If we love each other
Song Tiaotiao looked at Chao Yue's deep eyes and was shocked for a moment.
The original name of Guobaorou is clearly Guobaorou, and there is no Russian who pronounced it wrong. How did Chaoyue get the inspiration to call it Guobaorou?
After a moment, Song Tiaotiao concealed her bewilderment and said with a smile, "This name sounds very clever, but I don't know where Mr. Chao got the inspiration from."
Chao Yue raised the corners of his lips slightly, lowered his eyes and said, "My mother made a similar dish for me when I was little, and she named it Sweet and Sour Pork. Now that it's been recreated in the hands of Shopkeeper Song, I'm so happy that I can't help but recall the past and blurt it out."
Song Tiaotiao looked at the gentle smile on Chao Yue's face, but felt uneasy in her heart.
Could there be other book-travelers like her in this world? Or was this really just an accident?
Chao Yue's face remained calm as he bit into a piece of sweet and sour pork. He looked at Song Tiaotiao and smiled softly, "After my mother left me, I searched all over the Northern and Southern Dynasties for this dish but never saw it again. I thought I would never taste it again, but today, by chance, I met it in the hands of Shopkeeper Song."
Seeing Chao Yue's gaze directed at her again, Song Tiaotiao's mind raced, "When I was young, I spent some time in Yingzhou, a city famous for its sweet and sour dishes. So, when I was cooking, I subtly adopted some of the techniques used in making sweet and sour dishes. So, by chance, I came across the same idea as your mother, and now I'm able to teach Mr. Chao a lesson."
Chao Yue's eyes flickered as he chuckled, "Miss Song and my mother are truly destined to be together. My mother once lived in Yingzhou for a while. I remember the richest woman in Yingzhou was a woman named An. It was because of her that Yingzhou's sweet and sour dishes became famous. Do you know how she is doing now? I've long admired her and was hoping to find an opportunity to visit her someday."
Song Tiaotiao's eyes flickered. "Shopkeeper An later went to the capital, but I haven't heard from her since I left the capital five months ago."
Chao Yue gently put down his chopsticks, looked at Song Tiaotiao, and said nonchalantly, "Shopkeeper Song has lived in the capital of the Southern Dynasty. Why would you suddenly have the idea of coming to this remote village?"
Song Tiaotiao pondered for a moment, then chuckled and said, "It's a long story."
She didn't understand why Chao Yue was so curious about her. He had clearly come to the restaurant to eat, but now he had put the cart before the horse, like a premeditated diversion.
At that moment, Su Lin, who had been absent for a long time, raised his head and said to Chao Yue, "Mr. Chao, do you remember the matter I asked Qin Xing to come to you to handle a few days ago? Miss Song came to Songbai Village for this matter."
Just as Song Tiaotiao was confused by the conversation between the two, a sinister glint flashed across Chao Yue's eyes: "Then Shopkeeper Song was exiled here together with Gu Chengjue?"
Song Tiaotiao pursed her lips slightly.
Su Lin's thoughts raced as he explained to Song Tiaotiao, "Miss Song, we haven't told you before that General Gu's enlistment was actually made possible thanks to Mr. Chao's mediation. When handling matters, one always has to make things clear, so Mr. Chao has heard a little about what's going on in Prince Ning's Mansion."
Song Tiaotiao nodded, looked at Chao Yue and said, "So that's how it is. Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Chao. I was exiled because I was engaged to Cheng Jue, so I came here with him."
Chao Yue and Song Tiaotiao looked at each other, their eyes full of smiles, deep and unfathomable. "Since she is able to marry into the Ning Palace, Miss Song must also be from a prominent family. In the capital of the Southern Dynasty, it seems that the only family with the surname Song that is of equal status to the Ning Palace is the Southern Dynasty Zhenguogong."
Song Tiaotiao nodded slightly, but secretly asked in her heart: "Master, I want to find out the relationship between Chao Yue and Su Lin."
"Master and servant. Chao Yue is the master."
The noodles in Song Tiaotiao's mouth suddenly lost their fragrance.
Su Lin's current known identities are, first, the wealthy owner of a cloth shop with businesses spanning both the north and the south, and second, the cousin of the head of the wealthy Jin family in the northern border. What kind of power could allow him to surpass Su Lin?
What is the background of Chaoyue?
Fortunately, after asking this question, Chao Yue returned to his previous calm and composed self. He did not speak for a long time, but just quietly savored every dish.
During this time, he saw that Song Tiaotiao was absent-minded, just concentrating on eating the clear soup noodles in the bowl, and he advised her gently: "Miss Song, you should eat more vegetables when you eat, so that you can..." At this point, he changed the subject, "so that you can nourish your stomach."
Hearing the voice, Song Tiaotiao nodded mechanically. After thanking him, she picked up a few dishes with her chopsticks under Chao Yue's gratified gaze and began to chew slowly.
Song Tiaotiao was afraid that Chao Yue would speak again.
Although Chao Yue helped Gu Chengjue solve the problem of joining the army, he was far away in the Northern Dynasty, yet he was able to break through the layers of obstacles in the Southern Dynasty army, and he was also well aware of the affairs in the Southern Dynasty capital. He was also identified by the system as Su Lin's master. This person was truly unfathomable in terms of both background and character.
Fortunately, the sweet and sour pork ribs can be easily removed from the bone with just a sip of the lips. The sour and sweet taste of the sweet and sour pork ribs spreads continuously in the mouth, and the crispness of the sweet and sour pork is comparable to newly opened potato chips.
Comforted by the delicious food, Song Tiaotiao's appetite gradually recovered, and she ate more fully than usual.
By the end of the meal, the sun had set.
All the delicious food was swept away. After the three of them chatted for a few minutes, Su Lin insisted on helping Song Tiaotiao clean up the plates.
Before Song Tiaotiao could persuade Su Lin, Chao Yue also stood up and helped silently.
Before leaving, Su Lin smiled and took out a brocade bag from his sleeve and put it on the table: "Miss Song, this is the money for today's meal. I enjoyed the meal today. I wish your restaurant business will be prosperous in the future." After that, he said goodbye to Song Tiaotiao with a smile, and walked out the door with Chao Yue who said goodbye to him.
Su Lin prepared all the ingredients for today's meal, and Chao Yue secretly helped Gu Chengjue with some negotiations. Song Tiaotiao was about to waive the meal fee, but when she saw the two hurriedly leaving, she picked up the brocade bag on the table and was about to chase after them, but was surprised by the heavy texture of the bag.
She looked closely and saw that the edges of the silver ingot were half exposed at the loose edge of the brocade bag.
Seeing this, Song Tiaotiao hurriedly chased forward and called out, "Brother Su, today's meal money..."
In the blizzard, the two people who were walking to the door turned back when they heard the sound.
Su Lin was leading a red horse. Seeing Song Tiaotiao holding the brocade bag, he smiled sheepishly and said, "Miss Song, I'm really sorry to say that I used up all the copper coins I brought with me today when I bought vegetables. I only have gold ingots left."
Song Tiaotiao's eyes flickered as she said seriously, "Then let me treat you two to dinner today, okay? You've already helped us so much, how can we let you spend so much money?"
Su Lin smiled and shook his head. "Miss Song, you're being too formal. You own a food shop, and you're now a legitimate shopkeeper. If you don't do charity every day, how will you sustain it? Take this ingot first, and when we come back to patronize you in the future, we'll deduct it from this amount, okay?"
Song Tiaotiao held the brocade bag in her hand, still hesitant.
Chao Yue originally wanted to lead the horse, but seeing this, he walked towards Song Tiao Tiao and said in a deep voice: "Shopkeeper Song, you'll catch a cold if you chase him out without putting on your clothes."
Having said that, he glanced at the silver coin in Song Tiaotiao's hand that felt hot to her touch, and shook his head, "Don't care about these little things. The weather is getting colder, and you have worked hard today, so go home early. We have important things to do, so we will leave first." After speaking, he nodded to Su Lin, turned over and jumped onto his white horse.
Song Tiaotiao's persuasion was futile and she had no choice but to comply with their wishes.
The two horses galloped away, and Song Tiaotiao watched the two figures gradually going away.
Then she returned to the store, cleaned the food store briefly, and summarized today's profits and losses. She looked out the window at the gloomy sky, and heard Chao Yue's parting instructions in her ears. She chose to close the store and go home.
On the way home, the fine snow like silver frost suddenly turned into goose feathers, and it kept falling heavier and heavier.
Song Tiaotiao was extremely grateful that she listened to the advice and returned home in time.
She returned to the yard, stomped off the compacted snow on the soles of her shoes outside the cabin, and was about to go in to report that she was safe.
Then, Zhao's gentle call came softly from the candlelit kitchen: "Is Tiao Tiao back?"
Song Tiaotiao responded with a smile.
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao opened the door, holding a bowl of steaming warm water in her hand, her eyes full of joy: "Tiaotiao, drink some water to warm yourself up."
After recovering from her illness, Song Tiaotiao planned to clean the rabbit hutch as usual. When she left, she suddenly noticed that there was no light in Boshuang's room. She turned to Zhao Shi and asked in confusion, "Mother-in-law, where did my sister-in-law and Zhao'er go?"
Zhao pulled her cotton coat closer and said with a gentle smile, "They saw that the snow was not stopping and were worried that Bai Xue and Mo Mo would get cold, so they went to clean up first."
When they arrived at the rabbit hive, Bo Shuang and Gu Zhao were picking up straw to make a nest for the two rabbits.
Gu Zhao handed the straw to Bo Shuang. Under the night sky, he carefully observed Mo Mo's belly and frowned, "Mom, Mo Mo's belly seems to be getting bigger and bigger. Is it sick?"
Bo Shuang smiled and shook her head: "A new life has been born in Mo Mo's belly."
Gu Zhao was surprised for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Can Momo and Baixue give birth to a new life just by being together every day? Is it the same for that person?"
Bo Shuang lowered her eyes to look into Gu Zhao's inquiring eyes and said with a faint smile: "People are different. They still need to love each other."
Gu Zhao pondered, "Love? Then can my aunt and uncle also give birth to a baby?"
Bo Shuang was silent for a moment, then said softly, "If they love each other and stay together, of course they can do that."
Gu Zhao nodded: "How long will it take for the little rabbit to be born? Will my uncle still be able to see it? He likes little rabbits so much..."
Bo Shuang lowered her eyes and patted the snow on his shoulder. "About ten days." After thinking for a moment, she hesitated to speak with any certainty. "It's almost the end of the year. Your uncle should be back soon."
As New Year's Eve is approaching and there has been no war between the two dynasties for a long time, will there be annual leave in the army?
Bo Shuang was not sure, and neither was Song Tiao Tiao.
Hearing this, Song Tiaotiao went to the haystack and picked up some straw to hide her tracks, then walked up to greet the two of them.
After laying several layers of straw on it, the three of them returned to the house.
After washing up, Song Tiaotiao pushed the door and entered her and Gu Chengjue's room.
She looked at the warm kang where she could stretch her arms freely and blew out the candle.
When the candlelight went out, she looked at the dark room with no response, her mind spinning.
For a moment, she wondered if Gu Chengjue would be able to witness the birth of this litter of little lives in person.
The next moment, the words of Bo Shuang about loving each other and staying together seemed to ring in my ears again.
Finally, she climbed onto the edge of the kang in the dark, her thoughts fixed on a question that confused her.
Gu Chengjue, when will you be back?
Two slender figures were hidden in the pine and cypress forest not far from the courtyard.
"Your Majesty, Miss Song has gone to bed. There are still important matters waiting for Your Majesty to attend to. We should set off now."
"Let's go." Before he could move his feet, the deep voice rang out again, "Su Lin, do you think Tiaotiao's appearance is similar to mine?"
Su Lin hesitated: "Your Majesty and Miss Song have similar eyebrows and eyes, especially when they smile."
Hearing this, the sharpness in Chao Yue's eyes returned to its original gentleness due to disappointment: "Yes, the way she smiles is almost exactly like mother's. But, she is afraid of me today..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
