Chapter 1273 - 607: Culinary Skill and Courting Allies

In the living room, Yang Mei had already started setting the table.

Shen Yunxi hurriedly brought out plate after plate of dishes.

Lin Ya, wearing the apron commonly used by Yang Mei, came out holding a simple bowl of loofah and egg soup.

She couldn’t help but say, "I didn’t expect you to have loofah in your fridge."

Liang Yuan smiled, "The Ministry of Agriculture has already started growing it, didn’t you know?"

Lin Ya shook her head, "No, I haven’t seen any loofah for sale in the complex’s supermarket."

"Not on the market yet."

As Shen Yunxi continued to bring out the dishes, one delicate dish after another was placed on the table.

Shrimp and asparagus, spinach and egg rolls, steamed cod, yam and black fungus, poached kale.

There weren’t many dishes, but they were very exquisite.

With the dishes laid out, Lin Ya introduced, "Mr. Liang, these are all dishes suitable for early pregnancy."

"In the asparagus with shrimp, asparagus contains folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects in the fetus."

"In the spinach and egg rolls, the eggs are protein, and the spinach is also rich in folic acid."

"Steamed cod is clean and hygienic, and cod contains vitamin B6. It’s a shame there’s no lemon juice, it would taste even better with some."

"Then this poached kale can supplement calcium, as many pregnant women have a calcium deficiency early on."

"Finally, this stir-fried yam with black fungus, where yam is a carbohydrate and black fungus can supplement iron, both suitable for pregnant women."

Liang Yuan was somewhat surprised by her cooking skills.

Regardless of taste, at least the colors were really appealing.

Her cooking style wasn’t like Yang Mei’s home-style dishes.

Lin Ya was clearly more inclined towards exquisite and niche routes, even the plating was somewhat elaborate.

It was obvious the other party had really studied and learned about it.

Moreover, the nutritional balance was quite complete, at least she knew what nutrients were in those ingredients.

To be honest, most people definitely wouldn’t understand this.

Yang Mei laughed and said, "This is really abundant, hurry up, little brother, come and try Lin Ya’s skills."

With that, she took the initiative to pick up a piece of asparagus with her chopsticks and offered it to Liang Yuan’s mouth.

Liang Yuan tasted it; the asparagus was crisp and flavorful, retaining most of its original taste.

It seemed that it had been poached first, then quickly stir-fried with shrimp.

The seasoning was minimal, but the taste was very good.

Liang Yuan couldn’t help but be amazed. He glanced at Lin Ya, gave a thumbs up, and said, "Impressive."

Lin Ya, who was anxious, immediately relaxed and a slight smile appeared on her face.

Yang Mei also laughed and said, "Don’t just stand there, sit down and eat with us."

Lin Ya and Shen Yunxi hesitated for a moment, then sat down to eat.

The meal was a bit awkward, but luckily Yang Mei mediated. Lin Ya wasn’t as afraid of Liang Yuan as Shen Yunxi was.

Shen Yunxi kept her head down while eating and rarely joined the conversation.

Liang Yuan casually asked them a few questions about their work.

The meal was quickly finished, and Yang Mei smiled, saying, "You all talk, I’ll clean up the dishes."

Lin Ya quickly stood up, "I’ll do it. You’re pregnant right now."

Yang Mei laughed, "I’m not that delicate yet."

Then she glanced over at Liang Yuan’s side and said, "Don’t you have something to discuss with Liang Yuan?"

Lin Ya paused, pursed her lips, and nodded, "Well... okay."

When Yang Mei left the dining table, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Lin Ya and Shen Yunxi didn’t have the courage to speak first.

Liang Yuan sipped some loofah soup and said, "Lin Ya, your cooking skills are quite good. It seems you’ve studied formally."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ya quickly replied, "Yes, I used to be interested in gourmet food and specifically learned from a chef."

Liang Yuan nodded, "So, you’re experienced with pregnancy diets as well?"

"Yes, my dishes are usually light-tasting, so most of them are suitable for pregnant women."

"Good, then Sister Mei’s diet will be up to you."

Lin Ya immediately nodded, "Sure, don’t worry. With me taking care of Yang Mei, there won’t be any mistakes."

Liang Yuan slightly nodded, "I know your character well, so I’m very assured. As for your work, I’ll speak to Professor Li later. Once you’re done taking care of Sister Mei, you can go to the R&D department."

Shen Yunxi and Lin Ya immediately looked up, exchanged glances, and both showed expressions of joy.

Lin Ya quickly got up and bowed to Liang Yuan, "Thank you, Mr. Liang."

Liang Yuan said lightly, "No need to be polite; after all, we’re neighbors in the same district."

Mentioning this, Lin Ya instinctively recalled the scene when Liang Yuan swooped down from the balcony while she was showering.

A slight blush inadvertently appeared on her face. She adjusted her hair and said, "Yes, we are neighbors. It feels like something from a past life."

Indeed, before the great flood, she never imagined she would get to know Liang Yuan.

After the great flood, when Liang Yuan unexpectedly broke into her home, she could never have imagined that the brief encounter would lead Liang Yuan to become so powerful in the future.

Thinking back now, it all seems somewhat surreal.

Liang Yuan also, unintentionally, recalled that stunning scene of a bathrobe flying by, edges sketched by spiritual power.

Underneath this body lies a treasure-like physique that would make any man’s heart flutter.

Even Leng Yuehua, a woman, couldn’t resist, so it’s obvious how attractive Lin Ya is.

Liang Yuan coughed and changed the subject, asking, "Have any of you had contact with Leng Yuehua recently?"

Lin Ya and Shen Yunxi were immediately taken aback.

Lin Ya asked in surprise, "Mr. Liang, why do you ask? Is there news from Yue Hua?"

Shen Yunxi quickly added, "No, no, ever since we arrived at Yangshan, there’s been no news from them."

Liang Yuan carefully observed their expressions, which didn’t seem deceitful.

He nodded slightly and said, "You both know how stubborn Leng Yuehua is; she despises all men. I almost killed her last time, and if she’s not dead, she’ll definitely find ways to seek revenge."

Lin Ya and Shen Yunxi’s expressions changed slightly.

Lin Ya quickly said, "Mr. Liang, rest assured, if she appears at Yangshan, we will contact you immediately and make sure she doesn’t act recklessly."

Shen Yunxi also promptly assured, "Mr. Liang, last time we let him go privately, which already settles the debt for saving us back in the day."

"If she seeks trouble again, we definitely won’t cover for her."

Liang Yuan could see that Shen Yunxi seemed serious.

But Lin Ya clearly hadn’t made up her mind yet.

If they really discovered Leng Yuehua’s whereabouts or any news, Lin Ya might secretly warn Leng Yuehua, advising her to retreat reluctantly.

Instead of informing me first so I can deal with her.

He nodded slightly and said, "If she comes for me, it doesn’t really matter to me."

"With her prowess, even if she cultivates for another year or two, she won’t be able to harm me."

"But if she resorts to extreme measures to harm those around me for revenge, especially Sister Mei and others, you should know I won’t let her off lightly."

He looked at Lin Ya with significant intent and said, "Sister Mei has taken good care of you, Lin Ya, and she treats you as a genuine friend."

"I hope you don’t let your kindness lead to Sister Mei being harmed by Leng Yuehua."

Lin Ya’s face slightly changed as she bit her lip and said, "Mr. Liang, I can swear."

Liang Yuan chuckled and shook his head as she was about to swear, "No need, I know your character, but I worry you might be manipulated by Leng Yuehua, so I’m giving you a special reminder."

"Rest assured, if she contacts you, inform me immediately; I promise not to harm her when I capture her."

"But if she contacts you secretly and you don’t inform me, and she does something drastic, don’t blame me for disregarding neighborly relations."

Lin Ya nodded slightly and immediately said, "Rest assured, if there’s any news of her, I will inform you ahead of time and won’t let her act recklessly."

"Yang Mei and I get along very well, and I truly consider her a good friend."

"That’s good, it’s getting late, let me escort you back."

Shen Yunxi quickly said, "No, no, we can return by ourselves."

Lin Ya also refused politely, "Yes, yes, we can go back by ourselves."

Liang Yuan smiled, "I still don’t know where you live, and in case of any future issues, I need to recognize your place, let’s go. Consider this a preliminary visit."

Liang Yuan mentioned it to Yang Mei, who responded from the kitchen.

He then escorted the two ladies out.

Leaving the cliff, they arrived at the Fire Bamboo Forest.

Liang Yuan was somewhat surprised; there aren’t many houses within the Fire Bamboo Forest. Most residential buildings are located outside the forest in the mountain cove.

Within the cove, it is essentially within the bounds of the Sunshine District.

Not only have many administrative offices been built, but it also includes cbd-like complexes and other consumption venues.

Only a few residences are occupied by earlier movers.

These properties have become prime real estate; no matter the price in points, they are difficult to acquire.

Lin Ya seemed to notice Liang Yuan’s surprise and quickly explained, "We haven’t accrued enough points to buy a house yet. The land outside the Fire Bamboo Forest near here has already been developed, and there’s no land left to build."

"Places far away are inconvenient for us to reach the R&D department and the Weapon Factory, so Yunxi and I decided to spend some points to rent a place here."

Shen Yunxi added, "The closer the house to the complex, the more expensive the rent."

"Fortunately, the construction department has built high-rise apartments here, or else there wouldn’t be enough rental properties."

This was known to Liang Yuan; when Old Ma saw so many people wanting to reside within the Sunshine District, the construction department, to save space, built many high-rise apartment buildings directly in the sunny area.

There are twelve stories total, built against the mountains, with each floor holding dozens of rooms.

In total, there are three buildings, with each room covering about twenty-square meters, which is sufficient for sleeping and dining.

Moreover, most who rent here have some savings and rarely prepare their breakfast themselves, usually dining at the canteen on the first floor of the complex.

This area is mainly for resting, sleeping, and bathing.

Liang Yuan nodded and said, "I’ll ask someone to look for empty houses outside the Fire Bamboo Forest to reserve one for you."

"Consider it a token of thanks for your care for Sister Mei."

Lin Ya and Shen Yunxi’s faces immediately brightened upon hearing this.

The Fire Bamboo Forest is right outside the mountain cove, and now there’s no empty space in the cove; it’s all been turned into the Sunshine District.

The land outside the cove, being close to the Sunshine District, is equally expensive, practically costing a premium per square meter.

Of course, if the location doesn’t matter, there’s plenty of places to live farther away.

Since many people have awakened superpowers, the distance isn’t a big deal.

As for public security, there is no need to worry; the whole Yangshan is full of soldiers, the elderly, weak, sick are all sent to the Mirage Snake Space.

But for these two girls, naturally, they prefer the convenience of the Sunshine District.

Thus, hearing that Liang Yuan is offering a residence, especially one near the Fire Bamboo Forest, naturally excites them.