It wasn't very hot today. The cool breeze outside was quite pleasant. Old Man Zhang's family didn't return to the small village. Instead, they celebrated the festival in the rented house in Xitian Town.
The long - term workers and embroiderers in the shop had all taken their holidays and gone back home. Only Little Miss Cen and Xi'er were homeless. During festivals, they always spent the time with the Zhang family, and today was no exception.
Early in the morning, Shen Fugui had killed a chicken. Little Miss Cen quickly plucked the chicken, gutted it, and cut the chicken into small pieces. She left two fat drumsticks uncut and put in the mushrooms that Xi'er had just bought this morning. Then she simmered the chicken for a full two hours.
When Shen Yuning entered, she saw Little Miss Cen lifting the lid of the pot. The delicious smell wafted out.
Xi'er was serving soup for Shen Yuning while smiling: "During the Chinese New Year, Huzi's way of snatching the drumstick from his sister was really funny. Now that he's grown up, this drumstick is for him to chew on."
When Shen Yuning was in the Xue family before, there were always chicken, duck, and fish on the table every day. Now she knew that for ordinary people, having meat once a month and having big cuts of meat only during festivals was the most common way of life.
However, now that they had earned some money, Shen Yuning didn't allow the family to be too frugal, especially since the children were still growing. So she urged Little Miss Cen or Zhang Rong, who were in charge of shopping, to make sure there was meat in the daily meals.
But Old Man Zhang was stingy with money. Whenever they bought meat, he always hid most of it. One catty of meat could last the whole family for three days. The adults were reluctant to eat it and always left it for the two children.
Finally, Shen Yuning had no choice but to tell the servant to buy less meat, for fear that the meat would go bad if it was stored for too long and the two children would get sick.
However, once every ten days, they must buy three catties of meat. This applied not only to the family but also to the shop, so that everyone could have some meat to eat.
There came a sound of someone knocking on the door outside. Old Man Zhang picked up the toddling Huzi. While answering the call, he opened the door. Seeing who it was, he shouted repeatedly: "It's actually Lord Chen! Yuning girl, Lord Chen is here!"
Shen Yuning was still in the kitchen, carefully blowing on the steam of the chicken soup. Just as the steam was about to disperse and the soup hadn't even reached her mouth, she heard Old Man Zhang's shout.
She quickly put down the bowl and went out. Sure enough, in the main hall, Chen Wenwei was already chatting with Shen Fugui.
When he saw Shen Yuning, the smile on Chen Wenwei's face became even broader. He stepped forward to greet her. Although Shen Yuning was just an ordinary civilian now, according to Chen Wenwei's status, he only needed to accept the greeting without returning it. But Chen Wenwei still greeted her as he did when they were in the capital before. Then he sat down opposite Shen Yuning.
Shen Yuning noticed Chen Wenwei's long gown, a common scholar's attire, and guessed something: "My lord, are you leaving?"
Chen Wenwei nodded: "I've been in Yun County for three years. It's time for me to return to the capital now."
Shen Yuning quickly asked: "Is Lord Chen getting a promotion, or...?"
Chen Wenwei shook his head: "In these three years in Yun County, I've achieved quite a lot. The emperor's intention is to let me return to the capital to meet him first. Whether I'll continue in my current position or be promoted to another one is still unknown."
This was quite normal. Just the fact that the people's living standards in Yun County had improved a lot in the past three years was worthy of recognition. Moreover, the emperor's move seemed to be a sign of promoting Chen Wenwei. Maybe Chen Wenwei didn't need to be promoted step - by - step and could directly return to the capital to take up another position.
Shen Yuning felt quite regretful. She thought that in the past six months or so, the popularization of the legal code in the rural areas would not have been so smooth if she hadn't had the support of County Magistrate Chen of Yun County. If a new magistrate took over, things might not go so smoothly.
Chen Wenwei obviously knew Shen Yuning's concerns. He quickly added: "Don't worry, Miss Yuning. Now the one in charge of the county affairs in Yun County is Assistant Magistrate Zuo. I've talked to him about your matter, and he knows what to do. Just continue your work as you did before."
Shen Yuning stood up to thank him and then said somewhat embarrassedly: "Maybe because Lord Chen and I are old acquaintances, I've always acted quite arbitrarily. Now that Lord Chen is leaving, I seem to be unable to act as freely as before."
Chen Wenwei's eyes lit up. His gaze towards Shen Yuning was a bit gentle: "Does Miss Yuning feel more at ease with me around?"
Shen Yuning didn't detect any other meaning. She nodded seriously: "Naturally, I'll feel more at ease with Lord Chen here."
Chen Wenwei couldn't hide his pride. After thinking for a while, he said: "Don't worry, Miss Yuning. This time I'm mainly returning to the capital to meet the emperor. And since I've been away from home for three years, my family misses me very much. I should go back to see my parents. Then I'll plead with the emperor that there are still many unfinished tasks in Yun County. I'll definitely come back."
Shen Yuning was startled and quickly waved her hand: "No, no, no. Lord Chen mustn't do this. Lord Chen is dedicated to the people, and the people all praise you. But these are not reasons to prevent your promotion. Lord Chen is extremely talented and can show your talents wherever you go."
"Can a county be perfect in just three years? Actually, there are many things in Yun County that are not satisfactory. For example, in the fight against poverty, although most people have got out of poverty, there are still so many poor people. Since I'm now a role - model, I should act like one. I want to come back and see Yun County thrive."
While the two of them were discussing eagerly, Zhang Rong was secretly peeping in from the door. She looked thoughtfully at the two people chatting happily. Beside them, the dull - witted Shen Fugui seemed like a background.
She sighed softly, tiptoed back to the yard, and whispered to Old Man Zhang: "Dad, I wonder why Yuning doesn't take a fancy to any of the families I've introduced to her. Dad, look at that Lord Chen in the room. Not only is he good - looking, but his bearing is beyond that of ordinary people. Moreover, I've heard that his family background is extraordinary. Such a good young man is so enthusiastic about our Yuning. Could it be..."
Old Man Zhang's eyelids twitched. He wasn't as naive as his daughter. Now that his daughter had said this, he was even more worried. Miss Yuning's background was a bit complicated. He could understand that she didn't look down on ordinary people. But now she was just the daughter of a merchant. He had heard that the nobles valued family background the most. How could a girl from a peasant family like Yuning be worthy of the county magistrate?
His worry didn't affect his daughter at all. Zhang Rong smiled happily: "That Lord Chen is good in every way. He's a perfect match for our Yuning. Oh, this girl Yuning. If she had told me earlier, I wouldn't have accepted so many matchmakers' words."
Before Old Man Zhang could say anything to stop her, Xuanzhi, who was accompanying Yuanbao in practicing calligraphy, suddenly stood up.
Yuanbao was startled by him. The brush stroke went from the beginning to the end of the paper, ruining the half - written calligraphy. She cried with a long face: "Brother Xuanzhi, what are you doing?"
Xuanzhi ignored Yuanbao and turned into the kitchen.
Zhang Rong looked at Xuanzhi's back in bewilderment: "Why is Xuanzhi so impatient today? Could it be that he's hungry?"
She went to get a new piece of paper for Yuanbao and shouted to Xuanzhi's back in the kitchen: "There's simmering chicken soup in the pot. Don't eat the drumsticks. They're for Yuanbao and Huzi."
Xuanzhi just poured the bowl of soup that Shen Yuning had left aside back into the pot, filled another bowl, and carried it into the main hall.
Zhang Rong was even more confused. She turned to Old Man Zhang and asked: "What's wrong with him?"
Old Man Zhang had no time to care about Xuanzhi. He pulled Zhang Rong and admonished her: "Remember, don't say anything in front of Miss Yuning. Whether she has a good relationship with that Lord Chen or not is none of our business. Miss Yuning is a sensible person and knows what she's doing. Don't talk nonsense in front of her and make her unhappy."
Zhang Rong didn't understand what this meant at all. Old Man Zhang had to explain it to her in detail how big the gap was between Lord Chen and Yuning. He sighed and said that although it was true that young people might have feelings for each other, the disparity in family background was a helpless thing. It would be better to give up the thought early.
Yuanbao listened blankly on the side. She didn't quite understand, but it seemed that she could understand a bit.
Xuanzhi carried the chicken soup into the room. He forced a smile at Chen Wenwei and then said to Shen Yuning: "Yuning just came back today and hasn't had a good rest. Look, the chicken soup you left aside in a hurry hasn't been drunk yet. It will get cold if you wait any longer. Drink it quickly."
Shen Yuning was discussing the situation in Yun County with Chen Wenwei. Being interrupted like this, she felt a bit unaccustomed. Moreover, she was curious that Xuanzhi didn't call her sister today but called her by her name directly. And the soup simmering on the stove wouldn't get cold at all.
After Xuanzhi handed the chicken soup to her, he turned to Lord Chen, forced another smile, and said: "My lord, would you like a bowl too? But there are many children in the family..."
The implication was that if he drank it, there wouldn't be enough for the family.
Chen Wenwei's face flushed slightly. This sounded as if he had come specifically to mooch a bowl of chicken soup.
Not only Shen Yuning but also the careless Shen Fugui felt something was wrong. He quickly scolded: "Xuanzhi, what are you doing?"
However, Xuanzhi just pretended not to understand and looked at Shen Fugui blankly.
Shen Fugui thought that Xuanzhi might not understand the ways of the world, so he softened his expression and explained: "Xuanzhi, the lord is here. You can't act like this. Quickly take the soup bowl away. After the lord finishes talking with your sister, he will naturally go to have it."
Chen Wenwei was curious about the young man in front of him. He wouldn't think, like Shen Fugui, that the young man in front of him was simply ignorant of social etiquette. But before his curiosity was satisfied, Shen Yuning had already stood up.
Shen Yuning nodded to Chen Wenwei somewhat embarrassedly: "My lord, I was actually not feeling well today. But I've had a great time chatting with you, and before I knew it, so much time has passed. My younger brother is concerned about my health. It's just that he was a bit rash."
Seeing that Shen Yuning was protecting the young man everywhere, Chen Wenwei felt embarrassed to stay any longer. He solemnly said goodbye to Shen Yuning and then got up to leave first.
After seeing Chen Wenwei off, Shen Yuning turned back and saw Xuanzhi still holding the bowl of chicken soup with a flattering smile on his face. She couldn't help but sigh helplessly. She reached out to take the bowl of soup and took a big sip: "You! Now that you're a member of the Shen family, who would bother to check your past? Moreover, that Lord Chen is very busy. Where would he have the time to care where you come from?"
Xuanzhi was stunned for a while and then asked: "Do you think I'm afraid that he'll know my background?"
Shen Yuning nodded: "Isn't it? You've shown your dislike for Lord Chen so obviously. How could I not understand? So I immediately sent him away. Otherwise, if you continue like this, even if there's nothing wrong, it will make Lord Chen suspicious."
The smiling look on Xuanzhi's face immediately disappeared.
Shen Yuning chased after him: "Don't act like this in the future. Lord Chen and I have known each other since childhood. I know his character very well. Even if he knows that you're from the Jiang family, he will never inform against you. Moreover, you're just a distant relative of the collateral branch. What's there to worry about?"
Xuanzhi tightened his lips and stepped out of the door.
Shen Yuning looked at him in bewilderment and shrugged helplessly. She thought that she had heard before that many teenagers around fifteen or sixteen years old always liked to do something unconventional and act strangely. Maybe Xuanzhi was the same.