After Dressing Up As a Little Fulang

After exchanging these pleasantries, the cook hesitated before asking, “I wonder, why An Fulang come here today? If the food doesn’t suit your taste, we can have our people prepare something else, saving you the trouble.”

An Yun shook his head and smiled, saying, “It’s not about the food. The food here is quite good. I came today to borrow some kitchen utensils to prepare something myself.”

The cook hadn’t anticipated this purpose for his visit. She hesitated; her expression uncertain. She was only responsible for odds and ends, and her authority over the kitchen was limited.

An Yun noticed her hesitation and asked kindly, “If there’s any difficulty, please let me know.”

After a moment’s pause, the cook finally admitted, “Fulang, I’m not authorized to grant permission for kitchen use. If you wish to proceed, you’ll have to ask Chef Ding.”

An Yun considered her words and found them reasonable. He didn’t press her further, instead saying, “Very well, I will find Chef Ding. Could you tell me where I might find him?”

Relieved that he wasn’t insisting, the cook pointed to a nearby small room and said, “Chef Ding is right there. Please go and ask him!”

An Yun nodded and followed her directions toward the indicated room.

Seeing the cook glaring at her, Xiao Cui knew Chef Ding’s temperament well enough to hurry after An Yun.

The cook watched Xiao Cui leave with a hint of disdain. “That girl,” she muttered, “is quick to learn the art of flattery.”

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An Yun walked leisurely while Xiao Cui hurried to catch up. She whispered in his ear, “Fulang, Chef Ding has a fierce temper. If he says something unpleasant, please don’t mind.”

An Yun glanced at the concerned Xiao Cui and nodded.

Upon arriving at the small room, An Yun discovered it was actually a utility room, uncertain how Chef Ding managed to acquire such comforts. Inside, Chef Ding was seated in a rocking chair, sipping tea, nibbling on cakes, and gazing at the sky.

An Yun thought Chef Ding was living a pretty good life. However, upon further reflection, since the master was away from home all day, wouldn’t this place be his own small mansion?

Upon hearing noise from the door, Chef Ding said without raising his head, “It’s not dinner time yet. Didn’t I tell you not to come looking for me? Why do you keep doing this? How many times must I say this?”

Upon hearing this, An Yun realized that this person really had a bad temper. He wasn’t angry at all, but said softly, “I’m sorry to disturb your rest, but I just want to borrow the kitchen. They said you are in charge here, so I took the liberty to come over and disturb you.”

Upon hearing this pleasant voice, Chef Ding immediately realized it was unfamiliar. It seemed this person wasn’t from their kitchen. He put down the small teapot in his hand and turned to look in the direction of the door, only to see a shuanger who looked like a beautiful orchid tree standing there.

Chef Ding’s eyes first showed a hint of surprise, then he guessed the shuanger’s identity and sighed at his good looks. However, upon further thought, he felt the shuanger was just a server, only good at chasing favor, unlike him who relied on craftsmanship to make a living.

Chef Ding had evil thoughts in his heart, but quickly put them away and said casually, “I wonder why fulang come to this humble place?”

Upon hearing this, An Yun used respectful words, though his tone wasn’t very good. Nonetheless, he wasn’t angered and continued to smile, saying, “It’s nothing important; I just want to cook something. Everyone in the kitchen said I should ask Chef Ding about this, so I came to ask you.”

Chef Ding chuckled inwardly, thinking that if this shuanger wanted to use the kitchen, he must be making food to please the young master. As expected, he only knew how to flatter.

Chef Ding kept his face low and showed some respect in his attitude, but his tone was arrogant, “Fulang, I am afraid I can’t agree to this. Fulang has a noble body and delicate skin, and our kitchen always smoky. It’s burning wood everywhere. If you get burned or injured, it’ll be bad. If something happened to the fulang and left a mark on his body, fulang would not be blamed. But we have to bear the responsibility. Please don’t embarrass me, fulang.”

An Yun didn’t understand why he was being embarrassed; he only wanted to borrow a kitchen. But he could also clearly see that the man in front of him probably really didn’t want to lend him the kitchen, and his attitude was also bad to him.

Partly because of An Yun’s current status, he was neither a master, nor a guest, nor a slave. Even if he ate a soft food and being served here, there was nothing he could do to him.

An Yun had no choice but to let it go, so he didn’t force it. He just glanced at him and wrote it down in his mind, preparing to pay it back some time later. The most important thing for him now was to go back and see if there was any other way to do it.

An Yun thought this and smiled at Chef Ding, then said: “In that case, I won’t bother you.”

After that, he turned and left.

Chef Ding didn’t expect him to be so straightforward. He thought he would refute him and make a fuss; he was ready to fight back with him.

An Yun left, and Xiao Cui followed him, whispering, “Fulang, please don’t be angry.”

An Yun smiled and said gently, “I’m not angry. I have nothing to be angry about.” His identity was low, and he didn’t blame others for looking down on him.

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After An Yun left the small room and started to head back, contemplating a solution, he suddenly realized that the noise here was too faint. He could still hear some chatter and laughter from others just moments ago.

An Yun was confused. When he reached the door of the kitchen, he saw the cook from earlier standing there with a group of people. Opposite the cook stood a serious looking girl in red clothes who appeared to be in her eighteen, with an oval face.

The girl appeared to have been lecturing but stopped as soon as she saw An Yun approaching. Her previously expressionless face broke into a smile, and she said to him, “Fulang, this servant was looking for you. Who would have expected that you are here?”