Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1261 One year? Another year?
Shi Jia, of course, did not receive any questioning from Steward Luo. She quickly finished cooking the dishes, left a portion for Wang Quan and the other man, and then left with the food box.

Seeing this, the chefs were somewhat dissatisfied and went to Manager Luo.

Manager Luo merely glanced at them and said, "If you have any objections, go and speak with the master or the old lady."

The crowd's expressions changed slightly, and they could only swallow their anger.

"Cook Li? Is Cook Li still here?" A slightly shrill voice rang out. The newcomer was dressed in a light green silk dress, with a beautiful face, and appeared to be around twenty years old. She was none other than Madam Wang's head maid.

Manager Luo hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

"Miss Yufang? Is it because you want to see Chef Li?" Steward Luo asked hurriedly. He thought to himself, "Could it be that the old lady didn't like Chef Li's cooking?"
"Where's Chef Li?" Yu Fang glanced around the kitchen but didn't see her.

"Cook Li just finished her work," said Manager Luo. "But she left not long ago, and I'll send someone to call her back right away."

"They've finished their business?" Yu Fang was immediately annoyed upon hearing this. "Never mind, no need to call them. Chef He, hurry up and prepare two dishes. The Third Young Master is back and is having dinner with the Old Madam."

"Okay, I'll make it right away." He Chuan said without hesitation, instructing someone to wash the pot while he went to see what suitable ingredients were available.

"Please hurry, Chef He. There's no need for anything too complicated, just something that goes well with rice," Yu Fang said. These were all instructions from the Third Young Master.

"Yes, yes." Although He Chuan said this, he vowed in his heart to make the most of his skills and outdo Chef Li.

However, thinking about the rich aroma he had just smelled, he became somewhat insecure.

After instructing He Chuan on how to cook, Yu Fang then asked Manager Luo about Shi Jia leaving get off work early.

Manager Luo replied in this way. Yu Fang was displeased upon hearing this, but she did not show it on her face. "I see. Since the second young master agreed, then there is nothing wrong with it. However, it may be inconvenient for the old lady and the second young mistress to have some snacks in the evening in the future."

Manager Luo, hearing the obvious implication, was speechless. "Indeed, why don't we report this to the master and madam and reconsider the matter?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Fang hesitated and said, "But this matter was personally agreed upon by the Second Young Master. How can we servants say anything?"

"Miss Yu Fang is right." Manager Luo's smile remained unchanged. Did she want this old man to offend someone? This Yu Fang is really good at scheming.

It's unclear what Cook Li did to offend this woman.

"However, Miss Yufang need not worry too much. When you return in a while, the old lady will naturally know about this matter." As for how the old lady decides, that is naturally up to her.

"Manager Luo is right." Yu Fang smiled, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashing in her eyes. What a cunning old fox!
While the two were talking, He Chuan had already cooked the dishes: twice-cooked pork and eggplant with minced meat. Both were home-style dishes, but they required a great deal of skill.

"Miss Yufang, what do you think of these two dishes?" The dishes on the plate looked excellent, with a rich and savory sauce, and they looked delicious.

Yu Fang subconsciously touched her stomach and swallowed. "Chef He's cooking skills are truly remarkable. I look even more mouthwatering than the dishes on Madam's table."

As the saying goes, what is said without intention may be taken to heart. He Chuan took it to heart and interpreted it as him being a better cook than Chef Li. His face immediately lit up with joy. "Haha, I'm glad the old lady likes it. From now on, whatever the old lady likes to eat, just tell me, Old He."

"No matter how late it is, I must make sure the old lady eats well." He Chuan patted his chest and guaranteed, as if he had already become the old lady's personal chef.

Yu Fang smiled without saying a word, then wrapped the greasy-looking plate in a handkerchief with a hint of disdain and placed it into the food box. She then leisurely left with the food box.

Manager Luo glanced at him and ordered the other chefs to continue cooking. It was almost time for the servants to eat, and there were still two dishes to be made!

"Delicious! Mmm, this is the taste!" Wan Anshou ate the braised duck, his face glowing. Madam Wang, standing beside him, looked on with pity. "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." "Master, you really are something. It's one thing to send Anshou to collect grain, but why don't you let him eat his fill?" Madam Wang glared at Prefect Wan, who was also enjoying his meal.

Prefect Wan felt as if a pot had been thrown from the sky, and he was immediately enraged and embarrassed. "Wan Anshou, what kind of behavior is this? Did I not give you any food, or did I not give you any money?"

Wan Anshou was startled and almost choked.

"Master!" Madam Wang raised her voice.

Prefect Wan's face stiffened. "Ahem, alright, eat slowly. Cook Li has agreed to work as a cook in the manor for a year."

"Really? What? Only one year!" Wan Anshou was overjoyed, but immediately became dissatisfied. "Why only one year?"

Madam Wang was also somewhat dissatisfied. She felt that her second son had not handled the matter well. He had paid such a high price, only to be hired as a cook for a year. This deal was not worth it.

However, since her son had already made his decision, she, as his mother, couldn't say much.

Prefect Wan said, "This year was only spared because your second sister-in-law is pregnant." Actually, he initially thought the other party was ungrateful.

But eating this food, which is comparable to imperial cuisine, makes it all worthwhile.

"Huh?" Wan Anshou was surprised, but that didn't stop him from eating. "Waaah, why?"

"Your second sister-in-law can only eat the food prepared by Chef Li now." Madam Wang was quite speechless about this. She had seen pregnant women who couldn't eat anything, but she had never seen a pregnant woman who could only eat the food prepared by one person.

The key is that no matter how oily or fishy the food is, as long as it's made by her, I won't vomit and I can eat it!
She even suspected that the cook, Li, had cast a spell on her second daughter-in-law.

Wan Anshou's eyes widened, then suddenly his gaze flickered. He swallowed the chicken in his mouth and stared intently at his mother.

Madam Wang felt uneasy under his gaze and asked, "Shou'er?"

"Mother, am I nineteen this year?"

"Yes, it will be the nineteenth in three days," said Madam Wang. The day after tomorrow will be the first day of the new month.

Wan Anshou said, "Then shouldn't you arrange a marriage for me, Mother?"

These words not only stunned his mother but also startled Prefect Wan, who was enjoying his meal nearby. The two looked at him as if he were a rare sight, with Madam Wang even reaching out to touch Wan Anshou's forehead.

Oh, it didn't burn.

"Does Shou'er have someone he likes?" Madam Wang asked.

Wan Anshou recalled Shi Jia cooking and shook his head. "No, it was an arranged marriage."

Madam Wang and Prefect Wan exchanged a glance, feeling bewildered. Since they had no one they liked and were not yet old enough to be truly sensible, how could they have such thoughts?
While the two were still wondering, Wan Anshou couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Hehe, if my wife gets pregnant, could we let Madam Li work as a cook for another year?" Wan Anshou didn't realize he'd blurted it out. Then, remembering something, he quickly added, "Right, Mother, take your time finding someone for me. It'll be perfect after my second sister-in-law gives birth."

Okay, the truth is out.

"Master, Madam, the dishes are here. They were made by Chef He." Yu Fang stepped forward with a troubled expression.