Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 359 Something planned
The cook carefully poured the freshly cooked angelica and astragalus mutton soup into a porcelain bowl and presented it to Xiao Wang.

"Please, Liu Lang, try it and see if it suits your taste?"

Xiao Wang first took a sip of soup, then tasted a piece of mutton, and nodded slightly: "The taste is not bad."

The cook breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that there was nothing more for her to do, but Xiao Wang suddenly said, "Let me try too."

Under the cook's astonished gaze, Xiao Wang took off his outer robe, rolled up his sleeves, and began to wash his hands and prepare soup.

The cook, regaining her senses, quickly dissuaded him: "How can we let Liu Lang do such rough work himself? Just tell us what you want to eat, and we will definitely find a way to make it. We certainly won't let Liu Lang down."

Xiao Wang seemed not to hear her advice. He placed the cleaned mutton on the cutting board and cut it into evenly sized pieces.

He picked up a piece of mutton and asked, "Is this size alright?"

The cook glanced at the mutton subconsciously, nodded and said it was okay, and then continued to persuade her.

“Since ancient times, how could a gentleman go into the kitchen? Sixth Brother is of noble birth, and your hands are meant for writing and painting. Now they are tainted with the smell of mutton. If the master and Lord Xiao find out, they will surely punish us.”

"Don't worry, Grandfather and Father won't know. Please bring me the angelica and astragalus."

The cook handed him the angelica root and astragalus root.

Xiao Wang smiled gently at her: "Thank you."

The cook was captivated by his handsome smile, and in a daze, she asked, "Do you want me to chop up the angelica and astragalus for you?"

"No need. If you want to help, please help me start the fire."

"Okay, I'll go start the fire."

The cook sat by the stove, tending the fire while sighing. Of all the young men in the family, the sixth young man had the best personality. He never put on airs and was kind even to the lowest-ranking servants. It was precisely because of this personality that everyone would unconsciously want to go along with him, and would try their best to fulfill any request he made.

By the time the angelica and astragalus mutton soup was ready, the sun had already set outside.

Xiao Wang poured the steaming soup into a porcelain bowl and placed it in the food box.

The cook assumed he was sending the food to his elders and sincerely praised him, saying, "Sixth Brother is truly filial."

Xiao Wang knew she had misunderstood, but he didn't explain. He just smiled slightly and said, "You've worked hard today. This is a reward for you."

The cook declined twice, but finally accepted the money he offered.

"Thank you Mukuro."

Xiao Wang left the kitchen carrying the food box and went straight to Changhong Residence.

Sangluo was cutting the peonies that were in full bloom in the courtyard when she saw Xiao Wang arrive. She immediately put down the scissors and said, "This servant greets Sixth Master."

Where is Aci?

"Madam Ning is still resting in her bedroom."

Xiao Wang glanced at the peonies she was holding and asked, "Are these flowers for Aci's room?"

"Yes, Madam Ning must be bored staying in her room all day to rest. So I thought I'd put some fresh flowers in her room, which should cheer her up."

"You've gone to so much trouble. Give me these flowers; I'm going to see her anyway, so I'll take them to her."

"Yes." Sang Luo handed over the bouquet of delicate pink peonies.

Holding flowers in one hand and a food box in the other, Xiao Wang returned to Yan Ciwan's bedroom.

Yan Ciwan had just woken up, and Nie Xiayun was about to have someone prepare dinner when Xiao Wang unexpectedly arrived at the door. She was quite surprised: "Has Xiao Liulang had dinner yet?"

"Not yet. This is a mutton soup with angelica and astragalus that I specially prepared for Aci. This soup has the effect of invigorating qi and nourishing blood, and it is most suitable for Aci. Let her drink it while it's hot." Xiao Wang put the food box on the table, opened the lid, and took out the porcelain bowl inside.

Nie Xiayun picked up the porcelain cup, smelled it, and praised, "It smells quite good. Xiao Liulang, you're very thoughtful."

Xiao Wang then brought out another porcelain bowl: "If the old lady doesn't mind, please have a taste."

Seeing that he had even prepared one for himself, Nie Xiayun praised him for his thoughtfulness.

She carried the porcelain bowl to the bedside and fed Yan Ciwan the drink spoonful by spoonful.

While Yan Ciwan was drinking soup, Xiao Wang found a vase in the room and put the peony in it.

He placed the vase on the small table beside the bed, with a candlestick next to it. The candlelight illuminated the peony flowers, creating a scene that had an inexplicable sense of warmth.

After Yan Ciwan finished her soup, she saw Xiao Wang still fiddling with the peonies and asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"Not yet, I'm going to eat now."

Xiao Wang adjusted the peony to its most beautiful form, then prepared to take his leave.

Yan Ciwan suddenly asked, "I accidentally lost the sachet you gave me before. Could you make me another one?"

Upon hearing this, Nie Xiayun's expression became somewhat strange. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Xiao Wang nodded and agreed.

After he left, Nie Xiayun could no longer hold back and immediately rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out a blue sachet. She said, "Isn't your sachet here?"

Despite being exposed for her lie, Yan Ciwan remained calm and said, "I didn't know. I thought I had lost the sachet. Thank you, Grandma, for helping me find it."

Nie Xiayun stared at her: "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

Yan Ciwan feigned ignorance: "What?"

"You deliberately lied and said you lost the sachet so that Xiao Liulang would give you another one. You definitely have something on your mind with him!"

Yan Ciwan did not deny it; she asked with a smile, "How did Grandma know?"

"Because I used similar methods when I was pursuing your grandfather back then," Nie Xiayun said with a smug smile, very proud of her glorious achievement in winning the heart of the beauty.

Yan Ciwan asked with great interest, "Did your grandfather also embroider sachets for you back then?"

“He’s clumsy; he’s lucky if he can sew clothes, let alone embroider. He personally polished a wooden bowl, then carved my portrait on its surface, and gave the bowl to me.”

Yan Ciwan blinked: "This is the first time I've ever heard of someone using a wooden bowl as a token of love."

Nie Xiayun saw what she was thinking and smiled, saying, "Although the wooden bowl isn't as pretty as sachets, embroidered handkerchiefs, or pouches, it's very practical. After I accepted that wooden bowl, I ate from it every day. Your grandfather is very meticulous; he polished the bowl until it was exceptionally smooth, without a single burr. It was very easy for me to use. Later, I lied and said the bowl was missing, asking your grandfather to make me another one. He believed me and made me another one. On our wedding night, I returned the bowl to him and told him that this would be his eating utensils at home from now on. You didn't see his reaction; it was quite interesting. He was initially very surprised, and after learning that I had lied to him, he was quite helpless. In the end, he accepted the bowl, and from then on, we both ate from the same wooden bowl every day."

Yan Ciwan imagined the scene; although it was very ordinary, she felt inexplicably happy.