The departure date had long been set. Edward wanted to wrap up his responsibilities quickly so he could focus on exploring the seaside merchant market with Tang Feiliu.
Naturally, Allen was all for it. The two were swamped with preparations, unaware that back home, Tang Feiliu and Rogers were causing an absolute ruckus with their verbal sparring.
Tang Feiliu had no desire to engage with this immature young master. Yet Rogers possessed a talent for provocation as striking as his looks. Day after day, he not only taunted verbally but also relentlessly stirred trouble with tactics so childish and crude they bordered on genius. Each time, Tang Feiliu found himself itching to grab the brat and spank him like a naughty child.
After dodging him several times, the brat only grew more combative. Tang Feiliu's temper flared, clouding his judgment. He resolved to catch Rogers and give him a proper beating.
But Rogers, seemingly battle-hardened, proved slippery as an eel. Tang Feiliu's repeated attempts to pin him down always fell short.
Finally, Tang Feiliu had a moment of clarity. He remembered his own frail physique—he simply couldn't match the spoiled but physically fit young master in running or jumping. Taking a deep breath, he studied his opponent closely and discovered the young master had an intense love for desserts... no, he was downright obsessed with food!
After much deliberation, Tang Feiliu entered the kitchen that afternoon. He dusted off a long-forgotten skill and diligently cracked eggs, whisked them, and poured in milk under the warm sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows. After a while, Rogers, who had been leisurely playing outside, caught the scent of a gentle, warm aroma wafting in.
"What delicious treat did you make today?" Rogers' eyes lit up as he rushed inside, instructing the maid, "Bring it out immediately."
"Well... it was Lord Lance in the kitchen..." the maid replied uneasily. The two masters might not know, but the servants were well aware of the recent rivalry between these two distinguished gentlemen at home. She hesitated, fearing Rogers might take offense.
Rogers, however, wasn't thinking about that. He stood up, snorted, and said, "Him? He's probably just putting on airs..."
As he spoke, Rogers shuffled pathetically toward the kitchen.
The aroma grew richer and more intense the closer he got to the kitchen. and as he inhaled, the sweet, milky aroma suddenly seemed to burst with the scent of meat. Unable to resist, he peered inside and saw Tang Feiliu humming as he baked something. Beside him lay some small cookies filled with colorful dried fruits, exuding the rich, buttery sweetness of butter. Though Rogers had never tasted cookies like these before, he was familiar with butter cookies. Growing up in the conservative household of Nandeng Township, he knew little of the ways of Black Swan City. Thus, he remained unaware that many of his favorite desserts were actually recipes created by Tang Feiliu.
Tang Feiliu had long known Rogers would arrive—the servants' anxious expressions gave them away. Though he'd initially planned to tease Rogers, Tang Feiliu now found genuine peace. He reflected on how everyone had been working so hard lately and resolved to properly direct the servants, determined to prepare a truly delicious meal for them all.
Since rice remained elusive, Tang Feiliu could only prepare noodle dishes. Edward preferred meat over vegetables and staples, which wasn't ideal. After pondering for a while and inspecting the ingredients, Tang Feiliu finally settled on a menu.
Rogers watched Tang Feiliu working diligently for a long while before snorting and walking away. Of course, if he hadn't been swallowing his saliva, his snort would have carried far more authority.
That evening's dinner surprised the weary Alan and Edward—they studied the bright red dish intently for a while before Tang Feiliu smiled and announced, "This is tomato meat sauce pasta!"
Indeed, Tang Feiliu had somehow forgotten this classic pasta combination!
He adored noodles and starchy foods, but perhaps due to recent busyness or an overflowing recipe collection, whenever Tang Feiliu craved noodles lately, he’d always opted for Chinese-style noodles. Now, recalling this recipe, he gazed at the vibrant noodles before him, inhaling the tangy tomato aroma mingled with savory meat. His mouth instantly watered. He gestured to everyone, saying, "Just twist it with your fork and dig in! dig in!"
With that, Tang Feiliu shoved a forkful into his mouth. The rich, savory meat juices mingled with the noodles, while the tomato's subtle tang cut through the richness. Each bite left him craving more. Tang Feiliu felt he couldn't have done a better job!
Watching Tang Feiliu eat, Edward—who trusted him implicitly when it came to food—took a bite himself. The rich flavor made the Duke squint his eyes in delight. Was it destiny or innate talent? Regardless, among all the delicacies—be it chicken soup ramen, meat patties, steamed buns, or chili stewed mixed vegetables... His Lordship Edward instantly recognized his favorite with that very first bite!
Perhaps this was the soul ingrained in Westerners, a destined true love. In any case, Allen and Rogers also took a bite. Mr. Allen was fine, but Rogers was conquered at the very first taste!
This was the most delicious staple food he had ever sought and found!!!
And the best was yet to come. Being by the sea, precious fish sold here were incredibly cheap. Tang Feiliu asked about the fish's characteristics, then selected a tender, boneless one to make grilled fish!
First, it was marinated with spices and chili peppers, then grilled over high heat. Finally, a ladleful of red oil was poured over it, and the whole thing was stewed in a pot with onions layered at the bottom—this dish was Tang Feiliu's meticulously refined version. In modern times, some might dislike mutton or find it too gamey, but grilled fish? That's a favorite among men, women, young, and old alike.
The finicky Rogers was clearly one such person!
Rogers loved meat, but he disliked the gamey taste of lamb. Beef was tolerable, and he adored all kinds of fish and chicken. However, he was used to simple grilled fish, savoring mostly the natural tenderness of the fish itself. This time, taking his first tentative bite, Rogers suddenly looked at Tang Feiliu with eyes that seemed to say "love at first sight"!
Edward couldn't handle spicy food well. Alan, having traveled far and wide, had tasted everything and was more open-minded than Edward. He also found the grilled fish delicious, though not with the same fervor as Rogers. Still, the tomato pasta itself was incredibly tasty. and since Tang Feiliu knew Edward couldn't handle spice, he'd prepared his favorite dish—black pepper grilled beef brisket—for him. The fish was meant just for Edward to sample.
Tang Feiliu hadn't cooked in ages, and his own belly had grown round from eating. As he lay resting on the sofa, he couldn't help but think... It was a shame they didn't have wasabi and soy sauce back then, otherwise the fish in the kitchen could have been used for sashimi...
But that was Tang Feiliu's perspective. To everyone else, today's meal was absolutely delicious. Especially to young master Rogers, who barely acknowledged Allen that evening, instead deep in thought. The next morning, as soon as Tang Feiliu woke up, he found the childishly petty young master Rogers, wearing a gentle, sweet smile, personally plating his breakfast. The maid beside him stared at him in sheer terror... The moment Rogers spotted Tang Feiliu, he greeted him with a smile: "Why, isn't this Lord Lance? You're up? I've already prepared your breakfast... and I brewed the coffee myself!"
Tang Feiliu thought he must be half-asleep. He desperately needed to crawl back into bed and start the day over.
But before he could act on that thought, Rogers had already rushed over, affectionately taking Tang Feiliu's hand and leading him all the way to the dining table. He then personally poured Tang Feiliu a cup of rich, aromatic coffee.
"What... what's in this?" Tang Feiliu stared at Rogers in confusion, his voice trembling as he asked.
He thought hard. They'd been trading barbs back and forth, but it hadn't escalated to the point of poisoning each other, had it?!
Rogers clearly didn't understand Tang Feiliu's meaning. After a moment's thought, he laughed and said, "Lord Lance, you really have a sense of humor. I only put coffee and milk in it—nothing else!"
"No... First tell me why you're being so generous today. Otherwise, I won't dare drink it." Tang Feiliu pressed earnestly.
"Well... I just wanted to say... yesterday's food was delicious. Thank you!" Rogers stammered. Seeing Tang Feiliu still looked confused, he paused, then added awkwardly, "Our cook is amazing at desserts. Can I trade you for some?"
Whoa, he actually caved that easily?!
Tang Feiliu had vaguely guessed this young master was being so friendly because he wanted something from him, but what kind of pure, innocent mind would be so straightforward?!
Looking at the beautiful, elfin-like Rogers before him, Tang Feiliu felt a complex mix of emotions he couldn't quite name. He thought: Thank goodness this young master had such good fortune. To be born with such looks, yet raised in the countryside of Nandeng Township, protected and born into the higher-status gentlemanly class.
If he possessed this temperament and appearance while growing up in an unprotected or more chaotic environment... his life journey would likely be far more terrifying.
But had his origins been different, perhaps Rogers wouldn't be so innocent, nor so... irritating. Yet when he acted cute, he genuinely became endearing.
The world holds countless faces, yet someone as uniquely confident and innocent as Rogers remains an exceedingly rare phenomenon. Tang Feiliu couldn't help but chuckle at his manner, feigning distress as he said, "But I have all the pastry recipes... cream cakes, frosted cakes, sweet breads, waffles, and cookies..."
The list left Rogers wide-eyed. He thought hard, realizing Tang Feiliu knew everything his own cook could do. After a moment of silence—just as Tang Feiliu wondered if she’d teased the young master too much—Rogers declared resolutely, "Fine... then I’ll have to trade for that one!"
That evening, Edward and Allen were served an exceptionally unique dish—Crispy Roast Chicken.
This recipe was a Pal family heirloom, passed down as a special dish for guests. It was said to have originated from an aunt who married into nobility, making it an extremely precious recipe. And clearly, this dish had even shocked Tang Feiliu!
This era was roughly on par with Asia at the time—true delicacies belonged to the great nobility, while commoners often struggled to get enough to eat. After much fussing by Rogers and Tang Feiliu, Tang Feiliu caught the crispy, savory aroma of the chicken. As soon as it was taken out of the oven and sliced open on the table, the faintly golden juices oozed out from beneath the crackling, crispy skin. Then, the aroma of spices perfectly blended with chicken burst forth, making one's mouth water almost instantly.
Rogers was something else... Tang Feiliu took a bite and was utterly conquered by the crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior of the roast chicken. He felt he owed the young master a huge favor, so he stopped teasing him. Seeing that Rogers genuinely had an interest in cooking, he decided to engage with him openly.
Rogers had always been a carefree sort, but he clearly possessed both passion and talent for cooking—typically, those who love food are quicker to grasp culinary techniques, as their innate discernment surpasses the average person's.
Before setting sail, Rogers became engrossed in the kitchen, and the two grew increasingly close.
Rogers was single-minded in his convictions. He considered Tang Feiliu, who had taught him so many recipes, a good man. As the departure date approached, he felt deeply reluctant to part ways and warmly invited him: "Remember to come to the New World! Allen said you'll be heading there eventually too. When you do, I'll definitely find some fresh, delicious treats to treat you to!"
Through their time together, Tang Feiliu had grown increasingly fond of Rogers. Innocent yet proud, he'd been raised in an environment overflowing with affection. This nurtured a carefree attitude—he didn't care what others thought—refusing to be outdone in words while acting with unwavering integrity. His preferences were openly displayed, never hidden.
Such a person made an excellent friend, especially for someone like Tang Feiliu who carried secrets. Being around a friend like Rogers felt incredibly relaxed and comfortable.
Thus, Tang Feiliu smiled and nodded, carefully pulling out a stack of papers. He said earnestly, "Rogers, these are the foods I haven't had time to teach you yet. Some are unique to the New Continent... You can try them when the time comes."
Deeply moved, Rogers blinked his emerald eyes at Tang Feiliu, tears welling up. He pulled a vivid green necklace from around his neck and thrust it into Tang Feiliu's hands. "This is my favorite necklace. Keep it as a memento!"
With that, he clung to Tang Feiliu, rubbing his head against her like a puppy... Tang Feiliu couldn't help but think that this guy, despite his terrible personality, was constantly loved and forgiven by countless people. Perhaps he truly possessed an innate gift for endearing himself to others.
The sails billowed as the reluctant Rogers was led aboard the ship by Allen.
"Hey, you know how reluctant Rogers was? Why hasn't he tried to run away at all lately?" Tang Feiliu watched as Rogers obediently let himself be led aboard.
Edward clearly couldn't answer that question either.
Having spent considerable time with Rogers, Tang Feiliu shook his head and chuckled softly. "...This guy might not have the sharpest mind, but his instincts are incredibly strong."
Back in the modern world, Tang Feiliu had heard a theory: some people possessed a natural disposition for happiness. They instinctively knew who treated them best, who they loved most, and who mattered most to them... Often, before their minds could fully process it, their feet had already carried them toward the right path.
From afar, Rogers' voice boomed: "Hey! Did you pack all the spices?! Did you plant the chili peppers Lance mentioned properly on the ship?!"
Arrogant, yet full of vitality.
The fleet carrying Rogers and Allen slowly departed the harbor, while Edward and Lance waved farewell to Jess and the others.
"...Will we ever go to the New World too?" Tang Feiliu gazed wistfully at the departing ships, feeling a pang of loneliness for the first time.
It wasn't about anything else—in this era, distance meant uncertainty. No phones, no computers, no way to stay in touch... So a casual wave goodbye might mean turning away forever.
"Do you want to go?" Edward asked Tang Feiliu softly.
"Wherever you go, I'll follow," Tang Feiliu murmured, clasping Edward's hand. "But why leave your escape route in the New World? I thought you'd stay holed up in York forever."
Truth be told, Edward was practically a semi-homebody, spending his days wandering around his own territory. He disliked social gatherings and balls, making him quite the oddball. Tang Feiliu had assumed he’d never dream of venturing far from home.
Author's Note:
Thanks to Tangyuan Nuonuo for the landmine.
My back hurts, so regular updates resume tomorrow. Then I'll pack to head home for the New Year, with updates becoming sporadic until I return.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!