60: Confrontation at the dinner table

"What death? Who wants to separate you from the Children?"

There were others in the courtyard. Li had just finished a quick wash in the small cubicle inside and heard those words as he came out.

He glanced at Gaia with dissatisfaction, noticing the quilt in Gaia's hands.

"What are you doing?"

"Tu Nan asked me to take it to Young Miss Ranran and the others..."

"Tu Nan is sensitive to the cold; one quilt isn't enough. They're so rich, can't they afford to buy their own?"

Gaia thought about it and realized he was right. He immediately put the quilt down. "I'll take them to buy some."

Li immediately spread the quilt back out and scolded Tu Nan, "You squeeze against me every night, yet you dare to use one less quilt? What if you catch a cold?"

Oh, it seemed Li had made great progress. Tu Nan just smiled softly from the side, watching him rearrange everything.

"Has the Black-Scaled Snake been prepared?" Li asked Gaia.

Before coming back, the Captain had specifically taught him how to prepare Black-Scaled Snake; the tendon in its spine had to be completely removed, or it would be poisonous.

"Not yet. Are we eating it? I'll go prepare it now."

"I'll do it; my knife skills are better." Li pulled the small dagger from Tu Nan's waist and went to the kitchen to handle the ingredients.

Tu Nan followed him out; she was also curious about this Advanced ingredient.

When Gaia returned with Chen Fang after buying necessary daily necessities, an enticing aroma wafted toward them.

"It smells so good..." Gaia said entranced, turning toward the kitchen following the scent, where he bumped into Tu Nan coming out with a dish.

"You're back. Li said we'll eat in the courtyard," Tu Nan greeted him.

Gaia helped Chen Fang bring the items into the room and then brought Sheng Ranran to sit in the courtyard.

"Let's eat together today. You won't have time to cook, and the dish I was stewing should be ready. I'll go check," he said to the mother and daughter.

Sheng Ranran had changed into a more magnificent dress, which looked out of place in this simple courtyard. She frowned slightly but endured the discomfort and sat down, speaking to Gaia.

"Sure, it smells very fragrant."

Tu Nan had already set down the dish and turned around when Ranran made a request as if it were only natural.

"Oh, do you have rice? I'm not used to wheaten foods. Remember to rinse the rice with water, otherwise, it's too heating to eat."

Tu Nan smiled dismissively—putting on airs already? However, she carefully noted this information before saying to Gaia.

"Give a bowl of my rice to Ranran." She said apologetically to Ranran, "Originally, I was the only one here who ate rice. I didn't expect you to like it too. There isn't much, so please excuse the poor hospitality."

Suddenly remembering something, she stood up, went to the room to get a narrow-necked bottle, and smiled at Ranran and her mother.

"This is Herbal Tea I made myself. Using it to rinse the rice makes it more elegant and refreshing. However, my stomach is weak, so I have to eat mine hot."

Sheng Ranran was actually suspicious of Tu Nan's identity. Since childhood, she had fantasized about life after being recognized by the Sheng Family; there wasn't a single young woman in high society she didn't know about.

How could she have never heard of someone named Tu Nan?

Even if it was a pseudonym, she had never heard of any family having a daughter with such weak genes that she couldn't even be presented in public.

Yet Tu Nan's every move was elegant, and her way of speaking had that 'needle hidden in silk' style typical of high society.

Eating only rice... and using Herbal Tea for cold rice? What kind of way to eat was this? She actually didn't know about it.

Gaia made a few trips and soon filled the small table with bowls and plates.

Following Ranran's wishes, he rinsed her rice twice with the Herbal Tea. He watched as the snow-white grains became distinct and refreshing, taking on a very faint green tint and emitting a unique plant fragrance.

It did indeed look... more delicious?

Why didn't Tu Nan eat it like this herself? Gaia wondered but was smart enough not to ask.

Of course not. Tu Nan grumbled internally; rice must be eaten hot! Any other way was heresy!

Li was the last to come out of the kitchen, holding only a bowl and a small plate, which he placed directly in front of Tu Nan.

The enticing aroma from before was coming from this bowl of soup; it was soul-stirring.

"Eat this first, then have the soup." He pointed to the plate in front of Tu Nan.

Six pieces of meat, identical in size and translucent, were arranged on it.

Li picked up a piece in front of her and stuffed it into his mouth. The meat was so tender it almost slid down his throat. Li had wanted to give a review, but now he couldn't say anything.

After a moment's daze, he could only say, "It's very tender; you can eat it." That said, his hand remained on Tu Nan's shoulder, preventing her from eating.

Two minutes later, his eyes shifted slightly as he carefully checked for any adverse reactions. Finding none, he was finally satisfied.

"It's not poisonous. It seems it was cleaned properly. Eat."

Only then did Tu Nan realize he was testing for poison.

"Hurry up and eat. Why are you looking at me?" Li sat next to Tu Nan, puzzled that she was just staring at him without moving her chopsticks... That's right, they were now using chopsticks to accommodate Tu Nan's habits, and it seemed the guests knew how to use them too.

Tu Nan said no more and tasted a piece under his gaze.

It was exceptionally sweet and fresh meat without any fishiness. Though thick-cut, it wasn't greasy at all; instead, it was particularly refreshing, with tender juices bursting out in every bite.

"It's delicious." It was much better than Sand Scorpion King eggs or Qiqi Pig Trotters; they weren't even on the same level.

Tu Nan understood why wealthy people would cross the stars just to acquire such a delicacy.

She called out to Gaia, "Try some; it really is delicious."

Gaia hurriedly waved his hand in refusal.

"No! There isn't much in total, and you can't eat other things anyway. It's all for you; you're still carrying the Children."

Sheng Ranran was just about to move her chopsticks but was so stifled by those words that she resentfully put them down again.

Black-Scaled Snake... that was a top-tier ingredient even she had never eaten. This Tu Nan's life was simply too good.

Li was indeed very capable. She had to find a way to get her hands on Li and make him her husband to participate in the Sheng Family Duel Meeting three years from now.

Even if she couldn't take the top spot, as long as she could make it into the top three, she could return to the main mansion in glory and never again be driven out of the house like a dog by her eldest brother.

She had to make Li realize that her status as Sheng Ranran was different.

Even if Tu Nan really was a child of nobility, she was surely just from some minor rural noble family. Unlike her, who was a Young Miss of the Sheng Family from the Underground Kingdom.

She set her chopsticks down gently and asked Tu Nan with a frown.

"Aren't we going to serve individual portions? Eating like this is... a bit unrefined, isn't it?"

Tu Nan was currently drinking the only bowl of soup.

She set down her bowl and looked at Gaia, who had no idea what this woman was talking about, and Li, who wasn't listening to anyone at all.

She sighed and poked Li's waist.

"Go get five more pairs of chopsticks. It's my fault; I forgot we have guests."

Li didn't ask anything and just brought them to her.

She distributed them to everyone and said apologetically to Ranran, "Serving individual portions is too distant. In our home, we use Serving Chopsticks. Does Young Miss Ranran know how? Use the Serving Chopsticks to take food and your Personal Chopsticks to eat. It's both lively and hygienic."

Sheng Ranran had no idea such a practice existed, but it seemed very reasonable.

Although Gaia was forced to accept it, he felt very restricted and grumbled.

"Eating is such a hassle."

Tu Nan gave him a look of disapproval and said softly, "It's just this once. We have to be a bit careful when there are outsiders. I won't nag you when it's just our family eating later."

Only then did Gaia cheer up.

Sheng Ranran's face was about to crack.

What? Was she saying that after this meal, they would have to eat by themselves and could no longer eat with Li?

This Female Beast really had some clever tricks.

But she looked to the side.

Tu Nan, however, acted as if she had said nothing and was already back to drinking her soup.