The public kitchen is filled with the aroma of crab.

Liu Yuan took a deep breath in ecstasy and said with emotion: “Master Wen’s cooking skills really won’t disappoint!”

If the smell was already enough to make people fascinated, then when Liu Yuan saw the “very good-looking” ròu xièbāo, he felt that he could hardly stop saliva from flowing in his mouth, and he quickly went to the back to queue up!

Fortunately, everyone was waiting to eat and no one was dawdling. Although the line was long, it moved very quickly and soon it was Liu Yuan and others’ turn.

She, with a stern face, distributed the ròu xièbāo and glutinous rice balls, handing over each pot one by one. However, she deliberately skipped Lin Fei, who was standing right in the middle.

Liu Yuan was about to leave with the clay pot in his hand. He looked at his superior who had nothing in his hands. Just as he was about to remind her, he saw Wen Mingtang holding a clay pot beside her and handing it over. She said, “These portions are spicier!”

Lin Fei was a real spicy food lover, and this kind of spicy food lover would occasionally receive special care from Wen Mingtang, after all, she liked it too!

Taking the ròu xièbāo from Wen Mingtang, Lin Fei said “Hmm”, and then took the rice from her: a few cooked black sesame seeds were sprinkled on top of the white rice.

Liu Yuan glanced at the rice in his hand which was also decorated with black sesame seeds: This was Master Wen’s habit! Sometimes she would sprinkle some black sesame seeds, or cooked corn kernels, wolfberries, etc. on top of the rice.

However, compared to other sprinkles, black sesame was the most abundant.

Black sesame is known for its benefits in improving hair health. Thinking about the few remaining hairs of the elderly officials who had retired when he first entered the service, Liu Yuan reached for a spoon and swallowed all the black sesame seeds from the top of his rice.

This was incredible! Being in the Dali Temple, his brain had to be active all day long. Every morning when he got up and tied his hair, he could pick up a handful of fallen hair, which was very worrying!

However, he didn’t know if some people were born to be favored by God! Take Lin Shaoqing on the opposite side, for example. There was probably no one in the Dali Temple who used his brain more than him, yet his hair was more than twice as abundant as his!

While Liu Yuan was eating the ròu xièbāo and gnawing on the crab legs, he unconsciously looked at the people around him. Bai Zhu had about the same hair as him, and Wei Fu had less hair because he was older, but it was much better than those retired old men.

Next to them were Yu Jiji and the others, who were similar to Wei Fu. However, the only young one among them had a head of hair as lush as Lin Shaoqing’s and a decent appearance. Thinking about the case they had just discussed, Liu Yuan couldn’t help but wonder: Many people recognized Lin Shaoqing’s face, so he might not be suitable. But what about this person…

Just as he was thinking this, the young man who was being targeted put down his chopsticks, stood up, walked to the front of the table, and said to Wen Mingtang with a smile: “Sister Mingtang, can you give me another bowl of soup?”

The ròu xièbāo was served with a simple egg drop tofu soup, which was very light and tender.

Wen Mingtang hummed, scooped a bowl of soup, and handed it to Xun Zhou.

It was just a common incident in the public kitchen. When Liu Yuan finished eating the crab in his mouth and was about to pick up the shrimp with his chopsticks, he saw Lin Fei standing up opposite him, walked to the front of the table, and said to Wen Mingtang: “Master Wen, can you give me a bowl of soup?”

Wen Mingtang scooped a bowl of soup and handed it to Lin Fei.

On the other side, Xun Zhou sat down for a while, picked up two pieces of food with chopsticks, stood up again, walked to Wen Mingtang, and asked for a bowl of soup.

Liu Yuan watched him ask for soup twice in just a few bites of rice. Just as he was lamenting that this young man couldn’t eat spicy food, Lin Fei, who usually wouldn’t even drink a bowl of soup after a meal, stood up and walked to Wen Mingtang to ask for a bowl of soup as well.

Was this… a coincidence? Bai Zhu and Wei Fu, who were eating, subconsciously looked up at Lin Fei.

At this moment, Xun Zhou stood up again to ask for soup. He sat down only after he had finished his soup. Lin Fei also stood up to ask for soup.

This had happened three times, it was not a coincidence anymore!

Several people looked at each other, confused. Even Yu Jijiu from another table couldn’t help but ask Xun Zhou: “Why did you order so much soup?”

Xun Zhou smiled and said, “I’m a little thirsty!”

It would be strange if this answer were true!

Wang He glanced at his students, then looked at Lin Fei, who was also asking for soup at the food table not far away, and frowned in confusion: Why were these two people not getting along?

The people who were eating over there noticed something was wrong, and Wen Mingtang and others who were serving soup also noticed it.

Tangyuan and Ah Bing looked at Wen Mingtang, and even Ji Caimai, who was calculating on an abacus behind the stall not far away, looked over at her.

Wen Mingtang spread her hands to the few people, indicating that she didn’t know either.

However… looking at the two people who were eating over there, Wen Mingtang touched her nose and whispered to Tangyuan and Ah Bing: “They should come to find me after dinner.”

Wen Mingtang’s prediction was exactly right. Just after lunchtime in the public kitchen, Xun Zhou, who had left with Wang He and others, came back to look for Wen Mingtang.

“Sister Mingtang, I have something to tell you!” Xun Zhou said.

Wen Mingtang nodded, looked at Xun Zhou who was running over, and followed him to the side: “Senior Brother Xun, please speak!”

Xun Zhou said seriously, “Sister Mingtang, you mustn’t be deceived by some wealthy noble’s son just because of his background. His mother is currently looking for a match from the same background for him. Don’t be fooled by his good looks into thinking he is a good person!”

Meeting Xun Zhou’s gaze, Wen Mingtang nodded immediately and said, “Don’t worry, I know we are not a good match and I won’t be fooled by Lin Shaoqing!”

Hearing Wen Mingtang being so “clear-headed”, Xun Zhou, who had prepared a lot of excuses, breathed a sigh of relief and turned away. Before leaving, he did not forget to say, “Don’t worry, sister Mingtang, I will definitely find you a good husband!”

Wen Mingtang twitched her lips when she heard this: “That’s not necessary…”

Before she could finish his words, Xun Zhou had already left in a hurry.

As soon as Xun Zhou left, Lin Fei came over and got straight to the point!

“Don’t be fooled by some senior brother you haven’t seen for a few years. This man follows Wang He. Recently, he has met many powerful people because of Wang He’s introduction. Many people are interested in recruiting him as their son-in-law!” Lin Fei said, “Don’t think he is a good person just because he looks good!”

These two people really spoke almost the same way! Hearing this, Wen Mingtang quickly said, “Don’t worry, I understand. In the stories, the junior sisters who grew up with their senior brothers are always the cannon fodder, let alone me, a junior sister from the countryside! I definitely won’t be deceived.”

Lin Fei was very satisfied with Wen Mingtang’s answer. He frowned at her and hesitated for a moment before saying, “If you are eager to get married at this age, I can…”

Wen Mingtang: “…” After a pause, she quickly interrupted him: “That’s not necessary!”

Why were they all trying to introduce her to a perfect husband?

Seeing Lin Fei say “Hmm” and turn around, Wen Mingtang thought he was going to leave, but he just turned around and waved to Liu Yuan and others who were waiting for him in the corridor not far behind him. After Liu Yuan and others left, Lin Fei turned back to look at Wen Mingtang and said, “You answered so skillfully, was the man named Xun Zhou here before?”

There really was nothing that could be hidden from this Lin Shaoqing! Wen Mingtang nodded and sighed helplessly: “He had been here before.”

Looking at the girl’s expression, Lin Fei said, “I’m relieved that you won’t be deceived.” Then he looked at Wen Mingtang and said, “I want to ask your Senior Brother Xun to do us a favor!”

(End of this chapter)

---