My Manor

"There are so many ingredients. Since we live here, I feel a bit embarrassed. Let me handle dinner from now on. You just need to prepare the ingredients." After hearing Jiang Hai's words, Bernice didn't speak right away, but Xiaoya smiled and responded first. Now that she had taken off her scarf, she looked much cheerier than when he saw her in the morning.

"Can you cook?" Jiang Hai asked in surprise. Then he patted his head, realizing that Xiaoya had just made a home-cooked cold dish. It wasn't right of him to question her like that.

"Don't underestimate my sister. Although she's young, she's been interested in cooking since childhood. She's learned from many top chefs. She's proficient in Northeastern, Sichuan, Beijing, Shandong, and Zhejiang cuisines. You'll be in for a treat tomorrow," Bernice chimed in, smiling.

"It's not as impressive as Bernice says, but I can cook some home-cooked dishes. I couldn't go to school before, so I had to study at home. There was no time for play, and the teacher hardly gave me homework. Everyone at home was busy, so I spent most of my free time learning to cook. My mother always said that girls who can cook will have an easier time finding a good marriage," Xiaoya said shyly, lowering her head. Even though she was bashful, there was no trace of blood on her face. Jiang Hai couldn't help but feel more sympathy for her.

"Alright, then I'll look forward to a delicious dinner tomorrow. Just let me know what ingredients you need." Jiang Hai immediately changed the subject when he saw Xiaoya's lonely expression and asked with enthusiasm.

"It depends on what dishes you want to eat!" Xiaoya's mood seemed to lift, and she looked at Jiang Hai eagerly. Helping others had always been her wish.

"Let me think... Can you make charred pork strips?" Jiang Hai asked eagerly after thinking about what he wanted to eat.

"No problem. I'll need non-spicy green and red peppers, carrots, the sweet and sour sauce I saw earlier, pork tenderloin, and potato starch," Xiaoya replied, listing the ingredients.

"We have green and red peppers, and plenty of carrots in the garden. Would pork and wild boar work? I think we bought some starch, but I'm not sure if it's all been used up," Jiang Hai said after thinking for a moment. The vegetables weren't an issue, as green and red peppers were popular here, and carrots were grown in abundance—mainly because both people and horses ate them.

The only uncertain ingredient was the starch, so Jiang Hai went to check. Happily, he found some left, and he informed Xiaoya that it was all set.

"Wild boar meat works fine, but we'll need to marinate it first to remove the earthy smell. So, that's one dish. Anything else you'd like to make?" Xiaoya asked, satisfied with the ingredients.

"Can you make Kung Pao Chicken?" After thinking for a bit, Jiang Hai asked for another dish.

"Do you want the Sichuan version or the Zhejiang version?" Xiaoya asked with a raised eyebrow. It was clear she was passionate about cooking.

"Sichuan is fine, but Zhejiang works too. Ah, I'm a bit torn," Jiang Hai said, sounding conflicted.

Kung Pao Chicken and Fish-flavored Pork are both authentic Sichuan dishes. Kung Pao Chicken originally evolved from Shandong's fried chicken with sauce, mixed with the spicy chicken flavor from Gui cuisine. By the late Qing Dynasty, a new dish, Kung Pao Chicken, had been formed.

There are many versions in China, but the main ones are the Sichuan and Northeastern (or Zhejiang) versions. The Northeastern version, or Zhejiang version, developed when the government of the last dynasty relocated to Shancheng. The emperor was from Jiangsu and Zhejiang and didn't like the strong flavors of Sichuan cuisine, so his chef adjusted the flavors to suit the sweet-and-sour tastes of Zhejiang cuisine. The Northeast Army embraced the dish, and over time, it became popular in that region.

"Why not do both? It's not a big deal. You can use the chicken here. We'll slaughter one tomorrow, and I'll use the chicken legs for the Sichuan-style dish and the breasts for the sweet-and-sour version. I'll make a chicken soup with the leftovers. If you catch fish tomorrow, I'll make braised fish and stir-fried beef. It's easy to get too hot with all the frying." Xiaoya smiled as she offered the solution. Jiang Hai's mouth watered at the thought.

"Ah, I regret cooking tonight. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's dinner!" Jiang Hai said with a grin. Looking at Xiaoya, he felt like his efforts were worth it. To be honest, if he hadn't promised Bernice, he probably wouldn't have used his spiritual energy to help anyone. Jiang Hai wasn't as selfless as Feng Yunchen suggested; he was more selfish and practical. Why give away what was his? Even if someone was pitiful, that didn't mean he had to help.

His golden finger, this spiritual energy, was for his own benefit. If it were some high-tech gadget, he wouldn't give it away, even under threat. But this time, helping Xiaoya felt like a real gain. If she was good at cooking, it would be a win for him.

"I hope I won't disappoint you," Xiaoya said seriously, smiling at Jiang Hai.

Afterward, they continued eating. Once dinner was over, they relaxed on the sofa, chatting about when Xiaoya would start cooking so Jiang Hai could buy all the necessary ingredients.

Bernice wasn't involved in the conversation. Darlene and Marian, who had never been to China, didn't know what authentic flavors these dishes should have, so they stayed quiet. Before they knew it, it was time for bed, and the five of them returned to their rooms.

That night, two people struggled to sleep. One was Jiang Hai, who couldn't stop thinking about what he would eat the next day.

No one knew how obsessed Jiang Hai was with food. Now that he had money, time, and a woman, all he wanted was good food. A chef coming to stay was a dream come true for him.

The other person who couldn't sleep was Xiaoya. When she first arrived, she thought she'd have trouble falling asleep, but surprisingly, she found it easy. Nothing bothered her except for choosing a bed, and even then, everything else seemed perfect.

Living in this manor, surrounded by animals, green fields, blue skies, and the sea—this was the life she had long dreamed of. The only thing missing was seeing the beauty during the day, but the night view was still breathtaking.

Without saying a word, both Jiang Hai and Xiaoya drifted off to sleep eventually. The next morning, Jiang Hai woke up just as Bernice finished her boxing. He didn't go for a run right away because he had to gather ingredients for the day. Since he would be getting plenty of exercise later, he decided to make breakfast first and deliver it to Xiaoya, who couldn't leave her room.

Of course, he wouldn't forget Azarina, who had been living comfortably recently.

After preparing everything, Jiang Hai went to pick vegetables in the garden and slaughter a chicken, his first time doing so. Under Xiaoya's guidance, he managed the whole process, from plucking the feathers to draining the blood and removing the internal organs. Of course, nothing went to waste; the heart and liver were all part of the meal. After a quick lunch, Jiang Hai headed out to the sea in the afternoon to catch fish.

This time, he didn't just want fish; he planned to prepare other ingredients as well. He realized, after talking with Xiaoya the previous night, how wasteful he had been before. Lobsters could be cooked in various ways, not just steamed. He could make steamed lobster with garlic, sashimi, and more. Abalone, too, could be braised or stewed, but Jiang Hai didn't know how to cook it.

Sea cucumbers could be cooked in many different ways, but Jiang Hai wasn't familiar with them either. He had never eaten these delicacies before. Before arriving here, he was just a lazy young man who didn't care much about food. Now, with a skilled chef in the house, he couldn't wait to enjoy the feast.

So, today, he prepared not just fish but other ingredients as well, ready to cook them slowly. After all, Xiaoya wouldn't be ready for the meal right away.