Chapter 61: Just One Bite
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
However, at this moment, Xiaoxiao did not think of her reclusive neighbor. She was wrapping the sweet potato in syrup. After the sweet potato was fried, it was put into the bubbling syrup and was immediately out of the pot.
“Big Brother, Second Brother, come and try it!”
Since Ning Fengnian wasn’t home, Madam Song did not want to meet outsiders, so she greeted the guests and returned to her room to avoid arousing suspicion. Her daughter had sent her a plate.
Ning Dalang and Ning Erlang followed their sister’s instructions and picked up a piece of sweet potato that kept pulling the sugar strands. They dipped it in the cold water, and the sugar strands broke. After blowing on it for a while, they eat. Ning Erlang jumped up. He was scalded, but Shen Tianci didn’t believe it was so delicious. How could it be so delicious?
Ning Dalang appeared calmer. He blew on it several times before eating, so it was no longer as hot as before. However, the icing had also become crispy because it was cold. There was a crisp crack when he bit into it. He chewed carefully and covered his mouth with one hand to avoid being rude to outsiders. He gave his sister a thumbs-up with the other hand. “Delicious!”
Shen Tianci felt something secreting uncontrollably in his mouth. He thought, “Hungry! I’m starving!”
Xiaoxiao held back her laughter and asked Young Master Shen, who had chosen pickled vegetables but could not bear to leave. “Young Master, you must be tired after walking for so long. Do you want to try some simple dishes?”
Shen Tianci had been waiting for her words, but he still wanted to be reserved. However, before he could speak, Xiaoxiao brought out another plate of white and chubby mushrooms. Ning Erlang did not learn his lesson and was scalded. Shen Tianci’s curiosity about these two dishes immediately rose to the limit, but he still remembered his upbringing.
He cupped his hands and said calmly, “Since Miss Ning has invited me so warmly, I will take a bite.”
Xiaoxiao nodded with a smile.
The butler felt that Shen Tianci was not good, especially when he saw that the young master had finished eating mouthful after mouthful and did not remember to leave. He wanted to remind him, but he remembered the young master’s distress of being unable to eat at home. He was instantly conflicted.
At this moment, Xiaoxiao brought out two plates of something golden and shiny. They smelled it and felt hungry. Shen Tianci immediately turned to look at the butler and used his gaze to express that he wanted to eat it. The butler was both happy and worried. If the Shen family made this, Young Master could eat it however he wanted. However, it was the others’ house and the first time they met.
At this moment, Xiaoxiao knew that it was the time. She had specially chosen this time to go home, not just to make Shen Tianci envious. “It’s already past mealtime. Everyone must be hungry. If you don’t mind, do you want a serving too?”
Of course, the mealtime was targeted at the county magistrate’s family. The Ning family had two meals a day. The first meal was breakfast, and the next would be in the evening. If Xiaoxiao had not suddenly cooked, they would not have eaten at noon.
Today, Shen Tianci had run out of the house without eating. He had already exceeded the exercise he usually did for the entire day. Now, he was starving. However, he was also a reasonable young master. Thus, he could only swallow his saliva and pretend to ask, “That’s not good, right?”
Xiaoxiao helped him find a perfect way out. “Why don’t we do this? You’re here to buy things in the first place. Why don’t you also treat my house as a restaurant and pay for the meal after eating?”
This was good, this was good! Shen Tianci instantly made up his mind and felt no burden. “Then I want a plate of shredded sweet potatoes and mushroom-brewed shrimp smoothie, and 1 want omelette rice, too!”
Oh, you even ordered food.
Xiaoxiao counted the small amount of money she was about to get and was very busy.
The guests and hosts enjoyed the meal. Although Young Master Shen did not spend money like dirt, he had given a tael of silver as the fee for the pickled vegetables and food. Xiaoxiao did not refuse, but Madam Song felt it was not good. It was just that worthless pickled vegetables and a meal. Why did he give so much money? He could just give her a hundred copper coins.
Then, Young Master Shen said in distress, “But I never bring copper coins with me when 1 go out. They’re too heavy. It’s too troublesome for me to count them..”