Chapter 210: Along With Their Old Wen Family’s Fruit Trees and Dairy Cows
Wen Yao watched the four depart with a heart full of satisfaction. What was being sent away was not merely pastries, but also the future of their old Wen family’s fruit trees and dairy cows.
Once the guards were sent off, Wen Yao had to start preparing the dinner ingredients without a moment’s pause. After all, there really were quite a few people in the household today.
Doctor Jin and Wen Jun busied themselves for the entire day, finally finishing with all the villagers before the sun dipped below the mountains.
“Oh dear, finally finished. Pack up, pack up the stall.” Doctor Jin stood up and stretched his old arms and legs. Truly, he hadn’t been this exhausted in heaven knows how many years.
It seemed he would still have to move his bones and muscles more in the future; otherwise, he feared this old frame of his wouldn’t hold up for much longer.
“Master, you’ve worked hard.” This level of workload was already a matter of routine for Wen Jun. Back when he used to work his previous job, there were times he wouldn’t close his eyes for one or two days straight. It was just that seeing Doctor Jin at such an advanced age made Wen Jun feel a bit heartbroken.
Doctor Jin waved his hand. “It’s alright.” He then looked at Wen Jun and asked, “You performed well today, making no mistakes. Keep up the good work. With your natural talent, your future prospects will bound to be a few cuts above your master’s.”
Wen Jun saluted respectfully, “It is still because Master teaches well.”
“Alright, you brat, stop being so modest. Those things you know are what truly made your master see the light. Ai, it’s a pity that previous master of yours is no longer around; otherwise, this old man would have liked to exchange pointers with him.” Doctor Jin spoke with quite a bit of regret.
Old Man Wen, who had been keeping them company nearby the entire time, had a face full of bewilderment. What previous master? When did Wen Jun ever bow to another master? How come he didn’t know? What did he miss?
The corner of Wen Jun’s mouth twitched, and he hurriedly diverted the topic, “Master, Grandpa, Yao’er must have prepared the food and dishes. Let’s head back first.”
“Right, right, right, let’s head back quickly. This old man’s stomach is absolutely starving. I wonder what delicious food Yao’er is making today, hehe.” After speaking, Doctor Jin walked toward the new residence with his hands clasped behind his back.
Old Man Wen turned it over in his mind left and right, and finally pulled his eldest grandson to ask, “What master was your master talking about just now?”
Wen Jun lied with absolute seriousness, “What master spoken of by my master?”
“Huh?” Old Man Wen froze. What master this, master that… what did he want to ask again?
“Yao’er said she was making pastries for Li Yi’s grandmother today. I haven’t eaten Yao’er’s pastries in a long time,” Wen Jun spoke wistfully.
Sure enough, Old Man Wen’s attention shifted instantly, “Right, right, right, pastries, pastries! Let’s go, let’s go. Second and Third, you two clean this place up before coming over, and remember to lock the door.”
If they didn’t lock the door and someone went in to ruin his old woman’s soybean paste, she would leap up and fight them to the death.
When the group returned to the new residence, the place had long since grown lively. With Datou, Jin Xiuyi, and Xie Anyi, plus Wen Ying and little Hua’er, the entire courtyard was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
Even the kitchen side was in full swing, bursting with the warm aroma of home cooking.
Looking at this scene, Doctor Jin felt all his previous exhaustion vanish.
“Old Jin, come quick, come quick! Hurry up and try this. Let me tell you, this girl’s craftsmanship is truly unparalleled, heaven knows how much better than the imperial chefs in the palace. If she weren’t still too young and I wasn’t afraid that bunch in the imperial kitchen would bully her, I’d want to take her back with me.” The moment Li Fu saw Doctor Jin, he pulled him over and murmured incessantly. However, he didn’t dare speak too loudly, fearing Wen Xiuyi would overhear.
Doctor Jin sat down beside him, likewise lowering his voice, “Your Highness, this subordinate has asked Yao’er before. She has no intention of entering the imperial kitchen. Furthermore, given this girl’s temperament, the palace is simply not suited for her. If we truly force her into the palace, I fear…”
Li Fu also seemed to recall something. His brow furrowed slightly, but quickly smoothed out. “True. Forget it then.”
Very soon, Wen Yao gave a shout from her side to set the tables, and Uncle Lu began leading his two sons to set up the tables in the courtyard.
Nowadays, whenever there were many people in the house, they would eat in the courtyard. No matter how heavy the summer heat was during the day, it was always cool and pleasant once night fell.
As the tables were set up, those keeping busy in the kitchen, starting with Nanny Shi and Nanny Du, began carrying the dishes out.
Four large tables were set up—so incredibly lively, just like hosting a banquet.
Nanny Shi originally wanted to say that servants and masters should not eat together, and that when the masters were eating, they as servants should be waiting on them by the side.
However, looking at such a heartwarming scene, Nanny Shi ultimately couldn’t find the heart to ruin it all.
Let it be. Whoever cares, cares. As long as the masters are happy.
After dinner, Wen Xiuyi asked Nanny Shi to tidy up a guest room for Li Fu. Nanny Shi blanked for a brief moment. This was truly… it was one thing for the son to stay here every day, but how come even the father was staying here every day too?
However, it was not her place to ask too much about the master’s affairs, so she obediently went to tidy up.
Wen Yao also learned from Wen Xiuyi the reason why this grand gentleman was staying behind.
“Discussing agriculture with you? Dad, this person couldn’t really be from the Ministry of Works, right?” Wen Yao said in a low voice. But thinking about Li Fu, he looked exactly like someone whose fingers had never been dipped in spring water. Although the Ministry of Works was one of the Six Ministries, they still had to do labor, right? Yet he didn’t look like a laborer at all.
Meanwhile, as the person in question, Li Fu happily saw off Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu, staying behind in high spirits.
When Wen Xiuyi saw Li Fu the next morning, he nearly swallowed his mouthwash.
Squatting by the well, he spat out the water and stared dumbfounded at Li Fu, who was dressed in a peasant’s attire. “Brother Li, you are…?”
Li Fu looked down at the clothes on his body, his face full of confusion. “What’s wrong? Is it not suitable?” After speaking, he even turned around once, looking highly satisfied with this outfit of his. This was the most ordinary peasant clothing he had specially selected from a ready-made garment shop.
Wen Xiuyi waved his hand, “No, no, it’s suitable, perfectly suitable.” This big brother truly couldn’t conceal that innate air of nobility even when wearing coarse linen and hemp clothes. What on earth was this person’s background? Could he really be some imperial relative?
To blend in even better, Li Fu didn’t even use any hair ornaments today. Just like Wen Xiuyi, he simply used a hairband to bind his hair at the top of his head.
Seeing Wen Xiuyi preparing to head down to the fields, he followed his example, slung a hoe over his shoulder, and walked out the door.
On the road, they ran into Old Man Wen and Uncle Qin, who were heading to the winery. Old Man Wen didn’t even recognize that this person was Li Fu; he merely asked Wen Xiuyi where he was going.
“Going to stroll around the fields,” Wen Xiuyi replied.
Old Man Wen: “Oh, go ahead then.” With that, he walked away.
As he walked, Old Man Wen suddenly came to a halt.
Uncle Qin was curious, “Old Master, what are you looking at?”
Old Man Wen stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the person walking beside his son. “Uncle Qin, look at the one walking with Eldest. Doesn’t he look a bit like Master Li?”
Uncle Qin narrowed his presbyopic eyes and looked for a long time. “Old Master, it… seems to be him.”
Old Man Wen: “…”
These city folks truly… couldn’t understand them, couldn’t understand them at all. Already so rich, yet just like them mud-legs, they actually liked farming.
