At the skirt banquet, Princess Xin Yao's successful capture of everyone's attention meant Consort Mei adopted a low profile, avoiding being the target of attention for the first time at such an event.
In the past, she was the one who could take on a thousand enemies at skirt banquets. Scheming consorts were always trying to harm her, and lowly individuals were always provoking her.
Today, she felt freedom and liberation.
As soon as the skirt banquet ended, she slipped away, instructing Eunuch Zhu to take Zi Qiu back to continue being "Consort Mei" while she secretly returned to her ordinary civilian life.
She felt she must have been what Xiao Sheng called a love-addict in her youth. How could she have been tricked by the dog emperor, married him, and been confined in a cage for a lifetime, watching him indulge in pleasure with one woman after another?
This stifling, moldy, self-corrupting harem life, she had endured for over twenty years!
Breathing the fresh air outside again, she had no desire to return and continue to mold.
To welcome Mei the civilian back, Bai Sheng had Lu Ye retrieve two fat sheep from the space and hand them over to Aunt Ding and the others to prepare. Bai Sheng wanted to personally—vocally—teach Aunt Ding and Lu Youyan how to make grilled lamb skewers, braised lamb ribs, and roast lamb.
Today was Lu Yun Wu Wa's day off. Yan Shuo and Yan Huan came to sponge off a meal again. Bai Sheng gave Hong Fen Jia Ren a day off and called back people from the grain and fruit shops for a whole lamb feast for the whole family.
The Wei family next door had too many people, so Bai Sheng didn't invite them over. However, she had Lu Ye give them two sheep and also sent them two recipe cards.
With her recipes, anyone who wasn't an idiot could make relatively delicious food.
Before long, the bleating of sheep could also be heard from the Wei family's side.
At the Lu residence, dozens of people busied themselves with two sheep.
Jin, Mu, Shui, and Tu built an all-purpose oven according to Bai Sheng's blueprints, capable of roasting a whole sheep, as well as bread and cakes.
Lu Tie, Ding Lei, Lu Fan, and Lu Cai were responsible for building the grilled lamb skewer tables, which were constructed from blue bricks in a table-like grilling platform, allowing one to sit nearby and barbecue.
Thanks to Bai Sheng's clear and precise drawings, they completed the oven and grilling tables in just one hour.
Yang Ming and Lu Tong were responsible for slaughtering the sheep, skinning them, chopping the bones, and butchering the meat.
When Yang Ming and Lu Tong were slaughtering the sheep, a circle of little brats surrounded them, even Si Zai, with his bottom stuck out, watching with great enthusiasm.
Lu Qi's son, Lu Hu, became Si Zai's little follower, doing whatever Si Zai did.
Initially, seeing Yang Ming and Lu Tong sharpening their knives, the two sheep trembled all over, wriggling their bodies and struggling fiercely, bleating desperately.
Hua Hua walked up to them, stroked their heads, and said, "Eat lamb lamb." The two sheep suddenly quieted down, their eyes peaceful, and they automatically adjusted their lying positions for Yang Ming and Lu Tong to slaughter them.
Yang Ming and Lu Tong looked at Hua Hua in amazement, completely impressed by the young lady. At this moment, they reaffirmed that the young lady must be an immortal reincarnated.
Lu Yun Wu Wa were all used to this, as their little niece could make ants dance, sparrows on trees sing, mice in holes greet people, and crickets chirping in rock crevices fall silent...
After being stroked by Hua Hua, the two sheep peacefully offered themselves to the dining table.
One sheep was used for grilled skewers.
The lamb was deboned, cut into small cubes, marinated with various seasonings like oil, salt, ginger, and garlic, and then threaded onto long bamboo skewers.
Lu Hua, Lu Yin, Ga Mei, A Dong, Su Jin Feng, and Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua, along with the female workers from the workshop, were responsible for threading the skewers.
Yan Huan watched from the side and couldn't help but start helping to thread them.
Lu Huo was responsible for chopping the lamb bones, while Aunt Ding, Ding Xiang, and You Yan prepared various seasonings and serving utensils.
The lamb bones were stewed into soup, with carrots and corn added.
The other sheep was marinated with various seasonings and then roasted in the oven.
Uncle Ding controlled the heat.
Bai Sheng acted as the overall technical commander; anyone with questions ran to ask her. Consort Mei observed from the side, poking her nose in here and there.
Seeing her high enthusiasm for labor, Bai Sheng assigned her a task: washing and cutting fruits.
When one got tired of eating lamb, fruits could be used to cleanse the palate.
The entire front courtyard was abuzz with activity, everyone performing their duties and creating a lively atmosphere. The aroma of lamb wafted everywhere, making everyone's mouths water.
Lu Ye and Third Uncle, who were analyzing the court situation inside the house, couldn't resist coming out.
Several large basins of lamb skewers were prepared. Aunt Ding, Ding Xiang, and You Yan couldn't grill the skewers fast enough for everyone to eat, so Bai Sheng called for everyone to grill their own.
After all, there were enough grilling tables and space for anyone to grill a few skewers.
Lu Ye asked Bai Sheng to sit and play with Si Zai, and he would grill the skewers. After they were grilled, Bai Sheng and Si Zai would eat them.
Third Uncle also asked Consort Mei to wait on the side, and he would feed Consort Mei after grilling. However, Consort Mei wanted to experience the grilling process, so they both took skewers and went to grill together.
Yan Shuo was a clingy follower, wherever Lu Hua went, he followed. His clumsy movements resulted in him burning a skewer into charcoal, after which Lu Hua stopped him from doing it.
From then on, Yan Shuo could only use his mouth.
Ga Mei, young as she was, was very flirtatious. She deliberately squeezed herself next to Qing Feng, using the grilling skewers as an excuse to touch Qing Feng's hand and rub his arm.
She also asked Yan Huan and Lu Yun Wu Wa to deliberately squeeze her, forcefully pushing her into Qing Feng's embrace.
The charcoal fire roasted Qing Feng's cheeks and earlobes red, and he felt his heart pounding too.
As the young people showed affection, Uncle Ding also followed suit, grilling a few skewers and feeding them to Aunt Ding with his own hands. Aunt Ding blushed deeply, and under the table, where others couldn't see, she pinched and hit Uncle Ding.
Uncle Ding chuckled.
As for the singletons, they all automatically retreated to another side, focusing on grilling and eating the meat.
Ding Xiang grilled a few skewers and, weaving through the crowd, handed them to Lu Tong. Lu Tong's eyes widened in surprise, as if he had become foolish, and he dared not accept them.
"Hurry up and take them," Yang Ming and Lu Tie nudged him with their shoulders.
Lu Tong then shyly accepted the skewers from Ding Xiang's hand.
Lu Tie looked at him incredulously and whispered, "Tong, which part of you is charming? A girl actually likes you?"
Lu Tong glanced at Ding Xiang and grinned proudly at Lu Tie, "I'm handsome."
Lu Tie immediately made a gagging gesture. He then patted Yang Ming's shoulder, "Brother Yang, you're 17, two years older than me. Have you taken a liking to any girls? I, your younger brother, can help you set it up."
Yang Ming detached a skewer with his mouth and replied without looking up, "No."
Lu Tie looked at him, slowly crossed his arms in front of his chest, and said in horror, "You... you don't possibly like men, do you?"
Yang Ming glanced at him with disdain, "I like women! But I don't want to get married."
"What? Like women but don't want to get married? What does that mean?" Lu Tie expressed shock and confusion.
Lu Tong grabbed a skewer of grilled meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
Lu Tong vaguely felt that Yang Ming had someone he liked. His gaze occasionally revealed a hint of information, but it absolutely could not be spoken.