She then lowered her head to eat.
The meal was prepared in the Space, with all the ingredients coming from the Space, so everything tasted delicious, especially the rice. The rice steamed with Lingxi River water was not only white but also fragrant. Even without any side dishes, she could gobble down a large bowl of rice by itself.
Just as Cai Wei was eating, a piece of tender white fish meat suddenly appeared in her bowl.
"Here, have some fish!"
Cai Wei paused for a moment, then took the piece of fish and put it in her mouth. Instantly, a unique seafood aroma filled her mouth, making her eyes shine with pleasure. She felt this piece of fish was incredibly delicious, much more so than any fish she had eaten before!
"Here, have some more crab meat!"
Nangong Yi picked the meat out of a crab shell and placed it in front of Cai Wei, speaking gently as if coaxing a child.
The spread on the table was originally intended for him, but now, he was coaxing her to eat instead.
Feeling guilty, Cai Wei picked a piece of beef sauce with the meat attached to it and placed it in his plate.
"Don’t just focus on me, you should eat too!"
This was the first time she served him food willingly. Unlike the previous times when she was coerced into doing so while he was recovering in her maiden room, now, it was voluntary.
This realization made Nangong Yi feel particularly comforted. He picked up the shiny piece of beef sauce and savored it in his mouth.
The beef sauce that she made was soft and tender. The marble-like fat was evenly distributed through the meat, balancing the lean perfectly. The taste was distinct, rich yet not greasy, contrasting starkly with the rough food he had in the army.
"Does it taste good?"
Cai Wei asked eagerly. Although she had confidence in her cooking skills, she was worried that having grown up in a luxurious household, his tastes might be too refined for her simple dishes.
However, Nangong Yi’s response to her was a warm smile as he reached for another piece and placed it in his mouth.
Seeing his enthusiasm, Cai Wei felt reassured. She had cut all the beef tendon she had bought from the Meng slaves in the morning and made beef sauce out of it, intending to take it back to the army. If he found the military food unpalatable, he could always have a slice to go with the rice.
The rest of the beef was made into beef jerky — a dehydrated meat that tastes delicious and can be preserved for a long time. It could be eaten with rice or as a snack. Having these two items would surely ease the struggle of eating military food.
Perhaps the food in the military was really awful, or the cooking done by Cai Wei was exceptionally delicious. Either way, Nangong Yi ate a lot. He finished both the cold fern dish and the scallion oil snail slices. He also ate a notable amount of the beef sauce and steamed salmon, along with an entire bowl of white rice.
After the meal, Cai Wei summoned the Dun Zhu sisters to bring water. She and Nangong Yi washed their hands, rinsed their mouths, and then let the Dun Zhu sisters take away the remaining dishes and enjoy them.
Dun Zhu and Dan Zhu had probably not eaten meat in a long time, so after taking the dishes outside, they sat down to eat.
Hearing their enthusiastic chewing sounds, Cai Wei remembered their earlier conversation. She looked at the man and asked, "That’s right! You said you would tell me about the ’Daughter’s Rites’ after the meal. We’ve finished eating now, so could you please tell me?"
Looking at her curious big eyes, Nangong Yi smiled fondly. He gently pulled her onto his lap and whispered, "Since Wei’er wants to hear, I’ll tell you."