Chu Lian picked one up with her fair fingers and tasted it. There was a refreshingly light taste in the midst of the sweetness, just enough to avoid being cloyingly sweet. When she bit into it, the chewy texture was accompanied by the taste of honey. And when she swallowed, her mouth was filled with the fragrance of kumquats. It was Xiyan's first time making these, so she had put a little too much rock sugar during the cooking process and caused the taste to be a little too heavy. Other than that, she had done well.
Xiyan watched Chu Lians expression anxiously, waiting for her evaluation.
Chu Lian finished eating one piece and nodded while smiling gently, "Everyone, take a piece to try!"
The other three maidservants had already been watching with their eyes wide. Upon hearing Chu Lian's words, they were unable to hold back and they each picked up a piece to eat. They had already been attracted to these candied kumquats the second Xiyan had carried the plate in.
Kumquats were tart when eaten directly, and might even be a little sour depending on the fruit. However, after preparing them in this manner, their tartness and sourness were completely erased. Instead, the special, delicate fragrance and sweetness of the kumquats shone through.
The maidservants carefully took a bite, and their eyes immediately lit up.
Mingyan nodded bashfully. It was at this moment that Chu Lian realised that she got shy easily.
As expected, without something to compare the pumpkin pastries to, all the maidservants would have said that those were the best. However, after eating the sweets made from following Chu Lians secret recipe, the maidservants finally realised why Third Young Madam had said that those pastries weren't all that tasty.
"How is it?" Chu Lian asked as she smiled.
The maidservants nodded fervently, like chickens pecking at grains.
When Chu Lian saw that they didn't seem content with what they just had, she turned to look at the large clay plate of kumquats on the other side of the room and gave a few instructions to Xiyan. Xiyan, go and turn all these into candied kumquats. This time, put less rock sugar and put aside two small bowls of it. I'll send them over to Grandmother and Mother myself. All of you can share the rest.
Candied kumquats could be eaten for dessert, or they could even be brewed in a fruity tea. It could regulate qi flow within the body and dissolve phlegm. Combined with red dates, they served as a good supplement for older women.
Xiyan had just learned how to make this recipe, so of course she wanted to make it a few more times to practice it. Third Young Madam could also use these candied kumquats to show off her skills to the He Family, and as a result, she might be able to stand a little more firmly in the household.
It seemed like Matriarch He had a lot to say to He Changdi. It was almost 11am before he came back.
Although Chu Lian didn't really want to bother with him, since they were now a married couple, she had to go through the motions out of courtesy.
The two of them were to eat their midday meals together in their own courtyard.
After sending a little maid over to the kitchen to pass the message, after 20 minutes, the kitchen would send maidservants over with the food.
Mingyan laid out the dishes together with two other maidservants before escorting Chu Lian out of her room for the meal. He Changdi had gone to his study after returning from the matriarch's place, so Senior Servant Gui went over to inform him.
Chu Lian hadn't eaten much in the morning and the pastries that Xiyan had specially brought back from the kitchen weren't to her liking. Although she had eaten two candied kumquats, those sweets couldn't fill her stomach. She had finally managed to make it to the midday meal, and she was hungry!
Mingyan escorted her to the parlour. Chu Lian's expectant gaze was already fixed on the table from a distance away.
However, upon seeing the four or five dishes arranged there, her shining gaze dulled with disappointment, like a little girl whose lollipop had been taken away.
What, what was this!?
The people of the Great Wu Dynasty were clearly well-dressed. Things here looked about the same as in the Tang Dynasty. However, why was it that their meals were this poor!
Look, look! Look at what's on the table!
There was a pancake as big as her palm, made out of some ingredients she couldn't identify. There were also some white chunks of meat, cooked vegetables, and a fish in some soup that looked completely unappetising
Out of the few dishes on the table, the ones that looked the most attractive were the two bowls of rice. The rice grains looked white enough, at the very least.
Chu Lian finally realised why those average pastries could make the House of Count Jingan so famous. With these unappetising dishes as the base of the country's cuisine, even the Tianjin crepes commonly sold as street snacks would be famed all over the capital!
Mingyan saw that the corners of her mistress lips were twitching, and her expression didn't look quite right. She thought that there was something that Third Young Madam couldn't eat amongst the dishes, so she anxiously asked, "Third Young Madam, could it be that these dishes aren't to your liking?"
Chu Lian resisted the urge to spit up blood. She held on to the dredges of her conscience and shook her head, somehow managing a fake smile. "Not at all."
At the same time that Mingyan relaxed, she whispered into Chu Lian's ear, "Third Young Madam, look, there's roasted venison! We wouldn't have even gotten the chance to eat that six months ago in the House of Duke Ying!"
Chu Lian didn't know how to react. Were the people around her all hidden foodies?
Right at that moment, He Changdi came into the room and cast a sideways glance at Chu Lian before sitting down at the head of the table. He looked completely reluctant to bother with his newlywed bride.
Chu Lian bobbed in greeting towards He Changdi before sitting on the stool next to him.
Fuyan and Jingyan, who were serving them from the side, passed chopsticks to both of them.
Chu Lian was too busy frowning down at the dishes on the table to notice He Changdi, who was currently observing her in secret out of the corner of his eyes.
Upon discovering the expression on her face, he laughed mockingly in his heart. "Oh? This village bumpkin from the House of Duke Ying must have been scared silly by a normal meal from their House of Count Jingan! Heh! She couldn't even decide which dish to start with, how shameful!"
Any noble in the capital would know that the House of Duke Ying was no longer as prosperous as they were twenty years ago, despite their expanded family tree. At this point, the House was simply an empty shell of its former self. If there were no promising descendants in the House once the old Duke Ying passed away, there was a tacit understanding amongst the nobles of the capital that the Ying House would surely disappear, becoming a mere speck in the annals of history.
Heh! In his past life, that bitch Chu Lian was still around to support her family's House. However, here in this new life, he was to determined to never let history repeat itself!
A cold glint flashed through the depths of He Changdis black eyes. When he recalled how his grandmother had requested a meeting with him in Qingxi Hall, and how she had instructed him to live in peace and harmony with Chu Lian from now on, he had found it laughable.
If he could, he would have told his family everything that had happened in his past life! If only he could do that, then he would make his kind family understand what a shameless and malicious woman that Chu Lian was!
Unfortunately, if he did so, his family probably wouldn't believe him. Not to mention, they would probably think there was something wrong with him.
The hand that He Changdi was gripping his chopsticks with unconsciously tightened, almost snapping them in two.
His abnormal actions attracted Chu Lians attention. She watched his handsome face contort slightly as he seemed to be bearing some hidden pain. Chu Lian frowned and asked, "Husband, is anything the matter?"
Chu Lians voice was like a hammer knocking on his tightly wound nerves. He Changdi stiffened. It took him a few seconds to recover his calm.
"Hmph! Just eat! These dishes are probably hard to come by in the Ying Household!" His icy cold voice seemed to be emanating frost.
In the past life, when they had just married, he had personally served some food to her. His heart had been filled with joy as he watched his beautiful, young wife pick from the dishes on the table timidly while her mouth never stopped moving. His young wife must have suffered much in the House of Duke Ying. Half of the dishes on the table had all gone into her stomach, especially the two pieces of roasted venison. She had praises aplenty for the meal.
Those memories played out in He Changdis mind without bidding, upsetting him and filling with bitter hatred.
When he saw that Chu Lian seemed to be in a daze and hadn't moved her chopsticks at all, the corners of his mouth raised and he took the two pieces of venison, placing them into his own bowl.
Chu Lian:....
The maidservants:.....
Senior Servant Gui:.....
Chu Lians expression stiffened. She didn't understand what this young master was trying to do. None of the dishes here were to her liking anyway. Especially those two unappetising pieces of venison. Actually, she was relieved that he had solved her problem and taken both pieces for himself!
With her mood slightly improved, Chu Lian took some of the leafy vegetables in front of her. Although the cook had added some salt and pork grease to them, the fresh, natural flavour of the vegetables still shone through. Mmmm, tasty!
Chu Lian tried a few of the other dishes. There were only two flavours on the table: tasteless or salty. Furthermore, because they had cooked the dishes for too long, the freshness of the ingredients was gone. All the dishes failed Chu Lian's taste test!
After mentally drawing a line through all the dishes on the table, the only one that she had bothered to keep eating was that small plate of leafy vegetables in front of her.
With Chu Lians picky taste buds, she barely managed to finish half a bowl of rice. Her main dish was, of course, the vegetables.
She didn't seem to think anything of it, but the expressions of the maidservants and Senior Servant Gui changed.
Young Madam had been so frightened by Young Master's actions that she had only dared to eat the leafy vegetables in front of her. Young Master even took away the best dish so that Young Madam couldn't have it. How could he be so evil!
Third Young Madams looks could be compared to a flower in bloom, and she had just married into the family. She couldn't possibly have offended Young Master. However, Young Master was already treating her in this manner when they were newly wed. How were they going to continue living out their days with a start like this?!
Senior Servant Gui's brows drew together as she started worrying about Chu Lian's future.
On the contrary, Fuyan's lips curled up into a secret smile. Since Young Master didn't seem to like Sixth Miss, that meant that she had a chance
Mingyan and Jingyan, who were standing behind Chu Lian, were shocked silly by He Changdi's actions.
Those two pieces of venison were rather big; one of them could cover an entire bowl.
The Jingan Household ate venison regularly. However, He Changdi actually didn't like to eat venison. He had only taken it to provoke Chu Lian in a moment of impulse. When he imagined how she would have a restless night because of the poor meal, he felt extremely refreshed.
For the sake of making Chu Lian watch helplessly as he ate the venison, He Sanlang held back his disgust and acted as if he was enjoying his meal, forcing down the two pieces with huge, hungry bites.
By the end of it, he was already completely nauseous. He swallowed the last bite while suppressing the urge to vomit.
The dishes weren't to Chu Lians taste, and she had a small appetite. Thus, she simply put down her chopsticks and stopped eating. Without anything left to do, she watched He Changdi eat his venison while she sat idle by his side. Chu Lian gulped. She felt anxious just watching him. Honestly, what was going on in this guys head? He looked like he was still determined to finish eating it even though he was clearly in pain. Finally, out of the kindness of her heart, Chu Lian got Mingyan to pour a cup of warm water, and she placed it in front of him.
"Eat a little slower! Why don't you drink some water?" Chu Lian said sympathetically.