As noon approached, the sun gradually became scorching.

A large tree stood next to Zheng Zhilan's courtyard, its roots entrenched for many years. It was now lush and leafy, with only a few streaks of sunlight piercing through. The tree was filled with the chirping of cicadas and the chatter of fledgling birds during this summertime.

Wisps of smoke rose from the nearby cabin.

Tuanzi stood under the tree, craning her neck high, staring intently at a certain spot on the tree without blinking.

Suddenly, she stepped back a few paces. After a running start, she leaped gracefully into the air. THUMP! She hugged the tree trunk at a spot over a meter from the ground, still looking up... and began to daydream for two minutes.

「Two minutes later.」

Qinghe strolled over, gently supporting her little bottom and helping her climb higher.

Tuanzi, for her part, struggled gamely, huffing and puffing with all her might. Her little paws scraped against the rough bark, making a rasping sound, until finally, she scrambled onto the lowest branch. This branch was already over two meters from the ground, even higher than where some cicadas perched.

"Thank you! Lord Dumpling will remember you!"

Tuanzi looked down at Qinghe and said earnestly, "When Lord Dumpling returns to Your Highness's side, I will promote you to a high-ranking official!"

Qinghe nodded silently and turned to leave without a word.

Only then did Tuanzi continue looking upward.

There was a small bird's nest...

The lowest branch was wide enough for her. As Lord Dumpling, who had fallen countless times, she certainly wasn't afraid.

So, she moved along the branch, then stepped back a few paces. Tilting her head to look, she recalled her previous attempt and decided the distance wasn't enough, so she stepped back further. Her expression gradually grew serious.

Another running start—she jumped, scrambled desperately upward, lost her footing, and fell. SPLAT!

There was now a puddle of cat under the tree.

Big Yellow, her temporary bodyguard, witnessed this and immediately started yowling, rushing over to check on her.

"Lord Dumpling is fine."

Tuanzi still lay on the ground, eyes open. A sliver of her pink tongue was faintly visible at the corner of her mouth, making her voice indistinct. She pondered why she hadn't been able to climb up.

Wasn't she just a little cat?

No, she had to try again!

「Inside the kitchen.」

Zhou Li carefully placed a few ears of corn into the stove, six in total, three on each side, arranged symmetrically and neatly.

"Are they in place?" Brother Nan's voice came through.

"Yes," Zhou Li nodded.

"Don't let them get burnt."

"Don't doubt me."

"No, I have to check."

"..."

Brother Nan insisted on peering into the stove. Satisfied, she then patted Zhou Li on the back of his head, saying, "Young man, you've got potential."

Zhou Li felt somewhat unhappy.

Brother Nan, however, went back to the stove.

That morning, Zheng Zhilan had ordered tofu. She said she wanted to try making a tofu feast for lunch to see if she could do it well.

Making a small amount of tofu wasn't worth the effort, but too much couldn't be eaten at once. She and Qinghe rarely ate it. Sometimes, when they went down the mountain to buy vegetables and saw tofu for sale, they would buy a couple of pieces, but they didn't make it themselves.

So she was very happy that Zhou Li and the others had come today.

Especially Huai Xu, who had a big appetite and wasn't picky.

She had long wanted to try making a tofu feast and had even learned the recipes. However, she was always worried about waste. This made her, an enthusiast of culinary arts, quite eager to try.

Now that Huai Xu had come, no matter how much she made or what it tasted like, there shouldn't be any waste.

Um...

That last thought shouldn't have been there.

Zheng Zhilan ducked her head slightly and whispered for Brother Nan to put the tofu in the pot to fry.

The sizzling sound started.

Zheng Zhilan watched the pot without blinking. As the sizzling continued, she pictured the tofu entering the hot oil, small bubbles continuously forming around it.

"When I went to Jian Pavilion before, there was a place that could make tofu in one hundred and eight different flavors," Zheng Zhilan continued to stare at the pot, speaking softly. She didn't have the habit of looking at people when she spoke. "I used to think tofu was just soft and tender, or pan-fried until golden brown on both sides. It wasn't until I went there that I realized it could be made into so many different textures and flavors."

"What did you go to Jian Pavilion for?" Zhou Li asked.

"Where is Jian Pavilion?" Brother Nan asked.

"Jianmen Pass," Zhou Li replied.

"...Can't you let her answer me? Pretend you don't know either?" Brother Nan was distressed. "It makes me seem uncultured."

"But that's the truth."

"?"

"Sorry!"

A crisp and straightforward apology.

Zhou Li's current strategy for dealing with Brother Nan was just that—apologize immediately after a retort, giving her no chance to react.

It infuriated her!

Zheng Zhilan, however, was still smiling gently. "A client invited me there before, and he was the one who hosted the tofu feast. It was too extravagant, with over twenty dishes on the table. I was full after just a bite of each."

"You traveled so far."

"It wasn't bad, just half a day's drive," Zheng Zhilan said softly. "Lately, a few more Heavenly Masters have appeared in Jin Palace. They should be the real deal."

"Have your orders decreased?"

"A bit."

Upon hearing this, Huai Xu immediately turned his head. "Why don't we join forces and... take those guys out!"

He made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.

Miss Zheng was taken aback, then looked towards Zhou Li.

Zhou Li waved his hand and said, "Don't mind him. Our commissions from Yi Province have also decreased since last month. He's really upset and rants all day about taking people out, but he doesn't actually dare to."

"What?" Huai Xu frowned. "What do you mean I don't dare! If you weren't holding me back, I'd have finished them off a long time ago!"

"In fact, I haven't been holding him back," Zhou Li said to Zheng Zhilan, his voice calm and gentle.

"Wh-what are you saying? Isn't it because I guessed you would stop me!" The Old monster's face turned red. His old-model CPU seemed to be working overtime as he tried to figure out how to salvage his image as the Great Devil King who'd kill without batting an eye. "Besides, I've reformed! I've taken an oath..."

Miss Zheng nodded gently.

The Old monster became even more anxious. He stammered, unable to think of a quick way to save face, and finally just blurted out, "I can't be bothered to argue with you!"

He turned his head back and continued stuffing meat into the tofu, preparing the 'Pregnant Tofu'.

The three of them continued their conversation.

"Zhou Li quite likes tofu. He's fond of Mapo Tofu," Brother Nan said.

"I haven't eaten many types of tofu either," Zhou Li quickly added.

Mapo Tofu, huh... Miss Zheng murmured. She hadn't planned on making Mapo Tofu today, but it wasn't too late to decide now. So she pursed her lips and continued, "Apart from Mapo Tofu, I also plan to make Pregnant Tofu, Bear's Paw Tofu, Concubine Tofu, Hot and Sour Tofu, Tomato Tofu, Pork Hock Tofu, and a drunken bean curd dish, which I particularly liked when I was there. But I might not make them as well as the master chefs there... I'll also make a green vegetable and tofu soup."

The two of them were astounded.

They felt as if they had never truly eaten tofu in their lives.

Just then, Big Yellow rushed into the kitchen, meowing urgently and continuously.

Miss Zheng immediately looked down. "What's wrong?"

Huai Xu, who had been helping in the kitchen all along but was still aware of everything happening outside, yawned wearily. "Don't worry," he said. "That stupid cat insisted on climbing the tree to look at the baby birds. She fell three times, not even minding the pain, and finally managed to climb up. But now she can't get down and is wailing up there."

"Then..."

"Leave her be! Just let her stay up there!" Huai Xu said mercilessly. "When it's time for dinner, I'll go get her down. Otherwise, if she comes down on her own, who knows what trouble she'll stir up next!"

"..."

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