The kitchen was small, centered around a square wooden table. Years of use had worn away the red lacquer on the table’s four legs, revealing a brownish-yellow hue beneath. A variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits were scattered across the surface. Against one wall stood a four-tiered rack, every shelf crowded with bottles and jars. A few smoked hams hung from a rafter, and a potted plant sat on the windowsill near the stove, beside a large vat brimming with water. Not far away stood a long, narrow table of rough-hewn timber, already set with bowls and spoons, while a string of onions and garlic hung high above.
Xu Ruoping clicked her tongue and muttered, "Utterly primitive. Who would have thought Hu Yihui lived so frugally hundreds of years ago?"
She walked straight to the wooden table, grabbed three sets of bowls and chopsticks, ladled some water from the vat, and began washing them with great enthusiasm. Soon, she had them cleaned and was ready to take them to the Eight Immortals table in the main hall. Passing by the stove, the aroma wafting from within caught her attention. Curious to see what delicacies Xiaocui had prepared for her, she freed one hand to lift the pot lid.
Chapter 263