Contract Marriage

Chapter 17: Part 1

Though he said he would not give Han Yang anymore soup, Qing Gege[Big Brother] still returned to his family's mansion the next day to tell Aunt Zhou about what Han Yang had said, as well as to ask her what the problem could have been.

After his recount of the matter, Aunt Zhou laughingly explained, "Young Master, I've been a chef for more than half of my life, so it's a given that my skills must be better when compared to yours."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Helian Qing drew his brows into a knit.

"You just need to practice a few more times and you'll get better. I already had the ingredients for this afternoon prepared." Aunt Zhou then jested, "Who would've known the Young Master could be so impatient?"

"Can we just get to the soup?" Helian Qing stated expressionlessly, though on the inside, he stir-fried that free-riding [1] piece of salted fish, known as Han Yang, repeatedly.

Aunt Zhou, "Alright then, I'll teach you how to do it now. So today will be......"

"Hujiao Zhudu soup." Helian Qing said.
[T/n: Pepper Pig Belly (soup)]

"Okay." Aunt Zhou laughed as she got the ingredients ready one by one, while Helian Qing explained once more.

Due to his wish to learn how to make many soups, he immediately got out his notebook to take notes. Intending to record all the necessary ingredients and their quantities.

The butler stood at the sidelines, looking on at his Young Master learning earnestly, sincerely lamenting, "Ah, coaxing a wife is truly not easy!"

Later that evening, Helian Qing brought the soup he cooked back home. Han Yang took the thermos containing it, then opened it, the act allowing him to smell the concentrated flavour of the pork belly and pepper bounded together. Since the ingredients were slowly stewed together for around three hours, it gave the soup a rich aroma, and drinking such soups during winter, was quite fitting.

"How is it?" Helian Qing came right out and asked as he watched Han Yang take a sip of the soup.

"It's not bad, just a little too strong." Han Yang replied.

"Is it the pepper?" Helian Qing asked before he took a bite himself, making the decision to add a bit less spice the next time.

"Mhm, but other than that, it's alright to eat." Han Yang said as he again took a bite.

This one isn't too bad. Helian Qing thought.

Han Yang had now finished his bite and was preparing to take another when Helian Qing stopped him all of a sudden, and said, "Don't eat it. Next time I'll have them add less pepper."

"It's alright. The chef worked hard to make this soup, throwing it out will be wasteful."

"I know that very well." Helian Qing said this, but he still stopped Han Yang's spoon of soup.

"What?" Han Yang asked, not hearing what he had said.

"It's nothing, just eat." Helian Qing directed.

"Okay." Han Yang nodded, continuing to eat his dinner.

For the next week, Helian Qing had brought home a soup with him everyday. One day, Han Yang could not help but ask, "Is the new chef honing his technical skills everyday?"

In the process of eating his meal, Helian Qing's hand halted, "Why do you care so much about what he's doing?"

"I just feel this is too much of a bother, since Aunty Su and the others aren't there, yet we're still troubling Shifu everyday to make these soups just for my benefit." Han Yang said shyly. "Actually, I think we can make the soups for ourselves."
[T/n: Shifu is just a polite way to refer to a professional.]