IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 48
by VolareYun Song watched the door of the private room close, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. His smile remained, but it didn’t reach his eyes: “Brother, your taste… tsk.”
Yun Qi took a step back, blocking the door, his face full of vigilance: “What do you want?”
Seeing Yun Qi like this, Yun Song repeatedly shook his head. He sighed deeply, as if Yun Qi’s suspicion had broken his heart: “It’s only been a few days since we last met, brother, how have you become so distant?”
“Just say what you want.” Yun Qi rolled his eyes, completely immune to Yun Song’s sugar-coated bullets.
“How could I possibly have any bad intentions towards my brother? I’ve been worried sick these past few days, and I’ve even thought up a title for you.” Yun Song dipped a bit of tea and wrote a character on the table, “Let’s just take the character ‘An’.”
“Is it ‘An’ from ‘peace and joy,’ or…” Yun Qi looked into Yun Song’s eyes, enunciating each word clearly, “‘An’ from ‘stability and harmony’?”
“Brother is wise.” Yun Song chuckled and took a sip of his tea. “So, what does brother think?”
“Acceptable.” Yun Qi nodded slightly, responding concisely and decisively, his gaze calmly looking into the distance.
“Then there’s nothing more to say.” The smile on Yun Song’s face finally showed a hint of sincerity. He patted his chest and made a solemn guarantee, “Whether brother wants to travel the mountains and rivers or live a carefree life, I, as your younger brother, will definitely give my full support.”
“Really?” Yun Qi raised an eyebrow, looking at his younger brother with a half-smile, a trace of imperceptible sadness flashing in his eyes.
Yun Song, however, had no interest in indulging Yun Qi’s sentimental mood. He leaned back and waved his hand to the people behind him: “Alright, let them serve the dishes. I also want to taste my sister-in-law’s cooking.”
Thinking of Lin Yan, Yun Qi gave a wry smile and sighed softly: “Not… sister-in-law.”
“Brother, don’t lie to me.” Yun Song played with the teacup in his hand, a hint of cunning on his face. “I’ve always been accurate at judging people. The way brother looks at that person, tsk…”
The ingredients had all been prepared yesterday, and Cheng Que had specially hired a few chefs to help out. Lin Yan only needed to be responsible for the main dishes in Yun Song’s private room.
Going from frugality to luxury was naturally a smooth transition.
All kinds of dishes were served in a steady stream. Yun Song only took a couple of bites before putting down his chopsticks, looking at the newly served rattan pepper preserved eggs and domineering pork knuckle… He hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself, finally asking: “Brother, what do you see in him?”
Although these dishes smelled okay, the ingredients and appearance were a bit too strange. If he didn’t know that those who make Xiang cuisine weren’t so daring, Yun Song would have thought they were trying to assassinate him.
Yun Qi calmly picked up a chopstick full of food, and in Yun Song’s shocked gaze, put the rattan pepper preserved egg into his mouth. Then, he added a chopstick of domineering pork knuckle, and nonchalantly replied to Yun Song’s previous question: “Because he cooks delicious food.”
“Brother, can’t you eat something better?” Yun Song’s hand trembled slightly, looking particularly heartbroken.
Yun Qi glared at him and casually put two chopsticks of food in Yun Song’s bowl: “You should eat something better.”
Yun Song didn’t want to eat it, but for Yun Qi’s sake, he still chose to boldly assume and cautiously try.
The aroma of the pork knuckle spread in his mouth, the meat was soft and glutinous, melting in his mouth, and not greasy at all. The flavor of the spices was just right, rich yet mellow, every strand of meat was soaked in the fresh aroma of the broth, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste.
Yun Song was stunned for a moment, and then began to devour the food, fully embodying the concept that food tastes better when you fight for it.
Yun Qi had seen this scene many times, and seeing it again was only a matter of habit, with a bit of annoyance at having his food snatched away.
The two people swept away the food like a whirlwind. Yun Song was gradually conquered by the dishes, going from not moving at all at first to now being unwavering. No matter how outrageous and strange the dishes that were brought to the table looked, Yun Song unhesitatingly put them into his mouth. The occasional hesitation was just to secretly observe how Yun Qi treated the dishes he had never seen before.
When Lin Yan brought up the last dish, he saw a mess of plates and cups on the table, and two people with considerable status looked like they were starving ghosts being reincarnated. It was a happy thing that the things he made were recognized by others. Lin Yan put down the plate in his hand and bowed slightly: “This is the last dish, enjoy your meal.”
Yun Song put down his chopsticks and pointed to the chair next to Yun Qi: “Lin Yan, why don’t you stay and eat with us.”
Lin Yan still remembered Yun Qi’s attitude just now, and was always worried that these two had some private things they hadn’t finished talking about. He shook his head lightly and found an excuse: “There are customers in the shop…”
“It’s already past dinner time, and it won’t make a difference if Lin Yan eats. I’ll send someone to tell Shopkeeper Cheng to find a reason to close the shop early, and as for the silver… I’ll cover it.” Yun Song raised his chin, and the person dressed as a servant behind him immediately understood and walked towards the door.
The sounds downstairs gradually quieted down, and the last dish was almost finished.
Yun Song narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of inquiry flashing in his eyes. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, as if casually asking: “Lin Yan’s cooking skills are good, is it a family tradition?”
“There’s no one left in my family, these skills I learned from a shopkeeper from…” Lin Yan unconsciously clenched the corners of his clothes, and changed his words somewhat flusteredly, “I learned it from a shopkeeper in a previous shop.”
Yun Song seemed not to have noticed the abnormality in Lin Yan’s words. He sighed regretfully and shook his head slightly: “Lin Yan, for you being Ge’er, these years must have been really hard…”
…
Here was another person who had mistaken him. Lin Yan was used to it and didn’t bother to explain. He hummed a couple of times casually, and prepared to move on to the next topic.
“Wait.” Yun Song raised an eyebrow and pointed to the mole on the tip of Lin Yan’s nose, his voice tinged with surprise. “Lin Yan, this mole on your face is an ordinary mole, you… you look so delicate, you’re actually not Ge’er.”
“You are wise, sir.” This time it was Lin Yan’s turn to be surprised. He cupped his fist at Yun Song and complimented, “They all couldn’t tell, you are the first one to see it.”
Yun Song waved his hand with a smile, feeling that everything Lin Yan had done suddenly became understandable. He couldn’t hide this bit of slyness from him, and he didn’t mind giving him a little something: “Since that’s the case, Lin Yan, feel free to ask for anything, whether it’s an official position or…”
This was the test.
Lin Yan waved his hands repeatedly, looking flattered: “I’m just a cook, I don’t understand these things.”
Yun Song tapped his temple with his fingers, looking troubled: “Then I can only give you some worldly possessions.”
“I don’t really care for those things…” Lin Yan was about to refuse when he suddenly realized something.
No matter which dynasty’s emperor, they weren’t afraid of you being greedy and insatiable, but they were afraid of you not wanting an official position, not seeking power, and having no interest in gold and silver, so pure that you could become a monk. Such people looked like model workers, but were actually difficult to control. You always had to show a bit of greed, reveal a couple of flaws, so they could feel at ease.
Lin Yan quickly adjusted his expression, making a look of wild joy: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!”
Yun Song visibly relaxed, leaning lazily against the back of the chair, raising his hand to rub his temples, and yawning: “I’m a little tired. Does this Xiang cuisine have anything to relieve fatigue?”
He wanted to get rid of me.
“I’ll go get you some milk tea.” Lin Yan immediately understood, turned around and left the private room, his steps quick and agile, without a trace of hesitation.
This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain (volarereads.com)