Chen Xuanmo smiled to himself, feeling pleased, though his stomach growled loudly, leaving him awkwardly frozen in place.
Following the sound, Ye Qiuling saw his face, neck, and ears flushed bright red, like a fiery fox. Paired with his handsome features, it sparked an irresistible urge to reach out and touch him.
The old matriarch was guided inside by the second daughter-in-law along with Ye Qing and the others. Having just heard Ye Qiuling’s earlier provocation that prevented her son from passing the imperial exams, she pointed a finger at him and scolded, “Wicked granddaughter, apologize to Young Master Su! If he doesn’t forgive you, don’t come back.”
Ye Qiuling ignored her and busied herself, scooping four ladles of rice from the container.
As she tried to pass him while heading out to rinse the rice, a foot in a lotus-embroidered cloth shoe shot out. Ye Qiuling pretended not to notice and stepped on it, eliciting a sharp scream.
Ye Qing reached to push him away, but Ye Qiuling dodged just in time, and he crashed to the ground with a loud thud.
Lying there like a helpless creature, Ye Qiuling couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at his misfortune. Outwardly, she feigned concern: “Sister, how did you fall? Maybe the floor doesn’t welcome you. Better stay away from us, or every time you come, you’ll fall again.”
She then turned toward the well, and Ye Feng hurried over to draw water from the pump.
The old matriarch, ignored, turned her anger on Shen Wanru, pointing and scolding, “Look at this! Your daughter is utterly disrespectful, unruly and shameless.”
Chen Xuanmo’s mood, slightly lifted from helping with the move, soured under the old matriarch’s criticism.
With a dark expression, Shen Wanru replied sharply, “Matriarch, this temple is too small to fit such a great Buddha as you inside.”
The old matriarch, left speechless, was so angry she fainted.
The second daughter-in-law, seeing her collapse, glared fiercely, muttering under her breath about the old woman fainting at such a convenient moment. She immediately shifted attention to her daughter lying on the ground, heart aching, unaware that the matriarch had been pushed aside.
Checking her daughter’s injuries, she saw her foot was swollen and she couldn’t walk. Supporting her daughter, she looked toward Ye Qiuling at the well, muttering about seeking justice next time.
Ye Darong, seeing how fiery Ye Qiuling was, dared not say anything and left with his mother.
Ye Qiuling, enjoying the sight of his pitiful state, felt triumphant. She put the rinsed rice into a pot with water, then into a wooden tub to steam. It was Chen Xuanmo’s first time seeing rice cooked this way, and he found it a little novel.
Remembering that the duck intestines and gizzards from yesterday hadn’t been eaten and that the Gourmet Recipe System indicated they would taste better stir-fried with chili—she, lacking chili at home, used it as an excuse to head to the back mountain and retrieve some from her system space.
“I’m going to pick some vegetables at the back mountain, brother. You can just wait at home,” Ye Qiuling said.
Seeing her say that, Chen Xuanmo paused mid-step and sat down on a chair.
Because of his tall build, the chair forced him to stretch his legs straight, making them look long, strong, and powerful.
Ye Qiuling glanced back briefly before heading further into the back mountain.
The sun beat down mercilessly, sweat streaming from her forehead. Even a gentle breeze offered no relief.
She picked up her pace and, after ensuring no one was around, entered the system space. Instantly, a wave of cool air washed over her, tempting her to linger, but the family awaited her cooking at home.
Browsing the system store, she found various types of chili. Guessing that her family hadn’t tasted very spicy food, she exchanged for milder ones. Each chili’s spiciness level was noted in the store.
She bought two red and two green fruit-like chilies and some small millet peppers.
Exploring further, she spotted pickled sour vegetables near some celery, and a recipe popped into her mind: sour celery stir-fried with duck gizzards and intestines. This way, she could make two dishes instead of one boring one. She exchanged a bit of sour celery as well.
Worried her family might be anxious, she exited the system store immediately, carrying the vegetables back home.
Xiao Feng saw his sister returning, holding the two green and two red fruits in one hand and a bag of some sour item in the other.
He asked eagerly, “Sister, what fruits are these? They look so delicious! And what’s this? Smells sour.”
Ye Qiuling pinched his cheek playfully and explained, “These are chilies. They’re spicy, and they can ‘shoot fire.’ Can you handle spicy food?”
Startled at the idea of fire-shooting chilies, he stepped back, then, determined not to waste his sister’s effort, said, “I’ll try, sister.”
Ye Qiuling laughed at his conflicted expression and said, “And this is sour celery.”
Understanding vaguely, Xiao Feng nodded and took it in his hand.
Chen Xuanmo, stepping out, saw this warm scene and smiled faintly.
Ye Qiuling had Xiao Feng wash the celery in a basin, which he obediently did, while she cut the chilies, saving the seeds in a jar for planting in their backyard.
Seeing her actions, Chen Xuanmo misunderstood, thinking she was conserving seeds for lack of money and resolved to secretly provide for her.
Ye Qiuling cleaned the small millet peppers, removed the stems, and chopped them into a bowl for later use. She cut the long celery into small sections and sliced a large piece of ginger thinly. Seeing Chen Xuanmo standing nearby, she instructed him to peel the garlic.
Chen Wu hastened to take the garlic, but Chen Xuanmo interrupted, “I’ll do it.”
Feeling uneasy, Chen Wu was relegated to operating the water pump at her direction.
With preparation complete, she brought the vegetables in and retrieved the marinated duck intestines and gizzards from the system space. Their colors looked fresh and appetizing, showcasing how the system space enhanced flavors.
Two basins stood before her—one cut, one whole—spotlessly clean.
She blanched the duck intestines and gizzards in cold water with ginger and rice wine, boiling and skimming impurities, then rinsed in warm water, following the recipe’s emphasis to avoid cold water to prevent contraction.
Discarding the water, she refilled the pot with clean water, added spices previously obtained from the system store, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, salt, and several logs for firewood. The mixture boiled, then she reduced the flame for a slow simmer, letting the flavors infuse for about fifteen minutes.
Afterward, she drained the water, cleaned the pot, refilled it with water, added a little cooking wine and ginger slices, and blanched the duck gizzards and intestines again, stirring to ensure even cooking, then drained completely.
Heating oil in the cleaned pot, she added ginger and green and red peppers. The pungent aroma filled the air, causing everyone to sneeze uncontrollably.
Chen Xuanmo and Xiao Feng rushed in, worried, but Ye Qiuling reassured them, “It’s just the chili, nothing to worry about.”
Chen Xuanmo relaxed but was still coughing, while Xiao Feng’s face flushed from the pungency. Ye Qiuling nudged them out, but both protested; she had no choice but to push them outside.
She stir-fried the duck gizzards and intestines on high heat until they changed color, then seasoned them with soy sauce and salt, tossing them before transferring to a bowl.
The pungent odor dissipated, leaving the delicious green and red chili stir-fried duck gizzards and intestines.
Xiao Feng leaned over, sniffing, noting that despite looking spicy, there was no harsh smell. “Sister, the chilies look so good!”
Ye Qiuling teased, “Little glutton, wait to eat later.”
She prepared the second dish with the same method: cleaning the pot, stir-frying ginger, garlic, and millet peppers to release their aroma, then adding duck gizzards, intestines, and celery sections, seasoning with soy sauce and salt, stir-frying, and finishing.
She removed the braised gizzards and intestines, letting the savory aroma spread through the air. Chen Xuanmo, recalling the last time he tasted them, felt fortunate beyond measure—meeting his wife was his greatest luck.
After cooling slightly, she sliced the gizzards, arranged them around the edge of a bowl, and cut the intestines into small pieces for the center.
Chen Xuanmo, used to a life of luxury without doing chores, now enthusiastically carried the dishes outside, feeling as though he was making up for decades of idle living.
Ye Qiuling prepared the sauce, mixing garlic and millet peppers in a bowl, heating oil in the pan, then pouring it over them. The braising liquid was also brought out.
Ye Dazhi and Shen Wanru returned from the village head’s house, having exchanged silver for fine liquor, worried it might not be enough to entertain Chen Xuanmo and Chen Wu, since he had helped move their daughter.
With everyone gathered, Ye Qiuling announced it was time to eat. Chen Wu hesitated, but Ye Qiuling gestured for him to sit.
Chen Wu said, “I’ll stand,” citing protocol, and tried to step aside.
Having watched historical dramas, Ye Qiuling understood their strict sense of hierarchy wasn’t his fault, though she cast Chen Xuanmo a reproachful look.
Chen Xuanmo was momentarily stunned, then said lightly, “Sit down, it’s fine,” wanting his wife to be happy.
Chen Wu reluctantly sat, and the atmosphere tensed.
Ye Qiuling broke the tension: “Don’t you like my cooking? Why isn’t anyone eating?” She looked at them in mild confusion.
Ye Dazhi poured wine for Chen Xuanmo and Chen Wu, thanking them, “Many thanks, Young Master. We will repay you soon for helping move my daughter.”
Chen Xuanmo quickly explained, “I’m good friends with Qiuling. No need for formalities.”
Ye Dazhi and Shen Wanru had misunderstood, thinking he came to collect debt. Realizing their mistake, they laughed awkwardly, “Haha, let’s eat.”
Chen Xuanmo bravely tried the chili-laden duck intestines, coughing from the spiciness.