Chapter 214 - 206: Hot and Sour Sauce
Chapter 214: Chapter 206: Hot and Sour Sauce
Meng Nan stared at the plates on the table, which had been picked almost completely clean. A heavy sense of guilt washed over him. ’How could I have been so thoughtless?’
Bai Zhi was his friend, not a cook in his residence. Making a meal for him wasn’t an obligation, but a gesture of friendship.
By all rights, they should have waited for her to arrive before they started eating, not left the person who had done all the work with a table full of scraps.
’I really have been a pampered young master for too long, to have forgotten even the most basic etiquette.’
Bai Zhi walked in to see Meng Nan staring blankly at the table. Jin Xiao’an was leaning back in his chair, clutching his stomach, while Hu Feng was sipping his tea.
"What’s wrong? Is the food no good? Why isn’t anyone eating?"
Jin Xiao’an turned around and said with a grin, "Sorry about that! We were starving, and your food is just so delicious, we couldn’t help ourselves and started without you."
Bai Zhi sat down to Hu Feng’s right. The plates on the table were almost empty, with only a few bits of seasoning left at the bottom.
"I’m just glad you enjoyed it. A cook’s greatest joy is seeing their food be so well-received."
Jin Xiao’an chimed in, "Well-received is an understatement! I wish I could eat this every day."
Bai Zhi shook her head. "I’m afraid that won’t be possible. While I enjoy cooking, I have no desire to be a chef. Cooking is my hobby, not the career I want. If you want to eat my food in the future, feel free to come find me in Huangtuo Village. Think of this meal as my thank-you gift to Brother Meng. Thank you for saving my life that day without a second thought for your own safety."
At the mention of that day, Meng Nan still couldn’t figure it out. ’Where did I get that courage from? If it happened all over again, would I be able to do the same thing?’
"You’re a woman and I’m a man; it’s only natural for a man to protect a woman. Besides, we’re friends. We help each other out. That’s just what friends do."
Hu Feng shot Meng Nan a cool glance, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Let’s eat. I saved some food for you." He pushed a plate piled high with food in front of Bai Zhi and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Bai Zhi accepted the chopsticks naturally, casually picking up a piece of rabbit meat and popping it into her mouth. She chewed for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "It’s still missing a little something. If I had some hot and sour sauce, the flavor would be even better."
Hearing this, Jin Xiao’an’s eyes immediately lit up. "What’s hot and sour sauce? The name alone sounds like it packs a punch. It must be delicious."
Who would have thought that the normally cool and collected Jin guard was actually a huge foodie who couldn’t get enough spice.
Bai Zhi said, "Hot and sour sauce is a very special kind of chili sauce. I know how to make it, but it takes time. I’ll make some and send it over to you when I have a free moment."
"Oh, that’s right. When I was cooking in the kitchen just now, a maid named Dong’er—who said she’s the Young Miss’s personal attendant—was watching me the whole time. She said she wanted to learn how to cook for all of you. So, next time you’re craving this kind of spicy food, you can just ask the Young Miss."
Jin Xiao’an was in the middle of a sip of tea. When he heard what Bai Zhi said, he spat it all out—right in Meng Nan’s face.
Bai Zhi quickly pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, stifling a laugh as she handed it to Meng Nan. "Here, quick, wipe your face. Brother Jin didn’t do it on purpose, so don’t be mad at him."
Meng Nan took the handkerchief from Bai Zhi, shot Jin Xiao’an a glare, and then began to wipe his face.
The handkerchief was sewn from ordinary coarse cloth, so it wasn’t as soft or smooth as one made of silk. But it was very absorbent, and it carried a faint, special scent. It was different from the incense he normally used—very subtle, yet wonderfully refreshing.