The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 122: Before Sun Rise

Chapter 122: Before Sun Rise

Xu Feng found himself standing in the kitchen, a space bustling with activity. His hands moved nonstop, his movements precise and deliberate, almost like a well choreographed dance.

Since waking up that morning and taking the bitter medicine Si had brought him, he had found a renewed energy, even though the sun had not yet graced the sky.

Only his sore throat served as a persistent reminder of the previous day’s misadventures, but it did little to slow him down.

He had been in the kitchen since he first woke up that morning and after he had the medicine Si had brought to his bedside.

It was still morning, and the sun had yet to come out, but he had an abundance of energy and couldn’t remain in bed. He’d gotten so much sleep, and he felt reenergized to the core, only his sore throat was a reminder of the previous day’s mishaps.

The medicine they had provided him earlier had been an incredibly bitter concoction, an unpleasant taste that was followed by a sip of sweet water.

The doctor, a kind man in Xu Feng’s opinion, had prescribed this treatment. He may have preferred savory over sweet flavors, but ancient medicine, with its un-acquirable taste, was far from his usual preference.

Si, the household’s resident chatterbox, had mentioned that the doctor who had prescribed the treatment was not the first doctor Xu Feng had seen the previous day.

Erlang had mentioned that Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian insisted on consulting with two doctors to get prescription for the ger when they returned to Yilin town after Xu Feng "felt unwell."

This was why entire household was on edge, Xu Feng must be seriously unwell if he needed to see two doctors from Yilin town. Not even a village doctor.

With Master Yang and Master Jian taking turns watching over Xu Feng throughout the night, they were unwilling to trust his care to anyone else until the early hours of the morning.

At that very moment, Xuan Yang was resting in the bridal chamber, which happened to be located nearest to Xu Feng’s room. He had vigilantly kept watch over Xu Feng throughout the night, and only recently had sleep claimed him, moments before Xu Feng awoke.

Meanwhile, Xuan Jian had also kept vigil all night, and left to practice his martial arts after putting Xuan Yang to sleep and leaving Si and San in charge of Xu Feng for a short while.

The whole household seemed to revolve around Xu Feng’s health and well being. It was embarrassing but still heartwarming at the same time.

The first aromas that greeted him from this kitchen were of simmering herbs and medicinal concoctions that filled the air of the kitchen, giving the room a distinct and somewhat pungent scent.

Now, he was only surrounded by a mouthwatering meaty smell permeating the air.

Xu Feng let out a sigh, feeling the persistent burning in his throat once again. He normally would’ve used some seeds to ease his discomfort, but he had been changed into these new robes while unconscious, and his stash of seeds wasn’t with him. He promised himself to get seeds later.

For now, his priority was to make a special breakfast for everyone. He felt guilty about causing everyone to worry, especially since his memories of the incident were still intact.

He had clearly passed out going down on a certain snake.

With a noticeable groan, Xu Feng tried to push past the burning sensation in his throat, but the overwhelming wave of shame was hard to ignore.

Hyped up with adrenaline and too much overthinking, Xu Feng decided to go through with his plan...a plan he now thoroughly regretted.

With a clear mind, it seemed that Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian weren’t suspicious of him at all the day before. They were only worried about his well being, with no strings attached, just genuine concern.

This thought grounded him in a strange way. Paranoia was not good company.

He couldn’t understand why pure worry could make him feel so nervous. It effectively drowned out the shame he felt for his overreaction and the rather explicit solution he had come up with.

His brain must really be mush for that to be the ONLY solution he could think up under pressure.

Deciding to set aside his worries and the burden of the previous day, Xu Feng threw himself into cooking with Si and San. They weren’t just preparing breakfast, but also the foods purchased the day before.

While the girls had already stored everything, the chill in the air encouraged Xu Feng to make some simple items like buns and other dim sum dishes that could be added to meals if the weather didn’t permit more adventurous cooking.

This was also an excellent opportunity to teach Si and San how to make certain staples.

Xu Feng was in his element as he prepared the traditional Dongmen buns with beef filling and lean congee he’d learnt from his grandmother. He moved around the kitchen with confidence, the air filled with the rich aroma of simmering meat and fragrant spices.

First, he worked on the bun dough, which he had prepared earlier to allow it time to rise. The dough was soft and pliable, and he expertly portioned it into small rounds. With swift, practiced hands, he flattened each round into a thin, circular disc, ready to be filled.

For the beef filling, Xu Feng had meticulously chosen the leanest cuts of meat available. He had already marinated the beef in a flavorful blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, and a hint of ginger.

As he sautéed the marinated beef in a hot pot, the sizzle and scent of the meat filled the kitchen. The beef became tender and infused with the savory flavors, creating a mouthwatering filling for the buns.

Once the beef was cooked to perfection, Xu Feng carefully spooned it onto the center of each dough round, ensuring a generous but not overwhelming portion. He then used his skilled fingers to expertly pleat and seal the dough, creating beautiful, fluffy buns filled with savory beef.

As the buns steamed in a bamboo steamer, Xu Feng turned his attention to the lean congee. He had taken the time to rinse and soak the rice to ensure a silky and smooth texture. In a large pot, he gently simmered the rice with water, creating a creamy porridge that would serve as a comforting dish.

As the scent of freshly steamed buns and congee filled the kitchen, Xu Feng couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment and relief. It was a comforting way to start the day, and it helped distract him from the events of the previous day.