Chapter 611 - Chapter 611: A Crab Feast

Chapter 611: A Crab Feast

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The atmosphere became a bit tense.

At this moment, Tang Jinghong walked in with a box in his hand. “Qingzhi.”

His probing gaze swept over Consort Xin, wondering who she was.

Chu Qingzhi pointed to a seat beside her, signaling Tang Jinghong to sit down, “I thought you would come later, I haven’t started preparing dinner yet.”

In Consort Xin’s ears, this sounded like someone was wasting her time, and she should have started dinner preparations earlier. She became increasingly frustrated.

Tang Jinghong said, “It’s alright, we can prepare dinner together later.”

Consort Xin finally couldn’t sit still any longer. She stood up and said, “Chu Qingzhi, in the future, if there’s nothing important, please don’t see Tingzhao to avoid misunderstandings.”

Chu Qingzhi, clearly annoyed, replied, “That makes sense, but please control your son better. He shouldn’t always be coming to me without any reason.” “You…” Consort Xin couldn’t take this humiliation any longer and left abruptly. After Consort Xin walked far away, Chu Qingzhi took the initiative to talk about the ins and outs of the matter. “That person just now was Consort Xin, also Li Tingzhao’s mother, and also the nun who told us about the map…”

After hearing the whole story, Tang Jinghong said, “Put the cart before the horse. She should be disciplining her own son. You don’t have to care about her.”

These words soothed the discomfort in Chu Qingzhi’s heart. She asked, “Will you misunderstand me?”

“No, with your personality, if you don’t want to be with me, you’ll say it directly. You definitely won’t do this.” Tang Jinghong’s words were filled with trust and certainty.

Chu Qingzhi took the initiative to hold Tang Jinghong’s hand. Her eyes curved. “I’ll make you a delicious dinner tonight.”

“Okay, but there’s something I have to tell you first.” Tang Jinghong handed the box in his hand to Chu Qingzhi. “The emperor asked me to give this to you. He said that it’s to compensate you.”

“Compensate me?” Chu Qingzhi opened the box curiously. It was another golden box of sunflower seeds.

“That’s what the Emperor said.”

Chu Qingzhi thought for a while and understood. It should be about the couplet. The Emperor did not punish the two of them severely. He thought that she would be unhappy, so he gave her money.

“Are the families of Yan Jingkui and Luo Jisheng involved in something?” she asked.

“Their father seems to be building a dike on the Wei River.”

With the truth revealed, Chu Qingzhi closed the box and stopped discussing the couplet matter, “Let’s go to the kitchen.”

Zhou Family’s Pearl Farm.

Zhou Xiangfu visited the farm again to check on the oysters, which had concerned him day and night, “How are they doing?”

The manager happily reported, “The oysters aren’t dying anymore. Those that were close to death have recovered after the medicine was applied. Miss Chu is truly remarkable.”

Zhou Xiangfu heaved a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face. “Good, that’s great.”

A staff member walked over with a medium-sized box. “Master, the deformed pearls have been washed and collected in this box. Take a look.”

Zhou Xiangfu opened the box, took a quick look, then held onto it, “You may go now.”

“Yes.”

After giving some instructions to the manager, Zhou Xiangfu returned to the city with the box of pearls.

In the kitchen.

Chu Qingshuang entered the kitchen, “Fifth sister, someone outside asked me to give this to you.”

Chu Qingzhi was busy handling river crabs and couldn’t use her hands, so she quickly scanned the box with her divine sense. It was a box of pearls. She hadn’t expected Zhou Xiangfu to send them so quickly.

“Qingshuang, put the box in my room.”

“Okay.”

“Spicy river crab!”

“Steamed river crab!”

“Fried crab roe buns!”

Chu Qingzhi listed the dishes one by one, along with some other home-cooked dishes, filling the table.

It was everyone’s first time eating river crabs. They looked appetizing and smelled good, but everyone hesitated on how to eat them, holding their chopsticks uncertainly.

“This is how you eat river crabs.” Chu Qingzhi demonstrated the method by taking a crab to her bowl, “First, cut off the crab legs and claws, remove the navel lid on the crab, discard the crab intestines, and open the crab shell…”

The autumn river crabs were large and plump, full of enticing crab roe.

The method was simple, and everyone quickly learned after watching.

Everyone then started trying the crabs, initially cautious, but after the first bite, they found them delicious and began to enjoy themselves heartily.

Soon, the table was piled with shells.

Wu Yaqing licked her fingers, “I didn’t expect river crabs to be edible, and they’re quite tasty, though the meat is a bit scarce.”

Chu Qingyue nodded, “I also find them delicious, with a unique flavor of freshness and a hint of sweetness.”

Chu Xuyuan ate three crabs in a row, finding them to his liking, “Sister, let’s catch some more tomorrow?”

“River crabs are cooling in nature, you can’t eat too much. We’ll go again in a few days.”

“Understood, we’ll listen to Fifth Sister.”

Tang Jinghong took an empty bowl, carefully removed the meat from five crabs, and served it to Chu Qingzhi, “You’ve worked hard preparing so many dishes. Have some ready-to-eat crab meat.”

Chu Qingzhi looked at the crab meat in front of her, her eyes curving in a smile, “Thankyou.”

Some time later…

Chu Xuyao finished the last crab roe bun reluctantly, “It’s all gone, but 1 still want more.”

The three crab-based dishes were all devoured, which was a testament to their popularity.

Li Qingyu served Chu Xuyao a bowl of soup, “In a few days, we’ll all go to the river to pick crabs again.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuyao perked up and nodded. “Ok.”

In the blink of an eye, it was the 18th of September, the day before Chu Qingyue’s wedding.

Chu Qingyue brought a quilt into the room, “Mother, let me do it. You rest for a while.”

Li Qingyu shook his head and refused. “1’11 do it myself.”

Today, Chu Xuhua and Shen Ruyue would be here. Li Qingyu was tidying up their room and doing everything herself.

Chu Qingyue put the quilt in the cabinet and turned back to Li Qingyu, “Mother, you’ve been busy these days, especially with my matters. Thank you.”

Li Qingyu smiled and said, “You’re my daughter. It’s only right for me to do these for you. As long as you’re doing well, it’ll be enough.”

Chu Qingyue went forward and hugged Li Qingyu. She said gratefully, “Mother, thank you.”

When Li Qingyu thought of her daughter getting married, her heart was filled with reluctance. She patted Chu Qingyue’s back. “Silly child.”

Suddenly, Chu Qingyue said, “Mother, let’s call off the wedding, okay?” She couldn’t bear to leave home.

“What are you talking about?” Li Qingyu was startled, “You can’t say that. Marriage is a woman’s most important event, and yours is tomorrow. How can you say you don’t want to marry today?”

Chu Qingyue smiled, “I was just kidding, Mother. Don’t take it seriously.”

“Don’t say such things in the future.”

“Got it.”

Chu Xuyao’s voice came from outside, “Mother, Second Sister, is the room ready? Everyone is waiting for you.”

Chu Qingyue replied loudly, “Almost done..”