CHAPTER 106: AMBITIOUS AUNTIE SUE

"Huh. It’s time already." Lin Xuan Qi glanced into the distance, with his eyes looking lazy while they tried to focus.

It took a while, so he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, stretched his hands up, and gave out a yawn.

That was one of the best naps he had in ages.

"Are you sick?" He stood up and placed the back of his hand onto Xue Cong’s forehead.

He was worried as her face and ears were flushed red.

"I’m fine Master Lin... I was cleaning up the dining hall with the new servants. All the work must have made me heat up, that’s why."

She thought of an excuse quickly.

Xue Cong was too shy to tell him that he was the culprit that made her so.

Lin Xuan Qi gave out a sigh of relief and said, "You gave me a scare right there.

"I need you to help manage the household well for the time being.

"You should let the new servants do more instead.

"It’s best for you to start behaving like a senior to them as soon as possible.

"There are still works to be done for me outside and I can’t be distracted with matters inside the mansion."

He knew that she was loyal to him and that was why he felt comfortable letting her manage the mansion for him.

Xue Cong nodded her head and said, "I will try my best."

She felt needed by Lin Xuan Qi, and that was something that brought comfort to her.

All her hard work didn’t go unnoticed.

She put her hands in front of her chest and felt the thumping from her heart.

Never had she felt so alive before.

While she did so, Lin Xuan Qi raised an eyebrow at her response.

At least she didn’t seem anxious about her new role, he thought to himself silently.

"What are you waiting for? Time for dinner." He walked over to the doorstep, stood at it, and said to her.

Xue Cong quickly put down her hands and followed him.

...

"Master Lin."

When he got into the dining hall, everyone bowed and greeted him.

He frowned at the number of people there.

"The senior servants stay while the rest of you shall have to eat at the servant canteen."

Lin Xuan Qi wasn’t naive to think that he could treat everyone the same.

Once you establish a hierarchy, you will have to treat everyone accordingly to their roles in it.

Xue Cong and the others had been with him since the beginning.

It was no big deal that they ate with him.

But he was not about to accord the same privileges to the new servants.

They had to work hard and prove their worth first.

The other servants except Xue Cong, Yue Jie, Yue Xin and Zhi Yong bowed to him and they left immediately.

It was something that they’d expected anyway.

Soon, the dining hall was left with familiar faces except for one.

"Master Lin, I’ve prepared this meal and I hope it would be to your liking." Auntie Sue bowed and said.

He glanced at her, thought for a moment, and took his seat.

Lin Xuan Qi wasn’t sure what she was up to.

But he gave her the benefit of the doubt that she genuinely wanted to see if he liked her cooking.

The aroma from the food quickly filled his nose, and with it, all the different flavors.

He could smell the braised meat with the soy sauce, vegetables giving out a taste of freshness and the fish that was steamed with plum and ginger slices.

A refreshing change from what he had.

Auntie Sue’s lips curled up when she saw his response.

Lin Xuan Qi used his chopsticks and picked up a piece of the braised meat.

He brought the meat to his nose and took a whiff of the aroma.

It enticed him to put it into his mouth and chew on it.

The braised meat was braised perfectly, with the flavor from the sauce seeped throughout the meat.

The meat itself was tender, and it only took him a few bites before he swallowed it.

"Well done. It’s great." Lin Xuan Qi exclaimed and nodded at Auntie Sue.

"Thanks, Master Lin. I’m glad you liked it." Auntie Sue gave him a smile, and she stole a glance at Xue Cong with a side eye.

"However, it’s still missing something..." He shook his head thinking that the braised meat could have been better with some other flavoring.

Maybe he should really get to work and come up with MSG after the soap business is successful.

Right now, it was just... salty.

Auntie Sue thought that he meant that there wasn’t enough salt, so she didn’t think too much about it.

He tried out the other dishes, and they were just as good, but still felt like there was something amiss from them.

"I apologize, Master Lin. I will try to improve next time." Auntie Sue nodded and said, "Then, I shall leave you to enjoy your dinner."

She bowed at him and left the dining hall.

"Everyone, what are you waiting for? Dig in." Lin Xuan Qi said when he saw the others sitting in their seats and not making any move on the food.

"Yes, Master Lin." They bowed and picked up their chopsticks.

Lin Xuan Qi frowned and sighed.

He knew that it was inevitable that some of the social dynamics would change with the new servants coming in.

A part of him was still sad that things wouldn’t be as simple anymore.

Lee He Song smirked and patted him on his back.

"It’s part of getting more powerful. Don’t worry, you are doing well."

Having seen so many clans and families rise, he knew what it entailed.

And he was glad that Lin Xuan Qi had stayed right on course so far.

Many young masters would have gambled their future away or become residents of brothels by now.

"Thanks, Master Lee."

Lin Xuan Qi appreciated his recognition, and he thanked Lee He Song.

"Wow. This braised meat is indeed great." Yue Xin’s eyes opened wide when she had a taste of it.

It was much better than what she was used to having in the mansion.

Yue Jie also agreed with her sister.

She was busy munching on the food while nodding vigorously to Yue Xin.

"Master Lin, meat nice!" Zhi Yong was also equally excited by the dishes.

Their satisfaction also brought a smile to Lin Xuan Qi’s face.

It made all his hard work worthwhile.