Teaching Them to Cook

Cui'er came over for a look, her eyes round. She had never seen those transparent glass bottles before.

Madam Liu hurriedly waved her hands and took half a step forward, trying to usher him out the door:

"Young Master, a person as precious as you can't come into the kitchen and cook! Just give your orders, and we servants will learn to make it. How could we trouble you to do it yourself?"

"It's all right."

Shen Jingchuan picked up the light soy sauce and oyster sauce and explained how to use them, then pointed to the fresh beef brisket sitting nearby:

"First I'll teach you to make tomato-braised beef brisket. We'll have it for lunch. It's very simple; you'll know how after watching once."

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and reached for the cleaver. Alarmed, Madam Liu hurriedly snatched it up and gripped it in her hand:

"Young Master, you mustn't! Let this servant do rough work like cutting meat! Just tell me how to cut it and what to add, and I'll do as you say!"

Shen Jingchuan laughed and had no choice but to step aside and give directions. Oil went into the hot wok, scallions and ginger were fried until fragrant, and the chopped tomatoes were added and cooked down. The brisket was blanched and tossed in to simmer, and at the end, two spoonfuls of light soy sauce were added to bring out the flavor.

The pot bubbled away, and the sweet-and-sour aroma of meat soon filled the entire kitchen. Cui'er stood by the stove feeding it firewood, her nose twitching. She even forgot to put the wood in her hands into the fire.

As the brisket simmered, he spotted a piece of mutton on the cutting board and taught them to make stir-fried mutton with scallions as well. The mutton from this other world was fresh and tender, without any gamey smell. With light soy sauce and a little cooking wine to remove any unpleasant odor, it was quickly stir-fried over high heat, giving off a mouthwatering fragrance.

The two dishes were carried to a small table beside the kitchen. At first, Madam Liu and Cui'er didn't dare pick up their chopsticks, but Shen Jingchuan urged them to have a taste, and their eyes lit up at once.

Cui'er chewed the brisket, barely able to get her words out. "My goodness... how can this meat be so delicious? I even want to pour the sauce over rice!"

Madam Liu nodded repeatedly, her face full of wonder:

"I've lived more than half my life, and I've never tasted meat that soaked up so much flavor. These seasonings you brought, Young Master, are simply miraculous."

Shen Jingchuan explained in detail how to use the hot pot base, instructing them to prepare the bone broth in advance that afternoon and buy some beef and mutton at the market to slice thinly.

The two listened with particular attention. Cui'er even found a piece of coarse paper and wrote everything down stroke by stroke with a charcoal pencil, afraid of getting the slightest thing wrong.

The aroma from the kitchen drifted a long way on the breeze. Yue'er, Qingshu, and Qinghua, the three young maids, followed the scent inside. Their noses twitched, and their eyes shone as if touched by starlight.

Shen Jingchuan was explaining the heat to Madam Liu when he saw them crowded in the doorway, peering inside. After giving a couple more instructions, he turned and went back to the main hall of the second courtyard, where he sat down to wait for the meal.

Half an hour later, the three young maids came in one after another carrying dishes. The table was soon laden with food.

There was tomato-braised beef brisket, stir-fried mutton with scallions, two plates of crisp, tender greens stir-fried with modern seasonings, and a bowl of soup in the middle. Fragrant steam wafted toward them, filling the room with an enticing aroma.

The four sat down around the table. The three young maids had long been drooling with anticipation. Once they had attended to Shen Jingchuan and he picked up his chopsticks and began eating, they started too. The moment they tasted the food, their eyes went wide.

The brisket had been stewed until tender and full of flavor, the sweet-and-sour sauce rich with the taste of meat. It was so delicious that one bite could make a person's eyebrows fall off. The mutton was tender and free of gaminess, and the scent of scallions made it especially good with rice. Even the simply stir-fried greens were crisp and tasty.

The three were too busy shoveling down their rice, their cheeks bulging and their chopsticks reaching for the dishes again and again. They completely forgot to serve their young master.

Only when her bowl of rice was nearly empty did Yue'er suddenly come to her senses. Her chopsticks stopped, and her face flushed red. She hurriedly stood up and lowered her head, her voice tinged with panic:

"I'm sorry, Young Master! The food was so delicious that I... I forgot to attend to you."

Shen Jingchuan waved a hand without even looking up:

"It's all right. Sit down and eat. I told you, I'm your elder brother. There's no need for all those rules; just make sure you eat your fill."

Shortly after the hour of the monkey began, Shen Jingchuan strolled into the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. The guard by the gate hurriedly welcomed him inside with a broad smile.

Beyond the second gate, Lin Weiyuan sat beside a stone table, wiping a short blade, while Lin Shan and Lin Yue talked with their father. At the sound of footsteps, all three looked up together.

"Young Master Shen!" Lin Shan stepped forward and cupped his fists in greeting. Lin Yue followed suit.

Lin Weiyuan slid the short blade into its sheath and stood up with a smile:

"We were just saying we'd be heading over in a little while, yet you've come to fetch us first. You're far too courteous."

As they spoke, the bamboo curtain beneath the covered walkway stirred gently, and Lin Qingyao came out, lifting her skirt. She wore a pale green jacket and skirt and looked as though she had happened to be passing by.

When she saw Shen Jingchuan, she paused briefly, then stepped forward and gave him a proper curtsy:

"Greetings, Young Master Shen."

Then she looked at him, her large, expressive eyes blinking. Clearly, she had heard the news long ago and was pretending this was a chance meeting.

Shen Jingchuan saw through it and took the opportunity to smile at Lin Weiyuan:

"It isn't a formal banquet, just everyone getting together for some fun. If Miss Qingyao has nothing to do, would you care to join us? Yue'er and the other girls are all at the residence, so you'll have someone to talk to."

Lin Qingyao's eyes lit up for a moment, but she quickly lowered her head and stole a glance at her father's expression.

Lin Weiyuan frowned slightly. The escort agency made its living traveling the jianghu, so it had never followed the rigid rules of those secluded great households. Besides, Young Master Shen had saved his daughter's life and was no outsider. When he saw the eager look on his daughter's face, his heart softened considerably.

Lin Shan and Lin Yue, who had always doted on their younger sister, spoke up for her as well:

"Father, little sister gets bored at home too. There's no harm in her coming along, and we'll be there with her."

Lin Dong shot the three siblings an irritated glance, but finally waved his hand:

"Fine, fine, she can go. Behave yourself at their residence. Don't be so rash and forget your manners."

As he spoke, he stood up. Ju'er, who was following behind Lin Qingyao, lingered and tugged at her skirt. Seeing that everyone was about to leave, she anxiously gave her mistress's sleeve a discreet tug and lowered her voice to a mosquito's whine:

"Miss... I miss Yue'er."

Lin Qingyao laughed inwardly and reached out to give her a gentle poke on the forehead. She winked at her, signaling her not to say more.

She turned to Shen Jingchuan with a smile. "Let Ju'er come along too."

Shen Jingchuan readily agreed.

Lin Weiyuan promptly arranged for Lin Qingyao and Ju'er to ride in a carriage, while he accompanied Shen Jingchuan, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue on a leisurely stroll down the street behind it toward the Shen Residence.

As soon as the group entered the main gate, they found Yue'er, Qingshu, and Qinghua already waiting in the courtyard.

Seeing Lin Qingyao come in with Ju'er, Yue'er's eyes lit up. She hurried forward and curtsied, then looked up with a smile:

"Miss, you came too! I thought..." Ju'er's eyes curved with delight when she saw her too. The two joined hands and gathered close, chattering away.

Shen Jingchuan led the Lin father and sons in behind them. Liu Zhong, the steward, took two steps forward and bowed to Lin Dong and his two sons:

"Chief Escort, young masters, please come inside."

Madam Liu and her daughter Liu Cui, who stood beneath the covered walkway, also bent their knees in greeting.

Su Qingshu and Su Qinghua came forward gracefully as well and greeted everyone in turn.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Jingchuan led the group inside, through the carved wooden walkway and straight to the second courtyard.