Qiao Xuan was right; there was not enough for everyone. She had made sure of it.
Herbal congee took a lot of work to make. Furthermore, the sheer variety of ingredients called for a precise amount to be used. It was a delicate balance, which required using a specifically sized clay pot with adequate thermal conductivity.
Most clay pots were not very large, so they helped concentrate the flavours in a dish. This specificity gave the chef pause because he needed to look for a clay pot that would fit Qiao Yue's requirements.
Moreover, the herbal porridge was based on a recipe meant to nourish the Old Master's body - it was not suited for general consumption. Even if she could tweak the recipe, why should she? Qiao Yue disliked the petty tricks of the third branch of the family and did not feel like making food for them to enjoy.
"Big Brother, why don't you ask Grandpa to give you some?" Qiao Yue's eyes formed twin crescents as she spoke.
