I was a queen in ancient times, no, a maid!

Five people were crammed into the small double room. Although the space was small, it seemed lively and warm.

There were not enough bowls and chopsticks. Ziwei was one more person, and Cheng Yu only prepared four sets of bowls and chopsticks. Since there was one less person, Cheng Yu used a large tea bowl.

For the hot pot we had today, she specially prepared two dipping sauces: mashed garlic sesame oil and sesame sauce.

While eating, Ziwei suddenly said something.

"It would be so delicious if this were a bite of mutton and a bite of dipping sauce."

Ding Xiang then said, "Then bring some mutton over later so we can all satisfy our cravings."

Ziwei readily agreed, "That's fine, I'll buy some meat privately later. Sister Yu'er, thank you so much for making us some food. We've also cooked on this small stove privately, but the taste is so different from what you cook."

Cheng Yu smiled softly and said, "Sure, I'll do it."

"In fact, making this small stove also requires a certain temperature..."

Ziwei asked again: "They say that cooking is all about the heat, but some people cook delicious food, while others cook food that is hard to swallow."

"That's right. Madam Li's stewed lamb tendons are the most delicious lamb tendons I have ever eaten. Today, it's all thanks to Yu'er."

Cheng Yu cut the stewed lamb tendons into several portions, and everyone quickly finished it with two chopsticks each. The remaining soup was directly drunk by Zhu'er.

It can be seen how delicious the stewed lamb tendon tastes.

After Zhu'er finished eating the delicious food, she was still smacking her lips and couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Yu'er, I saw that when Madam Li was cooking the stewed lamb tendons, she not only didn't avoid you, but also asked you to follow her and watch. I think Madam Li wants to take you as her apprentice."

Cheng Yu really didn't expect this.

Could it be as Zhuer said?

Ding Xiang, who was eating with a hot face, put down her chopsticks and looked at Cheng Yu, "Yu'er, do you want to learn from Madam Li? If you want to, you should take the initiative. Madam Li has no children, and she is not very good at getting along with others. You should pay more attention to everything."

Cheng Yu nodded, not quite understanding.

To be honest, she had never thought about becoming an apprentice under Madam Li.

Could it be that it was because she had no intention of stealing his skills that Madam Li was willing to let her get close to her? This might be the reason.

What if Lady Li knew that she wanted to become a disciple and learn martial arts, would she still let her get close to him? This was another question.

Cheng Yu had nothing to say about being nice to Madam Li, but as for this person offering to become an apprentice and learn someone else's specialty, Cheng Yu felt that it would be better to take things slow.

Soon, the whole pot of sauerkraut and fish was eaten up.

The fish meat, fish tail and fish bones may not sound like much, but these are the heads, tails and bones of two fish. Moreover, this fish weighs at least three or four pounds, which is not small. There is a lot of meat on the head, tail and bones.

A lot of sauerkraut was eaten up by everyone.

There were five or six kinds of side dishes, including vegetables, bean curd, black fungus, shredded radish, potato chips, etc., and everyone ate them all.

Of the remaining soup, Zhu'er and Taozi scooped up a bowl and drank half a bowl.

Said it's a bit sour.

It would be much more delicious if it were less sour.

After eating, Dingxiang and Ziwei were talking, and all they talked about was how to take good care of their wives.

Cheng Yu and Zhu'er were listening nearby.

The little transparent peach didn't say anything. She picked up the dishes and planned to take them to the kitchen to clean them up and then bring them to Cheng Yu later.

"Taozi, don't worry about it, just let it go."

"Yu'er, let me help you with something, otherwise I'll be embarrassed."

"But it's late now."

Cheng Yu was worried that it would be difficult to walk at night.

Although it was in the orchid garden, the yard was pitch black.

The lights hanging outside the mistress's door were also extinguished.

There were only two lanterns hung in the yard, and there were no lanterns in the other side yards and side courtyards.

"It's okay. I'll wash it first and put it in the small kitchen. I'll bring it to you tomorrow."

Cheng Yu couldn't persuade Taozi, so he went with her.

Taozi is also a pitiful girl. She was sold to the Lu family by her parents because her family was poor.

She was sold here when she was five or six years old and ignorant.

She was sold for only five taels of silver.

Her parents felt that she ate too much and the family was too poor to afford to feed her, so they simply sold her.

Taozi said, my parents said that they sold me because they were afraid that I would starve to death without anything to eat.

Taozi said, I can have a full meal at the Lu family.

Taozi said, I have two younger brothers at home. If I am not sold, what will happen to my brothers?

Cheng Yu knew that Taozi was also an innocent girl who suffered from the evil old society where boys were favored over girls.

Taozi is about the same age as her, both around fourteen or fifteen years old.

But peaches look thin, small and black.

She did the dirtiest, most tiring and most menial job in the small kitchen.

If Mother Wang was unhappy, it was normal for her to vent her anger on her by pinching her or slapping her a few times.

That's why Cheng Yu called Taozi over today.

Taozi is indeed the one who supports Cheng Yu the most in the small kitchen.

No matter what food Cheng Yu cooked, Taozi would always look at her with admiration.

Cheng Yu really likes the way Taozi looks at her. It makes Cheng Yu feel that she is great and really amazing.

Taozi gave her a lot of emotional encouragement. Who wouldn't notice such a poor little thing?

When they finished, it was exactly midnight. Dingxiang and Ziwei left, and Taozi went to the small kitchen to wash the dishes.

Cheng Yu and Zhu'er cleaned the house and opened the window to let in some fresh air.

It was very chilly that late autumn night. After opening the window for a while, the two felt cold and simply closed it again.

Cheng Yu was also tired, so he simply washed up and lay down to sleep.

Just touching the heavy and worn bedding, she wondered when she could cover herself with a new cotton quilt so that she wouldn't have to be afraid of the cold this winter.

It seems that I still need to continue saving money.

***

Cheng Yu's daily routine is to cook for his mistress Zhao Rulan.

But no one knows what this scumbag Lu Zhaowen said to the old lady. Qiuwen, the old lady's maid, came to the door.

When Cheng Yu was called over, Qiu Wen was standing in front of Zhao Rulan.

Zhao Rulan was holding the health-preserving lotus root powder made by Cheng Yugang with walnuts, peanuts and black sesame seeds.

Walnuts, peanuts and black sesame seeds are fried and then ground into powder. Then some lotus root powder, osmanthus and honey are added to make the taste fragrant and not too sweet.

"Yu'er, the old lady hasn't had a very good appetite these days. Second Master agreed to let you go to the big kitchen to help out. You and Qiu Wen will go over and do the work for a few days."

Cheng Yu raised his eyes and glanced at Zhao Rulan.

Zhao Rulan said, "Don't be reluctant. I know you are worried about my health, but there is nothing I can do. Although I have severe morning sickness and can only eat the food you cook, mother-in-law is still mother-in-law. As a daughter-in-law, I have to respect her..."