Chapter 411: Dark History
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Xiongnu people did not understand either. “Maybe they came to freeload on food because of the smell.”
Who would suspect a few birds? Hence, after tying the letter to the carrier pigeon’s leg, they let it fly in peace and did not pay much attention to the wild birds that flew away with it.
How could they have guessed that the carrier pigeon would not be able to fly far before it was caught by those “wild birds” and sent to Xiaoxiao?
Rong Yan was very surprised. “So your so-called NPC can also transform into a non-human?”
The letter on the pigeon’s leg was indeed for the Crown Prince. However, what caught people between laughter and tears was that apart from questioning, he actually mentioned asking the Crown Prince for money the most. It could be seen how unwilling he was to use iron ore to repay his debt.
The more unhappy he was, the happier Xiaoxiao was. After reading the letter over and over again, she touched her chin. “I wonder if there’s any special secret code in the letter. We can’t change it casually.”
She thought for a moment and happily decided. “Then I’ll just confiscate it.”
He put away the letter. As for this pigeon…
Rong Yan chuckled. “Do you want to eat it?”
Xiaoxiao blushed. He was bringing up her dark history again! She didn’t know that she was eating someone else’s carrier pigeon back then! Who would have thought that someone would put a carrier pigeon in such a remote place like Fortune Village?
“Yes!” It would be a waste not to eat.
Yun Er and Yun San strolled around the bottom of the mountain. When Master and Miss came down, they realized that they had gained a lot. They were holding pheasants in their hands and dragging something behind them…
“Wild boar?” Yun Er was dumbfounded and blurted out, “The kind with pork belly?”
Thinking of the past, everyone burst into laughter. County Magistrate Shen, who knew that there was a game for lunch, also suppressed his bulging belly and laughed happily.
Just as Xiaoxiao felt that life was peaceful and boring, her second brother, Ning Anhui, and Qian Jiao’er’s auspicious day arrived. The Ning Family was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, and the guests of the banquet were all invited. County Magistrate Shen, his wife, and Han Qing were all invited. Even Gongsun Zhongjing, who had painstakingly researched medicine, packed up and came.
Xiaoxiao invited the best dragon and lion dance team in Xijiang County for Second Brother. She did not want to rely on others for the banquet’s dishes. She rolled up her sleeves and wanted to do it herself. It was still Rong Yan who persuaded her.
“Your status is different now. Even if you’re willing to cook, can those commoners eat in peace?”
That was true. Who would dare to touch their chopsticks when the princess was cooking for them?
Xiaoxiao felt that it was so boring, so she worked hard to fight for the right to cook for her relatives and friends.
Hence, the acquaintances were overjoyed. County Magistrate Shen also picked up Shen Tianci, who had a headache, at Bowen Academy.
Mrs. Shen took a stool and sat in the kitchen without putting on airs. She chatted with Xiaoxiao as she was cooking. When Xiaoxiao came out with a dish, she would carry a small bowl and pick up some with her chopsticks to eat first as a form of respect.
This behavior made Xiaoxiao click her tongue. “As the wife of the county magistrate and the eldest daughter of the Li Family, why do you look like you are starving?”
Mrs. Shen chided her. “You’re still talking. A certain someone is clearly the deputy shopkeeper in black and white, but she insisted on leaving two shops for me to run back and forth alone. If I want to eat your meal, I have to come all the way from the Imperial Capital to Xijiang County!”
Xiaoxiao pouted. “You’re clearly back to look for your husband!”
Mrs. Shen had been busy with her career recently and mainly stayed in the Imperial Capital. This was a coincidence.
She blushed. “What nonsense are you talking about? I happened to come back because I had something on. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to freeload on your meal!”
“Hey, right. Recently, there have been people coming to ask about the watermelon. Are you really not going to sell more? Business is so good, but you still insist on limiting it. I’m really impressed.”
Xiaoxiao glanced at her. “The rarer something is, the more precious it is. If you can really buy it with money casually, will those high-ranking officials and noblities still run to your elegant abode? Besides, there’s not much production now. I still have to keep some for the seeds.”
Mrs. Shen pursed her lips. The last sentence was the key.
She actually understood the logic. The watermelon that Xiaoxiao gave her was unheard of in the past. Now, there were not many watermelons shipped over from the border city. Coupled with the losses on the way, it could indeed only be supplied in small quantities.
Moreover, the richer and more powerful a noble person was, the more she liked to be special. They did not care about what others had, but they loved these privileges that they could not buy even if they had money.
“You’re just a brat. How do you know so much about noble people’s thoughts?”
Xiaoxiao said, “I read a lot.”
Mrs. Shen rolled her eyes and decided to attribute this credit to Xiaoxiao’s biological parents, especially Gu Chang’an. Indeed, people from scholarly families were different. They were much smarter than others even after giving birth.
But what was wrong with her son? He was not as smart as his mother, nor was he as astute as his father. What was going on?
Seeing Xiaoxiao working in an orderly manner, she could not help but feel even more vexed. Some children inherited their parents’ brains, beauty, and even their culinary skills perfectly. Some children would only moan and say that they did not memorize yesterday’s books. Why was the difference between people so big?
Back then, she had even thought of matchmaking Tianci and Xiaoxiao. Later on, she thought about it and decided to forget it. Her son was not worthy of her.
At the thought of this, Mrs. Shen winked and lost her elegant demeanor. “Hey, how are you and the Third Prince?”
This time, it was Xiaoxiao’s turn to blush. Little Big Brother said that after Second Brother got married today, he would… propose to the four parents.
Mrs. Shen’s face was full of teasing. She laughed so hard that Xiaoxiao snatched her bowl away. “I’m not giving it to you!”
Mrs. Shen hurriedly begged for mercy. Xiaoxiao was annoyed for a while before she returned the bowl and chopsticks to her. She was a busy person now. The elegant abode’s business was good, and they were all esteemed guests. She really took the time to come over today. She couldn’t even wait for the banquet to start and might leave after taking two bites.
Xiaoxiao looked at her gradually pointy chin and couldn’t help but remind her, “Don’t just focus on your career. Your health is more important.”
Mrs. Shen nodded and asked her, “By the way, I heard that you made instant food that can be eaten after soaking in boiling water. Why don’t you give me some?”
Xiaoxiao glared at her. “If you don’t eat properly, don’t even think about touching my cantaloupe and grapes when they come out!”
Mrs. Shen immediately became obedient. “What’s cantaloupe?”
She often ate grapes, but she had never heard of cantaloupe. However, Xiaoxiao said, “It’s a secret.”
She added, “But when the things come, it will still be supplied to the elegant abode alone.”
She was so annoying, but Mrs. Shen liked her so much.
When the banquet started, Mrs. Shen was indeed called away by the elegant abode. She showed off her foresight to County Magistrate Shen proudly and left in a hurry after leaving gifts and blessings.
Since it was a wedding banquet, Xiaoxiao naturally could not do it casually. Almond Buddha’s Hands, crispy apples, pancakes, and festive-looking storage boxes were all necessary. The Four Happiness Dry Fruits and Four Happiness Candied Peanuts were tiger skin peanuts, milky-white walnuts, snow mountain dates, candied sesame seeds, candied cinnamon round, candied peach preserves, and candied apples.
The appetizers were shredded chicken with cucumber, spicy tripe, white mushroom with black hair moss dish, vinegar jellyfish, followed by a dazzling array of dishes—Phoenix Tail Fish Fin, Red Plum Pearl Fragrance, Gongbao Hare, Eight Treasures Wild Duck, Buddha’s Hand Golden Roll, Wubao Pigeon, Hydrangea Cucumber, Fish in Milk, Five-Colored Sliced Beef, Mountain Treasure with Bean Sprouts, Lotus Tofu…
The dishes on this table were colorful and steaming. They looked and smelled good. It was difficult not to drool.
Some of them had never even heard of the dishes. County Magistrate Shen even took the time to sigh. “Not bad, not bad. Xiaoxiao, your culinary skills have improved by leaps and bounds after Chef Gu’s guidance.. It’s amazing!”
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