Shen Fenghuo stared at the meager ingredients on the shelves, not frowning but instead curling her lips into a faint smile.
With flour on hand, she could make any morning meal.
She scooped several bowls of flour into a wooden basin, added warm water, deftly stirred it into a flaky consistency, then kneaded it into a smooth dough. Covering it with a damp cloth, she let it rest for a quarter of an hour.
Wu Yu finished taking inventory and saw Shen Fenghuo placing a pot on the stove and scooping several ladles of oil. He practically sprinted over.
"Little sister, you mustn’t, you mustn’t!"
He immediately advised, "Chen Chu is the stingiest with oil. He even counts the drops when stir-frying. If you pour this much sesame oil just for the morning meal, he’ll definitely point at your nose and scold you for wasting it."
Shen Fenghuo had only been here for two days, yet Chen Chu was openly giving her a hard time. Wu Yu felt uncomfortable seeing it.
Once, a skilled male cook had come before. After being harassed a few times, he couldn’t take it anymore and ended up brawling with Chen Chu, knocking out two of his teeth on the spot.
Though it was satisfying, he lost his job.
Who knew how long this girl would last at the Dali Temple? Such a well-behaved girl being bullied like this.
He really wanted to punch Chen Chu too.
Shen Fenghuo didn’t stop her hands, adding firewood under the stove and waiting for the oil to bubble.
She replied with a smile, "This oil may look like a lot, but it can all be put to good use, not a drop wasted… Don’t worry. Since the sesame oil is on the shelf, it must be on Chen Chu’s orders."
Shen Fenghuo picked up the wilted scallions, peeled off the outer dry layers, keeping only the tender white and green core leaves.
When the oil was hot enough to emit fine smoke, she threw the entire handful of scallion segments into the pot. With a sizzle, the hot oil enveloped the scallions, slowly frying them thoroughly in the oil.
Shen Fenghuo gently stirred with a wooden spoon to prevent the scallions from burning. Once the skins wrinkled and the aroma filled the air, she scooped both the oil and scallions into a large bowl.
The piping hot scallion oil still sizzled in the bowl, the charred fragrance and the fresh scent of scallions bursting forth, filling the entire kitchen.
The rested dough was placed on the cutting board, rolled into thin sheets, and then cut into evenly sized noodles with a knife.
The Dali Temple officers had just started their shifts and were already heading toward the Dining Hall.
They arrived even earlier than yesterday, reminiscing about the savory aroma of the pan-fried steamed buns, hoping to gamble on whether Lady Shen would be cooking today’s morning meal.
Sure enough, Lady Shen, sleeves rolled up, was already waiting at the Dining Hall.
"Lady Shen, quickly tell us, what delicious thing have you made for today’s morning meal?"
Shen Fenghuo smiled and replied, "Chief Clerk Shi, good morning. Today’s ingredients are limited, so I made scallion oil noodles."
"Scallion oil noodles?"
Shi Yixian sat down on a stool, smacking his lips. "A morning meal without any meat—they’ll be running around investigating cases, and this meal will have to last them until the afternoon. I’m afraid it won’t be enough."
Several nearby clerks echoed his sentiment, their faces showing slight disappointment.
Shen Fenghuo pointed to the bowl of warmed scallion oil. "Chief Clerk Shi, don’t worry. I fried plenty of scallion oil, and it’s very fragrant. If the officers get hungry in between, they can come to the Dining Hall anytime, and I’ll cook and mix fresh noodles for them."
"Then let’s have a bowl to try!"
"Alright."
The rested dough was rolled into thin sheets by Shen Fenghuo, then cut into evenly sized noodles with a knife and set aside on the cutting board.
Scallion oil noodles need to be mixed and eaten fresh to ensure the noodles remain smooth, springy, and not clumpy or sticky.
Shen Fenghuo dropped a good amount of noodles into the pot, boiling them until they floated to the surface before scooping them out.
She picked up chopsticks and filled a bowl to the brim, adding bean paste and a spoonful of scallion oil, stirring back and forth.
The noodles were evenly thin and distinct, each strand coated in translucent scallion oil, glossy and enticing to the appetite.
Shi Yixian took the bowl, inhaled deeply the fragrant aroma of scallion that wafted toward him, and eagerly picked up a mouthful with his chopsticks.
The tossed noodles were smooth, chewy, and springy, with the savory fragrance of scallion oil.
Though it was an oil-tossed noodle dish with minimal seasoning, it was neither greasy nor overpowering, filling the mouth with the rich aroma of scallion and noodles.
He slurped down more than half the bowl before he could stop himself, chewing as he mumbled praise, "Fragrant without being greasy—how is it so flavorful? Madam Shen truly has a talent for morning meals."
When Chen Yang entered the kitchen courtyard carrying his meat pole, he saw the Dining Hall packed with a crowd of clerks, their laughter and chatter as boisterous as the day before, with little difference.
His gaze swept across the room, and when he spotted the large bowl of oil on the table, his expression immediately darkened.
He set down his pole and strode toward Shen Fenghuo. "What's going on here? Do you know how expensive oil is? How could you use so much?"
Shen Fenghuo was in the middle of serving noodles to Clerk Xiao. Hearing this, she looked up and replied innocently, "Chef Chen, today I made scallion oil noodles using the ingredients you provided. The sesame oil was right there on the shelf."
Chen Yang was momentarily speechless.
Indeed, the sesame oil had always been kept on the shelf, replenished but never moved.
It infuriated him.
"Oil-tossed noodles? Isn't that too oily…"
Chen Yang furrowed his brows, trying to find another angle, but before he could finish, his words were cut off by a booming shout.
"Madam Shen, toss me another bowl!"
Recorder Pang sat at the table, stroking his graying beard, his face full of contentment.
Having a bowl of such steaming hot scallion oil noodles upon arriving for duty in winter was truly satisfying.
Chen Yang hurried over to intervene, flattering, "Oh, Elder Pang, at your age, how can you eat something so greasy for your morning meal? This scallion oil noodles looks positively oily. You must take better care of your health, lest you harm your spleen and stomach."
"What's wrong? My body is perfectly fine!"
Recorder Pang glanced at Chen Yang. "Last time I ate the mutton you made, it was so tough it made my teeth ache. Do you know how precious my teeth are?"
As he spoke, he called out toward Shen Fenghuo, "Quick, Madam Shen, bring me another bowl, with extra scallions. I want scallions on top of scallions!"
"Coming right up!"
Chen Yang felt a knot of frustration tightening in his chest.
It was just wilted scallions fried in oil and tossed with noodles, yet it had these people clamoring for more. Even someone as picky as Elder Pang was defending her.
The Dali Temple's oil was being squandered like this, yet everyone praised it. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.
Just as he was stewing in his anger, the entrance to the Dining Hall suddenly fell silent.
Lu Jin had just returned from court and arrived earlier than usual today.
He walked directly up to Shen Fenghuo and said slowly, "This official would also like a bowl of scallion oil noodles."
Watching from the side, Chen Yang felt his eyelids twitch, his mind in turmoil.
Young Minister Lu had come to the Dining Hall for two consecutive days!
Back when he had specially prepared his carefully crafted Yansui Zhou, hoping for a word of praise, Young Minister Lu had only taken one sip and never set foot in the Dining Hall again.
Coriander was such a delicious and vibrant vegetable.
If he had the money, he would plant coriander all over the Tang Empire.
And.
Make those who disliked coriander go plant it.
Shen Fenghuo responded and turned around, immediately boiling and tossing the noodles with fluid, practiced movements.
The golden scallion oil soon coated the smooth, springy noodles, and the bowl was handed to Lu Jin.
As soon as Lu Jin took his seat, the clerks around him automatically moved away, leaving a distance of about ten feet.
Even though Young Minister Lu was usually gentle, dignified, and never harsh with his subordinates, he was still their superior.
It's best not to even greet them if you see them in the temple—just pretend you didn't notice.
Lu Jin took the bowl, but his gaze fell on Shen Fenghuo's neck.
Her neck was exposed above her collar, with several faint red marks imprinted on her skin, standing out starkly against her fair complexion.
When he had gotten up earlier, the sky was still dark, so he hadn't noticed.
He looked up at Shen Fenghuo, his brow slightly furrowed. "What happened to your neck?"
Shen Fenghuo let out a sigh.
Deep down, she just wanted to sneer.
"Wasn't it you, Young Minister Lu, who did it?"
Lu Jin held his chopsticks without moving, speaking only after a moment. "Why would I do that?"
Seeing his expression of complete ignorance, Shen Fenghuo felt even more exasperated.
She raised her right hand to demonstrate. "You used your hand, squeezing me so hard you nearly choked me to death."
"Last night?"
Shen Fenghuo nodded.
Lu Jin thought for a while but still couldn't recall anything.
He fell silent for a moment before murmuring thoughtfully, "He actually enjoys doing that… even in bed?"
The remark came out of nowhere, leaving Shen Fenghuo stunned. She instinctively let out a confused, "Huh?"
Lu Jin lowered his head and picked up a mouthful of scallion oil noodles.
The noodles were chewy and smooth, the scallion oil savory and enticing, not greasy at all—just as good as yesterday's pan-fried steamed buns with meat.
She had cooked this meal.
It was delicious.
His mother had said she came because she was worried about his health.
Lu Jin ate a few bites unhurriedly, and when he looked up, his expression remained gentle.
His gaze returned to her neck, his tone as natural as if he were discussing ordinary official business. "If I act unusually at night again, or… if I have any particular preferences, you don't have to indulge them."
With that, he took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. "This ointment reduces swelling and relieves pain. Use it on your neck, and it'll heal faster."
Shen Fenghuo knew.
She had used this very bottle yesterday.
And he had applied it for her.
Lu Jin's series of logical inconsistencies left Shen Fenghuo at a loss, feeling nothing but utter speechlessness.
Was Lord truly not remembering, or was he pretending to be clueless?
What difference was there between punching someone and then offering them candy?
It wasn't some preference—it was genuine choking!
But as she looked into his calm, unruffled eyes, she didn't know where to begin.
Shen Fenghuo felt like scratching her head.
Lord, there seemed to be something wrong with him.
Lu Jin watched his new bride, her face alternating between pale and flushed, a dark aura flickering in her eyes.
It seemed she had been deeply wronged by Lu Heng.
He had only eaten half a bowl of scallion oil noodles when Ming Yi hurried in, cupping his hands to report, "Young Minister Lu, another floating body has been found at Longshou Canal!"
Lu Jin took a sip of tea. "Hasn't this floating body case been handled by Yongzhou Prefecture all along? And there are still no leads?"
"This time is different."
Ming Yi lowered his voice. "The deceased is the Harmonizing Tunes Gentleman from Taichang Temple. The method of death is exactly the same as the previous cases at Qingming Canal. Yongzhou Prefecture can't decide what to do and specifically sent someone to ask you to go take a look."
Lu Jin stood up in response, having barely eaten any noodles.
Seeing this, Shen Fenghuo handed him an oil-paper package.
She muttered, "These are fried dough sticks I made this morning. I was going to eat them myself."
Lu Jin glanced down at her outstretched hand, took the package, and tucked it into his robe. "Thank you."
Shen Fenghuo watched him walk away before turning back to the stove and placing the ointment bottle into her shoulder bag.
Wu Yu finished washing a stack of bowls and moved closer to Shen Fenghuo, somewhat puzzled: "What's going on with you, sister? I just counted—within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Young Minister Lu looked at you at least twelve times."
Author's Note:
A'He: No, no, excuse me? A fetish? What in the world is all this? It seems Lord has more than just one problem of being useless.
(Revised the first three chapters. The trip to the countryside to find A'He has been briefly mentioned, and Qingniang's status as a concubine has been removed. She will appear more appropriately in future plotlines. Other than that, there are no major changes.)