Chapter 174 The Empress Dowager's Orders: The Eldest Miss Becomes a Well-Behaved Tea-Serving Ma
The tense atmosphere in the courtyard instantly dissipated because of Song Wan's gentle invitation, delivered with the tone of an elder.
This is a subtle form of approval.
Lin Mo lowered his eyelids slightly, keenly catching the weight of the word "elder".
The tension that had been building up inside him finally eased silently.
Even with countless experiences from his past life, it would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous at all when facing his wife, his mother, whose level of expertise was unfathomable.
Fortunately, we overcame this most difficult hurdle through sheer hard work and ability.
Lin Mo raised his head, a calm and composed smile playing on his lips.
He showed no signs of being flattered or flustered, nor did he try to flatter or fawn over anyone.
He simply responded softly in his usual relaxed and steady voice.
"Since you've asked, then stay for lunch and have a taste."
"I happened to go to the market this morning and ran into a fishmonger I know. He left me a net full of fresh river shrimp that he had just caught."
"It also came with a bunch of water celery still covered in dew."
Lin Mo casually folded the white towel draped over the stone bench and placed it aside.
"Please have a seat and have some hot tea to warm yourself up."
After saying that, he turned around and started walking slowly towards the kitchen.
Jiang Ruoyun, who had been standing to the side the whole time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She stared blankly at her mother's face, which not only didn't show any anger but instead had a hint of a smile.
The heart that had been hanging in my throat finally settled back into my stomach.
The crisis is over.
Not only was it resolved, but judging from the look of it, Mom was completely impressed by her husband's cooking skills.
An indescribable sense of pride and joy instantly welled up in Jiang Ruoyun's heart.
On her face, which was usually cold and aloof in the business world, a bright and unguarded smile bloomed.
Like a cat that no longer has to worry about guarding its food.
She turned around happily and ran towards the wooden clothes rack under the eaves.
With practiced movements, she tore off a cotton apron with a small floral pattern from above.
She put her hands behind her back and neatly tied a pretty bow.
The movements were fluid and natural, clearly indicating that this wasn't the first time they'd done it.
Following that, this tycoon's daughter, who never lifted a finger in the Jiang family mansion and whose maid even brought her a glass of warm water, was introduced.
Like a diligent little tail afraid of being left behind, it followed Lin Mo's footsteps and plunged into the kitchen full of cooking smoke.
"Slow down, wait for me!"
"Let me help you wash the vegetables!"
The girl's clear, soft voice drifted through the heavy curtain, radiating an irrepressible joy.
The courtyard house returned to tranquility.
In the corner, the two old men, Wang Cuncun and Zhou Yang, were squatting in front of the sandalwood box, carefully examining the broken jade inside.
The two occasionally let out suppressed gasps of surprise, completely immersed in their own world.
Song Wan ignored her two old friends.
She sat gracefully on the warm stone bench, her posture still exuding an innate elegance.
Holding a cup of steaming hot tea in my hands.
But his gaze, through the spotless glass window, fell on the figure in the kitchen with great interest.
The late autumn sunlight slanted across the window, making the scene inside exceptionally clear.
The kitchen wasn't luxuriously decorated, but it exuded a clean, tidy, and warm feeling.
The cutting board was wiped so clean it reflected light, and the spice jars were arranged neatly.
Lin Mo was standing in front of the sink, his shirt sleeves rolled up, handling the lively river shrimp.
His movements were unhurried and deliberate, his technique for removing the shrimp veins clean and efficient, with a rhythm that was pleasing to the eye.
And half a step to his side.
His precious daughter, who had been spoiled since childhood and had a cold and arrogant personality, was squatting on the ground without any regard for her image.
A red plastic basin was placed in front of me.
Jiang Ruoyun was carefully selecting the water celery.
Her fair and delicate fingers were immersed in the cold tap water, but she didn't even frown.
Carefully pinch off the yellowing leaves and neatly arrange the emerald green stems in the colander next to it.
She looked even more focused than when she was looking at multi-million dollar mergers and acquisitions at the company.
As Song Wan watched this scene, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes that she herself did not even realize.
She gently turned the teacup in her hand, feeling the warmth emanating from the cup.
After washing the water celery, Jiang Ruoyun stood up and naturally shook the water droplets off her hands.
She picked up a clean cotton cloth, carefully dried her hands, and then obediently stood next to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo started chopping vegetables.
The blade made a series of light, continuous tapping sounds as it touched the wooden cutting board.
Jiang Ruoyun was not idle.
Whenever Lin Mo finished preparing a dish, she would hand it to her on a clean white porcelain plate at just the right moment.
Lin Mo didn't even need to give any instructions.
With just a slight tilt of his head, Jiang Ruoyun could accurately hand him the condiment bottle he needed.
That kind of unintentional understanding cannot be cultivated in a day or two.
Then, ignite the fire and heat the oil.
A fierce, orange-red flame rose from the stove.
Lin Mo gripped the handle of the iron wok with one hand, using his wrist to flick the wok with a graceful and skillful motion.
As the shrimp in the pot sizzled in the hot oil, they quickly curled up and turned red, releasing an enticing aroma.
The firelight illuminated Lin Mo's sharply defined profile, adding to his captivating charm and focused expression.
Because the temperature in front of the stove is a bit high.
A fine layer of sweat appeared on Lin Mo's forehead.
Just then, Jiang Ruoyun stood on tiptoe.
She held a soft kitchen paper towel in her hand, her movements gentle.
He gently pressed on Lin Mo's forehead and temples to wipe away his sweat.
After wiping, she looked up and gave Lin Mo a sweet smile.
Those once clear and cool eyes were now filled with unreserved dependence and admiration.
Lin Mo lowered his head slightly and gently brushed the tip of her nose with his free hand.
The two smiled at each other, the scene filled with an overwhelming sense of affection.
Their movements were so skillful, and their coordination so seamless.
Where is this some otherworldly chaebol heiress who doesn't know the ways of the world?
She's practically a devoted wife who's been married for years and whose heart and soul are completely devoted to her husband!
Song Wan sat quietly in the courtyard, watching everything that was happening behind the glass window.
Surprisingly, she didn't feel the slightest bit of anger that her daughter had been wronged.
Instead, she found that the corners of her mouth were uncontrollably turning up wildly.
She picked up the blue and white porcelain teacup, lowered her head, and took a sip of the slightly bitter tea.
The warm liquid flowed down his throat, dispelling the chill of late autumn.
Song Wan sighed inwardly.
That brat.
How precious it was when it was in the Jiang family mansion.
Peeling an apple makes my hands dirty, and drinking bird's nest soup makes me feel hot.
He always has a cold face and treats everyone with a businesslike attitude.
Even she, as the mother, sometimes felt that her daughter was too cold-hearted and lacked warmth.
But what happens when you get to this narrow alleyway courtyard?
She did the hard work without a single complaint; instead, she was like a little maid who had found a treasure, her face beaming with undisguised joy.
That kind of heartfelt joy and peace is something that the cold, impersonal mansion of the Jiang family can never provide.
Song Wan's gaze returned to Lin Mo.
This young man in the white shirt truly possessed an indescribable charm.
He did not deliberately flatter Jiang Ruoyun's status, nor did he place her on a pedestal.
Instead, it used the most basic daily meals and mundane necessities to forcefully drag this proud peacock into the everyday world full of life.
It can make a girl who originally had no enthusiasm for life willingly cook and clean for him.
It's amazing how they managed to train that girl, who had such a bad temper, to be so obedient and docile.
This Lin Mo is indeed a remarkable person.
Just as Song Wan was lost in thought...
A gust of wind gently lifted the curtain at the back of the kitchen.
Immediately afterwards, a delicate and sweet aroma of stir-fried dishes, accompanied by white steam, filled the entire courtyard.
That's not the overpowering flavor you get from piling up all sorts of expensive spices in a high-end restaurant.
Rather, it is a pure, fresh aroma that belongs to the original flavor of the ingredients.
A moment later, Lin Mo lifted the curtain and walked out steadily.
He was holding two steaming blue-and-white porcelain plates in both hands.
One dish is "Longjing Shrimp," which has a jade-like color and a faint tea aroma.
One dish is a plate of vibrant green stir-fried water celery, so appetizing to look at.
Jiang Ruoyun, like a little maid eager for praise, followed behind carrying two bowls of steaming white rice.
"Auntie, this is a simple home-style stir-fry, cooked to perfection."
"Try it while it's hot."
Lin Mo placed the plate steadily on the stone table, his voice gentle.
The aroma of food filled the late autumn air, instantly adding a touch of intoxicating warmth to the otherwise chilly courtyard.
At this time.
Right outside this warm and peaceful courtyard.
Below that tall, blue-brick wall covered with withered yellow vines.
A certain "old sparrow" who originally intended to catch the culprit is now facing inhuman torture in the cold wind.
The wind whistled through the alley.
Jiang Jianguo gripped the cracks in the wall bricks with both hands, his fingernails filled with cold mortar.
His feet, clad in expensive leather shoes, were resting unevenly on the pedals and back seat of that dilapidated shared bicycle.
The entire body was in an extremely distorted and comical posture.
The cold wind blew in mercilessly through his open shirt collar.
The richest man in Beijing was so cold that he was shivering all over.
What's worse is that he's maintained this position for almost twenty minutes.
The muscles in my left leg had started to twitch uncontrollably and violently, a sign that a cramp was about to occur.
Just as he gritted his teeth and tried to change his position to relieve the soreness.
A tantalizing aroma of food wafted slowly down the wall and nestled precisely into his nostrils.
That was the sweetness of stir-fried river shrimp, mixed with the fragrance of his favorite water celery.
Jiang Jianguo's stomach suddenly let out a long, muffled rumble, like a thunderclap.
He stared wide-eyed, his eyes bloodshot, and swallowed hard.
His eyes were filled with grief, indignation, and despair.