Chapter 13: Shen Qingtang proposes marriage?
There's a reason why Qi Yi is taking it so seriously.
He kept complaining in his mind. Ever since Shen Qingtang took over taking care of Brother Qin, everything had been handled perfectly. She was like a robot with a pre-programmed chip, strictly adhering to the schedule tailored for Brother Qin.
Eating, sleeping, listening to audiobooks, strolling in the garden, taking a bath and getting a massage... the timing is so precise it's almost measured in seconds. Under Shen Qingtang's domineering style, Brother Qin always has no choice but to cooperate, behaving as obediently as a little puppy, a stark contrast to his previous gloomy and withdrawn state.
So much so that he and Qi Er thought Brother Qin was "good," but little did they know that after he disappeared for just a short while, Brother Qin's whole body emanated a chilling aura that made them shiver, giving them a perfect winter's chill.
Now he won't listen to anyone's advice. He sits alone in his wheelchair, staring intently at the window outside, his silent demeanor mirroring Shen Qingtang's gloomy state before she arrived, inspiring fear in those who see him.
Only then did Qi Yi finally understand Shen Qingtang's importance in Brother Qin's heart, just as Qi Er had said before.
Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. Shen Qingtang carefully nurtured the broken seed in Qin Ge's heart with her every move and word, and only after careful watering and fertilizing did it finally sprout.
He was extremely grateful that Shen Qingtang chose to return on her own initiative; otherwise, he couldn't predict what a huge blow that would have been to Brother Qin, or whether the seeds of the tall sycamore tree would have sprouted into man-eating flowers.
Seeing Qi Yi so solemnly add her contact information and address her as Sister Shen, Shen Qingtang felt a little helpless but also found it somewhat amusing.
Noticing that the other person's gaze kept drifting towards Xiaowen and Xiaoqian with a slightly curious expression, Qi Yi took the initiative to explain, "Sister Chen, don't pity these two foul-mouthed women."
"When they were cleaning Qin Ge's room, they were gossiping about you behind your back, and Qin Ge overheard them." He gestured towards the two of them and said, "The gardener was busy this afternoon and didn't have time to deal with the weeds, so I asked them to help out."
Shen Qingtang hadn't expected that this matter was related to her, and that it was Brother Qin who had punished her to protect her. A warm feeling suddenly flashed through her heart, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. The sunlight seemed to favor this face that had descended like a goddess, casting a soft side light that danced between her bright eyes and white teeth, making her beauty soar even higher.
For a moment, Qi Yi was captivated, but soon felt a chilling sense of unease, a cold warning emanating from him. He involuntarily shivered and pulled himself out of his daze.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Feeling Qi Yi's gaze fixed on her for so long, Shen Qingtang touched her cheek, slightly puzzled.
Caught peeping at the person in question, Qi Yi felt embarrassed and blushed, thinking to himself how shameless he was.
Even among the most beautiful or innocent women in the entertainment industry, he had never shown such an expression. But then again, Sister Shen wasn't just beautiful; her aura was even more captivating, especially her bright eyes, which seemed to have seen it all and always showed a tolerant expression. No matter how difficult the situation, she never lost her temper.
She has an inexplicable leader's aura; just looking at her makes people feel very at ease.
Qi Yi brushed aside these unnecessary thoughts, scratched the back of his head, smiled sheepishly, and shook his head, saying, "Sister Shen, there's nothing on your face." He looked down and saw that Shen Qingtang was carrying a lot of groceries, so he quickly took them and asked in surprise, "Sister Shen, why did you buy so many groceries?"
Thinking that Shen Qingtang was unaware of the rules of the Qin Mansion, he quickly explained, "Sister Shen, in the future, if you need any ingredients, just tell Xiaoqian in advance, and the main kitchen will prepare and deliver them in advance, so you won't have to spend money."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "We ordered a black-boned chicken earlier, but it wasn't very fresh." She didn't want to say more, and glanced up at the second floor, asking, "Brother Qin, have you already eaten lunch?"
Qi nodded and said, "I've already eaten."
This answer was exactly what Shen Qingtang expected, after all, she had returned very late. She nodded slightly and said, "Okay, I'll go to the kitchen and put the ingredients in the refrigerator first."
The ingredients at the market are all picked by the vendors that day, so they are naturally fresh. She decided to change the original menu to dinner.
Qi Yi immediately saw through Shen Qingtang's thoughts, licked her dry lips, and added, "But Brother Qin only ate a few bites at noon before having his plate taken away."
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang frowned slightly, a worried look on her face, and said, "Brother Qin, why have you only eaten so little? Are you feeling unwell? Did you take your temperature?"
Qi Yi's eyes darted around, thinking to himself, "You just 'disappeared' without a word. Brother Qin is furious."
However, he shook his head and said, "Brother Qin is fine. It's probably just that the food at noon didn't suit his taste."
"Is that so?" Shen Qingtang pondered for a moment and then said, "Then I'll go make a few dishes right away." She wasn't one to dawdle, and as soon as she finished speaking, she headed towards the kitchen.
Qi Yi didn't follow immediately. He pondered Shen Qingtang's words "not very fresh" and, after figuring out the meaning behind them, walked towards Xiaoqian with a gloomy expression.
On the other side, Xiaoqian finally finished weeding the designated patch of grass. Because of squatting and standing for a long time, her back ached terribly, she was panting and sweating profusely, her arms were so heavy that she could hardly lift them, and her fair and delicate hands were covered with fine wounds.
Upon seeing Qi Yi's arrival, she quickly put on a fawning smile, her eyes expectant and her voice hoarse as she said, "Brother Qi Yi, I've finished plucking this patch, can I go back and rest now?"
Qi Yi said in a lukewarm tone, "Oh, really?" He looked around and nodded, "Looks like you did a pretty good job. You didn't see a single weed."
Xiaoqian's happy smile vanished without a trace because of the other person's next words.
“In that case, I’ll trouble you to finish weeding the other patch of grass.” He paused and said, “By the way, if you don’t finish weeding it, then get out of the Qin Mansion.”
"Why are you treating me like this?" Xiaoqian's pent-up anger finally erupted. She pointed at Qi Yi's nose and said, "Qi Yi, don't think you're so great just because you've been with the young master for over ten years and accompanied him to the army. I'm someone that Madam brought from her maiden home."
Her eyes blazed with anger as she said, word by word, "Why are you deliberately making things difficult for me? What right do you have? I'm going to tell my wife to stand up for me."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yi merely glanced coldly at Xiaoqian and said lightly, "Didn't I learn it from you?"
"Isn't this how you make things difficult for Sister Chen? The black-boned chicken delivered from the main kitchen of the Qin Mansion is rotten." Just thinking that if it weren't for this reason, Sister Chen wouldn't have gone out to buy ingredients, and if Sister Chen hadn't gone out to buy ingredients, Brother Qin wouldn't have been in such a bad mood. If Brother Qin hadn't been in such a bad mood, he wouldn't have had to be on tenterhooks and trembling all afternoon!
Xiaoqian's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she said in a low, hoarse voice, "Did Shen Qingtang complain to you?"
Qi Yi rolled his eyes speechlessly and said, "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. Sister Chen isn't the kind of person who would be so petty as to gossip to others."
“But just because Sister Chen doesn’t mind doesn’t mean I won’t.” He looked sharply at Xiaoqian and warned, “I’m telling you this now: if you make things difficult for Sister Chen again, I’ll make things even more difficult for you.”
Hearing this, Xiaoqian was filled with fear and exhaustion, and collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Xiaowen beside her and said, "Sister Xiaowen, did I do something wrong?"
Although she was brought from Su Rong's family, she was just one of them. Moreover, she had angered the madam by falsely claiming that Shen Qingtang was not feeding the young master.
In contrast, Qi Yi and Qi Er were adopted by the Qin family from a young age and accompanied the eldest young master in his studies and military service, which shows their high status.
Thinking of all this, she cried even harder, her tears falling like raindrops, and she regretted it, saying, "I shouldn't have made things difficult for Shen Qingtang."
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Xiaowen's eyes, but she patted Xiaoqian's shoulder with a look of sympathy and said, "Sigh, it's just that we were too naive. It's normal that we couldn't beat a bad woman like Shen Qingtang."
"To be fair, although you are beautiful, Shen Qingtang is also quite beautiful. Even Qi Yi is completely infatuated with her."
Xiao Wen, a master of rhetoric, skillfully twisted Qi Yi's lesson into an interpretation of Shen Qingtang abusing her beauty to bully others. Sure enough, Xiao Qian's expression immediately changed. She dropped her sobbing and gritted her teeth, saying, "No wonder Qi Yi treated me like that. This Shen Qingtang is so shameless; she tries to seduce every man, even Old Wang..."
Xiaowen was secretly pleased, but on the surface, she slapped Xiaoqian's mouth shut and gestured towards the second-floor window with her eyes, saying, "Xiaoqian, walls have ears. We should be careful what we say." She gently rubbed the other's furrowed brows, transforming into a caring older sister: "You shouldn't have the heart to harm others, but you can't be without the heart to guard against others. In the future, you can say these things in front of me. If others hear them, it will inevitably cause trouble."
Xiaoqian wiped away her tears and said, "I understand, Sister Xiaowen. Only now do I realize who is the best to me." Xiaowen bent down and gave her a hug with a look of pity, but a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
*
Seeing Shen Qingtang return, Qin Guanlan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. His usually serious lips curled up slightly, and his hands were seemingly calmly crossed on his lap, but his gaze kept drifting towards the door.
Suddenly, he spoke up: "Qi Er, bring me a mirror."
A mirror? What does Brother Qin need a mirror for?
Although Qi Er was curious, unlike the outspoken and lively Qi Yi, he silently handed over a square two-way mirror with both hands.
Unlike women, men don't pay much attention to their appearance. Qin Guanlan had shaved his beard, groomed his face, treated his wounds, and even used the mirror to locate enemies, but he had never used it to carefully examine his own face.
Qi Er stood to the side, watching nervously, his heart filled with unease. He wondered if Brother Qin's condition had worsened and had affected his facial nerves, otherwise why would he be looking at him with such a serious expression as if he were checking for explosives?
"Is this face... considered handsome?" Caught off guard by this question, even Qi Er, who rarely showed any expression, was visibly stunned. He then touched his ear and asked, "Brother Qin... what did you just ask? I didn't hear you."
But in his heart, he was thinking, why would Brother Qin ask such a question? Not to mention during his school years, even after joining the army, every time there was an exercise, countless people, both men and women, would try to get to know Brother Qin through various connections.
It's just that the other party is virtuous and has never had such thoughts.
Qin Guanlan coughed slightly and said, "It's nothing. Could you please bring me the second book on the second shelf of the second bookcase, 'On War'?" Upon hearing this, Qi Er almost burst out laughing and whispered, "Okay."
That copy of "On War" was a war trophy obtained by Qin Guanlan during a joint operation. Due to his outstanding performance, the cover not only featured a medal but also a message from his superior. However, the other party had previously placed it in the "222" series of orders to show their disdain, and it was subsequently shelved.
But to his utter surprise, the other party would one day ask him to take it out. He glanced meaningfully at Qin Guanlan, who was sitting in a wheelchair. The other party was opening the book and scribbling on the pages with a pen, even writing his own annotations in some places, and deliberately curling the pages to make them look old.
He touched his nose and thought to himself that he seemed to see a peacock courting, its colorful tail feathers swaying.
Half an hour passed, and Qin Guanlan, adjusting his posture from time to time, "read" the entire book. However, he waited and waited but the figure that should have come in did not appear. His originally peaceful expression turned gloomy again.
Qi Er keenly noticed this change, forced a smile, and whispered, "Brother Qin, should I go down and take a look?"
Qin Guanlan hesitated for a moment, but quickly nodded: "Okay, go down and see what Qi Yi is doing?"
Qi Er: "..." Hearing the other party's insincere words, he rolled his eyes in exasperation.
He will decide for himself who to go down to see.
Fortunately, soon the sound of footsteps came from the doorway, along with Qi Yi's constant praise of "It smells so good!" and the words "restaurant" and "popular" could be faintly heard.
Qi Er blinked and deduced from the fragmented words, "Brother Qin, the food smells so good. Shen Qingtang must have specially ordered it for you."
The person's face brightened, but their tone remained as cold as ever: "I've already eaten lunch, and I can't eat anymore."
"In such a large Qin mansion, there are plenty of skilled chefs, so there's no need for her to do these useless things."
Qi Yi pushed open the door and happened to hear this. He immediately persuaded, "Brother Qin, you didn't eat much at noon. You're not hungry at all."
"This is a token of Sister Shen's appreciation, so you should at least give her some face and accept it."
Qin Guanlan didn't answer, but instead looked at Shen Qingtang who had just entered and said in a neutral tone, "Do you want me to have some too?"
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Brother Qin, you have to eat well." As she spoke, she took out the folding dining table and served the dishes one by one.
Qin Guanlan nodded slightly and said, "Then I'll just have a little." Seemingly uncomfortable, he handed the book in his hand to Shen Qingtang.
Shen Qingtang glanced at the cover, which had a line of gilded lettering printed on it.
[Awarded to Qin Guanlan, an outstanding soldier]
Her eyes lit up instantly, and she stroked the book with obvious affection, praising, "Brother Qin, you're amazing!" For some reason, she had a strong affinity for soldiers, so her praise was sincere.
Qin Guanlan merely glanced at it indifferently: "Generally speaking, including my entire regiment, only two people have received this book." A regiment typically consists of three battalions, each battalion commands three to four companies, and each company comprises three platoons and nine squads. In other words, only two people out of approximately three to four hundred men in the entire regiment have received this honor, a probability of one in two hundred. One can imagine how difficult it is.
After grasping this concept, Shen Qingtang exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, "Brother Qin, you are really amazing, really amazing."
Qin Guanlan felt as if he were basking in a spring breeze, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips. He coughed lightly and said, "If you like it, take it." To avoid the other man's grateful gaze, he picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of sweet and sour eggplant, and put it in his mouth, saying, "Next time you go out, just let me know, you don't need to bring food from outside..."
His words abruptly stopped. Qin Guanlan quickly savored the delicious taste in his mouth, then picked up a few more bites of other dishes and tasted them one by one. He had no choice but to take back what he had said earlier and say, "The food at this restaurant is indeed... quite delicious."
Qin Guanlan is not a picky person who cares about food. He has eaten French steak dishes that cost tens of thousands of yuan per person, as well as military biscuits that are dry and hard to swallow during combat exercises, and his expression does not change much.
As long as it's edible, it's fine.
However, because of his status, it was common for him to taste delicacies that ordinary people could not afford, but he only found them novel and not particularly delicious.
He only tried it out of consideration for Shen Qingtang's efforts in packing it back for him. But he found it exceptionally delicious. He had eaten sweet and sour eggplant before, but he had never encountered such a perfectly blended sweet and sour flavor, as if it were tailor-made for his taste buds.
Stir-fried yam with green peppers, stir-fried shredded potatoes, tomato and egg soup, claypot rice... these are all very ordinary home-cooked dishes, but they come together on his tongue to create the most beautiful melody.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's so delicious you'll almost bite your tongue off.
Qi Yi stood aside and said in an exaggerated tone, "This taste is beyond what can be simply described as delicious. It's the ultimate flavor in the world!" He looked at the food laid out on the table and said, "If I were one of these ingredients, I would have died a worthy death!" He had just gone into the kitchen to help Shen Qingtang cook and couldn't resist the tempting smell, so he had already sneaked a bite.
If it weren't for the fact that Brother Qin still wanted to eat, he could have eaten it all by himself!
Qi Er twitched his nose and didn't say a word, but his eyes were fixed on a table of mouthwatering food, and he swallowed his saliva again and again.
Shen Qingtang chuckled and said, "It's not that exaggerated."
Qin Guanlan's heart stirred, and he looked at Shen Qingtang and asked, "Did you get the restaurant's phone number?" He and Su Rong had similar tastes, so what he liked, Su Rong naturally liked too.
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang smiled slightly, took out a notepad, wrote down a phone number, and handed it to Qin Guanlan, saying, "Brother Qin, here you go. Order whatever you like to eat."
Qin Guanlan glanced down at it, puzzled, and said, "Why are you giving me your own phone number? I need the restaurant's."
Qi Yi chuckled and couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "Brother Qin, this table full of dishes wasn't made by a restaurant, but by Sister Chen." He had witnessed everything in the kitchen just now.
"Did you cook this meal?" Qin Guanlan looked surprised and disbelieving.
It's no wonder Qin Guanlan had doubts. In fact, most families that have entered the ranks of the wealthy employ more than a dozen servants who take care of everything from laundry to cooking. Even someone as independent as Qin Guanlan only knows how to cook two simple dishes.
The culinary skills of this meal were no less than those of the high-end private chefs that Old Madam Qin had hired at great expense.
Faced with Qin Guanlan's distrust, Shen Qingtang showed no anger, simply saying calmly, "Brother Qin, I did indeed cook this meal." She pointed to Qin Guanlan's favorite sweet and sour eggplant and said, "Take this home-style dish as an example. First, you need fresh, plump eggplants with stems. Cut them into chunks, blanch them in salt water, then fry them, and finally stuff them with minced meat and season them. There are five ways to season it: seasoning according to the ingredients, seasoning according to the dish, seasoning according to the season, seasoning according to the person, and seasoning according to the place. Sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty, and umami flavors all have their own unique taste when combined with the ingredients... Brother Qin, if you like it, I'll make it for you again next time."
After saying that, she said with a hint of regret, "There was also a chicken soup made with Panax notoginseng, but it wasn't ready yet because it wasn't cooked long enough. We can only eat it tonight."
Looking at Shen Qingtang, who was speaking so eloquently, Qin Guanlan had no choice but to believe that this table of home-style dishes that amazed his taste buds was indeed made by Shen Qingtang.
So he asked again, "So you love cooking?" That's when he discovered his culinary talent.
Thinking of the original owner's experience, Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I don't love it, but I have to know how." She paused for a moment and said, "I've been responsible for cooking for the whole family since I was four years old."
Hearing Shen Qingtang's answer, Qin Guanlan felt a little strange and frowned, asking, "Why after four years old?"
"Because I was kidnapped at that time."
A casual remark instantly plunged the atmosphere into silence, especially Qin Guanlan, who had indeed heard about Shen Qingtang being abducted and not being found until 14 years later.
It's easy to imagine that a little girl who has to cook for her whole family since she was 4 years old must not have had a happy or even smooth life.
If Shen Qingtang had feigned pitifulness and used this experience as a pity card, his first reaction would have been disgust and hatred rather than pity. But the other party recounted her tragic life in a flat, straightforward manner, without any elaboration, as if it were just the most insignificant thing she had ever encountered, without even needing to add any extra adjectives.
Qin Guanlan always felt unlucky, as if God had abandoned him. Just when he had a bright future ahead of him and was ready to make his mark, he was in a car accident and lost both his legs. But in reality, it is already an extraordinary feat for some people to live to adulthood, and he still had many kind relatives and friends around him.
Compared to Shen Qingtang, who was abducted as a child, he was exceptionally lucky.
A hint of pity, unnoticed even by himself, welled up in his eyes. A dull ache shot through his heart. He bit his lip and said, "I'm sorry."
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang looked up in confusion: "Brother Qin, you weren't the one who kidnapped me, nor were you the one who caused me to be kidnapped, so why are you apologizing?"
“But you didn’t have a good life before,” Qin Guanlan said in a somber tone.
"The people who kidnapped me have been caught and sentenced, and I'm still alive and healthy." Hearing Shen Qingtang's words, Qin Guanlan was momentarily at a loss for whether to cry or laugh at the Ah Q mentality in her words.
The other person refused to sympathize, and their eyes were open and honest, showing no remorse for the hardships they had endured. He took a deep breath, feeling even more admiration for Shen Qingtang's noble character.
Qi Yi and Qi Er stood to the side, a flash of sympathy crossing their eyes. Qi Yi wished he could travel back in time and slap himself hard. He had been praising the other person's cooking skills, but little did he know that this was the other person's sore spot.
Otherwise, Shen Qingtang, a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, should be spending her days in various luxury boutiques, laughing and joking with her girlfriends while having afternoon tea.
It is said that to master Iron Palm, one must practice for eight hours every day in scalding hot iron sand. But Shen Qingtang endured countless lessons in the kitchen before she was honed into a skilled cook.
*
"Guan'er."
"Guan'er."
The voices, one old and one young, broke the original somber atmosphere.
Qin Guanlan nodded slightly and greeted, "Mom, Sister Ying, what brings you here? Is there something going on with Grandma..." Before he could finish speaking, Sister Ying smiled and shook her head, interrupting him, "It wasn't Miss who sent me. I just came over to have some fun today since I was bored."
After speaking, she looked at Shen Qingtang with kind eyes and said, "Is this Xiaotang? So you've already returned. Thank you so much for taking care of Guan'er these past few days."
Sensing the hidden meaning in those words, Qin Guanlan frowned slightly. How could his grandmother have known about Shen Qingtang's departure so quickly, given how trivial the matter was?
Shen Qingtang was not yet aware of the undercurrents in this matter, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Sister Ying, taking care of Brother Qin is my duty, there is no need for thanks."
These words struck a chord with Su Rong. She took Ying Jie's arm and said, "Ying Jie, you have no idea how well Xiao Tang takes care of Guan'er. Even I, her own mother, can't compare."
"I wonder who's been gossiping behind my back." She turned her gaze to Shen Qingtang and said in a serious tone, "Qingtang, tell me properly, what did you do this morning by car?"
Su Rong's words appeared to be a question, but in reality, she was giving Shen Qingtang a chance to explain.
"I went to buy groceries, I wanted to cook for Brother Qin." After saying that, Shen Qingtang pointed to the table full of food in front of her. Su Rong frowned and scolded, "No matter how good your cooking is, it's not as good as Xiaoqian's. Don't go to all this trouble in the future."
Shen Qingtang lowered her head and nodded without arguing, saying, "Aunt Su is right."
Qin Guanlan frowned unhappily and said abruptly, "Shen Qingtang's cooking skills are very good, much better than Xiaoqian's, no... even Grandma's private chef can't compare."
Upon hearing this, Su Rong looked surprised and asked, "Guan'er, is Xiao Tang's cooking really that good?" Anyone who can become a chef at the Qin Mansion must be a senior chef. She had sent Xiao Qian to her eldest son because she valued her excellent cooking skills.
As a native of Gangcheng, Old Mrs. Qin was particularly particular about food. She would even harshly criticize new dishes developed by the chefs in the main kitchen, and only managed to hire a private chef by offering ten times the market price.
Chef Huang An is particularly skilled at cooking Hong Kong cuisine. His signature dishes include Typhoon Shelter Crab, Claypot Rice, Roast Goose, and Stir-fried Beef. He has served as the head chef for state banquets and has cooked for national leaders from various countries. His qualifications are quite impressive, and his dishes are exceptionally delicious.
However, he only served Old Madam Qin and no one else could command him.
But now Qin Guanlan actually said that Shen Qingtang's cooking skills were no less than those of Chef Huang An, which Su Rong naturally didn't believe. She took out another pair of new chopsticks and picked up a piece of sweet and sour eggplant first.
Then, she was completely shocked! Abandoning the proper demeanor of a wealthy person, she swore and said, "Holy crap, this is so delicious!" The eggplant, coated in sauce, was sweet and sour, just right for her taste buds. It wasn't too sweet or too sour. Although it was deep-fried, it didn't have a greasy taste. Instead, it felt refreshing. The textures were a little dry, a little soft, and a little sticky. It was clearly a vegetarian dish, but she somehow tasted like she was eating meat.
She prefers sweet flavors, so sweet and sour eggplant is naturally her favorite dish.
She had been to various restaurants with a group of wealthy wives, and while they were all delicious, whether famous, trendy, or century-old establishments, none of them quite captured the essence of this dish. Compared to it, all the sweet and sour eggplant dishes she had ever had seemed lacking.
Although it's only a small difference, the difference in taste is enormous.
Undeterred, she picked up her chopsticks and began attacking the other dishes, unable to stop. She stuffed food into her mouth while exclaiming, "This yam is so crisp and has the natural sweetness of green peppers! This tomato soup is delicious too! How do you make these shredded potatoes so crisp and refreshing...?"
To maintain her figure, she usually only had a small bowl of yogurt and a vegetable salad for lunch, but now her willpower had completely vanished, and she even had Qi Yi specially bring her a bowl of rice. Suddenly, her appetite was whetted, and she kept exclaiming, "This meal is just right for my taste."
Seeing this, Qin Guanlan couldn't help but twitch his lips and said, "Mom, I'm not full yet."
Su Rong waved her hand and said, "Don't you still have claypot rice in your bowl?"
Upon hearing this, Yingjie, who had been indifferent and used to big scenes, suddenly smiled and said, "Xiaotang, do you have any extra claypot rice? Can I try some?"
She explained apologetically, "Miss has been missing home a lot these past few days and really wants to eat authentic claypot rice, but unfortunately Chef Huang An isn't in Kyoto right now."
Claypot rice is a traditional dish of Hong Kong, made by cooking raw rice and ingredients together in an earthenware pot. Simply soak the rice in the pot and add ingredients such as preserved meat and spare ribs when the rice is about 70% cooked. It's convenient and easy, and it's safe to say that every household in Hong Kong will cook a pot of it on important occasions.
Shen Qingtang saw the clay pot in the kitchen cabinet and had a sudden inspiration to make clay pot rice. When she heard Yingjie's request, she nodded and said, "Yes."
Sister Ying said kindly, "Xiao Tang, then I'll trouble you to take me downstairs."
Shen Qingtang's cooking skills were naturally extraordinary. After only taking a small bite, Yingjie said, "It is indeed delicious. Guan'er is right. Your cooking skills are truly top-notch."
After saying that, she patted Shen Qingtang on the shoulder and took out a bright and dazzling pink diamond from her pocket.
*
On the other side, Su Rong ate three bowls of rice in a row, not caring about maintaining the dignity of a wealthy family's wife in the slightest. She patted her round belly and said, "I haven't eaten this well in a long time since I married into a wealthy family."
"Xiao Tang's cooking skills are really amazing."
Qin Guanlan: "..." He rolled his eyes speechlessly and said, "Since you've finished eating, hurry up and leave."
Su Rong shook her head and said, "It's true that sons grow up and are no longer under their mother's control. Guan'er, do you still remember Lin Qianyue?"
Upon suddenly hearing the name of his ex-fiancée, whom he had only met a few times, Qin Guanlan said helplessly, "Mom, why are you bringing her up out of the blue? I've long forgotten about her."
He wasn't lying. He had previously shut himself off, becoming indifferent to the slightest external stimuli, while his mind was filled with wild thoughts. But now he had found his own rhythm in life and naturally no longer paid attention to those people from before.
"I heard her cooking skills are top-notch, but..." she snorted heavily, "Those people must not have eaten Xiaotang's cooking, otherwise they would definitely think that her cooking is just so-so."
Qin Guanlan smiled and said, "That's all in the past, I don't care about it anymore."
Su Rong pursed her lips, then suddenly touched her chin and asked in an ambiguous tone, "What do you think of Xiao Tang?"
"What do you mean, how?" Qin Guanlan frowned, somewhat puzzled.
Su Rong said in a serious tone, "Xiao Tang promised me before that she ruined your marriage, and if she couldn't cure your legs, she would be willing to marry you."
Qin Guanlan felt the veins on his forehead throbbing incessantly. He pursed his lips and reacted fiercely, saying, "How can a cripple like me hold her back?"
"Shen Qingtang has already had enough of a hard life, so please don't make things difficult for her."
Hearing this, Su Rong said with some dissatisfaction, "How can you say I'm making things difficult for her? Your legs were damaged because of her, so she should be responsible for them."
"Letting her marry you is already a bargain for her. If it weren't for the fact that she took good care of you during this time, the Shen family wouldn't even be qualified to marry into the Qin family."
"Alright!" Qin Guanlan rubbed his temples, looking exasperated, and said sternly, "Mom, I will choose my own marriage."
"Whether my legs heal or not, she can leave whenever she wants; that's her freedom."
Soon, there was a knocking sound at the door, and Shen Qingtang's voice came in.
"Aunt Su, Brother Qin, are you arguing?" The room was well soundproofed, so she was a little unsure.
Su Rong quickly opened the door, changed her tone and waved her hand, saying, "No, I didn't quarrel with Guan'er."
Shen Qingtang asked with some doubt, "But you were speaking very loudly just now, was it because of me?"
Su Rong's eyes lit up and she immediately smiled and said, "That's right, it's all because of you." She gave Shen Qingtang a reproachful look and said, "It's all because your cooking is too good that I had other ideas."
Under Qin Guanlan's warning gaze, she said half-jokingly, "Guan'er has a younger sister named Qin Sumiao. Miao is different from us and prefers spicy food. It's a pity that she can only come back from America at the end of the semester to taste your cooking. It's such a shame."
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and offered a solution: "If that's the case, I can make some spicy beef jerky. Vacuum-packed bags will keep it fresh for a long time, so I don't have to worry about it spoiling."
Su Rong had only mentioned it casually, but she didn't expect Shen Qingtang to take it seriously. Feeling a little guilty, she waved her hand and said, "Making beef jerky must be quite troublesome, right? Let's forget about it."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "It's no trouble at all." She turned to Qin Guanlan and said, "You are Brother Qin's family, so it's no trouble at all." In an instant, a surge of heat spread through Qin Guanlan's limbs and bones, as if he were bathing in a hot spring, feeling warm all over.
Su Rong carefully observed Qin Guanlan's expression and thought to herself: Some people probably don't even know that they have secretly fallen in love. If Shen Qingtang really proposes to leave the Qin Mansion, will he still be so carefree?
She took a long stride downstairs and bumped into Xiaoqian, who was treating her wounds in the lobby.
"How did you do that?"
"Madam, it was my fault." Although Xiaoqian said this, her eyes seemed to hide endless grievances, and her voice choked up, making her look pitiful.
Su Rong remained unmoved, coldly snorting, "She looks quite pretty, but I didn't expect her to be so cunning." She said coldly, "Xiaoqian, this is the second time you've gone to complain to the old lady. I hope I don't catch you a third time."
Hearing this, Xiaoqian turned pale and shook her head, saying, "Madam, I didn't, I really didn't." But Su Rong ignored her, and she could only watch the other woman's departing figure and cry.
Xiaowen stepped out at the right moment, patted her shoulder, and carefully wiped away the tears that rolled down her cheeks, saying, "Xiaoqian, don't cry."
Xiaoqian said, feeling wronged and helpless, "Sister Xiaowen, I really didn't go to Old Madam Qin to complain. Why doesn't Madam believe me?"
"Time will tell, and your wife will find out the truth. I believe you," Xiaowen comforted her softly.
*
On the second floor, in Qin Guanlan's room.
Noticing Shen Qingtang's hesitant expression several times, Qin Guanlan couldn't help but wonder if she had overheard their conversation.
He really didn't intend for her to marry him. Could Shen Qingtang have misunderstood?
He pursed his lips, and after thinking for a long time, he decided to be direct: "Shen Qingtang, just say what you want to ask me, there's no need to be so awkward."
His eyes darkened, and he mentally prepared a tactful way to refuse.
Shen Qingtang bit her lip as if she had made up her mind and said, "Brother Qin, take a look at this." The pink diamond ring shone even brighter under the light.
Qin Guanlan's gaze flickered a few times, and a seductive heat quickly rose on his face.
He sighed inwardly, thinking how incredibly audacious the other party had been!
Is she about to propose to him with the wedding ring in hand?
-----------------------
Author's Note: Remember to leave a comment! [Panda head emoji] Random red envelopes will be given away!
Pre-order available: "Spending Simulator, But I Became a Billionaire"
Ning Le, a struggling, obscure celebrity in the entertainment industry, accidentally obtains a money-spending simulator and enters a parallel world.
Only by spending all five million can you return directly to reality.
Ning Le waved his hand, indicating that it was just a small matter.
After all, who doesn't know how to spend money?
She turned around and invested the money in the third-floor director next door who was always complaining about being poor.
The result—the movie was a huge hit!
As the sole investor, she received 100 million yuan, even after she made every effort to increase the share of profits for all actors, directors, and cinemas.
Ning Le was unconvinced and wanted to spend all the money smoothly.
She invested huge sums in concerts for washed-up divas, lavished funds on third-rate producers, and went on a crazy campaign to support struggling idol groups... she spent money however she could, and ended up becoming the richest woman in the world.
Ning Le:………
Looking at her bank balance, which was longer than her phone number, she let out a heart-wrenching scream: Money, please don't come any more!
It turns out that spending all my money is such a difficult thing. Can I still go back to reality and pursue my dream guy?
Wait a minute, since it's a parallel world, can we simulate something as trivial as romance?
*
What Ning Le didn't know was that the so-called parallel world was actually the real world.
This simulator is actually called the Richest Man Simulator. Besides her, many other people have also obtained it and had it broadcast live to other planets. It's just that her simulator was maliciously renamed.
While others were frugal and making small investments, she had already left all the other contestants far behind and become the world's undisputed richest person.
*
During a prime-time evening interview, a reporter looked at Ning Le with sparkling eyes and asked, "Mr. Ning, do you still have any worries after becoming the richest man?"
Ning Le clutched her hair in anguish, her brow furrowed so tightly it could kill a mosquito. She said with a bitter expression, "It's amazing! My money seems to have been cursed with a reproductive spell; I can never spend it all."
reporter:……
Could I give her a little more of these kinds of troubles?!
Requesting pre-orders for: "The Rich Stepmother, But with a Godly System"
Transmigration into a book, substitute marriage, stepmother, power struggles in a wealthy family, husband's car accident... Ning Ruoshui felt like a herd of alpacas was galloping through her mind.
One second she was gloating over her life of being a stingy stepmother in a wealthy family, but the next second she was kicked out of the Gu family by the matriarch and could only stare at her five-year-old stepdaughter, Gu Mengmeng.
The original owner of this body was not loved by her family, and she didn't have much savings, so she could only give Mengmeng a guilty smile.
The clever Mengmeng narrowed her eyes: Are you trying to throw me away?
Fortunately, just when her balance was about to run out, she suddenly got bound to the Godly Rich Raising System.
Any money spent on the baby will be returned tenfold.
then……
"Mengmeng, let me treat you to a big meal."
"Mengmeng, let me buy you a car."
"Mengmeng, I'll give you a film studio."
"Mengmeng, let me start a company for you!"
Ning Ruoshui lay on the money every day, rolling around happily.
*
One day, her stepfather suddenly showed up at her door, wanting to remarry her and give her a life of luxury.
Ning Ruoshui flashed a dazzling ten-carat diamond ring and several property deeds, then smiled slightly: "Sorry, I am a member of the elite."
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