Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

Today, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion has hung up double the number of lanterns. From a distance, they look like balls of red flames, three times brighter than the scorching sun in the sky.

Ruan Chuyin looked at the servants who were busy as hell, walked into the kitchen again and asked quietly, "Excuse me, can I help you?"

Eight stoves were filled with woks, clay pots, and steamers. The aroma of Ganlutang (chicken soup) filled the room. A closer sniff revealed the scent of ginseng and angelica, with a hint of orange peel.

"Miss Ruan, why are you here? It smells so smoky here, please go back." Zhao Wuji, the kitchen manager, said with a headache. He hadn't noticed, and this noble lady had come again. With so many elegant pavilions, waterside terraces, rockery, and unusual rocks in the mansion, he was puzzled. Why did she always come here?

"Uncle Zhao, Young Master Qin is coming back today, and I want to cook a few dishes. The dishes I cook taste... really good." As she spoke, Ruan Chuyin's little hand had already grabbed a radish.

When she was in Wushui Town, she was under the care of Qin Guanzhi. Now that she was in Liangcheng, she was also under the care of Qin Guanzhi's parents. She felt bad about eating and drinking for free at the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion these past few days, so she wanted to cook a decent meal to show her gratitude.

This wasn't the first time Zhao Wuji had heard Ruan Chuyin boast about her cooking skills. Previously, he'd dismissed it as a casual remark from a bored girl. But today, when she mentioned the Crown Prince, he felt a bit hesitant.

The lady had been married into the mansion for twenty-four years and had never once been to the kitchen. And yet, Ruan Chuyin was willing to cook for the prince before she even married him. Just based on the girl's kindness, he couldn't bear to refuse.

"Xin'an, Xinping, come here and help Miss Ruan." Zhao Wuji called the two over.

"Miss Ruan, just give me your orders later," Xin'an said cheerfully, stepping forward. He had noticed the situation at the door a long time ago and hadn't expected Old Zhao to mention his name so immediately. He would definitely treat him to a drink later.

Xinping followed closely behind and greeted her enthusiastically, determined in his heart to perform well and leave a good impression on Miss Ruan.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao, thank you both..." Ruan Chuyin originally wanted to call him "big brother", but suddenly felt that it was inappropriate and swallowed the two words back.

Xin'an and Xinping told her that today's dishes included sixteen dishes: nectar soup, boiled pork, braised duck with soy sauce, stir-fried fish, Ruyi rolls, bird's nest and eight-fresh soup, fried shrimp, grilled clams, etc.

After hearing the name of the dish, Ruan Chuyin looked down at the radish in her hand and fell silent.

It was so abundant that it seemed she didn't need to do anything else.

After weighing the "white doll" twice with his little hands, he suddenly had an idea in his mind. He decided to add a dish of braised radish, a bowl of farmhouse fragrance and salad cucumber.

These three dishes are served quickly without overshadowing the original dishes, and the balance is just right.

Ruan Chuyin lifted her sleeves slightly and quickly peeled the plump white radish.

"Clap clap clap clap"

Suddenly, a burst of applause broke out, followed by two rounds of praise.

"Miss Ruan is amazing. She peeled the skin in just a short while."

"Yes, yes, yes! Miss Ruan peels the skin even more skillfully than I do."

Xin'an and Xinping kept praising her. They were ready to help, but they didn't expect the little girl to even peel the skin, which made them very excited!

Ruan Chuyin clenched the white doll in her hand, lowered her head, pursed her lips, and said in a steady voice, "Thank you."

"click click"

A large radish was quickly cut into evenly sized pieces. A faint sweet aroma slowly overflowed, lingering at the tip of the nose, making the smell refreshing.

Suddenly, Ruan Chuyin stopped what she was doing. She couldn't stand being watched while she worked. So she pointed at the pork belly and said, "Could you help me slice the ribs thinly, and get some peppercorns, minced garlic, egg, and shredded cucumber?"

"Okay, okay!" Xin'an and Xinping took action immediately after receiving the order.

They were no ordinary firemen; they were previously private soldiers of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, far more skilled than ordinary soldiers. The general had chosen them to work in the palace's kitchen because of their excellent cooking skills.

There were only a few dishes to prepare, and it was all done in less than half a cup of tea.

Ruan Chuyin stared at the speed of the two men in amazement, and couldn't help but give them a big thumbs up in her heart.

The dish of braised radish may seem simple, but it is not easy to make it taste good, and it requires a high level of control over the sweetness and saltiness.

Ruan Chuyin scooped a few large spoonfuls of boiled meat broth to make braised radish. When it was boiled to a certain degree, she added appropriate amount of soy sauce, sugar and salt and simmered it over low heat for a while.

"Nongjia Yiwanxiang" is a dish she's always loved. It's simple to prepare, uses common ingredients, and tastes delicious with rice. She used to cook a big pot of it every weekend when she went home. Unfortunately, her parents don't eat spicy food, so she's the only one eating it at home.

Salad of cucumbers is a dish that seems simple but is actually very elaborate. Of all the restaurants she has visited, only the Salad of cucumbers at M Hotel left a deep impression on her.

In order to replicate the sauce, she put a lot of effort into it, trying dozens of different proportions, and finally, her efforts paid off, she was able to reproduce it 99% of the way it was.

"Miss Ruan, the prince is back!"

Just when Ruan Chuyin poured the last drop of sauce into the bowl, Zhao Wuji came running over excitedly to announce the good news.

Ruan Chuyin quickly took off her skirt, asked Xin'an to put out the small fire on the stove, and followed Zhao Bo to the main hall.

Sunlight filled the entire space, and countless golden ties danced lightly. In the hazy light, a familiar figure came against the light.

"Hatsune."

Qin Guanzhi resisted the urge to hold her in his arms and stopped less than half a meter away from her.

The short month or so without his beloved felt to him like a century. Every second of that "long" time was torture.

Ruan Chuyin looked at Qin Guanzhi's thin face, and a few crystal "pearls" burst out of her eyes.

His messy and tangled hair, his beard piled like weeds, his haggard face, and his clothes so tattered that the color could not be seen, there was no trace of the elegant young man he used to be.

Her heart tightened, and she could no longer bear the sourness in her throat, so she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.

It was all her fault. She had caused her benefactor to suffer so much.

Not only did she owe Qin Guanzhi two lives, she also owed him countless affections, which seemed like she could never repay him in this lifetime.

It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Ye Sangning gave a look to a few people and they all retreated calmly.

Qin Guanzhi hugged the person in his arms tightly, put his chin against her hair, and unconsciously raised his right hand to stroke her hair.

Hot tears slowly flowed down his collar, soaking his shirt and seeping into his skin. This heartfelt concern brought tears to Qin Guanzhi's eyes. His swollen chest felt sore, a little painful, and a little sweet.

It feels so good to get something back!

Two large hands slowly sank into the soft and flowing long hair. Qin Guanzhi recalled the appearance of the bun in his mind, and carefully tied it up for her. He took out the jade leaf hairpin from his arms and put it on her again.

"Mr. Qin, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have left that day." Ruan Chuyin raised her head slightly and looked at him with tearful eyes. She felt so guilty that she couldn't help but shiver.

What does it have to do with you, fool?

Qin Guanzhi gently stroked her hair and replied in a low, hoarse voice, "Just call me Guanzhi and I'll forgive you, okay?"

Mom is right. Hatsune still calls herself Young Master Qin, which is quite lame.

Just when he was feeling depressed, a sweet voice whispered softly in his ear.

"Watch it."

Qin Guanzhi didn't know how to describe his feelings at the moment. He looked at Ruan Chuyin's big, watery eyes and suddenly wanted to kiss her. But he knew he couldn't.

Hatsune Miku likes to be clean, so she definitely won't like this kiss.

"I just made three dishes. You can try them later." Ruan Chuyin felt the heat in his eyes, blushed, slowly stood up, and let go of him.

"Okay. I'll go change my clothes first." Qin Guanzhi was delighted. Not only did Hatsune not dislike his slovenliness, but she also generously changed her name and offered to cook for him. This imprisonment seemed like suffering, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and he felt it was well worth it.

Thinking about it carefully, Qin Guanzhi felt that everything his mother said was right, and everything she did was particularly reliable. Suddenly, he thought of what A Yu had said in the car, and his eyes flickered slightly.