Elder Crown Princess Consort

ECPC Chapter 5: Truly Renowned Chef of the Generation

Ruan Tangling has always been a person who dares to love and hate. She believes that if she doesn't like Qin Fuyu, she will not lower her voice and follow Qin Fuyu's facial expression.

Qin Fuyu immediately frowned. Besides entering the door three days earlier than her, what else could Ruan Tangling compare to her?

Looking at Ji Weiming, who was sitting aside and not afraid of trouble, Qin Fuyu could only endure and let the maid serve another cup of hot water.

Ruan Tangling symbolically took a sip and could only turn to signal Ji Weiming for the next step.

Without saying a word, Ji Weiming stood up and pulled Ruan Tangling out of the entrance hall. As they passed by Qin Fuyu, Ruan Tangling caught a glimpse of a hint of coldness in her displeased expression, as if warning her: just wait!

Ruan Tangling is fearless and can only be restrained by her father. She has been pretending to be foolish for 24 years. Occasionally, she remembers the days when she was arrogant in the city of Fengzhou. However, there is no one in the capital to support her. Dealing with Qin Fuyu, she can only rely on Ji Weiming.

"What are you doing?" Ruan Tangling followed Ji Weiming to the backyard, where the gentle breeze and warm sunshine shone brightly. The small pond in the yard rippled with light. Ji Weiming sat on a stone bench. On the stone table next to the stone bench, there is a plate of cute and colorful little treats. "What is this?" Ruan Tangling picked one up, it had a soft and sweet-smelling taste.

“It's you!” Ji Weiming didn't seem to care about Qin Fuyu's displeasure earlier and casually threw candy into his mouth.

"Me?" Ruan Tangling sighed at Ji Weiming, wanting to pat his shoulder and ask him: "Brother, how old are you?"

Ji Weiming smiled and said, "It's a soft candy."

After a moment of silence, Ruan Tangling asked, "Just tell me what you want," as Ji Weiming tried to bribe her with a small item.

Ji Weiming was stunned and said, "I was calling you!"

It was only then that Ruan Tangling realized that Soft Candy was actually herself. She did not flip the stone table over on the spot, because she was in a good mood... (I believe Soft Candy sounds like ‘Ruan Tang’ and Ji Weiming says ‘You’ which sounds like ‘ling’)

Ji Weiming looked at her slightly defiant expression as her chin slowly lifted, and immediately reached out to pat her head like a little dog: "Good girl, don't be angry, this husband will take you to see your father."

Ji Weiming suddenly wanted to meet Ruan Su, and Ruan Tangling became alert.

"You're ignoring Qin Fuyu and want to see my father?" Ruan Tangling looked at Ji Weiming with suspicion. "I have a bad brain, don't play with me!"

"Wife, if your brain doesn't work, then there are not many people in this world with good brains," Ji Weiming whispered in her ear. "Do you remember the road from your house to the flour shop? Do you remember where we picked you up?"

It was only a few steps from the Ruan family to the flour shop. That day, Ruan Tangling took a big circle to buy flour and encountered a wedding procession with drums and gongs.

Delivery of goods to the doorstep, Ji Weiming generally feels that it shouldn't be wasted.

"You're ruthless!" Ruan Tangling gritted her teeth, completely throwing off her usual muddled appearance. Once she got serious, she also had a bit of sharpness and rebelliousness.

"Likewise, likewise," Ji Weiming still smiled lightly.

Very few people in the capital city truly understand Ji Weiming. He flaunts his title of "crown prince" and relies on the name of Ji Zhou's King title rather than his own merits. At one point, he became famous throughout the city due to his stunning appearance. He appears to be a playboy who lacks ambition and doesn't take his responsibilities seriously, hiding his true intentions and identity behind his good looks and status. People generally think he is someone who lacks cunning.

However, Quan Tangling does not think so. If he really is useless, Ji Xiao can safely send him back to his fiefdom. After a hundred years, the Xihuai territory of Ji Zhou will be under the jurisdiction of Ji Weiming. A person without strategy and tactics will eventually end up in a mess.

Ji Xiao not only did not send him back but also sent Qin Fuyu over. This is enough to show that Ji Weiming's threat in the eyes of the central government is significant.

Therefore, it's a matter of mutual politeness between them.

Ruan Tangling stood up angrily and gritted her teeth. Didn't Ji Weiming want to go see Ruan Su? She immediately leaned on Ji Weiming's shoulder and smiled a bit frighteningly, "Your Excellency, then prepare a horse carriage for me!"

However, Ji Weiming directly picked up Ruan Tangling and went to the stable. He mounted a warhorse and left with a flourish, saying, "Wife, a carriage is too cumbersome. This horse is better, it's closer and we can communicate and bond more!"

Ji Weiming rode while Ruan Tangling sat in the front. She clenched her fists and wished she could punch him off his horse. Once again, she returned to Luming Lane, facing the envy and jealousy of the girls in the capital.

At the end of Luming Lane, there was a small house with the smell of flour wafting out. Ruan Su was making noodles again.

"Boss, the Young Miss is here!" Ruan Dazhuang on the roof immediately reported at the sight of the distant dust raised by horse hooves. "And there's Ji Weiming!"

"Oh?" Ruan Su hesitated for a moment, but his hands did not stop. "Bring them in, bring them in. The young brat doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. Since he's here, let him see this old man's skills!"

Ruan Dazhuang struck a pose, standing on one leg like a golden rooster gazing at the moon. "No wonder the young lady is uneducated. The brain is something that is inherited by the father!"

"You little brat, get out of here!" Ruan Su threw a lump of flour in Ruan Dazhuang's face.

Ji Weiming's horse stopped at the door of Ruan's house, and he heard a rough and uncoordinated singing voice coming from inside the house: "Clearwater radish noodle, no wind in four miles bundling yellow sand, steamed to transparent white jade and silky, mixed with white flour, leek, and red flower. In the past, I wielded my spear and rode my horse to conquer, today I roll up my sleeves and sing loudly under the chopping board, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter... steamed white jade noodles... "

Ji Weiming stood with a frown on his face. Clearwater radish noodles, white jade threads, and chopped scallions - Ruan Su made it sound like just a dish, but Ji Weiming felt something was off.

Coincidentally, Ruan Su had just finished reciting a complete song when Ji Weiming arrived. It seemed that Ruan Su knew of his arrival and intentionally or unintentionally hinted at something. This made Ji Weiming even more certain that the Ruan family, or rather Ruan Su, had an extraordinary background.

"Wife," Ji Weiming smiled, "does father-in-law love singing tunes?"

Ruan Tangling scratched her ear, and only now did she realize that Ruan Su actually had this skill, although it was not in tune, it could be considered relatively complete.

She calmly patted Ji Weiming's shoulder and said, "My father usually has nothing to do, why don't you invite a troupe to sing some tunes for him?"

"No problem, no problem." Ji Weiming straightened his robe and knocked on the door. In just a short while, there were already many onlookers in the street of Luming.

It was surprising to see a Crown Prince appearing in a place similar to a poor neighborhood, especially the one who married the spinster Ruan Tangling. This aroused everyone's interest.

Ji Weiming had long been accustomed to being watched by others. He remained calm and collected, leading Ruan Tangling into the house.

Inside, the smell of flour was even stronger, the place was small but clean, and the sound of noodles being rolled could be heard from the kitchen. Ruan Su, however, pretended not to know that Ji Weiming had come and continued working without stopping.

Quite unique. Ji Weiming thought to himself.

So he went straight to the kitchen, and as soon as he opened the door, he was forced back a few steps by a wave of hot air. The temperature in the kitchen was like a steamer, and Ji Weiming coughed lightly and said, "I, your son-in-law Ji Weiming, have come to visit you, Father-in-law."

Ruan Tangling stood with her arms crossed, looking disdainful. She looked at Ji Weiming, who usually behaved like a dog, but when he tried to act serious, he really had a way about him. Did he really think her father would fall for this act? Too naive!

"Stir and chop the snowflakes, stir-fried pork belly with onion, ginger, garlic, and mushrooms. There are only seven things to do when opening the door: tea, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. Add bean sprouts to the baby bok choy, and put the spicy oil sauce on the noodles. The wife and auntie can handle it together. Young people with good physical strength should not forget to have fun in Xihuai powder... Spicy oil sauce noodles, yummy..."

Ruan Su came out of the kitchen with a plate of steamed white vermicelli in one hand and spicy oil sauce noodles in the other. He glanced at Ji Weiming when he went out and placed the dishes on the table. He clapped his hands and admired his masterpiece, "I am truly a renowned chef!"

"Impressive!" Ji Weiming was amazed by the casual attitude of Ruan Tangling but saw that Ruan Su was respectful towards him. "Son-in-law..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Ruan Su picked up a pair of chopsticks and threw them to Ruan Tangling, saying, "Eat!"

So the two of them calmly ate their noodles while Ji Weiming was left standing awkwardly to the side. Ruan Su added, "You continue, I'm listening!"

Ruan Tangling wanted to laugh but couldn't. Ji Weiming thought he was so great, but Ruan Su was someone even she, Ruan Tangling, couldn't handle, despite having lived for half a century.

However, Ruan Tangling underestimated Ji Weiming's shamelessness.

Outside the room, a group of people gathered to see what was happening inside. Ji Weiming looked at Ruan Su and smiled, "The environment in Luming Lane is noisy. Your son-in-law has several properties. If Father-in-law does not mind, you can move to my place."

Ruan Su sucked on a long strip of noodles and asked, "Do you have any flour?"

Ji Weiming was a little confused by this nonsensical question: "Um...maybe..."

"I just recently took over that flour shop, and I feel like they don't have enough variety. What do you have? Have someone bring it over for me to see," said Ruan Su.

Ji Weiming was taken aback by Ruan Su's words, thinking that in all these years in the capital, he had only been the one tricking others. He had no retort for Ruan Su: "Okay..."

"Ya tou (Lass)," Ruan Su looked at Ruan Tangling again with a disdainful face, "Look at you, so cowardly!"

"What's wrong with me?" Ruan Tangling was at a loss, eating her food properly, when did she offend Ruan Su?

"Your husband is sitting here, and you're eating alone, not offering him chopsticks?"

Ruan Tangling pouted her lips. However, Ji Weiming found that this old man was really interesting.

Steaming white jade noodles, bundling yellow sand, wielding a spear, and riding a horse, this is what Ruan Su is telling him about his origin, unclear but still guessable; Oil-splashed noodles with a mocking tone, also reminding him not to forget the Xihuai fiefdom.

It seems like they are on the same side.

Ruan Tangling stood up to get chopsticks, leaving only Ruan Su and Ji Weiming in the courtyard.

"Elder."

Ruan Su cast a sidelong glance at Ji Weiming. He changed his approach so quickly!

Ji Weiming also felt that he was addressed incorrectly: "It was an accident that Ruan Tangling was kidnapped and pretended to be my wife. At that time, I heard that the Emperor wanted to grant Qin Fuyu to me in marriage. But it's not entirely my fault. I think Ruan Tangling appeared there after being informed by you."

Ruan Su smiled and said nothing.

Ji Weiming continued, "I don't know what your intentions are, but when I return to my fiefdom next year, I will clear her name."

Ruan Su put a mouthful of noodles in his mouth and spoke solemnly, "The things in this world are like this bowl of noodles, it's not just about the noodles, it's about how it tastes." After taking a bite, he continued, "There's no free lunch in this world. You stole my daughter and ate my noodles, so you have to pay the price for your actions."

Ji Weiming was suddenly taken aback. He thought that Ruan Su might have been sent to the capital by Ji Zhou, but now it seemed that Ruan Su was not sent by Ji Zhou after all!

Looking at Ji Weiming's unchanged expression, Ruan Su couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. "With good noodles, comes good people."

How intelligent Ji Weiming is! Just by smelling the fragrance of the noodles, he couldn't help but admire Ruan Su's cooking skills, which can be compared to a professional chef. "It seems that I have to bring some flour over here," he said. With words of praise, Ruan Tangling won't fall short anywhere with a father like him.

People in this world have a purpose for everything they do, including Ruan Su.

Ruan Tangling walked out with chopsticks in hand and saw the harmonious scene between the two without any surprise. She tapped the chopsticks in front of Ji Weiming. Since coming to the capital and living in Luming Lane, Ruan Tangling followed Ruan Su who loved to eat noodles and ate noodles every day. After staying at the Crown Prince's Mansion for a few days, she still missed her father's cooking.

Ruan Su never looked down on his daughter casually. As soon as he spoke, "Look at the way you eat this..."

"Cowardly!" Ruan Tangling had long been accustomed to it and also pouted to show her disdain. "Can you choose a different phrase to despise me?"

Ji Weiming looked at Ruan Tangling, then at Ruan Su, and suddenly felt that the days with a father by his side were probably as carefree as Ruan Tangling's. Unfortunately, from birth until now, he has never been able to live with his parents.

Ruan Su snorted and picked up the chopsticks in Ruan Tangling's hand with his own chopsticks. "Look at how cramped you are!"