Feng Yi quietly peeked into the kitchen, and the scene almost scared him to death.
He saw Hu Tao with an evil grin, sprinkling a handful of powder into the pot, stirring it constantly with an iron spoon.
Hu Tao's small face was smudged black, it was unclear if it was from the pot soot, and under the firelight, she looked like a witch making poison.
And the iron pot used for cooking was, at this moment, the cauldron of a witch's experiment.
The most crucial part was that there was a ghost hovering and moving around Hu Tao, pointing at the liquid in the pot from time to time and grinning.
But then he thought again, how could there be such a mischievous and cute witch? What was there to be afraid of?
Hu Tao wouldn't poison him to death!
"Hu Tao, what are you cooking?"
Feng Yi came to Hu Tao's side and said, to be blunt, the bubbling liquid in the pot looked even more terrifying than poison.
"Feng Yi? You're back! You've come at just the right time, come and taste the medicinal cuisine I specially made for you! See if it tastes good!"
Hu Tao was startled, her witch-like aura vanished instantly, and she happily introduced her new creation to Feng Yi.
Feng Yi: You call this stuff medicinal cuisine?!
Actually, some things, you know they won't taste good without even eating them, like... Old Ba's secret mini burgers!
Every cell in Feng Yi's body screamed rejection.
Cells: If you dare to eat it, we'll die to show you!
"No need to rush tasting it, tell me what this is first?"
Feng Yi suddenly had a feeling like Wu Dalang.
In a daze, he seemed to hear Hu Tao say, "Darlang, it's time to take your medicine!"
Feng Yi: Hu Tao, where is that damned Ximen Da Guanjia?
"This! It's a medicinal cuisine recipe I found in Grandpa's warehouse, but since a few ingredients were missing, I added some herbs I bought from the pharmacy that nourish the spirit..."
Hu Tao chuckled. She had found another good thing in her Grandpa's warehouse today and was preparing a surprise for Feng Yi!
Feng Yi: Your grandpa has a heavy taste!
Feng Yi guessed that it might be because the substituted herbs had undergone some chemical reaction with the other ingredients when heated and boiled, causing such a foul odor.
"Hu Tao, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm really not hungry!"
This stuff couldn't be eaten randomly, let alone with ingredients mixed haphazardly. What if he ended up in a vegetative state?
"This medicinal cuisine is said to replenish essence and boost vitality. Feng Yi, don't you really want to try it?"
Hu Tao didn't want to give up, making one last attempt.
"Another day, we'll talk about it another day. Haven't you eaten yet? I'll cook for you now!"
Feng Yi: I don't look that weak! I don't need medicine. Just say it if you want to use me to boost your performance!
Feng Yi picked up the iron pot and poured the liquid into the grass behind the tree.
*Pfft pfft*
The weeds withered visibly quickly, and the roots turned a terrifying black.
Feng Yi: Thankfully, I didn't drink this stuff. It's more potent than sulfuric acid. I almost went to see Granny Meng.
This pot also seemed unusable. Even if it was washed clean, who knew if any residue of the medicinal liquid would remain…
"Butler, do we have a spare iron pot?"
Feng Yi asked the old butler beside him, trusting that the butler would understand his meaning.
"Yes! Yes! I'll go get it for you right away!"
The old butler, having witnessed this scene, fell silent.
Hu Tao was truly a rare talent for making poison, one in a hundred years!
With such ordinary herbs, she could concoct a medicinal liquid with such potent toxicity.
Even if the legendary Ruotuo Dragon King drank it, he wouldn't be able to withstand it!
Feng Yi switched to the new iron pot brought by the old butler and began to cook dinner for Hu Tao.
"Hu Tao, you can't mix herbs randomly. If you want to learn to cook, I can teach you..."
While stir-frying, Feng Yi remembered something and quickly warned Hu Tao.
He was afraid she might accidentally drink her own concoction and poison herself.
"Mhm~ I know!"
Hu Tao sat to the side, hugging the little ghost in her arms, staring intently at Feng Yi.
A man cooking seriously is the most handsome! Feng Yi seemed to be glowing!
Hu Tao had no other thoughts, she just wanted to receive Feng Yi's praise.
She would definitely learn to cook well and make Feng Yi unable to leave her!
'Xiangling from Wanmin Restaurant seems to be a great cook. I'll find her to learn a few tricks someday!'
Hu Tao thought this, swinging the little ghost in her hand.
Before long, Feng Yi finished cooking. A few simple home-style dishes were enough to make Hu Tao eat heartily and exclaim how delicious they were.
After dinner, Feng Yi returned to his guest room, preparing for an early rest.
Unexpectedly, Hu Tao quietly pushed open the door, wearing her pajamas, holding a pillow, and sneakily crawled into Feng Yi's bed.
Feng Yi felt a warm presence embrace him, and the sleepiness he had just managed to cultivate instantly vanished.
He looked helplessly at Hu Tao, who poked her head out from under the covers, smiling cheekily at him.
"If you don't come to me, then I'll come to you! I can't sleep without you telling me stories!"
Hu Tao giggled. Feng Yi had been coaxing her to sleep these past few days, but today, when Feng Yi didn't come to her, she felt sleepless.
"You're not a child anymore, it's not good if others see! Don't be naughty, put on your pants..."
Hu Tao thrashed around under the covers, completely dispelling his sleepiness.
"Then tell me a story!"
"Alright, today I'll tell you an inspirational story called 'The Ugly Duckling'!"
"Tell me, tell me..."
"Once upon a time, there was a little duckling who was born very ugly. The ducklings born with him didn't like him, and he was bullied by other ducklings since he was young.
So, he reluctantly left his mother and wandered alone, encountering strong winds, rain, hunting dogs...
But the ugly duckling was not afraid; he struggled tenaciously and studied diligently..."
"In the end, did the ugly duckling become very powerful and go back to beat up the ducklings who bullied him?"
Hu Tao flailed her little fists under the covers, looking as if she wanted revenge.
"You've guessed it mostly right. In the end, he proved to people that although he wasn't good-looking, he tasted better than other ducks..."
Feng Yi: What a touching and inspirational story!
Hu Tao: ...
Why was the ugly duckling so pitiful? He struggled to overcome difficulties, just to prove himself, but...
Right, was the ugly duckling roasted or boiled in the end?
I heard roast duck tastes better!
"Feng Yi, I'm hungry..."
"Go to sleep, you won't be hungry when you're asleep!"
Hu Tao's words made Feng Yi suddenly feel a bit hungry too, after all, he hadn't eaten enough that evening.
As they gradually drifted into dreams, the night passed uneventfully.
The next day, Feng Yi woke up, washed, and, as usual, took Hu Tao to the teahouse, ordering twenty baskets of steamed buns and two pots of oil tea.
"Mr. Feng Yi, there's a letter for you here. It's from that young man from Snezhnaya who accidentally lost his wallet earlier. He asked me to give it to you!"
When the teahouse owner served the food, he handed over a letter, which read 'To Feng Yi, please open.'