Chapter 16
Couldn’t Cook
Xiao Jin truly wanted to spit the pastry out, but the crispy peach biscuit melted instantly into his mouth. At this point, only the dense fragrance was left.
On the other hand, the innocent and adorable Ling did not know what she had done, making her father frozen on the spot for a long time.
Su Ying touched Ji’s and Mama Zhao’s foreheads. Perhaps it was because of the weather, both recovered rather slowly. They were still having low fevers. Nevertheless, Mama Zhao’s pneumonia had improved, and the fluid noise in her lungs was no longer as prominent.
“Princess, I found a well in the backyard. It is good and has fresh water. I brought some for the young Prince and Mama Zhao to wipe their bodies.”
Su Ying felt that since she had already been exiled, there was no need to address her respectfully. She didn’t want to expose her identity and cause unnecessary trouble.
“Bai Shuang, you can call me sister in the future. I’m no longer some Princess.”
Bai Shuang didn’t dare to call Su Ying her sister, and she shook her head in refusal.
She felt that Su Ying had changed too much. In the past, Su Ying had valued her status the most. Even if she treated her well, Su Ying had strictly distinguished them as master and servant. So Bai Shuang did not dare to think of overstepping the boundary.
“I, maybe I shall call you Madam.”
Su Ying didn’t quite understand the hierarchy deeply rooted in people’s hearts in this place, but as Bai Shuang insisted, she didn’t say more.
Su Ying took out the iron pot that she had bought. In Chu, there were restrictions on the use of iron for commoners, and she had to pay a high price for it. However, she had always eaten processed food post-apocalypse, so she had no idea how to use this thing.
“Bai Shuang, do you know how to cook?”
Bai Shuang was put in a difficult spot. Su Ying was the Prime Minister’s daughter before she married. Even though she wasn’t favored, she still had a big kitchen providing most of her meals. Bai Shuang was a house-born servant in the Prime Minister’s residence. She would be comparable to a young lady from a small family, and she had never been in a kitchen.
“I, I don’t know. But I can try.”
“If young lady trust this old man, I can do it.” He Shouyi stood up from the corner and said.
Su Ying looked at him. “You know how to cook?”
He Shouyi smiled. “I know a little. As long as you have the ingredients, I can make anything.”
“I do. I really bought a lot.” Su Ying opened her bag and took out a few eggs, some tiger jerky, and some seasonal vegetables. She didn’t know how to use these things and simply bought everything she thought was edible.
“Why don’t you look and see if there’s anything you can use? Let’s make a nice meal.”
Seeing that she was willing to trust him, He Shouyi walked to the bags and picked out a few ingredients. “These are enough.”
“OK. You can take whatever you need. Bai Shuang will be your assistant.”
He Shouyi nodded and followed Bai Shuang out of the house to the backyard.
This farmhouse only had one exit. As long as they didn’t go out of the gate, the bailiffs wouldn’t restrict their movements too much.
Su Ying carefully fed Ji the nutrient solution in the water bag. The little guy was already thin and now more skinny due to the sickness. Her heart ached for him. She thought that when the little boy recovered, she would definitely think of a way to feed him until he was chubby and fair.
“Cough, cough…”
As she put Ji Down, Mama Zhao started coughing violently.
Su Ying had to pat her back.
After coughing, Mama Zhao woke up slowly. She opened her eyes and looked at Su Ying, still in a daze.
“P-Princess …”
“Mama Zhao, you’re awake. Sit up and drink some water.”
Su Ying placed a bottle of glucose solution near her lips.
Mama Zhao’s throat was indeed uncomfortable. She opened her mouth to take a sip and realized that the water was sweet.
She hurriedly pushed the water away and could not bear to drink anymore. “This old servant is not thirsty. Princess, you can keep it for yourself.”
Su Ying looked at her kind eyes and felt a little depressed. “I still have a lot. Drink it quickly. Only then will you get better.”
Looking at her expecting eyes, Mama Zhao couldn’t bear to disappoint her, so she drank all the glucose water.
She thought she was going to die and didn’t expect to have the chance to wake up again.
“Mama Zhao, you must be hungry. Bai Shuang has gone to cook. We will have something to eat soon.”
Mama Zhao was a little surprised. It was already good enough for them to have one meal of dry food a day. How could they have the means to cook?
Su Ying saw her confusion and explained: “When we got to a county town today, I asked the bailiffs to buy some things for me so we don’t have to eat dry food tonight.”
Mama Zhao didn’t think too much about it. When she was exiled, she had secretly given Su Ying some money. It seemed like she hadn’t used it up.
“What’s the matter with the young Prince?” Mama Zhao’s heart ached as she looked at Ji lying beside her. How did such a good child become like this?
“Mama Zhao, don’t worry. He is just sick. He’ll be fine soon after taking medicine.”
Mama Zhao shook her head sorrowfully, thinking that Su Ying was trying to comfort her. They were on the road to exile, and a cold could take the life of an adult, let alone a child.
“It smells so good…”
There was a strong fragrance in the air, which drew Su Ying’s attention immediately. “I’ll go to the backyard to take a look.”
Su Ying couldn’t wait and ran to the backyard. She saw He Shouyi making pancakes. The fragrance of oil and water mixed with rice flour was simply to die for!
As a battle general who was decisive in killing, Su Ying’s only hobby, besides training, was looking at pictures of delicious food from the past. The reason why she was so addicted to it was that her comrade from an ancient martial arts family had once obtained some ingredients and made some dishes for her. She still couldn’t forget the taste.
“Madam, these pancakes are ready. Try them.” Bai Shuang brought a pancake to Su Ying.
Su Ying didn’t stand at the ceremony with her and immediately ate.
With one mouthful, the taste of rice and oil mixed could make her swallow her tongue.
Before she could even recover from the aftertaste, the pancake was gone.
“Your cooking is amazing.” She gave He Shouyi a thumbs up.
Having been recognized for his cooking skills, He Shouyi laughed. “It is good that you like it, young lady.
Su Ying let the other two eat as well. Then, she took a few pancakes and went back into the house. When she entered, nearly twenty pairs of eyes were fixed on the pancakes in her hands.
Su Ying brought the pancake to Ling. “Ling, come and have some.”
Ling felt that she was going to be overwhelmed by happiness today. There were peach biscuits and then pancakes. It was as if she had returned to the past!
“Take two more for your father.”
Ling nodded obediently.
Ling took the pancakes and was about to give them to Xiao Jin, who was taking care of Ji, when a figure suddenly rushed out from the corner, snatched the pancake from Ling’s hand, and stuffed it into his mouth like a madman.
“Ling, be careful!”
“Ah!”
Ling was startled by the sudden turn of events. She staggered and fell to the ground.