Description
Ji Wan'er Transmigrated Into a Book. The miserable part is that as soon as she opened her eyes, she found herself in a dilapidated house with leaking roofs. Even worse, she is already married to a husband who only knows how to read and is incapable of shouldering any responsibilities. The most wretched part is that her cheap husband is about to change due to her taking away his wealth and engaging in extramarital affairs, leading to her own tragic fate. Listening to the croaking of frogs in the corner of the wall, Ji Wan'er looked at the knife in her hand. What problem can't be solved with a delicious meal? And if there is one, then two meals will do.
Associated Names
Wearing the Buddha-like Main Consort of a Power Minister
This novel is written by one of my favorite Chinese author. I've read this many years ago and so I'm still trying to recall if MTL got the names right. I'm still on the process of editing the novel, so I might change name and job titles of the characters as I go through. This one is a short novel, around 64 chapters so I'm hoping to finish this novel this week.
4
It was the middle of spring, with the ice and snow beginning to melt, and the greenery flourishing.
In the mountains, about a hundred miles away from Jiangdong Prefecture, several villages were scattered sporadically.
After a few crowing of roosters, the sun gradually rose from the east, accompanied by the sounds of people and dogs barking, and the rhythmic chorus of frogs and birds in the jungle, breaking the emptiness and silence of the night.
Listening to the sounds outside, Ji Wan'er slowly opened her eyes.
She had been in this place for a few days now.
During these days, she couldn't tell if she was dreaming or if she had truly arrived in this unfamiliar time and space.
She always felt groggy, and her mind was filled with memories that didn't belong to her.
"Creak."
The window frame, worn out over the years, made a faint noise when the wind blew.
The cold wind, carrying the remnants of winter, blew into the house and seeped into the thin quilt that covered her.
Unconsciously, Ji Wan'er wrapped herself in the rough quilt embroidered with small flowers.
The quilt was too coarse, and it had been used for many years, causing her hands to feel a little sore.
If this was a dream, it felt too real.
But if it wasn't a dream, why had she ended up here?
She had only read a novel at night, so how did she wake up and find herself in the world of that novel?
It was an extremely inspirational novel.
The female lead was a daughter from a prestigious family. After her stepmother passed away, her father paid less attention to her. At the instigation of her stepmother, when she was just six years old, her biological father used a trivial mistake as a reason to send her away to a rural estate. As the female lead grew up, she used every means possible to find her way back to the capital city, maneuvering herself among the noble families and successfully marrying the fifth prince, who was the male lead and crown prince. They then worked together to overthrow their political enemies. After the male lead ascended the throne, the female lead became the noble consort. In a turn of events, the female lead, with her cunning strategies, replaced the empress and became the motherly figure of the nation. Her son also became the crown prince.
This was a typical story of a lowly-born female lead's growth and struggle, and it was also an escapist story where the female lead succeeded in everything she did. Although the theme was cliché, it was highly enjoyable to read and hard to put down.
She should have been happy to transmigrate into such an escapist story.
However, unfortunately, she didn't transmigrate as the female lead but as an unimportant character.
What was even worse was that she transmigrated as a vicious and tragically doomed supporting character.
When the six-year-old female lead was sent to the rural estate, the maidservants and maids around her were all expelled from the mansion.
The original host's birth mother was a maidservant who served the female lead. The original host and the female lead were the same age, and in their childhood, the original host had played with the female lead in her courtyard and witnessed the splendor and prosperity of the capital city, experiencing a life of luxury.
The female lead's misfortune also affected the original host, who was suddenly transferred from the bustling capital city to the impoverished countryside.
Although Ji Wan'er had read the novel, because she was just an unimportant supporting character in the book, her character was briefly mentioned. Only her evil deeds and their consequences were described, and nothing else was mentioned. As for Xiao Qingming, he was an antagonist because he opposed the female lead.
Now that she had transmigrated into the book, she did have some of the original host's memories. However, these memories were not complete. She found that the original host's memories were not entirely in her mind. She had to see specific people and witness specific events to slowly recall them.
For now, the memories she could recall were only vague fragments, and they carried the strong subjective color of the original host.
According to the original host's memories, the living conditions in her family were not as good as before, and she had fallen from heaven to hell. When she reached the age to marry, her mother, Nanny Dong, married her off to a scholar named Xiao Qingming, who had lost both his parents and came from a poor family.
Xiao Qingming's grandparents had three sons, and his father was the second son. Due to the early death of his parents, Xiao Qingming and his two siblings had been living with their grandparents and uncles.
The Xiao family was not well-off. The reason his uncles raised the three of them was not due to blood relations or pity, but because Xiao Qingming was a good student. The teacher in the village school had always said that his future was limitless and that he would definitely become a scholar. They believed these words and hoped that the male lead's success in the imperial examinations would bring some glory to their family, so they sent him to study.
Unfortunately, Xiao Qingming failed the exams twice, and during that time, his parents passed away, causing a delay due to mourning. After that, his uncles no longer wanted to support them.
Just a month after the original host married into the family, the Xiao family split apart.
Life became even more difficult after the family split.
Xiao Qingming's eldest uncle and third uncle were both cold-hearted individuals, and they had long disliked Xiao Qingming and his siblings. Xiao Qingming was also a silent and introverted person. When the family split, they barely received anything, and they were even forced to live in a thatched cottage that had been vacant for over ten years.
The original host couldn't take it anymore.
After about half a year, she eloped with a merchant from the capital city.
Xiao Qingming, who had studied for many years but achieved nothing, was unable to shoulder any responsibilities. He was first kicked out of the ancestral home by his uncles, and now his wife had run away with someone else. Due to the rumors spread by the Xiao family and Ji Wan'er in the village, people from the surrounding areas believed that he was a freeloader supported by his uncles, living off his wife's dowry.
However, the truth was not as it seemed.
Leaving aside other matters, let's focus on the fact that the family had no money and the spending of the original host's dowry. Ji Wan'er knew something was not right. Inside the original host's cabinet, there were ten taels of silver that Xiao Qingming had given her, which should have been used for his studies but had been taken out for household expenses. Ji Wan'er had hidden these ten taels of silver in her secret stash of money, and not only did she not use it to support the family, she also spread rumors outside that Xiao Qingming had used her dowry.
Moreover, she vaguely remembered that besides the wealthy merchant, it seemed that the original host had also been involved with other men... Now, she had faint images forming in her mind.
Xiao Qingming was a silent and introverted person who had never argued back or defended himself outside.
Once the green hat was worn, Xiao Qingming became the laughingstock of everyone's gossip.
Xiao Qingming's younger brother was abducted during the chaos.
Xiao Qingming changed.
Soon, Xiao Qingming passed the provincial examination, then the metropolitan examination the following year, and finally achieved the top score in the imperial examination.
After becoming the top scorer, Xiao Qingming took his sister to the capital city, leaving the villagers of Xiao's village with no glory.
In the capital city, Xiao Qingming encountered the original host.
Since they never officially divorced, the original host was still Xiao Qingming's wife.
The original host and her adulterous partner were caught and accused of adultery, while the Ji family also faced various troubles. If it weren't for Nanny Dong pleading for help from the female lead, the Ji family would have been truly finished.
Thinking about the things the original host had done and considering her own future outcome, Ji Wan'er couldn't help but tremble. Judging by the timing, the wealthy merchant from the capital city had yet to appear, and Xiao Qingming was still the same as before. Thankfully, thankfully, the events that would influence her ending had not occurred.
Ji Wan'er's pounding heart slowly calmed down.
She had been lying in bed, dazed and sleeping for several days, but she couldn't return to her original world. Perhaps, she was destined not to go back.
If she was destined to live in this time and space, she wouldn't allow such things to happen.
If she really couldn't go on, she would divorce Xiao Qingming peacefully, parting ways amicably. She would never resort to the methods of the original host and put herself in a dilemma.
She wasn't the kind of person who dwelled on things.
Although she couldn't understand why she suddenly ended up in this time and space, since it had already happened and she had no power to change it, she could only accept it.
"Gurgle... Gurgle..."
Ji Wan'er's attention immediately shifted as she raised her hand and touched her belly.
In this vast world, eating was of utmost importance.
Ji Wan'er sat up from the bed, but instantly lay back down.
Although it was already February, the weather was still cold.
As soon as she sat up, the cold wind penetrated through the layers of her clothing, chilling her to the bones.
Ji Wan'er took the clothes placed by the bedside, tucked them into the bed, and warmed them for a while. Then she put on the inner layer inside the blanket before sitting up again and wearing the outer layer.
Once dressed, Ji Wan'er opened the bedroom door.
Looking at the endless fields in front of her, she couldn't help but sigh. Their family was truly poor!
Not to mention the courtyard walls, there wasn't even a fence. It was just four lonely thatched huts.
The study was on the east side, the kitchen on the west side. In the middle were two rooms, with the larger one in the center being the main hall, and an auxiliary room on the east side.
Ji Wan'er and Xiao Qingming were living in this auxiliary room.
Xiao Qingming's younger brother and sister, on the other hand, were in the western side of the main hall. They had set up a makeshift platform with wood and stones, covered it with bedding, and they slept on top.
Ji Wan'er sighed and went to the well to freshen up.
After finishing her ablutions, she went to the kitchen.
At the moment, Xiao Qingming's ten-year-old sister, Xiao Yun Shuang, and six-year-old brother, Xiao Zi An, were cooking in the kitchen.
Xiao Zi An was sitting in front of the stove, stacking firewood in the bottom of the pot.
Xiao Yun Shuang was holding a knife and chopping vegetables on the cutting board.
The two of them were still talking.
"Sister, Sister-in-law hasn't gotten up for several days, it's really nice," Xiao Zi An said.
Although his voice was lowered, the happiness in his words could still be heard.
Xiao Yun Shuang paused her vegetable chopping and said, "Zi An, don't say that."
"But Sister-in-law hits me and scolds me every day. It's not as good as when we were in the old house with Grandpa and Grandma..."
"Stop talking," Xiao Yun Shuang interrupted her brother's words. "We've already been driven out by the people from the old house, and we have nothing to do with them anymore."
"Then why can't we tell Brother? Let him take care of Sister-in-law."
"How can you be so thoughtless? Brother will have exams in a few months, how can you bother him with these things?" Xiao Yun Shuang said, and then added, "Nowadays, we eat and drink with Sister-in-law's money. You need to learn to be grateful."
Seeing her sister getting angry, Xiao Zi An quickly said, "I understand, Sister. I was wrong."
Xiao Yun Shuang looked at the cutting board in front of her and murmured, "It would be great if Brother could pass the scholar exam..."
"Crack!"
Upon hearing the noise, both children looked up simultaneously.
How can these two children be described?
Xiao Yun Shuang was already ten years old, but she looked like she was only seven or eight. Her big eyes were sunken, and there was no flesh on her face, leaving only bones.
Xiao Zi An was slightly better, but his complexion was also waxen yellow, clearly indicating long-term malnutrition.
As for their clothes, they were all loose sleeves with patches on them, ill-fitting.
While the two children were not bad-looking, their spirits were lacking.
Ji Wan'er grew up in an affluent era. Although she also grew up in the countryside during her early years, she had never seen a family that couldn't afford to eat.
These two faces were enough to make anyone feel heartbroken.
Ji Wan'er glanced at the piece of firewood she had just broken, and smiled kindly at the two children.
When Xiao Yun Shuang and Xiao Zi An saw her, their inner feelings were anything but calm.
Xiao Zi An's hand trembled, causing the firewood he was holding to fall to the ground.
Xiao Yun Shuang, slightly better composed, tremblingly placed the knife on the cutting board and respectfully said, "Sister-in-law, the meal will be ready soon. Please wait a moment."
Observing their behavior, Ji Wan'er frowned.
As soon as she frowned, Xiao Zi An became frightened and stood up from the wooden stool.
Xiao Yun Shuang quickly stepped aside and used her frail body to shield her brother.
"Sis... Sister-in-law, we didn't mean to start late. We will... we will definitely wake up earlier to prepare the meal tomorrow," Xiao Yun Shuang's voice trembled.
At this moment, Ji Wan'er's mind gradually recalled how the original host treated these two children in their daily lives.
The original host was dissatisfied with this arranged marriage, naturally harboring dislike towards the Xiao family. Especially after the family split, she vented all her anger on the two children. She made them cook, do laundry, and perform household chores, and at the slightest mishap, she would scold and beat them.
In addition to secretly hiding money, she tarnished Xiao Qingming's reputation outside and engaged in an affair with another man despite being married. She also abused her younger brother and sister. Ji Wan'er felt that her path to changing her destiny was arduous and full of responsibility.
Ji Wan'er completely ignored the conversation she had just overheard between the siblings and said, "Let me prepare the meal."
Ji Wan'er surveyed the kitchen.
The kitchen was very simple, with two pots and only some vegetables and seasonings on the stove.
A basket covered with coarse white cloth could faintly reveal a few mantous inside.
There were also two bags on one side, one containing a small amount of rice and the other containing flour.
Xiao Zi An was boiling plain water in one of the pots.
According to the family's tradition, they would add some vegetables and a little salt to the boiling water to make a vegetable soup.
Then they would heat up the mantous from the basket.
And that would be the complete breakfast.
During the days when she was lying in bed, Xiao Yun Shuang had brought her this kind of breakfast.
At that time, she was in a daze and lacked the energy to eat. She only managed to drink a few sips of soup before falling back into a deep sleep.
Now she hadn't eaten for a few days, and the two children were so hungry. Xiao Qingming still had to study, and it wouldn't do for them to have this kind of breakfast every day. They needed something more substantial and nutritious.
There weren't many ingredients in the house, and it was too late to go out and buy anything. All she could do was make use of what she had.
After a quick glance, Ji Wan'er had already figured out what she could cook in her mind.
However... she realized that there was no oil in the kitchen.
"Do we have no oil left at home?" Ji Wan'er asked while searching.
Xiao Yun Shuang snapped back to reality and glanced at Ji Wan'er. Seeing that she genuinely wanted to find oil, Xiao Yun Shuang felt a bit puzzled and hesitant. She whispered, "We have some."
"Oh, we have oil? That's good," Ji Wan'er sighed in relief. If there was no oil, the taste of the food she would cook would definitely be compromised.
However, where was the oil?
The kitchen was so small, how did she miss it?
"Where is it?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Xiao Yun Shuang pursed her lips and pointed outside, saying, "It's in the storeroom."
The storeroom?
Why would the oil be kept in the storeroom instead of the kitchen for cooking?
Just as Ji Wan'er was about to ask, she suddenly thought of a plot from the book.
She remembered that the original owner would make Xiao Yun Shuang and Xiao Zi An cook every day but was afraid they would use too much oil secretly, so she hid the valuable oil, sugar, and eggs in her own room. Sometimes she would even cook eggs and eat them secretly.
Although she hadn't done these things herself, looking at the eyes of the children in front of her, Ji Wan'er couldn't help but feel a hint of embarrassment.
These things weren't even anything precious, so why hide them?
Moreover, she was an adult, sneaking food behind the children's backs...
On the very first day of the separation, Xiao Qingming gave Ji Wan'er the silver bracelet and silver hairpin that his mother left for him to support his scholarly examinations.
In these six months, the original owner never spent her dowry on the Xiao family.
Except for the month spent at the old house, where she was persuaded by the aunties from the main and third branches to use some of her dowry to subsidize the expenses there, she didn't spend a single penny afterward. The original owner tightly held onto her dowry, and in fact, the household expenses for food, clothing, and other necessities were covered by Wang Shi, Xiao Qingming's mother, through her dowry.
These two items were worth at least ten taels of silver.
With their frugal lifestyle, this amount of silver would be enough for them to live on for several years.
However, after just three months, Ji Wan'er told Xiao Qingming that she had spent it all.
Subsequently, Ji Wan'er would constantly complain to Xiao Qingming about the household expenses, both in private and in public when they were outside.
This tarnished Xiao Qingming's reputation more and more.
"Yun Shuang, go to my room and bring the oil and eggs here," Ji Wan'er instructed.
Xiao Yun Shuang's eyes widened slightly, and her already gaunt face appeared even more haggard.
Seeing her dazed expression, Ji Wan'er raised her hand to touch her hair and comfort her. However, as she lifted her hand, Yun Shuang immediately flinched and almost tucked her head into her neck.
Feeling awkward, Ji Wan'er quickly withdrew her hand and said, "Go ahead, be careful not to spill anything."
"Okay."
Before leaving, Yun Shuang glanced at her younger brother and signaled to him behind Ji Wan'er's back. Then, holding his hand, they left the kitchen together.
Ji Wan'er smiled helplessly. Was this little girl afraid that she would bully Xiao Zi An?
Glancing at the backs of the two children as they left, Ji Wan'er took out three cold and hard mantous from the basket and sliced them into small pieces with a knife.
After cutting them, she took out a bowl and filled it with water, adding some salt.
At that moment, Yun Shuang and Zi An returned together, with one carrying oil and the other holding eggs.
Yun Shuang glanced at the sliced mantous on the cutting board and said, "Sister-in-law, let me cook instead."
It had been over half a year since she married into the family, and Ji Wan'er had never cooked a meal. This strange way of cutting mantous was the first time she had seen it.
Yun Shuang felt that Ji Wan'er had been acting strangely these past few days, and she couldn't figure out what she was up to.
In the past, whenever Ji Wan'er acted differently from her usual self, it never turned out well... and it was always Yun Shuang and her younger brother who suffered.
"No need, if you have nothing to do, just heat up this pot. Keep the fire low," Ji Wan'er replied.
"Okay."
Ji Wan'er took out another bowl and cracked two eggs into it.
Although the eggs were still raw, when Xiao Zi An saw the color of the egg whites and heard the sound of cracking eggs, he couldn't help but salivate.
Ji Wan'er turned her head and glanced at him. Startled, Xiao Zi An quickly crouched down and huddled next to his sister, Yun Shuang.
Seeing his reaction, Ji Wan'er's face revealed a bitter smile. It seemed that the original owner's influence was quite significant. These two children seemed to be deeply afraid of her in their bones.
No wonder Xiao Qingming came to hate her later on.
Now everything is different.
Everything will get better.
The pot was hot, and Ji Wan'er poured three spoonfuls of oil into it.
The spoons were small, so three spoonfuls of oil wasn't much.
Considering that they hadn't had any oil in their meals recently, she didn't dare to put in more.
Ji Wan'er felt it was a small amount, but Yun Shuang and Zi An didn't think so. They both stared at her as she poured the oil into the pot.
They never used oil when stir-frying dishes on ordinary days. At most, when Ji Wan'er was in a good mood, she allowed them to use one spoonful.
Even in the old residence, they only used two spoonfuls of oil for stir-frying dishes on regular days.
Oil was precious, so they couldn't bear to use so much.
Both of them knew that using too much oil would be excessive, but they didn't remind Ji Wan'er.
Two spoonfuls of oil would already make it delicious, but with three spoonfuls, it would be even more fragrant.
They hadn't tasted the flavor of oil for several days.
Although they were sensible, they couldn't help but salivate at the same time.
Ji Wan'er first dipped the sliced mantous in the saltwater, then took out the moistened mantou slices and dipped them into the beaten eggs.
Once the oil was hot, she placed the mantou slices coated with egg into the pot.
As soon as the mantou slices entered the pan, the aroma of the eggs filled the air.
Yun Shuang couldn't remember how long it had been since she had smelled such a delightful fragrance—was it a year, two years... or perhaps in a past life?
Zi An couldn't help but stand up, his eyes fixed on the pan.
It had been so long since he had eaten eggs.
He had almost forgotten what eggs tasted like.
Ji Wan'er didn't notice the children's reactions.
She was afraid of burning them, so she quickly placed one mantou slice in the pan, followed by the second, the third, the fourth... Once the mantou slices in the pan were cooked, she promptly took them out and added new ones.
She had used too little oil.
She had sliced three large mantous in total, but by the second one, there wasn't much oil left in the pan.
Even if she wanted to add more, there wasn't enough time, so she had to make do with what she had.
Soon, all three mantous were cooked.
The pan was clean, so Ji Wan'er scooped another spoonful of oil into it.
While waiting, she chopped some green onions. When the oil was hot, she sautéed the onions until fragrant, then added the fresh vegetables that Yun Shuang had just cut.
Once it was stir-fried to perfection, she poured the hot water that Zi An had boiled in another pot into this pan.
After adding the water and covering the pan, Ji Wan'er finally noticed that both children were staring at the mantous in the dish, their eyes filled with longing.
Seeing the children's longing gaze, Ji Wan'er felt extremely uncomfortable.
"You must be hungry, have one first." Ji Wan'er picked up one mantou slice with chopsticks and handed it to Zi An.
Zi An's eyes were almost glued to that mantou slice, but he firmly shook his head.
Ji Wan'er couldn't understand, so she offered the mantou slice to Yun Shuang instead.
Yun Shuang forced herself to look away from the mantou slice and declined.
The children seemed to really want to eat it, yet they refused.
Could it be that they don't like this kind of food?
That seemed unlikely, judging by their expressions, they should love it.
Could it be a rule in the Xiao family?
Thinking that Xiao Qingming was a scholar, Ji Wan'er thought it might be the case and didn't insist further.
Since she added hot water, the water in the pan quickly boiled. Once the water boiled, Ji Wan'er added the noodle mixture into it.
When the water boiled again, she added the beaten eggs and quickly stirred them.
Soon, the eggs spread out, filling the entire pan.
Finally, she added the seasonings, and a pot of egg soup was ready.
The children's gaze shifted from the pan-fried mantou slices to the egg soup.
So, you can add oil to cook vegetable soup.
And you can also add eggs to the soup.
Eggs were precious items, only enjoyed by favored children in the family and women who were pregnant.
When they ate eggs, they didn't put them in the soup.
In the old house, Aunt and Uncle would take a bowl and make a bowl of egg water for their cousins.
What does egg soup taste like? Zi An wondered.
He had lost count of how many times he had salivated this morning.
Xiao's couple had passed away in an accident when Zi An was less than a year old, so he couldn't remember them.
Without parents, life for the three siblings was difficult to imagine.
Even though they had grandparents, Grandfather favored the eldest branch, and Grandmother favored the third branch. They didn't pay much attention to their branch.
Only Xiao Qingming had some weight in their eyes.
But Xiao Qingming was still young at that time and was studying at the town school, unable to take care of his younger brother.
At that time, Yun Shuang was only four or five years old... often going hungry.
Zi An had never experienced a good day and never eaten anything delicious.
Sometimes he could taste the leftovers from the eldest and third branches.
Yun Shuang had eaten some delicious food, after all, Xiao Er (Second Xiao - the ML's father) was capable and earned a good amount of money at that time.
Although they had to contribute to the public fund, he secretly saved a lot for himself.
She had also drunk egg water, but it was several years ago...
But if she had to compare, the taste of that egg water was far inferior to what she smelled today.
"Alright, let's get ready for the meal," Ji Wan'er said.
With eggs and meat, this was the most abundant breakfast they had seen since coming here.
After serving the meal, Ji Wan'er took it to the main hall, and Yun Shuang went to the study to call her brother.
Ji Wan'er was afraid that the three mantous wouldn't be enough, so she took out the buns from the basket, cut them into small pieces, and prepared to soak them in a bowl later.
She loved this way of eating.
The mantous made at home were more chewy, and when they cooled down and became a bit hard, soaking them in egg soup was absolutely delicious.
Store-bought buns were softer and didn't have the same effect.
The taste of freshly mantous was also different, they needed to become hard and soaked to taste good.
After cutting them, Ji Wan'er tidied up the kitchen, picked up the sliced buns, and walked out of the kitchen.
Just as she stepped out of the kitchen, she saw Xiao Qingming coming out of the study.
Xiao Qingming never let go of his scroll, walking and reading, murmuring to himself.
From a distance, Xiao Qingming was at least 1.8 meters tall. Even though he was wearing loose clothing, his good figure was still noticeable. Despite being slightly slender, he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and excellent proportions.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, as Xiao Qingming looked over.
With eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like stars, a high nose bridge, and tightly pursed thin lips, he appeared as a young gentleman walking out of a painting.
Why didn't anyone tell her that Xiao Qingming was so handsome!
The books only described him as sinister, seeking revenge for the slightest grievance, constantly opposing the protagonist, but they never mentioned his appearance.
This wasn't the appearance of a sinister and malicious man; he was clearly a gentle and handsome young man.
His appearance truly evoked a favorable impression in people's hearts.
To avoid the original host's ending, Ji Wan'er smiled at Xiao Qingming.
Unexpectedly, as she pulled the corners of her mouth, Xiao Qingming seemed as if he hadn't seen her, lowered his head, and continued reading his book. In the blink of an eye, he entered the main hall and disappeared from her sight.
Ji Wan'er's smile froze on her face.
Their relationship as a couple was really distant.
"Sister-in-law, do you still need to bring anything?" Yun Shuang came out of the main hall.
"No need, let's go, it's time to eat." Ji Wan'er put on a smile again.
Never mind, if he ignores her, then she'll ignore him.
Ignoring her is much better than treating her the way he did in the book.
She couldn't afford to provoke this man.
After being delayed outside for a while, Ji Wan'er thought that they had already started eating inside the house.
However, to her surprise, Zi An didn't eat, and Xiao Qingming didn't eat either.
Ji Wan'er could understand why Zi An didn't eat. After all, the child was afraid of the original host and might be too scared to eat.
As for Xiao Qingming, he wasn't afraid of the original host, and he even disliked her. He completely ignored her just now, so why wasn't he eating either?
He was the head of the family, after all.
Could it be that he got so engrossed in reading that he forgot to eat?
Just as she was wondering if that was the reason, she saw Xiao Qingming pick up his chopsticks and start eating.
Was he waiting for her?
From this small detail, Xiao Qingming seemed to be truly courteous and respectful, even to the original host.
Although their relationship was very poor, and the original host would occasionally scold him, he still maintained her dignity in front of his younger siblings.
Seeing this small detail, Ji Wan'er felt relieved. The uneasiness she had earlier due to being ignored by Xiao Qingming gradually dissipated.
She wasn't afraid of being ignored by him; she was afraid that he might hate her to the core, just like in the book. If that were the case, her life would be difficult, and it would take a lot of effort to make Xiao Qingming change his opinion of her.
As long as he was reasonable, their interaction wouldn't be too difficult.
Ji Wan'er had a greater sense of anticipation for her life here.
Xiao Qingming started eating, but Yun Shuang and Zi An didn't move. They kept their eyes fixed on her.
"Let's eat," Ji Wan'er said to the two children.
As soon as Ji Wan'er picked up her chopsticks, the two children finally started eating. Both of them reached for the fried mantou slices.
Ever since Ji Wan'er was cooking, Zi An had been craving the mantou slices, but he hadn't been able to eat them until now. Finally, they were in his mouth.
The taste... was even better than he had imagined.
He had seen with his own eyes that the wicked woman had cut the same kind of mantou that he usually ate. Those mantou slices were cold, hard, and sometimes even sour.
But after Ji Wan'er worked her magic on them, the mantou slices became soft and fluffy, with a wonderful texture. They were glistening with oil and had a delicious salty flavor when he took a bite.
The most prominent flavor was still the taste of the eggs, so fragrant that he almost bit his tongue.
How could something be so delicious? It was even better than the meat he had eaten during the New Year's celebrations in the old house.
Zi An ate quickly, taking one bite after another.
Ji Wan'er saw that his mouth was full, his face turning slightly red from the rush, so she quickly patted his back and picked up the bowl of soup from the table, bringing it to his mouth.
"Take your time to eat. There's plenty more. Don't choke," Ji Wan'er said.
Zi An, who used to be the most afraid of Ji Wan'er in the family, now had his attention completely focused on the delicious food.
He wanted to speak, but his mouth was too full of mantou, so he couldn't get the words out. Instead, he quickly drank a sip of soup from Ji Wan'er's hand.
"It's so delicious! I've never had anything this tasty in my life," Zi An exclaimed.
Seeing Zi An's sparkling eyes and the shine of oil on his lips, Ji Wan'er felt a twinge of bitterness in her eyes.
He was just a six-year-old child, and he had never even had something as simple as fried egg mantou slices to eat. How difficult his life must have been!
"If you want to eat, I'll make it for you every day from now on," Ji Wan'er said.
"The soup is also very tasty," Zi An commented, staring at the bowl of soup in front of him.
So this is the taste of egg soup. It's full of the flavor of eggs, so delicious.
Ji Wan'er fed him another spoonful.
After drinking two mouthfuls of soup, Zi An finally regained some clarity and realized what he had done. He immediately restrained himself, dared not look at Ji Wan'er anymore, and ate his food quickly with his head lowered.
Seeing his reaction, Ji Wan'er didn't say anything and turned to look at Yun Shuang.
Before she could ask, Yun Shuang swallowed the mantou in her mouth and said, "Sister-in-law, it's delicious."
Ji Wan'er smiled and nodded, then picked up another piece of food and placed it on Yun Shuang's plate.
Yun Shuang instinctively licked her lips and said, "No... it's okay, sister-in-law. I'm full. You can eat the rest."
"There's still plenty left, just eat it," Ji Wan'er insisted.
Yun Shuang hesitated for a moment, then picked up the mantou slice again and put it back, firmly saying, "No need. Sister-in-law, you all eat. My stomach isn't feeling well, and eating such oily food makes me uncomfortable. I'll just have some mantou. You've worked hard cooking, and my brother needs to study while my younger brother is still growing. You should eat more."
She was truly a heartwarming young girl.
No wonder she was the most frail and weak one in the family.
Even though she was sensible, she was still just a ten-year-old girl. Ji Wan'er could easily tell that she was reluctant to eat and wanted to let her brother and younger brother have more.
Who knows how much she has endured at such a young age to be able to say such words.
Regardless of whether she is now her sister-in-law, even as a stranger, children should be given enough to eat.
Ji Wan'er picked up the mantou slice again and placed it in Yun Shuang's bowl.
"If you want to eat, then eat. If you feel uncomfortable afterward, I'll take you to see a doctor."
With these assertive words, it was no different from how the original Ji Wan'er used to behave.
Zi An, who had just started to develop some favorable feelings towards Ji Wan'er, seemed to have disappeared again. He looked at his sister with sympathy, wanting to say something for her, but fearing that Ji Wan'er would scold him, he didn't dare to speak up. He quietly glanced at his eldest brother sitting across from him.
Xiao Qingming also looked at Ji Wan'er, his expression inscrutable in his eyes.
Yun Shuang looked at the mantou slices in her bowl and then glanced at Ji Wan'er. She whispered, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
There was a barely perceptible hint of choking in her voice.
Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er and then at his younger sister, lowered his head, and continued eating.
Zi An, seeing that his older brother was still the same as before, indifferent to everything, disappointedly lowered his head and ate the mantou slices.
After a while, he noticed that his sister not only didn't feel uncomfortable but also seemed happy, so he let out a sigh of relief and continued eating without worries.
Yun Shuang had eaten two mantou slices and took a sip of soup, then her eyes lit up, and she took another sip.
"Sister-in-law, this soup you made is really delicious."
She wasn't someone who talked a lot, and she wasn't particularly close to Ji Wan'er either.
According to her nature, even if the food was delicious, she wouldn't speak up.
Back in their old residence, it was the same. At the dining table, unless someone asked her, she wouldn't say a word and had a very low presence.
But this was the first time her sister-in-law had cooked, and she had cooked so well. She wanted to please her.
Ji Wan'er didn't know what Yun Shuang was thinking, but she felt happy hearing someone praise her.
"There's still plenty in the pot. Finish your soup, and I'll serve you more."
Yun Shuang nodded with a smile.
Sister-in-law is really kind today.
She had always felt that her sister-in-law, who could bring out her dowry, was not bad. Although her sister-in-law scolded them sometimes, they were still family. She was her brother's wife, and they should show respect.
"Sis, which one tastes better, the steamed egg Brother Huzi drinks or this?" Zi An curiously asked.
Back in their old residence, Huzi often drank steamed egg secretly without giving him a sip. He cherished it so much but never shared it with him.
He had heard his sister talk about how delicious steamed egg was. They would be able to drink it when his brother passed the provincial examination.
He wondered if that steamed egg tasted as good as this egg soup.
Huzi, as mentioned by Zi An, was the youngest son of the Xiao family.
"Naturally, this one tastes better," Yun Shuang said. "Steamed egg has a fishy smell, but this one doesn't have it at all. It's very fresh."
She added, "I haven't tasted any soup better than the one sister-in-law made."
Ji Wan'er found the first few statements reasonable, but the last one was somewhat exaggerated. However, seeing the flicker in the little girl's eyes, Ji Wan'er didn't debunk her. Instead, she felt even more pity for her.
She was just a poor child who lost her biological parents and had to seek a living under someone else's care.
"Really?" Zi An was pleasantly surprised. He looked down at the soup in his bowl and said, "This is the most delicious soup I've ever tasted."
His words carried genuine emotions.
These two children were so good and so pitiful. Ji Wan'er couldn't understand how the people in the old residence could be so heartless to drive them out. She also couldn't fathom how the previous host could treat them so cruelly.
"In the future, I'll make even more delicious soup for you," Ji Wan'er assured them.
These two children, although sensible, were still children. They were easily appeased.
No matter how the previous host treated them, Ji Wan'er would treat them sincerely now, hoping to change their perception of her.
After this meal, the children became less wary of her.
Children are easily influenced, but adults are not as easily swayed.
Children can sense sincerity, but adults often rely more on rational thinking.
Ji Wan'er looked at Xiao Qingming sitting next to her.
Xiao Qingming was still engrossed in his book, nodding occasionally or furrowing his brow. He would occasionally take a bite of the bread or drink some soup.
As for the conversation they had just had at the dining table, it seemed to have no relation to him at all.
Although Ji Wan'er wanted to improve her relationship with Xiao Qingming, she wouldn't lower herself to please him.
Based on his recent behavior, as long as she refrained from doing those things and reached the designated time period, Ji Wan'er believed that Xiao Qingming wouldn't bother her much if she took good care of Xiao Zi An.
Soon after finishing his meal, Xiao Qingming left the main hall and went to his study.
According to Ji Wan'er's memories of Xiao Qingming, he had always been like this—reading diligently and rarely getting involved in other matters.
Regarding this point, the previous host had argued with Xiao Qingming numerous times. She criticized him for lacking abilities, not doing enough work, and not earning money.
Xiao Qingming was a silent and reserved person, seldom engaging in arguments with the previous host. He would often act as if he hadn't heard anything.
Yun Shuang was a sensible child and silently helped with the household chores along with her brother.
After finishing their meal, Yun Shuang and Zi An began to clean up the table.
Ji Wan'er didn't stop them and joined the two children in tidying up.
Once these tasks were completed, Ji Wan'er took a stroll around the courtyard.
These thatched houses were located at the outskirts of the village, with fields in front and a mountain behind.
Although the weather was still chilly, the mountain had begun to show signs of greenery. It wasn't completely bare, giving a glimmer of hope for new growth.
Since she was here, she needed to adapt and survive.
Now that she had arrived in this place, her first priority was to establish her livelihood.
Xiao Qingming would soon pass the provincial exam, then the imperial exam, and eventually achieve the top ranking in the exams. Considering the timeline, it would take about one or two years.
Although the house was in a dilapidated state, it had managed to endure for over ten years, so it should be able to last another year or two.
However, the roof was leaking, so they would need to cover it with some thatched grass.
The yard didn't even have a surrounding wall, making it look nothing like a home.
Ji Wan'er wasn't worried about theft since their poverty was well-known. The day when the Xiao family split, the entire village knew about it, and they didn't receive much in the division.
Moreover, walls don't stop thieves; they only deter honest people. If someone really wanted to steal, a wall wouldn't be a significant obstacle.
She thought that at the very least, they should put up some fences and install a gate to give the appearance of a home.
It was like finding a pillow when feeling sleepy.
As she walked to the back of the house, Ji Wan'er noticed a small patch of bamboo forest.
"Who planted this bamboo?" Ji Wan'er asked Yun Shuang, who was following behind her.
Yun Shuang shook her head and replied, "Most likely, it grew on its own. There are many on the mountain, and they grow naturally."
Ji Wan'er nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Do you know how big the yard we were allotted at the old residence is?"
Yun Shuang knew the answer to that question.
On the day of the family division, while the sister-in-law caused a scene at the old residence and the elder brother was studying, Yun Shuang had come along to take a look.
"Grandfather said that it extends to the tree near Second Uncle's house on the west side, the neighboring land on the east side, the small road in front on the south side, and up to this mountain on the north side."
Although the yard was in a dilapidated state, it was actually quite spacious.
After hearing Yun Shuang's explanation, Ji Wan'er felt relieved.
In that case, these bamboo trees also belonged to them.
Without delay, Ji Wan'er went to the woodshed, took a machete, and started cutting the bamboo.
Usually, after dinner, Yun Shuang and Zi An would stay inside the house and not wander around.
Today was no exception.
Seeing Yun Shuang return from the bamboo forest behind the house with a frown on her face, Zi An curiously asked, "Did Sister-in-law go out again?"
The sister-in-law often argued with their brother. When she was at home, she either slept or made them, the siblings, do chores.
But most of the time, the sister-in-law wouldn't stay at home. She liked to go out for walks.
Not hearing her voice at the moment, Zi An assumed that Ji Wan'er had gone out again.
Yun Shuang shook her head and relayed what Ji Wan'er had just said.
Zi An, with his young and curious mind, was puzzled. Sister-in-law was actually going to cut bamboo to make fences?
She used to hate this place the most.
She wished she could go out and never come back.
"Sis, why do I feel like Sister-in-law is acting like a different person today? She didn't scold me this morning and even cooked delicious food for us."
Yun Shuang had the same feeling.
Sister-in-law today... was much gentler than before.
It was really unlike her.
In fact, during the few days when she was bedridden, things were already different.
The food she cooked was not criticized or reprimanded by the sister-in-law, and they finished everything.
They couldn't figure out what was happening. Could it be because she had been sick and it changed her whole personality?
"Is it like what the fortune-teller at the village entrance said, that she's possessed by a ghost?" Zi An asked, tilting his head.
Yun Shuang was startled and glared at her brother, admonishing him in a low voice, "How can you say such things casually? Do you want to court trouble?"
Zi An pouted and whispered, "This ghost must be a good ghost. I actually hope it stays with Sister-in-law forever."
Yun Shuang quickly covered her brother's mouth. "Keep these words to yourself. No one should say them, understood?"
Zi An became a bit scared and nodded quickly.
He wasn't stupid. He definitely wouldn't say such things casually. He was afraid that if he said it, the good ghost would be driven away, and the evil ghost would return.
After a while, Yun Shuang and Zi An became anxious when they saw that Ji Wan'er hadn't returned.
"Zi An, let's go to the bamboo forest behind and see if Sister-in-law needs help," Yun Shuang suggested.
Zi An rejected the proposal, saying, "Sis, I'm not going."
The psychological shadow left by Ji Wan'er was too great. Even though she had treated him well just now, now that he had calmed down, he only wanted to stay away from her.
"We should still go. What if Sister-in-law gets angry if she sees that we didn't go to help?" Yun Shuang said.
Such things had happened before.
Ji Wan'er often scolded them, and any reason could become an excuse for her to scold them.
Zi An began to hesitate, "Sister-in-law doesn't like to work. Maybe she's already gone out to play."
That was also a possibility.
Yun Shuang thought for a moment and said, "Let's go and see. If Sister-in-law isn't there, we'll come back."
Under the pressure from Ji Wan'er, Zi An reluctantly agreed.
Before leaving, Yun Shuang straightened Zi An's clothes and fastened all the buttons.
It was cold outside, and she was afraid her brother would catch a cold.
Ji Wan'er had no idea what the siblings were thinking behind her back. At this moment, she was engaged in a "battle" with the bamboo.
Idealism was full, but reality was harsh.
She had already imagined the surroundings of the house filled with fences, but the bamboo didn't cooperate. It wasn't easy to chop down.
She was small and didn't have any effective methods. After an hour of chopping, resting for a while, and then working again, she had only managed to bring down less than ten stalks.
Fortunately, she had figured out a method and estimated that she would be faster next time she chopped.
But there was no rush; she could take her time.
Her arms were getting a bit sore, so Ji Wan'er stopped chopping. She began to process the bamboo instead.
The bamboo had many branches and leaves, so she used a knife to remove them.
At that moment, Yun Shuang and Zi An approached.
Yun Shuang stood in front, while Zi An hid behind her.
"Sister-in-law, let us help you," Yun Shuang offered.
Ji Wan'er wasn't accustomed to bossing around children, and there was no urgency in this task. She preferred to handle it herself, taking her time to finish it in a few days.
"No need, I can do it myself."
Since their mother's passing, Yun Shuang had been treated as a maid in the old house and later by Ji Wan'er.
It had been five or six years since she was four or five years old.
She had become accustomed to doing chores.
Although Ji Wan'er refused, Yun Shuang still squatted down silently and removed the branches from the bamboo.
Seeing her sister's actions, Zi An also joined in.
The task wasn't heavy, and being alone at the back of the house was quite boring. Ji Wan'er glanced at the siblings and didn't say anything further.
Since they were working with bamboo shoots, she would continue chopping bamboo.
The bamboo was too long for making a fence. It only needed to be around two meters long.
Ji Wan'er took out a saw and began cutting the bamboo.
Due to her lack of proficiency, progress was slow.
Yun Shuang occasionally glanced over at her.
After a while, she couldn't help but come over and help.
At first, Ji Wan'er doubted whether Yun Shuang would be able to do it.
But as she watched Yun Shuang's skilled movements, Ji Wan'er was amazed.
However, Ji Wan'er didn't let Yun Shuang continue working. Once she had learned it herself, Ji Wan'er didn't make her do it anymore.
She couldn't bear to see such a frail child working so hard.
Cutting bamboo was tiring as well.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Ji Wan'er stopped working.
She hadn't had a proper meal for many days, and she had just been working, so she was feeling hungry and tired.
As for what to eat, she looked at the bamboo at her feet.
"Let's have bamboo tube rice for lunch," Ji Wan'er said with a smile to Yun Shuang and Zi An.
She had been smelling the fragrant aroma of bamboo for an hour and had been longing to eat bamboo tube rice.
In the past, she always bought it from outside, but now she could make it herself.
Bamboo tube rice?
What's that?
Both siblings looked puzzled.
Ji Wan'er picked up the saw again and cut four sections of bamboo, each about twenty centimeters long. As the remaining piece was too short and had no use, she put it aside as well.
Then she took the same knife she had used to cut the bamboo and split the bamboo tubes in half. Afterward, she removed the rough edges from the knife handle and cleaned the inside of the bamboo tubes.
Next, she carried the bamboo tubes to the well.
Yun Shuang understood Ji Wan'er's intention and helped her clean the bamboo tubes.
Once the bamboo tubes were cleaned, Ji Wan'er began preparing the ingredients.
Since there was no glutinous rice at home, they had to use regular rice. There was also no preserved meat or sausages, so she had to make it sweet instead.
Ji Wan'er took out the red dates and raisins she had brought from her parents' house, washed them, and mixed them with the rice inside the bamboo tubes.
After stirring everything evenly, she covered the other half of the bamboo tubes, wrapped them with leaves on both sides, and tied them tightly with strips of cloth.
She filled a pot with water, placed a bamboo steamer on top, and then placed the five bamboo tube rice on the steamer. Finally, she covered the pot and started steaming.
Yun Shuang and Zi An looked on in astonishment.
It was their first time discovering that rice could be prepared in such a way.
"Sister-in-law, the food you make is really unique," Zi An couldn't help but say.
Yun Shuang's eyes also turned towards Ji Wan'er.
"When I was young, my parents and I lived in the capital for a few years and saw many innovative cooking methods," Ji Wan'er lied without batting an eye.
That's why Ji Wan'er didn't hesitate to cook in front of the Xiao family members.
First, the original hostess had never cooked in this house before, and second, Ji Wan'er had indeed lived in the capital for six years. Her mother had served noble individuals, so it made sense for her to possess such skills.
The two children's faces displayed a sudden realization.
Before the older brother got married, their grandparents had told them that their sister-in-law was very capable and had lived in a big city, unlike them.
It seemed that living in a big city was truly wonderful.
"Sister-in-law, let me start the fire," Yun Shuang offered.
"No need, you two can take a break," Ji Wan'er refused them once again.
This task was simple, and she was much older than the two children. She didn't feel comfortable bossing them around like that.
Seeing Yun Shuang and Zi An occasionally eyeing the raisins, Ji Wan'er casually scooped a handful for each of them.
The two children were pleasantly surprised.
"Is this...raisins?" Zi An curiously asked.
"Sister-in-law, these things are too valuable. You should keep them for yourself," Yun Shuang said.
Although the old residence was better than their current situation, it still couldn't compare to the Ji family's status. They had only seen such raisins once, and that was when their third uncle had bought them from the county town.
That time, they didn't get any of those raisins.
They had only heard their elder cousins from their uncle and third uncle's families talking about how delicious they were, but they had no idea what they tasted like.
"Eat up, there's still plenty left," Ji Wan'er said.
Whether it was the red dates or the raisins, they were all given to her by Nanny Dong.
Nanny Dong was truly exceptional when it came to treating her daughter.
After all, they were still just children. Despite their fear of Ji Wan'er, they couldn't resist trying the raisins.
"It's sour and sweet, so delicious! Even better than candy," Zi An said.
Yun Shuang silently nodded in agreement.
After eating a few, she placed the remaining raisins in her younger brother's hand.
Ji Wan'er noticed but didn't say anything.
Some habits couldn't be changed overnight.
Not long after, the aroma of the bamboo tube rice wafted out.
It carried the fragrant scent of bamboo, mixed with the flavors of rice and red dates.
"It smells so good."
Although Zi An had raisins in his mouth, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
Just a moment ago, Ji Wan'er had put white rice, red dates, and raisins inside the bamboo tube... It must be delicious.
Zi An's eyes were fixed on the pot.
Not to mention Zi An, Ji Wan'er herself was feeling hungry from the aroma. Her stomach grumbled at an inappropriate time.
Fortunately, the sound of the fire burning at the bottom of the pot and the boiling water covered up the noise.
The two children didn't hear it.
After about half an hour, the bamboo tube rice was almost ready.
Ji Wan'er didn't add more firewood to the bottom of the pot. When the sparks at the bottom of the pot had mostly disappeared, she lifted the lid.
As soon as she opened it, a rich aroma wafted out.
Ji Wan'er grabbed tongs from the side and carefully took the bamboo tube rice off the steaming rack, placing it in a nearby dish.
After it had cooled down a bit, Ji Wan'er opened one of the bamboo tubes.
Yun Shuang and Zi An stared intently at her every move.
For the first time, Ji Wan'er was afraid of not getting it right, so she tasted the rice with chopsticks first.
It smelled so good. That was Ji Wan'er's initial reaction.
It's cooked. That was Ji Wan'er's thought after swallowing the rice.
The bamboo tube rice tasted just as good as it smelled.
The rice was infused with the rich aroma of bamboo, along with the sweet taste of red dates and the tanginess of raisins.
It was even more delicious than the ones she had bought before.
Perhaps it was because she used fresh bamboo today.
Ji Wan'er was very satisfied with the bamboo tube rice she had made.
"Yun Shuang, call your brother to come and eat."
Yun Shuang's gaze shifted from the bamboo tube rice to Ji Wan'er. "But brother doesn't eat lunch."
Ji Wan'er was slightly surprised. "Ah? He doesn't eat lunch?"
The original Ji Wan'er didn't pay much attention to Xiao Qingming, so she had no impression of this.
"Yes. We used to have only two meals a day," Yun Shuang explained.
Ji Wan'er remembered this. Perhaps it was because they were poor, people in this area only had two meals a day.
They had breakfast late and then had a meal in the afternoon.
But she came from the capital city, and in the Ji family, she was used to having three meals a day. Even after she left her family, she continued to have three meals a day.
However, those three meals were for her alone. She didn't bother about the others.
As for what they ate, she really had no idea.
Ji Wan'er looked at the bamboo tube rice in front of her and pondered for a moment. She said, "Alright, take the bamboo tube rice to your brother in the study."
Xiao Qingming was obsessed with books and would always read while eating. He probably didn't want to come out for meals and waste time.
1
It worked out well because she didn't want to face him either.
"Okay."
Soon, Yun Shuang came back.
Ji Wan'er and the other three didn't go to the main hall. Each of them held a bamboo tube and sat in the kitchen to eat.
Children naturally loved sweet food, and Ji Wan'er's bamboo tube rice was sweet, which suited their taste.
Moreover, they hadn't eaten white rice for a long time.
White rice was really fragrant.
The white rice steamed with bamboo, which was readily available, was even more aromatic.
The taste of red dates and raisins was just like this.
At first, the two children occasionally spoke, but later they were completely focused on eating and no one said a word.
Ji Wan'er ate slowly, and when she finished her meal, she noticed that the two children had already finished eating.
Moreover, the bamboo tubes were clean, not a grain of rice left inside.
"Are you full?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Zi An didn't speak and looked at Yun Shuang.
Yun Shuang pursed her lips and nodded, "Yes, I'll go wash up."
Ji Wan'er understood everything. She looked at the remaining bamboo tube, opened it, and handed it to Yun Shuang.
"Sister-in-law, I..."
"Eat it, half for each of you," Ji Wan'er said, reminding her, "Don't let your brother eat too much. He's still young, and it's not good for his stomach."
Yun Shuang pretended not to see the longing in Zi An's eyes, mustered her courage, and said, "You and Brother can eat it. My younger brother and I are still young, we're full."
This child was truly pitiful, bearing things that a child her age shouldn't have to bear.
"If I tell you to eat, then eat! You and Zi An are still growing, so eat more. Your brother and I are older, we don't need to eat that much."
After Ji Wan'er's persuasion, the two children, being young, continued to eat in small bites.
Xiao Qingming had never been a person with strong desires for food and drink. In his eyes, studying came first, and nothing else could pique his interest.
However, today he was repeatedly attracted by this food.
Looking at the clean bamboo tubes in front of him, Xiao Qingming fell into rare contemplation.
Did this woman dislike him studying and want to find ways to disrupt him?
Although the Ji family had been driven out of the capital and their fate was quite tragic, it was still considered above average compared to the villagers.
Therefore, the original owner of the body didn't do much work at home.
After coming to the Xiao family, it became even less likely for her to do any work after the family split.
In the past few days, Ji Wan'er had been lying in bed, and today she felt tired after doing some work.
After having a meal, she went back to rest.
In the afternoon, Ji Wan'er went to chop bamboo again.
Then she processed the bamboo just like in the morning, cutting a bamboo stalk into several pieces and splitting it in half in the middle.
Looking at the bamboo pieces arranged on the ground, Ji Wan'er felt a great sense of accomplishment.
She turned her head and glanced at Yun Shuang, who had been silently working beside her. Ji Wan'er asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"
Yun Shuang didn't expect her to ask this question, and a look of confusion appeared in her big eyes.
What to eat... no one had ever asked for her opinion.
She ate whatever the adults made.
"What do you want to eat?" Ji Wan'er asked again.
"Anything is fine, I'll eat whatever you make, sister-in-law," Yun Shuang said.
She didn't bother expressing her own preferences; being able to have a full meal was already satisfying enough for her.
Ji Wan'er stared at her for a moment, looking at the sincerity in her eyes. She knew she couldn't ask for more.
"Alright, then let's have vegetable pancakes for dinner," Ji Wan'er said.
Her gaze shifted to the thriving purslane growing in the corner.
She had been busy with the fence today and had forgotten to go out and buy vegetables.
Fortunately, they were in the countryside where wild vegetables were abundant and could be found everywhere.
It had been a long time since she had eaten wild vegetables, and she really wanted to.
"Okay," Yun Shuang agreed.
Ji Wan'er thought to herself that there were some advantages to being in the cannon fodder role.
Although the head of the family was Xiao Qingming.
But Xiao Qingming, that person, could be described as "unaware of the outside world, focused only on reading sage books" if putting it nicely, and as a "bookworm" if being less polite.
He only knew how to provide his wife with a good household and didn't care about anything else.
In this household, she could take charge.
For example, if she wanted to chop bamboo, she could chop bamboo. If she wanted to make a fence, she could make a fence.
She could cook whatever she wanted to eat, eat whenever she wanted to eat, and have as many meals as she desired.
She didn't have to be restricted in every aspect.
Together with Yun Shuang, they picked some tender purslane and returned to the front.
Yun Shuang went to wash the rice and prepare rice soup.
Ji Wan'er went to clean the purslane.
After washing the purslane, she chopped it up with a knife.
Then, she scooped in some flour, eggs, water, and added salt and sesame oil, stirring everything into a batter.
Yun Shuang was shocked when she saw Ji Wan'er adding eggs to the mixture. This morning when they had eggs for breakfast, it already felt like a special occasion, and now they could have eggs for dinner too.
The pancakes made this way would surely taste better than plain flour pancakes.
Yun Shuang couldn't help but salivate.
"Keep the fire low, not too high, or they'll get burnt easily," Ji Wan'er reminded Yun Shuang, who was lost in thought and kept adding firewood to the bottom of the pan.
The rice soup was already boiling in another pot.
The two pots were placed closely together, and she could take care of both by herself.
Yun Shuang jolted and quickly snapped back to reality, taking the firewood that she hadn't placed at the bottom of the pan out and apologizing, "I'm sorry, sister-in-law, I was wrong. I won't do it again."
Ji Wan'er glanced at her and smiled, saying, "It's okay."
Yun Shuang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly lowered her head, focusing on tending to the fire.
Once the pan was hot, Ji Wan'er added a spoonful of oil. When the oil was hot, she poured in the batter, spreading it into a pancake shape. After a while, the pancake was almost set and she flipped it over.
Once the other side was cooked, she flipped it again.
Because there were eggs in the pancake, the aroma of the eggs quickly spread. Mixed with the taste of purslane, it was especially fragrant.
Due to the thinness of the pancake, it cooked quickly.
When the pancake was golden brown on both sides, Ji Wan'er served it.
While the second pancake was cooking, Ji Wan'er cut the first one into several pieces.
She picked up one piece, tore it in half, and handed half to Yun Shuang.
Yun Shuang hesitated to eat, but Ji Wan'er stuffed it into her mouth.
Then, she stuffed the other half into her own mouth.
"How does it taste?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Yun Shuang chewed a few bites and nodded, "It's very fragrant and delicious."
Ji Wan'er felt that she shouldn't have asked Yun Shuang that question.
This young girl lived so cautiously, how could she dare to say that the food wasn't delicious to her face?
Even if it truly wasn't tasty, she wouldn't dare to say so.
Ji Wan'er chewed carefully.
Hmm, the taste was alright, moderately salty.
However, the seasoning was still too little, only salt, unlike the previous ones she made that were more delicious.
"It's alright. The seasoning is a bit lacking, it only tastes salty," Ji Wan'er commented.
Yun Shuang swallowed the pancake in her mouth, the taste of eggs and purslane still lingering.
Although she had always tried to please Ji Wan'er and didn't dare to contradict her, when she heard Ji Wan'er say that the pancake wasn't tasty, she couldn't help but respond.
"It's very fragrant, much tastier than what Aunt Ji made."
It wasn't just empty praise anymore.
Ji Wan'er loved hearing those words.
"Where is it fragrant?" Ji Wan'er asked with a smile.
Yun Shuang thought for a moment and answered earnestly, "Aunt Ji doesn't add eggs, but you do. You also use more oil than Aunt Ji."
That was an honest statement.
"Adding more oil makes it fragrant."
Not to mention the eggs. Yun Shuang rarely had the chance to eat eggs in these past few years.
"Hmm, from now on, let's add more oil when cooking," Ji Wan'er said with a smile.
"No, there's no need," Yun Shuang replied, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to spend so much. Your cooking is great, even without oil and eggs, it's delicious."
Yun Shuang still cared about the fact that Ji Wan'er used her dowry for cooking.
Besides, she had already become accustomed to being frugal.
"Then eat more later."
"I had a big lunch, and I'm not particularly hungry. Sister-in-law, you can make less."
Ji Wan'er simply ignored her words.
After making the pancakes, the rice soup next to it was also ready.
According to Ji Wan'er's habit, they needed two more dishes to complete the meal.
Unfortunately, a clever cook could do nothing without rice.
There were no vegetables at home.
However, even with such a simple dinner, it was quite abundant for the few people in the Xiao family.
Of course, Xiao Qingming didn't have much of a reaction.
Yun Shuang and Zi An, on the other hand, ate quite a lot.
Zi An didn't like eating purslane originally, but the taste was just too good for him to resist.
"It's so delicious! Much better than what Aunt Ji makes. Her cooking has a strange taste."
It seemed that the Aunt Ji in the Xiao family had average cooking skills, as both children mentioned it.
What Ji Wan'er didn't notice was that Xiao Qingming, who was reading a book while eating, silently nodded in agreement.
She also thought that the meal was very well done.
However, she believed that the best part was the rice soup.
The rice soup cooked in the earthen pot was incredibly fragrant, even better than what she used to cook at home.
The rice soup had a slightly yellowish color, and after being left alone for a while, a layer of rice oil floated on the surface.
The soup was fragrant, thick, and the rice was soft and tender.
She had two bowls of it and felt her stomach becoming full and bloated.
For someone who had worked hard to prepare a meal, seeing everyone finish what she had cooked brought her joy.
Ji Wan'er had fried quite a few pancakes, thinking that they might not be able to finish them all, but in the end, they were devoured completely, not a single one was left.
In the evening, there weren't any entertainment options available.
Especially in the countryside.
Once it turned dark, the entire Xiao family village was enveloped in darkness, with only a few scattered flickering lights visible.
There were no electric lights here, and the families were poor, unable to afford candles or oil lamps.
Moreover, it was still chilly, and nobody went visiting.
Each household closed their doors, isolating themselves from the outside world.
The Xiao family was an exception because they had a scholar among them.
Yun Shuang and Zi An had already gone to bed early.
But there was a faint glow in Xiao Qingming's study as an oil lamp was lit.
Ji Wan'er's dowry included some candles, but she didn't need them.
During the daytime, she didn't feel the cold, but after sitting in the house for a while in the evening, she started feeling chilled.
After washing up and drying herself, she huddled under the blankets.
After about two quarters of an hour passed, she still felt cold.
Remembering that she had seen another blanket on the cupboard during the day, Ji Wan'er put on her clothes and shivered as she quickly went to fetch that blanket and covered herself with it.
Covered by the blanket, Ji Wan'er finally felt warm and no longer cold.
At this moment, the entire Xiao family village was shrouded in pitch darkness.
Apart from the occasional gust of wind, rustling the bamboo grove behind the house, there was no sound or movement.
The sound of the wind made the environment even more silent.
This sensation was quite novel to Ji Wan'er.
Having lived in a bustling city for many years, she had become accustomed to the noisy and chaotic environment. Now, suddenly finding herself in such a tranquil place, it was difficult for her to fall asleep because of the overwhelming stillness.
Ji Wan'er closed her eyes and began contemplating what to do in the future.
Firstly, she needed to repair the courtyard, and then she had to figure out a way to earn some money.
Although she wasn't initially tired, for some reason, as she pondered for a while, she gradually fell asleep.
In a corner of the main room, Yun Shuang and Zi An were still awake.
"Burp!" Zi An couldn't hold back a satisfied belch.
Yun Shuang also stirred.
"Sister, are you asleep?"
"Not yet," Yun Shuang replied.
"I think I ate too much tonight, so I can't fall asleep," Zi An said, patting his bloated stomach.
Although Yun Shuang didn't say anything, she also placed her hand on her own belly.
It wasn't just her brother who had eaten too much; she had indulged herself today and consumed a lot of food as well.
She should have advised her brother to eat less, but she couldn't bring herself to say those words.
Her brother had never eaten anything delicious since childhood.
In recent years, he had even rarely been able to eat a full meal.
The food today was incredibly delicious.
They knew what kind of person their sister-in-law was.
They didn't know why she was like this today, and they didn't know if she would continue to be this way in the future.
In a situation where they could eat their fill, they had to cherish it and eat more.
Who knows if they would miss this opportunity and not have another chance? They might go hungry again in the future.
"The food made by our sister-in-law is really delicious," Zi An said.
He hadn't realized it himself, but within just a day, his attitude toward Ji Wan'er had changed compared to before. Yun Shuang and her brother continued to chat happily about the food they had eaten today.
As they talked, they felt less bloated, as if their conversation had eased their discomfort.
"It feels like a festival today," Zi An unconsciously licked his lips.
Although he was still somewhat full, thinking about the delicious food made him crave for more.
He quickly corrected himself, "No, it's better than a festival. During festivals, even though there's a lot of delicious food, Uncle and Aunt never let me eat. I could only watch. But today, I actually got to eat my fill."
"It feels like a dream," Yun Shuang murmured.
"Yes, like a dream," Zi An agreed. "A beautiful dream."
As they spoke, both of them gradually grew tired and fell asleep.
With the moon high in the sky, Xiao Qingming left his study and returned to his room.
In the darkness, he skillfully took out a mat and spread it on the floor. Then he went to the cabinet to get his bedding.
However, the bedding was still there, but the blanket was missing.
Xiao Qingming furrowed his brow.
He remembered clearly that he had left it here in the morning, so how could it be gone?
If it wasn't him, then it could only be-
Xiao Qingming looked towards the person lying in bed, fast asleep.
At a glance, he understood.
His blanket was actually covering that woman.
There were two thick blankets in the house, and the new one had been taken by Ji Wan'er, leaving him with the old one.
He had never cared about such things before and let her have it.
But now, she had even taken away the old one.
Xiao Qingming stood by the bed, staring at Ji Wan'er for a long time.
Seeing her sleeping peacefully, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to take the blanket away from her.
He turned around, went to the wardrobe, and took out a thin blanket to lie on the floor, falling asleep fully dressed.