Chapter 1451 - 1446: Show Some Real Skills
Mrs. Lin begrudgingly went to the kitchen to help Old Mrs. Mu heat water for a bath.
As she passed through the courtyard, she deliberately went to gawk at the commotion, and when she saw Old Mrs. Mu’s face smeared with feces, Mrs. Lin laughed so hard her stomach nearly cramped.
But she didn’t laugh out loud since the old lady loved to drag others into her affairs. If she laughed now, she would surely be caught in the crossfire.
Old Mrs. Mu’s filth required a full six buckets of water to finally get clean.
However, the nauseating smell seemed to cling to Old Mrs. Mu, and despite having bathed, she still reeked.
These days, however, Old Mrs. Mu certainly lacked the face to go out!
...
At the Northwest Camp, Mu Shuangshuang was assigned a small kitchen as Wen Nantian’s personal cook.
The small kitchen was fully equipped, with all sorts of ingredients, including ones not easily found elsewhere.
Especially the vegetables—Mu Shuangshuang even saw some cabbage, and they were remarkably fresh.
Given the commander status of the camp leader, it was normal for him to access such rare produce.
Since it was the first meal, Mu Shuangshuang decided to display her skills.
Although there were greens, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t dare to serve Wen Nantian too plain a dish, as they were all battle-hardened men.
Unlike those pampered landlords who could stomach simple fare like turnips and cabbage after gorging on rich foods.
For Wen Nantian, even the vegetable dishes had to be garnished with some meat or stir-fried in lard.
So Mu Shuangshuang first thought of making stuffed tofu, a dish she hadn’t listed on the Chengfeng Restaurant menu, nor had she seen it elsewhere.
Once prepared, it should suit Wen Nantian’s palate.
The rest would include a roasted fish, using bean sprouts as the base, fried chicken, and a few more meat and vegetable dishes.
In the kitchen, Mu Shuangshuang was busily preparing everything by herself.
She almost spun like a top from all the hustle.
Luckily!
Lu Yuanfeng managed to spare some time to come over.
The moment he entered the small kitchen, he assisted Mu Shuangshuang, mainly by tending the fire.
Mu Shuangshuang almost forgot what it felt like to cook while Lu Yuanfeng tended the fire.
Even though it had only been a few months, it felt like centuries had passed.
Mu Shuangshuang was preparing the ingredients while secretly watching the person managing the fire at the hearth.
She felt secret joy in her heart.
As she prepared the ingredients needed for each dish, she started on the main course of the evening.
The earlier dishes were straightforward, but the final dish, stuffed tofu, required her personal attention for heat control.
The heat couldn’t be too high, or the steamed tofu would become too firm, affecting the taste.
Nor could it be too low, as the meat inside the tofu might remain uncooked.
Lu Yuanfeng watched as Mu Shuangshuang added firewood to the hearth and poured water into the iron pot. Once the water boiled, she placed the prepared tofu in a steamer over the pot to steam it.
After taking it off the heat, Mu Shuangshuang drizzled the tofu with a mixed sauce, completing the final dish.
Since rice was being cooked in another pot while she was stir-frying, once Mu Shuangshuang finished the dishes, someone could immediately call Wen Nantian for the meal.
The banquet was lavish, but the only one dining with Wen Nantian was Wen Xiaoya.
Even Deputy General Zuo Cong had to eat with the soldiers.
However, being the Deputy General, the quantity and size of the meat in his meal were naturally different.
Of course, this was an open secret in the military camp.
To eat well, one’s rank had to be high.
Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t qualified to dine with Wen Nantian, so she didn’t know how he reacted to her cooking.
But it must have been good, as when the food was delivered, the plates were full, and when returned, they were empty.
Nothing was left.
After washing the dishes, Mu Shuangshuang started preparing meals for herself and Lu Yuanfeng.
Xing Beichen wouldn’t return until tomorrow, so Mu Shuangshuang didn’t make anything extravagant.
She spontaneously made a hot pot base and began dinner directly in the small kitchen with Lu Yuanfeng.
With just the two of them, the dinner had a naturally pleasant atmosphere.
Laughter rang out, but they didn’t expect Wen Xiaoya to come over halfway through the meal.
And in front of Mu Shuangshuang, Wen Xiaoya acted very familiarly with Lu Yuanfeng.
"Brother Lu, I invited you to eat earlier, but you refused. Now, why are you eating with this..." Wen Xiaoya was about to say ugly person but changed her words, fearing Lu Yuanfeng’s displeasure: "Why are you eating with Lu Daniu?"
Lu Yuanfeng frowned at Wen Xiaoya’s words.
"I explained it clearly earlier; due to my status, I cannot dine with the commander or Miss. Besides, I have a wife back in the countryside, and if she knew I was close with another girl, she’d be upset! In my heart, I follow my wife’s every word and keep my distance from young ladies!"
"You..." Wen Xiaoya was infuriated!
She hadn’t expected the person before her to be so stubborn!
"Lu Yuanfeng, I kindly invited you to eat, but not only did you refuse, you look down on me, preferring to dine with such servants!"
For some inexplicable reason, as if holding a grudge against Mu Shuangshuang, Wen Xiaoya called her a servant without hesitation.
Even with a good temper, Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t hold back when someone spoke ill of his wife.
"Miss Wen, mind your words! Da Niu is my cousin. Though distantly related, he is very dear to my heart!
You speaking of Da Niu equates to speaking of me. Yes, we may appear as servants in your eyes, but each meal we have is well-earned!"
Lu Yuanfeng enunciated each word.
Mu Shuangshuang chimed in: "Miss Wen, my Lu Daniu may be a bit unsightly, but that doesn’t warrant such indignity from you. If you don’t apologize, I’ll leave the camp immediately!"
"You... you..." Wen Xiaoya stamped her foot and stormed out of the small kitchen.
Leaving Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng to look at each other!
"See, being ugly means getting dragged into fights easily! It’s like sitting at home and having a pot come crashing down!" Mu Shuangshuang said with helplessness.
Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t help but chuckle.
"You’re still laughing. This mess of a love affair you stirred up, I’m a man now, and the resentment is so deep. If I were a woman, they’d probably skin me!"
Mu Shuangshuang gave Lu Yuanfeng a reproachful glance.
"She dares!" Lu Yuanfeng declared, excitedly at Mu Shuangshuang’s words.
His reaction was so intense it nearly startled Mu Shuangshuang.
Just a question had released the hidden fierceness in Lu Yuanfeng’s heart.
Mu Shuangshuang swallowed with some difficulty and said apologetically, "Don’t get upset, I was only joking. That girl can’t be my match!"