Chapter 45 Cooking for Mu Qi

Yun Rong stopped by the roadside, her eyes wide open, staring blankly at the Mercedes that was gradually disappearing into a dot.

By the time she came to her senses, only the residual exhaust fumes remained in the air.

"Ahhhh..." Yun Rong waved her limbs frantically, her face contorted.

Yun Shulian, it's all your fault, you idiot. If I can't have a good life, neither can you.

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"Young Madam, please bear with us a little longer. The servants will be done tidying up soon." Aunt Ning saw Yun Shulian rubbing her temples and assumed the smell in the room was making her uncomfortable.

Yun Shulian responded weakly, "Aunt Ning, I'm fine."

Aunt Ning looked at Yun Shulian, who had been lively these past few days but was now so melancholic, and felt uneasy. "Then, Young Madam, what's wrong? If there's anything, you can tell Aunt Ning. After all, Aunt Ning has been through a lot and might be able to help you a little."

Yun Shulian thought about it and felt that Aunt Ning was right. Her brow relaxed somewhat. "Aunt Ning, Mu Qi is angry, and I don't know how to appease him."

"So, Young Madam wants to appease Young Master." Aunt Ning's smile seemed to overflow as she heard this.

Aunt Ning thought to herself, the Young Master has finally overcome his hardships, and now the Young Madam has turned back. Aunt Ning was happy for Mu Qi in her heart.

Aunt Ning spoke with a smile, "It's said that to capture a man's heart, you must first capture his stomach. This saying is also very applicable to apologies."

Yun Shulian's eyes widened as she listened intently.

Seeing Yun Shulian listening so earnestly, Aunt Ning became even more enthusiastic. "Besides, men are easily appeased. Moreover, the Young Master likes the Young Madam so much. If you show a little weakness and act a little spoiled, the Young Master will definitely forgive you immediately."

Mu Qi likes Yun Shulian.

Hearing this, Yun Shulian's gaze flickered elsewhere with a hint of sadness. She wondered how much truth was left in that statement.

Aunt Ning saw Yun Shulian's mood dip and didn't know why. "Young Madam, did you hear me?"

"I heard you, Aunt Ning!" Yun Shulian looked at Aunt Ning's worried face and forced herself to cheer up and become more active.

"I'll go make something delicious for Mu Qi right now." With a method in hand, Yun Shulian was eager to get to the kitchen.

If Yun Shulian were a rabbit, then Mu Qi would be her favorite carrot. And now, Yun Shulian worried every day that Mu Qi might suddenly be snatched away.

Therefore, Yun Shulian now only wanted to do her best to hold onto Mu Qi tightly.

"Oh, wait, Young Madam. You don't have the strength right now. Why don't you wait until I bring you some sea cucumber porridge. Once you've had some nourishment and regained your strength, I'll accompany you to the kitchen to cook. Otherwise, the Young Master will worry again," Aunt Ning said teasingly.

Yun Shulian, however, thought that Aunt Ning was right. She indeed couldn't trouble Mu Qi anymore. If Mu Qi got annoyed, he wouldn't want her.

"Alright, Aunt Ning. Then please don't tell Mu Qi yet. I want to give him a surprise."

Aunt Ning looked at the obedient Yun Shulian with great affection and agreed. Then, Aunt Ning went downstairs.

Yun Shulian waited for Aunt Ning, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Soon, Aunt Ning came up with the seafood porridge.

Seeing this, Yun Shulian quickly picked up the spoon and tried to fill her mouth.

Watching Yun Shulian like this, Aunt Ning was touched for the first time by the mutual devotion between the Young Master and Young Madam.

After Yun Shulian finished eating, she immediately asked to go to the kitchen to make something delicious for Mu Qi.

Aunt Ning reluctantly supported Yun Shulian as she went downstairs.

...

"Aunt Ning, is there anything Mu Qi particularly likes to eat?" Yun Shulian looked at the fully stocked ingredients in the kitchen, feeling at a loss.

Aunt Ning replied, "Young Madam, the Young Master's status is noble. He cannot reveal what he likes or dislikes to eat, lest those with ill intentions try to harm him."

Yun Shulian was surprised by this unexpected answer, and even more so, she felt distressed. "Then Mu Qi doesn't even have dietary freedom!"

Aunt Ning pursed her lips, worried that Yun Shulian might not accept this. "Young Madam, please don't worry. Qiyuan is different from other places. These things will not affect you; you can eat whatever you want."

Yun Shulian didn't say anything and shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.

Aunt Ning breathed a sigh of relief. If she had discouraged Yun Shulian with those words, Aunt Ning would never have forgiven herself.

Yun Shulian thought for a moment and came up with an idea. "Then I'll make him cola chicken wings."

Qiyuan had a dedicated nutritionist, and normally, if Yun Shulian didn't have any special requests, they wouldn't prepare such unhealthy food.

Yun Shulian wanted to share what she liked with Mu Qi, so he could experience the taste she enjoyed.

If anyone else wanted to make Mu Qi cola chicken wings, Aunt Ning would never agree. But Yun Shulian was the one Mu Qi held dear.

However, Yun Shulian was different. Aunt Ning was certain that no matter what Yun Shulian made, Mu Qi would go along with it. Although Mu Qi wouldn't show it, Aunt Ning knew he would be very happy.

Aunt Ning naturally raised no objections.

Yun Shulian took out the frozen chicken wings, washed them, and patted them dry. She made two slits on each side so that the tender chicken wings would absorb the marinade better.

Then, Yun Shulian put these chicken wings into a bowl. Following Aunt Ning's instructions, she added half a spoon of light soy sauce, half a spoon of dark soy sauce, one spoon of cooking wine, three slices of ginger, and a little salt.

"Then, mix it well like this." Aunt Ning demonstrated a master chef's technique.

Yun Shulian watched with her eyes and followed with her hands.

Aunt Ning looked at Yun Shulian's clumsy movements and smiled with affection. The Young Madam was becoming more and more adorable.

After a few more stirs, Yun Shulian set aside the bowl of chicken wings to marinate for twenty minutes.

During these twenty minutes, Aunt Ning and Yun Shulian prepared the ingredients needed for the next steps and discussed the process.

...

Twenty minutes later,

Yun Shulian placed the marinated chicken wings into a cold pan and blanched them for three minutes. Then, she poured a little oil into a hot pan and placed the blanched chicken wings into it.

Yun Shulian flinched at the sizzling sound between the meat and the hot oil.

Yun Shulian instinctively stepped back a few steps.

"It's alright, Young Madam. I'll do it," Aunt Ning said, taking the wooden spatula from Yun Shulian and stepping forward.

Yun Shulian came to her senses and took another spatula, following Aunt Ning and working alongside her.

After the chicken wings were golden brown on both sides, Yun Shulian, following Aunt Ning's instructions, added the remaining ginger slices, half a spoon of light soy sauce, half a spoon of dark soy sauce, one spoon of cooking wine, and half a spoon of oyster sauce.

Then, she poured in an entire can of cola, covered the lid, and simmered for ten minutes.

She then turned up the heat to reduce the sauce, and under Aunt Ning's guidance, added salt to taste. Yun Shulian immediately took a plate and transferred the tender, juicy, and steaming chicken wings onto it.

Then, Aunt Ning brought over a bag of white sesame seeds.

At Aunt Ning's signal, Yun Shulian reached out and sprinkled a handful over the cola chicken wings.

At this moment, the plate of cola chicken wings had a rich layer of color.

The white plate's top layer was a dark red sauce base, followed by golden chicken wings, then another layer of deep red sauce, and finally, the scattered white sesame seeds.

Layer upon layer, they cycled, creating a feast for the eyes and the nose.

"Aunt Ning, is it okay?" Yun Shulian looked up, eagerly awaiting Aunt Ning's critique.

"Of course, it is! Young Madam did a wonderful job!" Aunt Ning responded with a thumbs-up.

Encouraged by Aunt Ning, Yun Shulian carried the cola chicken wings she had meticulously prepared upstairs to Mu Qi's study.