Chapter 256: Chapter 256

Pei Shu’er smiled and tapped the noses of the two children.

"You two little gluttons, if you eat now, you’ll burn your mouths."

So the two of them had to wait a while longer. To pass the time more comfortably, they even helped Pei Shu’er tend the fire.

Not until the preserves had cooled a bit did the two children taste them. The preserves still had a bit of warmth, and they were wonderfully soft in the mouth.

The sweetness made the children’s eyes curve into crescents.

"Mmm, Sister-in-law, it’s so sweet."

After finishing, the two children eagerly eyed the preserves in the pot again.

Pei Shu’er wasn’t stingy with the treats and gave each child another piece.

Since they were still warm, the preserves remained soft.

When they had enough, Pei Shu’er finally said, "Alright, you two should rinse your mouths with some water, or you’ll end up with cavities."

Tang Qinghuan smacked her lips at the lingering sweetness in her mouth, reluctant to rinse it out, while Tang Shuo blinked his eyes, rarely being disobedient.

Pei Shu’er laughed, "If you don’t rinse your mouths, then you won’t be eating these next time."

Only then did the little ones go to rinse their mouths, though the sweetness was truly something to savor.

"Go call your older brother."

Tang Zan had actually been leaning against a crutch just outside the door. Hearing Pei Shu’er say this, he couldn’t help but smile.

See, Pei Shu’er did care about him after all. This woman wasn’t as indifferent as she appeared.

When Tang Zan came in, Pei Shu’er pointed at the preserves.

"I’ve already cut and packed these for you. Have some when you take your medicine."

Tang Zan immediately picked up a piece and ate it.

A smile appeared on his lips.

The taste was simply wonderful.

And the sweetness was much more pronounced than the honey preserves he usually had, with a better texture to boot.

Tang Zan wasn’t fond of sweets.

Yet knowing these were made by Pei Shu’er for him, he felt he might make an exception.

Thinking this, Tang Zan instinctively took another bite.

Now his almond-shaped eyes were filled with mirth.

Pei Shu’er packed another portion of the preserves into a bucket and called over Yinxing.

"Bring these preserves for everyone in the stone house to try."

In any case, she had made plenty.

Yinxing made her rounds, and as people saw her carrying a bucket of treats, knowing Pei Shu’er had been in the kitchen, they guessed she had made something new.

Curious, they gathered around.

When Yinxing handed out small pieces of the preserves, everyone took one.

They rarely had preserves, but they had tried them before and knew they were sweet.

However, once these were in their mouths, their eyes widened in unison.

Something was different; while the preserves were sweet, this sweetness touched their hearts.

The preserves were soft and chewy, easy to eat, and left a sweet taste lingering in the mouth.

It felt as though any bitterness in life was manageable.

Everyone was infected by the joy the preserves brought and cracked a smile.

The taste was truly exceptional.

If they could have this once a week, they would be content.

Yinxing quickly returned, her face beaming with a rare joy.

"Young Madam, I’ve shared them all."

She had tasted a piece herself; it was delicious and sweet.

Pei Shu’er nodded and said to Tang Zan, "The rest are for you to eat with your medicine."

She had left enough for Tang Zan to last two bowls’ worth, which she thought would be plenty considering his usual distaste for sweets.

Just something to pair with the medicine.

Then Pei Shu’er saw Tang Zan taking his medicine, nearly alternating each mouthful with a piece of preserve.

It was a stark contrast to his previous no-nonsense way of swallowing the medicine whole!

Pei Shu’er twitched a smile, "The way you’re taking your medicine, you’re just prolonging the pain."

Tang Zan popped another piece of preserve into his mouth and turned his head slowly.

"I know, I just find the medicine tastes awful."

Tang Qingning, observing from the side, couldn’t bear to watch. Why did it seem like her brother simply found the preserves delicious?

Two days later, Tang Zan suddenly grabbed Pei Shu’er’s wrist.

Pei Shu’er raised an eyebrow at him, "What’s the matter?"

Tang Zan cleared his throat, "The preserves are all gone."

Pei Shu’er: "... That was supposed to last half a month."

Tang Zan was equally stunned. He had meant to restrain himself but had just realized that he despised sweet things.

As long as Pei Shu’er made them, they were exceptionally tasty.

And oops, he had overeaten.

Pei Shu’er had no choice but to return to the kitchen to make more preserves. Tang Zan, hobbling with his crutch, trailed after her.

Helping her from time to time.

Having made preserves once, the second batch was much easier.

Pei Shu’er became adept at it.

Additionally, she made a cloud cake.

And placed it in the kitchen.

Tang Zan saw the cloud cake and looked resistant.

The Third Prince loved cloud cake.

Pei Shu’er, were you thinking of the Third Prince again?

Pei Shu’er tasted the cloud cake; it was excellent, even sweeter than those made with honey in ancient times.

Seeing Tang Zan looking at her oddly, she instinctively offered the cloud cake to him.

She thought Tang Zan’s expression was even stranger.

Then she realized she had taken a bite already, which was probably off-putting.

Just as she was about to retract her hand, Tang Zan opened his mouth and ate the piece.

With a playful smile, he said, "It’s delicious."

Just as Pei Shu’er finished making the preserves, Yinxing spoke up.

"Young Madam, Yan Qianhu has arrived."

No sooner had she said this than Yan Huan Yu cheerfully entered the kitchen.

Seeing the preserves and cloud cake, his eyes lit up.

"Sister, how did you know I like sweets?"

Pei Shu’er smiled, "Just in time then, have a taste."

After eating, Yan Huan Yu’s eyes sparkled, and he subconsciously licked his lips, unable to take his eyes off the preserves.

It’s not that he was greedy; the preserves and cloud cake were simply too delicious.

Pei Shu’er smiled and called over Yinxing.

"If you like them, take some home with you. I’ve made plenty."

Tang Zan looked at the preserves, just enough for a week’s worth.

Some cloud cake was also packed.

Yan Huan Yu said with a smile, "I came to inform you that General Zhao wanted you to head to the military camp tomorrow, as there are still many patients in the wounded soldier camp after the last Dazi attack. Lin Zhi is taking a break after attending to the wounded, so rest well."

Pei Shu’er nodded. Though not an official military doctor, General Zhao clearly trusted her medical skills, and she couldn’t be away for too long.

Having delivered his message, Yan Huan Yu was about to leave.

But it was almost dinnertime, so Pei Shu’er couldn’t just let him leave.

It was Yan Huan Yu, after all; if it were anyone else, she wouldn’t have been so polite, perhaps offering silver as thanks.

Yan Huan Yu, remembering the delicious meals at the third house, rubbed his hands. After days of bland rations at the camp, he truly missed his sister’s cooking. Follow current novᴇls on novel·fire·net

"Then I’ll humbly accept your invitation."