“Hahaha, I was waiting for those words of yours!” Zhao Bufan laughed even more uproariously.

Auntie Zhao gave him a look and then smiled, “You clearly don’t see yourself as an outsider. Do you know how much a jar of ‘Jiannanchun’ or ‘Gujinggong’ costs ah? They’re a couple hundred taels a bottle. As an uncle, do you really feel okay taking advantage of Xiaocao’s generosity?”

“Auntie Zhao, these words truly make us seem like outsiders then! As the younger generation, what’s wrong with giving a few bottles of alcohol to my own uncle? Are you implying that the words you said before, when you stated that we were as close as a family, were just for politeness sake?” Yu Xiaocao cutely swayed back and forth with Auntie Zhao’s hand in her own as she exclaimed in an adorable manner.

“Lass Xiaocao is right. We’re not outsiders!” Zhao Bufan grinned until his eyes scrunched up into a small line.

Xiaocao chatted about household matters with Auntie Zhao while Old General Zhao happily enjoyed the tea in front of him. Zhao Bufan conversed idly with his martial brother Fang Zizhen.

As they talked, the topic of the conversation had turned to Zhao Han. Xiaocao asked out of concern, “Auntie Zhao, will Older Brother Han be spending the New Years at his garrison again? It’s been so many years but he hasn’t come back once to celebrate the New Years. Does he really need to work this hard ah?”

“But of course! Originally, I wanted him to go into the northwest with his grandfather and father, but he was as stubborn as a donkey then and insisted on advancing through the ranks through his own efforts. Last year, I used the excuse of feeling under the weather to trick him home. He only spent two days at home before he went back! It’s as if the garrison wouldn’t be able to survive if he wasn’t there to oversee things.” Auntie Zhao had a belly full of complaints whenever she talked about her only son. She also felt bad. The last time her son came back he was tanner and thinner…

When Uncle Zhao heard this, he remarked in disapproval, “Being a man means you need to advance your career and protect your home and country. The seas around our country haven’t been very peaceful lately. Han’er is just doing his part in keeping the peace. Don’t be an impediment to his duties ah!”

Zhao Bufan was quite pleased with his son’s abilities and hard work. He had just reached the age of twenty but had already been promoted to the leader of a battalion, which was a sixth-ranked official’s position. As someone in the military, how could one obtain merits and promotions without any battles to fight? For the next dozen or so years, the northwest would likely be very calm, with only a few skirmishes here and there. Serving in the navy was also a good choice as in recent years the Wokou pirates and other ruffians wouldn’t be as bold as before in their attacks.

Auntie Zhao glared at him with suppressed anger and sighed, “People always say that it’s important to first establish a family before pursuing a career. Lass Xiaocao is younger than him by four to five years, but she’ll be getting married at the start of the new year. Yu Hang is younger than him by two years but is about to become a father. He, on the other hand, is already in his twenties but he’s still alone by himself. He never comes home. Just when will someone like him come back to show me his wife ah?”

Zhao Bufan picked up his cup and drank a sip of tea, “Han’er is only around twenty-two to twenty-three, so why are you in such a hurry ah? His Highness, Imperial Prince Xu, is only older than Han’er by two years and he isn’t married yet.”

Zhu Junyang, who was at the side helping to take care of the guests, wanted to express his own feelings of indignation at this, ‘Hmph! This prince is not like that foolish son of yours. He clearly knew the little lass from childhood yet he had no idea of his true feelings and let me take advantage instead...ahem ahem, in any case, this prince needs to thank him for being slow in the feelings department. Otherwise, how could I possibly be able to find such a perfect wife?’

Auntie Zhao had been pushed into a frenzy by her husband, “Imperial Prince Xu has long known the target of his affections and has only been patiently waiting for Xiaocao to grow up. After all, last year in the spring, he finalized his engagement with Xiaocao. If Han’er had his own marriage matters all tidied up, how could I be so worried now?”

Auntie Zhao glanced briefly at the sweet and adorable Yu Xiaocao and a flash of melancholy passed through her heart. Clearly her own family had known Xiaocao’s family first, so why didn’t they strike first and set down a childhood betrothal down then? If they had done that, then Imperial Prince Xu wouldn’t have been able to butt in! Where else would she be able to find such a sweet, hardworking, and perfect daughter-in-law like Xiaocao?

“Auntie Zhao, don’t worry. Marriage is something that is ordained by the heavens and is controlled by fate. Thus, it will happen when it happens. Older Brother Han is so outstanding and has such a great family background. If you let the word out, I’m sure there are plenty of young noble maidens in the capital who would come clamouring for him ah!” Yu Xiaocao wittily interjected as she tried to soothe Auntie Zhao.

“If only it would come as you say! May the heavens bless your Older Brother Han such that his marriage becomes official very soon. That way I would no longer have to worry about this!” Auntie Zhao clapped her hands together and bowed towards the sky.

After chatting a bit longer, Xiaocao finally stood up and said, “Godfather, help me entertain Grandfather Zhao and the others. I’m going to the kitchen to whip up a few dishes. Grandfather Zhao, Uncle Zhao, Auntie Zhao, please sit here first. In a bit, you will all be able to try my food.” Zhu Junyang had also been instructed by his little wife to go and spend time with Sir Su. Zhu Junyang’s response: ‘I don’t want to go!’

Auntie Zhao also stood up, “How could I not know about your culinary talents, lass? When we were still in Dongshan Village, you didn’t even have a full set of spices yet you were still able to craft a table of delicious foods. At that time, you were still a tiny thing who had just reached the height of the stove. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown into a beautiful young maiden. Let’s go, Auntie will go be your sous chef. In the past, when we were living in the residence on the West Mountain, didn’t we work together? I still recall those memories fondly ah. Although it was harder at times, our whole family was still together, living happily as one…”

“Alright ah, is there any point in saying more? I think you have too much time on your hands, causing you to think too much!” Zhao Bufan interrupted her. In actuality, he had also known it had been hard on his wife to live alone in the capital by herself. All she could do was think about her father-in-law and husband, who were at the borders, defending the empire. However, as a manly man who had the duty to protect his country and home, how could he be solely preoccupied with his immediate family?

Xiaocao hurriedly changed the subject out of compassion and said, “Auntie Zhao, every year my family cleans and fixes up your family’s residence in Dongshan Village. All of the furniture and household items are also preserved as well! When Older Brother Han goes on break, he’ll even stay there a couple of days. The villagers in Dongshan Village constantly speak of you all. If you have time on your hands, you can go back there a few days to see Older Brother Han or find my mother to chat a bit.”

Auntie Zhao also thought that this idea was feasible and smiled, “Then that will have to wait until after you and Imperial Prince Xu are married. Didn’t you say that your parents will be here in the capital the day after tomorrow ah? At that time, your mother will have more than enough to preoccupy her.”

Xiaocao wasn’t the least bit bashful when the subject of her own marriage came up. She even shamelessly said, “At that time, Auntie Zhao should come over and help more often. Otherwise my mother won’t be able to handle everything.”

“Okay, okay, okay! At that time, I will come over every day and help you, you shameless little lass, prepare your dowry!” Auntie Zhao tapped Xiaocao’s head a few times. Why was this little lass such an odd ball sometimes?

All of the ingredients had long been prepared and ready to go in the kitchen. The servants had washed all of the raw foods and had followed Xiaocao’s instructions on what to cut into cubes vs slivers. Now, they were just waiting for the ‘head chef’ to appear. On the stove, there was a pot of ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ bubbling merrily and blowing off steam. The aroma of the pot wafted through the air, tantalizing everyone it encountered.

“This is the signature dish of Medicinal Cuisine House——Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, right? It truly lives up to its name. Just the smell of the dish alone could make a person fall into ecstasy!” Auntie Zhao saw that all of the ingredients had been prepared in the kitchen and there were even some that she couldn’t recognize. Thus, she realized that there was very little she could do to help now.

Yu Xiaocao had shamelessly used the fruits of future people’s efforts and grinned, “Isn’t the seafood in our Dongshan Village famous ah? In my free time, I wondered if I could come up with a dish that used a lot of top-notch seafood and other ingredients! ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ was the result of my slow experimentation. In terms of ingredients, it requires at least eighteen, such as sea cucumbers, abalone, shark fins, shark lips, peppercorn and other famous and expensive materials. Furthermore, this dish replenishes the body, eases and lubricates the lungs and intestines, and prevents inflammation. Not only does it taste divine but it also heals the body! Thus, although it is on the expensive side, there are plenty of people who want to try it!”

“You are truly being too modest now. Who doesn’t know that the Yu’s Medicinal Cuisine House’s ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ requires a three month wait ah?” Although Auntie Zhao very rarely left her residence, there was very little that happened in the capital that escaped her notice.

“This only means that there are plenty of people in the capital who don’t lack money! The emperor is a wise ruler as the common people’s lives are only improving as time goes on!” Yu Xiaocao gleefully chirped. During this entire time, her hands had never stopped moving.

“This looks like ground meat, right? Are we making dumplings for lunch?” Auntie Zhao saw that she was mixing up the already minced meat together with slivers of water chestnut and egg white, so she couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

Xiaocao rolled the meat mixture into large meatballs as she explained, “I’m planning on making Four Treasures meatballs. This dish embodies the meaning of luck, good fortune, long life, and happiness all in one.”

Before long, she had finished making the four large meatballs. Following that, she had the servants pour oil into a large pot and heat it up until it was smoking. Then she placed the meatballs into the hot oil, frying them until they became a golden brown. Next, she took out another pot and added an appropriate amount of hot water, soy sauce, star anise, scallions and ginger before placing the four large meatballs in. On low heat, she let them stew before raising the heat to finish the cooking. The finished Four Treasures meatballs had a lustrous golden shell and a fragrant aroma. It was obvious that Xiaocao’s culinary skills had improved again.

Following that, she also made ‘pan-baked pork fillet’ ‘West Lake fish in vinegar gravy’, ‘hand-held mutton’, ‘steamed pork with rice flour’, ‘braised intestines in brown sauce’, which were all famous dishes...and everything had been prepared perfectly. First on the table were the cold appetizers. These included ‘capital roast duck’, ‘unique roasted chicken’, ‘pickled pepper chicken feet’, ‘century eggs with tofu’, ‘pig ears with chili oil’, and ‘tree fungus salad’. Since most of the guests present were men and most men preferred eating meat, she deliberately made sure to have more meat dishes present.

When all of the beautiful and delicious dishes appeared on the table, everyone looked at them appreciatively. Zhao Bufan couldn’t help but say a few compliments, “Lass Xiaocao’s culinary talents are too good. She could even become a chef at Zhenxiu Restaurant!”

Zhu Junyang unhappily retorted, “Many of the chefs at Zhenxiu Restaurant have personally taken lessons from my lass ah! If it weren’t for my lass, I’m pretty sure Zhenxiu Restaurant wouldn’t even be standing very steadily in Tanggu Town!” His meaning was clear. Comparing his lass with the head chef at Zhenxiu Restaurant was an insult to her culinary talents and skills.

Fang Zizhen became quite displeased after hearing the prince throw around the words ‘my lass’. He glared hatefully at the youth and coldly huffed, “My Cao’er isn’t a part of your family, Imperial Prince Xu. You need to be more careful with what you say in order to avoid harming my Cao’er’s good name and reputation!” Oh ho, there was a fight brewing between the father-in-law and son-in-law now.

In order to be able to marry his little lass smoothly, how could Zhu Junyang possibly dare to confront Fang Zizhen, his future godfather-in-law, right now? He was quite sullen in his heart though——in about half a year’s time, the little lass would be a part of his family! They were already engaged so what was wrong with him saying ‘my lass’ from time to time?