An hour later, Zhu Zi and Ganyu returned from outside, carrying lots of ingredients.
"Boss, we bought shrimp and mountain products!"
"Mm, I'll make Jueyun Flying Dragon Pot for lunch."
"We bought the shrimp from Old Liu's shop, caught fresh this morning. We also got two fish. Old Liu said the mooncakes we gave him the other day were delicious."
"Did you pay?"
"I tried, but Old Liu wouldn't take the money!"
"That's fine. When we make pastries next ti, we'll send so to Brother Liu."
"We also bought a chicken. The vendor was very helpful and butchered it for us."
"We can make white-cut chicken."
"What's white-cut chicken?"
"Sothing delicious."
"Oh!"
"Put all the vegetables in the kitchen. We'll wash them later. I just made so tofu pudding, would you like so?"
"Yes!"
Xia Zhi took out two large bowls, scooped in two spoonfuls of smooth, snow-white tofu pudding, poured in heated brown sugar water, sprinkled so crushed walnuts and peanuts, and finally added a touch of osmanthus.
"Here, try it."
"Thank you, Boss"
Zhu Zi and Ganyu held the large bowls, scooped up a spoonful, watched the smooth tofu pudding gently wobble, and carefully put it in their mouths.
"Mmm~"
"How is it?"
"Delicious! The bean flavor is so rich! But not at all greasy!"
"This is vegetarian sweet tofu pudding. There's another way to eat it with chili oil."
"I want to try!"
"I'll make mapo tofu for lunch. The taste isn't too different."
"Yay!"
Ganyu looked at Shenhe, who was cutting bamboo shoots by the stove, and asked, "Junior Sister, have you tried it?"
Shenhe continued working while softly replying, "Yes, three bowls."
"..."
Ganyu silently lowered her head, and after finishing hers, asked for another bowl.
It's fine, it's just tofu pudding, this won't make fat!
After eating the tofu pudding, the three girls helped wash and cut vegetables while Xia Zhi made mooncakes alone.
There was a knock from the front.
"Big Brother! Yaoyao is here!"
Xia Zhi smiled, wiped his hands, and went out with Shenhe to greet them.
"Mada Ping, Yaoyao, you've co. Please co in!"
"Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Xia."
"Oh, what disturbance? It's an honor that Mada Ping would visit. We don't have much to offer guests, but we just made so tofu pudding. Would Mada Ping and Yaoyao like to try so?"
"Yaoyao wants to eat!"
"Yes, we'll try so."
"Mm."
Xia Zhi invited Mada Ping and Yaoyao to sit down, then went to the kitchen to make two bowls of tofu pudding.
Mada Ping tasted a spoonful: "Mm... Mr. Xia's culinary skills are excellent. This is the best tofu pudding I've ever had."
"Mada Ping is too kind."
Xia Zhi smiled modestly.
After finishing the bowl of tofu pudding, Xia Zhi saw Mada Ping's platinum progress bar increase from [22%] to [32%].
Another one-tenth.
Besides massage-level physical contact interactions, feeding glowing cuisine seed to be the fastest and most stable way to increase progress bars currently.
Xia Zhi sat and chatted with Mada Ping for a while, then stood up: "Mada Ping, I need to return to the kitchen to cook. Please excuse ."
Mada Ping smiled and shook her head: "Go ahead, Mr. Xia, don't mind us."
Xia Zhi went to the back.
Soon after, the aroma of baking pastries wafted out.
Yaoyao cutely sniffed the air, her eyes brightening: "It's mooncakes!"
Indeed, monts later, Ganyu ca out carrying a plate of freshly baked exquisite mooncakes: "Streetward Rambler, Yaoyao, please help yourselves."
Mada Ping looked at Ganyu and nodded: "Your complexion looks much better. You used to work too hard, staying up late every night, your spirit was in poor condition. Ningguang told she's considering changing Liyue's civil service system. Once specific asures are implented, you shouldn't be so busy."
"Mm."
"You should have so ti for yourself. Spend more ti with Shenhe - it helps both her and you."
"Alright."
Mada Ping picked up a mooncake and put it in her mouth.
Fresh mooncakes, compared to cooled ones, had less oil reabsorption, so the texture wasn't as smooth and sweet, tending more towards crumbly and crisp, but still delicious.
anwhile, her platinum progress bar was quietly increasing.
Ganyu rembered sothing and, after hesitating, spoke up: "Mada Ping, I saw Miss Yelan co to Mr. Xia's shop yesterday."
Mada Ping smiled: "Don't worry, I've already spoken with Ningguang. Yelan probably just ca for a routine investigation. Nothing will happen to Mr. Xia."
Ganyu felt relieved: "That's good. I'll go help in the kitchen."
Ganyu turned to leave.
At this mont, there was another gentle knock at the door.
Yaoyao obediently ran to open it.
"Qiqi, you're here too!"
"Mm... where's Mr. Xia?"
"Big Brother is busy in the kitchen. Co in quickly!"
"Okay."
"I'll go tell Big Brother you're here!"
Qiqi walked into the shop, saw Mada Ping, and politely greeted her softly: "Hello, Mada Ping."
Mada Ping looked at her and smiled gently: "Mm, Qiqi's here."
For so reason, Qiqi felt Mada Ping's gaze was sowhat strange, seeming to contain hints of guilt and helplessness.
She had t Mada Ping before but hadn't noticed this.
Perhaps... it was because her mind wasn't clear before, and she couldn't notice such details.
Qiqi paused briefly, lowered her head, and quietly sat down at the table.
Xia Zhi ca out with Yaoyao and smiled: "Miss Qiqi is here."
Qiqi said softly: "Hello, Mr. Xia."
"We just made mooncakes, but since Miss Qiqi doesn't like hot food, let light so incense for you instead."
"Thank you, Mr. Xia."
Xia Zhi took the incense burner and put in a whole piece of [Perfect Calming Incense], lit it, and placed it on the table.
A strange fragrance spread throughout the shop.
Qiqi slled the incense, her small face showing satisfaction.
This was Mada Ping's first ti slling such incense, and she was inwardly surprised.
Such excellent calming effects must an so spiritual herbs were used in its making.
This was practically spiritual incense, no wonder Qiqi liked it.
First the rainbow juice containing Vitality that could nourish the body, then this strange incense that could calm spirits and please gods - Mr. Xia really had quite a collection of good things.
As Mada Ping thought this, she heard Xia Zhi say to Qiqi: "Miss Qiqi, I have a gift for you."
"Mm? Is it incense? I haven't used up the last..."
"No."
Xia Zhi took out a cold, snow-white round pearl.
"It's this."
As if greatly attracted, Qiqi's gaze fixed on it and couldn't move away.
Her expressionless little face showed desire for the first ti.
Qiqi didn't know what the pearl was, but her body instinctively told her she needed it, that with it she could beco more "complete."
Xia Zhi took one of Qiqi's hands and placed the pearl in it.
"This is a pearl I found before. It can make the surrounding environnt cooler. It's not very useful for , at most for sumr heat relief. But Miss Qiqi likes cool environnts, so wearing it would be perfect."
"I..."
"I've been aning to give it to Miss Qiqi, but I forgot where I put it. I found it a few days ago, and since it's the festival today, let give it to Miss Qiqi as a gift. I hope Miss Qiqi won't mind."
"Not at all, I like it very much. Thank you, Mr. Xia."
"I'm glad Miss Qiqi likes it. I need to go back to the kitchen now."
"Mm..."
Qiqi held the pearl, watching Xia Zhi's figure disappear, still not looking away.
Beside her, Mada Ping looked at the pearl in Qiqi's hand, her expression very quiet.
Mr. Xia really had... so many good things.
----
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