Chapter 74: Young Master Jin's Country Life

The two of them wandered around the fields once more before the other carriage finally arrived, trailing behind. “Brother Wen, the seller is here,” Deng the broker called out, prompting them all to return to the roadside together.

A short, thin man alighted from the carriage. The price negotiations went smoothly; with Deng’s help, they managed to lower the price by another five taels, though nothing more could be shaved off. The seller was eager to part with the land—his son had made something of himself, and they were planning to relocate. This plot was the last remaining piece of the family’s holdings in the area.

In the end, they bought the land for a hundred and five taels. With the carriage ready, they promptly returned to the city. Wen Yao had brought the money with her; together, they went directly to the magistrate’s office to complete the transaction, pay, and receive the title deed. From this day forward, these plots would bear the Wen family name.

Wen Xiuyi poured over the title deed several times, then handed it to Wen Yao for safekeeping. Without delay, he hurried off to the docks, while Wen Yao returned to the clinic to thank Manager Qiu.

Wen Jun looked over the deed, reminded Wen Yao to keep it safe, and resumed his work. With no tasks for her at the clinic, Wen Yao fetched a vegetable basket from the kitchen and headed out.

It was nearly noon, and the marketplace had mostly emptied. Wen Yao wandered around, but found little worth buying. Unlike her previous life, there were no greenhouses for vegetables; in winter, options were scarce—mostly things like cabbage and radishes that stored well.

She bought a pumpkin, planning to make pumpkin cakes later; both Doctor Jin and Jin Xiuyi had a sweet tooth. Two radishes for pork rib soup, tiger skin eggs, and mapo tofu. From Butcher Zheng, she picked up a fine piece of pork tenderloin for boiled pork slices. Though there were no chili peppers, she could use prickly ash to approximate the flavor.

She wondered when she might find an opportunity to introduce chili peppers. Though they enjoyed the freshest food every day now, it wouldn’t do to keep sneaking them in forever; good food should be shared. No matter what, come spring, she resolved to secretly plant some chilies.

After finishing her shopping, Wen Yao returned to the clinic and plunged into kitchen preparations. Before long, a small head peeked in from outside.

“Yao Yao, what are you making? It smells wonderful.”

Wen Yao, holding the pan, was making tiger skin eggs. She shook the pan, letting the peeled, boiled eggs roll around, slowly frying them until they were cloaked in a golden crust.

Jin Xiuyi watched from the stove, eyes wide in fascination. “What is this?” he asked curiously.

“These are tiger skin eggs. You’ll be able to eat them soon. How come you’re here?” Wen Yao asked.

Jin Xiuyi, startled by a drop of splattering oil, stepped back from the stove. “Grandpa had Brother Hong Hai tell me that you were making something delicious, so I should come here for lunch. Yao Yao, will you go home afterward?”

His eyes were filled with hope as he asked.

Wen Yao nodded; after lunch, she would return home—Big Head was waiting there.

Seeing her nod, Jin Xiuyi was thrilled. “Can I go to your house and see Big Head?”

Wen Yao looked at him, recalling the original novel’s description of him. His feelings for the heroine had reached a kind of madness, and as an antagonist and rival suitor, Big Head was naturally his sworn enemy. Who could have guessed that, in this new life, the two would become good friends?

Facing the hopeful gaze of the child, Wen Yao smiled. “If Doctor Jin agrees, you may.”

“Great! Then I’ll go ask Grandpa.” Jin Xiuyi dashed out, far more lively than he had been at their first meeting.

This was how a child should be.

Soon, Jin Xiuyi returned, excitedly telling her that his grandfather had agreed. He then stayed in the kitchen, watching Wen Yao cook.

With Jin Xiuyi showering her with praise—“Yao Yao, you’re amazing!” “Your cooking smells incredible!”—Wen Yao soon had a table laden with dishes, each vibrant and delicious.

Unsurprisingly, her cooking won unanimous praise yet again. Even Doctor Jin couldn’t help but ask if she really didn’t want to compete for a position as imperial chef.

Wen Yao declined his offer once more, while Manager Qiu, smiling nearby, remarked, “If Yao Yao really became an imperial chef, we’d never get to enjoy her cooking again.”

Doctor Jin was momentarily stunned, then realized, “That’s right, how could I forget? Yes, yes, let’s not go for that. Imperial chefs are always scheming against each other, trying to outdo one another. It’s exhausting. Better to stay home and be at ease.”

He nearly forgot that he was no longer an imperial physician; the days of having imperial chefs prepare private meals were behind him.

After lunch, Doctor Jin instructed Jin Xiuyi to listen well to Wen Yao, then had Ah Wang drive the carriage to take them back to Gutong Village.

Seeing the Wen family’s daughter return by carriage yet again, the villagers were no longer surprised. Of course, those like Li Erhu’s family, who bore grudges against Wen Yao, might gossip behind their backs; the others dared not say much. After all, Madam Luo’s reputation preceded her—if she heard that anyone was speaking ill of her family, she might stop buying their eggs and vegetables.

Wen Yao brought Jin Xiuyi to the old homestead.

“I’ll head back for now. I’ll return this evening to bring Young Master Wen Jun home, and then collect Young Master Jin. Miss Wen Yao, please take care of Young Master Jin,” Ah Wang said to Wen Yao with a bow.

As for Jin Xiuyi, he had already been swept away by Big Head upon arrival; the two were huddled together, who knows what they were whispering about.

Wen Yao nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on him.”

Only then did Ah Wang drive off again.

Jin Xiuyi showed no fear of strangers, greeting Madam Luo and Old Wen politely, unfazed by the rustic surroundings. He blended in quickly, his curiosity piqued by everything the Wen family owned; even when Wen Ying fed the chickens, Jin Xiuyi followed eagerly.

“Want to feed them?” Wen Ying, holding a sieve, looked at the city child clad in silk and asked.

Jin Xiuyi nodded enthusiastically.

Wen Ying handed him the sieve, grabbed a handful of feed mixed with bran, and scattered it into a nearby bowl. “Just like that.”

Jin Xiuyi nodded, imitating Wen Ying as he scattered the feed. Once the sieve was empty, Wen Ying put it down and took his hand, leading him into the chicken pen.

“Come on, I’ll show you how to collect eggs.”

It was the first time Jin Xiuyi had been led by a girl like this. Though only six years old, he already knew to blush.

He pulled his hand free, embarrassed. “I—I’ll walk by myself.”

Wen Ying looked at him in puzzlement. What was wrong with city children? She led Big Head like this all the time.