Chapter 122: Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Previously, Yueqian had never known that people had such beliefs. Otherwise, she would have ventured into the lush and humid forest more often. After all, these mushrooms were very delicious. It was worth the trip into the forest to gather them for cooking.
After collecting a decent amount, the beautiful woman led the children back to the tent where the soldiers were setting up a pot and tossing in deer bones. The aroma of the broth was distinctive. If they sold the deer, it could fetch several coins. This was a great regret for the two little children. They understood well the value of the food the soldiers were preparing.
Previously, even getting to eat broth with floating meat scraps was difficult for them. But since their sister-in-law joined the family, their living conditions had changed. Nevertheless, meat was still something they felt was precious. They remembered how, before, when their big brother got a deer, the people from the main house scrambled for that money.
Thinking of this, they could only sigh. Nowadays, just by traveling around, they could eat the big deer that they once could only watch being turned into silver coins.
Mu Heng followed his wife in another direction. Yueqian discreetly used water to clean the mushrooms. She also asked Mu Heng to build a separate fire next to the tent. Although the soldiers noticed them starting a fire and setting up a small pot, they didn’t pay much attention. They remembered that this Eldest Young Miss Qin had brought many chests with her, one of which she kept in the carriage, likely containing these pots.
Even if they didn’t understand what she was doing, it wasn’t their place to care. Though she might not hold the status of the eldest young miss now, in the future, she was bound to regain it. She might even become the principal wife of the Young General’s household.
Thus, even if they had to create some minor inconveniences as ordered by the Qin family head, they couldn’t afford to be disrespectful to her.
"The water is boiling, Sister-in-law," a little girl called out. Yueqian, not far away, walked over with a few lumps of salt. She then added the mushrooms and one or two red chilies.
The salty fragrant gradually wafted to their noses. Yueqian didn’t add too much salt; this was a simple salted termite mushroom soup. These crispy, delicious mushrooms required only water and salt to taste great. But how could that be satisfying enough for her? The beautiful woman first moved the termite mushroom soup pot away from the fire, then placed a small pan on the simple stone stove.
She poured high-quality vegetable oil into the pan, releasing a soft, distinctive aroma. Although the children had smelled this fragrance many times, they still got excited every time.
Of course, if the children felt that way, how could the soldiers, who had never known vegetable oil, not be astonished? The oil the cooks usually used had a rancid smell when cooking. But they had never smelled such a kind of oil that did not have such smell. Moreover, it smelled nice from the moment it had been poured into the pan. It was clearly a high-quality product.
However, how did such a high-quality item end up in the hands of Eldest Young Miss Qin, who had been expelled from her family?! Could it be that her mother had prepared a substantial dowry for her, including this expensive oil?
What a caring mother...
The aroma of the vegetable oil was already fragrant, but after adding the termite mushrooms, it emitted an even more distinct fragrance. The smell of salt and the sauce from the small dark brown bottle was peculiar, yet it made people involuntarily swallow their saliva.
Of course, this was stir-fried termite mushrooms with oyster sauce. The taste was incredibly delicious and expensive, as the ingredients, particularly the termite mushrooms, were not easy to find. Therefore, buying a dish of stir-fried termite mushrooms with oyster sauce was like paying for three meals in one. Nonetheless, eating them with hot steamed rice could make one feel incredibly happy.
Today’s rice, Yueqian had observed how the soldiers cooked the rice. This was a grand meal because the Qin family soldiers were celebrating their early deer hunt. They were not stingy with the sack of rice they had carried from the city where they had picked up Eldest Young Miss Qin.
In addition, in four days, they would reach a village. They could buy rice there, and that would be great. Along the way, they could eat roasted meat. If the rice they had bought ran out, it wouldn’t matter, as they still had plenty of round flat cakes they bought. Soldiers like them rarely had the chance to eat well, often having to travel through forests and mountains. Even during training, they didn’t have the time to eat, sit, and sleep comfortably. As long as they were full, they didn’t mind much.
Today’s grand meal, with Yueqian using the soldiers’ supplies, meant she didn’t have to cook rice herself. These termite mushrooms were best eaten with delicious rice.
After preparing two dishes, Yueqian finally stopped cooking. The aroma of her food filled the area, but she wasn’t kind enough to share it with anyone. Her face remained haughty, showing the difference in status between her and the Qin family soldiers, just as she always did.
Such behavior was something people had become accustomed to. Previously, they all feared her. They had no right to fight if she threw a tantrum. However, since she had stopped losing her temper, people had become much braver.
Although the rice was cooked, their side dish was not yet ready. The pot was large enough to hold half a deer, so it took considerable time to bring it to a proper boil. Moreover, they had to endure the hunger induced by the smell of Yueqian’s food, causing their stomachs to growl in protest.
"Eldest Young Miss Qin, what kind of dishes are those? Are they stir-fried mushrooms and mushroom soup?" One soldier asked hesitantly. If it weren’t for the overwhelming fragrance, he wouldn’t have had a courage to ask her like this.
"..........." Yueqian didn’t say anything. She narrowed her upturned eyes at him. Her gaze was naturally fierce, and this look made her even more intimidating.
"Ah, um... that is..." The soldier seemed to snap back to his senses and took three steps back to distance himself from Yueqian. His eyes flickered. Even he himself was shocked that he had such the audacity. Did he dare to look at the Eldest Young Miss Qin’s food within the distance of only two meters?
In the past, he would have been beaten to death for this. What kind of punishment Eldest Young Miss would give him now?
"Why? Do you want to try some? These are good mushrooms." Yueqian seemed as if she had thought of something clever. Her initially angry eyes turned into those of a sly and malevolent look.
The beautiful woman picked up a mushroom using chopsticks, staring at the soldier as if she were looking at prey.
"Sister-in-law, we haven’t tested for poison yet," Xiao Long, holding a silver needle, stopped her.
Indeed, Yueqian already knew they hadn’t tested for poison. She also knew the food wasn’t poisoned. She simply wanted to use her malevolence to tease people a bit.
Otherwise, her identity as a villainess might fade away at any time. Suddenly, could this wretched person, having a husband in a remote village, become a better person?
This was certainly impossible. Even though Yueqian might have relaxed in Mu Heng’s village, it was different in the capital. Moreover, even if the rural villagers spoke up, do you think the city folk who knew what demonic creature like her could do would believe them?
If someone said that Yueqian was a kind person who liked to help others, the people in the city would probably rush to find a physician to check if they were delirious from a fever, or they might even look for an exorcist to expel the evil spirit from their bodies.
This made her indifferent to doing good deeds in those faraway places. For people from the capital, they shouldn’t see her softening her malevolence. Otherwise, it would be inconvenient to do anything.
"Xiao Long, your sister-in-law is about to test for poison. These soldiers, sent by my father from the Qin family to ensure my safety, can be used to test for poison. If there is any, we won’t have to eat it," Yueqian turned to scold Xiao Long lightly. She spoke as if the mushrooms were indeed likely to be poisonous, and the tester was right before them.
One Qin family soldier was of no importance to her. If he died, he would have fulfilled his duty of testing for poison.
Upon seeing her demeanor, the soldiers who heard it swallowed nervously. Previously, they had heard rumors that Eldest Young Miss Qin got along well with the rural villagers and had completely changed. After traveling together for three nights, they thought those rumors might be true. But now, their thoughts changed again, just like the confusing changing of seasons.
Yes, how could the Villainess Qin turn into an Angel Qin? In truth, the villainess remained a villainess through and through. No! Actually, it seemed she had become even more wicked.
The intense hostility that made people want to keep their distance had vanished, but whenever they let their guard down, they would find themselves facing the embrace of hell welcoming them.
"Sister-in-law, but if it’s poisonous, it could harm the person who eats it.”
"It’s alright, Xiao Long. If it’s poisonous, my father will give their families a little more money. Their deaths would be a sacrifice for us," Yueqian sneered.
She didn’t put down the stir-fried termite mushrooms with oyster sauce. Instead, she beckoned the soldier closer with her small hand.
"Come here. Aren’t you ordered to ensure my safety? Then test if it’s poisonous," Yueqian said nonchalantly, as if the soldier’s life was disposable and not considered a life.
The soldier’s eyes turned red. He clenched his fists with anger, his hatred doubling, although it was in fact the same amount as before since it was already at its peak of how much he could hate someone.
"Eldest Young Miss, the venison is ready. You can..." Before another soldier could finish, Yueqian shifted her sharp gaze to him.
"Is that so? But I want to eat these mushrooms. You come too. Testing with one person might not be enough," Yueqian smiled maliciously.
Xiao Long was so shocked upon listening to those words. He wanted to use the silver needle to poke and test the food right then. If it wasn’t for his big brother who gently patted his hand, signaling him to wait and listen to their sister-in-law, he would’ve really done that.
"Y-You..."
"What? Are you defying orders? Aren’t you ensuring my safety? Fine, when we return to the capital, I’ll report this to my father. Let him sell you off and punish your families for daring to betray your master!" Yueqian’s cruelty escalated as she spoke.Her demeanor was arrogant and ruthless, far from what normal humans would do.
