"Go on, workout those muscles of yours. Hurry up and wash my clothes,"
Lin Yi’s brows furrowed, he just knew that Old Iron Head was being petty again. While he fretted over the clothes, two sour-smelling stinky socks floated down towards his head.
Someone peeked out with a mischievous grin, "Oh, I forgot, there are two socks as well."
Lin Yi was speechless, feeling that not reporting Ma Junying’s matter to the Young Master was the most regrettable thing he had ever done. He should have reported everything in great detail, making someone anxious, mad, and yet without any recourse.
While Xia Zheng hummed a tune in the bath, Lin Yuan had already started bustling about in the kitchen to prepare his meal. She had initially planned to make noodles, but considering it was not good for digestion to eat unleavened food so late at night, and Xia Zheng was already tired from the journey, which wasn’t great for his appetite. Therefore, after considering the vegetables and meat in the kitchen, Lin Yuan decided to make him some small wontons, which would be both soup and sustenance, warming him up from head to toe, perfect for the weather.
The meat and vegetables were ready, she washed and chopped them finely, then seasoned them with some oil, salt, and soy sauce. After that, she mixed the dough and rolled it into thin sheets, similar to how you would for making noodles, then cut them into small square wrappers, finishing the preparations.
Wrapping wontons was faster than making dumplings. She placed the filling in the center, and with a flick of her hands, the wrappers were shaped into little ingot-shaped wontons. Then, dipping a chopstick into some water and running it along the edge of the wrapper, she was able to seal the wontons shut.
Lin Yuan worked quickly, and in no time she had wrapped about thirty wontons. Thinking that it wasn’t good to eat too much at night to prevent putting a strain on the stomach, she estimated enough for a bowl and stopped there.
Ever since the new kitchen was built, Lin Yuan always kept a small opening in the large stove for some firewood, in case of need. Thus, boiling water was a quick task as well.
The pot she used was specially ordered from Old Iron Head—fast and efficient. Once the water boiled, she poured the wontons in, cooking them just like dumplings. After they were cooked, she added some minced cilantro and a little soy sauce that she had prepared in advance.
Lin Yuan tasted the soup and felt it was a bit bland, so she added some more salt. If only there were sesame oil, she thought, a few drops would have been perfect to describe it as flawless.
"Wow, that smells amazing!"
Just as Lin Yuan was about to scoop out the wontons with a large bowl, the voice of a certain little glutton came from behind her.
Turning around without thinking, Lin Yuan felt like her nosebleed was about to burst forth.
That guy, wasn’t it just a comment about chicken bones on his body? Was it necessary to deliberately leave his collar open like that? And to shamelessly expose his entire chest as if he feared others wouldn’t notice his good physique?
Xia Zheng certainly noticed Lin Yuan’s reaction and smugly lifted his hand, deliberately or not, opening his already low collar a bit more. His thin undershirt, upon such action, barely covered his body.
Just as the self-satisfied man was enjoying his moment, Lin Yuan immediately doused him with a bucket of cold water.
"Aren’t you cold? Ah, it seems you’re starved to the point of delirium; come on, eat."
Xia Zheng’s arm went limp, and he nearly collapsed to the ground from leaning against the door frame.
However, it had to be said that the meal Lin Yuan made that evening was truly delicious. Eagerly bringing the bowl to the table in the bedroom, Xia Zheng couldn’t wait to scoop up a wonton with his spoon and begin eating.
"Ouch, be careful, it’s hot!" Lin Yuan, who was a step behind with the vinegar, walked in to see him hastily stuffing his mouth, twirling the hot wonton inside without wanting to spit it out.