Wen Zhi Mo had no choice but to answer truthfully, "I actually... don't know how to cook at all." After saying that, he cast a glance at Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng was not surprised; this was within her expectations. As a fellow hanger-on and future partner, Bai Sheng was determined to make him shine in this endeavor of "holding onto a strong leg."
After a moment's thought, she said to Wen Zhi Mo, "Why don't you help me with the fire later, Brother Wen?"
"Okay, I can make a fire!" Wen Zhi Mo nodded happily.
To save time, Bai Sheng employed a coordinated approach. She had Wen Zhi Mo start the fire while she prepared the braised beef. While the beef was braising, she would then make the cold cucumber salad.
Wen Zhi Mo fumbled around the stove for a long time without producing any sparks. Bai Sheng had to step in herself to help him light the fire. Then, she taught him hand-in-hand: ensuring there was adequate space between the firewood so the fire wouldn't go out; if there was too little firewood, add it slowly, don't pack the stove too tightly all at once.
"Brother Wen, you should learn to do some chores in the future. As a man, you can't have your wife—your 'Niangzi'—do everything," Bai Sheng couldn't help but remind him.
Wen Zhi Mo's handsome face was smeared with soot. He nodded repeatedly, "Miss Bai's admonishment is correct, but I, Wen, am not yet... married."
Bai Sheng looked at his smudged face and his earnest desire to learn, and she couldn't bring herself to scold him further.
However, her own husband was truly capable, doing everything and doing it well, never being pampered.
The beef was finally braising. Bai Sheng began making the cold cucumber salad.
After peeling the cucumber, washing it, and smashing it flat with the side of the knife, she placed it in a ceramic basin. She added seasonings like oil, salt, scallions, ginger, and garlic. Lacking soy sauce and vinegar, Bai Sheng squeezed the juice from several oranges and added it. She stirred it evenly, then placed the ceramic basin in a bowl of water with ice to chill it.
Once the beef was braised, she placed it in ice water to cool. Later, she would slice it thinly and prepare a dipping sauce.
Bai Sheng planned to make the third dish—spicy dry-fried shredded lamb.
This dish was a bit of a gamble because she suspected chili peppers had not yet made their way onto the dining tables in the Great Xia Kingdom. However, she was confident that no one could resist its numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant taste.
When no one was looking, Bai Sheng released several red chilies from her hand. After washing them, she chopped them finely.
She first boiled the lamb until it was half-cooked, then cooled it and shredded it finely by hand. In a hot wok with cold oil, she fried ginger, garlic, chopped chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns, then added the shredded lamb and stir-fried it dry.
A potent, spicy aroma immediately spread from the wok. Everyone in the kitchen couldn't help but start coughing.
Two kitchen maids couldn't stand it any longer and walked over to complain, "What are you doing, girl? If anything happens to our Prince from eating this, even ten of your heads wouldn't be enough to pay!"
"That's right! Don't think you can do whatever you want in this kitchen just because you've charmed the Prince with your sweet talk!"
Bai Sheng sighed helplessly, "Aunties, His Highness the Prince just wants to try something new, a different taste. I am only cooking this one meal for him. If His Highness wants to eat in the future, it will still depend on your exquisite culinary skills. Today, if I have offended you, please bear with me."
Hearing Bai Sheng say she was only cooking this one meal, the two kitchen maids' expressions softened considerably, but they were still deeply suspicious of this strange concoction Bai Sheng was making.
"But you can't just make things up! What if His Highness gets a stomachache?"
"Whether I'm making things up or not, you two aunties can have a taste." As she spoke, Bai Sheng used a spatula to pick up a few strands of shredded lamb and placed them in a small bowl. The lamb was already cooked and would be ready to serve soon, so letting them taste it first was fine.
The two kitchen maids each picked up a strand and put it in their mouths. Bai Sheng then gestured for Wen Zhi Mo to pick up a strand as well.
The three chewed simultaneously, and Bai Sheng watched their expressions with anticipation.
Since it was their first time eating chili peppers, Bai Sheng hadn't dared to add too much, keeping the spiciness at a mild level.
"Mmm, very good!" The leading kitchen maid's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but praise, "There's a strange spicy flavor inside, very different from the spiciness of ginger, but it's very fragrant!"
"It's truly exceptionally fragrant. The lamb has lost its gamey smell and has a good chew," the other kitchen maid also praised repeatedly.
Wen Zhi Mo narrowed his eyes and nodded continuously, "Mmm, it's too delicious! I never expected Miss Bai's cooking skills to be so superb!"
Bai Sheng felt a sense of relief. Since they could accept this level of spiciness, she figured His Highness probably could too.
The leading kitchen maid asked, "May I ask, Miss Bai, what is that one seasoning you added to the dry-fried shredded lamb? I've never tasted it before. Could you tell us what it is?"
Bai Sheng smiled, "It's chili, a very unique and rare seasoning that we grow at home. I'm fond of spicy food, so I carry a little with me."
"Chili?" She glanced at the other kitchen maids, "We've never heard of it. Miss Bai, do you have any more? Could you sell us some?"
Business opportunity!
Bai Sheng nodded, "We have some at home. If there's a chance to visit the county town in the future, I'll definitely bring some for you aunties to see."
She'd plant more chili peppers in her spatial dimension later; that would be a considerable income stream in the future.
"Alright then, thank you, Miss Bai!" The leading kitchen maid was very pleased.
Hearing that all three who had tasted the dishes found them delicious, the other kitchen maids immediately gathered around, standing neatly to the side to watch Bai Sheng cook.
Bai Sheng didn't intend to keep her recipes a secret. After making the spicy dry-fried shredded lamb, she also made a tomato and egg drop soup.
Three dishes and one soup were enough for His Highness to eat alone.
Before serving the meal, Bai Sheng added some decorative touches, using carrots and cilantro leaves for garnish.
Each dish looked appetizing with its color, aroma, and taste, stimulating the appetite.
The dining table was set up in the front hall. Once everything was ready, Bai Sheng asked Ah Qiu to invite His Highness out.
Looking at the simple, fresh three dishes and one soup on the table, His Highness and Ah Qiu were momentarily stunned. These dishes were unlike anything they had seen before, quite novel.
Ah Qiu glanced sideways, carefully observing his master's expression. Well, so far, so good. His master's brows were relaxed, his eyes gradually brightening, and the corners of his mouth were about to turn upwards.
"Mmm, it's passable. It looks quite fresh," His Highness nodded. "I just don't know how it tastes. If it tastes bad, you'll still get fifty hard slaps!"
Bai Sheng smiled, "Your Highness, please be seated and taste it to know." To avoid affecting His Highness's appetite, she wore a red headscarf, completely covering the two dark spots on her face.
His Highness lifted the front of his robe and sat down, but he did not pick up his chopsticks.
Ah Qiu immediately stepped forward and said to Ji Er, "Miss Bai, these dishes were made by you. You must taste them first."
Bai Sheng understood immediately; they were afraid she had poisoned the food.
No problem! Bai Sheng picked up a little of each dish and put it in her bowl, eating it with great composure.
Seeing that Bai Sheng showed no adverse reactions, Ah Qiu then began to serve His Highness.
Everyone watched His Highness's mouth intently, silently waiting for the first word to come from his lips.
After eating the first piece of braised beef, he said nothing, proactively picked up his chopsticks, and helped himself, appearing somewhat impatient.
Ah Qiu smiled faintly at Bai Sheng and secretly gave her a thumbs-up.
Wen Zhi Mo and Bai Sheng exchanged a glance, both breathing a sigh of relief. This strong leg seemed to have been successfully embraced.
The kitchen maids hiding in the distance, seeing His Highness eating with such joy, also relaxed.
The leading kitchen maid, Yu, said with some emotion, "There's always someone better. We've been cooking imperial cuisine for a lifetime, and we've forgotten to keep learning. From now on, we'll try new dishes more often. If we don't understand something, we can ask Miss Bai."
The other kitchen maids all nodded in agreement.