Chapter 200: 127 Group’s Favorite (Second Update)
The Marquis Residence isn’t too far from the Guozijian, so Mrs. Yao arrived there quite early.
Just as Gu Jiao finished washing up, she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to find Mrs. Yao, which surprised her.
Mrs. Yao smiled gently and said, “Did I disturb you?”
Gu Jiao shook her head, “No, I was already up.”
Mrs. Yao grinned, “You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? I brought steamed buns and brown sugar bread.”
The Residence was busy preparing for Gu Jinyu’s banquet. Mrs. Yao bought breakfast from a famous bun shop in Capital City.
“Come in,” Gu Jiao invited Mrs. Yao into the courtyard.
Xiao Liulang was up too, fetching water by the well.
Mrs. Yao had met Xiao Liulang a few times in the countryside. Unlike the Marquis’ stickler style, Mrs. Yao was quite pleased with Xiao Liulang.
He was also good at studying and was diligent.
Initially, Mrs. Yao was worried about their relationship due to their lack of consummation. But after observing them a few times, she found that they got along quite well—probably they just weren’t there yet.
“Mrs. Gu,” Xiao Liulang greeted Mrs. Yao politely.
As Gu Jiao called Mrs. Yao “Mrs. Gu”, so did Xiao Liulang.
Mrs. Yao didn’t mind the formality and happily handed the food box to Xiao Liulang.
Gu Jiao was about to head to the kitchen to make porridge but was stopped by Mrs. Yao.
While Mrs. Yao usually let her be, today is the birthday of both her and Gu Yan. Mrs. Yao wouldn’t let her work.
Mrs. Yao was quite accustomed to kitchen work; she occasionally made some snacks at the villa. She first prepared a breakfast of millet porridge before starting to get ready for the next two meals.
Room Mother was sent by her to buy groceries. Everything, including the quantity to buy, was listed on the shopping list.
This was the first birthday that Mrs. Yao celebrated for her daughter, so she prepared for a while and practiced every dish.
Everyone liked Mrs. Yao in the house, even the eccentric old lady was smitten with her sweets. Everyone was happy when she arrived.
After breakfast, Gu Yan didn’t have anything to do. He went to shuck corn, but that was stopped by Little Jing Kong.
Little Jing Kong took over the corn, raised his little hand in a stopping gesture, and corrected solemnly, “Today is also your birthday, you don’t have to do anything!”
I will also not try to fight with you. I’ll give you a break for the day!
Mrs. Yao prepared a large and sumptuous feast, considering not only the tastes of Gu Jiao and Gu Yan but everyone else’s too.
Gu Xiaoshun was astonished looking at the array of dishes—it was almost overflowing!
Is this New Year’s Day?
Why are there so many delicious dishes?
“Braised pig’s trotter with yellow beans!” Gu Xiaoshun’s mouth watered instantly. It was his favorite dish. The trotters were glistening, oily, and bouncy when poked with chopsticks. Gu Xiaoshun was practically drooling.
It was first braised once, then stewed in a clay pot until tender and melt-in-your-mouth.
Xiao Liulang had recently taken a liking to fish, so Mrs. Yao made a delicious Crucian carp soup.
The old lady liked sweets, so Mrs. Yao made her brown sugar glutinous rice cake, but only used half the sugar.
There was also a vegetarian feast for Little Jing Kong, which she hadn’t forgotten to put into his distinctive tiny bowl.
She had asked Gu Yan about these preferences and carefully prepared everything in accordance.
This was exactly why everyone loved Mrs. Yao. She was always attentive and caring in an understated, subtler way.
In addition to the meal, Mrs. Yao also made one bowl of longevity noodles each for Gu Jiao and her brother.
The longevity noodles didn’t have any extra ingredients—only a few scallions and a drizzle of sesame oil.
But somehow, Gu Jiao felt that the longevity noodles tasted better than other noodles—a warmth welled up in the bottom of her heart whenever she ate them, which made her nose sour.
She wasn’t quite sure if this was her own feeling or Gu Yan’s.
After the meal, everyone started giving gifts to Gu Jiao.
The first to give his was Little Jing Kong. Being the youngest, he was pretty eager.
He gave both Gu Jiao and Gu Yan a small clay house that he shaped himself. After shaping them, he asked Brother-in-law to fire them in the stove.
Actually, he remembered his little clay houses being somewhat differently shaped. Somehow, they came out deformed.
The truth was that his original design was so awful that Xiao Liulang couldn’t bear to look at it. He secretly reshaped it into something more appealing!
The doors of the small houses can be opened. Inside were tiny wooden figures carved with the help of Gu Xiaoshun.
Gu Yan’s house had a figure of Gu Yan, Gu Jiao’s house was supposed to house her figure.
However, when Gu Yan opened the tiny door of Gu Jiao’s house, he was immediately stunned, “Why are you in my sister’s house?”