After breakfast, Su Li was supposed to settle accounts with Bai Lu and then planned to go to Wu Caiwei’s house to deliver the village chief’s message.
Before leaving, she remembered there were still some snacks made by Lingdang in the kitchen, so she wanted to pack some to bring to Wu Caiwei for her to try.
Su Li went to the kitchen with Bai Lu. As soon as they entered, Su Li was so shocked her jaw almost dropped at the scene before her.
Li Yanhao was squatting by the stove, holding a fire poker in one hand and a fan in the other. He fanned the fire with the fan while poking the firewood with the poker. The noble heir’s face was blackened by smoke, tears streaming down as he coughed, wiping soot everywhere with the back of his hand.
Lingdang held a spatula, glaring at him: "Hey, can you get it right? I told you to make the fire stronger, hurry up! Oh my, you’re so clumsy! Use the poker to loosen the firewood underneath, that’s how you get the fire going! Come on, fan the fire!"
Lingdang waved the spatula, full of disdain for Li Yanhao, but he wasn’t annoyed. Coughing, he said, "I’m trying, Auntie, don’t be impatient. It’s not my first time stoking a fire, just not skilled yet!"
Lingdang pouted: "Firing up a stove is so simple, you need to learn? Why are you making so much smoke? You’re just downright dumb!"
Su Li and Bai Lu exchanged glances, both shocked: "What the heck, the noble heir actually stooped to stoke the fire? What’s going on?"
Li Yanhao didn’t notice Su Li and Bai Lu at the kitchen door; he was focused on the fire, wondering why he was making so much smoke. He felt utterly embarrassed.
"Um... Noble heir, Lingdang..." Su Li stepped into the kitchen.
Hearing Su Li’s voice, Li Yanhao’s face froze into a ridiculous expression. The fire poker dropped with a clatter. He looked up at Su Li and said with difficulty, "A-Li, you, why are you here..."
Su Li laughed at his ridiculous expression and said, "This is my kitchen, why can’t I come in? But you, a noble heir, why are you down by the stove stoking the fire?"
Li Yanhao was instantly embarrassed and threw down the fan, saying, "I-I was just curious about the fire, wanted to try it out."
Lingdang immediately exposed him: "Master, the noble heir insisted on eating that huge skewer of stuff. I was busy cooking and stoking the fire alone, so he said he’d help. But he’s just so dumb, almost burned the kitchen down. Honestly, I should’ve let someone else help."
Lingdang said this, looking at Li Yanhao with utter disdain.
Li Yanhao glanced at Lingdang, then at Su Li, feeling so embarrassed he didn’t know what to do.
Su Li and Bai Lu looked at him, both holding their stomachs to stifle their laughter.
Su Li said to Bai Lu, "Bai Lu, go pack some snacks to bring to the Caiwei family."
Lingdang immediately dropped the spatula and said, "Master, you’re going to Wu Caiwei’s house? I’ll go with you."
As Xiao Zetian’s appointed personal female bodyguard, Lingdang remembered her mission well.
But Li Yanhao immediately panicked and tugged Lingdang’s sleeve: "But you haven’t finished the food you made for me yet! Look at me, I’ve messed up the fire and haven’t even eaten a bite!"
Lingdang rolled her eyes at him: "Eat, eat, eat, all you think about is eating! I have important things to do. Who has time to cook for you? There are some leftover snacks and food in the kitchen, make do with that yourself."
Li Yanhao’s foodie heart shattered into pieces: "You’re making me eat leftovers? That’s torture!"