Chapter 214: An Odd Coincidence 4
On the first day of Chinese New Year, Qi Qingyao brought the children to visit Ma Sanye and several relatives of the main family! The only family they did not visit was Qi Boli’s. Although these were Chinese New Year visits, they did not stay for any meals. When they were done with all the visits at noon, they took the carriage and went straight back to the inn. After eating, Qi Qingyao took the children to stroll around the streets of the town like an ordinary woman. Red lanterns were hung everywhere and there were even firecracker fragments on the streets! The place looked very lively.
Qi Qingyao took in the culture and ambiance of the town and wondered what kind of bustling landscape Qingzhou City, the largest capital in Qingzhou Prefecture, had to offer.
The next morning.
Before this, their grandparents had been reluctant to let them visit relatives during Chinese New Year as they were a disgrace given the mother of the three children was mentally challenged. The children had therefore never gone out, nor have they strolled around town during Chinese New Year. When they saw the liveliness outside that they had never seen before, the children asked very excitedly.
“Where are we going today?”
“To the Lord Heir’s residence.” After Qi Qingyao said this, she went down the stairs and entered the inn’s kitchen.
She gave five taels of silver to the head chef, stating it was for her to borrow the kitchen.
The head chef looked around then carefully stuffed the silvers into his arms before agreeing.
The boss was not strict during Chinese New Year, so no one would notice that he received a little commission. Besides, yesterday was the first day of Chinese New Year and many people had left Baishui Town and returned to Qingzhou City after visiting the koi temples. There were not many people who stayed in the inn in the past few days, so the kitchen was not very busy. It would not hurt to let this girl borrow the kitchen.
Qi Qingyao rolled up her sleeves before quickly grabbing the flour. She then began kneading the dough…then beat a few eggs. The head chef looked at her swift actions in bewilderment. This girl was as beautiful as the flowers and he had thought that she was going to set the kitchen on fire. He did not expect her to be such a dexterous girl.
A while after Qi Qingyao had busied herself in the kitchen, Jiang Yeqian, Si Jin, and the children also came. They stood outside the window of the kitchen, watching her.
The five of them were a little dumbfounded.
She was actually making pastries!
No, the point was, she “could” actually make pastries!
If one considered boiling chicken soup and steaming fish as simple techniques, then kneading dough and making pastries were not things ordinary people could do. These required some advanced cooking skills.
She had to be a professional. Even if she was not one, she must have been trained before. Otherwise, there would be flour all over the floor and things would be messy.
Anyone could tell that Qi Qingyao’s movements were deft and clear-cut.
Jiang Yeqian held his forehead and murmured, “So, she knew how to cook? Why had she been so against cooking?”
The children were also looking at the pastries that their mommy was making. They could not help but salivate.
They had not eaten their mommy’s handmade pastries before.
Qi Qingyao noticed them peeking through the corner of her eyes and, without lifting her head, she said while still kneading the dough, “Knowing how to do something and liking doing it are two different things.”
Jiang Yeqian, “…”
Qi Qingyao did not have to lift her head to know that she must have been defamed by him on the inside. She contemplated for a bit before saying, “You’re not an idiot. You can also cook if you learn since it’s not hard. But are you willing to wash and cook for others for the rest of your life?”
“…” This… Of course he was not willing.
Jiang Yeqian was speechless.
Si Jin said, “Sister, I’ve learned almost everything. I’ll cook for you every day in the future.”
“I knew Si Jin is the best!” Qi Qingyao exclaimed.
Erniu looked at her busy mommy and said obediently, “I also want to learn how to cook, so I can make pastries for Mommy.”
Dabao and Xiaobao also raised their hands. They decided to learn how to cook with Erniu to help lessen their mother’s burden.
After Qi Qingyao heard this, she burst out laughing.