Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

Xiao Tao was startled and shoved the half-eaten bun in her mouth, swallowing it whole.

He hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Excellency, it is this crystal xiaolongbao."

The name sounds nice; Xiao Tao remembered it as soon as Zhao Wan mentioned it.

"It smells strange, but it's still food from outside..." Madam Zhao swallowed, but her expression still carried a strong sense of arrogance.

Master Zhao carefully examined the steamed buns that Xiao Tao was holding.

These crystal soup dumplings are simple and translucent. Although they look unique, they give people a strange feeling of "poverty". They can't be compared with the exquisite dim sum he usually eats.

However, the smell is...

"How does it taste?" Master Zhao asked condescendingly.

"Delicious, absolutely delicious!"

"How does it compare to the meals served at your residence?"

Xiao Tao pondered for a moment. Although the food at the manor was delicious, these crystal soup dumplings were definitely a rare delicacy.

But in front of the master and mistress...

"The food at your residence is certainly superior, but these crystal soup dumplings have a rustic, down-to-earth feel to them, which gives them a unique flavor."

As the richest man in Ping'an County, Master Zhao was naturally a shrewd man who knew that his servants would agree with him.

Even so, Xiao Tao still praised the crystal soup dumplings for being unique, which shows that these dumplings are indeed extraordinary.

The aroma inside was so enticing it made one's heart itch.

Master Zhao wanted to try one, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

After all, the buns had already been given to the servants.

Snatching food from the servants' mouths always felt like a loss of face.

"Master, would you like to try these xiaolongbao...?" Xiao Tao felt a chill run down her spine, and after a long while, she asked tremblingly.

Master Zhao licked his lips, but finally couldn't resist and made up an excuse for himself: "After all, it's Cheng'er's good intention, so it's alright to try it."

"Master, what about the food outside...?"

"Alright, it won't hurt to eat one, you should try some too," said Master Zhao to Madam Zhao.

Madam Zhao swallowed, but still couldn't let go of her prejudice, and didn't pick up her chopsticks for a long time.

"Master, Madam, these buns contain soup inside, so be careful, otherwise the soup will splash out everywhere."

With Xiao Tao's reminder, Master Zhao slowed down his movements a bit.

He picked up a crystal xiaolongbao, observed it for a while, and then took a small bite.

Even just a small sip, the hot soup, with its rich and delicious aroma, fills your entire mouth.

It was an intensely umami flavor, like a tsunami crashing in your mouth.

Master Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly, and you could see the soup gushing out from the bite mark on the noodle and dripping directly onto the table.

He hurriedly slurped up a mouthful of soup.

Goodness, it's so fresh, so mellow, so fragrant!

He seemed to freeze for a second, and the next moment, he stuffed all the buns in his hand into his mouth.

With cheeks puffed out slightly, the chewing speed gradually increased, the meat filling in the mouth bounced up and down, and a novel and wonderful taste continued to spread in the mouth.

He swallowed it in one gulp, even sucking the soup that clung to the tips of his chopsticks.

Madam Zhao was stunned. The Zhao family was extremely wealthy, and the fact that Mr. Zhao would lick chopsticks was something he had never done before.

Is this stuff really that delicious?

Before Madam Zhao could finish her shock, she saw Master Zhao, like a glutton, grab the second steamed bun.

Almost immediately, he picked up a third one.

Madam Zhao's heart was pounding. For some reason, she suddenly had a premonition that if she didn't do something soon, she would regret it today.

So, when Master Zhao reached for the oil paper package for the fourth time, Madam Zhao, without thinking, snatched the oil paper package along with the remaining crystal steamed bun.

"Madam, what are you doing? The food outside isn't clean, but Cheng'er's kindness can't be wasted. I'll keep it for you, give it to me quickly!"

Master Zhao held his chopsticks, his eyes wide with surprise.

Madam Zhao didn't believe Mr. Zhao's nonsense. After being together for so many years, how could she not know what kind of person he was?

These crystal soup dumplings are probably truly extraordinary.

"Madam, it's really not tasty, give it to me!" Master Zhao persisted.

Madam Zhao didn't care anymore and stuffed the entire crystal steamed bun into her mouth in one bite.

puff-

The moment the tooth strikes, juice bursts in the mouth, and a rich, savory flavor sweeps through the entire oral cavity.

Madam Zhao was stunned, her eyes wide open.

"This thing...this thing..."

It's so delicious, I almost cried!

She chewed slowly, her cheeks bulging, completely forgetting her demeanor as a noblewoman.

"This is wonderful! I've never eaten anything so delicious in my life."

She swallowed it in one gulp, and the delicious flavor lingered in her mouth. Madam Zhao wanted to eat more, but the oil paper package was empty; there wasn't a single one left.

If I had known, I would have let her try it first; if I had known, I wouldn't have given it to Xiao Tao.

As for the portion that Awan took, she most likely took it back and ate it herself.

Oh dear, I regret it so much.

I never expected there to be such delicious food outside!

......

Zhao Wan took the crystal steamed buns and quietly slipped out of the mansion, using the dog hole as her exit.

She wasn't actually going to eat it herself; she wanted Song Lang to try it.

She can't let her family know about her relationship with Song Lang yet. Once Song Lang passes the imperial examination with flying colors, she can be with him openly and honestly.

"Song Lang!"

"Ah Wan, what brings you here?" Song Wenqian was overjoyed.

"Look what I brought you!"

"What?"

The oil paper package was opened, revealing five small, crystal-clear buns.

Song Wenqian was somewhat disappointed. He had thought it would be gold and silver treasures, but it turned out to be just steamed buns.

But she still put on a very happy expression: "It's so late, and Awan still brought me steamed buns. I'm so touched."

"When I pass the imperial examination with flying colors, I will marry Awan in a grand and glorious ceremony."

Song Wenqian was handsome and well-read, with a refined and cultured appearance.

Saying such a thing at this moment made Zhao Wan blush.

"Let's not talk about that now, try these crystal soup dumplings, they're especially delicious." Zhao Wan lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the crystal soup dumplings, her ears still slightly flushed.

The moment she tasted those crystal soup dumplings, she thought of Song Lang.

She was delighted to give this to Song Lang, and wanted to share this delicious food with him.

A hint of smugness crept into Song Wenqian's expression. Sure enough, he had a soft spot for a rich girl like Zhao Wan.

He picked up a small steamed bun with a hint of disdain, took a bite, and juice splattered everywhere.

"This steamed bun..." Song Wenqian was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.