Capítulo 15: Chapter elven
Mother of Lantian was famous around the city for her menu. Even the queen praised her work a lot. Though Lantian did not know how to cook, she knew the ingredients that the food should contain. Moreover, her tongue was powerful to sense how it was cooked and the level of the cook.
Yang Fu, his wives and his three daughters knew about it.
Actually, the real purpose of Lantian was to find out the food that the second young lady of Yang liked because she wanted the girl to eat a lot, but Yang Fu and his wives thought she was checking the housewife skill of their girls. Even the three matured daughters though the big mistress of Wu was studying their ability in the kitchen too, so they indicated their competences in line.
"Bird nest soup with dried red jujube, wolfberry and ginseng, adding small sugar to make it less sweet is very beneficial for health and skin," Ehaung said.
"It's night and cool, so boiling fish with pickled cabbage and chili is suitable food. It can give warmth to the body. If young lady Wu does not like spicy, you can reduce the chili," Liqing voiced.
"I noticed young lady Wu didn't have much rice, so you should eat steamed dumplings. The dough can make your stomach full like rice. Inside the dumpling, there is pork, shrimp, tofu and vegetables. It is a good dinner," Li Ai stated.
"I think all of the food is delicious. I can eat it all," Lifen said.
Statement of Yang's youngest daughter made Longwei grin.
"Fifth young lady is really honest," he said.
The youngest girl smiled before she continued to activate her chopsticks. She was just fourteen, she was not in the list yet; therefore, no one pressed hard feelings on her words.
Everyone expressed already, only Caihong did not. She was eating her bowl without paying attention to the quiz.
"How's about the second miss?" Lantian said.
Caihong rose her face when she heard her name was mentioned. At that moment, everyone rotated to her. The girl felt not comfortable when she met with many eyes on her.
"What food do you like to eat?" Lantian said.
Hearing it, Caihong looked at the female questioner. She saw her eyes were bright the same as when she had met with her. Those peepers made her mind vibrate like the waves in the river. Hurriedly she dropped her eyes and opened her lips, "Cabbage."
"Cabbage!"
Caihong nodded.
"Fry or steam?"
"Fry."
"Do you want chili?"
"One dried chili."
"Salt or sugar?"
"Only soybean sauce is enough."
"Anything else?"
"Add tofu."
Heard the ingredients, minds of Yang's members were full of worry as they thought the recipe might upset or anger Wu's daughter because it was not high class food, but Lantian surprised them.
"Good," she yelled. "Fry cabbage and tofu with soybean sauce."
It was unbelievable that the minister's girl was eager about the low and unknown menu from Yang's unrecognized daughter. This made Ehaung tied her eyebrows; the same, lady Fan bit her teeth. As for Yang Fu, he showed a different attitude. He expressed a smile and hurriedly assigned his maid, "Tell the chef to make the food for young lady Wu."
"Yes, master."
When the food was ready on the table, everyone gave power to the eldest daughter of Wu to put chopsticks first.
"Um." Lantian wagged and took another bite.
Seeing that, Longwei reached for his chopsticks for the dish.
"It has good taste," he said.
Yang Fu grinned very big. "If you like, please have more," he said.
Lantian watched the people around and then raised up a question, "Don't all of you eat it?"
"We do. We do," Yang Fu answered, then he took a small bite.
Seeing the master of the house eating the food, the Yang's ladies and young ladies followed. However after that, they did not lay hand into the plate of fried cabbage anymore. Through this kind of attitude, Lantian could sense the real atmosphere in Yang's home and she was able to see how Caihong was treated in this house. Now, at the table, there were only three people still eating it – Longwei, Lantian and Caihong.
Since Lantian saw Caihong was having better appetite than before, she decided to drop her chopsticks to leave the fried cabbage to the female recommender.
After the meal, it was dessert.
Longwei was quite full, but to be polite, he had to put it in. As for Lantian, she did not touch the sweet. She opened the fan and waved slightly while her eyes were usually on the second daughter of Yang family.
"Young master Wu, young lady Wu, I'm very thankful that you give me the honor to be having dinner in my house today," Yang Fu said.
"You have heavy words," Longwei stated. "I am the one who needs to thank you for inviting me to have this great meal."
"If you like, you can come any time. Our door is open for you."
"I…"
"This is the good will of master Yang," Lantian cut in her brother's words. "Second brother, you should not refuse. It's not appropriate."
Yang Fu expanded lips when he heard the statement of Wu's daughter.
"It's very true. We wish to see young master and young lady visit more often," he claimed.
"If so, I thank you," Longwei said.
"Never mind, never mind."
"Second brother, you should treat master Yang, madams Yang and young ladies Yang to a meal. After tomorrow is a good day," Lantian commented.
Hearing that, the millionaire's face bloomed like a tortoise seeing a lake. He thought it was the best chance for his daughters to be close to Wu's heir. To get it perfect, he should not be a block between them; so, he quickly said, "On that day, I am busy."
Seeing the mind of the master, the elder ladies hurriedly exacted as well.
"I also have work to do," lady Fan said.
"I and sister Xu go to pray at the pagoda," lady Ju said.
Listening to the claim, Lantian smirked, "Never mind. Just young ladies Yang are enough."
"If so, I'll come to take young ladies on the day after tomorrow," Longwei stated.
"Yes of course," Yang Fu said with a big smile.
"On that day, I hope all five young ladies will be present," Lantian mentioned with eyes looking over Caihong.
Speech of Wu's daughter made the first lady and first daughter depressed, but Yang Fu showed a large smile.
"Caihong, go with your sisters," he said.
Caihong indicated an unhappy glance at her pa. She did not want to join the trip, but she did not know how to refuse.
"Yes," she agreed with a sad face.
**
**
*
It was time for Wu's kids to say goodbye.
Yang Fu sent off his special guests at the front gate.
When he came into the bedroom, lady Fan cried, "Why do you allow her to go?"
"You talk about Caihong?" Yang Fu said.
"Who else!"
"Don't you hear about master wu's daughter?"
"You should do something."
"Why can't Caihong go?"
"You want her to be equal with our daughter? I don't allow it. Her mother is a maid."
"Though, she is also my daughter."
"Before, you never mentioned she is your daughter. Now, why do you declare?"
"Before is before. Now is now. Young lady Wu wants Caihong to go, so we have to permit her to go. If we refuse, she will doubt and think that we treat her not equally. If it spreads outside, it will make our family lose face."
"Don't you forget what the fortune teller had told you?"
Yang Fu was silent for a moment when he heard the sentence. After that, he said, "Perhaps the fortune teller was not right. Let her go."
"I don't agree."
"I don't care if you agree or not. I just knew that Caihong has to go out with young master Wu. If someone does anything crazily, I will not forgive that person."
"You cannot do that. Ehuang is your daughter. She is your eldest daughter. She is the one that you should promote to be the young mistress of Wu."
"I don't care as long as she can go into Wu, though it is Caihong."
Speech of the husband was very clear that lady Fan did not dare to utter a word.
After speaking, Yang Fu went to change dress.
"Low child." Lady Fan held her fist and gripped her lips tightly. "Don't ever dream you can step over my daughter. You don't have that day."
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