Dinner

The evening was still young, and from this day forward, Tang Feiliu was no longer an ordinary physician—he naturally had work to attend to. That very day, guided by butler Dave, Tang Feiliu began overseeing the castle's meals and housekeeping.

Once his formal appointment was confirmed, Tang Feiliu could now be addressed as "Sir" by everyone. He had finally ascended from an ordinary citizen to the ranks of the gentry. Though this meant he could no longer enjoy guest privileges and must reside next to Dave like other retainers, Tang Feiliu had no complaints whatsoever. According to Dave the butler, he would receive a generous annual salary of fifty pounds— —not to mention the estate the Duke of Edward intended to bestow upon him!

A boss like this could easily make the Top Ten Most Inspiring Figures of the Year! Tang Feiliu's respect for the Duke of Edward instantly doubled. It was said that due to his prolonged illness, the Duke had accumulated many matters to attend to. While handling these affairs, he had already instructed Dave the butler to bring a stack of blueprints for Tang Feiliu to select his desired estate.

"Actually, there are four or five small estates near Swan Castle that belong to the Duke personally. You could even carve out a plot of land for yourself... All of this is permitted," Butler Dave explained in detail, clearly going out of his way to accommodate him. "Choose one closer by—it'll be safer, and you can return for short stays during your vacations."

"Butler, do you do the same?" Though Tang Feiliu possessed all the memories of this body, how much could a sheltered young master truly know? He was genuinely unaware. When he asked Dave, the butler smiled faintly, straightening his back with pride. "The castle is my home. I have served the Duke's family my entire life and take great pride in it."

"What about your family?" Tang Feiliu asked curiously.

"The Duke is my family," Dave answered with a tender smile. It took Tang Feiliu a moment to grasp the meaning—so this was how it had always been. When the Duke had a firstborn son, the old Duke would select a child to serve as the heir's personal valet. simultaneously beginning to learn everything a steward needed to know from the previous steward—literacy, reading, management methods and tricks. Then, when the eldest son inherited the title, the personal valet would continue learning until the eldest son had children of his own. By that point, he would be ready to become the deputy steward. When the old steward reached retirement age, he would naturally become the new steward.

While stewards in ordinary households could marry and have children, nobles typically avoided employing those with families. This was because stewards held knowledge of too many noble affairs, managed most matters on the estate, and were privy to secrets. Such a crucial person, if they had their own family and children, might develop personal interests. Therefore, the stewards whom nobles deeply trusted and relied upon were usually those who had grown up alongside them.

Nobles often entered arranged marriages, and many couples had strained relationships, each keeping secret lovers. Yet the nobleman's butler and the noblewoman's personal maid were their most trusted confidants. While they might not share their thoughts with their spouse, they would certainly consult their butler or maid.

Tang Feiliu listened with her mouth agape. This family structure... how could anyone live happily under it? It was utterly detrimental to a child's physical and mental well-being. Moreover, remaining unmarried for life, without a partner—wasn't that terribly miserable too?

But clearly, butler Dave didn't see it that way. He finished his proud explanation and gazed wistfully into the future: "His Grace married far too late, and he's been ill lately. But the winter social season is approaching soon. The castle will host a grand ball. After winter, perhaps we'll welcome a Duchess. How I long for the birth of a little Duke!"

Tang Feiliu's thoughts drifted inappropriately to the golden turd lurking in a corner outside the castle. He understood the lavish, opulent balls depicted in movies, but if anyone actually tried to have a heart-to-heart in the castle corners like the protagonists, they'd find it anything but romantic. One careless step could land them squarely in the poop, triggering horrified screams. Their silk gowns might brush against the gold, and the mingled stench of years without bathing and the overpowering scent of perfume would fill the air... At this thought, Tang Feiliu forced himself to stop dwelling on it.

A cleanliness-obsessed, life-loving person/wife-type (as dubbed by Tang Feiliu’s friends) could never stand idly by while such things happened! A fiery passion suddenly ignited within Tang Feiliu. He sprang to his feet and declared loudly, "Butler, rest assured! I will make this castle so clean and beautiful that everyone will be amazed!"

Though butler Dave couldn't fathom the sudden surge of passion in Tang Feiliu, their goals aligned. He offered a benevolent smile and nodded approvingly.

So Tang Feiliu left the blueprints in his room, intending to review them later. After all, the estate wasn't going anywhere. Besides, Dave had mentioned he could take one day off each month to leave the castle. Then he could ask the castle guard knights to take him on site visits to various estates. Once he found one he liked, he could simply say so.

This thought instantly energized Tang Feiliu. He spent the entire morning gathering the kitchen staff to address them, laying out his requirements. First and foremost: everyone must wash their hands with soap before cooking! He then demonstrated the cotton masks he’d made himself, insisting that all kitchen workers wear them to prevent droplet transmission.

Though some raised eyebrows, with Dave standing by, no one dared protest and all obediently complied.

Tang Feiliu spent the entire day supervising the kitchen operations while also overseeing two meals prepared for the Duke of Edward, whose appetite had returned after his recovery. The first meal consisted of a bowl of leftover pork and scallion dumplings from breakfast, accompanied by a simple hamburger patty with pan-seared sea fish and another with pan-seared veal steak. This was followed by a stack of sweet crepes layered over a dozen times, generously coated with rich jam—a modified, cream-free berry mille-feuille served on a large silver platter. Such a visually appealing, flavorful feast, packed with calories and carbohydrates, elicited only a muttered "Not bad, but too little" from the Duke.

Thus, at dinner, Tang Feiliu gained new insight into Edward's appetite after his recovery. Heeding the advice of the experienced Aunt Lai Li, he prepared half a lamb as lamb chops, but forbade the addition of cinnamon or fennel. Instead, he thoroughly soaked the lamb to remove all blood, Then she marinated it with garlic, salt, and black pepper before slowly smoking it over charcoal. Before long, the aroma drifted beyond the kitchen, making passing servants swallow hard.

This was certainly not enough for Edward, who hadn't eaten his fill at lunch. Yet Tang Feiliu dared not let him eat too richly or heavily for dinner. so, under everyone's astonished gaze, he paused briefly before dividing the lamb chops into portions. The tenderest rib sections were arranged on a platter, while the rest were deboned and rolled into lettuce wraps, each secured with a small silver fork—a sight both beautiful and extravagant.

This effectively created two separate dishes. Next, he sliced some semi-hard, slightly dry white bread, spread it with garlic butter, and toasted it until fragrant. He placed the slices in a cloth-lined basket.

A proper noble dinner required a cold appetizer, two hot dishes, soup, dessert, and fruit... Just thinking about it made Tang Feiliu feel utterly annoyed. Why was there no rice here? Why?! If rice were available, he could whip up a bunch of Chinese dishes in minutes. Western cuisine was so much more complicated and offered fewer choices! Clearly, Chinese food was what he excelled at!

Grumbling inwardly, he pondered briefly before committing the ultimate culinary sacrilege: he stripped the meat from the large bone used to cook breakfast dumplings. He mixed it with minced garlic, finely chopped scallions, grated ginger, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, then finished it off with a ladleful of hot oil... Fine, this bastard would be the appetizer! It was cold anyway, so serving it up would probably just make it a cold dish.

Too lazy to make mille-feuille for dessert, he tossed cabbage and blanched peas with leftover jam from lunch and diced honey-pickled peaches.

When it came to the soup, Tang Feiliu had them serve the broth that had been simmering since noon—made from the fish head and bones discarded while preparing the cod burgers. The soup had turned a creamy white, as beautiful as milk. Sprinkled with salt and scallions, its aroma instantly made mouths water uncontrollably.

...Finally, everything was done. Even though Tang Feiliu had mostly directed the work, he was still exhausted. The senior butlers carried the dishes out. Butler Dave and Ivans had to wait until His Grace finished his meal before they could come over for a quick dinner.

Tang Feiliu now served under Edward. The front hall was where the master dined. When he was a doctor, treated as a semi-guest, he could sit there and be entertained. Now, as someone else's subordinate, he couldn't go there and be treated with such dignity.

It seemed like a drop in status, but Tang Feiliu understood clearly that this era was no age of human rights supremacy. It was a semi-feudal, semi-slave society. If Edward chose to entertain him, he was a noble gentleman. But if Edward were provoked, a single accusation of "contempt of nobility" could lead to execution within minutes—and it would be perfectly legal. Within Edward's domain, his will was supreme.

Practicing medicine outside wasn't all joy either. He couldn't always save the nobility. Surviving these encounters relied not just on luck, but also on the fact that no critical cases had yet arisen. Tang Feiliu had indeed failed to save critically ill patients before—he still hadn't figured out what exactly a-gentleman had been suffering from!

Fortunately, the minor noble's family was relatively accommodating and let him leave. But had it been someone else, Tang Feiliu doubted he'd have such luck every time.

Thus, he eagerly accepted Edward's olive branch. This era resembled ancient warlord clashes—aligning with the strongest power at least guaranteed a comfortable life and relative safety. Drifting aimlessly outside, vulnerable to anyone's trampling, offered no security and filled each day with dread.

Thus, Tang Feiliu felt perfectly at home in this small servants' dining room. He'd always hidden here to sneak food—not just because it was close to the kitchen, but because he understood his place.

By now, Aunt Lai Li had already organized the staff to prepare the servants' dinner. Tang Feiliu felt peckish. Though a servant himself, he was now the head of the entire kitchen—no one could tell him what to do. He ladled a bowl of rich, aromatic cod bone soup and sipped it slowly. Then he sliced some bread, intending to make himself some garlic-crusted toast to accompany the lamb he’d already set his sights on.

Alas, this delightful plan was abruptly interrupted by a summons—Ivans suddenly arrived and respectfully informed Tang Feiliu, "His Grace the Duke requests your presence in the dining hall."

Setting down his bowl, Tang Feiliu assumed there was a problem with dinner. Rushing to the dining hall, he found Edward hadn't started eating yet. Spotting Tang Feiliu, Edward nodded and gestured for him to sit down.

Tang Feiliu noticed both Ivans and butler Dave nodding at him. Though still puzzled, he sat down as Edward requested. Then Edward whispered to him, "What is this?"

Oh! So this medieval bumpkin doesn't know how to eat lettuce-wrapped meat? Hahahaha!

Tang Feiliu struggled to control himself, barely resisting the urge to slap the table and burst out laughing. Clearing his throat, he still couldn't suppress his amusement. "Pick up the silver fork and eat directly," he explained. "It's lettuce leaves wrapped around meat. This way, the meat isn't as greasy. It'll be easier on your stomach and more comfortable to digest..." Exactly. For this meat-obsessed monster, this was the only way to get him to eat a few vegetable leaves. Tang Feiliu looked at Edward's furrowed brow and recalled how nobles of this era considered raw leaves and fruits unhealthy. Fruits were tolerable—they'd eat them as jam or steamed, and they were quite expensive—but vegetable leaves? Those were considered food for the lower classes...

"Actually, vegetables may be cheap, but when eaten with meat, they make digestion easier and more comfortable. Consistently pairing them with meals can even prevent the discomfort of constipation..." Tang Feiliu hurriedly explained. "Sir, in my view, food has no inherent hierarchy. As long as vegetables are washed properly, they won't make anyone sick."

"I agree," Edward replied, clearly not rejecting vegetables because of their cost. He frowned. "I simply dislike their taste."

...Is this... a major brat?

Tang Feiliu took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm, then addressed Edward: "Actually, when you wrap the grilled meat in a leaf and bite into it, the juices mix together—it's quite delicious. Please try it first..."

The beeswax candles produced no smoke. Edward stared at Tang Feiliu for a long moment before slowly picking up a silver fork and placing the lettuce-wrapped meat into his mouth.

Lamb is typically quite gamey, but Tang Feiliu loved it himself. In winter, his lamb hotpot, lamb wraps, and grilled lamb skewers were collectively known among friends as the "Three Treasures of Winter"—meals you simply couldn't miss if you wanted to feel like you'd truly lived through the cold season. Sure enough, the moment the meat touched Edward's tongue, his dark eyes narrowed slightly... Tang Feiliu had already noticed this was the duke's way of showing relaxation and enjoyment.

Clearly, this perfectly seasoned dish—free of any gamey taste, rich with juices and fatty goodness yet balanced by the crisp lettuce's refreshing sweetness—was utterly satisfying. Not a single bite was wasted; it was just right.

Having enjoyed that first bite, his anticipation for the next course—roasted lamb ribs prepared according to his usual recipe—grew even stronger. Yet when he tasted the ribs, which had always been a favorite, tender to the bone, he realized that what he'd eaten before had been nothing but mud!

The lamb ribs were perfectly marbled, with a slightly crispy exterior. Black pepper and other spices stood out like never before. Without the usual cacophony of fennel, rosemary, herbs... and so on, just the black pepper and a hint of garlic complemented the lamb's fresh, tender flavor. It was fragrant and tender in the mouth, and the rich juices splashed out with just a light touch of the teeth.

Edward took two bites before abruptly stopping. He placed the entire, partially eaten piece of meat into the plate Tang Feiliu and Ivans had already arranged.

Tang Feiliu stared in utter bewilderment. What on earth was this about?!

A memory flashed through his mind—a post he'd seen online... It was from a medieval enthusiast forum where someone claimed that while life in the Middle Ages was terrible in every way, if you were reincarnated as a lord, you could keep a harem of handsome, well-built European knights. Then, when eating meat, you could toss the bones to the knights waiting nearby like you would to dogs, and they'd be utterly thrilled... Truth be told, Tang Feiliu had indeed sinfully fantasized for a few seconds about being surrounded by European hunks... but he never took it seriously!

Speaking of which, back when Europe had small workshops, they were already brewing the Industrial Revolution, about to emancipate slaves, and apparently invented the steam engine too—their tech tree was glowing brightly... Why can't your Lotte Empire emulate their good points? Your economy is growing, maritime trade is thriving—yet society remains stuck in this half-slave, half-feudal mess. Why must you copy only the worst aspects so thoroughly?! Sure, spices are still expensive in your era, poor peasants suffer terribly, and slaves suffer even worse... But couldn't ordinary folks at least fill their bellies by now?! Couldn't cheap fish and pork be eaten a few times a month?! Why does this barbaric custom of rewarding servants with meat still exist?!

Excrement everywhere! It's bad enough to breed resentment, but feeding your servants your own waste and expecting gratitude?!

Tang Feiliu's mind churned with turmoil. Before him, the dark-haired, dark-eyed Duke wore an expression of pride tempered with just a hint of genuine puzzlement—clearly baffled as to why the young doctor wasn't moved to tears! He was dead serious!

Tang Feiliu stared at Edward in despair, hesitating over how to refuse without provoking the duke's wrath. But Edward paused, then suddenly smiled. "No need to be overly moved," he said. "Eat."

Perfect. Refusing now would be utterly ungrateful, downright criminal!

Tang Feiliu felt utterly defeated. His trembling hand reached out, trying desperately to avoid looking at the bite-marked steak.

The only relief for Tang Feiliu came when, as he struggled to overcome his inner resistance and began chewing the steak, Edward gestured to Ivans behind him to serve Tang Feiliu—scooping food onto his plate and ladling soup... clearly not intending to take a bite or sip of everything himself before bestowing it upon his young doctor.

Throughout the meal, aside from the initial discomfort of consuming someone else's saliva—especially that of a person who didn't brush but merely wiped his teeth with cloth—the delicious food he'd prepared proved deeply soothing.

What left him utterly disheartened, however, was when Edward finished eating, wiped his mouth, and murmured softly, "Very well, now you must teach me how to bathe with soap, young Lance."

Tang Feiliu had thought swallowing someone else's saliva was bad enough, but it seemed life could always get more thrilling.

What could he do?!

He could only tell himself—this is work, this is work. Stay calm, young man!

Calm my ass!!!!

He must be the most miserable transmigrator in the entire world! Absolutely!