Chapter 6, a satisfied smile.

"What’s wrong? Is it not tasty?" Sun Shao walked in and, upon seeing the expression on Da Qiao's face that was more pained than taking medicine, felt somewhat puzzled. He casually picked up a piece and took a bite, chewing it for a moment: "It’s not bad, why doesn’t Mother like it?"

Daqiao let out a sigh, hesitating to speak. While she was certainly gratified by Sun Shao's filial piety, she was also deeply saddened by his sudden shift of interest to culinary matters. It was such a tragic thing that a youth who should be gallivanting on the battlefield had to divert his energy to the kitchen. However, this was precisely the situation that Sun Shao found himself in. As she thought of this sorrowful matter, Daqiao's eyes reddened, and her appetite diminished even further. Although she took a bite of the pear, she could not detect a hint of sweetness; instead, it tasted exceedingly bitter. What a tragic thing this was. Yet, this was precisely the situation that Sun Shao found himself in. As she thought of this sorrowful matter, Daqiao's eyes reddened, and her appetite diminished even further. Although she took a bite of the pear, she could not detect a hint of sweetness; instead, it tasted exceedingly bitter.

Aunt Qin did not dare to be negligent and called over an elderly woman of about fifty, who approached with a smiling face and said, "Young Master, this Li Aunt is an expert in cooking porridge; she has been making porridge for nearly thirty years. If you want porridge made, having her do it will surely be without error"

The most beautiful expression in the world is, in fact, a smile of happiness

Qiao Yingmei smiled broadly, gently pushing the fruit platter in front of the bridge, and advised with a smile: "Madam, this is the young master's heartfelt intention; please do not let it go to waste."

"Thank you, elder." Sun Shao nodded, and the old woman Li, unable to bear such kindness, quickly bowed and went about her tasks as instructed by Sun Shao. Sun Shao then picked a radish from the basket, washed it, sliced it into shreds, and salted it, placing it aside. He took another pear, washed it, and picked up a sharp knife from the counter, skillfully peeling the pear into a long strip. With swift movements, he cut the pear into several pieces, then took a few leaves of vegetables, tore them casually, and spread them on a plate, arranging them around the snow-white pear flesh. The scattered pear pieces resembled blooming lotus flowers, while the green vegetables looked like vast lotus leaves, fresh and delightful. He took another pear, washed it, and picked up the sharp knife again, skillfully peeling the pear into a long strip, swiftly cutting it into several pieces, and then took a few more vegetable leaves, tore them casually, and spread them on the plate, surrounding the snow-white pear flesh. The scattered pear pieces resembled blooming lotus flowers, while the green vegetables looked like vast lotus leaves, fresh and delightful.

"Be careful and watch closely, the porridge is ready, you bring it up yourself." Sun Shao washed his hands, threw out a sentence, and turned to leave the kitchen

Having been busy with all this, Sun Shaocai casually inserted the knife into the cutting board, clapped his hands, and smiled at the already dumbfounded Qiao Yue, saying: "Little Yue'er, don't just stand there in a daze, take this over first and let the lady whet her appetite; the porridge still needs to simmer for a while before it's ready"

Sun Shao let out a grunt, walked around the two long tables, and inwardly sighed. This landlord class is indeed the landlord class. Although there are no workers in the manor, they still enjoy a comfortable life. Just by looking at the various meats and condiments hanging all over the room, one can tell that their daily living standards are not low. With such a life to lead, what else is there to strive for? It is enough to just eat and wait for death.

Sun Shao is well aware of these matters, but in the past, he was solely focused on martial arts and had no interest in managing such affairs. Now that he has decided to become a carefree marquis, he naturally cannot allow such incidents to occur in his family. Moreover, Aunt Qin, knowing that Daqiao's health is poor and his appetite is lacking, still uses these meals to fulfill her duties. Such an attitude certainly requires some reprimanding.

The bridge moon easily stopped laughing: "Well, the young master said, please madam, have some of this to whet your appetite, the porridge needs to simmer for a while to absorb the flavors."

"I like it, I like it, Mother likes it too." Daqiao did not want to make Sun Shao sad, so he forced a smile and finished the pears on the plate. He then deliberately sighed and said, "What A-Man made, Mother likes it all. It's just a pity that such a beautiful lotus-picking painting was eaten by Mother, which is quite regrettable."

Sun Shao naturally detected the sharpness in the words of the two individuals. His remaining memories also recalled the discord between Aunt Qin and the Qiao mother and daughter. Aunt Qin was originally a servant of the Wu family. When his grandmother, Mrs. Wu, married into the Sun family, she took charge of the household affairs of the Sun family, which naturally brought her considerable benefits. Before Qiao entered the residence, she was a prominent figure in the Sun household. Even Sun Shao's biological mother, Lady Lü, had to respectfully address her as Aunt. After Qiao entered the residence, Aunt Qin voluntarily handed over the household affairs to Qiao Ying, managing only the outer courtyard herself. This was initially a strategy of retreating to advance, but unexpectedly, Sun Ce died the following year, and Sun Quan took charge. Mrs. Wu also shifted her main focus to Sun Quan, causing her to lose power in the General's residence. Even Sun Shao's biological mother, Lady Lü, had to respectfully address her as Aunt. After Qiao entered the residence, Aunt Qin voluntarily handed over the household affairs to Qiao Ying, managing only the outer courtyard herself. This was initially a strategy of retreating to advance, but unexpectedly, Sun Ce died the following year, and Sun Quan took charge. Mrs. Wu also shifted her main focus to Sun Quan, causing her to lose power in the General's residence. What she did not expect was that Mrs. Wu soon passed away, and her greatest support collapsed suddenly. With Qiao now in charge of the household, her chances of reclaiming power in the inner court became mere illusions. As a result, she naturally had no good feelings towards Qiao and her daughter Qiao Ying.

Sun Shao did not speak, merely offering a faint smile

"Aunt, it is I who have come. I have not been feeling well these past ten days, and I have grown somewhat weary of the food." Sun Shao clasped his hands behind his back, glanced at Aunt Qin, and slowly entered the kitchen. As the head of the family, his imposing presence naturally revealed itself without the need for any ostentation. The servants, noticing the unusual atmosphere, all set down their tasks and stood awkwardly to the side, carefully attending to him.

Qiao Yue clapped her hands and exclaimed with joy, "So it turns out that using a kitchen knife is the same as using a ring-headed knife."

In the small building, Da Qiao and Qiao Ying looked at the simple yet exquisite fruit platter in front of them, feeling quite surprised. Qiao Yue danced with joy, embellishing the story of Sun Shao's activities in the kitchen. When she reached the most amusing part, her laughter rang out incessantly, prompting Qiao Ying to push her anxiously: "Silly girl, finish your story before laughing. You haven't finished yet, yet you keep giggling, making others feel anxious."

Qiao Yue was taken aback, and only then did she come to her senses, looking at Sun Shao with surprise: "Young Master, when did you become so adept at using a kitchen knife?"

Sun Shao replied, "Mother, the lotus picking picture is precisely about gathering. If you do not pick this lotus flower, then what is it still called a lotus picking picture?"

Sun Shao smiled broadly and said, "I am a master, after all"

"Aunt, find a chef to make porridge." Sun Shao finally stood in front of the large stove, pointing to a piece of fresh pork hanging on the rack: "Take one or two taels of lean meat, cut it into small cubes, then boil an egg, also cut it into cubes, and then take some japonica rice, add more water, and simmer it on low heat..."

Daqiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled knowingly. Qiao Ying and Qiao Yue, seeing Daqiao's rare smile, couldn't help but feel a surge of joy and exchanged smiles with each other. After eating a pear, Daqiao felt somewhat revitalized and resumed discussing flute music with Sun Shao. After more than half an hour, Aunt Qin personally brought over the food. The meal was simple: a bowl of porridge and a plate of pickled mustard greens, which had been sprinkled with light soy sauce and sesame oil as per Sun Shao's request, emitting a fragrant aroma. The porridge, cooked to a soft consistency, was mixed with egg whites as white as jade, golden egg yolks, and small pieces of meat, making it look very tempting. After eating a pear, Daqiao felt somewhat revitalized and resumed discussing flute music with Sun Shao. After more than half an hour, Aunt Qin personally brought over the food. The meal was simple: a bowl of porridge and a plate of pickled mustard greens, which had been sprinkled with light soy sauce and sesame oil as per Sun Shao's request, emitting a fragrant aroma. The porridge, cooked to a soft consistency, was mixed with egg whites as white as jade, golden egg yolks, and small pieces of meat, making it look very tempting. Coupled with Sun Shao's filial piety, even though Daqiao usually had a poor appetite, she found her appetite wide open at this moment. With the tender and refreshing mustard greens, she finished a full bowl of lean meat porridge in no time. After finishing the warm porridge, a flush appeared on her pale face, and for a moment, her expression of happiness startled Sun Shao.

"Young Master, rest assured," Aunt Qin called out loudly as she rushed out of the kitchen, "This old servant will certainly follow your instructions and personally deliver the porridge once it is ready."

"Well, it's about right," Sun Shao replied ambiguously, while Qiao Yue giggled, holding a picturesque fruit platter, and quickly ran off. It was only then that Aunt Qin, who had been watching from the side, turned her somewhat wooden eyes and awkwardly said, "Young Master, your skills would make those master chefs in the residence feel ashamed."

Upon hearing Sun Shao's words, Aunt Qin's heart sank for a moment, and she finally realized her mistake. Sun Shao had been bedridden for over ten days, yet she had not prepared any special food for him as a patient, indeed failing to fulfill her duties. As this thought crossed her mind, beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Aunt Qin's greasy round face, and she stammered, "I am foolish, please punish me, young master"