Li Huan chuckled and stared directly at Madam Hua.
"How can I marry a beautiful wife if I become a cook in the Hua family?"
Madam Hua said, "I have four maids by my side, named Chunxiang, Xiaxiang, Qiuxiang and Dongxiang. They are all beautiful and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting."
"Once you enter the Hua family, you will have the chance to win the hearts of the 'Four Beauties.' Then, whichever one you like, I will decide and betroth her to you!"
Instantly, Qiu Xiang, Chun Xiang, Xia Xiang, and Dong Xiang's faces flushed crimson.
Li Huan glanced at the four women and deliberately said, "Madam Hua's four personal maids look quite ordinary and can hardly be described as beautiful."
"Oh?" Mrs. Hua exclaimed in surprise, "Your standards are so high? You don't like them?"
Li Huan then changed the subject: "On the other hand, I actually value a woman's inner beauty more. I like women who are elegant and talented."
Madam Hua looked at Qiu Xiang: "Qiu Xiang has been to school for a few years. Her temperament and talent should meet your requirements."
Qiu Xiang's face was as if it had been painted with rouge, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
Li Huan said, "I'll think about it some more about becoming a cook at the Hua Mansion."
Madam Hua said, "Such a good job, and you're still hesitating? Let me remind you, don't miss this golden opportunity!"
Despite Madam Hua's encouragement, Li Huan remained extremely calm.
His primary task in transmigrating into "Flirting Scholar" was to earn Tang Bohu's three paintings and calligraphies, not to win Qiu Xiang's heart.
Li Huan said, "It concerns my future and happiness, so of course I have to think it through!"
Madam Hua said, "Alright, you can think about it first. The doors of the Hua family are always open to you."
After saying that, Mrs. Hua continued eating her lunchbox and drinking beer.
While munching on honey-glazed chicken wings, Tang Bohu secretly observed Qiu Xiang, showing great interest in her...
A moment later.
After eating and drinking her fill, Madam Hua stood up with satisfaction and said to Li Huan, "Remember my words, the Hua family welcomes you anytime."
Li Huan said, "Okay! Take care, Madam Hua!"
Madam Hua led her maids away to the temple to burn incense.
Chunxiang, Xiaxiang, and Dongxiang walked along, glancing back at Li Huan...
Tang Bohu finished his beer, stood up, and walked over to Li Huan with a big smile on his face.
Li Huan asked, "Young Master Tang, are you still hungry? Shall we buy another boxed lunch?"
Tang Bohu let out a burp: "I'm full, I'm completely full! I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you privately."
Li Huan had already guessed Tang Bohu's thoughts, and deliberately said, "Let's talk after I close up shop."
Tang Bohu said, "Each boxed meal costs fifty taels of silver, and very few people buy them. You're not busy right now, so why don't you chat with me for a while?"
Li Huan put down his ladle: "What would you like to talk about, Young Master Tang?"
Tang Bohu leaned closer to Li Huan and whispered, "To be honest, I have feelings for Qiu Xiang!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "You like Qiu Xiang, a maid in the Hua family?"
Tang Bohu said, "Exactly! This woman has an extraordinary temperament, which matches my aesthetic."
Li Huan said, "You already have eight wives at home, and you still want to marry another one?"
Tang Bohu sighed: "Actually, those eight wives were all my cousins. My mother arranged for them to be married into the Tang family. I didn't like them at all!"
Li Huan said, "You have eight wives, all beautiful and charming. If you look at them every day, you'll naturally find them ordinary and unremarkable, just like if you eat the same eight dishes every day for a year, you'll get tired of them."
Tang Bohu sighed deeply: "Alas... Brother Li, you don't know this, but my eight wives, although they are quite beautiful, are lazy and good-for-nothing. They don't do housework, and they don't know anything about poetry or literature. Every day they gather together to play mahjong, dominoes, and drinking games, making the Tang mansion a mess and a chaotic place. It really chills my heart!"
"What hurts me even more is that they don't respect me or understand me. They actually used my poetry collection as a stepping stone while playing cards, and they destroyed my most prized painting, 'A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,' cutting off the phoenix's head and pasting it on a mahjong tile as the 'one of bamboo'! Alas... how pathetic, how pathetic..."
Li Huan listened patiently and patted Tang Bohu on the shoulder.
"Hearing you say that, I can understand your troubles and frustrations; it's truly pathetic!"
Tang Bohu said, "It is rare to find a true friend in life, and even rarer to find a soulmate! Qiu Xiang of the Hua family is outstanding in temperament and well-read. She must share the same interests as me. If I could win her heart, I would die without regret!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "Young Master Tang, you're speaking too soon! You only met Qiu Xiang once, and you already know she's your confidante? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
Tang Bohu said, "Brother, I'm usually very good at judging people. While I was eating my lunchbox just now, I kept observing Qiu Xiang. In her bright eyes, I saw kindness, courage, gentleness, and passion..."
"Holy crap!" Li Huan exclaimed, "The way you're acting right now, you're such a lovesick fool! It just goes to show how deeply your eight wives have hurt you! You desperately need a talented and outstanding woman to soothe your wounded heart!"
Tang Bohu's eyes reddened, his lips trembled, and he grasped Li Huan's hand: "You're right, I desperately need a talented and outstanding woman to save my lost soul!"
Li Huan asked, "What does your pursuit of Qiu Xiang have to do with me?"
Tang Bohu whispered in Li Huan's ear, "I need your help to get me into the Hua Mansion!"
"Take you into the Hua Mansion?" Li Huan feigned surprise.
Tang Bohu said, "Just now, Madam Hua invited you to work as a cook in the Hua family mansion. This is a golden opportunity that you shouldn't miss!"
Li Huan said, "I'm going to work as a cook at the Hua family mansion, how can I take you with me?"
Tang Bohu said, "I can pretend to be your assistant and enter the Hua Mansion together!"
Li Huan thought to himself, as expected, Tang Bohu indeed found an opportunity to try to sneak into the Hua Mansion.
"Young Master Tang, you're not a chef, nor are you skilled in cooking. How can you pretend to be my assistant? You'll give yourself away!"
Tang Bohu quickly replied, "Actually, I also have some knowledge of cooking. Besides barbecue, I am also good at cooking a few delicious dishes."
Li Huan asked, "Tell me about it?"
Tang Bohu said, "I am skilled at cooking braised carp, sweet and sour chicken feet, minced meat and tofu, and black-boned chicken stewed with red dates..."
This kid rattled off seven or eight dishes in one breath.
Li Huan laughed and said, "I didn't realize you were so good at cooking. I thought you were only good at roasting chicken wings."
Tang Bohu said, "I'm tired of eating big fish and meat all the time, so I sometimes roast chicken wings in the garden to change things up."
Li Huan said, "You are the foremost of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan, yet you impersonate my assistant and apply for a job as a cook at the Hua Mansion. Don't you feel wronged?"
Tang Bohu said, "As long as I can win Qiu Xiang's heart, I can accept any grievance, no matter how great!"
Li Huan said, "In that case, why don't you pretend to be a poor man and become a servant in the Hua family?"
Tang Bohu said, "I originally planned to become a servant in the Hua family, but when I heard that Madam Hua wanted you to be her cook, I changed my strategy. After all, the status of a cook is higher than that of a servant!"
Li Huan then said, "If you want me to help you get into the Hua Mansion, you must agree to one condition!"
Tang Bohu's face lit up with joy: "What are the conditions?"
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