Chapter 189: Not Going Back, Sponging a Bit More
The group of lads played with absolute excitement. Had the eldest brother, Wen Jun, not been unable to watch any longer and dragged them one by one back to their rooms to sleep, they probably would have played until the middle of the night.
Once everyone was shooed away, Wen Jun cupped his fists toward Xun Feng. “Young Hero Xun Feng, we have truly caused you trouble.”
Regardless of status as master or servant, Xun Feng was the person who had saved Datou, so Wen Jun was still deeply grateful.
Xun Feng chuckled. “Young Master Wen is too polite. It’s no trouble at all.”
Wen Jun didn’t say much else, only telling Lu He to quickly take Xun Feng to the guest room to rest. Xun Feng repeatedly declined.
He would be fine just taking a brief rest in the outer room of his young master’s quarters.
Wen Jun didn’t force the matter either. He led the master and servant to the guest room specifically prepared for them, and thoughtfully set up a simple cot for Xun Feng in the outer room so he wouldn’t sleep uncomfortably.
The master and servant offered their thanks, and only then did Wen Jun bow out, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.
Once the footsteps faded into the distance, Xun Feng sat down on his little cot, patted it, and looked over at Li Yi.
“Young Master, how long are we going to stay here?”
Li Yi was currently inspecting the room. The layout seemed a bit different from their houses in the capital. Although it was a guest room, it didn’t feel cold; rather, it felt a bit cozy. Compared to the massive rooms in the Prince’s Manor, this small two-room suite felt much more comfortable.
Hearing Xun Feng’s words, Li Yi replied directly, “Father is already helping me find an academy to attend school. When do you think we’re going back?”
“Huh? Young Master, we’re not going back to the Imperial Academy?” Xun Feng was dumbfounded. One had to know that the absolute best school in the entire Annan Kingdom was the royal Imperial Academy. Although its best teacher had run away and was currently hiding in this small town acting as a shopkeeper, the Imperial Academy still had numerous teachers and was bound to be better than the academies here.
“From what Father means, we won’t be going back for the time being. Besides, the master is here too, so it doesn’t matter if we stay a bit longer. Don’t tell me you don’t want to stay?” Li Yi arched an eyebrow and looked at Xun Feng. Don’t think he didn’t know that Xun Feng’s bowl and chopsticks had moved incredibly fast during dinner.
Xun Feng chuckled. “Well, if you put it that way, Young Master, this subordinate will naturally listen to you and the Prince. It’s just that by not going back, won’t the Princess Consort…?”
Li Yi pushed open the small door and entered the inner room. “That’s Father’s problem to fret over, not mine.”
Halfway in, he turned back to glance at Xun Feng. “You should change how you address me from now on, just in case.”
Xun Feng immediately straightened up and nodded solemnly. “Yes, Young Master. No, Young Master.”
Only then did Li Yi close the door and go to sleep.
The bed wasn’t large, but it was very soft, and the blankets were clearly new. Although these Wen family members came from a commoner background, they were exceedingly well-versed in etiquette.
The next morning, when Wen Jun came to wake the two up, Xun Feng woke up the moment he heard the approaching footsteps and went straight to the door.
“Young Master Wen, morning,” Xun Feng said, opening the door.
Wen Jun paused his steps at the foot of the stairs. “Young Hero Xun Feng, you’re awake so early. Then I must trouble you to call Young Master Li and head to the front courtyard for breakfast. Yesterday, Uncle Qiu gave instructions for Young Master Li to attend school with Datou and the others today; he will be waiting for Young Master Li at the Qingfeng Academy.”
“Alright, alright. Thank you, Young Master Wen,” Xun Feng hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
Wen Jun nodded and walked away.
Li Yi had slept well last night and was in excellent spirits. After Xun Feng attended to his washing up, the master and servant headed to the front courtyard.
Wen Yao had already prepared breakfast for the whole extended family. Quite a few people were either sitting, standing, or squatting around the courtyard.
Even Uncle Lu’s family was eating in the yard, each holding their own bowl and squatting there, eating with absolute relish, completely devoid of any constraint between master and servant.
“Young Master Li is up! Come quickly and try it. We’re having knife-shaved noodles for breakfast today; this is our Yao’er’s specialty breakfast dish.” Lady Li warmly invited Li Yi over to eat.
In the kitchen, Wen Yao’s hands rose and the blade fell with fluid dexterity. One by one, the flakes of dough fell into the pot without sticking together at all.
“Excellent blade work, Miss Wen!” Xun Feng cheered enthusiastically.
Wen Yao, however, felt a bit embarrassed. How could the technique for making knife-shaved noodles be considered blade work?
Having shaved enough for the two of them, Wen Yao put down the dough and the knife, slapping the flour off her hands. “You’re up. It’ll be ready in a moment. Second Aunt, I’m handing this over to you; I’m going to eat mine.”
Lady Li gave an affirmative shout and took over Wen Yao’s position. Wen Yao, carrying a bowl that had already been prepared on the stove, bypassed Li Yi and walked over to Wen Ying and Wen Di, finding a comfortable spot to sit down and start eating.
As expected, these knife-shaved noodles tasted best with old chicken broth. Fortunately, she had hoodwinked her grandmother into slaughtering an extra old hen yesterday; otherwise, how could they be eating such a delicious breakfast?
The toppings had all been prepared by Wen Yao. Lady Li merely waited for the noodles to cook before adding the broth and serving them to Li Yi and Xun Feng.
The two could smell the fragrance from afar. Xun Feng rubbed his hands together and began to eat impatiently. In any case, at the Wen family, there didn’t seem to be so many strict rules between master and servant. Li Yi had also instructed him yesterday that upon arriving here, there was no need to worry about so many rules, lest someone notice something amiss.
“Delicious, delicious! Miss Wen, your culinary skills are truly superb. It tastes even better than what the imperial chefs make.” After a few mouthfuls, Xun Feng couldn’t help but begin to praise her.
Li Yi’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. Sure enough, he heard Wen Yao laugh from afar. “Brother Xun Feng has actually eaten dishes made by imperial chefs before.”
Even a servant had eaten food made by imperial chefs. Wen Yao sized up this master and servant duo; their background was bound to be nothing small.
Unfortunately, though she had searched through every detail in her memory of the plot, she couldn’t find anyone named Li Yi or Li Fu, and there was certainly no Xun Feng.
Where exactly had things gone awry? Where had these three people popped up from?
Wen Yao’s question caused Xun Feng to snap out of the delicious food. Stealing a glance at his young master’s expression, he hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. “I’ve eaten it by pure chance, also thanks to the favor of my masters. Some imperial chefs will stay in the grand restaurants of the capital after retiring from office, so I’ve occasionally eaten it once or twice.”
Wen Yao smiled faintly. “Is that so? As long as Brother Xun Feng likes it.”
“Hehe, I like it, I like it.” Xun Feng chuckled awkwardly and silently shut his mouth to eat his noodles. If his hands weren’t busy, he truly wished he could slap himself; he had almost ruined the grand business of the Prince and the Young Master.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, Lu Jiang also hitched up the carriage to take everyone into town.
“Eldest Brother, I’m going too.” Wen Yao handed the kitchen over to Lady Li and Lady Cai and followed them out. Having been called back in a hurry yesterday, she hadn’t checked on the shops at the docks yet.
Wen Nong also had to go with Wen Yao today. In that case, the carriage probably wouldn’t fit everyone.
“Yao’er, I’ll drive the ox cart to take you. Let Eldest Brother and the others take Young Master Li in the carriage.” Li Yi was a guest of the Wen family, after all; they couldn’t possibly let a guest ride the ox cart.
Li Yi frowned slightly. Glancing at the carriage and the ox cart, his years of upbringing wouldn’t allow him to let a young girl bear the wind and dust on an ox cart while he rode in comfort.
“No matter. Let Miss Wen take the carriage; we can just ride the ox cart.”
