Su Xiaoqi stirred the warm water with concentration.
Several times, the maids attending nearby offered to help, but she refused them all.
Making lotus root powder truly required skill.
Especially the raw, unprocessed lotus root powder of this era, untouched by modern technology.
Thus, she had to do it herself; a slight difference could lead to a thousand-mile divergence.
After evenly mixing the lotus root powder in five porcelain bowls, she began adding scalding hot water to the foremost one.
As the hot water poured in, the pale powder turned transparent at a visible speed.
When stirred gently with chopsticks, it slowly became thick and viscous.
Su Xiaoqi added a little more water and continued stirring. Her movements were fluid and elegant, as if she weren't preparing a bowl of lotus root powder, but crafting a refined work of art.
Shen Yun watched her the entire time, his stern facial features remarkably softened.
Gu Shicheng and his wife looked on with surprise and admiration.
Having tasted lotus root powder in the imperial palace, they understood perfectly what they were seeing.
This was how authentic lotus root powder was supposed to look!
"It's done," Su Xiaoqi announced, having prepared all five bowls.
The four onlookers finally snapped back to reality.
They hadn't seen enough; how could she be finished so quickly?
"Sir, please try this first," Su Xiaoqi respectfully presented a bowl to Gu Shicheng, then to Madam Gu, and finally to Du Yiyi.
When it came to the last two bowls, she intended to offer one to Shen Yun first.
However, she saw him already lift a bowl and extend it to her, "Wife, you've worked hard. Wife, you eat first."
Su Xiaoqi glanced shyly at the other three.
Seeing that they had all witnessed this, their eyes holding various expressions, she felt a flush of embarrassment. Lowering her gaze, she shot him a look.
Her foot, hidden beneath the table, stomped on Shen Yun's foot: Humph, to show off in front of my teacher like that.
Shen Yun paid no mind; her small strength, hampered by embroidered shoes, couldn't possibly hurt him.
The smile on his face deepened.
Raising his eyes, he saw Su Xiaoqi's pretty face turn red. Shen Yun thought that if Xiaoqi saw how his own teacher and his wife interacted, she wouldn't be so shy about this.
"Pfft..." Yu Shi couldn't hold back her laughter first.
She thought her husband's newly accepted student was quite interesting.
And his wife, Su Xiaoqi, was also quite to her liking.
They could foster a closer relationship in the future.
Initially, Madam Yu had held Shen Yun in high regard.
However, she felt that his wife, Su Xiaoqi, hailing from a merchant family, the renowned Su family that practically owned half of Mianzhou city, had an air of commercialism that she disliked. Thus, she had never met her.
It was only when Gu Shicheng brought back the design drawings for the rice transplanter, gifted by Su Xiaoqi, and mentioned it to her that she began to feel a flicker of anticipation.
Hearing that the couple was visiting today and had brought lotus root powder, she condescended to make the trip.
She hadn't expected the pleasant surprise.
Putting aside all else, Su Xiaoqi's humble and endearing demeanor had already won her over.
Furthermore, the lotus root powder was exceptionally delicious, offering a delightful surprise with her first taste.
She made no effort to hide her happiness, "Mmm, it's too delicious! Even more delicious than what I eat in the palace."
"Mmm-hmm, delicious, delicious." Du Yiyi was utterly captivated by the lotus root powder.
It was sweet yet not cloying, with a refreshing taste. It was sticky when scooped, but in the mouth, it melted instantly, a sweet sensation spreading across her tongue. It was delicious.
She quickly finished her bowl and, wanting more, looked expectantly at Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi hadn't expected the usually elegant and dignified Miss Du to be such a glutton.
Unable to bear her pleading gaze, she stood up and prepared another bowl for her.
Du Yiyi quickly ate it and still wanted more.
Uh...
Su Xiaoqi thought for a moment and suggested, "We also brought mooncakes from Chen Jin Ji, Miss Yiyi..."
Before Su Xiaoqi could finish, Du Yiyi nodded eagerly and then looked at the mooncakes Shen Yun had given to Gu Shicheng earlier.
She blinked at Su Xiaoqi, asking if she could have one.
Su Xiaoqi blinked back, telling her that the mooncakes had already been gifted and were no longer under their control.
This changed things.
Du Yiyi turned back, grabbed Yu Shi's hand, and acted spoiled, saying she wanted to eat mooncakes.
Yu Shi, having given birth to three sons and wishing for a daughter, had doted on Du Yiyi immensely. How could she refuse her beloved niece's request?
With a remark, "Forgive me for making a spectacle of myself," she waved her hand, signaling a servant to open the packaging and get the mooncakes for her.
"Wow, Uncle, Auntie, these are the best mooncakes from Chen Jin Ji! You have to queue for a long time to buy them, and I've wanted them for days but couldn't get them."
After taking a bite, her watery eyes sparkled.
"Xuzhi and Xiaoqi are thoughtful," Gu Shicheng nodded with satisfaction.
He had taken on many students, and they were all respectful and filial.
However, few were as considerate as Shen Yun, whose gifts truly touched his heart and those of his family.
Yet, he surmised that while his student Shen Yun was academically capable and thoughtful, these added touches were likely the work of his capable wife.
At this moment, Shen Yun's gaze towards Su Xiaoqi was even more intensely affectionate.
Su Xiaoqi's heart fluttered. Hmm, tsk tsk, the way Shen Yun looked at her made her feel like she was the lotus root powder, about to be completely enveloped by him.
After eating and drinking, and exchanging pleasantries for a while, Shen Yun and Gu Shicheng went to the study to discuss important matters.
Su Xiaoqi, accompanied by Yu Shi and Du Yiyi, entered the inner chambers.
She received a pearl-inlaid hairpin and a pearl earring from Yu Shi, along with two bolts of silk.
"Ah, if I had met you sooner, I could have made you some clothes, and you could have worn them today.
Then, when you go to Yizhou Prefecture with Xuzhi, ah, it's not that your师娘 (shīniáng - teacher's wife) is saying this, but your attire is far too plain.
Your Su family is also a tremendously wealthy household..."
Yu Shi muttered, unable to comprehend why the eldest daughter of the Su family would wear such a simple, plain cotton garment.
Although her foundation was good, as the saying goes, "Buddhas rely on gold, people rely on clothes," one must adorn themselves to be even more beautiful.
"师娘, actually, actually, I'm not from the Su family.
Uh, no, I mean, although my name is Su Xiaoqi, I'm not Su Baiwan's daughter."
Su Xiaoqi, without any reservations, revealed her background as a beggar.
Before she could even mention the matter of the proxy marriage, Yu Shi, with her astute understanding, preemptively filled in the blanks for her.
"I understand. So, the Su family disdained Xuzhi's background and looked down on him, unwilling to marry their own daughter to him, yet not wanting to tarnish their reputation for benevolence.
Therefore, they had their steward find you to be the proxy bride.
Heh, what a display of 'Li Dai Tao Jiang' (substituting the plum for the peach) – truly more dramatic than anything written in storybooks."
Su Xiaoqi nodded, praising Yu Shi's sharp eyesight for seeing through the matter so quickly.
"Oh dear, heavens have mercy. With you in this situation, they surely wouldn't have given you a dowry. And Su Baiwan is famously stingy." Yu Shi embraced Su Xiaoqi, feeling no contempt for her, only pity.
Such a good girl, yet fate was cruel, leaving her without parents.
Even having grown up on the streets, she hadn't gone astray, which was truly rare.
The more Yu Shi thought about it, the more her heart ached. She gently stroked Su Xiaoqi's back, comforting her.
Held in the embrace of this woman, who could be her mother, Su Xiaoqi felt a profound warmth.
She experienced an inexplicable sense of familiarity, like a wanderer who had been adrift for a long time finally finding a sense of belonging.