Mid-afternoon

Dongdong was taken home by Xiao Huaiwu and Xiao Huaiting, who finally had some free time to rest.

Three people of different heights walked out in the same posture at the same time. The young man in black put his hands behind his back, leaning his body slightly backward, swaying a little with his steps, revealing a hint of cynicism in his unrestrained manner.

The woman also had her hands behind her back, but she had a different kind of heroic look.

While she was talking to the young man in black, she also looked at her son on the other side. She found that he was imitating her and her brother's posture, and a smile appeared in the corner of his eyes.

Dongdong is ignorant but tries hard to imitate adults. Although he is short and small, he walks in a very cute way.

The doorman saw them passing by and was amused while bowing. He lowered his head and smiled secretly for fear of being discovered.

Suddenly, among the three people, Xiao Huaiwu was the first to stop, sniffed, and asked, "What a strange smell!"

The sweet and milky flavor made her mind conjure up a bunch of delicious foods, which made her unable to walk.

Soon afterwards, Xiao Waiting also felt it and was about to explain.

When Dong Dong smelled it, his first reaction was that his eyes lit up, and then he excitedly ran in one direction, shouting as he ran: "Sister Shu! What delicious food have you made again!!!"

The boy's clear and loud voice successfully frightened Xiao Huaiwu, who remained calm even in the face of thieves. Xiao Huaiwu trembled with fear and looked confused: "Dongdong, what's wrong with you?"

As they were talking, the child had already turned the corner of the corridor and disappeared from their sight.

Xiao Waiting was amused and smiled: "I told you a long time ago that my stepsister is a great cook. Dongdong really likes the food she cooks. Didn't you eat it too? You forgot it so quickly?"

Xiao Huaiwu has been going out early and coming back late recently, and occasionally he has to go on business trips. He only came back in a hurry to meet Yan Qiushu. Although he also received some food from Yan Qiushu afterwards and thought it was delicious, he didn't expect Dongdong to be so excited?

"Of course I remember, but I didn't expect him to love it so much." She smiled helplessly. Her son's appearance just now was too exaggerated. Out of curiosity and the alluring fragrance, she quickened her pace to catch up with her son: "I just happened to come back and ran into you by chance. I must try my stepsister's cooking skills."

Seeing this, Xiao Huaiting, who was originally attracted by the fragrance, quickly followed.

It wouldn't be a good idea for him to go alone, but it would be different if his fourth sister and nephew went with him.

As they walked, they found that the closer they got to the yard, the stronger the fragrance became.

When I got to the door, I was dizzy from the smell.

Dongdong had already rushed over, hugging the girl in a light blue dress who was busy in front of the stove, jumping up and down to show her presence: "Sister Shu! What delicious food do you have this time?"

Yan Qiushu was trimming the edges of a cake roll, the silver blade neatly cutting through the slightly hard edges, when she was suddenly hugged. She was startled for a moment, then quickly relaxed and said unhappily, "Stay away from me. Didn't you say you can't touch me when I'm holding a knife?!"

"Oh~" Dongdong let go of her obediently, took two steps back, and then asked in a baby voice: "Sister Shu~ This smells so good, what is it?"

This well-behaved, obedient and clingy appearance made Xiao Huaiwu, who had always felt that her son was a little unsociable, raise her eyebrows, but she kept silent and continued to watch.

"This is called a cake. I'm making a cake roll." Yan Qiushu said with a smile. She didn't notice someone coming behind her, mainly because she didn't hear any footsteps. Instead, she stuffed a piece of the cake into Dongdong's mouth: "Try it first. Is it delicious?"

It's just pure cake, without the taste of jam, but it's also sweet and soft.

At present, the pastries of the Great Zhou Dynasty include hard and soft ones. The more expensive the pastry, the better the taste. However, there is no cake like this one. It is soft but not dense. Instead, it is as fluffy as steamed buns, and a little more moist than steamed buns, and a little less loose than ordinary pastries. Even the leftovers are exceptionally sweet.

He ate with great relish, and his little head kept ordering: "Delicious, delicious!"

Yan Qiushu raised her eyebrows and said, "It must be delicious. I added a lot of sugar."

White sugar is very expensive. It was the first time she used so much white sugar. When she used it, she saw Aunt Xu's distressed face. She casually asked about the prices and felt distressed too. One ounce of white sugar is one ounce of silver!

She said in a low voice with lingering fear: "If it weren't for your house, I definitely wouldn't be able to afford it. Fortunately, here, I can eat whatever I want. Your uncle is really a good person."

Bring her to the Xiao family and verbally acknowledge her as a stepsister. She won't have to worry about food and clothing for the time being and can even save money to buy a house!

As she spoke, she shook her head and smiled, then picked up the other three scraps, gave one to Aunt Xu, gave one to herself, and kept one for Shui Han who went out to wash tools.

When I gave it to Nanny Xu, she kept blinking, as if there was sand in her eyes.

Yan Qiushu didn't care. She just rubbed it.

Just as she was about to put her portion into her mouth and reach for the peach jam, she turned her head and saw two figures standing behind her.

Both of them had smiles in their eyes, and they just crossed their arms and looked at him. They had similar faces with the same beautiful eyebrows and eyes, but one was more handsome and the other was a little softer.

They didn't look angry, and there was a teasing smile in their eyes.

But talking about people behind their backs, whether it's good or bad, is extremely embarrassing.

Still so caught off guard.

Yan Qiushu was stunned. Her face flushed red all the way to her forehead. Her mind went blank. She instinctively wanted to ease the embarrassment she was feeling at the moment. So she subconsciously passed the cake in her hand to him and stammered, "Would you like to eat it or not?"

Because Xiao Huaiting was a little closer and it was more convenient for him, Yan Qiushu delivered it directly to him.

But she didn't know that the two people who originally thought it was just fun, now felt a little awkward.

Yan Qiushu wanted to eat the cake herself, and although she didn't actually eat it, her action was subconscious, but it was a little inappropriate in this era.

After all, the two of them are not really sworn siblings. Even if they are, they are not biological siblings, so it still won't work.

The atmosphere froze for a moment. Yan Qiushu didn't understand what was going on, but she panicked for a moment. Could it be that they were angry because her remarks seemed like she was taking advantage of the rich?

Her hand began to withdraw unconsciously.

Those big, watery eyes were like a frightened deer, and against her slightly voluptuous face, there was a hint of helplessness in her agility, making it hard to bear for her to continue like this.

At this time, three hands reached out, accompanied by Dongdong's cheerful voice: "If little uncle doesn't eat it, I will!"

But Xiao Waiting was the first to get it. He put it directly into his mouth, his movements were carefree but also a little flustered. He chewed the cake and swallowed it. After eating, he pretended to smile smugly and said slyly, "Who said I don't want to eat it?! Mm, it tastes really good, sweet!"

Dongdong didn't get to eat it, but was shown off like that, which made him very upset.

Xiao Huaiting was amused and went over to pinch her cheeks to tease her.

Xiao Huaiwu looked at the two people who were fighting and smiled strangely. Then she looked up and saw that the little girl was still looking at her nervously. Then she smiled normally and said softly, "Dongdong, I'm sorry to bother you. This kid is a little naughty. If he makes trouble, beat him up. Don't be soft-hearted. I have beaten him many times before."

"No, no, he's very cute, I like him very much!" Yan Qiushu shook her head and passed the remaining cake to her: "Miss Fourth, would you like to try it? The cake roll will be ready soon."

"Okay." Xiao Huaiwu took it smoothly this time, tasted it, and saw that his brother and son had already gone to the side to fight.

Yan Qiushu returned to the stove and spread sauce on the cake.

The peach jam is a beautiful pink color. Spread it on the light yellow cake, then carefully roll up the cake and cut it into finger-width pieces with a knife.

Madam Xu took a pair of tongs and put the pieces one by one on the plate, stacking six pieces to make a plate.

According to the rules, the whole family will definitely get a share, so it’s better to divide it in advance.

After everything was done, Yan Qiushu washed her hands again, and after drying them, she took Dongdong, Xiao Huaiting and Xiao Huaiwu to sit down at the stone table in the yard to taste the food.

The cake roll was served on a pretty pink round plate.

The light yellow color is mixed with tender pink, rolled three times to form a chubby circle, lying one next to the other on the plate. The shape alone is very beautiful.

Seeing that they were all staring at her without moving, Yan Qiushu urged them, “Eat quickly, this is hot and delicious!”

As she spoke, each of them took a piece.

Dongdong was very polite in this regard and waited for his mother to take the piece before he reached out. Yan Qiushu finally took a piece. The cake roll was still warm, and the sweet milky smell kept wafting out, which was very tempting. She took a big bite without hesitation and bit a semicircular gap in it.

Except for the edges, the rest of the cake is soft and sweet. When your lips and teeth touch it, you can taste the squeezed peach jam on the tip of your tongue.

Taking the sweetness and taste into consideration, Yan Qiushu did not add too much sugar to the peach jam. However, after high-temperature cooking, the sweetness was concentrated, and the sour and sweet taste was still very delicious. There was also the granular flesh in it, and when you occasionally bite it with your teeth, it feels like eating a peach, and it is extremely delicious.

She tried to eat it in big bites, but because the cake roll was a bit big, she couldn't eat it completely, and a little peach jam was still on her lips. She quickly stretched out her tongue and rolled it, and the peach jam went into her mouth.

So sweet!

But it's also delicious.

In addition to Yan Qiushu, Dongdong was also particularly satisfied with the meal. He finished a piece in just two or three bites, and even licked the peach sauce off his hands. Then he blinked and said coquettishly, "Sister Shu, I want to eat another piece~"

"Eat it." Yan Qiushu nodded her chin and said, "This is the last piece. You can't eat the rest, or your teeth will get worms."

"Yeah!" Dongdong nodded quickly, took a piece and continued eating.

This one is sweet, and he likes it better than the double skin milk he had at noon!

However, Xiao Huaiting and Xiao Huaiwu didn't like it that much. After eating one piece, they didn't take the second piece. Yan Qiushu saw that it was a bit too sweet for them, so she quickly asked someone to pour tea: "It will help you feel less sick."

"Thank you." Xiao Huaiwu was afraid that she might misunderstand, so she explained, "This is delicious, but I don't eat sweets often."

"Yes, I know. General Xiao will definitely feel the same way. Next time, I'll give you separate cakes without the peach jam. It will taste better." Yan Qiushu understood very well and said with a smile.

When she smiled, her eyes were crooked, she looked extremely cute and adorable, and she spoke openly and looked straight ahead.

At this moment, Xiao Huai Ting looked at her and was also infected. He smiled slightly, but when he came to his senses, he quickly looked away and drank a sip of tea.

Xiao Huaiwu didn't pay attention at this time, but when she heard that they would be given cakes that were not so sweet, her already happy mood became even better: "I was quite embarrassed at first, but Miss Yan is so skillful and the things she made are very delicious, so I shamelessly agreed. It just so happens that I have some things that little girls can use, I will have someone send them to you later..."

"No, no, I have everything I need at home." Yan Qiushu hastily declined. Although she privately grumbled that cooking here not only provided food and lodging, but also made saving money much easier, but when she really held the money in her hands, she only felt that it was a burden and that what she gave was not proportional to what she got.

"Yes!" Xiao Huaiwu insisted: "If you want to feel bad, make me more delicious food. The spicy chicken wings we had before were delicious!"

At this time, Dongdong, who had just finished his second piece of cake roll, raised his hand excitedly and said cheerfully, "Sister Shu, I also have a lot of good things for you. I also want to... have a piece..."

Noticing Yan Qiushu looking at him, he said in a weaker tone, "You can eat it next time."

Yan Qiushu was amused.

Normally, when she cooks or makes snacks, she will add more or less sugar. In ancient times, medical technology was not well developed and teeth were difficult to treat, so people could not eat too much. Cakes have too high a sugar content and should be eaten less.

Dongdong has been restricted several times and he understands it, so he doesn't force it.

She smiled, her expression softened, and Dong Dong's courage rose again. She hesitated and said, "When will I eat next time? Tomorrow?"

"Hmm." Yan Qiushu thought for a moment and said, "You can eat as much as you want on your birthday."

But birthdays are a big event and an exception can be made. At the same time, in this case, he will definitely stay in the house to celebrate his birthday.

As expected, as soon as Yan Qiushu finished speaking, he couldn't wait to nod: "Okay!!!"

Instead, Xiao Huaiting and Xiao Huaiwu were both stunned for a moment, and asked at the same time: "Did you celebrate your birthday in the mansion?"

It's no wonder that the two asked this question. Dongdong never celebrated his birthday at the Xiao Mansion after he was two years old. No one knew why. The Xiao family didn't seem to stop him forcibly, but they also hoped that he would stay at home.

Dong Dong nodded as a matter of course: "Yes! My classmates all want to come to my house to eat what Sister Shu cooks!"

He puffed out his chest with pride, looking extremely proud.

Ever since he promised them that he could have them in his home, their attitude towards him has improved, even though he didn't care before, he could do it alone anyway.

But the feeling is different.

Before, he could clearly feel that he was excluded because of his identity as a member of the Xiao family. Although he was sitting in a classroom, he felt like he was in another space. But now it is not the case.

But Xiao Huaiwu thought more and asked, "Have you told your grandparents?"

In the past, on Dongdong’s birthday, the Jiang family always held a grand banquet and took the opportunity to build good relationships with some people. She saw it all, but this time they gave in so quickly?

Dong Dong suddenly seemed to remember something after hearing this. His smile froze on his face and he said guiltily, "...No, I think I promised my grandma last time that I would go to her place during this holiday."

Xiao Huaiwu just smiled at him and said nothing.

Dong Dong scratched his head and asked expectantly, "Sister Shu, can you come to my grandmother's house?"

Yan Qiushu shook her head decisively: "No."

"Ah?" Dong Dong was completely disappointed. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth and said, "Then I'll go tell grandma that I'll go to her place next time I take a break."

Otherwise he would lose trust in his friends.

He often goes to his grandmother's house, so he can postpone it a little.

Dongdong finished tying the knot and looked up at his mother: "Mom, take me to grandma's house. I want to talk to her."

The two parents remained silent throughout the whole process. Only then did Xiao Huaiwu hesitate to say something, and then she felt something heavy on her shoulders. Xiao Huaiting patted her shoulders and chuckled, "Go ahead. Dongdong wants to celebrate his birthday at home by himself. What are you afraid of? Besides, I'll protect you, so nothing will happen."

Xiao Huaiwu pursed her lips, and under Dongdong's confused and anxious gaze, she stood up and said, "Okay, let's go."

The mother and son said goodbye and left. Xiao Huaiting was a step slower and bowed to Yan Qiushu with his hands clasped together.

Yan Qiushu was startled and quickly stepped aside, saying in shock: "What is General Xiao doing?"

The young man smiled slightly and said slowly, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Yan. I am very grateful to you."

Yan Qiushu's face turned red. Was it so obvious what she had done? It was just that her mouth was faster than her brain. She subconsciously asked, "Since you all wanted Dongdong to stay at home, why didn't you do it before?"

Xiao Huai Ting's starry eyes dimmed, and he shook his head without answering the question: "Thank you very much, Miss Yan. The doctor examined my mother in the past two days and said that she is much better and no longer as weak as before. It is all thanks to Miss Yan. Xiao owes you a favor. If I can be of any use in the future, I will do my best."

Seeing this, Yan Qiushu stopped asking questions.

That's how it was settled.

Dongdong went personally to tell Mrs. Jiang that it was perfectly normal to celebrate her birthday at the Xiao residence, and she couldn't stop it.

Even if she was angry, she didn't dare to be really angry with Dongdong, for fear that the child would be alienated from her. She could only grit her teeth and accept it, and changed the invitations she had sent out into a flower-viewing banquet, saying that the chrysanthemums and osmanthus flowers in her house were in full bloom, and she invited everyone to come and play.

After this change, most of the posts were immediately rejected, leaving only some families whose family backgrounds were not as good as hers and said they would definitely come.

Soon, the news that the fifth-year birthday party for the youngest son of the Xiao family was to be held spread to everyone in the capital who was paying attention to the Xiao family.

After all, the Xiao family is extremely powerful, and any small movement will attract the attention of many people. They didn't hold a birthday party for their grandson in the past few years, so why did they suddenly hold one?

Especially since Dongdong invited his classmates, and among those seven classmates, one was the eldest son of the third prince, and the remaining six were children of ministers from various families. This move seemed like he had suddenly come to his senses. Could it be that he wanted to choose a good tree to live in?

Everyone was thinking about it, but as the day was getting closer, the Xiao family did not take the initiative to send invitations like the Jiang family did. They felt sad that the Xiao family was indeed proud and arrogant, but they were not reserved either, and took the initiative to send invitations to express their desire to visit.

The Xiao family does not need to connect the feelings of each family in this way. What should come will come, and what should not come will not come if they want to.

They just wanted to hold a simple birthday party for their child.

However, as the number of visiting cards increased, the Xiao family became busy.

Yan Qiushu originally volunteered to help cook, but was rejected by the Xiao family, who told her to just cook for herself, as the Xiao family still had enough manpower in that regard.

Especially during this period of time, Yan Qiushu taught the Xiao family's chef how to cook a lot of food, and these alone were more than enough to satisfy the guests.

After all, nowadays when visiting others, people will consciously eat a full meal before coming back, so as to avoid being faced with cold food and being unable to eat when hungry, which would be even more uncomfortable.

So on Yan Qiushu's birthday, she made a big birthday cake and some snacks for the children.

The ancients initially had two meals a day, morning and night, and later added lunch. However, dinners were usually held in the evening, so guests would not arrive until after mid-afternoon.

This time, Yan Qiushu saw with her own eyes how powerful a family at the pinnacle of power was.

There were many seats prepared, and the guests were more noble than each other in social status. They were all very warm and polite. The gifts they brought were very valuable, and the praises for Dongdong, the little birthday star, poured out in baskets.

Compared to the Yan family in the original owner's memory, it's much more lively!

The Yan family has a very high title. In the early years, a powerful person in the family made great contributions and was awarded the title of Duke of Anguo. When the title was passed to Yan Qiushu's grandfather, the title was still retained. Therefore, the original owner's grandfather was already very old, but in order to avoid a reduction in title, the title was not passed on to her father for a long time.

Once it is passed down, Duke Anguo will be demoted to a marquis. In the past two generations, except for the original owner's father who still has some power, the other members of the Yan family have been idle and cannot be reused. That's why the original owner's father was so active in trying to marry all his concubines to princes.

As long as one of them is suppressed, the glory of the Anguo Mansion will be maintained.

According to the plot, Yan Qiushu suddenly thought that this glory was really maintained!

As she was thinking this, someone suddenly called her, "Girl."

This slightly familiar voice made her heart skip a beat and her hands tightened.