Chapter 173 - 173:I Just Want to Be a Peaceful Landlady

Translator: 549690339

“My Lord, it is my honor that you appreciate my cooking skills. However, my culinary techniques are rudimentary and not advanced enough for public recognition. You are accustomed to the unique dishes from various places, and so my simple rice porridge and dishes may seem appetizing now. But after a few more meals, you might grow tired of them.”

Her mind raced rapidly, and Qiao Xiaomai came up with an excuse.

A sensation of thrill and excitement did not color her small face as expected, which puzzled Yang Ye. He lightly exclaimed and pointed his slender finger at the dishes on the table, “Which of these is the rice porridge and simple dishes you’re talking about?”

Among these eight dishes and one soup, even the simplest stir-fried mustard greens required numerous condiments.

Not to mention the Braised Pork and Sweet Potato Glaze, dishes he hadn’t even seen in the palace.

Not suitable for public recognition? These dishes’ flavors could outshine any chef’s cooking, whether in his Wang Residence, or even in the Imperial Kitchen.

Moreover, Qiao Xiaomai just said that her other dishes tasted good too, only to blink and claim her cooking skills were too rudimentary for public recognition.

Yang Ye’s elegant eyebrows knit together, a trace of hesitancy clouding his handsome face.

He, the favored Prince Wei of Emperor Yongan, second only to the heir apparent, was rejected by a country bumpkin girl?

Qiao Xiaomai, of course, caught on to Yang Ye’s unsatisfaction, but what could she say?

Should she follow him to the Wang Residence and become a kitchen maid?

She did not want to be a servant.

Although it was said that servants at the Prime Minister’s gate are as noble as a seventh-rank official, she felt more comfortable being a wealthy landlord.

She gritted her teeth and said, “My Lord, if you don’t believe me, you can taste my dishes. 1 assure you, 1 am not overselling myself.”

Yang Ye grunted, his stunning face shadowed with a gloom. Deceiving him?

Refusing him by deliberately downplaying her skill was deceitful!

This country bumpkin is bold indeed!

Just when he was about to vent his anger, the silent Head of the Valley suddenly said, “Your Highness, 1 believe this girl is right. The charm of these dishes lies in their novelty. In other respects, compared to your palace cooks, they might fall short.”

Indeed, Qiao Xiaomai had never formally studied cooking. If we weren’t discussing the taste, her knife skills, presentation, and delicacy of cooking couldn’t meet the standards of cooks from the Imperial Kitchen.

“You’ve been in Qinglu Prefecture for two or three months. It’s understandable that you’d find this food refreshing at first sight. But, after some time, you might truly become weary of it.”

“This girl, knowing her limits, expressed this concern, hoping to prevent future disappointments.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Ye’s countenance didn’t change. Qiao Xiaomai had just rejected him, but according to the Head of the Valley’s interpretation, it seemed as if she was selflessly considering things from his standpoint?

With a puzzled look, he glanced at the Head of the Valley, and jibed, “Just now, she claimed to cook other dishes well too.”

The Head of the Valley chuckled, stroked his beard, and said with an air of indifference, “This rural lass, with her limited experience, is self-important. Actually, she’s mediocre. Compared to your palace cooks, let alone the master chefs from Jiwei Residence, she wouldn’t measure up.”

“If she just now praised her cooking, it was probably to arouse your interest, in hopes of gaining a reward.”

“But once she realized your intentions to employ her long term, she feared exhausting her repertoire and causing your wrath or disgust, she naturally spoke the truth.”

After saying this, he gently shook his head at Yang Ye.

Upon seeing the Head of the Valley’s behavior, Yang Ye paused.. What kind of secret could be concealed in this simple village girl?