Chapter 8: Modern Cuisine...

As night fell, the main room was brightly lit with candles. Zhang Yao, holding a book, was not focused on its contents, his eyes wandering aimlessly. Zhou Shi returned from her bath, her heart brimming with joy and excitement. The old master's illness had been a heavy burden on the family, and Zhang Yao, a filial son, had a deep affection for his wife, never taking a concubine, only keeping a maid who had come with her as a dowry. Thus, Zhou Shi was also deeply concerned about the old master's condition.

Now that the old master's illness had improved, her husband returned in high spirits, bringing back a nephew from overseas. This child was extremely likable, not only a skilled doctor but also very humble. His sweet words, like honey, made him call her "aunt" repeatedly. The gifts he brought were so precious that one could hardly bear to part with them. The mirror was the first of its kind in the city of Dengzhou, reflecting a clear image where every hair could be seen. The soap, used during her bath, emitted a rich fragrance that was intoxicating, and it was said that regular use could keep the skin as smooth as silk. The perfume, applied after the bath, had a strong scent that lingered for a long time. At the next gathering of the city's ladies, Zhou Shi would have something to boast about. There was even toothpaste to brush with, something even the emperor had never used.

Zhou Shi, in a good mood, saw her husband lost in thought and gestured for the maid to leave. She reached out and pinched Zhang Yao's shoulder. Zhang Yao turned and smiled, "Is Si Hua settled?"

"Yes, he's in the west wing, and I've assigned the most capable and experienced maid, Yu Han, to serve him. Guess what happened?"

"What?" Zhang Yao asked curiously. Zhou Shi covered her mouth and smiled slightly, "That child handed the newly bought maid to Yu Han, telling her to take her to bathe and change clothes. He then took a bucket to the well to fetch water and washed himself right there, causing all the maids to avoid the well."

"Ha ha, according to Si Hua, the descendants of the Southern Song Dynasty crossed the ocean to America, where many of the local tribes were cannibals. To survive, they had to change their ways. They kept only the ancestral script and changed everything else. That's why he named himself Si Hua, meaning he longs for his homeland and is willing to risk his life to return. His habits are hard to change, but we shouldn't be surprised. Tell the servants not to talk about this outside, and anyone who violates this will be punished according to the family rules."

As she spoke, Zhang Yao sniffed deeply, the fragrance igniting his passion. His hands moved restlessly on his wife's body, and soon the lights were extinguished, leaving the room in darkness, with only heavy breathing sounds.

Xiao Zhu, the maid on night duty, suffered this night. Usually, the master would stop after a short while, but tonight, it had been at least an hour, and there was no sign of stopping. The mistress, too, was unusually loud, her voice rising higher and higher.

At sixteen, Xiao Zhu knew what was happening inside. She lay on the small bed in the outer room, legs tightly pressed together, a fist in her mouth, her body twisting slightly, trying to endure the intense itching, as if seventeen or eighteen cat paws were scratching her heart. She couldn't hold back, and a warm flow moistened her small clothes.

This was not the end. Inside, the activity finally stopped, and the mistress, with a rosy face, came over and ordered her to fetch water. After a while, everything finally settled down.

"Thanks to the medicine Si Hua prepared, I have regained my vigor," was the only sentence Zhou Shi remembered from their conversation. This child, with his incredible medical skills, had given the master, who was over forty, such energy. The need for a concubine would be gone.

In the morning, Zhang Yao, exhausted from the night before, was still asleep. Zhou Shi, dressed and groomed by the maids, went to the west wing. The master's attention meant the servants would not dare to be negligent. Zhou Shi wanted to show the others.

As she approached the courtyard gate, she heard laughter inside. Standing at the archway, she peeked in and couldn't help but smile. Chen Xie was teaching the newly bought maid to brush her teeth, her mouth full of foam. The little maid, somehow coaxed by Chen Xie, was no longer afraid and was laughing foolishly. Yu Han, standing nearby, couldn't help but watch as Chen Xie busily brushed the maid's teeth and then washed her face with a pink towel, a rare sight.

Zhou Shi didn't stay to watch and quietly left. She then called Xiao Zhu and instructed her, "Go ask the family that sold their daughter if they are willing to do some rough work in the house."

Xiao Zhu, rolling up his sleeves, sneered, "They dare refuse!" with the face of a bully's lackey. Zhou Shi, however, nodded in satisfaction, "Be polite when you talk to them. This little maid is liked by Si Hua, so we must consider his face."

Yu Han was filled with sorrow and anger. A ten-year-old maid, liked by Master Si Hua. She, a beautiful young woman, hadn't even caught his eye. She had heard that this second maid looked very much like Si Hua's younger sister, which was why she had such good fortune, being bought back and treated like a sister.

Seeing the tall, fair-faced young master, she had been full of hope, thinking she might catch his eye and improve her status. But... sigh!

Chen Xie, holding the neatly dressed second maid, looked her up and down and said, "The clothes are a bit old. I'll get some flowered fabric later."

The second maid looked up, her large eyes full of innocence, and said in a childish voice, "Brother, these clothes are very good. Second maid has never worn such good clothes, not even a single patch."

Chen Xie, looking at this understanding maid, squatted down and hugged her, patting her back gently, "From now on, you won't be called Second Maid. You'll follow your brother and be called Xiao Xuan."

At breakfast, Chen Xie had a new idea. He asked the assigned servant, Chang Sheng, to bring four large bowls and had Yu Han fetch freshly boiled water. Closing the door, he set up the four bowls and said to Xiao Xuan, "Brother will perform a magic trick and make something delicious."

Xiao Xuan nodded vigorously. Chen Xie said, "Turn around and cover your eyes." Xiao Xuan obediently turned around. She heard a series of sounds and soon a strong fragrance filled the air. She couldn't help but swallow, her saliva pooling on the ground.

"Done, you can turn around now." Xiao Xuan turned and saw four large bowls covered with plates, the source of the fragrance. "Xiao Xuan, blow on the bowls, or the magic won't work." Chen Xie teased the little maid, just as he had teased the little shadow that followed him. He could almost hear the childish voice again, "Brother, wait for me!"

Carefully blowing on each bowl, Xiao Xuan looked at the four large bowls with a bit of fear. Chen Xie smiled and lifted the covers, saying, "Ta-da!" A bowl of Uni-President Lao Tan pickled cabbage noodles was ready. Xiao Xuan's eyes widened, and her mouth watered. This scene made Chen Xie's heart ache, and he gently picked up the chopsticks and placed them in Xiao Xuan's hands, "Sister, eat if you want to."

"Thank you, brother!" Unable to resist the delicious temptation, Xiao Xuan picked up the chopsticks and started eating greedily. Chen Xie sighed inwardly, knowing that in modern times, this was just junk food. Seeing Xiao Xuan eat the noodles without worrying about the heat, Chen Xie didn't try to stop her. He quietly went out and called Yu Han and Chang Sheng, "Come in."

These two were not much older, one sixteen and the other fifteen. In modern society, they would still be in school, innocent children. In the Ming Dynasty, they had to work hard to earn their meals.

"One bowl each, eat here, and don't let anyone see. We'll have our own meal today." Chen Xie joked, hoping to ease their tension. But this only made them more nervous, shaking their heads without a word.

Seeing this, Chen Xie knew it wasn't working. The noodles would get soggy if left too long, so he sternly said, "Eat if I tell you to, or you'll be punished!" They were scared and quickly sat down, picking up the chopsticks and starting to eat. Chen Xie sighed, feeling a bit depressed, and went to the door to take a deep breath, realizing he had forgotten his cigarettes. Just as he was about to go back, Zhang Xin appeared.

"Big brother! Did you sleep well? I came to greet you!" Zhang Xin was absolutely respectful, about to bow deeply, but Chen Xie stopped him, "Enough with the formalities. You came just in time, wait here." He went back inside, brought out a bowl of noodles, and handed it to Zhang Xin, "Eat!"

The product of modern industry, the strong fragrance was a bit overwhelming for Chen Xie, but for Zhang Xin, it was an irresistible delicacy. Zhang Xin, a scholar, held the noodles uncertainly, "Eat here?"

Chen Xie laughed, "Why so many formalities? Just eat here." Unable to resist, Zhang Xin sat on a bench in the courtyard and started eating, unable to stop after the first bite.

Chen Xie went back inside and was stunned. The three of them had not only finished the noodles but had also drunk the soup, licking the bowls clean. Xiao Xuan was the most enthusiastic, turning the bowl as she licked, her whole face in the bowl. Chen Xie's heart ached, and no matter how rational he was, he couldn't help but feel moved.

What kind of world is this?

The story of Master Chen Xie using magic to create delicious food spread throughout the Zhang family within half an hour, and the tale became more exaggerated. One version even said, "Master Si Hua pinched the magic seal and chanted..."

In any case, it startled Zhou Shi, who was instructing the cook to prepare breakfast. She came out and was also surprised. She quickly went to the west wing to see what was happening. What she saw made her both amused and exasperated: her three sons, the oldest standing aside drooling, the two younger ones with their faces buried in the large bowls, eating with sweat on their heads.

Even Zhou Shi couldn't resist the fragrance and swallowed a few times. The food in the Ming Dynasty was indeed free of pollution, and a modern person would find it hard to get used to the lack of modern seasonings. There was no doubt about that.

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