Food Galore

As she was about to enter the main reception room to see her grandpa to see if he would like the dishes that she would make for tonight's dinner but it was completely dark. The light suddenly turned on and people were gathered around surrounding a table filled with an array of dishes. Fangsu was stunned, to say the least, "Is there something I missing here?" Fangsu went to look around the place to see that everyone was stood there absolutely shocked to find out that Fangsu had forgotten her birthday entirely.

Gui Ying immediately made Fangsu sit at the head of the table, "Well, the main guests can't be forgetting about their own birthday," Fangsu immediately blushed in embarrassment as she just realised that it was her sister and hers birthday but she was quite joyful that she was able to celebrate it nonetheless. Fangsu went to have her family with her as she shuffled to the side so that her sister could pretend to be next to her. As they went to continue the festivities of the birthday of Fangsu and Liansu; forgetting all about the ingredients that they had purchased during the day.

Xiao Cheng trotted to Fangsu's side and began tugging at her sleeve, "Jie, you promised to make me something if I guided Uncle and the loud sister," He reminded Fangsu of her promise in the earlier part of the day. Fangsu immediately went to see if she still manage to save her present for Xiao Cheng, summoning out a jade pendant with the Chen surname with a Qilin with pine needles tree surrounding the Qilin.

As Fangsu handed him to the jade pendant, the light in his eye shone brightly as he receiving the gift, "It is tradition that the older sibling or family member must make a jade pendant and give it to the younger members," Fangsu fidgeted with her fingers as she blushed as she was ashamed of her own work, "My sculpturing ability is quite bad and it looks quite dodgy; later we can go to an actually sculptor that specialises with jade that can make you a better one," But, contrary to Fangsu's expectations. Xiao Cheng leaped into her arms with a huge grin as his short arms wrapped around her neck. During the entirety of the night Xiao Cheng proudly wore the jade pendant at his hip as he would show it off to the others, however, Fangsu was quite embarrassed seeing her shoddy job of jade sculpturing that her grandfather assigned to her, using the excuse that he couldn't do it anymore now that he was old. But, Fangsu decided to indulged her grandpa and decided to take on the task, however, she regretted doing it because she had made many copies which were worse and the one that Xiao Cheng had was the only salvageable that somewhat looked okay.

If anyone were to know how much jade she had wasted to make the jade pendant for Xiao Cheng would spit blood seeing the remaining would be useful to be able to make into jewellery. Fangsu grandpa chuckled seeing Xiao Chen brandished his new jade pendant like it was a valuable treasure, "It seems that your efforts have been appreciated," Her grandpa had a cup filled with the seaweed alcohol that her uncle made during his spare time, "Look at his face; the look of grateful and joy is written all over his face," He bought out a cup for Fangsu filling it with the seaweed alcohol who occasionally sipped at the cup. Seeing everyone enjoy tonight gave Fangsu a warm feeling in her heart but as she as drained the last drop of alcohol from her cup. A slow throb of pain began echoing at her heart and she could hear her own heartbeat beating erratic and the pain soon followed but as quickly the pain came; it quickly disappeared as the last of the blessing was used up.

Fangsu was getting worried knowing that the medicine that she had taken for year was now ineffective at dealing with her Illness; seeing that this would be an arising problem later in the future but she remembered Ren Mosheng's words. Fangsu would soon have to eat spirits sooner rather than later. The feast soon ended everyone that attended left to rest at their own residence leaving the employees to clean up the mess. Fansgu was thoroughly tipsy from the alcohol, giggling with glee, "Fangsu, you are drunk." Ang siu had swung his sister to a guest room bed within one quick motion. The treatment between his sister and potential future wife was vastly different from each other as he handed Fangsu a cup of water to help sober her up.

Fangsu gratefully took the cup trying to sober herself up but she was barely drunk just tipsy, "Not drunk just tipsy," Leaning on the table as she played with the cup; spinning it on its rim and the rythmnyic sound of the porceilain cup was pleasant to the ear. A yawn that Fangsu tried to suppress eventually was released as she tried to stretch out her limbs and she went to clean the mess that everyone made. But, she was immmediately stopped as she was quickly swept off her feet by Ang Siu who went to take her back to her own and sleep the acohol off. The feeling off being carried and the warmth was Ang Siu's body was emitting was comfortable but as Fangsu was about to doze off into a deep sleep. Until the door burst opened where both Ming Yue and Yun Nan each were holding various items; one being the Death Within Life Fruit and the other holding a bag filled with medicine to help mangae the illness.

Yun Nan quickly seized the Death Within Life Fruit from Ming Yue's hand which were now physical, "You actually got it!" Yun Nan stared at the Death Within Life Fruit with awestruck eyes as she stared at it wanting to etch it within her brain so that she would document it in her medicinal book and use it for future teaching for the next generation, "You have three of them! This is an amazing harvest on your part! I can't believe you came out unscathed from the spiritual realm because normally you would be killed by hordes of spirits and cease to exist," Yun Nan was quite knowledgble about the spiritual relams because of her relationship with the Chen family.

Ming Yue stared at her master who was quite dazed from sleepiness and despite the case of her cure infront she returned to snuggle into the embrace of the young man that was carefully holding her like a treasure. Her master looked like a sleepy kitten and it was quite adorable; no wonder everyone wanted to dote on her. But, Ming Yue understood that her mast er would no longer have to worry about her illness but the odd thing was that she could feel a hint of a power hidden within her master. But, what Ming Yue didn't know was what ordeal Fangsu had deal with while she was on the task of retrieving the Death Within Life fruit.

-----

Fangsu continued to snuggle into the warmth unaware of the fact that her posiyion in Ang Siu's arm made them seem like quite compatible with each other even though she was completely sleeping in his arms. As Ang Siu was carrying Fangsu to her office bedroom to allow her to sleep and tucking her to bed trying carefully not to wake her up in her process. But, in any case Fangsu still woke up, grabbing the hem of Ang Siu's sleeve, "Warm, don't go," She sleep called out with her slightly hoarse voice. Ang Siu was being the called out for was quite worried that he would take advantage of her especially since she was calling for him to stay with her because he was warm with such a voice was such a tempting opportunity. But, he knew that Fangsu's protective grandpa and uncle would disapprove of him from marrying Fangsu if he did stay with her.

Ang Siu gently brushed away the strand of hair that fell on Fangsu's face, "Your grandpa and uncle would kill me," As Ang Siu was touching the hair. It was silky smooth and soft to the touch. From always braiding his Sim Siu's hair all the time when they were younger, gathering her locks in full bundle. He began braiding in down all the way so that it wouldn't go everywhere during sleeping and finally he tied it at the end left the long braid next to Fangsu's side. Seeing that she was fully asleep, Ang Siu readjusted the blanket on top of Fangsu before leaving her room. As he was walking out of the room; he was in a dilemma as he didn't have a bed to sleep in. The elderly man that was Fangsu's grandpa motioned him with her wrinkled hands to follow him which Ang Siu did.

As he was following the elderly man down the corridor to a room that was close by; it was a moderately sized room that had the basic furniture and a simple bed, "This use to be a storage room but since you don't have a room to sleep, " The elderly man turned around about to walk out of the room, "I had the employee take the inventory out to another room and clean it for you; it's not much but it such suffice for a short period of time," The elderly man quickly walked out of the room leaving behind Ang Siu to his own devices and rest for the night.

Ang Siu chuckled at the elderly man's curt way of showing him courtesy for treating Fangsu with respect despite their relationship being akin to strangers. breathing out a breathe of exhuastion, Ang Siu flopped onto the bed. It was very comfortable but firm, the sheets were fresh and clean. Ang Siu went to clean himself from the day seeing that he was pretty much out for the majority of the day. After his shower, Ang Siu was much tidier and neat looking with a clean face free from the dirt that came along with travelling a long distance and they didn't have much of an opportunity to properly bathe themselves. His features were somewhat from the other men that he observed from the men in the capital with much paler skin complexion and a more lean figure which was due to the focus of many being a scholar. the few men who did practice cultivation were bulky than the scholar but not by much they had much more leaner build assigned for elegance.

There were a few noticeable men who were much more different in term of size and held an aura that much more fierce. Their build were closer to his own that was trained from hunting and fighting for the majority of the year for the seasonal game and monster that could come occassionally. As he changed into the nightwear that was laid out on the bed for him which previously wasn't there before so Ang Siu assumed that someone had left it there for him while he wasn't looking. The clothes were comfortable to wear at the least but the heat from the weather still warm so after a while the sweat would build up and it would be unbearable to wear it.

_____

Fangsu was surrounded by furry creatures surrounding her, the three kitten had now because fully matured calmly sitting at the foot of her bed but Xiao Hua was snuggling next to her underneath the sheets with her, "I thought that you would have forgotten me already," Fangsu went to pat the lovable kitten who nuzzled against her hands. But, as she was comfortable resting in her bed with Xiao Hua; the doors bursted opened revealing Sim Siu and Xiao Cheng who immediately jumped on the bed, "Good morning to you two," Scaring the poor cats away except Xiao Hua who was under the protection of Fangsu.

Both Xiao Cheng and Sim Siu grinned as they huddled around Fangsu under the sheet and eventually Xiao Hua casually leapt out of the bed unwanting to be in a bed full of people. Fangsu felt greatly loved being smouldered by the two who just sandwiched her, "Fang Jie, what are we going to eat for breakfast?" Xiao Cheng hugged Fangsu's neck from behind.

Sim Siu perked up at the sound of breakfast being mentioned, "Breakfast! Let's eat Breakfast!" Snuggling herself up against Fangsu who giggled at the two wanting to eat breakfast. Stretching her limbs from the previous night deep slumber and she then realised that the ingredients that she bought yesterday that was meant for last night's dinner was this in her spatial which was forunate since she would be able to make breakfast with those ingredients. Fangsu was immediately cuddled by the two as they all walked to the destination of the kitchen but as soon as they reached the main dining hall. Ang Siu peeled the both Xiao Cheng and Sim Siu of Fangsu, "Don't bother her too much," He gently lectured them as they pouted.

Fangsu lightly giggled as she continued to walk to the kitchen where it was quiet since there was no one currently in the kitchen. Fangsu quickly summoned the flour in order to make a dough for the scallions so that she could make scallion pancakes for breakfast. After rolling out the dough and cutting it up in equal parts. Fangsu begain lightly cooking the scallions with some oil and garlic which would be rolled in some dough and flattened into the pancake shape. After making the scallions pancakes; she proceeded to make some lotus seed with steamed egg. She began making an egg mixture that would include vegetables which would be steamed and it would be easy digest especially after the birthday feast with all the large amount of alcohol.

After the rest of the dishes began cooked for breakfast; everyone was seated on the table ready to eat with many of the people on the table were still sobering up from last night. Thankfully, Fangsu, Da Fu, Ang Siu and the rest of the minors were pretty much unaffected by the alcohol but unfornuately the rest were sick from overdrinking especially Fangsu's uncle who was completely lying on the table completely smashed. Since Fangsu's uncle hadn't been at the capital for a long time he was essentially forced to drink a lot of alcohol to compensate for the time he was away. Fangsu took out some plum syrup that was good for the stomach and help with sobering up, "Drink this plum tea," Handing the tea to her uncle who grudgedly thanked her and before drinking it which help to relieve some of the pain in his head and stomach.

Sim Siu and Xiao Cheng both were bobbing in their seat waiting to eat the breakfast Fangsu cooked up and it didn't help that the dishes were fragrant causing their mouth to water. As they went to dig into the dishes with their eating utensils; the flavour or each dishes were bursting with flavour as they engulfed the food with great speed and gusto. Additionally, the other people were also eating the delicious food that there was not left for Fangsu who just arrived to place the last of the dishes on the table, "Oh! There is nothing left for me," Fangsu sulked as she saw the plates were wipe cleaned by everyone. Forunately, Ang Siu had saved a bit of every dish set aside for Fangsu knowing for well that the dishes that Fangsu cooked always would be wiped cleaned regardless of any dish.

As Fangsu seated herself next to Xiao Cheng felt bad for eating so much made sure not to eat so that his sister could eat. Seeing this Fangsu giggled as she ruffled Xiao Cheng's fluffy hair, "No need to worry continue to eat," She went to spoon the next dishes that she made into his bowl, "I don't have too much of an appetite," With her confirmation; Xiao Cheng ate whatever Fangsu gave to him without hestation which cause much envy from Sim Siu who wanted to be pampered by Fangsu.

However, Ang Siu took Fangsu bowl picking up a piece of steamed egg, "Eat," He held the chopstick which pinched the food up to Fangsu's mouth who immediately ate the food, "Even if you think are healthy you need to take care of yourself," Continuing to feed her whilst Sim Siu could only watch enviable over the food being unreachable to her. Fangsu noticed Sim Siu sulking expression and she filled Sim Siu's bowl with some rice and some side dishes which caused Sim Siu to smirked at her brother who glared at her for taking Fangsu's attention away from him.