Chapter 9: Team Salty or Team Sweet

The small stone mill was brought out, and the small table and chairs were set up.

Bao Mianmian scooped a spoonful of beans and a spoonful of sweet well water.

Before her eyes, the snowy white soy milk began to flow out.

She dipped a little with her pinky finger and put it in her mouth; organic food really was different—the rich aroma of beans instantly melted in her mouth.

Grinding beans was truly physical labor; by the end, her arms were so sore she could barely lift them.

Bao Mianmian shook her arms and continued her efforts.

After finally finishing the grinding, she stoked the stove fire.

Work officially began.

By the time dawn broke, Da Guo came swaggering over to catch her in the act, only to find that the kitchen was already filled with steaming heat.

Someone had already beaten him to it.

He looked down at the broken iron lock.

Fine, quite the nerve.

Caught red-handed; let's see how you explain this!

He strode inside, but Bao Mianmian was so focused on filtering the boiled soy milk through a gauze net that she didn't even lift her head.

"You've got quite the nerve! When the Prince arrives, you'll pay for this!"

Bao Mianmian ignored him entirely; the soy milk had to be filtered five or six times to make it smooth to drink.

"Do you think this is some backwater place where you can just boil some soy milk and get away with it? No way!"

This man was truly too much; even without her responding, he could carry on a monologue by himself.

If he were given to Mike, he'd be a streamer immediately.

Did she ever say she was making soy milk for the Prince? Did she!

So self-righteous, so overestimating his own abilities!

Da Guo stepped forward and actually tried to snatch the gauze net from her hands.

Bao Mianmian didn't hold back; without a word, she scooped up a cup of scalding soy milk and splashed it directly onto his chest.

Da Guo jumped around on both feet from the burn, grimacing in pain.

Bao Mianmian was being quite polite; she hadn't splashed it directly onto his head.

You talk too much, you're annoying, so just shut up.

"You, you wicked little..."

Seeing her scoop up another cup, Da Guo couldn't finish his cursing.

He had never seen anyone so fierce. He... he had to use cold water to cool down first.

If his chest broke out in blisters, that would be a truly miserable sensation.

Pointing a finger at Bao Mianmian, he found he could no longer manage any harsh words.

Bao Mianmian took the filtered soy milk and brought it to a boil again.

During this process, she had to stir constantly with a wooden spoon, otherwise, the bottom of the pot would easily burn.

Yuan Wei always woke up early, but he didn't expect Yuan Bai to be even earlier than him today.

By the time he stepped out of his room, Yuan Bai was already dressed and waiting for him at the door.

"Why has Xiao Bai become so diligent?"

"To eat."

Yuan Wei pressed a hand to his forehead. Ever since that Bao Mianmian entered the Prince's manor, Yuan Bai's heart had been filled with nothing but those two words.

He knew his younger brother's situation better than anyone.

If the boy was willing to speak, no matter what he said, it was a blessing from heaven.

Yuan Wei had already made up his mind: regardless of what Bao Mianmian had done, as long as Yuan Bai liked her, she would stay in the manor.

She was just a little girl; ten taels of monthly wages.

The Prince of Cheng's manor was not short on money.

The two brothers walked toward the kitchen one after the other.

They saw Da Guo rushing out of the kitchen as if he were on fire, running faster than an old rabbit.

Yuan Wei sneered. Da Guo had been occupying the kitchen and acting high and mighty for more than a day or two.

It was time someone stepped in to teach him a lesson.

However, how did that Bao Mianmian, who was a head shorter than the stove, manage to do it?

Yuan Bai tugged at his sleeve from behind.

Yuan Wei withdrew his gaze and saw that the Head Steward had also arrived.

Bao Mianmian had wrapped her hair in a cloth, looking very clean and tidy.

As a qualified and competent cook, one absolutely could not allow a single strand of hair to fall into the food.

Otherwise, no matter how good the dish was, it would only receive a failing grade.

Yuan Wei looked at the small dishes placed on the small table.

Chopped green onions, dried shrimp, minced pickled vegetables, and red chili oil.

There was also a bowl of dark-colored seasoning.

Waking up so early just to eat this!

Yuan Bai, however, didn't say a word and sat directly at the table.

"Your Highness, since it is all prepared, please try it first."

The Head Steward was actually speaking up for Bao Mianmian; what was this situation?

Bao Mianmian carried a wooden bucket to the table with both hands.

"Your Highness, this is the breakfast I made today."

"If it's just soy milk, there's no need to bring it up."

Yuan Wei was clearly somewhat disappointed, having expected some kind of surprise.

"Xiao Bai, let's go."

"Your Highness, who said it was soy milk!"

Bao Mianmian whipped off the lid of the wooden bucket: "Please look, Your Highness."

Yuan Wei glanced inside, his eyebrows furrowing. With this color and this aroma of beans, it would be hard to claim it was anything else.

Action was the only way. Bao Mianmian's hands were swift as she scooped out a bowl with a wooden spoon.

It decisively caught Yuan Bai's attention.

"This... is not soy milk."

Yuan Wei saw the white, tender, watery delicacy in the bowl.

Bao Mianmian added the seasonings one by one: "Does Your Highness eat spicy food?"

"Do not put chili in the young master's portion."

Yuan Wei still vividly remembered how his throat had nearly caught fire from that one bite yesterday.

"Then I will add just a little for Your Highness first."

The savory bean curd was complete!

Yuan Bai poked the bean curd with his spoon; finding it interesting, he played and ate by the table, having a wonderful time.

"It is soy milk, but solidified. How did you do it?"

"Why don't Your Highness taste the flavor first?"

Standing behind them, the Head Steward's eyes were wide with shock.

Regardless of what it was, the young master's spoon never stopped.

Bite after bite, more than half the bowl was gone.

"Would the Head Steward like a bowl as well?"

"This... I should wait for His Highness first..."

"It's fine, I'll scoop a bowl for the Head Steward to try something new."

Bao Mianmian had a sudden idea and used honey to make a bowl of sweet bean curd.

Before the Head Steward's hand could even touch the bowl, Yuan Bai jumped up in place and snatched it away.

"Young Master..."

The Head Steward's hand hung in mid-air, and he was almost moved to tears.

That bowl was mine, it was mine!

"This is delicious too."

Yuan Bai's face was almost buried in the bowl.

Bao Mianmian really wanted to make another bowl, but she looked into the wooden bucket.

"Head Steward, I'm sorry, there is no more bean curd left."

The Head Steward's eyes turned red, and his nose tingled.

"There is still soy milk, I can make more, very quickly, very quickly!"

Yuan Wei waited patiently for Yuan Bai to finish; the bowl in front of the boy had long since been emptied without him even realizing it.

"What you made, is it called 'douhua'?"

"It can also be called 'doufunao'."

"'Brain flower'? That's quite interesting, very descriptive."

"Have everyone in the manor come and line up. Let's see if more people prefer savory or sweet."

Gasp! How many people were in the whole manor? A single pot of soy milk might not be enough.

And she hadn't brought much of that precious bean curd.

"Count how many there are, then tell me."

Hearing the Prince speak so calmly and steadily today, Bao Mianmian actually felt unsettled.

She almost wanted to press her ear against him and ask one more thing.

*Your Highness, what on earth are you trying to do!*

"So, what are the arrangements for Bao Mianmian's work?"

"The Head Steward can decide. From now on, she is responsible for the young master's meals."

Yuan Wei gave her an extra glance.

"I only tasted the savory one. The ingredients were insufficient, so five taels will be deducted from your first month's wages."

Leaving these words behind, Yuan Wei strode away.

Bao Mianmian stood frozen on the spot.

Prince Cheng, you can't be such a jerk, you really can't.

How was I supposed to know you'd want sweet after eating savory?

And just like that, five taels of silver were deducted. Bao Mianmian, fellow student, expressed her deep dissatisfaction!

Dissatisfaction aside, during the next hour...

Bao Mianmian watched helplessly as the servants of the Prince of Cheng's manor voluntarily split into two factions: the Savory Bean Curd Party and the Sweet Bean Curd Party.

They engaged in a massive brawl in front of the kitchen door, creating an absolute chaos.

She understood now.

Prince Cheng was simply a man who lived to see the world in turmoil!