Chapter 579: Serving Dishes

Chapter 579 -580: Serving Dishes

Mrs. Bai hurriedly carried Gu Xingyang into the room, instructing the servants to shut the doors and windows tightly.

Fortunately, they had no shortage of ice here, so they could at least stay comfortably hidden inside.

“What on earth is your sister doing now? Is she learning how to make some new medicine with Nanny Pang again?”

Bai Jiannan also felt that his sister couldn’t possibly be cooking medicine as food. Sneezing, he said, “Mother, my sister said she’s going to make us a feast and told us to look forward to it.”

Mrs. Bai frowned. With this pungent smell, what kind of feast could it possibly be?

“Hurry up and send someone over to tell your sister not to overwork herself. We can just make do with a casual bite. Boiling some plain porridge will do.”

She knew exactly what her own daughter was capable of. Before she got married, they had hired a cook to teach her. Simple, home-style dishes were fine, but making a feast? Don’t even think about it. Moreover, what on earth was she stir-frying right now? Was she trying to send them to their graves right after they arrived?

Gu Xingyang listened to her grandmother and uncle’s conversation, grinning and chuckling. Although her mother wasn’t a professional chef, she did have some expertise in the dishes she liked to eat. It was just a pity that she wouldn’t be able to have a bite this time either.

“Look at this little one laughing.” Mrs. Bai bounced her little granddaughter twice in her arms before smiling. “Since you aren’t eating it anyway, we’ll let your uncle be the taste tester today. If it’s good, we’ll have your mother make it for you in the future. How does that sound?”

Gu Xingyang clapped her little hands, but inwardly she cried out, “I want to eat it today! But would you guys let me?”

Missing out on delicious food yet again, Gu Xingyang felt it was no longer fun to keep amusing her grandmother. She simply yawned and fell asleep in no time. Out of sight, out of cravings, after all.

Outside the kitchen, Nanny Pang stood holding a small medicine bottle under her nose. “Madam, with so much chili you’re putting in, I’m afraid Mrs. Bai and Mr. Bai won’t be used to it.”

Ever since the family split, Mrs. Bai’s title had also been elevated among the servants.

Bai Suihe had made a few dishes with chili for them before, and it took them several meals to get used to it. However, the more they ate this ingredient, the more addictive it became, and their tolerance grew stronger and stronger. With the Madam dialing up the intensity so drastically this time, she was afraid Mrs. Bai and Mr. Bai wouldn’t be able to handle it. Moreover, with it being this spicy, she feared their stomachs wouldn’t be able to take it either.

“Nanny, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Bai Suihe naturally wouldn’t set up her own mother and brother. The chili smelled pungent, but the heat wasn’t actually that intense. “If you’re worried, why don’t you go make some sour plum juice first? We can chill it with ice later to help soothe the spice.”

Nanny Pang truly didn’t know how the Madam could stand being in the kitchen. Helplessly shaking her head, she turned and left. She figured she’d better make a large batch of sour plum juice and chill it with ice—at the very least, it would be a life-saving beverage.

Looking at the table full of vibrant red and green dishes, Bai Suihe brimmed with confidence. She helped Mrs. Bai to the main seat. “Mother, look, I specifically made these to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey.”

Previously, because they were busy with their maiden voyage, Gu Kaiyuan and Bai Suihe hadn’t been able to properly host the Bai Family. It was just a pity that Gu Kaiyuan and Bai Jianbei were out at sea right now and couldn’t taste her masterpiece.

Taking the seat below Mrs. Bai, Bai Jiannan licked his lips and asked rather dryly, “Sister, are you sure all of this is edible?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Mrs. Bai pretended to smack him hard. If it weren’t for the lack of sound, Bai Suihe would have completely believed it. “Your sister has been busy for half the day. You’d better eat more later.”

Bai Jiannan looked at his mother resentfully. He thought, “You might as well just tell me to finish the whole table myself.”

Bai Suihe knew what they were doubting. The first time she cooked this, Nanny Pang and the maids had the exact same thought, yet they actively stepped forward to test the dishes. “You try it first. If it makes you sick, I’ll hire a doctor for you.”

Bai Jiannan blinked, his face full of sorrow. “We are born of the same root, why rush to fry each other so…”

Mrs. Bai shot him a sharp glare, and he immediately covered his mouth. “I’ll eat! I’ll eat it, okay?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Bai.” Nanny Pang took the lead and placed a piece of mutton in his bowl. This dish had fewer red and green peppers in it, so it would at least serve as a transitional step.

Bai Suihe took a look and didn’t stop her. Anyway, she had added significantly less chili to these dishes, so Little Bai should be able to handle it.

Bai Jiannan asked Nanny Pang uncertainly, “Is this really edible?”

Nanny Pang smiled warmly. “You might not be used to it at first, but give it a try. You might just like it.”

“Have you guys eaten it before?”

“Of course we have.” Although Nanny Pang wasn’t very fond of heavy seasonings like chili, she had to admit it had a unique and appealing flavor.

Hearing him chattering away, Bai Suihe directly placed a piece of chicken into his bowl.

Nanny Pang glanced at that particular dish and felt a flash of sympathy for Bai Jiannan. That was the Madam’s absolute favorite—spicy braised rooster. The heat level in that dish was top-tier among all the food on the table. Serving such a brutal dish right off the bat… she just hoped Mr. Bai’s mouth would still be able to form words later.

“Hurry up and eat. If it gets cold, it won’t taste good,” Bai Suihe gritted out through her teeth. “I’m just having you taste the food, not test for poison. As your biological sister, why would I harm you?”

Seeing such an overbearing Bai Suihe, Bai Jiannan muttered under his breath, “Why is Eldest Sister so short-tempered? Could she have been assimilated after marrying into the Gu Family?

“My brother-in-law is really something too. What kind of potion did he give my sister? She’s acting like a female Tyrannosaurus.”

“Mother,” Bai Suihe ignored him and instead scooped a large spoonful of steamed egg custard for Mrs. Bai. “Have something to pad your stomach first.”

After all, given her mother’s age, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle the hardcore spicy dishes right away.

Seeing the steamed egg custard that she could actually eat, Gu Xingyang waved her hands even more vigorously. “Mother, I want to eat too!”

Since she had already started on solid foods, she was definitely going to get a taste of this egg custard today.

Bai Suihe scooped some into her special bowl and handed it to Zisu, who was waiting nearby. There was no way she would hand the bowl directly to Gu Xingyang to ruin.

Previously, she had thought this little one would be different from other babies and expected her to be more dexterous. Who knew that the very first time she was given solid food, she managed to smear it all over her head and face, with barely a speck making it into her mouth.

Gu Xingyang didn’t mind. She knew her own limits. Besides, she was still little, so being fed was perfectly normal. Opening her little mouth, she ate the flavorful egg custard bite by bite, feeling that it was the most exquisite delicacy in the world.

Seeing her eat so happily, Mrs. Bai felt even more delighted. “That’s how it should be. If the child likes it, don’t restrict her portions too strictly in a day. Being able to eat is a blessing.”

Bai Suihe nodded along. No matter what the old lady said, she just agreed. She placed a piece of pickled mustard green fish into her bowl. “Try this dish. It’s sour, tender, and appetizing—one of my absolute favorites.”

Turning her head, she noticed Bai Jiannan hadn’t touched his chopsticks yet. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “Aren’t you hungry?

“Or do you want to be like your little niece and find someone to feed you?”

“Sister, stop joking. I’ll eat right now.” Trembling with fear, he picked up the piece of chicken. Before Nanny Pang could even stop him, he had already tossed it into his mouth…