Ji Liu Xia's Engagement (2)
T/N: The long awaited food porn chapter; I'm so happy and hungry at same time.
"Silver has followed me for many years. At the time, in Du village, behind the village was a range of mountains. He often went into the mountains to play. In the past, when we were very poor, Silver even brought back quite a few wild animals for us. He's very smart. Before coming to the capital, I once thought about releasing him back into the mountains, but he wasn't willing to go no matter what. Thus, I brought him and Gold over together." As soon as Du Xiao Li began talking about Silver, she felt she had endless things to say.
However, what she didn't say was that since coming to this world, Silver was the one that spent the most time with her. The feelings between them already weren't as simple as owner and pet.
"Hearing you talk makes me really want to meet Silver and Gold!" Meng Jiang Zhuo placed her hand before her chest, carrying an expectant look.
"Right now, Silver and them should be inside the fenced area. Once they've played enough, they'll come back." Du Xiao Li said, "Let's go see how the preparations for the dishes for this afternoon are doing, because I didn't bring any servant girls today, we'll have to take care of it ourselves."
"Ah? Want us to do it?" Ji Liu Xia heard Du Xiao Li's words and called out, "I don't know how to do anything! I'll definitely burn down your kitchen."
"Pfft---" Everyone all were amused by Ji Liu Xia's reaction.
"Although we all know your abilities to burn down the kitchen, you still don't need to say it out loud." A voice carrying laughter came through. Everyone all turned around and saw Han Ming Yi and Han Ming Xiang having already entered the courtyard. Next to them, aside from Ji Liu Feng, there was also a man around the same age as Han Ming Yi. Other than that, it was just the seven Leng brothers.
As for the words just now, they were spoken by Han Ming Xiang, who was very close with Ji Liu Xia.
"Greetings Ding Wang, Xian Wang, Princess Changle." Meng Jiang Zhuo and them quickly went up and bowed.
"You're excused." Xian Wang, Han Ming Yuan, slightly lifted the fan in hand. Afterwards, he looked to Du Xiao Li and said, "So this is my future sister-in-law?"
Du Xiao Li didn't know how to respond to this, so she just smiled and diverted the topic, "I'll go see how the preparation in the kitchen is going. You all don't need me around, right?"
"Little sister-in-law, I heard Leng Er and them say your cooking is comparable to the imperial chefs, thus I thickened my skin and came over to freeload a meal. You won't mind, right?" Han Ming Yuan swiftly flipped his fan open and said with a smile.
Du Xiao Li looked to his fan, unable to tell the material. Should be his everyday weapon, similar use to Ji Liu Feng's fan. And his fully white clothes, although were somewhat similar to Han Ming Yi's, it instead carried a hint of the pugilistic world, appearing rather carefree.
Han Ming Yuan originally was out traveling the world, but Han Ming Ze sent him a message, requesting him to return this mid-autumn, because this year's mid-autumn banquet will also be the celebratory banquet for Han Ming Yi and them. Having no choice, he could only return. However, perhaps because he'd gotten used to flipping over walls outside, when he went to Ding Wang Manor, he also entered by flipping over the wall. As soon as he entered, he just heard Leng Er and them mention today's gathering, and also how delicious Du Xiao Li's cooking was and such, letting him instantly become interested in today's gathering, and roared at Han Ming Yi to bring him along.
(T/N: Xian Wang just appeared and I like him already)
"Xian Wang is joking, for Xian Wang to be able to come, it is Xiao Li's honor." Du Xiao Li also very much admired Han Ming Yuan's personality of not loving power, instead loving freedom. This wasn't something many people could achieve.
"Xiao Li, we'll go together with you then." Meng Jiang Zhuo said.
"Ah? We really have to cook? Can I not go?" Ji Liu Xia miserably called out.
"I'm just having you all go see if there's anything you can do, such as pick the vegetables and whatnot. You burning down the General Manor's kitchen, I've also heard of, how could I dare let you prepare the meals." Du Xiao Li said with a laugh.
"Ah, as long as you're not letting me cook, it's all good." Ji Liu Xia said.
"You should also properly learn from the servant girls. So that when you marry, you can also use this to keep a hold on your husband's stomach! Else, with you not knowing this and that, what will you do when you get kicked back by your husband's family!" Ji Liu Feng completely didn't leave any face for his younger sister.
"Hmph, then I'll burn down their family's kitchen first!" Ji Liu Xia stormed off, however towards Ji Liu Feng's words, she was rather unconcerned.
Du Xiao Li let someone go have Du Xiu Heng called over, letting him take care of Han Ming Yi and them. Afterwards, she lead Meng Jiang Zhuo and the others to the kitchen.
"I'll also go help." Han Ming Xiang said and followed after them. She also wanted to witness Du Xiao Li's culinary skills.
"Ding Wang, Xian Wang, General Ji, let's go inside." Du Xiu Heng waved his hand towards Hang Ming Yi and them.
"You all go help too." Han Ming Yi ordered Leng Er and them.
"Yes." Leng Er and Leng San received the order and went after Du Xiao Li and them, leaving behind the others to protect Han Ming Yi. However, as soon as Leng Er and them went, they got kicked out by Du Xiao Li, saying she didn't need their help.
"Xiao Li, what are we eating today?" Meng Jiang Zhuo has never entered the kitchen to cook before, so seeing the spacious kitchen filled with vegetables and meats, she completely didn't know what she can do to help.
(T/N: Tbh I laughed a little at MC inviting them for dinner but make them help out, all just to set up her show off her cooking skills. MC's skill of catching unsuspecting free laborers have upped.)
"Actually, I just wanted to let you all feel the joy of cooking yourself. You all can just wash these vegetables and sort them." Du Xiao Li said, "Those meat just let Xia Yuan and them prepare."
"If it's just washing vegetables, we're still able to manage." Fu Ya Lan said. In the past, when she lived in the nunnery, she also had helped out the chefs in the nunnery.
"Alright, let's begin then." Du Xiao Li said, and then had those ingredients divided into categories for them to wash, while she herself began processing.
Today, she'd planned on making Sichuan cuisine. The main dishes were spicy pork fillet, twice cook pork, sauerkraut fish, yuxiang pork strips, kung pao diced chicken, steamed beef in rice flour, taro roast duck, mapo tofu, couple's beef slice, and so on. Because these dishes were all rather spicy, she also prepared some light flavored dishes.
(T/N: Pictures in order as listed; Sichuan cuisine is famously known for being spicy, your translator Jen nearly died in Sichuan once from the spiciness, legit ended up in the hospital from indigestion.)
(Spicy Pork Fillet)
(Twice Cook Pork)
(Sauerkraut Fish)
(Yuxiang Pork Strips - yuxiang is seasoning of Chinese cuisine that typically contains garlic, scallions, ginger, sugar, salt, chili peppers etc, but no seafood, although yuxiang literally means 'fish fragrance'.)
(Kung Pao Diced Chicken)
(Steamed Beef in Rice Flour)
(Taro Roast Duck)
(Mapo Tofu)
(Couple's Beef Slice - Sliced beef and ox organs in chili sauce served cold)
"I'm already drooling from just hearing the names." Ji Liu Xia said.
"Indeed, it really makes one's appetite greatly open up." Han Ming Xiang nodded.
"Then later you all better eat lots." Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
"Miss, the blacksmith shop has already sent over the oven and such just now." Qiao Zhu's grandpa, that old beggar, now called old Qi(beg), came to the kitchen and reported to Du Xiao Li.
"I understand. You go and help out in the front then." Du Xiao Li said with a nod.
"Oven? What's that for?" Ji Liu Xia asked.
"Use for making good food." Du Xiao Li also didn't explain, deliberately suspending her appetite.
"Aiyaa, Xiao Li, just tell me." Ji Liu Xia came to Du Xiao Li's side and said.
"Just wait, when the food comes out, you'll know." Du Xiao Li used her elbow to push Ji Liu Xia, pushing her away from her side.
"We'll eat it in the afternoon?" Meng Jiang Zhuo asked.
"No, that's for tonight." Du Xiao Li said. Tonight, she was planning on letting everyone barbecue meat themselves. Right now, if she were to just tell them, then by nighttime, it won't be a surprise.
"Really know how to keep people in suspense." Ji Liu Xia stuck her tongue out at Du Xiao Li, and then went back to continue washing the vegetables.
"Liu Xia, this won't do. When the time comes and you marry into the Qu family, don't know if gentleman Qu will be able to accept this childish nature of yours." Meng Jiang Zhuo said.
T/N: Did I ever mention that I always feel Meng Jiang Zhuo and her brother, Meng Jiang Xin's, name should be swapped. Her names sounds more common for a boy's name for the time period, while his name is more feminine too. Zhuo means outstanding, while Xin means heart. Also anyone curious about the other characters names? I'll add to the TN of next chapter.
Additional Chapters Queue: 3