The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Early the next morning, Shen Cao packed up all the food she had prepared for Grand Tutor Zhou.

A whole big box, containing pork jerky, homemade fish balls, and fried meatballs.

She makes her own sausages and various meat sauces.

Her and Manager Ma's meat sauce business is growing bigger and bigger. A few days ago, Manager Ma wrote to her saying that he plans to open a shop specifically for making sauce.

She prepared two jars of each kind of sauce.

Shen Chen was somewhat shocked as he looked at the box full of food in front of him.

"Sister, you have too much. Grand Tutor Zhou will be very happy to see this."

"Brother, eat these meatballs and stuff as soon as you get there. Sausages can be kept for a while longer."

"By the way, let me know if there's not enough meat sauce later."

"Manager Ma said that if the meat sauce business is still particularly good this year, he will take the meat sauce to Beijing to sell."

"I heard that his meat sauce has spread all the way to the capital, and many people have come here because of its reputation."

"I'll have him bring some to you then."

Shen Chen nodded. He had heard about his younger sister and Manager Ma's meat sauce business.

I never imagined that a casual act I made back then would lead to a business deal.

Today's breakfast was dumplings again.

Shen Cao also called the coachman in and cooked him a large bowl of sour soup dumplings.

The coachman initially tried to refuse, but he couldn't resist the Shen family's enthusiasm.

"Miss Shen, I really did have breakfast this morning."

"Eat some more. We'll be traveling soon, and it won't be easy to find something hot to eat again."

Shen Cao tried her best to persuade her.

It was only after Shen Chen finally spoke up that the coachman agreed to eat.

"Brother Zhou, please try some. My sister's dumplings are so delicious that even Grand Tutor Zhou said they were excellent." This coachman surnamed Zhou was indeed the coachman for Grand Tutor Zhou's household.

His hometown happened to be near Xin'an County. After sending Shen Chen back, he stayed in his hometown for the New Year and then returned to the capital with Shen Chen after the New Year.

After hearing Shen Chen say that Grand Tutor Zhou said it was delicious, he was somewhat tempted to try it.

After all, everyone in the capital knew about Grand Tutor Zhou's picky eating habits.

Actually, he had just smelled the sour soup dumplings. They were sour, with the aroma of sesame oil and cilantro, which was indeed very appetizing.

The plump dumplings floating in the sour soup look so tempting that you can't help but want to take a bite.

This time, Shen Cao made sauerkraut and pork filling.

This year, Xin'an County had a bumper harvest of cabbage, so she bought a large vat and pickled a whole vat of sauerkraut.

I've already eaten quite a lot during the Chinese New Year.

Yesterday, when she was thinking about what kind of dumplings to make, she suddenly remembered the sauerkraut and pork dumplings she ate in Northeast China in her previous life.

That taste was unforgettable for her.

The coachman first took a bite of the dumpling; the filling was very novel, something he had never eaten before.

It tastes a bit sour but very delicious.

There was a lot of meat, and the slight sourness of the pickled cabbage perfectly balanced the greasiness of the meat, making it very delicious.

He took a bite and a satisfied smile immediately appeared on his face. He had already eaten his fill at home, but he managed to finish the whole bowl of dumplings.

"Burp." He let out a big burp after finishing his meal.

Shen Chen also ate quite a few dumplings. These sauerkraut dumplings were better than any he had ever eaten before.

Shen Cao smiled and said that he would make arrangements for him when he came back.

After finishing their meal and loading their luggage onto the carriage, Shen Cao instructed Shen Chen, "The things in that small box are for your journey, so don't be stingy with them."

Shen Chen didn't expect that his younger sister had even prepared something for him on the way.

"I understand." He held Shen Cao's hand, feeling very grateful to her.

"Brother, when you stay at the inn, remember to take the food out of that box. I'm worried about rats."

Shen Chen nodded.

The Shen family escorted Shen Chen to the city gate, and only returned reluctantly after their carriage disappeared from sight.

The whole family's eyes were red, especially Shen's mother.

She also knew that her son would not be able to return until next year's Chinese New Year.

Shen Cao picked up her handkerchief and wiped away her mother's tears. "Mother, don't worry, eldest brother will take good care of himself."

"Ah."

"Let's go back."

The Grand Tutor's Mansion in the capital...

The Zhou family was having breakfast. Grand Tutor Zhou was clearly in a good mood, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Zhou Qing couldn't help but ask curiously, "Father, what's making you so happy?"

"Haha, Chen'er will be back soon."

Zhou Qing felt a little jealous, while his wife Li Yuting smiled and said, "You're so happy that Shen Chen is back?"

"Of course." He didn't even need to think about it; Shen Cao would definitely prepare lots of delicious food.

If it weren't for the Zhou family needing him to stay and oversee things, he would have liked to go back with Shen Chen for the New Year.

"He's still my apprentice, after all. I haven't seen him for the past two months, and I miss him terribly." I miss the delicious food he brought back.

Zhou Zhou listened to the elders' conversation and ate her breakfast in silence, but she was very happy.

She also received a letter from Shen Chen, in which he said that he would set off back to the capital as soon as the Lantern Festival was over.

Thinking that she would see him in half a month, she blushed and felt a little shy.

Li Yuting suddenly noticed that her daughter's complexion was a little off and asked anxiously, "Lili, are you not feeling well? Why is your face so red?"

Zhou Zhou touched her face in a flustered manner; it was indeed a bit hot. She was a little embarrassed to say, "It's nothing, I'm probably just wearing too many clothes."

Li Yuting felt relieved and picked up a small steamed bun and put it in Zhou Zhou's bowl. "Eat more. I feel like you've gotten a little thin."

"Okay, Mom."

Zhou Qing asked in a low voice, "Father, when will that brat Shen Chen arrive?" For some reason, Zhou Qing always disliked Shen Chen.

"In half a month." Before Grand Tutor Zhou could speak, Zhou Zhou answered first.

Zhou Zhou regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. Everyone at the dinner table was looking at her, very curious about how she knew so much about the day Shen Chen would return.

Zhou Zhou was a little flustered. "I guessed."

"I guessed." She repeated herself, afraid that others wouldn't believe her.

After hearing this, Grand Tutor Zhou and Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief. However, Li Yuting seemed to have figured something out. She thought about how her daughter had blushed just now and understood what was going on.

She glanced at her husband, who was enjoying his meal, and wondered whether she should offer him a word of advice.

Well, this is just her guess. She shouldn't worry him. She's quite satisfied with Shen Chen.

He was handsome, intelligent, and well-mannered; moreover, he was personally chosen by her father-in-law.

It would be great if I could get together with Lili someday. Lili, that lively girl, deserves someone like that. The two of them complement each other perfectly.

In the general's mansion, the Lantern Festival had already passed. In the past, the master would have been eager to go back home after the New Year.

Now that the Lantern Festival has passed, he doesn't seem to have any intention of leaving at all.

He Yu asked anxiously, "Master, when shall we set off back to the military camp?"