Concubine Li had come to ridicule Mrs. Wen early, saying that Mrs. Wen competed for favor with a gift from her daughter-in-law. Mrs. Wen was used to being ridiculed by her so she didn’t take it to heart, and Concubine Li’s jealous eyes of wanting to burn the painting made her secretly amused. The concubine once hypocritically sympathized with her that she could only marry her son to a merchant’s girl, but at that moment she was envious of the good things her daughter-in-law gave her. After all, who didn’t love money?
Mrs. Wen never thought of competing with Concubine Li and others for King Yan, but when King Yan came by himself, she would not push him away foolishly. It was getting colder, and there was a man hugging her in the bed which was better than being alone.
“Is the lord ready to eat?” Mrs. Wen greeted him.
King Yan shook his head and asked her the menu.
The little maid reported for the dinner.
King Yan frowned slightly. The third daughter-in-law didn’t bring any fresh food back this time?
Mrs. Wen said nervously, “Shall I ask the kitchen to add two more dishes for you?”
King Yan was already disappointed, so he got up and said, “No, it’s better to have a lighter dinner.”
After speaking, he went inside to admire the autumn chrysanthemums painting.
His complexion was not good-looking, and Mrs. Wen felt a sense of trepidation in serving officials. At that time, she only wished that it would get dark immediately, as she would not be afraid after entering the bed.
Two quarters of an hour later, the kitchen brought all the food.
King Yan washed his hands, sat down at the dining table, and saw the two pork buns on a plate at a glance. The golden and slightly charred dough was covered with a layer of roasted meat stuffing, and looked strangely fresh.
“What is this?” King Yan asked.
Mrs. Wen stood by and explained, “It’s called pork buns. The third daughter-in-law brought it back from outside. She said it was a street snack in Shaanxi. A little girl in the Yin family made it according to what she heard from a caravan. It’s not worth anything, so the third daughter-in-law didn’t give it to everyone.”
King Yan looked at the two buns. The kind of appearance was indeed like the ones on the streets. If the side concubine and the others had sent it to him, they would most likely be rejected.
King Yan had a noble status, but he was actually a military commander. On the battlefield, he sometimes ate a big pot of rice like the soldiers.
He picked up a pork bun with his chopsticks, and the stuffing was so much that he had to open his mouth wide to take a full bite.
With just one bite, the oily but not greasy crispy taste whetted the appetite of King Yan, so he simply put down his chopsticks, grabbed the bun with his hand and started to eat.
If he was in front of Concubine Xu, King Yan would never have shown such a gesture, but if it was Mrs. Wen who was born as a commoner. King Yan let go of his demeanor.
And seeing the way he was eating, Mrs. Wen was drooling. Yes, the food must be delicious, otherwise why would her daughter-in-law bring it to her specially?
Mrs. Wen picked up the chopsticks and went to pick up the second steamed bun.
A steamed bun was actually only the size of the palm of a hand, and a woman may be able to fill her stomach after eating one. For a martial arts practitioner like King Yan, five or six buns may be enough.
“Eat, don’t be restrained,” King Yan held the remains of the bun in one hand, and picked up a piece of braised pork ribs for Mrs. Wen with chopsticks in the other.
It was rare for the prince to give her food. As soon as Madam Wen’s heart warmed up, she went to eat the ribs first.
Halfway through eating the ribs, King Yan’s chopsticks stretched out and picked up the second pork bun.
Mrs. Wen stared helplessly at the piece of steamed bun that suddenly seemed to become more fragrant, and watched King Yan open his mouth and take a big bite.
Mrs. Wen looked away, the ribs in her mouth turned tasteless.
“This steamed bun is good. The third daughter-in-law is also very filial. She remembered to bring you a portion of delicious food she ate outside.”
After eating both steamed buns, King Yan praised his daughter-in-law.
Mrs. Wen didn’t dare to show her resentment in front of the prince, and said with a smile, “It’s good that the prince likes it. The third daughter-in-law said that it would be a waste to put such delicious food on the street. She is going to give a store to that girl. The store is decent, and it’s convenient for us to ask the servants to buy it.”
King Yan nodded in satisfaction. A store would be good enough as it was cleaner than the food stalls in every way. It was his third daughter-in-law’s store, so he could send someone to keep an eye on it. He could feel completely at ease to eat the steamed bun again in the future.
As soon as King Yan left the next day, Mrs. Wen sent the maid beside her to find her daughter-in-law, and the reasons were well-made, which did not show her greediness at all.
“The king went to Jinghao Hall last night. He ate the steamed buns you gave him and liked them very much. The master sent me to ask if there were any more in your place.”
Yin Hui said regretfully, “I’m afraid this food won’t taste good overnight. You go back and say that when the store opens, I will ask someone to bring more.”