The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 61: Greedy Mortals

Chapter 61: Greedy Mortals

The kitchen should have been a bustling hub of activity, its large, traditional design accommodating the chaotic scene within.

Ancient wooden beams and pillars supported the high ceiling, and a massive hearth dominated one end of the room, its fire now extinguished but still radiating warmth. The walls were adorned with various cooking implements, and hanging lanterns cast a warm, flickering glow across the space.

Instead, the air in the kitchen was thick with the overpowering scents of cooking, meat, and fear. Xu Feng’s senses were assaulted by the odors that seemed to permeate everything around him. The presence of humans in his home, in his sanctuary, disgusted him to the core.

"Disgusting," Xu Feng uttered the word with an icy tone that sent shivers down the spines of the servant kneeling on the floor.

This was the same country ger who had been allowed to climb Mount Tai? The same ger they had thought they could manipulate and use to their advantage?

They thought they could sit on Xu Feng’s head and ride around for a lap or two. Why were things not going as planned? What happened to the village bumpkin?

He was seen by some as nothing more than a tool for childbirth, fortunate to have found his way into the young master’s bed. But for those with a deeper understanding of the situation, those who recognized the significance of immortal bloodlines, they knew better.

They knew that those with strong bloodlines were not to be trifled with, and if they were fortunate enough to retain their lives, it would be a blessing. The stories that were passed around in the capital should have deterred them.

Yet here they were in the firing range of a ger with strong immortal blood, strong enough that he could marry the only young master of the Xuan family as the main wife despite being from a village hokku.

They should have known better.

"Disgraces to my Xuan family," Xu Feng’s rebuke cut through the room, causing many of the older women to tremble.

This condemnation felt more severe than anything they had ever experienced from the current mistress of the Xuan family. And Lady Xuan was far from a kind mistress—she was a young lady from another large household in the capital.

The rebuke from Xu Feng was so powerful in its simplicity. It was as if the very ancestors of the Xuan family would curse them with this single sentence.

Xu Feng’s disgust was palpable, radiating from him in waves.

The scene in the kitchen was one of chaos and fear, with the submissive servants now cowering before their young mistress. Some of them huddled closer together, seeking comfort in their shared fear.

"Si, San, Erlang," Xu Feng decided that mercy was not justified in this situation.

He was the young mistress of this household, and they were nothing more than lowly, odorous mortals. They had initiated these games, and he intended to teach them a lesson about meddling with those of higher status.

"Take all the food to my kitchen."

Si, still dumbfounded, remained on her knees, while San slowly rose from her daze. Erlang, however, swiftly stood and bowed crisply to Xu Feng. "Yes, young mistress!"

He immediately set to work, cleaning up the entire kitchen, while the other servants dared not speak or rise from the ground.

Xu Feng observed as his three loyal servants of the Blooming courtyard diligently carried out their tasks, clearing the kitchen of its abundant food and meat.

There was enough to sustain them through the winter, and Xu Feng couldn’t help but imagine what Lifen and Lan might have been plotting. Had he not acted swiftly, they might have enjoyed a lavish and meat-filled, moisturized winter while his own courtyard went without.

He couldn’t suppress a grin, but the emptiness that lingered in the depths of his eyes only intensified the fear among the servants on the floor. Some of them moved closer to each other for comfort, realizing that their lives had taken an ominous turn.

His cold and unwavering gaze swept over the now-submissive servants, and a chilling silence descended upon the kitchen as a voice in Xu Feng’s head whispered that their departure was imminent.

Various types of meats, vegetables, and spices were scattered across the counters and tables.

There were platters of thinly sliced pork, marbled with fat, and bowls of tender beef, cooked with fragrant spices. Whole chickens roasted to a golden brown perfection lay beside plump ducks, their crispy skin glistening enticingly.

Delicate fish, their scales shimmering with a glaze, were piled atop each other, and baskets of fresh vegetables and herbs waited to be used.

The wheelbarrow, now stationed in the center of the kitchen, was gradually being filled with these edible treasures. Si, San, and Erlang worked diligently to transfer the food, carefully arranging it in the wheelbarrow.

Pork ribs were stacked beside plump sausages, and strings of dried mushrooms were tied together, ready to add their earthy flavor to dishes. There were also bundles of leafy greens, bags of rice, and sacks of fragrant spices.

The wheelbarrow, groaning under the weight of its bounty, was gradually transformed into an abundance of flavors and ingredients. Xu Feng’s keen eyes surveyed the progress, ensuring that nothing was left behind.

Despite the tense atmosphere that had pervaded the kitchen just moments ago, the room witnessed the efficiency and diligence of Xu Feng’s servants.

They packed the wheelbarrow filled several times with the offerings from the kitchen, transporting them to Blooming courtyard and then returning to repeat the same process until the main kitchen was empty of food.

Indeed, the Nanshan estate’s main kitchen was a treasure trove of ingredients and supplies. While it might not have matched the variety of spices that Xu Feng had in his own modest kitchen, it held an abundance of essential staples.

Mushrooms, both dried and fresh, were a culinary delight, adding depth and umami to various dishes. Tea leaves hinted at the possibility of brewing fragrant cups of tea. Wheat flour, sugar, and honey promised the creation of sweet treats, while sacks of white rice ensured sustenance for the winter months.

They were all treasures that were now Xu Feng’s.