"Wife, let's have some meat."
Originally, even though Xiao Qingming didn't say much during the meal, he heard every word Nanny Dong said and believed that she also wanted to return to the capital.
After a long silence, Ji Wan'er spoke up, "You don't have to worry so much. Just do your best, whether we go back to the capital or not."
In fact, she felt that their current life was quite good. Despite being busy, she was happy to see customers enjoying the food she made, and she felt content.
Every day, she did what she loved, earned endless money, and the person she loved was by her side, each of them striving in their own field. This kind of state was truly wonderful.
Hearing this, Xiao Qingming didn't say anything. He raised his hand and touched Ji Wan'er's hair, saying, "Hmm, it's getting late, let's sleep."
With that, Xiao Qingming held Ji Wan'er in his arms.
Perhaps it was because of what Xiao Qingming had just done or because of the words he had said, Ji Wan'er's mind was in a mess. However, in Xiao Qingming's familiar embrace, she felt secure. Before long, she gradually fell asleep.
The next morning, Xiao Qingming woke up as usual. As he woke up and looked at his wife in his arms, his consciousness returned, and he remembered what had happened last night.
Immediately, a blush appeared on his face.
Last night, he had done something he had always wanted to do but didn't dare.
For over a month, he had been enduring it.
Before, when they didn't sleep together, it didn't feel like a big deal. But now, his wife slept beside him, holding him every day and occasionally giving him a kiss. His inner feelings were not as indifferent as he appeared on the surface.
But under his wife's gaze, he became too nervous and didn't dare to do anything.
It was only because of his wife's encouragement that he dared to do it that day.
Later, as he noticed his wife's increasingly indifferent reaction, he regretted it deeply and felt extremely uncomfortable. His mind was in turmoil every day.
Yesterday, fueled by alcohol, he did all the things he didn't dare to do before.
Now, Xiao Qingming began to feel nervous and remorseful. He was afraid that Ji Wan'er would become even colder towards him once she woke up.
He thought about whether he should leave before his wife woke up, so he wouldn't have to endure her cold gaze. Just as he was thinking about this, the person in his arms suddenly opened their eyes and looked at him.
Seeing the person in his arms open their mouth, Xiao Qingming's heart stirred, and he leaned down to kiss them.
At that moment, his thought was that by kissing them, he wouldn't have to listen to things he didn't want to hear.
However, to his surprise, the person in his arms responded to him. Oh no, wait, last night it seemed like she responded too. Thinking of this, Xiao Qingming's heart filled with joy, and he deepened the kiss.
If it weren't for last night's impulse, he might not have realized that they could take it further.
Xiao Qingming thought that sometimes alcohol truly was a good thing, and the ancients didn't deceive him.
This kiss didn't stop for a while. When it finally ended, it had been two hours.
Both of them had flushed faces, slightly swollen lips, but in their hearts, it felt as sweet as honey.
Afterwards, Xiao Qingming hastily straightened himself up. Ji Wan'er stayed hidden under the covers, only revealing her eyes, which twinkled as she quietly watched Xiao Qingming's disheveled appearance.
Despite his disheveled state, Xiao Qingming felt pleased in his heart. Or perhaps, he had never felt this pleased before today.
Originally, due to a hangover, he woke up feeling a bit of a headache. However, after this encounter, he felt refreshed, energized, and in high spirits.
When he arrived at the academy, his mind was filled with his wife. But whenever he thought of her, he felt a surge of energy throughout his body. Seeing how hard his wife worked, he also wanted to work harder to deserve her and fulfill her wishes as soon as possible.
With this thought, he found himself studying faster and feeling a bit lighter in his learning compared to before.
Ji Wan'er was in an extremely good mood today. She smiled at everyone she met, and the maid she recently hired to assist her commented on how radiant she looked. Yun Shuang and Zi An also sensed her happiness.
In the evening, when Xiao Qingming returned from the academy, he naturally felt it too. However, he felt that his wife looked even more beautiful.
"Do you want to have a late-night snack?" Ji Wan'er asked with a smile.
"Sure," Xiao Qingming replied.
While the academy provided three meals a day, they still had to study for an additional hour after dinner. So, by this time, Xiao Qingming was already hungry.
While eating noodles, the two of them sat at a small table in the kitchen. Ji Wan'er sat across from Xiao Qingming, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him. Xiao Qingming didn't say anything, he just silently ate his noodles. Occasionally, they would exchange glances, both of their eyes filled with smiles.
They quickly finished the bowl of noodles.
After eating, Xiao Qingming didn't go back to studying. After washing up, the two of them went to bed.
Since lying in bed, Ji Wan'er began to feel nervous. Thinking about what happened last night and this morning, her heart was both nervous and filled with anticipation. When Xiao Qingming turned off the lights and lay down, her nervousness reached its peak.
She could even hear her own heart pounding.
Likewise, Xiao Qingming was also nervous.
Last night, he only dared to do those things under the influence of alcohol. This morning, he acted impulsively because he was too nervous and afraid of what his wife would say. Now, he was sober, and he was a bit hesitant.
But that wonderful feeling deeply attracted him.
The scent coming from his wife was truly tantalizing.
"Wife, may I kiss you?" Xiao Qingming asked in the darkness.
Ji Wan'er: ...What a silly boy!
She thought he had become more assertive after listening to his words last night, but it turns out he can still be this naive at times.
"If I say no, would you not kiss me?" Ji Wan'er playfully retorted.
Xiao Qingming pursed his lips, his inner thoughts wavering.
Just then, a slightly cool hand gently covered his own.
Xiao Qingming's heart trembled, and a sudden impulse arose within him. Similar to last night and this morning, he found the lips that had tormented him for so long.
As she was being kissed, Ji Wan'er thought to herself that it's fortunate he is just shy, but when he actually takes action, he is quite assertive.
Days went by like this, and after half a month, Nanny Dong had some free time and visited the shop again. She initially wanted to ask her daughter if there was anything her son-in-law said after they left, and if the words she said had any impact on their relationship. However, the moment she saw her daughter, she understood everything.
Her daughter's face now had a radiant complexion, and her eyes sparkled like stars. When her husband was mentioned, her face blushed. It was clear that their relationship had been going well recently. It seemed that the incident from that day didn't affect their relationship, or if it did, it was in a positive direction.
Seeing her daughter like this, Nanny Dong decided not to bring up the matter from that day again.
Soon, the days entered the twelfth month.
Over the course of this month, business became even better. In the final few days of the month, they exceeded 600 wen. On the first day of the new year, she went through the accounts with the accountants and realized they had earned fifteen taels of silver that month.
When she arrived in the county town, she had almost spent all her savings. But now, in just a few short months, she had managed to save nearly thirty taels of silver. It was truly impressive.
Her daughter didn't keep it a secret from her, so Nanny Dong knew roughly how much the shop was earning.
Seeing her daughter's joy over earning a dozen or so taels of silver, she couldn't help but think of their days in the capital. Back then, even the servants like them, let alone the young ladies of noble households, would have at least a hundred taels of silver in their hands. Even if they didn't have that much in cash, just the rewards from the master's family alone would be worth several hundred taels. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to buy a shop in the county town after being expelled from the capital.
Although the amount of silver they earned was more than what her daughter made in the town, compared to many shops in the county town, it was considered relatively small, not to mention the capital city.
"Qingming, will he participate in the Autumn Examination next year?" Nanny Dong asked.
Ji Wan'er nodded. Whether it was written in books or the information recently revealed by Xiao Qingming, one thing was certain: he would participate.
"If he's going to participate, you should prepare more silver," Nanny Dong reminded.
Ji Wan'er nodded. "Hmm, the exams are in August next year, and there are nine months left. By then, we should be able to save up a hundred taels of silver."
She had indeed considered this matter. Not only that, she had even thought about participating in the Spring Examination the following year after passing the Autumn Examination. Around the spring of the year after next, they would go to the capital.
"If Qingming can pass the examination and become an official, you don't know where you'll be living. Take advantage of the good business and save as much money as you can. After all, no one knows what might happen tomorrow," Nanny Dong advised with deep concern. That incident from years ago had a significant impact on her, and now she lived cautiously. Even if she had money, she never flaunted her wealth, afraid of encountering a similar situation again.
"Yes, Mother, I understand," Ji Wan'er replied.
Lying in bed at night, Ji Wan'er suddenly remembered what Nanny Dong had said during the day.
As for where they would go in the future, she could roughly anticipate it. Without any surprises, they should be in the capital city. Xiao Qingming would become an official in the Hanlin Academy, and they would probably have to stay in the capital for at least a few years.
In that case, she really should save more money. After all, it was the capital city, where the cost of living was high.
The next morning, as soon as she opened the door, Ji Wan'er noticed that it was snowing outside.
The winter sky was truly cold.
She wrapped herself in warm clothes and went to buy groceries with Gui Sao.
When they returned after buying the groceries, Ji Wan'er glanced at the adjacent shop. The sweet water shop had been closed for over a month, but she didn't know when the "For Rent" sign had been put up.
"Oh? When did this place become available for rent?" Ji Wan'er asked, puzzled.
Gui Sao followed her gaze and replied, "A few months ago, I heard from a woman who worked there that the business of this shop wasn't doing well, and the owners had long wanted to quit. With the cold weather now, even fewer people come to have sweet water. I guess the lease must have expired."
Ji Wan'er nodded.
She was in the restaurant business, and cold weather didn't affect it much. In fact, business even seemed to pick up a bit when it was cold. Naturally, she didn't know about the situation at the sweet water shop.
After a quick glance, the two of them returned to their own shop.
Due to the heavy snowfall, business was slow in the evening. Ji Wan'er saw the unfavorable weather and quickly sent the workers in the shop back home, closing the shop early.
After closing the shop, she looked at the remaining meat and vegetables in the kitchen and then at the continuously falling snowflakes outside. Ji Wan'er felt that on such a cold day, it was suitable to eat something warm and comforting.
So she took out a pot and prepared to have hot pot for dinner.
When it comes to hot pot, the most important thing is the broth. Ji Wan'er first boiled the big bones and started making the hot pot broth. Fortunately, everyone in the family could handle spicy food, so she made a spicy broth. However, thinking about the day Xiao Qingming had to run to the bathroom several times, she didn't make it too spicy, just mildly spicy.
As for the dipping sauce, she prepared some spicy ones, including spicy and sour, and numbingly spicy. This way, anyone who wanted to eat spicy could dip their food in the sauce. Of course, sesame sauce and sesame oil were also essential.
After preparing all these, Ji Wan'er began to prepare the meat and vegetables.
Nowadays, running a restaurant, they were never short of ingredients; they had almost everything. Chinese cabbage, potatoes, lotus root slices, radishes, mushrooms... lamb, pork, chicken... Ji Wan'er prepared a variety of ingredients.
At the same time, she also made the egg noodles that Xiao Qingming loved to eat.
The aroma of the bone broth combined with the flavor of the hot pot broth spread through the air, making Yun Shuang and Zi An eagerly wait at the kitchen door.
When the preparations were almost done, Xiao Qingming, covered in snow, appeared in the shop.
"You're back? Quickly wash your hands and get ready to eat."
Xiao Qingming glanced at the ingredients on the table, feeling a bit puzzled, not knowing what they were having today. But he didn't say much and went to wash his hands. When he returned, he heard his wife introducing it to his younger siblings.
"... This is called hot pot, it's best to eat during winter when it's snowing. Especially the spicy one, it warms you up all over... As for the condiments, adjust them according to your own taste. Start with a small amount and try the flavor."
Hearing Ji Wan'er's explanation, Xiao Qingming finally knew what they were about to eat. He had read about this type of food in books before, but he had never tasted it or seen what it looked like. Today was his first time seeing it.
"This is not a standard pot. Tomorrow, I'll have someone make one in the shop. We'll have a divided pot, half spicy and half non-spicy, so everyone can choose according to their own taste," Ji Wan'er said.
Ji Wan'er set up a small stove on the table with some charcoal inside. Soon, the water in the pot started to boil.
"Let's start putting in the ingredients," Ji Wan'er called out to everyone.
As they added the ingredients, Ji Wan'er taught them how long each type of ingredient would take to cook.
Before long, the lamb slices were cooked. Ji Wan'er picked up a piece and started eating. As the spicy and fragrant flavor exploded in her mouth, she felt a sense of happiness enveloping her, almost bringing tears to her eyes.
This feeling was truly long overdue. It had been a while since she last had hot pot. Not eating it regularly was fine, but once she started eating it again, memories from the past flooded back.
"Wow, it's so delicious!" Zi An exclaimed with widened eyes. He had never eaten anything like this before. He used to dislike the taste of lamb, finding it a bit gamey, but after cooking it this way, not only did it lose its gamey taste, it became incredibly tasty. It was so good that he almost swallowed his own tongue.
Yun Shuang couldn't handle spicy food very well, so when she first tasted it, she found it a bit spicy but within an acceptable range. After dipping it in the sauce, the spiciness reduced, and it became even more fragrant and delicious.
"It's really delicious," Yun Shuang also praised.
She had already eaten many delicious foods, and she thought she had tried almost everything. But now she realized there were still such incredibly tasty dishes in the world.
"Well, eat as much as you want."
"Okay!"
Looking at Xiao Qingming, who kept eating the lamb slices, they could tell he really liked it from the speed at which he was devouring them.
Charcoal was burning under the pot, and there was also a fire burning in the room. Even though the windows were open and there was a breeze, Ji Wan'er still felt a bit hot. Especially since she was wearing a high-necked outfit today, she didn't feel cold before, but now that she was feeling hot, she felt a bit uncomfortable. It also made it inconvenient for her to eat and cook the ingredients.
After taking off her clothes, Ji Wan'er continued eating.
During the meal, Zi An and Yun Shuang would occasionally praise the spiciness or the deliciousness of the food, or ask Ji Wan'er questions.
While they were eating, Zi An, who was sitting next to Ji Wan'er, looked at her and suddenly asked, "Sister-in-law, even though it's cold, do you still have mosquitoes in your room?"
Ji Wan'er was puzzled, not understanding why Zi An suddenly asked such a question. But she still answered, "No, we don't. We saw a few mosquitoes when we first arrived, but they disappeared when it got cold."
"Then why do you have so many red spots on your neck? Aren't they mosquito bites?"
"My neck?" Following Zi An's gaze, Ji Wan'er raised her hand and touched her neck. As soon as she touched her neck, she suddenly realized what Zi An was talking about.
Looking at Zi An's innocent and naive eyes, Ji Wan'er felt embarrassed and wanted to find a hole to hide in.
However, before that, she had to involve someone else. Ji Wan'er turned her head and gave a stern look at the equally embarrassed Xiao Qingming.
Seeing his wife looking at him, Xiao Qingming shifted his gaze from her neck, which had a reddish hue, and coughed lightly, explaining to his younger brother with a poker face, "Perhaps your sister-in-law's collar is uncomfortable and a bit scratchy."
Zi An believed his older brother's words without hesitation. "Oh, I thought it was mosquitoes. How could there be mosquitoes in such cold weather?" he said, and then continued to enjoy the hot pot without a care.
Ji Wan'er glanced at Xiao Qingming, her eyes filled with deep meaning, as if reproaching him for deceiving the child.
Xiao Qingming smiled and picked up a piece of lamb with his chopsticks, placing it in Ji Wan'er's bowl, saying, "Wife, have some meat."
Ji Wan'er gave him another glare and resumed eating the meat.
It took nearly an hour to finish this meal, and everyone was very happy with the food.
At the end of the meal, Zi An expressed his desire to eat again in the future, and Ji Wan'er agreed to his request.
They all cleaned up the table together and went back.
Eating hot pot was indeed enjoyable, but the only downside was that the flavor was too strong. The smell clung to their bodies, and it was even stronger in their hair. The scent of hot pot filled their noses.
Ji Wan'er couldn't stand it anymore and went to take a shower. At Ji Wan'er's insistence, Xiao Qingming also washed his hair.
Since both of them had long hair, drying it was a very painful task. After less than fifteen minutes, Ji Wan'er became annoyed.
When Xiao Qingming finished showering and came out, he saw Ji Wan'er lying on the edge of the bed, with her wet hair hanging down. Fortunately, the bed was relatively high, or her hair would have touched the floor.
"Why don't you dry it?" Xiao Qingming approached and asked.
"Oh, my arms are too tired," Ji Wan'er complained. "I'll control it for a while, take a break, and then dry it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingming sat on the edge of the bed and picked up a nearby towel, carefully drying Ji Wan'er's hair.
"Don't dry it for me. Your hair is still wet. Dry your own hair first," Ji Wan'er said. However, although she refused verbally, her body was honest and showed no intention of stopping Xiao Qingming.
"It's fine. Let me dry yours first, and I'll dry mine later," Xiao Qingming said as he continued to dry her hair.
Ji Wan'er glanced at him, half-sitting up, and then lay back down, resting her head on Xiao Qingming's leg. She found a comfortable position and hugged his waist, saying, "Well, then, you dry mine first, and when you get tired, I'll dry yours."
Faced with Ji Wan'er's sudden closeness, Xiao Qingming paused for a moment but quickly resumed his usual actions.
"Mm."
Afterwards, the two of them spoke with occasional words. Perhaps Xiao Qingming's actions were too gentle, or maybe the atmosphere was just too good at the moment. Before long, Ji Wan'er felt drowsy and fell asleep, resting her head on Xiao Qingming's leg. As for the promise she made to dry Xiao Qingming's hair, she had long forgotten about it.
The next morning, Ji Wan'er was awakened by Xiao Qingming's disturbance.
Opening her eyes, she saw Xiao Qingming leaning in to kiss her.
"What are you doing!" Ji Wan'er asked in a muffled voice. Unbeknownst to her, just having slept through the night, her voice carried a touch of coquettishness, and she had a sleepy and alluring appearance.
Before she could finish speaking, her words were silenced. Any complaints Ji Wan'er had were swallowed up. Slowly, the atmosphere in the room became more ambiguous, and only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
Suddenly, there was a pain in her neck.
"Be gentler!" Ji Wan'er reminded him. The question Zi An asked the day before was still fresh in her mind, and she still felt the awkwardness.
"Mm," Xiao Qingming agreed.
However, he only agreed with his words, as his actions didn't stop.
"If you keep doing this, I'll have to... I'll have to wear high-necked clothes," Ji Wan'er said.
"It's getting cold. It's better for Madam to wear something thicker," Xiao Qingming began to argue.
Since the previous month, Xiao Qingming has changed. Although he seemed no different from before when they were outside, their interactions in private had taken on a different appearance.
Most importantly, Ji Wan'er noticed that he wasn't as obedient as before!
Seeing him like this, Ji Wan'er couldn't help but pinch him.
Xiao Qingming finally restrained himself.
After a while, it was time for Xiao Qingming to go to the academy. He left for the academy, and Ji Wan'er went back to sleep for a while. When the hour of chen (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.) arrived, Ji Wan'er got up.
Looking at the marks on her neck in the mirror, Ji Wan'er felt both sweet and a little annoyed.
They hadn't reached the final step yet, and Xiao Qingming was already causing trouble and not listening to her. If they crossed that final step, who knows what kind of situation it would turn into. Men were all the same, even someone as reserved as Xiao Qingming was no exception. The stories in those books were indeed correct.
She needed to teach him a lesson! Ignore him for a few days.
Before long, the helpers in the shop arrived. Since they only opened the doors at the hour of si (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.), A Yuan and the accountant arrived a little later.
Gui Sao looked at Ji Wan'er's complexion and smiled, saying, "You're looking even better today."
Ji Wan'er suddenly felt a bit guilty and quickly tightened her collar, afraid that someone might notice something and tease her.
"Mm, maybe I slept well yesterday."
As they spoke, they went to the market to buy vegetables. Another day of work began, and business was still good. They earned over six hundred wen for the day.
In the evening, when Xiao Qingming returned, Ji Wan'er deliberately ignored him. She talked to Zi An and Yunshuang but didn't speak to Xiao Qingming.
In the past, Xiao Qingming would have started to worry. In this month or so, he had already figured out Ji Wan'er's temperament in certain aspects. Her current behavior must be because she was annoyed by his actions in the morning.
However, she wouldn't truly ignore him.
He wasn't in a hurry when she ignored him. During meals, he would still serve her food when it was time, and after dinner, he would proactively wash the dishes and pots. When he returned to the room, he did notice that her attitude towards him had improved quite a bit. She wouldn't deliberately give him the cold shoulder anymore.
"Wife, are you tired today?" Xiao Qingming initiated the conversation.
"It's fine," Ji Wan'er replied dismissively.
"How was business today?" Xiao Qingming asked.
"It's fine," Ji Wan'er continued with her dismissive tone, not even looking at Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er's expression, paused for a moment, and asked, "Did you miss me today?"
"It's... fine..." Ji Wan'er quickly retracted the second word she was about to say, and at the same time, her gaze flickered towards Xiao Qingming.
Finally, she acknowledged him. That's what Xiao Qingming thought in his heart.
However, Ji Wan'er seemed to be treating Xiao Qingming as if they had just met on the first day. How did this person become even more insolent lately? He was completely different from when they first met.
"Ahem, I feel the same way," Xiao Qingming replied.
Ji Wan'er was intrigued and suddenly forgot why she was upset with Xiao Qingming in the first place. How did he suddenly become so articulate? But...
"Just 'fine'?" Ji Wan'er asked in return.
"Of course not. When I study, I think of you; when I grind ink, I think of you; and when I write, it's the same," Xiao Qingming said earnestly while looking at Ji Wan'er.
When did this person become so good at sweet-talking! And he says it so convincingly, one line after another.
Ji Wan'er could feel her heart pounding. If there was a clear mirror, she would surely see her cheeks glowing like peach blossoms.
Unable to resist Xiao Qingming's clear eyes, she couldn't hold back any longer.
She raised her hand and lightly pounded Xiao Qingming's chest, scolding him, "Why don't you study properly? Why are you always thinking about me!"
But Xiao Qingming immediately caught hold of the fist resting on his chest and said, "Because whenever I think of you, I feel motivated to do anything."
No need for a clear mirror. Ji Wan'er knew that even the poorest quality bronze mirror would reflect her rosy face like the morning glow.
"You fool!"
Xiao Qingming knew that his wife's anger had dissipated. He took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, skillfully finding her lips that he had been longing for all day, and kissed her.
He had never known before that such a wonderful thing existed in the world. It made him think of her all the time, yearn for her every moment, and a strange palpitation arose in his heart.
As they continued to kiss, the two of them moved from in front of the wardrobe to the bed.
Outside, the northern wind howled, and snowflakes gently fell from the sky to the ground, but inside the room, it was warm like spring.
Two days passed like this, and Ji Wan'er went to visit the neighbors next door.
Ever since she had spoken with Nanny Dong that day, Ji Wan'er had started thinking about making money. The shop she currently rented had limited space. Based on the number of customers they had now, six tables were enough. Adding more tables would only fit in a couple more at most. It would be difficult to earn more money.
Unless they found a bigger place. However, she didn't have much startup capital, and Xiao Qingming was just a scholar. They didn't have many connections. Firstly, it would be challenging to find a good location for a larger place. Even if they did find one, she might not be able to manage it well, and it would require a significant upfront investment of time and effort. They wouldn't be staying in the town for many years either. Just as the shop started to flourish, they might have to leave. The cost of operating under such circumstances would be too high.
So she had the idea of opening another shop.
It had to be nearby, leveraging her existing popularity to drive direct business.
The attitude of the Xiao siblings towards hot pot that day sparked the idea of opening a hot pot restaurant. In winter, hot pot would undoubtedly be popular. And when the weather turned hot, if it lost its popularity, she could switch to a regular restaurant. She had thought of all the contingencies. After careful consideration for a few days, she felt it was feasible. She discussed it with Xiao Qingming last night, and this morning she planned to visit the neighbors to discuss it.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, there weren't many people looking to rent shops. The landlord initially wanted to raise the rent, taking advantage of Ji Wan'er's shop's popularity. However, since Ji Wan'er was familiar and often went to the other shop to eat stir-fried dishes, it wouldn't be appropriate to raise the price. So, just like the adjacent shop rented by Ji Wan'er, she paid two taels of silver.
After renting the space, Ji Wan'er immediately went to order custom-made tables, pots specifically for hot pot, stoves, charcoal, and began hiring staff, among other things. The hired staff received training in the adjacent shop for a few days.
Because she paid them well and had an urgent need, everything was ready within three days. The shop opened on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, just as the adjacent shop closed for the day.
Unlike the adjacent shop, the hot pot base and dipping sauces were prepared in advance. So there was no need to cook dishes here, but they needed to attend to the customers. As a result, she hired more servers and more people for vegetable preparation.
On the first day, there were quite a few people coming to eat here. Most of these people were returning customers from the adjacent shop. They trusted Ji Wan'er's skills, so when they heard about the new shop opening here, they came over.
Indeed, the taste did not disappoint them.
Of course, what delighted them even more was the unique dining experience.
Although hot pot had been around for many years, it wasn't available in every place, and not everyone had tried it. Some areas had more hot pot restaurants, but in this county town, someone had opened one years ago, but it closed down due to poor business. Since then, no one had opened a hot pot restaurant in the county town.
So many people here were unaware of it.
The servers patiently taught the customers the correct and practical methods, including the cooking time for each ingredient.
As soon as the hot pot started boiling, the customers' appetites immediately increased, and they couldn't help but salivate. They eagerly put the ingredients into the pot.
The lamb slices were very thin and only needed a moment in the pot. When they picked them up and put them in their mouths, they felt both numbness and spiciness. The meat was incredibly tender, without any hint of a gamy taste. It was unexpectedly delicious.
"This lamb hot pot is truly amazing!" exclaimed a customer, giving a thumbs up.
While speaking, it didn't affect the speed at which they picked up the meat. They had only cooked a few pieces before, but this time they poured all the contents of the plate into the pot. When they picked it up again, with the reminder from the server, the customers started dipping the meat in sauces. Equally delicious.
Although the lamb slices were relatively expensive, they turned out to be the best-selling item of the day.
Those who could afford to eat out were people with some extra money in their hands. They didn't mind spending a bit more because they wanted to eat something delicious. If it was tasty, they were willing to pay for it.
In addition to the lamb slices, they also ordered a good amount of potato slices, cabbage, mushrooms, and handmade noodles.
Due to the rushed opening of the shop, there weren't many ingredients available. Only the lamb slices and handmade noodles required more effort, while the others were simple and authentic ingredients. For example, cabbage, spinach, mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and so on.
Ji Wan'er thought that after a few days, she would assess the momentum of the hot pot restaurant before making further plans. If the momentum wasn't good, she would cut her losses and convert the shop into a regular restaurant, merging the two together.
However, she didn't expect the hot pot restaurant to be so successful. She had greatly underestimated the appeal of hot pot during snowy weather.
Although the ingredients were simple and the shop was minimally decorated, in just three days, Ji Wan'er had already earned two taels of silver. Surprisingly, it was even more profitable than her current restaurant.
Ji Wan'er looked at the account book in her hand and couldn't stop smiling.
Hot pot was truly popular.
She had heard before that there used to be a hot pot restaurant in the county town, but it had closed down due to poor business. She was worried that people here might not be fond of hot pot or this dining style.
However, the level of acceptance from everyone was surprisingly high.
The hot pot restaurant was doing exceptionally well, so Ji Wan'er decided to hire more staff. The neighboring restaurant hired two more kitchen assistants, while the hot pot restaurant hired a few more servers. The restaurant followed Xiao Qingming's schedule for resting, while the hot pot restaurant implemented flexible leave policies. If anyone needed time off, they could apply in advance to arrange their work.
With the addition of two kitchen assistants, Ji Wan'er felt a lot less burdened. She let these few people handle simple dishes, while she took care of the more complex ones or directed others while cooking.
Of course, while the hot pot restaurant thrived, the neighboring restaurant experienced a decline in business for a few days. Some of the old customers had gone to the hot pot restaurant next door.
In recent days, the daily income of the restaurant had remained steady at six hundred wen, without any increase.
Ji Wan'er didn't feel particularly concerned about this phenomenon. After all, the lost customers were still going to their own shop, and the money was still coming into her hands.
Due to the addition of a few more staff members without an increase in customers, Ji Wan'er gradually found herself having some free time, which she could spend visiting the hot pot restaurant next door.
It was currently winter, and both shops had charcoal burning to keep the customers warm. Of course, proper ventilation was essential.
However, the hot pot restaurant had less charcoal burning. Yet, as soon as she entered the hot pot restaurant, she could feel a slightly warmer atmosphere compared to the neighboring one.
In the neighboring restaurant, people were whispering about things secretly, while here, it felt lively and everyone was happily enjoying their meal. Moreover, praises could be heard everywhere.
"Waiter, your hot pot is really flavorful and spicy!"
"You're right, Zhao, it's really deliciously spicy. But I feel like it's not just a dry spiciness, it has a flavorful kick to it, perfectly balanced."
"Your chef is really amazing. The dishes next door are stir-fried so well, and the hot pot here is also delicious."
As they continued their conversation, everyone started discussing Ji Wan'er's culinary skills.
"I have to say, on such cold days, this is how we should eat. Initially, I felt a bit chilly, but after a few bites, I started feeling warm all over."
"Exactly! It's so refreshing. It has to be spicy to be flavorful!"
Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Ji Wan'er was in a good mood as well.
She took the menu and looked at the monotonous ingredients listed on it. She decided to prepare some different ingredients the next day to enrich the menu.
Various types of meatballs were a must, some deep-fried balls should also be prepared, and some pig's blood as well. Wide rice noodles were also delicious... As she pondered, around ten different ingredients popped into her mind.
It was too late to prepare them today, but she could try them tomorrow.
The next morning, as soon as Xiao Qingming moved, Ji Wan'er woke up.
"Why are you awake so early today?" Xiao Qingming was somewhat surprised.
Ji Wan'er squinted her eyes, struggling to keep them open due to drowsiness, and replied, "I'm planning to prepare some different ingredients today, so I need to start early."
Since they opened the new shop, Xiao Qingming felt that Ji Wan'er had become much busier and worked harder than before. Previously, she could sleep in a bit, but today she started waking up early again.
Looking at Ji Wan'er's tired appearance, Xiao Qingming suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.
"Wife, even though I don't earn much, it's enough to support our family. You don't have to work so hard."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wan'er became slightly more awake and opened her eyes.
Seeing the expression in Xiao Qingming's eyes, Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "I know, my husband is the best."
Hearing this, a smile tugged at the corners of Xiao Qingming's mouth.
"But I enjoy doing these things. It's not just about making money; it's because I genuinely enjoy it," Ji Wan'er explained.
She didn't deny that opening a new shop was aimed at earning more money. However, when she heard the customers praising her cooking, she felt happy, as if she had been recognized.
Being able to earn money with her own skills and bring satisfaction and joy to others made Ji Wan'er happy.
If someone asked her to stay at home every day and rely solely on Xiao Qingming to support her, she couldn't do it. Even if Xiao Qingming became a powerful figure in the future, she would never stay at home all day.
Xiao Qingming could see the sincerity and joy in Ji Wan'er's eyes as she spoke, and he knew she genuinely enjoyed it. He supported her decision but didn't want her to exhaust herself.
"Well, if you feel tired, then don't push yourself like this," Xiao Qingming said.
"Okay," Ji Wan'er agreed.
After Xiao Qingming left, Ji Wan'er began preparing the ingredients she had planned the previous day.
When they opened for lunch, the servers introduced the newly added ingredients to the customers. Many customers decided to try them upon hearing the names and descriptions of the ingredients.
Since these ingredients were highly popular in the future, they were also well-received in the current hot pot restaurant.
With the addition of new ingredients, the income suddenly skyrocketed, reaching one or two silver coins for the day. It was the highest daily earnings Ji Wan'er had ever achieved since opening the shop. On this side, they earned one or two silver coins, while the neighboring restaurant made over six hundred wen. Together, they earned about one or two silver coins in a day.
When Xiao Qingming returned in the evening, he saw Ji Wan'er sitting on the bed, smiling foolishly.
He took off his outer clothes and hung them on the nearby rack before walking towards the bed, asking, "Why are you so happy today?"
Ji Wan'er smiled at him and said, "Guess how much money the hot pot restaurant earned today?"
Seeing her smile, Xiao Qingming knew they must have earned a considerable amount. Occasionally, his wife would mention the business of the shop to him, and he had a rough idea that their restaurant earned around five to six hundred wen per day. As for how much the hot pot restaurant could earn, his wife hadn't mentioned it, so he had no knowledge of it.
It should be a substantial amount, otherwise, his wife wouldn't be this happy.
"Is it about the same as the restaurant?" Xiao Qingming asked.
Ji Wan'er shook her head, still wearing a smile on her face.
"Then it must be more than the restaurant," Xiao Qingming said.
Ji Wan'er nodded with a smile.
"Six hundred wen?"
"No, guess again."
"Eight hundred wen?" Xiao Qingming asked again.
Ji Wan'er continued shaking her head.
Xiao Qingming looked into Ji Wan'er's eyes, paused for a moment, and asked, "Could it be that you earned one or two silver coins?"
Ji Wan'er's smile deepened, and she nodded, "Yes, you guessed it right. We earned one or two silver coins."
Xiao Qingming was genuinely surprised. He had earned money by copying books himself, and their family had sold tofu pudding before. He knew how difficult it was to earn money. He didn't expect that it would be so hard, and yet his wife could earn so much.
Looking at the satisfaction on Ji Wan'er's face, Xiao Qingming pinched her cheek and said, "Wan'er, you're amazing!"
His voice had a hint of tenderness.
Xiao Qingming had hardly ever called her by her nickname, and hearing it suddenly made Ji Wan'er's heart skip a beat.
Seeing his wife's stunned expression, Xiao Qingming found her incredibly adorable and couldn't help but reach out and pat her head.
Suddenly, Ji Wan'er felt like Xiao Qingming was treating her like a child. When did this change happen? She remembered that before, it was Xiao Qingming who needed more care between the two of them. How did it become her now? She had always been strong and didn't need someone to take care of her. Xiao Qingming was the one who needed to be looked after. He seemed clueless about everything except reading and appeared helpless in daily life.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something. But when she looked up and saw the intense emotions in Xiao Qingming's eyes, she suddenly felt that there was nothing to say. Although the roles had changed, she didn't seem to dislike this feeling. Not only didn't she dislike it, but she also quite liked it.
This feeling of being pampered was really nice.
Ji Wan'er smiled at Xiao Qingming, reached out to wrap her arm around his waist, and leaned her head against his chest, rubbing it gently.
"Since your wife is so good, you better cherish me and treat me well."
Xiao Qingming was delighted by the closeness of his wife and reciprocated by wrapping his arm around her, gently stroking her hair.
"Mm."
Although he responded simply with his mouth, his heart wasn't as calm. He silently swore to himself that he would work harder and strive to pass the autumn imperial examination next year.
The hot pot restaurant business was booming. The daily income kept increasing rapidly, and there were more and more people waiting in line. On the fifteenth day, during the peak dining hours, there were nearly ten tables lined up outside. Although Ji Wan'er had prepared snacks and hot water for them in advance, waiting for almost half an hour in such cold weather would test anyone's patience, no matter how delicious the food was.
Two tables couldn't wait and left.
Ji Wan'er felt that this couldn't go on. It wasn't the first time this had happened, but there were unusually more people waiting today.
At noon that day, as she watched the departing customers, Ji Wan'er gradually came up with an idea. It wasn't a brand-new idea; she had been thinking about it for the past few days.
This shop they rented was similar to the one next door; it also had a courtyard with four rooms.
They lived in the courtyard behind the restaurant, while the courtyard here had been empty. Ji Wan'er planned to tidy up the vacant rooms and set up more tables for hot pot dining.
She wasted no time and, once the peak dining hours were over, she called over the young waiters and had them clean up two rooms. However, they initially used only one of them.
Afterward, she went to the carpenter's and blacksmith's shops to have identical tables and pots made. In order to use them the next day, Ji Wan'er paid double the usual wages.
As for the tables and pots for the other room, she wasn't in a hurry and had them made slowly. It was just a precaution in case they needed them later.
With the addition of another room, there were hardly any people waiting in line outside. And the income kept increasing.
As it continued to rise, combining the income from both shops allowed them to earn two silver coins in a single day.
Money was endless. Although the business was good, they still needed rest. On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, the shop closed.
Based on the length of time each person worked and the quality of their work, Ji Wan'er gave out red envelopes with different amounts of money. The highest amount was one or two silver coins, and the lowest was a hundred wen.
Everyone had a joyous expression on their faces.
During the Lunar New Year, Ji Wan'er and her family were supposed to return to the Xiao family village, but no one mentioned it. Nanny Dong and the others didn't go back either. So, the two families decided to gather together and celebrate the New Year.
With the arrival of the three members of the Ji family, this year became livelier.
Xiao Qingming planned to participate in the autumn imperial examination next year, so even during the holiday, he would spend some time reading. Ji Huaijing and Zi An studied together, while Yun Shuang followed Ji Wan'er and Nanny Dong to prepare for the New Year's supplies.
Steaming mantou, deep-frying, and making dumplings were all essential tasks.
And this year, they had hot pot for their New Year's Eve dinner, eating the food from their restaurant.
The family gathered together, lively and cheerful, enjoying a sumptuous New Year's feast.
Yun Shuang looked at the food in front of her and fell into contemplation. She felt like it was all a dream. A year ago, during the New Year, she couldn't eat enough, and her younger brother would secretly cry from hunger. No one cared for them back then, and her elder brother studied day after day. She didn't dare to talk to him about anything, always saying that she was doing well. And she knew that her elder brother also couldn't eat enough.
The three siblings had a difficult life.
But now, the New Year's Eve dinner was a lavish feast she had never imagined. Even in the ancestral home, she had never seen such a bountiful New Year's Eve dinner. Not only could they eat their fill, but the food was also delicious. The eggs she couldn't have before, she could now freely enjoy. The meat that was rarely purchased in the ancestral home, she could eat to her heart's content. Not only that, there were many delicious dishes she had never seen before, all laid out in front of her.
They were living so well, while the people in the ancestral home were still there, perhaps eating a "bountiful" New Year's Eve dinner as usual.
Lost in her thoughts, a plate of lamb rolls suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Why are you spacing out? Hurry up and eat. If you don't eat soon, Huaijing and Zi An will snatch them all," Ji Wan'er said with a smile.
Hot pot, well, it's meant for everyone to share and eat together. That's when it tastes the best.
Yun Shuang snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the person beside her.
Yes, it was all because of her sister-in-law. It was her sister-in-law who led them to earn money, brought them to the town, and then to the county seat, guiding her into a beautiful world she had never imagined.
Although others whispered in her ear about how talented her elder brother was, she knew that the most talented person was not her brother, but her sister-in-law.
Those who had passed the provincial examination for many years didn't necessarily have a good life. Passing the examination might not change anything. So, it was all thanks to her sister-in-law. Without her sister-in-law, everything before her would have been in vain.
"Thank you, sister-in-law," Yun Shuang said sincerely from the bottom of her heart.
Ji Wan'er thought she was thanking her for picking out the lamb for her and smiled, saying, "Why thank me? Just eat."
"Okay."
Seeing Yun Shuang eat, Ji Wan'er turned her head to look at the pot. As she looked, she noticed that all the lamb she had just cooked was gone, taken by her two little brothers, Huaijing and Zi An. Indeed, one had to be quick to seize the opportunity.
Just as she was thinking about it, she lowered her head and found two pieces of meat in her bowl.
Ji Wan'er felt slightly surprised. She didn't remember picking up the meat just now. With a momentary confusion, she glanced at Xiao Qingming beside her.
She saw Xiao Qingming scooping some wide noodles from the pot and putting them in her bowl.
"Wife, the wide noodles have been cooked for a while now. Please eat," Xiao Qingming said.
Ji Wan'er smiled and whispered, "Thank you, husband."
The feeling of being cared for by someone is really wonderful.
Xiao Qingming also smiled at her.
In the misty atmosphere, the mood became much warmer, and something was gradually taking root and sprouting.
After the New Year, the hot pot restaurant's business remained good.
Ji Wan'er added more ingredients and was able to earn two taels of silver each day.
The profits of the small restaurant also increased, although not as much as the hot pot restaurant. It steadily rose, and after the New Year, they could earn seven hundred wen in a day.
Even though it didn't earn as much as the hot pot business, it was still considerable for this small shop. Sometimes there would be a queue during lunchtime. This meant that Ji Wan'er would be busy during those times.
On this particular day at noon, there were many customers outside.
Ji Wan'er rubbed her sore shoulders and felt that this couldn't go on. She needed to come up with a solution.
In fact, the only time she needed to be busy was during this period of the day. The rest of the time was not so busy. Even with two or three helpers, it was still hectic. After all, the hired hands were only assistants and couldn't help much with cooking.
Moreover, the hot pot business was getting even better, highlighting the shortcomings of this shop.
When Xiao Qingming returned in the evening, he noticed that Ji Wan'er was not in a good mood.
"What's wrong? Did something unpleasant happen today?" Xiao Qingming asked.
Normally, if something unpleasant happened in the shop, Ji Wan'er would tell him about it. Seeing her unhappy today, Xiao Qingming made this guess.
Ji Wan'er shook her head.
"Then why?" Xiao Qingming asked again.
Knowing that Xiao Qingming worked hard in his studies and having some insights into this matter, she replied, "It's nothing, I'm just thinking about how to exert less effort and earn more money."
Because these dishes are pre-ordered, it not only alleviates the seating problem in the shop but also allows for the advance preparation of these ingredients.
When Xiao Qingming returned that day, he noticed that his wife, who had been frowning all along, was smiling again.
"Is the issue resolved?" Xiao Qingming asked.
"Yes," Ji Wan'er nodded with a smile.
Seeing Ji Wan'er happy, Xiao Qingming's mood also improved somewhat.
The Autumn Examination was approaching in less than six months, and recently he felt that time was becoming tighter, and the pressure was greater than before.
When they lay in bed at night, Xiao Qingming leaned over.
The two of them hadn't had many intimate gestures in the past few days. Today, when Xiao Qingming approached, Ji Wan'er became nervous, and her response was more enthusiastic than before.
"A little separation is better than a honeymoon," although they couldn't be considered as newlyweds, both of them felt a familiar sensation. Gradually, they found it difficult to restrain themselves, and Ji Wan'er was also overwhelmed by the intimacy.
It wasn't until she felt a slight chill on her body that she realized they had become more intimate than before.
She gently pushed Xiao Qingming with her hand.
Xiao Qingming instantly came to his senses. Looking at what he had just done, his rationality returned, and he turned to one side.
Both of them lay flat on the bed, trying to calm their racing hearts.
Ji Wan'er's emotions were somewhat complex at this moment. Although her initial reaction was to push away Xiao Qingming, she couldn't deny the indescribable sense of loss when he actually moved away. But if she were asked to say it out loud and regret her decision, she wouldn't be able to.
But not saying anything, it just doesn't feel right.
Just then, Xiao Qingming lifted the blanket and went to the next room.
Soon, the sound of water could be heard.
Ji Wan'er wasn't foolish and naturally understood the meaning of the sound of water. She could intuitively sense Xiao Qingming's physical reaction just now.
Is he going to take a cold shower?
Suddenly, Ji Wan'er felt a twinge of guilt in her heart.
Before long, Xiao Qingming returned.
"Is it cold?" Ji Wan'er had thought of many things to say, but it turned into these two words when it reached her lips.
Xiao Qingming seemed surprised that Ji Wan'er asked this question. He hesitated for a moment, a blush spreading across his face, and said, "Uh, just go to sleep."
"Oh."
Ji Wan'er had gotten used to cuddling with Xiao Qingming when they slept, but when she thought about what had just happened, she felt a bit hesitant.
She had just rejected Xiao Qingming, and he had gone to take a cold shower because of it. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for her to "provoke" him again at this moment?
After thinking for a while, Ji Wan'er gave up, lying flat and gradually falling asleep.
Xiao Qingming waited for a long time but didn't see his wife coming to embrace him. He turned to look at the person lying beside him, and then he lifted his hand to hold them in his embrace.
Nanny Dong couldn't rest assured about her daughter, so she came over after finishing her work. However, her worries were unnecessary. Seeing the lively scene in the shop, she became even more proud of having a daughter like Ji Wan'er.
She had always been a proud person.
However, in the past, she had placed her hopes on her son. As for her daughter, she mostly loved and cherished her, but she didn't expect her daughter to be capable. As long as her daughter didn't suffer, stayed healthy, and happy, that was enough.
Now seeing her daughter becoming more impressive, she realized that her daughter had grown up.
When the shop wasn't so busy, Nanny Dong went to talk to her daughter.
"I see that the business in the shop is getting better and better."
As soon as business was mentioned, Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "Yes, it's been good recently."
"If it continues like this, I won't have to worry about you suffering when you go to the capital in the future," Nanny Dong said, feeling relieved.
Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry, your daughter won't suffer."
After talking about the business in the shop, Nanny Dong looked at her daughter and said, "The business is getting better, but why are you getting thinner? Don't be too busy and forget to eat. Money is secondary, it's better to earn it slowly than to harm your health."
Ji Wan'er said, "Mother, don't worry, your daughter is taking good care of herself."
She felt that being thinner was fine. In the previous few months, when the hot pot had just started, she would eat it every other day. And because it was winter, she ate a lot. Gradually, she gained weight.
Now, with the arrival of spring and warmer weather, she ate less hot pot, and her appetite wasn't as good.
Seeing the smile on her daughter's face, Nanny Dong suddenly had a thought and whispered, "Could it be that you're pregnant?"
Ji Wan'er almost spurted out the water in her mouth. After swallowing it, she said, "How is that possible? It's not possible."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Dong felt disappointed. However, she quickly regained her confidence and said, "You haven't given birth before, you wouldn't understand. Maybe you really are pregnant. Let's go see the doctor another day, but don't overexert yourself, or you might miscarry."
Ji Wan'er felt somewhat helpless and smiled, saying, "Mother, how is that possible? You're overthinking it. I can't be pregnant."
Disappointed once again, Nanny Dong slapped her daughter's hand and said, "Why is it impossible? You and Qingming are both healthy, it's impossible to not have—"
At this point, Nanny Dong paused, her gaze instantly became sharp, and her facial expression changed. She carefully observed her daughter from head to toe and asked a question, "Could it be that you and your husband haven't consummated the marriage yet?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Ji Wan'er instantly felt embarrassed and a weak air of frustration appeared on her face.
Seeing her daughter's reaction, Nanny Dong understood everything. She furrowed her brow and asked seriously, "You two have been married for so long, how come you haven't consummated the marriage?"
She had noticed how well her son-in-law treated her daughter since they arrived in the county town. Even after seeing her daughter, he couldn't take his eyes off her. How could they not have consummated the marriage?
Could it be—
"Could there be something wrong with your husband?"
Her daughter was so beautiful, which man wouldn't be tempted? Even if they weren't tempted, how could any man resist such a delicate and charming young lady lying by his side every day?
After hearing that his mother-in-law had arrived, Xiao Qingming hurried over. However, as soon as he reached the doorstep, he overheard the conversation between his mother-in-law and his wife. Listening to their conversation, he felt uncertain, unable to enter or leave, so he lingered at the door.
It wasn't until he heard his mother-in-law ask this question that he instantly lost his composure.
Inside the room, Ji Wan'er immediately refuted, "How is that possible! He doesn't have any problems." Although they hadn't reached the final step yet, based on their previous encounters, she knew that Xiao Qingming didn't have any issues, especially considering what almost happened a few days ago...
However, after refuting Nanny Dong, she herself became somewhat uncertain.
Because, in the book, Xiao Qingming indeed didn't have a woman...
"No, it's not possible," Ji Wan'er said, as if trying to convince herself, and emphasized it twice.
Nanny Dong stared at her daughter sitting in front of her, furrowing her brow.
"If your husband doesn't have any problems, then why haven't you consummated the marriage?"
Faced with Nanny Dong's questioning, Ji Wan'er truly didn't know how to answer. She used to think that it would naturally happen between them, without the need to force it. If their feelings hadn't reached that stage, there was no need to do such things.
But now, after Nanny Dong's recent questioning, she wasn't sure if Xiao Qingming had a problem or not.
However, she couldn't say that in front of Nanny Dong.
"Mother, Qingming and I are doing well. It's getting late, so why don't you go back home earlier?" she suggested.
Observing her daughter's guilty demeanor, Nanny Dong felt even more convinced that her suspicions were correct, and her mood grew heavier.
She had thought she had found a good husband for her daughter. He had even passed the imperial examination, excelled in his studies, and had limitless prospects. Who would have expected such a flaw?
Thinking that her son-in-law would be returning soon, Nanny Dong didn't stay for long and left first.
The shock she received today was too great, and she needed some time to process it.
After seeing Nanny Dong off, Ji Wan'er returned to her room and found that Xiao Qingming had already come back.
"Husband, you're back?"
"Mm."
Whether it was due to Nanny Dong's words or not, today Ji Wan'er felt even more uneasy about Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming didn't say much either; he went to the side to read a book.
Ji Wan'er observed Xiao Qingming for a few glances and saw that he was fully engrossed in his reading, so she didn't disturb him.
After bathing, she laid down on the bed.
After a while, Xiao Qingming closed his book and went to take a bath.
When he returned, he extinguished the oil lamp in the room and laid down on the bed. Soon after, the two of them leaned closer to each other.
Everything unfolded just like any other night.
The only difference was that today, when Xiao Qingming kissed Ji Wan'er, her mind was filled with Nanny Dong's words, and she became curious about Xiao Qingming's physical condition. However, despite her curiosity, she didn't dare to ask him.
While she was lost in her thoughts, her neck suddenly felt a slight sting.
"What are you doing? Didn't we just discuss this? Be gentle, how am I supposed to face people tomorrow if you do this?"
Xiao Qingming raised his gaze and looked at Ji Wan'er, speaking in a deep voice,
"Wife, focus."
"...Oh." Ji Wan'er thought to herself that Xiao Qingming had truly become different from before. He seemed more composed, but in some aspects, he didn't listen to her as much.
Just as she had that thought, her lips were sealed by him.
Once Ji Wan'er pushed aside her strange thoughts, she noticed Xiao Qingming's unusual behavior.
Xiao Qingming seemed different today compared to usual. Although she couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different, she could clearly feel it.
It seemed that his strength was greater than before, and he was more aggressive.
They stopped only when she was almost out of breath from the intensity.
"Be gentler."
"Mm."
Although he responded verbally, his actions didn't stop.
After a while, Ji Wan'er realized that it wasn't just her imagination; Xiao Qingming was indeed different from their previous encounters. While she couldn't express it, she could sense that tonight lasted longer than before.
She had the same premonition as a few days ago.
Soon, her thoughts were validated.
"You..." Ji Wan'er raised her hand and pushed him, but she couldn't muster any strength at the moment.
However, Xiao Qingming didn't leave as he did a few days ago. Instead, he remained steadfast, unmoving. He leaned close to Ji Wan'er's ear and asked, "Wife, can we?"
Ji Wan'er trembled all over, instantly becoming sober.
But... can they?
How should she answer such a question?
Her initial reaction was to refuse. However, when the words reached her lips, she couldn't utter them.
Because, it seemed like it wasn't impossible.
Moreover, Nanny Dong's words from earlier echoed in her ears, and she was also curious... whether Xiao Qingming had any issues.
Just the thought of it made Ji Wan'er's face flush.
At that moment, a hoarse voice sounded in her ear, "Wife, don't you want to know if I have any health problems? Why don't you personally examine it?"
Ji Wan'er felt her head explode with a loud "boom."
How did he know what she was thinking?
No, how did he know about this? Could it be... he overheard just now? No wonder she felt that he was acting strangely today. It wasn't her imagination after all.
Gossiping about others behind their backs, especially about such matters, made Ji Wan'er feel extremely embarrassed.
Without waiting for a response, Xiao Qingming asked again, "Wife, what do you think?"
Although he asked for Ji Wan'er's opinion verbally, he had already taken practical action, not waiting for her answer.
Despite Ji Wan'er usually being strong-willed in front of Xiao Qingming, when it came to this moment, she let him take control.
In certain matters, some people truly had an innate understanding, with exceptional learning abilities. She couldn't help but admire him.
Ji Wan'er was nervous and embarrassed beyond words, not knowing how she got through this night. She felt as if she was drifting in a storm, as if she had lost herself.
That night, she learned that Xiao Qingming was in excellent health, but she also realized that some things were not as wonderful as she had imagined.
Xiao Qingming, on the other hand, felt the opposite.
Looking at his sleeping wife in his embrace, Xiao Qingming felt that her endurance was really weak. And some things were even better than he had imagined. It made him savor the experience, not wanting it to end.
Early the next morning, Xiao Qingming woke up early.
Ji Wan'er also woke up as usual. However, she felt exhausted today. Although she woke up, she didn't get out of bed.
On the contrary, Xiao Qingming was full of energy, appearing to be in an extremely good mood.
Ji Wan'er felt extremely dissatisfied in her heart, not understanding why there was such a huge difference between men and women.
Seeing the fatigue on Ji Wan'er's face, Xiao Qingming lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Wife, how about taking a day off today and resting properly?"
Ji Wan'er looked at the refreshed Xiao Qingming and raised her hand to lightly hit him. "No need."
Although she was tired, it didn't mean she couldn't get out of bed or do anything.
Xiao Qingming ruffled her hair. "Okay. Just don't overexert yourself."
"Mmm."
Throughout the day, Xiao Qingming had a smile on his face and would occasionally laugh out loud.
Ji Wan'er, on the other hand, was the opposite. She felt listless and remained seated, resting. The people who helped in the shop came over to ask her what was wrong. It wasn't something she could easily explain to others, so Ji Wan'er smiled and didn't say much, only mentioning that she had been tired lately.
In the evening, after lying down in bed, Ji Wan'er deliberately moved away from Xiao Qingming.
Observing her reaction, Xiao Qingming understood what was going on. It seemed that he had scared her last night.
This phenomenon was not good.
Every time Ji Wan'er moved a foot away, Xiao Qingming would move a foot closer. If she moved two feet, he would move two feet closer.
There was no avoiding it. Ji Wan'er started to act coquettishly. "Husband, I'm tired..."
With her soft, tender voice and a pitiful expression, Xiao Qingming felt his heart melt.
He restrained himself, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and gently stroked Ji Wan'er's hair. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Mmm, rest well these few days."
With Xiao Qingming's assurance, Ji Wan'er finally relaxed. She snuggled into Xiao Qingming's arms, found a comfortable position, and gradually fell asleep, holding him.
If it were before, Xiao Qingming wouldn't have felt this uncomfortable. But after last night, with his wife holding him like this, he felt extremely uncomfortable, with a tingling sensation in his heart.
Some things were truly a sweet burden.
Although Xiao Qingming had the thought, he fulfilled his promise and refrained from touching Ji Wan'er, and he truly didn't touch her.
Although there was no physical contact, the two of them engaged in many intimate activities over the past few days.
Sometimes, Ji Wan'er wanted to say it was enough, but Xiao Qingming didn't make any further moves.
On the tenth day of implementing the delivery service, the daily income of the shop finally exceeded 800 wen. Combining the earnings from both shops, they now earned three taels of silver per day. With this, they could have a hundred taels in a month.
When Ji Wan'er looked at the account books in the evening, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Coincidentally, Xiao Qingming returned after taking a bath.
Seeing his silly smiling wife sitting on the bed, Xiao Qingming walked over, approached her, and glanced at the account book in her hand.
"What makes my wife so happy?"
"Of course, it's because the business in the shop is getting better and better. Maybe we'll earn over a hundred taels this month," Ji Wan'er said with a smile, unable to hide her pride in her voice.
Seeing this radiant smile in front of him, Xiao Qingming also smiled. He raised his hand and gently flicked Ji Wan'er's nose, saying, "My wife is the most capable."
Hearing this compliment, Ji Wan'er became even more pleased with herself.
Perhaps because her smile was too radiant, Xiao Qingming was reminded of that night, and his heart suddenly warmed up.
"Wife, are you tired today?" Xiao Qingming's throat rolled slightly as he asked.
Ji Wan'er thought Xiao Qingming was just casually inquiring about her well-being and didn't think much of it. She replied, "No, I'm not tired. We have enough staff in the shop, and I don't have to cook many dishes every day. The hot pot shop is also running smoothly, so I don't have to worry."
"Well, as long as you're not tired," Xiao Qingming's gaze suddenly became intense.
Ji Wan'er pondered for a moment and expressed her concern for Xiao Qingming, "But my husband, studying too hard can be exhausting. You should strike a balance between work and rest and not tire yourself out."
"As long as my wife is not tired."
After saying that, Xiao Qingming lowered his gaze and glanced at the account book in Ji Wan'er's hand. He raised his slender fingers, used his thumb and index finger to take the account book away, and placed it aside.
"I've only been using my brain during the day and haven't exerted myself physically, so I'm not tired," Xiao Qingming added.
Just as Ji Wan'er was about to say something, upon hearing his words and seeing Xiao Qingming's gaze, she suddenly had a premonition.
The following events confirmed her premonition.
A man who had tasted the flavor was no longer the same as before. Xiao Qingming was no longer someone who would blush and obediently do everything she said. She said no, but he went even further.
She was truly infuriated!
Tomorrow, she would definitely settle the score with Xiao Qingming and have a serious talk with him.
As exhaustion overtook her, a certain sentence echoed in Ji Wan'er's mind.
Using the brain during the day, using the body at night...
When Ji Wan'er woke up early the next day, she found herself in Xiao Qingming's embrace. Not only that, but she could also feel Xiao Qingming's physical reaction.
Looking at the person before her, with fair skin, tightly pressed lips, a tall nose bridge, and a rather handsome appearance. There were some stubbles of blue beard growth on his chin. Thinking about the sensation of those stubbles grazing her skin yesterday, Ji Wan'er's face blushed slightly.
She had seen this face countless times, and last night she even felt disgusted with him for a while, feeling dissatisfied. So why did she suddenly feel shy today?
4
At that moment, Xiao Qingming opened his eyes.
Ji Wan'er didn't realize it at first but instantly became nervous.
As soon as Xiao Qingming opened his eyes, he saw the person who appeared in his dream. Thinking about what happened last night, he was afraid that she might be upset. However, when he saw the panic in her eyes, his slight fear was instantly forgotten.
His wife looked like a startled little rabbit, incredibly adorable.
It was irresistible...
Before Ji Wan'er could say anything, her lips were sealed by someone.
This kiss, unlike Xiao Qingming's good morning kisses in the past, felt somewhat different.
It was more aggressive this time, leaving no room to breathe.
Before long, those dark stubbles started to feel uncomfortable.
Ji Wan'er should have disliked this sensation, but for some reason, she felt a bit stimulated deep down, making her heart itch.
Fortunately, Xiao Qingming stopped in time since he had to go to the academy. However, without fail, he took a cold shower.
Ji Wan'er hid under the covers and murmured, "Serves him right!"
Afterward, it seemed like Xiao Qingming flipped a switch. He maintained his gentle and jade-like appearance during the day, but at night, he transformed into a wolf, leaving Ji Wan'er tired every day.
When Nanny Dong visited the shop again, she took a glance at her daughter and smiled.
As an experienced person who had witnessed many things in the grand mansion, she immediately understood the reason behind her daughter's exhausted appearance.
"You consummated the marriage with your husband?"
Ji Wan'er's face blushed instantly. She cleared her throat, glanced around, and whispered, "Mother, what are you saying?"
"You're getting shy now? It's been several years since you got married. There's nothing to be shy about in such matters." Although she said so, Nanny Dong didn't say anything more.
As long as her daughter and son-in-law had consummated their marriage, it would resolve a big worry for her.
After less than an hour, as the sky was turning dark, Nanny Dong was about to leave. Before she left, she paused for a moment and looked back at her daughter.
"Mother, do you have something to say?" Ji Wan'er noticed that Nanny Dong had been staring at her since earlier, as if she had something to say but hesitated.
She couldn't guess what Nanny Dong wanted to talk to her about.
"Well, um, it's just... Xiao Qingming is about to participate in the autumn examinations. Don't cling to him too much."
It was good that her daughter had a good relationship with her husband, and she should be happy about it. However, Nanny Dong was concerned that this young couple might be too young and unaware of the consequences, potentially causing problems.
Upon hearing these words, Ji Wan'er's face instantly turned red.
She didn't want to take the blame for this.
"Mother, it's not me, it's him," Ji Wan'er defended herself.
Looking at her daughter's lovely appearance, Nanny Dong also felt that her son-in-law, being a young man, might not be able to control himself. However, as a mother-in-law, it was impossible for her to talk to her son-in-law about such matters.
She would rather her son-in-law not pass the imperial examinations than see her daughter's relationship with him become distant with the interference of someone else.
"Never mind, both of you try to restrain yourselves," Nanny Dong said, not saying anything more.
In the evening, Xiao Qingming noticed that his wife was different from the previous day and looked at her with questioning eyes, asking why.
Ji Wan'er pressed her lips together and said, "I'm tired."
Xiao Qingming didn't stop his movements and said, "Hmm, as long as my wife rests well, I'll take care of it myself."
"That's not what I meant, I mean..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she was once again engulfed in the passionate affection.
After a while, Ji Wan'er lay in Xiao Qingming's embrace, lightly touching the stubble on his face, stroke by stroke.
"Aren't the exams coming up in a few months? Don't you study at night?"
"Resting well allows me to study better."
Ji Wan'er agreed with this statement.
Thinking about what Nanny Dong had said in the afternoon, Ji Wan'er hesitated for a long time before asking, "Will I be a distraction to your studies?"
She remembered that Xiao Qingming had said before that he would think of her while studying, while eating, and even when sleeping. Although she liked the fact that Xiao Qingming was constantly thinking of her, she also worried that it would affect his studies.
She recalled that when she was studying, she couldn't fully focus on her studies if her mind was elsewhere.
"How could that be? My wife has always been the motivation behind my studies, and she never hinders me," Xiao Qingming replied.
For him, thinking of his wife only fueled his motivation to study and didn't hinder him at all.
Ji Wan'er felt much relieved and raised her head to give Xiao Qingming a peck on his chin. She smiled and said, "That's good then. You should study well for my sake and not always think about me."
Xiao Qingming had initially dropped the thought, but now...
His Adam's apple twitched slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Well, how about tonight..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Ji Wan'er interrupted him.
There was indeed a significant difference in physical endurance between Ji Wan'er and Xiao Qingming. Even though Xiao Qingming studied every day, she was occupied with household chores, and she didn't understand why there was such a disparity between them.
"No, I refuse," Ji Wan'er said, wrapping herself in the blanket and moving to the edge of the bed.
Seeing Ji Wan'er's reaction, Xiao Qingming smiled helplessly and couldn't help but find his wife adorable.
Immediately after that, he drew closer to her, pulling her into his embrace and gently stroking her hair. He said, "Alright, let's sleep."