Free Web NovelChapter 160: Chapter 160: Real Identity of The Old Lady
Yue Yue followed her down the corridor. Soon, they reached a large kitchen.
But the moment Yue Yue stepped inside, she was surprised.
The kitchen was filled with all kinds of ingredients: fresh vegetables, dried herbs, spices, grains, and even different kinds of meat.
This was very unusual.
In the interstellar world, most people only drank nutritional solutions. Real cooking ingredients were extremely expensive and rare.
But this kitchen looked almost like one from ancient times.
The caretaker walked to the stove and lifted a heavy pot. Inside, a few large bones were simmering in clear water.
Steam rose gently into the air.
Yue Yue tilted her head. "What are you cooking?"
The old woman smiled. "It is bone soup."
She stirred the pot slowly.
"I have always loved cooking ancient human dishes," she explained. "So I often try to recreate them here. The young masters also like the food I make."
Yue Yue nodded.
"I see."
She leaned closer and looked at the pot again. The soup was very simple, just bones in boiling water.
After a moment, she said softly, "If you add some ginger and scallions, the soup will taste better. And you should skim the foam from the top. It will make the broth clearer."
The caretaker blinked in surprise. "Oh? You know how to cook this?"
Yue Yue gave a small smile. "I used to eat this kind of food often."
The old woman’s eyes lit up. "Then please, teach me."
Soon, the two of them stood side by side at the stove.
Yue Yue showed her how to wash the ginger, slice it thinly, and add it to the pot. She also showed her how to remove the foam and adjust the heat.
The caretaker followed every step carefully, like a student learning from a master.
The kitchen slowly filled with a richer, warmer aroma.
After that, Yue Yue noticed a pile of meat in the bowl.
"We can also make white meat buns," she said.
"Meat buns?" the caretaker repeated curiously.
Yue Yue nodded and began mixing flour and water in a bowl. She kneaded the dough while explaining each step.
The caretaker watched in fascination, occasionally helping her shape the buns.
Soon, neat rows of white buns were placed into the steamer.
Warm steam filled the kitchen, carrying the comforting scent of fresh bread and meat.
Yue Yue glanced around again at all the ingredients.
"There are so many cooking materials here," she said. "Aren’t these very expensive in the interstellar world?"
The caretaker chuckled softly.
"They are. But I love cooking, so the young masters always bring many ingredients for me whenever they travel."
Her eyes softened.
"They say as long as it makes me happy, the cost does not matter."
"And most importantly, everyone here is literally obsessed with things from ancient civilizations, so you would be able to find many things here compared to other stars."
Yue Yue paused.
Those two brothers...
Even though they were feared pirates, they still cared so much about an old caretaker’s small hobby.
A faint warmth rose in her chest.
The buns were soon ready, and the rich aroma of bone soup filled the air.
Yue Yue stood beside the old caretaker, quietly listening to her words. The more she heard about the twins bringing ingredients just to make her happy, the more something stirred in her heart.
She could clearly see it.
Those two brothers truly cared about this old woman. It was not the attitude of masters toward a servant.
It felt more like sons’ care toward their mother.
Yue Yue glanced at the caretaker again. The gentle wrinkles on her face, the warm smile, and the calm and peaceful eyes, none of it felt like an ordinary caretaker.
Curiosity rose in her heart.
"Ma’am," Yue Yue asked softly, "are you really just their caretaker?"
The old woman paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Young lady, you have sharp eyes," she said with a warm smile. "You actually noticed it."
Yue Yue tilted her head slightly, waiting for her to continue.
The caretaker sighed softly before speaking again.
"I am not truly a caretaker," she said. "I grew up beside the old master. My father was the right hand of the grandfather of the young masters, and I was raised in this place since I was very young."
Her expression became distant, as if she was remembering something from the past.
"There was a time when I loved the old master very much."
She paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"But sadly, he fell in love with someone else. That woman later gave birth to the twin young masters."
Yue Yue listened quietly.
The old woman continued.
"Later, I also got married. But I was never able to conceive a child. The doctors said I was infertile."
Yue Yue’s brows furrowed slightly.
In this world, females were extremely precious because they could give birth. But if a female could not conceive, her status would fall. She would be treated almost like an ordinary orc.
She could not help but look at the caretaker with a trace of pity.
But the old woman noticed her expression and smiled gently.
"Don’t look at me like that," she said kindly. "My life has been very smooth. I have never suffered because of it. The old master and the young masters always treated me well."
Her eyes softened with affection.
"I have taken care of those two boys since the day they were born. I raised them like my own children."
She chuckled softly.
"So in a way, I am just a replacement for their mother. And they treat me very well."
There was no sadness in her eyes. Only warmth and quiet affection.
Yue Yue’s eyes slowly brightened. Many thoughts began to connect in her mind.
Their mother was not here. Their relationship with her must not have been good. And their father was no longer alive.
Her heart felt a little heavy. Then she looked at the old caretaker again. No wonder the brothers were so close to her. ƒrēewebnovel.com
This woman had raised them from birth. She was the one who gave them warmth and care.
Yue Yue’s expression softened.
She did not know why, but she felt a deep respect for this old woman.
Someone who took care of others with no selfish motives, someone who gave her whole life to raising two children who were not even her own.
Yue Yue felt a quiet sense of admiration in her heart.
