The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 149 The Taste of Home Cooking

Li Ye didn’t expect that Cui Keli would have such deep affection for him. But now he understood that if he could help Cui Keli to win the position of the Master of the Cui family, Cui Keli would lead the Cui family to support him to control Pinglu as long as there wouldn’t be any big mistakes on this trip to Penglai.

In this case, at least one of the four major families of Pinglu would stand by him, which would be much more convenient for Li Ye to subdue the entire Pinglu. After all, the first step was the hardest. Rooting in Qing Prefecture, the Cui family was very familiar with Pinglu and was the absolute local boss. They could help Li Ye a lot in all aspects.

With this in mind, Li Ye was more determined to help Cui Keli.

When Li Ye and Cui Keli were talking, Su Emei had made the meal ready with the help of Wei Xiaozhuang. The two of them put the dishes on the table and greeted Li Ye and Cui Keli to eat.

Su Emei was born beauty and had an otherworldly temperament due to the cultivation in the wilderness for so many years. But now, standing outside the kitchen with an apron, she gathered up her hair and looked at Li Ye, which added her the charm of a woman. She was not that far away anymore and within reach.

Su Emei’s cooking skill couldn’t be regarded as extraordinary and her dishes weren’t extremely amazing, but after all, she had many years’ experience, so the cooking time was just right and the color and luster of the dishes were just right, too. The dishes were not fancy but simple with the perfect combination of color, aroma and taste. They had the taste of home cooking. Cui Keli kept praising her, and even Wei Xiaozhuang said that Su Emei’s dishes were better than ever.

Su Emei smiled politely in response to the praises of Cui Keli and Wei Xiaozhuang. She chewed the millet rice slowly and raised her curved eyelashes slightly to secretly watch Li Ye’s reaction with her shining eyes.

She felt a little bit disappointed that Li Ye didn’t praise anything. Although Su Emei didn’t get Li Ye’s approval, she felt pleased secretly and had a sense of self-approval of having finally done something successful as she saw Li Ye burying himself in eating the meal quickly like a hungry wolf.

Li Ye quickly finished a bowl of rice, and then he put down the bowl and chopsticks. He let everyone help themselves and quickly got up to leave the table, striding out to the courtyard.

“Brother Li ate so little?” Seeing Li Ye going out, Wei Xiaozhuang mumbled in surprise with food stuffed in his mouth.

With her head down, Su Emei was picking up a little millet rice in the bowl. Her hand holding the chopsticks shook slightly, and an indescribable emotion welled up in her heart, her ears turning a little bit red.

When Li Ye wolfed down the dishes, she originally thought that Li Ye found the food was delicious, so his appetite was good. But now, when Li Ye put down the bowl and chopsticks quickly, she didn’t think he could eat any more. She couldn’t help but think that he must endure to eat up the previous bowl of food and that he couldn’t stand the bad taste of the food, so no wonder he ate so fast. Childe Li was obviously the son of the rich family and accustomed to the extravagant life, so he couldn’t get used to the coarse food that she cooked. Moreover, he could grill chickens and roast rabbits so well, so his cooking would be even better. She came from the mountain and cooked the food clumsily, so how could he stand the food? Therefore, he ate a bowl of rice reluctantly because he considered her feelings.

An indescribable emotion welled up in her heart. The unspeakable grievances and the disappointment for herself made Su Emei forget the taste of food. Since she was young, she had never felt so useless. Her cultivation was worse than Li Ye’s, so she was protected by Li Ye in the face of the enemies. In addition, she lacked experience in Jianghu, so she would feel at a loss as she walked in the city... She even couldn’t help wondering if the dishes that she cooked at the Taoist temple were really delicious as the master and Xiaozhuang said.

Su Emei had no mood to enjoy the meal anymore. She no longer picked up the food and only finished the rice in the bowl.

Wei Xiaozhuang cleared up the dishes and went to wash up. Su Emei was in a bad mood. She saw Li Ye squatting in the yard and playing with Xiaoman. Xiaoman, which treated Li Ye unkindly in the daytime, was having fun with Li Ye now, perhaps because it got familiar with Li Ye for half a day.

Su Emei tightened her lips which were more delicate than the peach blossoms. She hesitated for a long time, but finally, she moved to Li Ye’s side step by step. She squatted down quietly and peeked at Li Ye. His expression was serious, so she felt a little bit nervous. She tried very hard to pluck up the courage to say in a low voice, “The food is not to your taste, so you don’t eat well. I...”

“Why isn’t it to my taste?” Li Ye turned around and looked at her with surprise all over his face. His voice was a little loud.

Su Emei was stunned for Li Ye’s strong reaction. For a moment, she couldn’t tell her own feelings, not knowing she was surprised or happy. She only knew that she felt relieved like a stone finally falling on the ground.

Seeing Su Emei’s look, Li Ye quickly understood. With a bitter smile, he apologized, “I left so early that you misunderstood me. I apologize.”

Su Emei blinked her bright eyes, and she didn’t even notice that her voice was full of expectation. “Is it really not bad?”

Li Ye touched the head of Xiaoman that was sticking its tongue out and exhaling, and he prevented its head from approaching him. He glanced at Su Emei, and the memory of his last life before the transmigration came again like tides. His voice was slightly muffled, “To tell you the truth, I haven’t had such home-cooked food for a long time. Its flavor is so intense that it reminds me of my childhood. At that time, in a small house with dim light, I was sitting in front of the table, knocking the chopsticks, and waiting for my mother who had worked for a day and who was sweating to bring the hot food to the table...”

He smiled. There were countless years of vicissitudes, the infinite nostalgia of the original good memories after experiencing ups and downs, the unspeakable sadness and loss, the pursuit of the past, and the relief for himself in his smile. His voice trembled slightly, “I haven’t gone back home to see my mother for a long time. It has been so long that I don’t remember how many days have passed... But I remember my mother’s smile with sweat on her face, the taste of the food at the time, and the mood of me waiting for the food...”

He glanced at Su Emei with a reluctant smile. “The food today reminds me of these things and I haven’t thought of them for a long time...”

He did not go on, nor could he go on. Just like just now, he could only eat one bowl of rice and then he had to run away in a hurry because he was afraid that he couldn’t help losing control of himself in front of everyone. He didn’t want to lose his cool in public.

Su Emei didn’t expect that. She just thought that Li Ye simply thought the food wasn’t delicious. Seeing that Li Ye couldn’t control himself and covered up his feelings by teasing Xiaoman, she felt uneasy. Looking at Li Ye’s side face, Su Emei realized that Li Ye’s shoulders were trembling slightly and that his hand which was touching Xiaoman’s head was also trembling. She knew very well that Li Ye could remember his childhood and relatives because of the food that she cooked personally. All of a sudden, the joy and pride overwhelmed Su Emei, making her head dizzy. She suddenly realized how awesome she was.

Su Emei didn’t dwell on her joy. Su Emei thought that he was true and rich in emotions as she saw Li Ye struggling to hold back his emotions. Only people with pure and good hearts could have such true feelings. She couldn’t help but have a better impression of Li Ye, and she had compassion on his poor look. These days, Li Ye was always unrestrained and happy, so it was hard to imagine him being so vulnerable. Homesickness was always overwhelming. Su Emei could understand, but her heart couldn’t help trembling. Involuntarily, she stretched out her warm hands to grasp Li Ye’s trembling arm, trying to comfort him.

Li Ye was stunned and looked back in surprise. He saw a pair of clear and warm watery eyes. In those eyes, there were stars and sunshine that melted snow in winter.

...

On the small hill behind the bamboo forest, three people stood against the wind, looking coldly at the courtyard where Li Ye and the others were.

The leader was a young childe in splendid clothes, romantic and unruly. He was waving a folding fan in his hand before his chest. But his eyes were full of resentment and malice, which made him look like a poisonous snake hidden in the dark.

“Did these three people make my uncle find my grandfather to fight against my father for the position of the home lord today?” The childe in splendid clothes stared at Li Ye and Su Emei, his face darkening.

“They are these three people, two Taoists in shabby clothes and a nobody who comes from nowhere.”

Beside the childe in splendid clothes, a servant nodded and bowed. “But in fact, Cui Keli, that fellow, wants to compete for the position of the home lord, not because of their temptation, but because he originally has the intention of coveting the position of the home lord. These people are his helpers, and now that his helpers have come, he will naturally take action!”

“This old guy!”

The childe in splendid clothes slapped his folding fan on his palm and gnashed his teeth. “He pretends to be pure and lofty in daily life, but in the end, he wants to fight against my father for the position of the home lord. He is really hateful! I have to teach this hypocritical person a good lesson!”

Speaking of this, the childe in splendid clothes looked at the third person. Facing this person, he became very respectful instead of arrogant. He cupped his hands. “Master Yang, I hope you will help.”

With his hands behind his back, this cultivator surnamed Yang looked grim and had a domineering temperament of the “I am the peak of the mountain”. He only snorted faintly in response to the respectful request of the childe in splendid clothes.

The other side put on airs, but the childe in splendid clothes dared not to feel dissatisfied. He felt joyful as the other side promised to help.

With flattery on his face, the servant smiled obsequiously. “Master Yang, you’re the First Sword in Qing Prefecture. If you start a fight, no one dares not to dodge in the entire Qing Prefecture. You’re overqualified to deal with these Taoists from the countryside. It’s effortless!”

The name of the cultivator surnamed Yang was Yang Zhongxiu, and he was known as the First Sword in Qing Prefecture. His famous cultivation method was called Hawk Wing-spreading Sword which had a great reputation in Qing Prefecture.

The cultivator surnamed Yang had no expression on his face and turned a blind eye to the servant’s flattery.

“You know nothing. Go away!”

The childe in splendid clothes glared at the servant, but when facing Yang Zhongxiu, he smiled and said with admiration, “The Taoist of Penglai is full of praise for your Hawk Wing-spreading Sword. That year when you visited the Penglai Immortal’s sect, Penglai had asserted that the Hawk Wing-spreading Sword would be famous all over the world within twenty years!”

The flattery got to the point, so Yang Zhongxiu finally looked better, but he just waved his hand lightly and said impatiently, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t take this small potato seriously. Since you want to launch a fight, then do it quickly. After getting rid of them, I have to go back to cultivate.”

“Yes, yes. I dare not delay your cultivation. Why don’t we go right now?”

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