When Lan Yan woke up, she found a pair of gloves on her hands, and Jun Yelan, who was beside her, was gone. It seemed Jun Yelan had gone on another mission.
She sighed, thinking how truly hard it was to be an official. She also had to work diligently in the kitchen and prepare new dishes for Jun Yelan, so she walked towards the kitchen.
At this moment, the kitchen was piled with many Napa cabbages, which had been stored in the cellar and couldn't be eaten all at once.
Lan Yan thought for a moment and then called the kitchen maids, "Ladies, let's process these cabbages. We can pickle them to make preserved vegetables, which can serve as refreshing side dishes."
She went to the backyard and saw many empty jars. She led people to wash them clean and moved them all to the kitchen.
Then she washed the Napa cabbages clean, chopped them, let them drain, and put them into the jars. After adding salt and seasonings, the jars could be sealed.
Hui Niang, who was nearby, saw this and said, "Lan girl, your method is feasible. It not only prevents waste but also allows us to create new flavors with these vegetables."
"Yes, these can be made into pickles and sauerkraut, which are the most delicious to eat with noodles," Lan Yan said with a smile. When she lived alone before, she loved making noodles with all sorts of flavors; the taste was wonderful.
Hui Niang helped her, teasing, "The Director has excellent taste to let you manage the kitchen and bring out your strengths to the fullest."
Lan Yan smiled. It was actually her own choice, but Jun Yelan had also agreed. "If he didn't have good taste, how could he have kept me? When I first wanted to meet him, I was a bit timid, but after seeing him, that feeling disappeared."
She didn't know why, perhaps she was just bold.
Hui Niang smiled even more brightly, "This is your fate." She could tell that the relationship between these two was changing. But she didn't say much, waiting for the protagonists themselves to discover it.
"Mm." He was her mission target, of course it was fate. After Lan Yan finished processing the Napa cabbages, she took out fresh chicken and made a Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms. Then she poured out the chicken broth, cooked a bowl of noodles and put them into the chicken broth, which instantly filled the air with fragrance.
The kitchen maids crowded around, swallowing their saliva. "Lan Yan, your chicken soup smells so good." Their eyes were fixed on the bowl of chicken soup noodles, which were undoubtedly for the Director.
Lan Yan smiled and said, "This chicken was bought with my monthly silver. I borrowed the mansion's kitchen to stew it. I only want these five bowls; the rest are for you all. You've all helped me a lot these days."
These kitchen maids were her important sources of information, so it was natural to build good relationships with them.
When the kitchen maids heard they would get some, they nodded and exclaimed, "Thank you, Lan Yan. If you need anything in the future, we will help as much as we can." After saying that, they went to get bowls and cook noodles.
Lan Yan handed two bowls of noodles to Hui Niang, asking her to eat them with Jun Xiao Yao. As for herself, she went to Jun Yelan's study. At the entrance, she happened to meet Song Cheng and called out, "Guard Song, it's cold outside. Have a bowl of noodles with us."
Song Cheng stopped, his eyes lit up as he looked at the chicken noodles, and nodded, "You must be Miss Lan Yan. I've heard of you for a long time. Miss Lan, I won't be polite."
He looked at the closed door. The Director was still busy, so he took a bowl of noodles and went to eat in the corridor.
Lan Yan was also there and took the opportunity to inquire, "Guard Song, is the Director easily injured when he's out? Does he eat on time?" After Jun Yelan promised her about this matter last time, she had never inquired about the follow-up.
Song Cheng patted his chest and said, "Miss Lan, don't worry, the Director has changed a lot recently. Not only does he take me to eat when it's mealtime, but he also loves to buy sweets."
He had thought the Director had changed his tastes recently, but seeing Lan Yan now, he understood. It turned out the sweets the Director bought were for someone else. He had said the Director had a wife, but the Director didn't admit it.
"Miss Lan, our Director has no bad habits. Although he's a bit cold, he's very good. I actually hope to see you two..."
"Song Cheng." Jun Yelan walked out from inside the room, giving him a cold glance. He then looked at Lan Yan, her little face red from the cold, and asked, "Why aren't you coming in?"
Lan Yan was hesitant to speak. She had deliberately asked Song Cheng for information. "I was delayed for a moment, I'll come in right away." She held the food container and walked inside, placing the noodles on the table.
Jun Yelan followed, staring at Song Cheng for a while. He had actually been chatting so cheerfully with Lan Yan. "Wait outside, and by the way, help me get something."
He took out a piece of paper from his pocket, which was for the jewelry box he had ordered yesterday.
Song Cheng saw Jun Yelan's dark expression and hurried away, not knowing where he had offended the Director.
Only then did Jun Yelan enter. Seeing Lan Yan had already sat down, he sat opposite her. "You can come in directly in the future, don't mind Song Cheng."
"Okay." Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan's cold expression and nodded obediently.
A slight arc appeared on Jun Yelan's lips, then quickly disappeared. He finished his noodles quickly and looked up, seeing Lan Yan was still eating. He didn't disturb her, just sat there.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Song Cheng called from outside, "Director, I've got the item." He took a glance; it was an ordinary jewelry box, and he didn't know what was inside.
Jun Yelan then got up, opened the door, took the box, and closed the door on Song Cheng. He met Lan Yan's curious gaze, cleared his throat, and placed it in front of her. "You gave me a stone yesterday, this is a return gift."
"A return gift?" Lan Yan's eyes lit up. She eagerly opened it and saw a hairpin inside, with two small butterflies gently swaying at the end.
She couldn't help but nudge it and said with a smile, "It's so beautiful."
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's smile, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. He had gone to the jewelry store yesterday and spent an hour choosing this one, thinking the butterflies were very suitable for Lan Yan.
Lan Yan touched the hairpin and was about to put it on her head, so she handed it to Jun Yelan. "Director, please help me put it on. I can't see." Seeing Jun Yelan not moving, she was about to speak again, but Jun Yelan walked towards her.
Jun Yelan's hand grasped the hairpin, he looked at the top of Lan Yan's head, and gently inserted it from the side of her hair bun. This butterfly hairpin added a touch of liveliness to the unadorned woman in front of him, making her appear even more captivating.
He couldn't help but swallow, preparing to take a step back.
At this moment, Lan Yan looked up, intending to ask if the hairpin was properly placed, and with a bang, she accidentally bumped Jun Yelan's forehead. Her forehead immediately started to hurt, and she rubbed it with her hand pitifully, asking, "Director, are you alright?"
Her peripheral vision caught sight of Jun Yelan's forehead already turning red. She called out apologetically, "Director."
"It's nothing." This little pain was nothing to Jun Yelan, but seeing Lan Yan's appearance, he seemed concerned. He took Lan Yan's sleeve, asked her to sit down, and slightly lowered his head to blow on her forehead.
Lan Yan couldn't help but be stunned.