough and make the roti dough first, and then I'll make the rest after I buy the fruit."
Uncle Hai patted her shoulder, "Ying'er, you've had a tough time. Young Master's temper..."
Zhu Qianying smiled at him, "Uncle Hai, it's alright, I'm used to it."
Yes, she really has gotten used to it.
Anyway, as long as she does what he asks obediently, she can do her own thing in peace.
Overall, in this respect, Young Master Yan is at least a bit better than his scumbag father.
At least for the time being, he has not explicitly restricted her freedom of movement.
Having spent over a decade in the kitchen, Zhu Qianying had acquired a great deal of skill, and she was incredibly fast at working. In just over an hour, she not only prepared and served the eight dishes and soup requested by Young Master Yan, but also made the mango and durian pastries that he had also specified.
This time, she was smarter. She packed what she wanted to eat in a lunchbox early on before letting Uncle Hai take it out.
Zhu Qianying washed her face and walked into the dining room, where she heard Yan Shao instructing Uncle Hai, "Keep the mango pastry and durian pastry for afternoon tea."
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