The bandits were brought to Shuanzi’s newly built cowshed. From now on, Shuanzi would be the bandits’ small supervisor.
After settling the matter with the bandits, it was already late at night. The villagers had been frightened for a few hours and were all exhausted.
“Go back to your houses and rest.” The village headman said. He thought of something and looked at Yu Wan.
Yu Wan understood and smiled. “The workshop won’t be working tomorrow. Everyone can rest at home.”
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Although earning money was important, they really needed to take their time after the night of shock.
“It won’t affect business, right?” Aunt Bai asked. She was quick with her hands and feet. Working as logistics with Aunt Luo was actually just sweeping and cooking. She had asked around. An old woman like her from the countryside would at most give ten copper coins a day, but Ah Wan had given her twenty. She was very grateful to the Yu family and cherished this job.
Yu Wan smiled and said, “It won’t affect the business, Aunt Bai. Don’t worry.”
These were not polite words. They had yet to sign an official supply contract with Master Qin. There was no hard and fast rule about how much they produced and how much they sold.
After that, everyone began to thank Yu Wan and her “guest”.
After the Yu Family started doing business, there were guests coming to visit from time to time. The villagers also treated Chef Bao as an esteemed guest who came to discuss business.
“He’s not a guest, not a guest!” Aunt said excitedly. Little Bruiser and Little Zhenzhen had already fallen asleep in their brothers’ arms. She waved at the two of them, indicating for them to carry the children back to the house so they wouldn’t freeze.
After the two of them carried their younger siblings away, Aunt said to the villagers who surrounded them, “It’s Third Brother’s father!”
Everyone’s first reaction was, “Isn’t Old Third’s father also your father-in-law? He’s already dead. Do you think we don’t know him?”
The village headman was the first to understand. He was dumbfounded. “Old… Old Third’s biological father?”
It was not a secret in the village that Yu Shaoqing was not Old Master Yu’s biological son. However, after so many years, Yu Shaoqing had never mentioned that he wanted to find his parents. Therefore, everyone tacitly agreed that Yu Shaoqing was the son of the Yu family and would be for the rest of his life.
“Ah…” The village headman was surprised. “What exactly is going on?”
Aunt said, “It’s hard to explain in a few words. In short, Third Brother got separated from his family because of an accident.”
This was a disguised explanation that Yu Shaoqing was not an abandoned baby.
Aunt continued, “All these years, Third Brother’s family has been looking for him. God helps those who work hard. We finally found him!”
At this point, Aunt’s voice choked. She really felt sorry for Third Brother. She was happy for Third Brother that he could reunite with his father.
“This is a joyous matter, a joyous matter!” The village headman was also a little excited. In the entire village, there were two people he respected the most. One was Ah Wan’s uncle, and the other was Ah Wan’s biological father. The village headman was a few years older than Ah Wan’s father and had watched him grow up. That person looked like he was not an ordinary person. He had always felt that he was going to do something big in the future, but he did not expect him to be so extraordinary at birth. His father “destroyed” thirty horse bandits with a flick of his finger. Such ability was probably that of an otherworldly expert.
The village headman walked up to Chef Bao and cupped his hands. “May I know your name?”
“Bao,” said Chef Bao.
If Shopkeeper Cui were here, he would definitely be able to guess that the other party was the world-renowned Chef Bao. However, the village headman was different. He did not pay attention to this, so he had no way of hearing the reputation of Chef Bao. He only felt that this surname was very strange.
Bao (Hug)? Why was there someone with this surname?
The village headman sincerely expressed his gratitude to the villagers. Just as he was getting excited, Aunt Bai suddenly said, “Wang Mazi! Stop right there! What happened to you just now, huh?”
When Widow Liu was bullied by the bandits just now, Wang Mazi pounced forward without a word and protected Widow Liu with his body.
At that time, everyone was extremely frightened. They only thought that Wang Mazi was acting bravely and did not take it to heart. However, when Aunt Bai shouted, Wang Mazi immediately revealed a guilty expression. Everyone’s expressions gradually became subtle.
Wang Mazi planned to pretend to be deaf and mute and leave.
Aunt Bai grabbed his arm. “Don’t go! Make yourself clear!”
Wang Mazi glanced at Widow Liu behind the crowd. Widow Liu’s daughter was asleep. She was hugging her and looking down, looking at a loss.
Wang Mazi was so nervous that he didn’t know how to answer.
Aunt Bai said, “Have you taken a fancy to Sister Liu? Let me tell you, Sister Liu’s man is gone, but she’s not easy to bully. If you dare to set your sights on her, I won’t let you off!”
Widow Liu was Zhu’zi’s wife. When Zhu’zi was alive, he had contracted the fish pond in the village. He knew a little about raising fish and his days were barely passable. Later, he was captured to join the army and the fish pond was abandoned.
Zhu’zi had died in battle in the second year of enlistment. Widow Liu’s daughter had just turned one year old, and her father-in-law was long gone. Her mother-in-law’s health was not very good. When she heard the bad news of her son’s death, she was too sad and her condition worsened. Now, she was paralyzed in bed.
The pension from the magistrate prefecture had been used to treat her mother-in-law. The heavy burden of the family was all on Widow Liu alone. Her days were difficult, so there were people with ill intentions who wanted to take advantage of her.
Wang Mazi hurriedly explained, “I… I didn’t! I didn’t bully her!”
“Just because you said you didn’t bully her doesn’t mean you didn’t bully her!” Aunt Bai shouted.
“Really… really… he didn’t…” It was Widow Liu who spoke weakly.
Everyone looked at her at the same time, and she blushed.
Aunt Bai said, “Sister Liu, don’t be afraid. No one dares to say anything more with me backing you up. You just have to tell the truth. Did he pester you in private?”
“No!” Widow Liu hurriedly said. She realized that she had lost her composure and turned around with her daughter in her arms.
Aunt Bai raised her eyebrows and said, “In that case, you’re willing?”
“Yes.” Widow Liu nodded. After nodding, her face changed and turned pale.
What else did everyone not understand? Widow Liu had taken a fancy to Wang Mazi!
Yu Wan thought to herself, So Wang Mazi is serious. It’s not that he doesn’t want to marry Guo Xianyue, but he really has someone he likes. And this person is Widow Liu from the same village.
No matter how one looked at it, Widow Liu was much worse than Guo Xianyue. She had even been married and given birth to a child. She was three years older than Wang Mazi. Although Wang Mazi’s conditions were not good, he resolutely “kept his virginity” for Widow Liu even when he was able to marry Guo Xianyue. It was also true love.
Wang Mazi’s image in Yu Wan’s heart suddenly rose. Although he was single, he was much more responsible than most men with families.
Aunt Bai chuckled. “You finally admitted it? Don’t think I don’t know that after Wang Mazi saved Guo Xianyue, you cried at home several times!”
“Aiya!” Widow Liu was so embarrassed that she wished she could find a hole to hide in.
The village headman glared at Aunt Bai. “You can’t keep your mouth shut. Do you think everyone’s skin is as thick as yours?!”
Aunt Bai rolled her eyes.
“We… we… we’re really… really fine…” Wang Mazi stammered anxiously.
Yu Wan had an impression of Widow Liu. She worked in the workshop and was mainly responsible for putting the tofu into the jar. She was a little stuffy, but she was diligent. Her aunt had also secretly told her that Widow Liu’s life was tough. Even if she didn’t do well, she shouldn’t fire her.
In recent years, there had been chaos at the border and many men had died in battle. Women were forced to remarry because of their livelihoods, so many of them had remarried. As a result, they did not attract as much criticism. Therefore, the villagers were quite accepting of Widow Liu and Wang Mazi.
“Let’s settle this good thing while the village headman is still around,” Yu Wan said.
Wang Mazi and Widow Liu looked at her in disbelief.
She smiled and looked at Chef Bao. “What do you think, Grandpa?”
Chef Bao looked in the direction of Widow Liu and Wang Mazi in a daze.
“Grandpa?” Yu Wan called out to him.
Chef Bao came back to his senses and walked towards Widow Liu and Wang Mazi under Yu Wan’s puzzled gaze.
The two of them stared blankly at the old man who had poisoned the thirty bandits walking towards them. They were so nervous that they could not move.
Chef Bao took out a handkerchief and opened it, revealing a pair of jade pendants. He gave one of the fish to Wang Mazi and the other to Widow Liu.
The two of them looked at Yu Wan.
Yu Wan nodded. “It’s a token of my grandfather’s appreciation. Take it.”
Only then did the two of them accept it with lingering fear.
The two of them had never seen the world, so they naturally did not recognize that this was a high-grade suet jade. Any piece of it could last them for a lifetime. However, since it was a gift from their benefactor and was a pair, the two of them naturally cherished it.
Even Chef Bao agreed with the two of them, so no one in the village objected.
On the way back to the old residence, the village was so quiet that it was as if they had fallen asleep. The night wind blew against his face, bringing with it a bone-chilling coldness.
Yu Wan and Chef Bao walked together without saying a word. As they approached the old residence, Chef Bao said, “Aren’t you going to ask me why I gave them such a valuable thing?”
“Oh, why did you give them such a valuable thing?” She was silent and did not say a word. She thought that she had brought up some sad past. Who knew that he was waiting for her to take the initiative to ask? He must have held it in for so long.
Chef Bao said, “That’s my wedding gift with your grandmother.” With that, he gave Yu Wan a look. Hurry up and continue asking!
Yu Wan successfully deciphered his gaze and asked, “This is too expensive. How could you bear to give it to them?”
Chef Bao looked up at the sky and sighed. “She was also a widow before she married me.”
Yu Wan was shocked. When Chef Bao was young, it was not acceptable for a widow to remarry. How bold was he to actually marry a widow?
“My family doesn’t agree, and her family doesn’t want to marry her over. They want her to keep her chastity until she dies. Have you heard of the chastity archway?”
Yu Wan nodded.
“I’ve cut down that archway.”
Yu Wan : “…” You’re like an ancient version of a domineering CEO.
Old Mrs. Bao’s husband died suddenly before the wedding. Old Mrs. Bao married over according to the local customs. If nothing went wrong, what awaited her was the fate of being a widow for the rest of her life.
This man had saved her.
She had also helped this man.
When they arrived at the old residence, Aunt welcomed them. “Senior, the house has been tidied up. Bruiser is also inside. He’ll sleep with you tonight.”
Chef Bao did not refuse.
… .
Before dawn, Chef Bao woke up. He looked at the child who was sleeping soundly and there was a rare gentleness in his eyes. He pulled the blanket over him and quietly got off the bed.
The Yu family was all asleep. Chef Bao did not wake them up. He gently took off the latch and left. He took one last look at the Yu Family’s old residence and walked towards the village entrance with a disappointed expression. To his surprise, he saw Yu Wan at the village entrance. “Girl?”
Yu Wan, who was sitting on the ancient well, slowly stood up and smiled slightly. “You want to leave without saying goodbye?”
“You…” Chef Bao was speechless. After a while, he said dejectedly,” How did you know? ” After a pause, he changed his words. “You know everything?”
Yu Wan nodded and said lightly, “My father isn’t your biological son.”
Chef Bao took a deep breath and sighed slowly. “How did you find out?”
Yu Wan said, “Have you forgotten? I’ve entered your study and seen your handwriting. I even asked you what it was. You said that they were the names you gave your son.”
The handwriting might change greatly if there was a difference of a few decades, but it was all from the early years. It would be unreasonable if it was completely different.
Chef Bao sighed self-deprecatingly. “I was careless… Then why didn’t you expose me?”
“It’s so difficult to cozy up to Chef Bao. How could I bear to expose this?” The truth was that Yu Wan was immersed in the joy of acknowledging her family. For a moment, she didn’t think about it. After returning to the house last night, she lay on the bed and tossed and turned. That was why she suddenly had an epiphany.
After wandering for half his life, he had suffered countless loneliness and deception. Chef Bao yearned for a family too much. The moment he saw the Yu family, he felt as if he had returned to the days when his wife was still alive. Even if it was only for a day, he wanted to taste what it was like to have a home again.
Indeed, with his status, as long as he was willing, many people would become his family, but only the Yu family welcomed him not because of his identity, but because he was a “family”.
Yu Wan asked, “Why didn’t you keep it a secret?” I won’t expose you.
Chef Bao smiled bitterly and looked at the distant sky. “When you have your own children, you will understand that there are some things you can’t let go of until you die.”
Children… Yu Wan’s heart seemed to have been hit by something.
“Don’t be disappointed. It’s not that easy. Haven’t you seen me looking for him for so many years? I’m not disappointed…
“That book…” Chef Bao was referring to the token in the swaddling clothes. “To be honest, it doesn’t look like a recipe book. Your biological grandfather might have a greater background than me.”
Yu Wan did not care about this. She handed the bag in her hand to him. “It’s a new steamed bun. Don’t worry, my uncle made it. I just heated it up.”
Only then did Chef Bao reach out to take it.
Other people paid money to eat, but people would need to pay with their lives to eat this girl’s food.
The carriage was already waiting on the path at the village entrance. Chef Bao walked towards the carriage.
Yu Wan looked at his lonely back. At this moment, she finally felt that he was no longer young. His hair had turned white and his back was hunched. Perhaps it would not be long before he could not see or hear. Even then, he would have to find his son.
Yu Wan opened her mouth. “What about the Master God Competition?” How about you stay? How about I help you find your son?
Chef Bao waved his hand without looking back. “Hmph, that fool’s culinary skills are not enough for me! Let him practice for a few more years!”
Then how many more years can you have?
“Take care, Grandpa,” Yu Wan murmured.
Chef Bao did not dare to look back. He wiped his wet eyes and boarded the carriage.
Looking at the departing carriage, Yu Wan waved her hand and muttered, “Take care, Grandpa.”
… .
Yu Wan only turned around and returned to the village when the carriage completely disappeared at the end of the path.
Uncle held a bag and limped over. “Ah Wan, did Mr. Bao return to the Capital? He left his things behind!”
Yu Wan forced back her tears. “Uncle, he didn’t return to the capital. He went to look for his son.”
Uncle was stunned.
Yu Wan opened the bag. There were two books inside. One was Chef Bao’s notebook, which recorded his lifelong culinary skills. He left, but left his mantle behind.
Let him practice for a few more years! “It’s to practice this…” Yu Wan felt a lump in her throat.
The other was a medical book. It was the one Yu Wan had opened in Chef Bao’s study. It seemed that she was not the only one who noticed Chef Bao’s handwriting. Chef Bao also noticed her staring at the books on his shelf.
“What a…” Yu Wan choked.
After the carriage drove away, Chef Bao finally lifted the curtain and turned back, but the village was no longer in sight.
“Master, are we going back?”
“No need.” Chef Bao shook his head and put down the curtain. He opened the bag that Yu Wan had given her. There were two boxes inside. One was a steaming bun, and the other was an unfinished book—Overbearing President Falls In Love With Me.
“This girl…” Chef Bao laughed through his tears.
… .
Chef Bao’s departure became the biggest regret of the Master God Competition. The unfinished battle between Chef Yu and Chef Bao also became the most desired duel in everyone’s hearts.
“I believe that he will come back and compete with our Chef Yu,” Master Qin said with a smile in the teahouse.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion that had Chef Yu became famous overnight. There was no need for them to make any signature dishes. The entire Capital was spreading the news that Chef Bao had a falling out with the Tianxiang Restaurant because he discovered that the Tianxiang Restaurant had plagiarized someone else’s skills. The person who was plagiarized was his opponent, Chef Yu.
The old man realized that he had been used and left.
Xu Shao couldn’t say anything. After a few days, he fell sick from anger.
The eighth Tianxiang Restaurant closed down before it could open.
Just as the Capital was in chaos, good news came from the border—the Xiongnu had been repelled!