130 Intentions

Losing 200 taels of silver at once made Yu Niaoniao’s heart ache. Even the Fat Otaku Joy water became bland.

She pressed the index fingers of both hands to her temples, making small circles, concentrating.

How could she get the two hundred taels back?

As she thought about it, she really did come up with an idea.

As the sun set, Yu Niaoniao and Xiao Juan returned to the prince’s residence as usual.

Yu Niaoniao went straight to the kitchen.

She rolled up her sleeves. After some work, she made two good dishes. They were sour soup beef and squirrel salmon.

Whether it was the fragrance or the appearance, these two dishes could be said to be superb and could stimulate one’s appetite.

Dang Gui drooled.

“Can I taste it, miss?”

If it were any other time, Yu Niaoniao would definitely share some food with her.

But tonight was different.

Yu Niaoniao rejected her sternly.

“No, you can’t. These two dishes are of great use.”

Dang Gui was disappointed and wilted. “Okay.”

Yu Niaoniao touched her head. “Go rub the dough. I’ll make oil-doused noodles for you later.”

Dang Gui had eaten oil-doused noodles before and could not forget the taste. When she heard this, she immediately perked up.

“Yes, yes!”

Yu Niaoniao carried the tray to the dining hall.

Granny Xiu Yan helped her put the squirrel salmon and sour soup beef on the table and praised her with a smile.

“Miss Yu’s culinary skills are getting better and better. The dishes today are making me drool. They must taste very good.”

Xiao Juan did not like spicy food. He preferred sour and sweet food.

The two dishes in front of him happened to suit his taste.

He picked up his chopsticks and was about to taste them.

However, Yu Niaoniao suddenly spoke.

“Wait!”

Xiao Juan looked up at her. “Why?”

Yu Niaoniao cleared her throat and said sternly.

“These two dishes are different from the ones you usually eat. I spent a lot of effort cooking them. They are the result of my hard work.”

When Granny Xiu Yan heard this, she immediately understood that Miss Yu was using cooking to express her feelings for the duke.

Who would bother to cook for others? Naturally, it was for someone she liked!

Granny Xiu Yan couldn’t help but smile.

Xiao Juan did not think too much and asked.

“So?”

Granny Xiu Yan was about to remind the county prince not to ask so bluntly. After all, she was a girl and would be embarrassed.

However, before she could say anything, she saw Miss Yu extend her fair hand.

Yu Niaoniao said confidently.

“So you have to pay before you eat!”

Granny Xiu Yan was speechless.

She thought she was eating sweets from watching a romantic scene, but when she took a bite, it was all copper.

Xiao Juan clearly did not expect Yu Niaoniao to ask for money.

It took him a moment to respond.

“How much do you want?”

Yu Niaoniao raised her small hand and raised two fingers. “Two hundred taels.”

Xiao Juan immediately understood that she wanted to get back the two hundred taels of silver she had lost during the day.

He put down his chopsticks and spoke calmly.

“You took the trouble to cook for me, so it’s only right for me to pay. But do you know the price of the most expensive restaurant in the capital? The two dishes you cooked are only worth two taels of silver at most.”

With that, he took out two taels of silver from his pouch and placed them in front of Yu Niaoniao.

Yu Niaoniao was unconvinced. “Can my culinary skills be compared to those ordinary chefs outside?!”

Xiao Juan thought for a moment and felt that her words made sense.

So he gave her another half a tael of silver.

“Surely this is enough?”

Yu Niaoniao said, “I want two hundred taels!”

Xiao Juan said slowly.

“The price of food in the Dayan Dynasty is clearly stipulated. It can’t exceed 30% of the market price at most. Otherwise, it will be seen as raising prices. Raising prices is equivalent to going to jail. You have to think carefully before you speak.”

Yu Niaoniao was speechless.