nucmednet Chapter 212 Feeding the Two Girls
Chapter 212 Feeding the Two Girls
"Miss Cheng...Miss Cheng!"
Just as the stinky tofu was almost done, Cheng Yuntao vaguely heard someone calling her, the voice faintly heard in the kitchen. She stopped what she was doing and looked around in confusion, but she didn't see anyone. She just felt that the voice was strangely familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
"Strange, I clearly heard someone calling me." Cheng Yuntao muttered softly, and when she was about to continue what she was doing, the voice sounded again anxiously.
"Here...I'm here! Look out the window!"
Cheng Yuntao followed the direction of the sound and looked towards the window.
A small head cautiously poked out from under the windowsill, its eyes sparkling and full of intelligence. Noticing her gaze, Erya, who had been half-crouching, clung to the window sill with both hands, shifted her body upwards, and placed her hands across the sill, revealing her entire head.
"Hey! Erya, what are you doing hiding under the window? You scared me and I thought I had misheard." Cheng Yuntao was surprised and happy. She quickly stopped what she was doing and walked towards the window.
Erya smiled innocently, revealing her white teeth, and explained, "Today is my day off, so I don't have to work. I was planning to go out for a stroll with my good sisters, but when I heard that Miss Cheng was coming, I came over to say hello."
Her voice was clear and a little shy. "It's just that there are rules in the mansion. Servants who are not on duty are not allowed to wander around the mansion. If they are discovered, they will be scolded and fined. So I can only come to you secretly like this."
As she was speaking, Erya's gaze uncontrollably fell on the plate next to Cheng Yuntao. The stinky tofu in the plate was piled up layer by layer like a small mountain, and the strange smell kept coming into her nostrils.
Erya had never seen food like this before and couldn't help asking, "Miss Cheng, what are you cooking? Why does it smell like it's gone bad? It's so stinky."
"Oh, you are talking about this. This is freshly fried stinky tofu. It's delicious. Do you want to try a piece?" When stinky tofu was mentioned, Cheng Yuntao instantly became energetic, her eyes lit up, and she picked up the stinky tofu in her hand and walked towards Erya enthusiastically.
"No, no, no! Miss Cheng, I'd better not eat it." As Cheng Yuntao approached, the "stink" became stronger. Erya waved her hands in panic to refuse, and quickly raised her sleeves and covered her nose tightly, trying to block the invasion of this strange smell.
Although Erya was born in a poor family and often suffered from hunger and cold, she still had basic common sense. She knew that spoiled food should not be eaten, otherwise she might lose her life.
Seeing Erya's disdain, Cheng Yuntao felt a little embarrassed and was too embarrassed to pass the stinky tofu to her again. She had no choice but to stop, stand still, and patiently explain from a distance: "Erya, this tofu is not bad. The smell comes from fermentation, just like the sauces we usually eat. It has a unique flavor."
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes full of anticipation. "Besides, this stinky tofu only smells bad, but it tastes delicious. Are you sure you don't want to try a piece?"
Erya instinctively took a few steps back, and when she stood up she was too hasty, and her head hit the outward-facing window with a "bang". She cried out "Ouch" in pain, and quickly reached out to rub her hurt head. She looked so naive, just like a frightened puppy.
Thinking of the unforgettable delicious knife-cut noodles made by Cheng Yuntao last time, Erya swallowed her saliva unconsciously. Coupled with Cheng Yuntao's repeated assurances, her curiosity about the stinky tofu gradually overwhelmed her disgust.
After hesitating for a moment, Erya bit her lip and whispered, "Miss Cheng, then...then let me try one!"
Cheng Yuntao quickly turned around and took a pair of clean chopsticks. She picked out a piece of fried and seasoned stinky tofu and handed it to Erya, her eyes full of anticipation: "Erya, try it quickly. I guarantee you'll want more after you've eaten it."
Erya swallowed, a hint of uneasiness in her eyes, and took the chopsticks with trembling hands.
She moved closer to the stinky tofu, and the strong smell still made her wrinkle her nose. However, looking at Cheng Yuntao's encouraging eyes, she gritted her teeth and put the stinky tofu into her mouth.
Bite through the crispy outer layer, and the rich sauce inside will instantly burst in your mouth, bringing you a hot and rich taste. The texture is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the tofu inside is tender and juicy. If you taste it carefully, you can also feel the unique mellow aroma after fermentation.
The chewy skin perfectly absorbs the essence of the sauce, and the charred aroma after frying makes every bite full of satisfaction. After swallowing, the faint aftertaste still lingers in the mouth, which is so delicious that you can't help but want to taste it again.
Erya's originally frowned brows relaxed instantly, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
She was stunned for a moment, then an intoxicated expression appeared on her face. She chewed the delicious food vigorously, and a vague but admiring sound came out of her throat: "Hmm... This is too delicious! Miss Cheng, I... I really misunderstood it before."
As she spoke, she couldn't wait to take another big bite, and some sauce stained the corners of her mouth, looking very cute.
Seeing Erya's eyes shining with joy as she ate, her cheeks bulging, her face filled with an intoxicated expression, Cheng Yuntao felt a sense of accomplishment and her smile widened. She picked up her chopsticks again and carefully picked up several more slices of stinky tofu for Erya. She asked with concern, "Erya, do you want to take some and share it with your good sisters? Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone."
Erya swallowed the delicious food in her mouth and quickly raised her hand. She waved it while mumbling, "No, no, Miss Cheng. Although this stinky tofu is delicious, the smell is too strong. If I carry it with me, I won't be able to walk far before someone finds me. That would be terrible."
Cheng Yuntao finally reacted after hearing this, and a trace of apology appeared on her face: "It's my fault, it's my fault. I didn't think it through and almost got you into trouble."
Erya grinned, revealing her little canine teeth, and said nonchalantly, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm already very happy to have tasted such delicious and special stinky tofu today."
As she spoke, she glanced at the stinky tofu on the plate with reluctance, "I've been delayed here for too long. I can't stay any longer. I have to go first. See you next time!" As soon as the voice fell, Erya crouched down and ran away along the corner of the wall.
After watching Erya leave safely, Cheng Yuntao turned her attention back to the stove. After simply arranging the stinky tofu that was already covered with sauce, she called the servant who was waiting outside to serve the dishes.
When the servant heard the summons, he immediately walked into the kitchen respectfully. When his eyes fell on the plate of stinky tofu, he was slightly stunned and subconsciously wrinkled his nose, obviously frightened by the unique smell. But he quickly recovered his composure, picked up the plate and walked outside.
Cheng Yuntao followed slowly from behind, feeling a little nervous, wondering whether Ji Yanchuan could accept this somewhat "special" and fresh food.