Marriage Contract

[17]

Though he said he would not give Kongpob anymore soup, Arthit still returned to his family's mansion the next day to tell Aunt Zhou about what Kongpob had said, as well as to ask her what the problem could have been.

After his recount of the matter, Aunt Zhou laughingly explained, "Young
Master, I've been a chef for more than half of my life, so it's a given that my
skills must be better when compared to yours."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Arthit  drew his brows into a knit.

"You just need to practice a few more times and you'll get better. I already
had the ingredients for this afternoon prepared." Aunt Zhou then jested,
"Who would've known the Young Master could be so impatient?"

"Can we just get to the soup?" Arthit  stated expressionlessly, though on
the inside, he stir-fried that free-riding piece of salted fish, known as
Kongpob, repeatedly.

[T/n : Free riding : Meaning- to sit by and enjoy the fruits of another's labour.]

Aunt Zhou, "Alright then, I'll teach you how to do it now. So today will be..."

"Hujiao Zhudu soup." Arthit  said.

[T/n: Pepper Pig Belly (soup)]

"Okay." Aunt Zhou laughed as she got the ingredients ready one by one,
while Arthit  explained once more.
Due to his wish to learn how to make many soups, he immediately got out his
notebook to take notes. Intending to record all the necessary ingredients and
their quantities.

The butler stood at the sidelines, looking on at his Young Master learning
earnestly, sincerely lamenting, "Ah, coaxing a wife is truly not easy!"

Later that evening, Arthit  brought the soup he cooked back home. Kongpob took the thermos containing it, then opened it, the act allowing him to
smell the concentrated flavour of the pork belly and pepper bounded
together. Since the ingredients were slowly stewed together for around three
hours, it gave the soup a rich aroma, and drinking such soups during winter, was quite fitting.

"How is it?" Arthit  came right out and asked as he watched Kongpob take a sip of the soup.

"It's not bad, just a little too strong." Kongpob replied.

"Is it the pepper?" Arthit  asked before he took a bite himself, making
the decision to add a bit less spice the next time.

This one isn't too bad. Arthit thought.

"Mhm, but other than that, it's alight to eat." Kongpob said as he again took
a bite.

Kongpob had now finished his bite and was preparing to take another when
Arthit stopped him all of a sudden, and said, "Don't eat it. Next time l'll have them add less pepper."

"It's alright. The chef worked hard to make this soup, throwing it out will be
wasteful."
"I know that very well" Arthit  said this, but he still stopped Kongpob's
spoon of soup.

"What?" Kongpob asked, not hearing what he had said.

"it's nothing, just eat." Arthit  directed.

"Okay" Kongpob nodded, continuing to eat his dinner.

For the next week, Arthit had brought home a soup with him everyday.
One day, Kongpob could not help but ask, "Is the new chef honing his technical skills everyday?"

In the process of eating his meal, Arthit's hand halted, "Why do you care so much about what he's doing?"

"l just feel this is too much of a bother, since Aunty Su and the others aren't
there, yet we're still troubling Shifu everyday to make these soups just for my benefit." Kongpob said shyly. "Actually, I think we can make the soups for ourselves."