Chapter 6: A Gentleman Stays Away from the Kitchen

After fumbling with the Tang Dynasty clothing, Fang Yiai realized how difficult it was to wear. It was only with Linglong's help that he managed to dress properly. Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, Fang Yiai thought that without Linglong, he would have dressed himself like a beggar.

He washed his face quickly and, after drying it, noticed that Linglong still had the same hairstyle from yesterday. Smiling, he made Linglong stand in front of the mirror, holding her shoulders and said, "Linglong, stand still. Today, I'll give you a new hairstyle, guaranteed to make you happy!"

Linglong was shocked by Fang Yiai's words. The second young master was actually going to style her hair. She didn't know what to do, just standing there dumbfounded. Fang Yiai skillfully untangled Linglong's hair, then styled it into a small bun, securing it with a hairpin, and let the rest of her hair flow freely. Looking at his work, Fang Yiai clapped his hands and laughed, "It's done! Linglong, how does it look? If you don't like it, I can change it!"

However, Fang Yiai saw two tear tracks on Linglong's face. Linglong was overwhelmed with gratitude. She felt incredibly happy, thinking that having such a young master was a blessing from many lifetimes. She didn't care if it looked good or not; anything done by the second young master was fine with her. Fang Yiai, puzzled, turned Linglong's delicate body and asked, "Linglong, why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?" Linglong shook her head, "Second young master, why are you so good to Linglong? I'll never be able to leave you!"

"Silly girl, is that why? What's wrong with me being good to you? Who says a young master can't be kind to a maid? Besides, if you can't leave, so be it. Having a beautiful maid like you, I'd wake up smiling in my dreams. Look at all the drool on my mouth." He pointed to the saliva at the corner of his mouth. Seeing this, Linglong took out a handkerchief and wiped it off, smiling, "Second young master, as long as you don't send Linglong away, I'll follow you for life."

"Alright, no more silly talk. Let's go have breakfast!" He then pulled Linglong's hand and walked out. Linglong wiped her tears and frowned, "Second young master, what breakfast? There doesn't seem to be any breakfast prepared in the manor!"

Fang Yiai was taken aback. After some thought, he realized that the custom of three meals a day wasn't common yet; most people had two meals a day. But he, who was used to having breakfast, couldn't bear it. Moreover, skipping breakfast was very harmful to the body. He decided, "Linglong, let's go to the kitchen. I'll make something delicious for you today!"

Linglong was puzzled. What was the second young master up to now? But she obediently led him to the kitchen. Before they entered, a middle-aged auntie came out and said, "Second young master, why are you here? Your precious body shouldn't be in the kitchen. Just tell me what you want, and I'll make it for you."

Fang Yiai didn't know how to address the auntie, but Linglong understood and said, "Auntie Liu, just let it be. The second young master wants to make something himself, and we'll just watch."

Seeing the second young master's personal maid speak, Auntie Liu didn't argue further, though she still thought it was inappropriate. She looked at Fang Yiai with a worried expression, and Fang Yiai felt helpless, all because of the saying "a gentleman stays away from the kitchen."

Fang Yiai entered the kitchen, took a piece of dough, added some oil and meat, sprinkled some salt, and shaped it into a rectangular flatbread. He then cut it into strips. He poured oil into the pan and waited for it to heat up. He then asked Auntie Liu, "Auntie Liu, where are the beans?"

"Ah, second young master, wait a moment, I'll get them for you." Seeing Auntie Liu leave, Fang Yiai knew the beans weren't in the kitchen. He took the opportunity to find two large earthenware jars and a piece of iron to make a funnel, stuffing some cotton into it. When Auntie Liu returned with the beans, Fang Yiai took two handfuls, placed them in the jar, added water, and used a small wooden stick to mash them. Soon, the water in the jar turned white, and the beans were mostly crushed. Fang Yiai then had Linglong place the funnel over another jar and poured the mixture through it, resulting in white liquid flowing into the jar below, while the funnel caught the bean residue. After this, Fang Yiai told Linglong, "Linglong, boil the soy milk in the jar and don't forget to add some water to the pot!" Linglong nodded and took the jar to the small pot, while Fang Yiai, seeing the oil was ready, started stretching the dough and frying it. Soon, golden-brown oil sticks were ready. After frying about forty oil sticks, Linglong had also boiled the soy milk. Fang Yiai wiped his hands on his apron and laughed, "Linglong and Auntie Liu, sit down and try my cooking. This is called an oil stick, and I made it myself. You've never had it before."

Linglong smiled bitterly. Whatever the second young master said, she would do. She poured the soy milk into three bowls, and Fang Yiai put about twenty oil sticks in a basket. The three of them started eating. Fang Yiai ate ravenously, enjoying the perfect combination of soy milk and oil sticks. Linglong and Auntie Liu also found the oil sticks very fragrant and delicious, especially with the soy milk. Auntie Liu asked, "Second young master, where did you learn to make oil sticks and soy milk? They taste really good!"

"Auntie Liu, have you ever seen anyone else make oil sticks?" Fang Yiai didn't bother explaining, as it was hard to explain. Auntie Liu thought about it and realized the oil sticks and soy milk were indeed the second young master's creation.

"Linglong, how do you like it? If you like it, I'll make it for you often," Fang Yiai asked, smiling and drinking some soy milk. Linglong felt very happy and said, "Second young master, the oil sticks are very fragrant, but in the future, I'll make them for you. It's not proper for a young master to go to the kitchen every day. If Lady finds out, I'll be scolded!"

"That's right, second young master. If you want to eat, just tell me. I've learned how to make them, so it's no trouble," Auntie Liu said, not wanting the second young master and Linglong to cook in the kitchen, as it would be embarrassing for her. Fang Yiai knew it wasn't practical for him to cook every day, so he nodded and said, "Auntie Liu, then breakfast will be your responsibility from now on!"

"Second young master, you're too kind. I'm in charge of the kitchen, and it's my duty to cook for the Fang family. It's no trouble at all!" Auntie Liu waved her hands, feeling embarrassed that the second young master had cooked once. She now had a very good impression of the second young master, thinking that he was a good person, and those who spoke ill of him were the real scoundrels.

After breakfast, Fang Yiai returned to his courtyard and started making a reclining chair. When the frame was almost ready, he noticed the iron rods and control handles he needed hadn't arrived. He asked Fang De, "Uncle De, why haven't the things I asked for arrived?"

"Second young master, don't worry. I sent Fang Quan to get them, and he should be back soon," Fang De said, smiling, but inwardly cursing Fang Quan for being so slow. Just as Fang De was annoyed, Fang Quan ran in, panting, and placed the items on the ground, smiling foolishly, "Second young master, I've brought the things you asked for. Check if these are what you wanted." Fang Yiai looked and nodded, while Fang De, frowning, said, "Fang Quan, what took you so long? Did you go somewhere to play?"

"Fang steward, it's not my fault. I was unlucky. On the way, I encountered two groups of people fighting. They blocked the road, and I couldn't pass. I tried to squeeze through, but they knocked me down. If it weren't for the Jinwu guards, I wouldn't have made it back," Fang Quan complained.

"You rascal, do you think I'll believe you? You always have so many excuses," Fang De said, tapping Fang Quan's head.

Fang Yiai looked at Fang Quan's tall and strong figure, nearly six feet tall, and found it amusing that he was so afraid of Fang De. Seeing Fang De about to scold Fang Quan further, Fang Yiai laughed and said, "Uncle De, let Fang Quan off. He's not lying. Look at the green stains on his back; he must have sat on some cabbage leaves."

"Ah, second young master, you're really clever. I was thrown into a pile of cabbages. Those people were so arrogant. I told them I was from the Fang family, but they still treated me like that," Fang Quan said angrily. In Chang'an, who would dare not give the Fang family some respect? Although the Fang family never bullied others, they couldn't be pushed around either.

Hearing this, Fang De stroked his beard, and Fang Yiai thought the other party had gone too far. They were fighting and blocking the road. Fang Yiai frowned and asked, "Fang Quan, do you know who they were? Usually, such fights are handled by the Jingzhao Prefecture, not the Jinwu guards."

"Second young master, you're right. The fight was between Changsun Chong and Cheng Huailiang's people," Fang Quan said, scratching his head. Fang Yiai understood. Changsun Chong wouldn't give the Fang family any face. If Fang Quan hadn't mentioned the Fang family, Changsun Chong might have let him pass. But since he did, Changsun Chong definitely wouldn't let him through. The Changsun and Fang families were bitter enemies, and Changsun Wujie wished Fang Xuanling would die soon.

Fang De also understood. No wonder the other party ignored Fang Quan; they were from the Changsun family. It was no wonder he was treated that way.

With everything ready, Fang Yiai, with Fang Quan and Fang De's help, quickly finished the reclining chair. The frame was ready, but the fabric wasn't. Fang Yiai measured and cut the fabric, then told Linglong, "Linglong, now you sew the fabric onto the chair. You'll be a great help!" Linglong smiled and started sewing skillfully. Fang Yiai didn't idle, cutting the remaining bamboo into small squares and writing characters on them with a brush: soldier, pawn, horse, elephant, cannon, general, king, chariot. This was clearly a chess set from the future. Fang De and Fang Quan watched curiously, wondering what the second young master was up to. It looked like chess, but it was quite different.

Linglong quickly finished sewing and, seeing Fang Yiai still working, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Second young master, I'm done. Is there anything else to do?"

"Hmm, that was fast. Fang Quan, carry the reclining chair and let's go to Father's courtyard," Fang Yiai said, handing the chess pieces to Linglong and smiling, "Linglong, keep these pieces safe. I'll teach you how to play when I come back!" Fang Yiai led Fang De and Fang Quan to his father's courtyard. Inside, he saw his father, Fang Xuanling, watering flowers. Fang Yiai flattered him, "Father, you truly know how to live. I need to learn more from you. I feel I lack patience."

"Hmm, it's good that you have this thought. Tending to flowers can cultivate one's mind. If you want to learn, I'll teach you everything," Fang Xuanling said, feeling flattered. After a moment, he noticed the reclining chair and asked, "Jun'er, what is this?"

"Father, this is a reclining chair. I noticed you sit on a low stool, which is uncomfortable and bad for your back. I thought hard and came up with this. Why don't you try it and see if it's suitable?" Fang Yiai said, setting up the chair. Fang Xuanling, hearing it was a chair, smiled and sat down, leaning his head back and laughing, "Jun'er, this is excellent. It's very comfortable, and my back feels fine. It's even better than lying in bed. But always lying on my back isn't good."

Fang Yiai didn't say much, just pulled the chair's handle forward and locked it, smiling, "Father, how does it feel now?"

"Ah, this is amazing. It can be adjusted. What a great invention!" Fang Xuanling was very curious, studying the chair. It was very comfortable and could be adjusted to any position. He was very pleased and laughed, "Jun'er, you've done me a great favor. I won't have to worry about what to sit on anymore."

"Ha, I'm glad you like it. It was worth the effort," Fang Yiai said, feeling happy that his father liked the chair. Making his father comfortable was more important than anything.

As the two were chatting happily about the chair, Lady Lu came out of the house, saw Fang Xuanling on the strange chair, and became interested. She pulled Fang Xuanling up and lay down on the chair herself, not wanting to get up. She said to Fang Xuanling, "Lord, this is really nice. From now on, it's mine!"

"Ah, my lady, what about me? This was made specifically for me!" Fang Xuanling was flustered, his beard flying. He had finally gotten a good thing, and his wife had taken it over. Lady Lu raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't care. You lived without it before."

Fang Xuanling was speechless and pointed at Fang Yiai, saying, "Brat, this is all your fault. You have two days to make another reclining chair for me, or I'll hang you on the city gate to dry in the sun!"

Fang Yiai was annoyed. The old man was too shameless, taking out his frustration on his son after being scolded by his wife. But Fang Yiai had to endure it, as the old man was his father.