The cook on the other side glanced over, "Could you be mistaken? I see nothing missing! It's just like when it came out of the pot."
The cook who raised the concern scratched his head and still said, "…No, I still feel there's a bit missing."
"Nothing's missing, just hurry up and do your work. Don't just stand there. It's almost noon and the masters of each palace are waiting to dine."
"Oh!"
The hurried cook replied, but his actions betrayed his true thoughts.
He put down the knife and started looking around the kitchen for the thief who stole the food, but he couldn't find anyone suspicious after searching for a long time.
After a moment of silence, he started searching under the chopping board in front of him.
When he got to the chopping board, where the chicken leg was placed, he did find the little thief.
He wasn't wrong, there was indeed a thief.
It's just that this thief was two and a half years old, very small, and not easily noticed when hiding.
The cook took a step closer, looking at the little guy with his head buried in a flour sack, and said with a half-smile, "Little thing, you hid quite deeply, huh? You think this way I wouldn't find you?"
"How naive."
The cook wanted to crawl under the board to pull him out, but he was too fat. He squatted on the ground trying for a long time but couldn't get in.
He had to change his approach, stretching his arm under the board, attempting to grab the person's collar and pull him out, but unfortunately, his arm was too short, and despite his effort, he couldn't reach him.
The whole Imperial Kitchen was attracted by his actions.
"Chef Liu, there really is a thief stealing food!"
"This thief has guts, to dare steal from the Imperial Kitchen, must be tired of living, huh?"
"This brazen thing, does he think the Imperial Kitchen is his own house? Come as he pleases, eat as he wants?"
"Everybody help Chef Liu, let's drag this thief out and give him a good beating, see if he dares to steal again."
Hearing people pointing fingers and talking about wanting to kill him, Jun Ning hiding with his head in the flour sack felt panicked.
What to do? What to do? He's been discovered.
With so many people watching him, escape wouldn't be easy.
"Little thief, are you coming out by yourself, or do I have to pull you out?" the cook threatened. "If you come out yourself today, considering your small size, I won't hold it against you. But if I have to call someone to pull you out, then you better watch out."
"I don't believe you," Jun Ning mumbled.
Whether he comes out himself or waits to be pulled out, the result would be the same.
These people, to show off their vigilance and how they caught a thief, would definitely hand him over for punishment.
By that time.
"I'm doomed," the little guy said in an exaggerated mature tone, then shouted loudly, "Ah ah ah! Look over there, there's a fire, a huge fire!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, where's the fire? Stop blabbering, come out quickly," the cook said without turning his head.
"You fools, there's a fire and you don't go to put it out, instead, you're all focused on a little kid like me. I ask you, does stealing food have a bigger impact than a fire? Aren't you afraid the fire will grow and burn down the whole Imperial Kitchen, leaving the masters without food, and you'll all be held responsible?" Jun Ning scared them with exaggerated threats.
It sounded serious and intimidating.
But nobody believed it…