Chapter 934 Chen Jiaxin: You're Mine Now
Inside the pavilion.
Chen Jiaxin has finished telling three things.
The air was quiet for a moment.
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment.
He looked up and saw her three slender fingers held up indifferently.
Ouyang Rong stared at the second finger, recalling and confirming... he hadn't misheard.
You belong to me, Chen Jiaxin.
Her exact words.
This was the first time Ouyang Rong had heard someone say such a thing to him.
She was even more arrogant than the Lady Historian.
However, this definitely doesn't mean anything inappropriate between a man and a woman; it means exactly what it says: if you follow her, she'll protect you.
Ouyang Rong didn't show much reaction after hearing this.
However, someone who heard this was quite unhappy, as it seriously affected her interests.
Ouyang Rong's monk's robe had wide sleeves, and at this moment, under Chen Jiaxin's gaze, he seemed to have changed his posture: he lowered his head slightly and tucked his hands into his sleeves.
Ouyang Rong silently held down a small, territorial little ink spirit hidden in his sleeve, preventing her from coming out to bite Chen Jiaxin.
Finally, Ouyang Rong broke the silence:
"Fairy, could you please let me go back? I just want to work diligently in the dining hall. As for anything related to you, Fairy, I, Liu Aliang, have a bad memory and will forget it after tonight."
Chen Jiaxin said expressionlessly:
"Don't speak yet, answer my question: how good are your cooking skills? Are you the best in the dining hall right now?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "So-so."
Chen Jiaxin chuckled softly:
"Junior Sister Xiaoshu didn't say that. She said your cooking skills are unparalleled, the best she's ever tasted. And it turns out that your chicken soup is indeed first-class and delicious."
Upon hearing Li Shu's name, Ouyang Rong's forehead darkened.
I feel like drowning this girl in the lake.
He reluctantly clasped his hands and said:
"Li Xiaoxianzi was starving, so she naturally adorned my cooking skills with several layers of glory."
Chen Jiaxin raised an eyebrow:
"Oh? She also said you're the most loyal, reliable, and trustworthy... those are also accolades?"
Ouyang Rong was speechless.
Chen Jiaxin asked with great interest:
"Are you one of Song Zhian's people?"
"no."
"Yu Mili's people?"
No, not exactly.
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "I am alone. I am friends with them. When we first came to Jianze, we stuck together for warmth. There was no faction or clique.
As he finished speaking, he glanced at Chen Jiaxin in front of him.
Chen Jiaxin seemed not to have heard his implied meaning, and chuckled again:
"That's strange. Why refuse? There are so many menial servants in the entire Sword Swamp. To become one of my people is a great honor for any manial servant. Even some of my junior sisters from Yue Nu want to join, but they can't."
She paused, then her gaze sharpened as she looked at him.
"Could it be that you still consider yourself a promising cultivation seed, refusing to acknowledge the fact that you've been reduced to menial labor? Are you still so arrogant?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"I'm just an ordinary person, used to being lazy, I'm not worthy to be associated with a fairy..."
“My grandfather once said that the more someone emphasizes their vulgarity, the more aloof and arrogant they are. I don’t want to guess whether you are like that or not. Okay, enough with the polite nonsense, let’s keep it simple.”
Chen Jiaxin suddenly interrupted, her previous interest vanishing completely, replaced by impatience, and said coldly:
“I hate it when people refuse me, especially when they do me a favor. Liu Aliang, I’m always fair. You can refuse, but if I’ve offered you an olive branch, I can take it back. Do you understand what I mean?”
She stepped forward, hands behind her back, standing gracefully, and circled Ouyang Rong twice, her tone casual yet subtly laced with coercion:
“You are now a key member of the Qingliang Valley Kitchen, isn’t this the position you tried so hard to get by currying favor with Junior Sister Xiaoshu? But Junior Sister Xiaoshu only took the benefits without doing anything, and she might be a bit dim-witted and not see it. The one who gave you this position is not her, but me.”
The young woman stopped circling and walked towards the railing by the spring, her voice light and airy:
"You should understand this: there's no such thing as a free lunch. And don't accuse me of bullying you. You can leave now, but once you leave this pavilion, don't come back. I'm only saying this once, and I'm only giving you this one chance. I'll give you ten breaths to decide whether to stay or leave."
After speaking softly, Chen Jiaxin turned her back, seemingly gazing at the moonlight above the spring.
She seemed to be in complete control, calm and collected, unaware that Ouyang Rong, not far behind her, was giving her a slightly strange look as he gazed at her back…
The air was quiet for a moment.
Before ten breaths had even finished, Ouyang Rong asked helplessly:
Why did the fairy choose me?
Chen Jiaxin bluntly stated, "We lack staff for the canteen."
Ouyang Rong asked a strange question:
"With so many people in the dining hall, just taking the Qingliang Valley dining hall as an example, the fairy could look for more than just me."
Chen Jiaxin glanced at him and casually said:
“You’re bold and meticulous, and you can even play dumb. You figured out what happened in the warehouse that night. It’s fate that we met. You’re the one, Liu Aliang.”
Ouyang Rong's lips twitched, then he earnestly recommended:
“Then I recommend someone named Wu Cui. She is a meticulous person. I don’t know if she is bold or not, but she is eager for opportunities and is not arrogant. Wu Cui has been in the dining hall for a long time and knows it better than I do. She is a more suitable candidate. Fairy can go and try to find her.”
Chen Jiaxin smiled and asked warmly:
"Oh, I'll choose her, and then let you go back. Consider the benefits I gave you a few days ago as a referral fee and hush money, right?"
Ouyang Rong immediately became serious and respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Very well, thank you, fairy..."
She gazed at him for a moment, then suddenly said:
"three."
"ah?"
Chen Jiaxin spoke at the same pace: "...two...one..."
The instant she uttered the word "one," Ouyang Rong immediately changed his mind:
"Miss!"
He had a dull and honest face, but spoke with great sincerity, imitating Madam Chen.
Chen Jiaxin: ...
She glanced at him and then gave a cold "humph".
"From now on, just like this, less nonsense."
He paused, then frowned slightly, and added a word of advice:
"Don't call out this when other people are around; pretend you don't know each other."
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"Yes, miss."
Chen Jiaxin glanced at the night sky, her back to him, and asked:
"Liu Aliang, is there anything else?"
It's time to see the guests off.
Ouyang Rong did not leave, but instead earnestly inquired:
"Miss hasn't said what she wants me to do yet."
Chen Jiaxin said without turning her head:
"Don't ask yet. Go back and wait. You'll know when we need you."
Ouyang Rong was also somewhat curious.
What's the purpose of needing a strong, daring, meticulous, and skilled cook?
Chen Jiaxin frowned slightly and asked in a cold voice:
"Liu Aliang, is there anything else?"
Ouyang Rong decided to go all the way and feigned some difficulty:
"There is one thing, but I'm not sure if I should say it..." Before Chen Jiaxin could impatiently turn around, he ended his preamble and said frankly, "I actually have a younger sister, and we've relied on each other since we were little..."
Chen Jiaxin's lips twitched slightly.
I'm just too familiar with this starting stance.
Without a word, she interrupted the stammering, taciturn man:
"If you need anything, go to Aunt Chen. She'll handle it. Don't come to me with these little things in the future, and don't bother me with your brother-sister relationship."
“Yes, Miss.” Ouyang Rong nodded vigorously: “Miss is very generous.”
After finishing their conversation, Chen Jiaxin seemed somewhat disinterested and turned to leave the pavilion.
He left out a sentence:
"Clean up the broken bowls outside the pavilion, leaving no trace."
Ouyang Rong thought it was directed at him.
He stepped out of the pavilion, not looking at the broken teacup on the ground, and glanced around at the night view of the mountains. Mist swirled around the area, and the white waterfall hanging from the distant cliffs was faintly visible.
Hesitating whether to explore Qingliang Valley under the cover of night, I finally made it in.
As soon as Chen Jiaxin left, a figure strolled over leisurely.
It's Madam Chen.
She glanced at Ouyang Rong, smiled, and then began sweeping up the broken teacups on the floor.
It turned out that the woman had never left.
Ouyang Rong had no choice but to give up, losing all interest in exploring further.
He went to help, and together with Madam Chen, they cleaned up the inside and outside of the pavilion.
Immediately, the two descended the mountain together, leaving Qingliang Valley in the deep night and hazy mist.
The bright moon overhead sometimes hides behind the clouds, and sometimes shines alone in the sky.
The clear spring flows past the empty pavilion, bathed in moonlight, as if nothing had ever happened.
...
"Little Rongzi, this is intolerable, absolutely intolerable! What were you doing pressing down on me just now? I should have gone out and scratched her face! She's really giving her too much credit. This little wench dares to steal from me, even my little follower? Doesn't she have her own followers? Trying to steal from me, she's such a bully! I should bite her to death, she deserves to be bitten to death..."
Ouyang Rong: ...
Inside the room, no lights were on. A little ink spirit stood on the table, pacing back and forth, its two little hands behind its back, spinning around incessantly, its face full of righteous indignation.
Ouyang Rong returned very late and was about to go to sleep when Miao Si jumped out indignantly as soon as he entered the door.
It's even harder to massage than a pig during Chinese New Year.
Miao Si muttered indignantly for a while, then suddenly turned her head and shouted at the silent Ouyang Rong:
"Xiao Rongzi, say something! Are you mute? You wouldn't really be willing to submit to her and become her concubine, would you?"
Ouyang Rong walked to the bedside, made the bed, and folded the quilt, saying without turning his head:
"Since things have come to this, let's go to sleep first."
"???"
Miao Si said irritably:
"Sleep my ass! We've been bullied and humiliated like this, and you still have the mind to sleep? This little wench is so arrogant, can you tolerate it? I certainly can't tolerate it at all!"
Ouyang Rong was already lying on the bed fully clothed and covered with blankets.
He closed his eyes, his voice calm, and softly recited:
"As the sage said, a gentleman's body can be large or small; a man's ambition can bend or stretch; a man's heart can be soft or hard."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Miao Si crossed her arms, turned her head away, and snorted coldly:
"This fairy is neither a gentleman, nor a husband, nor a man, I'm just angry, just angry!"
Ouyang Rong closed his eyes and nodded, not forgetting to turn over and find a more comfortable position:
“That makes sense, but please don’t let your anger harm your health, or you might die in despair before you’ve avenged yourself.”
"How dare you speak like that? Did you start siding with her after calling her 'Miss'?"
Miao Si looked suspicious, her tone slightly sarcastic.
Ouyang Rong shook his head, too lazy to answer this nonsense.
Miao Si paced back and forth on the table for a while, then turned around and waved her little fist defiantly in Ouyang Rong's direction:
"Little Rongzi, remember this: you belong to this fairy maiden! Not to that little wench!"
Ouyang Rong felt somewhat helpless.
"Are all you spirits and monsters so territorial?"
Before her face could show anger, Ouyang Rong continued calmly:
"Alright, let's play along with her for now and see what she's up to. Who knows, it might even be to our advantage. If it's a godsend, that would be great, we can just go with the flow."
"As for who she is, there's no point in arguing about it. It's just a title, not a real one. I bet with her arrogant nature, she doesn't really care about me. She's just a servant like Madam Chen, or even less... It's not worth getting angry with her over this title."
He paused, then chuckled softly:
"And there's also the connection with Aqing, which she doesn't know yet. If she did find out, they might break up."
Miao Si crossed her arms and stared at him for a while.
It seemed she was processing what he had said.
"Hmph, is that so? You'd better really think that way, or you'll soften your heart later."
"again?"
"Am I wrong? I understand you so well, boy... sigh..."
Miao Si mimicked his tone, pinching her throat and shouting:
A man's heart is sometimes soft, sometimes hard.
Ouyang Rong: ...?
Before he could get up to tidy her up, Miaosi darted back to the closet, closed the door, and went to sleep.
The room quieted down, and Ouyang Rong took a deep breath before sinking back into the Pagoda of Merit.
[Merit: 1,998]
Ouyang Rong glanced at the words above the small wooden fish.
He couldn't help but stroke his chin, his eyes thoughtful:
"So cooking can also accumulate merit..."
Since he returned to Jianze from the foot of the mountain, his merit points have increased by nearly 500.
Half of this is the long-term positive feedback merit from the construction of Xunyang Grottoes and other projects. The other half, apart from the dozens of merit points he was rewarded with for encouraging Young Master Lu last time, is all the positive feedback he received from the diners during his days as a cook in the dining hall.
He had previously given Li Shu special tutoring, and the girl had reciprocated with some merit points.
But it was made with great care, and the little girl was so tempted that she naturally felt grateful.
But Ouyang Rong never imagined that cooking this kind of communal meal could bring him good fortune and reward.
Although the merit points given are not many, only a few points each time, they can be used up by eating two or three meals a day. You can win by quantity.
Ouyang Rong was somewhat moved.
I don't know if it's because his communal cooking is tastier, or if other butchers are the same:
As long as enough people eat his food, there will always be some diners who feel grateful, because the food may have been provided when they were most hungry and needed it most, and they will find everything delicious.
Moreover, even if some diners are picky and don't like the food, they still have to make do and fill their stomachs, so that the chefs' merits won't be diminished.
Therefore, the job of a cook is practically guaranteed to break even regardless of drought or flood.
Ouyang Rong only recently discovered this and gradually figured it out... It was truly unexpected.
He made the right choice coming to the Qingliang Valley Dining Hall.
(End of this chapter)
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