"The weather is hot, and I was worried that you didn’t have any appetite. So, I made more dishes today and see which one you like," Yao Zhi said as she scooped a bowl of winter lon soup for him.
Fu Chen’an took the bowl and said, "Thank you, Wife."
After drinking so soup, he reached for the scallion pancakes. The pancakes looked thick, but when he bit into one, he realized that it was actually crispy with thin, flaky layers inside.
The outer layer was crispy, but the inner layer was soft and slightly chewy. The fragrant scallion, combined with oil and salt, made it taste savory and aromatic.
He finished 1 pancake in several bites before he said, "Wife, this pancake is so delicious. It even has a hint of sweetness and a nutty taste."
Yao Zhi smiled when she heard his praise and replied, "The sweetness cos from the scallion, while the nutty taste cos from the oil."
Fu Chen’an only knew how to make simple dishes and didn’t understand much about cooking. So, he nodded but said nothing.
While he was busy eating, the guards were staring at him from a distance. Seeing how fast he was eating, they couldn’t help but feel curious about the food. So, they opened the fabric and saw the golden-brown scallion pancakes.
The mont they saw them, both guards were stunned. Even without taking a bite, they knew that these pancakes must be made using oil. Usually, their pancakes were stead and retained the flour’s natural color.
The two of them slled the fragrance coming from the pancakes and swallowed hard. Without wasting any more ti, they started eating. The first bite opened a new door for them.
After tasting the pancakes, they understood why Fu Chen’an was willing to exchange his rit for permission for his wife to deliver food. Compared to this food, the food served in the cafeteria was simply pig feed.
Half an hour later, Fu Chen’an drank a cup of water and let out a satisfied burp. He patted his bulging stomach while finding a more comfortable sitting position.
Seeing the clean plates and bowls, Yao Zhi was satisfied. After she packed up the bowls, plates, and utensils, she put the remaining pancakes into a 3-layered lunch box.
"Wife, I can eat in the cafeteria for dinner. You should save these pancakes for dinner," Fu Chen’an said.
Although he enjoyed the food, he was worried that he wouldn’t have enough money to cover their food expenses.
Hearing this, Yao Zhi shook her head and said, "Husband, don’t worry. Yesterday, after I sent the letter to the General’s Mansion, the Madam gave 500 taels of gold. This money is enough for us for years."
The mont Fu Chen’an heard her words, he was stunned. "Wife, are you sure it’s not silver but gold?"
Yao Zhi nodded and replied in a low voice, "I’m sure. I even bit it, and it’s indeed gold!"
When he saw his wife’s eyes filled with excitent, Fu Chen’an finally believed that the General really did give them 500 taels of gold in exchange for a jar of wound ointnt and a waterskin of dicinal water.
Noticing that her husband was lost in thought, Yao Zhi asked, "Husband, what’s wrong?"
Fu Chen’an looked at his wife for a mont before he said, "Wife, the wound ointnt and dicinal water are too valuable. From now on, you shouldn’t tell anyone about them."
"We are just ordinary people. If people discover that you possess the way to make such valuable dicinal water, it might bring disaster to our family."
When she heard this, Yao Zhi nodded and said, "Husband, I only give it to you. But what should we do about the General and the military physician?"
Fu Chen’an held his wife’s hand and reassured her. "Don’t worry. I trust them."
After hearing this, Yao Zhi cald down and said, "Husband, I brought the items you wanted."
She handed a box to her husband and added, "I also made a bowl of mung bean soup for you. It’s good for lowering inner heat. I also brought so dicinal water for you. Rember to finish it."
"Okay."
They talked for a few more minutes before Fu Chen’an climbed down from the cart. "Wife, I have to return now."
"I will co to visit you again tomorrow," Yao Zhi nodded.
"Drive back carefully," he reminded her.
"I will. You should go back now."
After she finished her words, Yao Zhi didn’t stay any longer and returned to the village.
She still had a lot of things to do back at ho. She needed to check the sausages and the soy sauce. She also wanted to make chili paste and see if she could sell it at Zhou Boming’s store.
When he could no longer see his wife’s back, Fu Chen’an walked back to the barracks. The guards checked the wooden box and the 3-layered lunch box before letting him in.
Under their envious gazes, Fu Chen’an walked back to his tent. This ti, no one was around since they hadn’t returned from their morning patrol.
Thinking about Cook Li’s request, he wrapped 2 scallion pancakes in clean cloth and scooped a bowl of mung bean soup. After he hid the rest of the food under his bed, he went to the kitchen area.
Before he could even reach the kitchen, he t Cook Li. Looking at his anxious face, Fu Chen’an asked, "Cook Li, what’s wrong?"
Seeing him, Cook Li let out a worried sigh and replied, "The General didn’t eat his lunch again."
Raising his eyebrows, Fu Chen’an asked, "Didn’t you say that the General had already recovered his appetite? Why did he skip his al again?"
"I also don’t know. When I asked if the food wasn’t to his taste, the General said that there was no problem with the food. It’s just that the weather has been too hot lately, and he didn’t feel like eating."
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