Am I Really That Intimidating
Sure enough, Lingdang, holding a spatula in one hand, angrily tapped Li Yanhao's head, while with the other hand she swiftly snatched the plate of sweet and sour fish, shouting, "If you think my cooking is bad, don't sneak bites! Eating while complaining—have some shame!"
Li Yanhao rubbed his head and looked at Su Li, "A Li, look how fierce your disciple is—she hit me!"
"Tsk, serves you right! I think she was too gentle. If it were me, I'd bash the pot on your head," Su Li said with a smile.
"Ouch! A Li, you're biased! You all gang up on me!" Li Yanhao jumped up from the ground, hands behind his back, pacing back and forth. "I'm after all the dignified heir, yet you won't even let me sit at the table! I can only sneak bites in the kitchen! Sneak bites, you know? A dignified heir reduced to sneaking food in the kitchen and getting hit with a spatula—oh, this life is unbearable!"
Li Yanhao's antics made Su Li, Lingdang, and the other three disciples burst out laughing.
Lingdang covered her mouth and said, "It's no one's fault but your own for not being allowed at the table. You're the dignified heir—if you went out, who in the village would dare eat the food? They'd all be on their knees, scared off their appetite by you!"
"Oh, little Lingdang, how can you say that? Am I really that scary?" Li Yanhao and Lingdang stared at each other wide-eyed.
Outside, Xiao Yun carried a basket of vegetables in and laughed, "You might not scare us, but you do scare the villagers. Heir, just stay quietly in the kitchen. Everything that comes out of the kitchen has your share—eat up, don’t be picky about this or that. If you keep finding fault, do you believe Lingdang will throw you out?"
"Alright, alright, A Li, Tudan, Lingdang—you outnumber me, I admit defeat!" Li Yanhao sat back down by his stove, eagerly staring at the pot. "Lingdang, what’s this dish down here? Hurry up and cook, I’m waiting to eat."
"You’ll eat till you burst!" Lingdang stuck out her tongue but quickly got to work cooking.
Su Li looked at the four disciples working in the kitchen in such an orderly way, with Xiao Yun helping out, and was very satisfied that it was enough to supply the feast ahead.
"I’ll go check out front, you all keep going. If you need help, come find me," Su Li said as she left the kitchen and headed forward. Halfway there, she saw Tang Shi and Zhang Zhaocai.
Tang Shi jumped in place when she saw Su Li, clutching her stomach. "A Li, where’s your family’s outhouse? Zhang Zhaocai and I usually eat too little oil and fat, but occasionally have a good meal, and now I have a bit of an upset stomach."
Su Li saw Tang Shi’s pale face and knew life had been hard for her since Qin Sanniang arrived. Eating poorly usually, suddenly having rich food easily upset her stomach. She pointed to the backyard, "There’s an outhouse by the wall in the backyard. Follow the corridor forward, then turn left and you’ll find it."
Tang Shi quickly thanked her and, with Zhang Zhaocai, headed to the back. As they walked, Tang Shi pulled Zhang Zhaocai into a hidden corner and said, "Zhaocai, have you thought it through? Today we finally have a chance to get into Su Li’s home. The whole village is here—it’s the perfect opportunity. Hurry and get the silver beans, and our hard days will be over!"
Zhang Zhaocai bit his lip, clearly struggling with the decision.
Tang Shi slapped Zhang Zhaocai twice on the back and scolded, "You heartless fool, do you want to just watch your own mother be tormented to death? If she dies, you’ll be left with that shrew and your heartless father. Can you expect a good life? When that shrew has a son next year, your father will kick you out to beg!"