Talking about cooking, the mother of Lantian was famous around the city for her recipes. Even the queen praised her work a lot. As for Lantian, though she did not know how to cook, she knew the ingredients that the food should contain. Moreover, her tongue was powerful enough to sense how it was cooked and the level of the cook.
This was not mystery. 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 skills of their girls. Even the three mature daughters thought the big mistress of Wu was studying their ability in the kitchen too. So, they came out to indicate their competencies in line.
"Bird's nest soup with dried red jujube, wolfberry, and ginseng 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.
Longwei grin. "Fifth Young Lady is really honest."
The youngest girl expressed her innocent smile 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.
Well, every girl talked already; only Caihong did not. At that time, she was eating her bowl without paying attention to the quiz.
"What about Second Miss?"
Hearing her name, Caihong raised her face, and at that moment, she perceived everyone set their eyes on her. It didn't cause a comfortable feeling.
"What food do you like to eat?" Lantian added.
Well, Caihong watched the female questioner while her mind was in doubt. Look, she saw the pair of eyes that were pointing at her were so bright as to be the same as the first time they met each other. Those peepers, they made her mind vibrate like the waves in the river. Hurriedly she dropped her eyes, and later on she opened her lip. "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."
Just hearing the names of the ingredients, the minds of Yang's members were full of worry. Because those were not high-class. Their minds were afraid that the recipe might upset or anger Wu's daughter, 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 knit her eyebrows, and Lady Fan grit her teeth. But as for the male Yang, he expressed a sweet smile and hurriedly assigned his maid, "Tell the chef to make the food for Young Lady Wu."
"Yes, Master."
Not so long after the food was ready on the table. No one raised their hands. They 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 bigly. "If you like, please have more," he said.
Then Lantian watched the people around. "Don't all of you eat it?"
"We do. We do," Yang Fu answered, then he took a small bite. Seeing him eating the food, the ladies and young ladies followed. However, they chose it once; after that, they did not lay hands on 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. And since Caihong was having a better appetite than before, the heart of the person who ordered the food was in a large smile, and she decided to drop her chopsticks to leave the fried cabbage to the young female.
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 sweets, but she was still at the table with her hand holding the fan and waving slightly while her eyes were not away from the second daughter of the Yang family.
"Young Master Wu, Young Lady Wu, I'm very thankful that you give me the honor of 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 goodwill of Master Yang," Lantian cut in on her brother's words. "Brother, you should not refuse. It's not appropriate."
The statement was very correct, which made Yang Fu expand his lips big and big. "It's very true. We wish to see Young Master Wu and Young Lady Wu 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.
Another like-holywater statement. The millionaire's face bloomed like a tortoise seeing a lake. But his brain worked fast as he saw it was the best chance for his daughters to be close to Wu's heir, so he quickly said, "On that day, I am busy."
And his ladies saw his mind.
"I also have work to do," Lady Fan said.
"Sister Xu and I go to pray at the pagoda," Lady Ju said.
"Never mind," Lantian smirked. "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 wagged his head.
"Well," Lantian moved her eyes at Calihong, "on that day, I hope all five young ladies will be present."
This speech made the first lady and first daughter depressed, but Yang Fu showed a large smile.
"Caihong, go with your sisters," he said.
Over the face indicated unhappiness. But she did not know how to refuse.
**
**
*
It was time for Wu's kids to say goodbye. Yang Fu sent off his special guests at the front gate, then he came into his bedroom.
"Why do you allow her to go?" Lady Fan cried.
"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 do not treat her equally. If it spreads outside, it will make our family lose face."
"Don't you forget what the fortune teller told you?"
Yang Fu was silent for a moment when he heard the sentence. But 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 know that Caihong has to go out with young master Wu. If someone does anything crazy, 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."
The speech of the husband was so very clear that Lady Fan did not dare to utter a word. But it didn't mean her mind agreed.
"Low child." She held her fist and gripped her lips tightly. "Don't ever dream you can step over my daughter. You don't have that day."