Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Dongkui laughed so hard she leaned over the stone table, and Qingfeng grinned too, slowing down his chopping of firewood.

Tao'er smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, and took the piece of meat Xiao Yi handed her: "Alright, alright, put him down."

Xiao Yi put A Yan down, and A Yan immediately ran to Tao'er's side, hugged her arm, and stuck his tongue out at Xiao Yi.

Tao put the meat chunks into the bowl, opened the small jar, and poured in the seasonings.

Cumin, chili powder, salt, Sichuan peppercorns, and a few spoonfuls of cooking wine.

She mixed it with her hands, and the aroma of the meat mixed with the seasonings wafted out.

"An hour of marinating is enough." She clapped her hands. "Qingfeng, go to the backyard and cut a bamboo stalk, then whittle it into thin skewers for skewering the meat later."

Qingfeng responded and went to the backyard with his knife.

The afternoon sun was warm, and the courtyard was filled with the aroma of mutton and spices.

Ayan squatted by the basin, staring at the meat inside, and swallowed hard. "Sister Tao'er, when can we eat?"

"We can eat it after the sun sets." Tao'er rubbed his head. "What's the rush?"

An hour later, Qingfeng returned carrying a bundle of sharpened bamboo skewers.

The bamboo skewers are thin, with one end sharpened to a point and the surface polished smooth.

Tao'er invited everyone to sit around the stone table and start skewering the meat.

She demonstrated, alternating between a lean piece and a fatty piece, skewering them full.

"Skewer them like this, so that when they're grilled, the fat drips down and makes the lean meat smell delicious."

She taught him as she skewered the lamb.

Ayan imitated her, clumsily stringing the beads, making them crooked and uneven, but with a serious expression.

The okra skewers were neatly arranged, and she secretly glanced at Ah Chen as she skewered them.

Ah Chen sat to the side, holding a bamboo skewer in his hand, slowly stringing the food together.

His movements were slow but steady, and the skewers of meat were neatly arranged on the plate.

Although he was injured, he didn't want to be idle, so he offered to help.

Tao'er didn't say anything and let him be.

Xiao Yi skewered the skewers the fastest, and soon he had skewered a whole plateful.

He would occasionally look up at Tao'er, then lower his head again.

The sun slowly set, and the sky was ablaze with evening glow.

In the courtyard, the firewood in the brazier was lit, the flames flickering and crackling.

Tao'er placed the skewered meat on the fire and began teaching everyone how to grill it.

"You have to keep flipping it, otherwise it will burn."

"You also need to brush on another layer of oil so it grills faster." She demonstrated, her fingers deftly rotating the bamboo skewer. "Once the meat changes color, sprinkle on cumin and chili powder."

Xiao Yi imitated her, flipping the meat skewers. The firelight reflected on his face, flickering intermittently.

Soon, the aroma of meat filled the air.

The fatty meat sizzled as it roasted, and the oil dripped into the fire, creating tiny sparks.

The aroma of cumin and chili blended together, making one's stomach rumble.

Ayan squatted by the brazier, his eyes fixed on his meat skewers, his mouth practically watering.

He couldn't resist the smell; he really wanted to eat it!

"Alright, you little glutton, your mouth is watering. Here, have a taste." Tao'er took the meat skewers from him, sprinkled on the seasoning, and handed them to him.

Ayan happily took it, blew on it, and took a bite.

The meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the aroma of cumin and chili bursting in your mouth.

His eyes widened: "Delicious!"

too delicious!

Sister Tao'er is amazing!

Everyone laughed and started grilling their own food.

Tao'er brought out a few jars of things from the side and then said, "Everyone come over here. There's Shaoxing wine, beer, wine, and orange juice. Help yourselves to whatever you want to drink."

Xiao Yi took a jar of Daughter's Red wine, broke the mud seal, and poured a bowl of it.

He took a sip, his brow twitched, and then he took another sip.

Qingfeng looked at the green glass bottle and thought that the wine inside such a beautiful bottle must taste good. So he opened a bottle, took a sip, and smacked his lips: "This taste... is a bit strange, but it's quite delicious."

Tao poured herself a bowl of beer, took a sip, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Dongkui leaned over and took a bite, then immediately stuck out her tongue and waved her hand, saying, "It's awful! It's awful!"

Tao'er smiled and handed her a bottle of orange juice: "Here, this is suitable for you."

She poured orange juice for Young Master Chen and Ayan. Ayan took it, thanked her, but his gaze fell on the wine bowl in Xiao Yi's hand.

Tao'er saw this and shook her head with a smile: "Young Master Chen, you can't drink this."

"Wait until you're healed before drinking it. Just resist the urge today!"

"Okay!" Ah Chen lowered his head and took a bite of the shiitake mushroom skewer in his hand.

That was specially baked for him by Tao'er. She didn't put any chili peppers in it, just sprinkled some salt and cumin on it.

The shiitake mushrooms were roasted to perfection, slightly charred on the outside and tender on the inside, with the juices locked inside, making each bite incredibly delicious.

Ah Chen chewed it and thought it tasted better than anything else.

Ah Yan ate with his mouth full of oil, holding three or four skewers in his hands, eating with both hands.

Qingfeng and Xiao Yi drank wine and ate meat, and they started talking more.

She ate the okra in small bites, glancing at this and that every now and then, a smile always on her face.

The moon rose and hung on the top of the old locust tree.

The courtyard was brightly lit by fire, filled with the aroma of meat, and filled with laughter.

Tao'er drank bowl after bowl of beer, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes bright.

She leaned back in her chair, watching everyone enjoy their meal, and felt a warm glow in her heart.

Xiao Yi also drank quite a bit, one bowl after another, and talked more than usual, laughing louder as well.

He glanced at Tao'er occasionally, his gaze holding something indescribable.

As night deepened, firewood was added to the brazier again and again.

Ayan had already fallen asleep leaning against Qingfeng, his little face still covered in oil stains.

Dongkui was also sleepy, so she leaned on Achen's shoulder with her eyes half-open and half-closed.

Qingfeng carried Ayan into the house, and then took Young Master Chen into the east room.

When they came out again, they found that their master, Xiao Yi, was still drinking.

"Master, that's enough." He quickly urged.

Xiao Yi waved his hand: "It's alright, I'll have another bowl."

He poured himself another bowl, took two sips, and suddenly turned to look at Tao'er.

Tao'er was bending down, poking at the firewood in the brazier. The firelight reflected on her face, making her look very gentle.

"Tao'er," Xiao Yi called out.

Tao'er looked up: "Hmm?"

Xiao Yi opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He shook his head and downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

Then he stood up, swayed, and sat down again.

Qingfeng quickly helped him up: "Master, you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk." Xiao Yi pushed him away, stood up again, and this time stood steadily.

He took two steps, then suddenly turned back, looked at Tao'er, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Qingfeng helped him into the house and laid him on the bed.

Xiao Yi closed his eyes, frowned, and muttered something under his breath.

Just as Qingfeng was about to leave, Tao'er came in carrying a bowl: "I've made some hangover soup, give it to him."

Qingfeng took the bowl: "Thank you, Miss Tao'er."

"Go wash up first. You've had quite a bit to drink tonight. I'll do it here," Tao'er said after hesitating for a moment.

Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, then nodded and left.

I smelled myself, and it really didn't smell good; it was all the smell of alcohol and meat.

Tao'er sat down by the bed and placed the hangover soup on the small table by the bedside.

She wrung out a hot towel and gently wiped Xiao Yi's face.

Xiao Yi's brows twitched, and he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed her wrist.

Tao'er was startled: "Seventh Brother Shi?"

Xiao Yi didn't open his eyes, but he held on tightly.

He mumbled incoherently, his voice unclear, but every word he uttered was clearly audible to Tao'er.

"Tao'er...I like you..."

Tao'er was stunned.

This guy got drunk and started talking nonsense.

"But I can't give you happiness..."

Xiao Yi's voice was tinged with alcohol and bitterness.

"But I see you treating Young Master Chen well..."

My heart ached...

It felt like my heart was being pricked by needles...

His grip tightened: "If I'm not around anymore..."

You must take good care of yourself...

Take good care of yourself...

Tao'er sat there blankly, staring at him.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating his face. His brows were furrowed, and there seemed to be something moist in the corners of his eyes.

She didn't know what to say.

Footsteps sounded at the door, and Qingfeng came in carrying a basin of warm water.

Tao'er jerked her hand away from Xiao Yi's as if she had been burned.

She stood up, her ears burning, and said, "Your master is drunk, take good care of him," before turning and walking out.

Qingfeng paused for a moment, looked at her hurried back, then at her master muttering to himself on the bed, and sighed softly.

In the courtyard, the firewood in the brazier was still burning, crackling loudly.

Tao'er stood in the moonlight, raised her hand to touch her face, and found it was frighteningly hot.

She glanced back at the window from which the light shone, her mind a jumbled mess.

How could Xiao Yi like her?

Could it be because she risked her life and fell off the cliff with Ayan?

It must be so.

Tao'er shook her head, deciding not to think about it anymore. Regardless of whether what he said was true or not, she would pretend she hadn't heard it.

Her goal was to die peacefully in her old age and then return to the 21st century.

As for relationships, she doesn't want to get involved!

Men are the most unreliable things in the world.

Tao'er shook her head, then went into her space and took a long, refreshing bath. Her fatigue vanished instantly, and she felt much more relaxed.

After bathing, she glanced at the medicinal herb field and noticed something different.