Now Ji Wan'er had two things to do: clean up the shop and purchase supplies.
The shop had originally been rented out to a food business, but the previous tenant didn't pay much attention to cleanliness. It was dirty not only in the front area but also in the backyard.
Ji Wan'er couldn't stand such an environment.
On the second day after arriving, she woke up early in the morning and started cleaning with Yun Shuang and Zi An.
The newly rented shop was similar to the one in the town. It had six tables in the front, a kitchen in the back, and three empty rooms. One room was used for storage, and they would live in the other two.
It took the three of them two to three days to thoroughly clean up these rooms.
During this time, Xiao Qingming didn't return home. They had agreed to move on the sixth day of the month. However, because the rent in the county town started counting from the first day, Ji Wan'er felt it would be a waste to stay longer in the town and decided to end their business there and move earlier.
They arrived on the twenty-sixth.
After cleaning, Ji Wan'er set up a chicken coop in a corner of the courtyard and put the chickens they brought inside.
Finally, she tidied up the courtyard and placed some flowers and plants.
With these arrangements, the courtyard became much cleaner and neater than before.
The most important part was the front shop. Ji Wan'er redecorated it. The tables were brand new and carved with leaf and flower patterns. The word "Delicious" was also carved on the four corners.
As for the restaurant's name, Ji Wan'er didn't use anything fancy. She simply used the two words "Delicious (Měi Wèi)."
Not only were the tables carved, but the chopsticks and bamboo bowls as well. Even the plates and dishes were custom-made in advance.
The walls around were also decorated, creating a comfortable and thoughtful atmosphere as soon as one entered the door.
Next was the task of purchasing items. Since they were far away from home and didn't have good quality items, Ji Wan'er left behind some old things at home and only brought newer and better ones.
As a result, there were quite a few things that needed to be bought.
After purchasing everything, it cost another two taels of silver.
While tidying up the shop, they were also in the process of hiring people. The notice was already posted at the entrance, and they were waiting for interviews in three days.
On the third day of the month, Ji Wan'er opened the door.
Upon opening the door, her first attention wasn't on the people coming for the interview but on Nanny Dong.
"The shop is well cleaned up," Nanny Dong praised.
"It took several days to clean up. As long as Mother thinks it's good, that's all that matters. But why did you and Father come over?" Ji Wan'er was pleasantly surprised.
Nanny Dong glanced at the applicants and said, "Let's not talk about that for now. Let's start with selecting people."
"Okay," Ji Wan'er smiled.
It had been a few days since she arrived here. When she was busy, she didn't feel it, but when it was no longer as busy and late at night, she would feel a bit scared and nervous. After all, she was unfamiliar with the people and the surroundings here.
Now, seeing Nanny Dong and Ji Dazhong, she felt much more at ease.
Yun Shuang and Zi An were also very happy to see familiar and affectionate elders.
Just like the previous time in town, they first selected a few people and asked them to wait for the news at home.
"Nowadays, we don't have to stay in town, and we're not familiar with this place either. We need to inquire carefully," Nanny Dong said while looking at the names on the paper.
"Yes, in the afternoon, I'll go and gather information," Ji Wan'er said.
"Mother will go with you to inquire about these women, and your father will inquire about the runners," Nanny Dong said.
"Thank you, Father and Mother."
"Don't mention it. Your father and I have decided to move to the county town," Nanny Dong said.
Ji Wan'er was extremely surprised. She thought Nanny Dong had come to visit her, but she didn't expect that they would also move here.
"In these past few days, your mother couldn't sleep worrying. Your husband is studying, unable to help you with the business, and she's afraid you won't be able to handle it alone," Ji Dazhong explained from the side.
Speaking of which, Nanny Dong was still more concerned about her own daughter. It was true in the book, and it was true now as well.
Although her daughter had become more capable recently, she still felt that her daughter was delicate and spoiled. She was afraid her daughter would suffer and be mistreated.
Moreover...
"It's not just for you, but also for your younger brother. The teachers in town aren't very good, so I thought of having him study in the county town," Nanny Dong said.
Ever since her son-in-law passed the county-level examination, Nanny Dong had been restless in her heart.
Many years ago, when she worked as a servant in the capital city, she hadn't made any mistakes, but she was dismissed with just a few words from her master. In the face of the powerful and influential, a person's life meant nothing. She was extremely afraid. Even when she came to this small county town, she didn't dare to stay for long. She had to return to the village and hide, seeking nothing but a peaceful and stable life.
Now, with her son-in-law passing the county-level examination, their family was no longer helpless and without support.
Her inner concerns had also diminished compared to before.
Combined with her daily worries for her daughter, she made the decision to come to the county town.
"It's really wonderful that Mother can come to the county town," Ji Wan'er sincerely said. With Nanny Dong here, she at least had someone to rely on in the county town, and she didn't feel as lonely. With more relatives and friends in an unfamiliar place, others wouldn't dare to bully her easily.
Nanny Dong smiled and patted her daughter's hand.
"What about your luggage, Mother?" Ji Wan'er asked.
"We already sent it to our new home," Nanny Dong replied.
"Ah?" Ji Wan'er was surprised. Where did the new home come from?
"A few days ago, your father and I came here and rented a small courtyard nearby. We've already moved our belongings in, and we just finished tidying up these past two days," Nanny Dong explained.
Then Nanny Dong continued, "Your father found a job at the escort agency, and I'm working as a seamstress in a tailor shop. As for your younger brother, we'll have your husband keep an eye on him and find a good teacher for him."
Nanny Dong had previously agreed with her daughter's decision not to rely on relatives for work. Last time, when she brought up the matter of the shop with her daughter, she was rejected, so she understood her daughter's thoughts. Now, she wouldn't interfere with her daughter's shop.
She wasn't lacking money. Just the rent from the shop alone was two taels of silver per month, and the rent for the small courtyard was only two hundred wen per month. The remaining money was enough for their family to live comfortably. Now, unlike in the village, there were more people, and even if they were idle, there were people to talk to. No one could afford to be idle anymore. By doing some work, they could also gather information about the outside world and earn some pocket money.
Of course, she also didn't want others to think that they were solely dependent on their son-in-law's family to survive.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll talk to him when he comes back," Ji Wan'er reassured.
"Good."
In the afternoon, Ji Wan'er and her group went out to inquire, and three days later, they finalized a few people. There was Gui Sao, a kitchen maid who helped with washing and cutting vegetables. There was Ah Yuan, a handyman who ran errands and tidied up things.
There was also an accountant, responsible for managing the finances and collecting money. This accountant was an old acquaintance of Nanny Dong and the others. He had previously rented Nanny Dong's shop but suffered losses due to poor management and his straightforward nature. Now, he worked as an accountant, handling bookkeeping and writing letters for people. Putting aside other aspects, his character was trustworthy. He would be in charge of welcoming guests and collecting money.
Originally, Ji Wan'er didn't plan to hire another person. She felt that running a restaurant was different from running a breakfast shop. The demand for employees was higher, but the consumption level was higher as well. People generally wouldn't easily choose a new restaurant, and when a shop first opened, it might not have many customers.
However, Nanny Dong had full confidence in her daughter and insisted on hiring someone in advance.
Three days before the grand opening, Ji Wan'er sent Ah Yuan to roam the nearby streets and alleys for promotion. For example, they offered a grand opening discount of 20% off all dishes. If the spending reached thirty wen, a small dish would be given for free, and if it reached fifty wen, a dessert would be given. Along with the promotion, Ah Yuan also prepared some samples of desserts for people to taste. Many people were attracted by the desserts alone.
On the sixth day of the month, Mei Wei Restaurant opened smoothly.
Ah Yuan stood at the entrance, repeating the same lines as the previous three days.
"If you pass by, don't miss out! We have a grand opening discount of 20% off all dishes..."
For Yun Shuang and Zi An, they were already familiar with such tasks and stood at the entrance, shouting along. While shouting, they also offered food samples to people.
"Feel free to taste it, even if you don't buy."
Who doesn't love free things? Many people came over to taste the complimentary desserts. Most of them left after tasting, but those who genuinely wanted to have a meal came in after trying the desserts.
After all, the desserts tasted good, the prices of the dishes were not expensive, and they even offered discounts and free items. Nobody knew if the new restaurant would be good or not, but what if it turned out to be delicious?
"Wang Xiong, how about we eat here today?"
"Sure, it's close to the academy, so we can go back after eating."
The two of them were dressed like scholars and entered the restaurant first. As soon as they entered, they were surprised by the interior decor. It wasn't apparent from the outside, but inside, it felt extremely elegant. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what made it elegant, but there were no unnecessary decorations, yet everything came together in a comfortable manner.
"The ambiance is quite nice," said Scholar Wang.
"Indeed, it's very clean, and... it has a unique charm," Scholar Li remarked, glancing at the patterns on the table and the bamboo tube containing chopsticks.
"Two esteemed guests, what would you like to eat?" Ah Yuan immediately approached them to take their orders.
Scholar Li glanced at the signboard hanging nearby with the names of dishes written on it and asked, "Do you have any specialty dishes here?"
Ah Yuan handed over a thin booklet to Scholar Li.
"All our dishes are specialty dishes. This is the menu of our shop. Please have a look."
Scholar Li had never seen such a booklet before and, along with Scholar Wang, curiously opened it.
The first page was a table of contents with twenty dish names written on it, followed by page numbers, making it convenient for people to find what they were looking for. It resembled a book's table of contents nowadays.
Scholar Li and Scholar Wang exchanged glances and nodded in satisfaction.
Opening the first page, there was a dish called "Lotus Blossom Tofu." At the top was the name of the dish, followed by a description, cooking method, and ingredients. However, the actual recipe was not written. Taking up half of the page was a picture of the dish, drawn with colored strokes representing the different ingredients.
Even someone who couldn't read could tell what ingredients were used to make this dish.
Ah Yuan couldn't read, but he had a good memory. After being trained by Ji Wan'er these past few days, he had memorized these twenty dishes by heart. Seeing the customers looking at the menu, he was afraid they couldn't read, so he explained them in detail.
"How did you come up with such a method?" Scholar Wang was extremely surprised.
It was just a small restaurant, yet they managed to achieve such refinement. Even the grand restaurants in the capital city didn't do it this way.
"Ahem, our main family is a scholarly household," Ah Yuan proudly said. This was what Ji Wan'er instructed him to say, so that others wouldn't ask any further questions.
Sure enough, Scholar Li and Scholar Wang didn't ask any more questions and only praised the menu.
Scholar Li and Scholar Wang really liked the menu. They went through it from beginning to end. When Ah Yuan thought they weren't interested in buying, they finally decided on a few dishes.
"Let's have the Steamed Pork Belly, Lotus Blossom Tofu, and also..." Scholar Li said.
"No need, Li Xiong, these are enough," Scholar Wang quickly interjected.
Today, Scholar Li was treating, and his family background was good, so naturally they would order more dishes. He insisted, "We want them. However, don't you have some home-style dishes in your restaurant?"
Ah Yuan quickly flipped to the second-to-last page of the booklet and pointed it out to Scholar Li, saying, "Yes, please have a look at this page. It's all home-style dishes."
Only then did Scholar Li see it. On the last page, there were over thirty home-style dishes listed. Only the names were written, along with the prices indicated. They were arranged according to the ingredients. For example, all the dishes at the beginning were made with potatoes: Spicy and Sour Shredded Potatoes, 5 copper coins. Spicy and Sour Potato Slices, 6 copper coins. Braised Potatoes, 6 copper coins...
That's great! It provides both details and summaries, making it convenient for selecting dishes.
Scholar Li began to feel excited about the ingredients.
"Let's have an order of Spicy and Sour Shredded Potatoes and Braised Eggplant," he said.
"That comes to a total of 42 copper coins. If you spend 30 copper coins, you can get a complimentary cold dish," Ah Yuan pointed to the section on the last page. "But if you spend 50 copper coins, you can get a complimentary dessert. The desserts are priced around 15 copper coins each. You're only 8 copper coins away from reaching 50 copper coins. How about ordering one more dish?"
The shopkeeper had mentioned that if they could give away a cold dish, he would add an extra half a copper coin, and if they could give away a dessert, he would add an extra copper coin. His monthly salary was 500 copper coins, so if he wanted to earn more, he had to promote more.
"Oh? Is it the same as what we just ate?" Scholar Li asked.
"Yes," Ah Yuan replied excitedly. He felt like he had found a good solution.
"Don't order anymore, Li Xiong. The two of us can't finish too much," Scholar Wang quickly interjected.
Scholar Li had several shops and was not short of money, but he cared about his reputation when treating guests. Besides, he had a favor to ask.
"Then let's add an order of Corn and Egg Soup and two bowls of rice," the Corn Soup is 6 copper coins, and they were still two copper coins short.
"Our rice is complimentary, and we'll provide enough," Ah Yuan said.
"Oh, that's a good deal," Scholar Li laughed. "Here's what we'll do. Ask your shopkeeper and see what we can get with an extra two copper coins."
"Alright, please wait a moment. I'll go and ask the shopkeeper," Ah Yuan said, hurrying to take the menu to the kitchen.
Since the moment the customers entered the shop, Ji Wan'er had been observing from behind. She took the menu handed over by Ah Yuan and went to the kitchen.
The menu listed twenty complex dishes, none of which were as easy to prepare as shredded potatoes. To prevent customers from waiting too long, Ji Wan'er had prepared the initial steps an hour in advance, ready to start cooking as soon as the customers arrived.
Of course, she was also prepared for the possibility of no one ordering. On the first day of opening, she would rather have no orders than keep customers waiting for too long or risk being unable to deliver after they placed an order.
She started steaming the Steamed Pork with Rice Flour and began working on other dishes.
Although "Silken Tofu with Egg Flower" sounded artistic, it was actually made with tofu brain. This was something she was most familiar with. Shredded potatoes and eggplant were also easy to prepare. While she was working on two dishes, more orders came in from outside.
Ji Wan'er had someone deliver the first two dishes to the first table, and as she prepared the third dish, she also prepared the Mapo Tofu for the second table.
Since the Steamed Pork with Rice Flour had been prepared in advance, it took less than fifteen minutes to serve it. If it had been made from scratch, it would have taken at least half an hour.
After serving these two tables, Ji Wan'er went to the front to check.
The first dish served was the Spicy and Sour Shredded Potatoes. Although this dish was simple, it tested the culinary skills of the cook. Scholar Li didn't have high expectations for this small shop since the place was small and the prices were not expensive. However, he didn't expect the simple shredded potatoes to be so deliciously prepared.
The flavors were sour, spicy, and appetizing, and the shredded potatoes remained crispy, not soggy at all.
"The taste is excellent," Scholar Wang commented first.
Scholar Li nodded in agreement and said, "Not only excellent, but very excellent." With that, he took a few more bites.
Next, the Braised Eggplant was served.
Before even tasting it, the aroma alone made it seem extraordinary. Looking at the dish on the table, the eggplants were purple with some red chili peppers on top, along with green scallions as decoration. The colors were beautifully coordinated.
"It smells good, and it looks good too," Scholar Wang commented. After taking a bite, he added, "And it tastes delicious!"
To make home-style dishes taste this good showed the skill of the kitchen staff.
The Silken Tofu with Egg Flower was smooth and tender, with a rich chicken broth that had a layered and satisfying texture.
The last dish, the Steamed Pork with Rice Flour, was a masterpiece. It was fatty but not greasy, leaving a lingering fragrance in the mouth.
"Waiter!"
Ah Yuan hurried over and asked, "Yes, sir, what can I do for you?"
"Did you bring your chef from a renowned restaurant? Their culinary skills are truly exceptional," Scholar Li praised.
Ah Yuan smiled and replied, "Not really. Regardless of where they came from, as long as the food is delicious, that's all that matters, right?"
The master of the house was a female chef who didn't want to come out and meet the customers, so Ah Yuan didn't say much about her.
"You're right, my young friend. I must have been mistaken," Scholar Li agreed.
Although the portions in the shop were generous, the food was so delicious that Scholar Li and Scholar Wang managed to finish the four dishes almost entirely, leaving very little behind. As for the rice, they didn't eat much, with each of them having a small bowl.
The total bill came to fifty wen, but with the discount, it was forty wen.
In the end, with the extra two wen, Ji Wan'er gave Scholar Li a chestnut pastry. So, the two of them ate their fill, took five chestnut pastries, and left.
Ah Yuan took the plates to the back and glanced at Ji Wan'er, saying, "Jie Wan, look, the customers have finished their meal."
Ji Wan'er smiled and nodded.
Perhaps the good publicity in the past few days, along with the discounts and freebies, resulted in a continuous stream of twelve tables of customers during the afternoon.
The highest expenditure was sixty wen, while the lowest was six wen spent on a portion of shredded potatoes and two bowls of rice. Of course, most people spent around twenty to thirty wen. When calculated, the average spending per table was around thirty wen, resulting in a total income of about four hundred wen from the twelve tables. After deducting the rent, ingredient costs, and discounts, they made around one hundred wen from this meal.
To achieve such results just after opening was already quite good. The dinner service was even better than lunch, but it still amounted to just over one hundred wen.
Although the number of customers wasn't particularly high, they didn't earn as much as they did from their breakfast shop in town, but Ji Wan'er was full of confidence for the future. For small restaurants like theirs, reputation is key. Today, the feedback from the customers was positive, and she could tell that everyone genuinely enjoyed the food. She believed that the business of the shop would gradually improve, just like their previous breakfast shop in town.
It was getting late, and after finishing up the shop, the people working there were about to leave.
Just then, someone appeared at the door of the shop.
Seeing the person, Ji Wan'er smiled and walked over, saying, "Husband, you're back~"
Xiao Qingming was a bit bewildered. His wife had said they would come to the county town today, so he thought the house would be in a mess. However, as he looked around, he saw that the place was well-lit and bustling. After looking around a few times, he finally confirmed that this was their shop and walked in.
As soon as Ji Wan'er said this, everyone working in the shop turned their gaze towards them.
They knew that the master of the house was a scholar who had just passed the imperial examination and was studying in the county town.
However, they didn't expect that the master of the house would be so young and handsome, unlike the scholars they usually encountered. He looked more like a young master from a prestigious family.
"Hmm," Xiao Qingming simply responded. Although he had many doubts in his heart, there were too many people present at the moment, so it wasn't convenient for him to ask.
With Xiao Qingming's arrival, everyone worked faster, and once they finished, they quickly left the place.
After closing the door, Ji Wan'er led Xiao Qingming to the backyard.
"Have you eaten?" Ji Wan'er asked.
"I have," Xiao Qingming replied.
"I thought you must be tired from studying all evening, so I saved some pastries for you. Would you like to try them?" Ji Wan'er asked with a smile.
"Sure," Xiao Qingming agreed.
Xiao Qingming ate the pastries while Ji Wan'er sat opposite, watching him.
Neither of them spoke, just sitting quietly like that.
As it was getting late, they finished the pastries and went to freshen up.
Ji Wan'er had transformed the utility room, with half of it for storing miscellaneous items and the other half for bathing.
By the time they finished tidying up, it was already around the time of Hai (9-11 pm).
Xiao Qingming returned from bathing and looked around but couldn't find what he was looking for. He took a few more steps and searched again.
Ji Wan'er, tired from the whole day, was starting to feel drowsy. She almost fell asleep when Xiao Qingming went to bathe. Seeing his strange behavior, she asked in a muffled voice, "What are you looking for?"
Xiao Qingming pursed his lips and asked, "Wife, where are my sleeping mat and bedding?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Ji Wan'er instantly snapped back to reality.
Oh no, she had forgotten that Xiao Qingming was going to sleep on the floor.
When they came from home, she had left those worn-out things behind, including the old sleeping mat Xiao Qingming used and the bedding he had been using for years.
Xiao Qingming looked at Ji Wan'er's expression and instantly understood what had happened.
Did his wife forget about him again?
He felt an indescribable sense of disappointment.
His wife had come to the county town early and didn't come to find him. She didn't even bring the things he needed for daily use. It seemed as if he was insignificant in this household.
Seeing Xiao Qingming's disappointed gaze, Ji Wan'er hurriedly went inside, freeing up a spot and patting the empty space on the bed, saying, "The floor is cold. From now on, husband, sleep on the bed."
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Qingming was stunned and looked at Ji Wan'er with an expression of disbelief.
The words Ji Wan'er had just said had slipped out without thinking. Mainly, she didn't want to disappoint Xiao Qingming. However, after saying it out loud, she felt a tinge of regret, especially now, as Xiao Qingming looked at her with such eyes.
Did he not want to share the bed with her?
"Let's make do for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Qingming took three or four steps and reached the side of the bed, lifting the covers and lying down.
Then, in a serious tone, he said, "I also find the floor too cold and uncomfortable to sleep on. Thank you, wife, for considering me."
Watching his series of actions and noticing the slight blush deepening on Xiao Qingming's ears, Ji Wan'er's lips curved into a smile.
Feeling Ji Wan'er's gaze on him the whole time, Xiao Qingming became quite uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, it's getting late. Let's settle in."
"Alright," Ji Wan'er replied.
With that, Xiao Qingming extinguished the oil lamp, and the two of them lay down.
As the light went out, neither of them spoke or made any movements. They lay side by side on the bed.
Ji Wan'er had been quite sleepy, but now, with the familiar yet unfamiliar scent emanating from Xiao Qingming's body, she found it difficult to fall asleep.
As for Xiao Qingming, his ears could only hear the thumping of his own heartbeat.
A pleasant fragrance wafted through his nose.
His mind was blank.
After a while, Ji Wan'er's back started to feel numb, and she couldn't bear the sensation any longer. She softly asked, "Husband, are you asleep?"
"No," he replied.
"Shall we talk, then?"
"Alright."
Ji Wan'er began to recount the events of the past month. She talked about when she arrived at the shop, the opening day, and how her relatives had also come to the county town. She mentioned the help her family had provided to their household.
Finally, she spoke about Nanny Dong's request.
"Alright, I'll inquire about it tomorrow," Ji Wan'er said.
At this point, Ji Wan'er turned her body to face Xiao Qingming and said, "I've been thinking that it's not only important to find a good teacher for Huaijing, but also for Zi An. He's already five years old, and it's time for him to start his education. We were poor in the past and couldn't afford to send him to school. Now that we have some extra money, we should enroll him."
Xiao Qingming once again felt the pressure coming from Ji Wan'er, and his heartbeat, which had just calmed down, started to accelerate.
Seeing that Xiao Qingming didn't respond, Ji Wan'er leaned closer and asked, "What do you think?"
"...Alright," he replied.
"For Yun Shuang, I want her to learn needlework at my mother's dressmaking shop."
"Alright," Xiao Qingming replied to whatever Ji Wan'er said.
Ji Wan'er really wondered if Xiao Qingming hadn't heard what she said at all. Thinking about it, she rolled her eyes and said, "Husband, I don't know anything about needlework, and I don't want to learn. Do you think I'm useless?"
"I do."
"Huh?" Ji Wan'er raised her voice slightly.
Xiao Qingming instantly snapped out of it and hurriedly said, "No."
"You're lying to me, aren't you? You just said you did," Ji Wan'er pretended to be angry.
Xiao Qingming quickly remedied the situation, saying, "My wife is already perfect as she is. You don't need to learn. In the future, when I earn more money, if the clothes are damaged, we can go to the tailor shop to have them repaired. If they are too damaged, we can buy new ones."
Seeing that Ji Wan'er didn't respond, Xiao Qingming continued, "My wife is the best wife in the world. You cook delicious food, earn money, and... you're beautiful. Others envy me for being able to marry such a wonderful woman like you."
Ji Wan'er felt happy and asked, "Really?"
"Really," Xiao Qingming replied.
"Hmm, as long as you understand my goodness," Ji Wan'er said joyfully. "I'm sleepy now, going to sleep."
"Alright."
Ji Wan'er turned to the side, moved closer to Xiao Qingming, and hugged his arm, nuzzling her face against it.
She liked to sleep while holding onto something. Previously, she would hug a pillow or wrap herself in a blanket. Now that Xiao Qingming was beside her, it naturally felt better to hold a real person while sleeping.
With the scent of Xiao Qingming enveloping her, Ji Wan'er quickly fell asleep.
This made it quite difficult for Xiao Qingming. The sweet fragrance from Ji Wan'er lingered in his nostrils, disturbing him and making his heart itch uncontrollably. His heartbeat remained unsettled for a long time.
Early the next day, Xiao Qingming woke up with heavy dark circles under his eyes. Not only that, his arm was also numb.
Seeing that it was still early in the morning, Xiao Qingming carefully moved his arm without disturbing Ji Wan'er.
However, Ji Wan'er still woke up. She looked at the sky, sat up in bed, rubbed her eyes, and drowsily asked, "Why did you wake up so early? Do you want me to cook for you?"
Xiao Qingming glanced at her and saw her sleepy appearance. Her inner garment had slipped down at some point, revealing a bit of her fragrant shoulder.
Thinking about the sensation on his arm from last night, Xiao Qingming immediately blushed. He quickly averted his eyes and looked elsewhere.
"No... it's not necessary. There's food at the academy," he replied.
"Oh," Ji Wan'er nodded, unaware of Xiao Qingming's thoughts.
After tidying up, Xiao Qingming hurried to the academy, while Ji Wan'er went back to sleep for a while.
After waking up, she took Yun Shuang and Zi An to the market to buy groceries.
The shop still had discounts today, and there were even more customers than yesterday, with a few being returning customers.
From that day onwards, Xiao Qingming no longer stayed at the academy and came home every day.
In a few days, Xiao Qingming found a good teacher for Huaijing and also found a teacher for Zi An. Upon hearing that he was going to study, Zi An was thrilled. With his older brother around, he always thought that people who studied were amazing. He never thought he had the qualifications to study himself, but unexpectedly, this good fortune fell upon him.
Upon learning that her sister-in-law wanted to send her to learn a craft, Yun Shuang was incredibly grateful. She had never considered the idea of studying before because, in her eyes, women around her, except for her sister-in-law, never pursued education. She believed that studying was something for men.
But Ji Wan'er didn't think the same way.
On the day Zi An was sent to study, Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "Zi An, you must study well with your teacher and come back to teach your sister." She actually wanted to send Yun Shuang to study as well, but there was no place in the county for girls to study. Wealthy families would hire specialized teachers to educate their daughters.
They couldn't afford such a teacher.
However, in the future, when Xiao Qingming achieved the top scholar position and they went to the capital, they would be able to find such a teacher. For now, they could only let Yun Shuang learn alongside Zi An, and when Ji Wan'er wasn't busy, she could also teach Yun Shuang.
Zi An nodded solemnly, "Okay, sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll remember."
Ji Wan'er ruffled his hair and sent him off to study.
After Zi An and Yun Shuang left, Ji Wan'er didn't have time to feel lonely as she was occupied with matters in the shop. They would leave in the morning and return in the afternoon. After they came back, Zi An would do his homework, and Yun Shuang would help in the front of the shop. Once Zi An finished his homework, he would then teach Yun Shuang.
From the second day of opening, the number of customers in the shop kept increasing, and the revenue grew day by day. Sometimes it might only increase by a few coins compared to the previous day, but at least it was increasing.
After ten days of discounts, the prices of the dishes returned to their original rates.
Fortunately, the number of customers in the shop didn't decrease; it just didn't grow as fast as in the first few days.
At the end of the month, after accounting for the discounts and free meals, they unexpectedly earned two taels of silver.
Money was never-ending, and in the second month, the shop stabilized, so Ji Wan'er planned to take a break. The shop's rest days were based on the information provided by Xiao Qingming.
Naturally, Xiao Qingming was delighted with this decision.
On their day off, Ji Wan'er took Xiao Qingming to buy clothes.
After arriving in the county, Ji Wan'er had already prepared new clothes for Zi An and Yun Shuang. Xiao Qingming had been busy studying, and she had forgotten about him. Now that they had some free time, she remembered this matter once again.
Xiao Qingming took a break, but Zi An and Yun Shuang didn't rest on this day.
This could be considered the first time Ji Wan'er and Xiao Qingming had their own time together since coming to the county. After buying clothes, they strolled around.
Although Xiao Qingming arrived a month earlier than Ji Wan'er, he was less familiar with the county. Instead, Ji Wan'er was the one leading him around.
No matter which shop Ji Wan'er went to, Xiao Qingming followed behind her with a smile on his face, his eyes seemingly glued to her.
At noon, they ate at a restaurant before returning home.
In the afternoon, Xiao Qingming read books at home while Ji Wan'er studied the menu.
The previous menu was based on dishes from local restaurants, her knowledge of local tastes, and her expertise in cooking. Now that a month had passed, she needed to make appropriate adjustments based on the preferences of the customers in their own shop.
During this month, the best-selling dishes were the homestyle ones, such as spicy shredded potatoes and stir-fried cabbage in vinegar. Surprisingly, the best-selling dish among the carefully prepared twenty dishes was the spicy chicken.
This was somewhat unexpected for Ji Wan'er. She thought that people would prefer milder flavors like the customers in the town, so she had only included two spicy dishes at the front. But it turned out that customers liked the heavier flavors.
In addition to the spicy chicken, the stir-fried pork with chili peppers at the back also sold well.
That made it easier. Ji Wan'er removed a few sweet dishes and replaced them with boiled pork slices, mapo tofu, and chopped pepper fish head.
If it was about writing, she could do it herself, but for drawing, she would have to go out and find someone to do it. However, that could be done quickly as long as she paid enough. These three dishes could be drawn in less than half an hour.
In the evening, Ji Wan'er made a dish of boiled pork slices.
Mainly because she hadn't made it in a long time and was afraid she might not do it well the next day, so she wanted to give it a try in advance.
After the vegetarian dish was prepared, it was placed at the bottom of the bowl, then the meat was cooked, and finally hot oil was poured on top. Once it was done, some chopped green onions were sprinkled on it, creating a beautiful combination of red and green colors with the meat slices and the vegetables.
As soon as the dish was served, Zi An couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
"This dish is a bit spicy, Yun Shuang and Zi An, eat less of it, be careful not to get too heated."
Xiao Qingming had been staring at the boiled pork slices on the table, but when he heard these words, his eyes flickered, and he turned his head to look at Ji Wan'er. Since his younger siblings couldn't eat it, does that mean she specifically made it for him?
Although he rarely ate spicy food, this realization made him very happy.
"Alright, I understand, sister-in-law," Zi An said, swallowing his saliva again, agreeing to her request.
Ji Wan'er originally thought that her family members couldn't handle spicy food, but unexpectedly, Yun Shuang, Xiao Qingming and Zi An not only liked it but also didn't seem to be afraid of spiciness.
"Sister-in-law, this dish is so fragrant and delicious!" Zi An happily exclaimed with a reddened mouth from the spiciness.
Yun Shuang picked up the warm water on the side and took a sip while her eyes were fixed on the boiled pork slices on the table. She softly said, "It's indeed delicious, just a bit spicy." After speaking, she took another sip of warm water.
On the other hand, Xiao Qingming couldn't stop eating the spicy food.
"Husband, is it delicious?" Ji Wan'er asked with a smile.
Xiao Qingming's mouth was reddened, but he nodded and said, "It's delicious."
"Eat less, it's late at night, be careful not to feel uncomfortable in your stomach," Ji Wan'er timely reminded them. It had been a while since she had eaten anything too spicy, and after having some, she felt a bit of heat in her stomach.
"Okay," Xiao Qingming responded.
However, although Xiao Qingming verbally agreed, his actions of eating the boiled pork slices didn't stop.
Ji Wan'er could tell that Xiao Qingming truly enjoyed eating this dish. She only knew that he had a preference for sweets, but she didn't expect him to enjoy spicy food so much. It seems that they will have to make more spicy dishes at home in the future.
Watching Xiao Qingming happily eat, Ji Wan'er couldn't help but have some more herself.
Before long, the boiled pork slices were almost finished, and judging by everyone's reactions, Ji Wan'er believed that the dish should be fine.
As much as Xiao Qingming loved eating the boiled pork slices during the meal, now he was suffering.
Ji Wan'er noticed that within a short span of an hour, Xiao Qingming had already gone to the restroom three times.
She could somewhat guess why this was happening.
Just as the two of them lay down in bed, Xiao Qingming made his fourth trip.
When he returned, seeing the expression on his face that was hard to put into words, Ji Wan'er said, "If you can't handle spicy food, why did you eat so much?"
This dish was specially made for him by his wife, how could he not eat it?
Xiao Qingming pursed his lips, remaining silent, but his face turned slightly red. It seemed that this kind of thing, being known by his own wife, was embarrassing and shameful.
After turning off the lights, Ji Wan'er still held onto Xiao Qingming's arm as she slept.
She was about to fall asleep but then opened her eyes, thinking about Xiao Qingming's expression earlier. Did she say something too harsh? Was he upset? But what was she to blame for? He wouldn't have eaten it if she hadn't made this dish.
Looking at Xiao Qingming lying straight on the bed, Ji Wan'er asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Indeed, he was feeling a bit uncomfortable. After all, he had never eaten so much chili before. However, Xiao Qingming said with his mouth, "No."
Ji Wan'er stared at Xiao Qingming for a long time and leaned closer to him, giving him a kiss.
"If you're feeling uncomfortable, just tell me."
"...Hmm," Xiao Qingming responded.
In reality, compared to the discomfort from eating chili, what was even more uncomfortable was Ji Wan'er cuddling him every night.
He was a normal man.
Before, when they didn't sleep together, it was manageable. Sometimes he had desires, but they weren't as intense. But now, sleeping on the same bed every day, certain things became harder to endure.
Listening to the long breaths beside his ear, Xiao Qingming was under double stimulation. It took a while for him to fall asleep.
Although last night was extremely uncomfortable, the next morning, Xiao Qingming woke up at the usual time, just like any other day.
However, upon waking up, he felt even more uncomfortable than last night.
This morning, it seemed a bit colder than before. Not only was Ji Wan'er holding him, but one of her legs was also draped over him.
Xiao Qingming calmed himself down, taking deep breaths several times before finally settling down.
Gently moving Ji Wan'er aside, he quietly got out of bed to freshen up.
Before leaving, as he looked at the person on the bed sleeping peacefully with a slightly flushed face, Xiao Qingming pursed his lips and, as if possessed, leaned down and gave a kiss.
After the kiss, seeing Ji Wan'er's eyes flicker, Xiao Qingming panicked and hurriedly left.
Ji Wan'er felt a slight itch on her cheek, raised her hand to pat it, and fell back asleep.
With the change in the menu, it was evident that many customers ordered those three dishes. Just on the first day, they sold three portions of water-boiled meat slices, two portions of mapo tofu, and one portion of chopped pepper fish head. Considering that not all the dishes could be sold every day, some might only sell once every two or three days. Due to the complexity of preparation, there would be leftovers for the following days.
Looking at the income of over three hundred wen for the day, Ji Wan'er smiled. If things continued at this pace, they would earn ten taels of silver in a month, surpassing their earnings in town. Moreover, they had just started, and their profits were bound to increase over time.
This was truly a joyous occasion.
When they returned in the evening, Xiao Qingming dared not look at Ji Wan'er's expression. Even when she happily told him about the increase in income at the shop, he seemed absent-minded, as if he hadn't heard her.
Ji Wan'er thought he was tired from studying and didn't say anything further.
Little did she know, Xiao Qingming was feeling guilty.
When Ji Wan'er fell asleep in the evening, Xiao Qingming finally dared to glance at her. Although the room was dark, they were close enough that Xiao Qingming could see Ji Wan'er's sleeping face.
Then, the morning incident replayed in his mind.
Xiao Qingming pursed his lips, gazing at that fair and peaceful face, unable to resist, he kissed her again.
After the kiss, he immediately closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. His heart was pounding as if he had done something wrong, and his earlobes turned red as if they were about to bleed. It was only when he realized that Ji Wan'er had no reaction that Xiao Qingming calmed down.
He finally understood why his wife enjoyed kissing him so much. It turned out that the feeling of a kiss was so wonderful.
The next morning, before leaving, Xiao Qingming couldn't help but kiss Ji Wan'er again.
This time, Ji Wan'er quickly woke up. She had a feeling that even though the weather had cooled down, there were still mosquitoes around.
After a few days passed, Xiao Qingming became more and more adept at stealing kisses. One before going to sleep, another before leaving.
1
On this day, before Xiao Qingming left, he kissed Ji Wan'er's cheek once again.
However, in the next moment, Ji Wan'er suddenly opened her eyes.
She initially thought she had been bitten by a mosquito, but it turned out that Xiao Qingming was kissing her!
If he wanted to kiss, why did he have to do it sneakily?
Xiao Qingming had already become quite familiar with this act and was no longer nervous, but now, looking at Ji Wan'er's gaze, he was completely flustered and didn't know what to do. His hands remained in the same position, supporting himself on both sides of Ji Wan'er.
"Why are you kissing me sneakily?" Ji Wan'er spoke first.
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Qingming's cheeks immediately turned red, as did his earlobes.
Seeing his shy appearance, Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "We are a proper husband and wife, there's no need for you to act this way, my dear."
Xiao Qingming was always so shy that he wouldn't even make a move even if she kissed him. She thought he was just introverted and too shy to express himself. She never expected this bookworm to secretly steal kisses from her.
It seemed that she held some importance in his heart.
With this in mind, Ji Wan'er hugged Xiao Qingming's neck and pulled him closer, kissing his cheek.
"Just like this, when I want to kiss you, I'll kiss you."
Xiao Qingming's cheeks became even redder than before.
Ji Wan'er thought to herself that this person was too easily teased, and she shouldn't tease him anymore. If she continued, it might distract him from his studies today.
"Husband, in the future, if you want to kiss me, do it openly and boldly, no need to sneak around. Remember, okay?"
Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were suddenly sealed by someone.
Ji Wan'er was extremely shocked, her eyes widened in disbelief. She never expected Xiao Qingming to do such a thing. Even after Xiao Qingming's lips left hers, she couldn't snap out of her daze.
That's not what she meant.
"Well, I'll remember," Xiao Qingming said, and after glancing at Ji Wan'er, he left the house. His movements and demeanor appeared calm, completely different from the embarrassed state of being caught while stealing a kiss.
Once Xiao Qingming's figure disappeared from sight and the sound of the door closing echoed, Ji Wan'er finally regained her senses.
Just now... she was kissed by Xiao Qingming?
Ji Wan'er slowly raised her hand and touched her lips.
It felt as if the cool sensation still lingered there.
Thinking about the serious and devout expression Xiao Qingming had when he kissed her, and the intense aura that belonged to him, Ji Wan'er's face immediately flushed, and her heartbeat pounded like a drum, incessantly.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!
Ji Wan'er, being slow to react, began to feel shy.
Even though there was no one in the room, she felt as if she were being watched. She quickly pulled the blanket covering her chest up to her head, hiding her blushing face.
Ji Wan'er was not the only one who couldn't remain composed. When Xiao Qingming kissed her just now, he appeared calm on the surface but was actually extremely nervous inside. After the kiss, he hurriedly left, not letting Ji Wan'er see his nervousness.
However, once he was outside, he calmed down and began to reflect on what had just happened.
He actually did it.
He had thought about this countless times, dreamed about it countless times, but never had the courage to act on it. And now, it has suddenly become a reality. As he gently caressed his excited heart, Xiao Qingming couldn't help but feel that this feeling was really wonderful.
He pursed his lips, savoring the sensation from earlier.
As a gentle breeze blew, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Qingming's mouth, and he walked briskly towards the academy.
Meanwhile, Ji Wan'er had been lying in bed for nearly half an hour and finally got up close to the time for grocery shopping.
Business was still good today, and the spicy dishes she had put up yesterday were chosen again. This further confirmed that her decision was the right one. Ji Wan'er thought that since everyone liked spicy food, she could come up with more dishes.
When it was close to closing time, Xiao Qingming returned.
Upon seeing Xiao Qingming, Ji Wan'er felt a momentary nervousness, but as she saw his gentle smile, her nervousness turned into shyness, and her heartbeat seemed to skip a beat. Under the dim candlelight, she couldn't help but feel that Xiao Qingming looked even more handsome than before, and his smile was as warm as jade.
"My wife, were you tired today?" Xiao Qingming asked.
Ji Wan'er approached and squeezed his hand, smiling as she replied, "Not tired."
The two stood in front of the stove, looking at each other and smiling, without saying a word. Even though no words were exchanged, there was no awkwardness at all.
After a while, Ji Wan'er spoke up, "Were you tired from studying today?"
Xiao Qingming shook his head and said, "Not tired."
Just the thought that his wife was waiting for him near the academy filled him with energy, making him not only not tired but also full of vitality.
The two of them engaged in a conversation that lacked depth, and soon the outside was tidied up and everyone closed the door and left.
Zi An came across a character he didn't recognize and intended to ask his older brother, but he was stopped by Yun Shuang.
Yun Shuang looked at the harmonious scene of her brother and sister-in-law standing together and didn't want to disturb them. "You can ask Master about it tomorrow. Your brother is already working hard with his studies. How can you bother him with such a trivial matter?"
After giving it some thought, Zi An felt that his sister was right and nodded in agreement.
In the evening, after bathing, Xiao Qingming turned off the lights and lay down on the bed.
After the lights were turned off, Ji Wan'er lay flat on the bed, quietly listening to the sounds coming from Xiao Qingming's side. There was a hint of nervousness and anticipation. However, she waited for a long time, but there was no sound coming from Xiao Qingming's side.
After a while, Ji Wan'er heard the sound of his deep breathing coming from beside her.
Xiao Qingming actually fell asleep?!
Ji Wan'er turned to look at Xiao Qingming and indeed, he was really asleep.
This person...
He had just kissed her in the morning, and now he had forgotten? Wasn't he fond of kissing her in the morning and evening before she discovered it? Why was he acting so differently today? Could it be that he stopped kissing her because she found out?
Listening to Xiao Qingming's steady breathing as he slept, Ji Wan'er grew increasingly annoyed, although she wasn't sure why. She just felt that she wasn't asleep yet, so how could Xiao Qingming sleep so soundly?
There was an impulse in her heart to wake him up so that he could sleep after she fell asleep.
But it was only an impulse. Xiao Qingming worked hard with his studies, and she couldn't bear to disturb him.
Ji Wan'er suddenly deflated and lay back down.
Usually, after a busy day, she would be tired and fall asleep as soon as she lay down on the bed. But today, she was wide awake and couldn't fall asleep even after lying there for a quarter of an hour.
Ji Wan'er lifted the blanket and looked at Xiao Qingming lying beside her again.
Xiao Qingming was really handsome. Although the room was pitch black at the moment, they were close enough for her to see some details.
His face had distinct angles, his eyebrows were like distant mountains, his nose was high and straight, and his lips... thin and tightly pressed.
Staring at Xiao Qingming's lips for a few moments, Ji Wan'er pursed her own lips and then glanced at his eyes. Seeing that he still looked fast asleep, Ji Wan'er leaned over and gave him a kiss.
After the kiss, her heart uncontrollably started beating faster.
But at the same time, she felt a sense of comfort in her heart. A slight smile appeared on her lips, and she laid back down, satisfied.
As she touched her pounding heart, Ji Wan'er quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, Xiao Qingming woke up early. He had slept particularly well last night. Since his wife hadn't cuddled up to him while sleeping, he felt calm inside, and as soon as his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep.
His mind was clear at the moment.
However...
Looking at himself not hanging onto his wife as usual but instead sleeping soundly with her back turned towards him, he felt a slight emptiness inside.
He wanted to give his wife a kiss as usual, but unfortunately, she was too far away. If he leaned over, he would inevitably wake her up.
After contemplating for a while, Xiao Qingming finished washing up and went to study.
As a result, the business at the shop suddenly improved.
During the first few days of the month, they were making around three hundred wen, but after a few more days, the earnings reached four hundred wen. It didn't stop at four hundred wen for long and soon reached five hundred wen, continuing to increase from there.
With increased earnings came more customers. The mornings were manageable, but as soon as noon arrived, they became incredibly busy. From the time of "si zheng" (9 am to 11 am) until "wei zheng" (1 pm to 3 pm), they were busy non-stop for two hours. After taking a one-hour break, customers started coming in again during "shen zheng" (3 pm to 5 pm), and they had to work for another hour.
In this way, throughout the day, Ji Wan'er was constantly cooking and stir-frying for three hours straight.
Then, Xiao Qingming noticed that his wife had started neglecting him.
It seemed to have started from the day he kissed her. Since then, she no longer cuddled up to him while sleeping and didn't talk to him about the shop anymore. In the evening, she would turn her back to him and go to sleep without saying more than a couple of words.
He used to think that he could sleep well if his wife didn't cuddle up to him.
Now he was proven wrong.
Without his wife cuddling up to him, he couldn't sleep at all.
This continued for a few days, and his wife even stopped talking to him at night, simply going to sleep.
Xiao Qingming would leave early in the morning and only return close to closing time at the shop, so he had no idea how the business was going. Normally, Ji Wan'er would inform him about the shop, but nobody else would bother to tell him anything.
Moreover, Ji Wan'er had just informed him about the shop a few days ago, so he didn't think it was because she was too tired.
From his perspective, he just felt that his wife became colder and more indifferent towards him after he kissed her that day, as if she disliked him even more.
The shop suddenly became busy, and Ji Wan'er was incredibly busy every day, unaware of what Xiao Qingming was thinking. She actually wanted to talk to him, but she was too exhausted and would fall asleep after only a few words. Even in her dreams, she would dream about the business at the shop. Sometimes, she dreamed about herself stir-frying dishes.
On the day Nanny Dong took a break, she came to the shop to check on her daughter. Seeing the bustling scene in the shop, she joined in and helped for half a day.
Seeing her daughter's tired appearance, she felt both gratified and a bit distressed for her.
The reason she only helped for half a day was that she knew even if she worked here for a whole day, it wouldn't solve the actual problem. So, in the latter half of the day, she went to attend to other matters.
Knowing that her daughter was busy, she informed her daughter and, following her daughter's previous approach to hiring people, she helped her hire two individuals. One would come to wash and cut vegetables, while the other had some culinary skills and could assist her daughter.
Three days later, she successfully hired the people.
Ji Wan'er looked at the two new hires and felt deeply grateful to Nanny Dong.
It's not that she didn't want to hire people, but recently she had been too busy and exhausted. Whenever she had a little time, she would rest and sleep at home, without even a moment to catch her breath. She had planned to consider hiring someone when she had a break in a few days. Unexpectedly, Nanny Dong directly solved this problem for her.
Having a mother like Nanny Dong who cared for her was truly her fortune.
With these two new hires, Ji Wan'er suddenly felt relieved and relaxed.
Looking back at these past few days felt like a dream.
It wasn't that she wasn't prepared enough; it was just that she hadn't expected her own shop to become so popular. The number of repeat customers kept increasing, and many people were being referred by others. The reputation of the shop seemed to have spread overnight, and many people now knew about it. It caught her off guard.
However, no matter how good the business was at the shop, it was still necessary to take a rest. If they continued to be so busy every day, their bodies wouldn't be able to handle it.
Ah Yuan thought that since the business was so good, the boss lady wouldn't take a break, but he didn't expect her to still rest on the designated days. In his personal thoughts, he didn't want to take a break because if there were more customer expenses at the shop, he could earn more in commission.
However, his suggestion was still rejected.
"Take a good rest. This month, I'll increase everyone's wages by ten wen each," Ji Wan'er said.
It's important to note that the wages Ji Wan'er offered were not lower than elsewhere. With a ten-wen increase, they would be even higher, and naturally, everyone was delighted.
That evening, Ji Wan'er finally had the chance to have a proper conversation with Xiao Qingming. At a glance, she noticed something.
"Husband, why have you become thin?"
Xiao Qingming had been by her side every day, so how did she not notice it before?
Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er and pursed his lips.
Looking at his tired eyes, Ji Wan'er counted the days and considerately asked, "Is it because the exams are approaching? Even during exams, you can't neglect eating properly. Tomorrow, I plan to invite my parents and younger brother over, and we can have a good meal as a family. I'll make more delicious dishes then."
"Mm," Xiao Qingming responded.
Seeing that it was not yet midnight and Xiao Qingming was about to take exams, Ji Wan'er glanced at the dimly lit oil lamp on the table and suggested, "I think the oil lamp isn't very bright. Why don't we use candles instead? I have some in my chest, I'll go get them for you."
She thought that when the exams were approaching, everyone liked to cram, and she assumed Xiao Qingming was no exception. He had been like that before when he was preparing for the imperial examination.
"Wife, there's no need..."
"You don't have to be so polite with me."
After a while, Ji Wan'er took out her cherished candles that she had kept for many years and handed them to Xiao Qingming.
"Don't extinguish the oil lamp either. Light some more candles so that it won't strain your eyes," Ji Wan'er said thoughtfully.
Xiao Qingming had initially intended to rest, but with Ji Wan'er's actions, he didn't feel like resting anymore.
Once Xiao Qingming was settled, Ji Wan'er went to sleep.
Xiao Qingming sat at the table, took a long sigh, but couldn't focus on the content of the book no matter how hard he tried.
When he heard the sound of Ji Wan'er's steady breathing from the bed, Xiao Qingming blew out the candle and went to sleep.
However, his heart remained heavy, and he felt like there was a breath he couldn't catch, wanting to release it.
The next day, Ji Wan'er woke up naturally and checked the time at Nanny Dong's place. When it was close to her finishing work, she went to the tailor's shop to find her and talked about having dinner together that night. Nanny Dong agreed.
Around the hour of You (Rooster - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), Nanny Dong and her family arrived.
Perhaps in an unfamiliar place, they felt a stronger bond between them than before, especially between Ji Huaijing and Xiao Qingming. Ji Huaijing had always admired Xiao Qingming. When his sister had just gotten married, he wanted to discuss academic matters with his brother-in-law. Unfortunately, his brother-in-law was indifferent to him at that time. To be precise, his brother-in-law had that kind of attitude towards everyone.
Now, his brother-in-law treated him much better. Whenever he had difficulties, his brother-in-law would earnestly answer his questions.
Nanny Dong looked at her son's eager appearance and said to her daughter, "When your younger brother can pass the imperial examination, I will be at ease."
Ji Wan'er thought about the plot in the book and remembered Xiao Qingming's private evaluation of Ji Huaijing. She smiled and said, "Mother, rest assured, my younger brother has been clever since he was young. He will definitely pass the imperial examination."
Nanny Dong had also heard the teacher say that her son was clever, but there were many clever people, while those who could pass the imperial examination were few and far between.
"Ah, I hope he has that destiny."
"He will."
With the family reunited, everyone was in a good mood. During the meal, they had some drinks, and the atmosphere became even better. After becoming familiar with each other, it became easier to talk.
While toasting, Nanny Dong brought up something from many years ago.
"Qingming, before the age of six, Wan'er lived with me and your father-in-law in the capital. Although we were servants, we were servants of the Marquis's household, different from ordinary families. At that time, we lived together in a big courtyard. She had a privileged upbringing and never experienced hardships. Later, when we returned to the village, both her father and I cherished her and didn't want her to do any work. Perhaps that's why she developed a delicate temperament. If she does something wrong, be more tolerant towards her. If it really doesn't work, come find me, and I'll mediate for you."
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Qingming quickly stood up and said, "Mother-in-law, please don't say that. Wan'er is good, she has always been good. It's because of my incompetence that I let her suffer with me."
Ji Wan'er was about to speak, but Nanny Dong glanced at her and stopped her from speaking.
Meanwhile, Nanny Dong continued, "Seeing her running the shop all by herself now, to be honest, it pains my heart. But as I see her doing better and better, I feel relieved. She's young right now, and a little hardship is nothing. With the family having money, Yun Shuang and Zi An living well, and you being able to focus on your studies, as long as you study well and achieve success, these hardships won't matter."
Nanny Dong's words praised her daughter's achievements. She spoke intentionally, but in a way that didn't make people dislike her.
"Mother-in-law, rest assured, I will study hard and achieve success, allowing my wife to live a good life." While saying these words, Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er.
Nanny Dong was quite satisfied with her son-in-law's assurance, nodded, and responded, "Hmm."
After that, the topic wasn't brought up again.
As the conversation went on, somehow the topic shifted to the capital city.
Ji Huaijing had heard about the capital city for many years, even though he had never been there, he had a clear understanding of it. Ji Dazhong had also lived in the capital city for many years and knew what it was like.
During the meal, besides these two, everyone else was hearing Nanny Dong talk about it for the first time and was very curious.
Especially Yun Shuang and Zi An, these two children were filled with intense curiosity about the bustling capital city.
"Wow, are there really such big restaurants? Three floors high?" Zi An asked in astonishment.
"Yes, it's not just called a restaurant, it's called a restaurant tower. The main hall on the first floor alone can accommodate over twenty tables. There are also private rooms upstairs," Nanny Dong said.
"Do people in the capital city all wear luxurious fabrics like damask and silk?" Yun Shuang asked softly.
"Not only do they wear damask and silk, but there are also intricate embroideries on them, some even embroidered with gold threads, and some adorned with pearls," Nanny Dong said.
Perhaps due to drinking today and reminiscing about the past, Nanny Dong continued, "Sometimes, even in my dreams, I can dream of the capital city. I would think to myself, if only I could go back there someday."
As she spoke, Nanny Dong's expression became complex.
Ji Wan'er looked at her in this state, and a trace of sadness arose in her heart. For someone with Nanny Dong's proud temperament, being inexplicably driven out of the capital city by the main household must have been very painful for her. Returning to the capital city had already become an obsession in her heart.
However, her luck wasn't too bad. The mistress she had served before was the protagonist of the novel, destined to become the motherly figure of the nation, and as the nanny whom the protagonist trusted when she was young, Nanny Dong was also favored by the protagonist.
Ji Wan'er, however, was unaware that Xiao Qingming was currently watching her. Seeing her saddened expression, Xiao Qingming thought that his wife must also long to return to the bustling capital city. He had heard about what happened back then; his wife's family was expelled by the Marquis's mansion.
Xiao Qingming tightened his grip on the wine cup. He was determined to let his wife return to the capital city openly and honestly!
Thinking of this, he downed the wine in one gulp, emptying the cup.
After drinking, he began to cough vigorously. He had never drunk alcohol before, let alone such strong wine, and he had taken a big sip.
Hearing Xiao Qingming coughing, Ji Wan'er snapped out of her thoughts and quickly patted his back.
"Why did you drink so hastily? If you can't handle it, don't drink so much," she said.
Perhaps due to the coughing, Xiao Qingming's face turned red.
After coughing for a while, Xiao Qingming finally returned to normal.
With this little incident, Nanny Dong also regained her senses. Realizing that she had said something inappropriate during the meal, she quickly smiled and changed the topic.
"Seeing how well your relationship is, it brings me more joy than anything else. Whether you go to the capital city or not, it doesn't matter anymore. However, there's still one big thing in my heart," Nanny Dong said, pausing for a moment.
Upon hearing Nanny Dong's words, everyone at the table looked at her.
"When will you two have a child? Then I can truly feel at ease," Nanny Dong said with a smile.
Now, all eyes on the table turned to Xiao Qingming and Ji Wan'er.
The color that had just faded from Xiao Qingming's face now returned. He took another sip of wine, coughed again, and his face turned as red as a beet.
Ji Wan'er: ... What a fool!
Seeing Xiao Qingming's reaction, everyone burst into laughter.
Nanny Dong knew that her daughter and son-in-law were already sharing a bed. With her daughter being so beautiful, she believed that few men could resist, and her son-in-law was no exception. Seeing her son-in-law's reaction today, she thought that the consummation between her son-in-law and daughter was not far off.
Nanny Dong was very satisfied.
After dinner, Nanny Dong and her entourage went back home, with Ji Dazhong there to take care of them. There was no need to worry.
However, Xiao Qingming was the one who needed to worry.
Xiao Qingming had never drunk alcohol before, but today he had consumed so much at once. Now, he sat upright at the table, with his hands resting on it and his eyes fixed on the wine cup in front of him, his face flushed red.
After seeing off her family, Ji Wan'er closed the shop and went to see Xiao Qingming.
Seeing Xiao Qingming in this state, Ji Wan'er said, "Husband, let's go back to our room."
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Qingming turned his head to look at Ji Wan'er and nodded earnestly. "Oh, okay." After saying that, he obediently stood up and walked towards the backyard.
However, before he had taken a few steps, he stumbled.
Ji Wan'er quickly walked over and supported him.
Xiao Qingming stared at her for a while, allowing her to support him.
Fortunately, Xiao Qingming was obedient even when he was drunk, which eased Ji Wan'er's worries. She was afraid that dealing with a drunk Xiao Qingming would be difficult for her.
After a while, Ji Wan'er helped Xiao Qingming back into the room.
When she gently placed him on the bed, Ji Wan'er was about to get up. However, Xiao Qingming grabbed her arm and didn't let go. She didn't realize it in time and ended up falling onto Xiao Qingming.
Thump, thump, thump.
What Ji Wan'er heard in her ears was the pounding sound of a heartbeat. This heartbeat was coming from Xiao Qingming. However, gradually, it became intertwined with another heartbeat.
The two heartbeats mixed together, completely chaotic.
Sometimes, Ji Wan'er felt that despite their young age and recent marriage, they were like an old married couple. Being with Xiao Qingming was comfortable, with no pressure. When they slept at night, she liked to hold him, which made her feel secure.
But this time, although they were sleeping as usual, with her holding him, the feeling in her heart was completely different.
This time, it wasn't her who initiated the embrace; it was Xiao Qingming who held her. The scent coming from Xiao Qingming was also different from usual, with a strong smell of alcohol.
This also made her feel a bit unfamiliar.
Thinking back to the day when Xiao Qingming suddenly kissed her, her heartbeat uncontrollably accelerated.
After some time, Ji Wan'er regained some of her senses. Seeing that Xiao Qingming didn't make any further moves, she tried to leave his embrace.
However, just as she moved away and was about to get up, there was a slight force on her waist, and she once again fell into Xiao Qingming's arms.
Is Xiao Qingming pretending to be drunk?!
She had just stretched out her arm to push him away and was about to inquire when suddenly her entire body was flipped over and laid on the bed.
In the darkness, she couldn't see the expression on Xiao Qingming's face, but she could feel the warmth emanating from his body and the smell of alcohol wafting onto her face.
This version of Xiao Qingming felt extremely unfamiliar.
"You're pretending..."
Before she could finish her sentence, her words were muffled by warm lips.
Ji Wan'er's eyes widened in an instant.
This was already the second time that Xiao Qingming had kissed her voluntarily. However, this time was completely different from the previous one.
If it hadn't been her personally helping Xiao Qingming back, without anyone else's assistance, she would have doubted if the person in front of her was really Xiao Qingming. This version of Xiao Qingming was too bold, too uninhibited, completely devoid of his previous shyness and restraint.
This kind of Xiao Qingming made her feel a hint of nervousness and an inexplicable flutter in her heart.
Just as she was thinking about this, the pressure of the lips gradually increased.
Although Ji Wan'er had initiated kisses with Xiao Qingming several times, each time it was just a brief touch, a gentle peck before she pulled away. Even when Xiao Qingming kissed her, it was light. But now, the intensity was much stronger.
Despite her efforts to calm her racing heart, Ji Wan'er could feel it pounding violently once again.
Gradually, she forgot what she had been thinking, and her hands couldn't help but grab onto the front of Xiao Qingming's clothes.
She actively responded to Xiao Qingming's kiss.
After a long while, just when Ji Wan'er was struggling to catch her breath, the kiss finally ended.
Ji Wan'er breathed heavily, trying to steady her racing heart.
At that moment, warm breath brushed against her ear, and she heard a voice saying, "My wife, just wait a little longer. We'll be able to return to the capital soon, and I'll bring you back openly and proudly."
Ji Wan'er's breath caught in her throat, and her heart trembled in response.