Chapter 714: Technical Support
Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
Without further ado, the cake once again won everyone’s acclaim, with Wu Yaqing finding it particularly delicious.
After the cake, Chu Qingzhi brought out the highlight of the evening meal, a spicy hot pot that was mildly spicy, filled with beef, fish balls, ribs, potatoes, lotus slices, and dried bamboo shoots, all generously topped with a layer of white sesame seeds, enticing everyone’s appetite.
Chu Xujin, unable to resist, commented, “The more I think about it, the more I feel we should open a restaurant.”
The idea of running a restaurant seemed too cumbersome for Chu Qingzhi, who preferred less hassle, “You could open one, and I’ll provide technical support.”
Chu Xujin laughed, “Then, I’ll give it some serious thought.”
Chu Qingzhi passed a bowl to Tang Jinghong, serving him some beef and fish balls, “Try this.”
Tang Jinghong felt the special treatment from Chu Qingzhi and was visibly pleased, “Ok.”
As everyone started eating…
Whenever Chu Qingzhi was in charge of cooking, no one ever left hungry, always feeling that the same dishes tasted better when she made them.
Chu Xuyuan, rubbing his stomach, joked, “Sister, I think I might end up a big fat man.”
Chu Qingzhi chuckled, “Don’t worry, I can help you slim back down. Just eat up.”
Chu Xuyuan laughed heartily.
Wu Yaqing, pinching her face, said, “I’ve already gained weight. Qingzhi, could you prescribe me something to slim down?”
Chu Qingzhi replied, “Wait until you’ve gained another ten pounds, then I’ll prescribe you something.”
Wu Yaqing sighed and pretended to be dejected. “If I gain another ten pounds, I’ll really turn into a fatty.” She looked at Ge Lihua, “But Lihua is always in good shape, no matter how much she eats.”
Ge Lihua explained, “I practice martial arts daily, which helps me maintain my figure.”
Wu Yaqing deduced a rule, “No wonder girls who know martial arts are always so beautiful.”
Thinking it over, everyone agreed that seemed to be the case.
Ge Lihua jokingly asked, “So, do you want to learn martial arts?”
“I would love to, but I can’t seem to learn.”
Dinner ended amidst laughter and jests.
Chu Qingzhi entered Tang Jinghong’s study, “What did you want me to look at?”
Tang Jinghong stood up and handed her a stack of musical scores, “Could you see which one is better?”
These scores were delivered by someone from Yunfei School earlier that day, and he needed to select one for a military award event.
Being musically inept, he faced a tough choice.
Chu Qingzhi took the scores, and as she looked through them, she suddenly pulled one out,
“This score was modified by me yesterday. I remember it clearly because he said it was a gift for someone. How did it end up here?”
“Jinghong, what’s the use of this score?”
Tang Jinghong explained the origin of the score to Chu Qingzhi.
Chu Qingzhi became slightly upset, “That person actually lied to me!”
No, would he give her a Jiaowei guqin if he lied to her?
She flipped the score to see the composer’s name, “Bai Tingyan.”
Frowning, she recalled the person who requested the modification was named Fang Mingyi, not Bai Tingyan.
“Jinghong, could you have someone investigate this score and Bai Tingyan? Something doesn’t add up.”
“Alright,” Tang Jinghong immediately sent someone to investigate.
Chu Qingzhi continued to review the musical scores and selected two that she found to be the best: one by Pan Yuheng and the other by Tang Jiyang. “Jinghong, choose one of them.”
“Alright,” Tang Jinghong placed the two scores side by side on the table, prepared to make a careful selection. After a while, he suddenly said, “Qingzhi, the next time I come back, it might be the New Year.”
Chu Qingzhi paused for a moment, “Everything will go smoothly.”
“I’ll prepare some things for you to take to the capital.” After saying this, Chu Qingzhi left Tang Jinghong’s house.
With a flick of his finger, Tang Jinghong opened the window with his internal strength, watching Chu Qingzhi leave. “Qingzhi always remains calm, no matter what happens.”
Chu Qingzhi went to the workshop and made dumplings filled with beef stuffing for Tang Jinghong.
After wrapping the dumplings, she used a spell to freeze them, placing them in a box, and then cast another spell to keep the contents frozen.
She then baked small cakes in three flavors: jujube, walnut, and peanut.
The baked cakes were also placed in the box, preserved at a low temperature using a spell, allowing them to be stored for a long time.
She placed the box in Tang Jinghong’s main hall, gently patting it, “Take your time eating. If you finish them, you can send me a message, and I’ll have the delivery team send more to the capital.”
Tang Jinghong was touched by the care and effort Chu Qingzhi put into preparing these items for him, and he embraced her, sealing their moment with a kiss.
Their lips met in a fervent exchange, filled with tender affection.
As days and nights passed, marked by the rising and setting of the sun and moon.
After breakfast, Tang Jinghong handed Chu Qingzhi the silver obtained from the assassin and gave her an additional 30,000 taels for the resettlement of disabled soldiers.
Chu Qingzhi escorted Tang Jinghong to the village entrance, then returned home.
“Master.” Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang came over.
Chu Qingzhi walked with her two disciples towards the house. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
With the youthful vigor unique to young boys, Yuan Hongjun replied with a smile, “Not yet. The breakfast here is delicious, and we wanted to join.”
“Then you’re in luck,” Chu Qingzhi whispered to them about the beef dumplings she prepared, briefly explaining the source of the beef.
Bao Linjiang flattered, “No wonder it smells so good.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Wait a moment, I’ll go to the kitchen and bring out the dumplings.”
The elders in the Chu family were very fond of Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang, not just because they were Chu Qingzhi’s disciples, but also because the boys were good-looking and had likable personalities.
Seeing them arrive, Grandma Chu warmly invited, “Sit down, breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Grandma, please sit. We’ll go get the breakfast,” the two quickly set down their medicine box and headed to the kitchen.
After hastily finishing breakfast, the master and her disciples took a carriage to the county town. On the way, Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang reminisced about the beef dumplings, thinking about when they could get some beef to enjoy another meal of dumplings.
Shuiyun County.
Wan Haonan, Luo Hongping, and others, wanting to leave a good impression on Chu Qingzhi, shaved and changed into clean clothes, all gathering in the front yard to wait for her.
They got up early and waited for a while without seeing anyone, growing increasingly anxious.
Could it be that she won’t come?
Is this what General Tang meant by resettling them?
Everyone speculated and grew more uneasy, fearing they might be left unattended.
As time ticked by, Chu Qingzhi finally arrived.
Seeing her, everyone’s tension eased. Wan Haonan quickly stepped forward, bowing with a fist, “Miss Qingzhi.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Have you all had breakfast? If not, go eat. We’ll get ready to treat your injuries.”
The wounded soldiers realized they had forgotten to eat breakfast while waiting for Chu Qingzhi. “Thankyou, miss. We’ll go right away.”