They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 385 Yes or No
Liang Minglang was speechless, having been caught red-handed. He simply said irritably, "So what if it wasn't early in the morning? Why is Young Master Ji so angry?"

Ji Yingxuan choked, realizing there was no need to waste words with him. "Where is Madam Xu?"

A moment later, Liu Ru, a servant girl from the estate, came out and greeted the two men with a smile: "Master, Young Master Ji, Madam wants you to have breakfast."

Ji Yingxuan's expression softened a bit, and he quickly agreed, ignoring Liang Minglang and walking straight inside.

Liang Minglang smiled magnanimously and decided not to hold it against him.

Xu Zhichun smiled and invited them to sit down.

"Last night I asked the kitchen to prepare four kinds of steamed buns: three kinds of fillings, pork and scallion filling, bamboo shoot, mushroom and pork filling, and radish and pork crackling filling. I also prepared red date and rice porridge, millet porridge, and plain porridge, as well as a few side dishes such as dried radish, pickled mustard greens, and kimchi. Please see if they suit your taste, Young Master Ji. Just tell us what you like to eat, and we will prepare whatever we can afford."

Xu Zhichun always felt a little guilty, but there wasn't much she could do.

Ji Yingxuan was pleased that she was always thinking of him, but at the same time he felt that she was too polite and distant towards him. These two completely different feelings were intertwined and tug at his heart, leaving him feeling bittersweet and sad.

"Mrs. Xu, you don't need to be so polite to me. I can do anything, anything is fine."

"That's good."

Ji Yingxuan was distracted, and even the most delicious food tasted like wax to him. However, Xu Zhichun had been so kind to him, and she had just been so hospitable. If he showed no appetite, it would be a waste of her kindness.

How could Ji Yingxuan possibly do something to betray Xu Zhichun?

He forced himself to eat.

When his chopsticks accidentally picked up a piece of pickled cowpeas, a sudden burst of sour and spicy flavor shot into his mouth, so strong that he almost choked. Even with his usual refined and gentle demeanor, Ji Yingxuan couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Xu Zhichun saw this and hurriedly said, "Young Master Ji, quickly drink a couple of sips of porridge to calm down. Sister-in-law Liu Ru, please pour Young Master Ji a bowl of tea."

Ji Yingxuan quickly drank two mouthfuls of millet porridge, which made him feel a little better.

Liang Minglang ate his pickled white radish while mocking Ji Yingxuan: "Young Master Ji, it seems you can't handle spicy food? You're really missing out. Do you know what this is called? This is called pickled vegetables. Nobody else knows how to make it, only Zhichun does. Zhichun taught the servants on the estate, and that's how they learned. In our Liangjia Village, many families now pickle vegetables in jars to eat with their meals and whet their appetites. It was all taught to them by Zhichun."

Ji Yingxuan was stunned. Was it only Zhichun who knew how to do it? But why didn't he know?

Xu Zhichun glared at Liang Minglang when Ji Yingxuan wasn't paying attention, warning him that that was enough!

Ji Yingxuan picked up another piece of kimchi and tasted it. It was still so spicy that it felt like his mouth was exploding, but at least he was mentally prepared and it didn't feel as bad as before.

He took a couple of sips, smiled, and said, "Really? So this is Madam Xu's original creation? I wonder if Madam Xu could teach me how to make it?"

Xu Zhichun gave Liang Minglang a stern look, then smiled at Ji Yingxuan and said, "Actually, it's not difficult at all. Just make sure the jar is clean and not a speck of oil gets on it. Put in the cleaned radish chunks, cowpeas, and other vegetables, add clean spring water to cover the vegetables, add an appropriate amount of salt, some peppercorns, and red chili peppers. If you like it spicy, add more chili peppers; if you don't, add less. If you have rice vinegar or bayberries, you can add a little. If not, it's okay. Seal the jar, and when you want to eat it after three to five days, just take it out of the jar and cut it into small pieces."

"Oh, if you like it sweet, you can add some sugar to the jar, but don't add too much."

Honey or brown sugar are both fine, but rock sugar is actually the best.

Of course, there was no rock sugar in this era.

Therefore, the only kimchi with rock sugar flavor is the kind she makes herself at home.

Ji Yingxuan looked at Xu Zhichun with gentle eyes, using all his strength to control himself from showing a longing and passionate gaze so as not to make her feel uncomfortable. His ears, however, did not need any concealment; he listened intently, completely focused.

That smiling face, that voice—it's clearly Zhichun!
After Xu Zhichun finished speaking, Ji Yingxuan was still a little dazed. He chuckled softly, "Why did Madam Xu suddenly think of doing this?"

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "I was inspired by the pickled cabbage I make at home, so I made some improvements."

Ji Yingxuan nodded slightly. So it's reasonable, well-founded, and has a source. There's nothing wrong with it, is there? Zhichun is so smart, it's normal that she would be moved by something and think of something else.

Liang Minglang glanced at him.

After breakfast, Xu Zhichun went to check on the orchard and the chicken farm within it.

As usual, he gave detailed instructions one by one, pointing out many shortcomings in the servants' work, suggesting numerous improvements, and giving many instructions and explanations.

Everyone admired her and quickly focused on memorizing everything.

His wife is so learned and knowledgeable.

At first, they were quite dismissive and didn't understand the wife's various instructions and admonitions. Some of the instructions even sounded ridiculous and absurd.

But the lady of the house was the boss, the kind who meant what she said and had a strong attitude. Even if they found her instructions unconvincing or laughable, they still did them seriously and without any perfunctory attitude, while secretly complaining and laughing at her behind her back.

结果
Time has proven everything.

The lady is right.

As the lady instructed, everything went smoothly, better than expected.

Everyone was convinced.

Now, everyone keeps in mind any instructions the lady gives, and no one dares to miss a single word.

These are all hard-won and precious tips and tricks!

You might not be able to learn this even if you pay money elsewhere.

But the lady told them everything without reservation.

Ji Yingxuan listened and watched from the side, and felt that sense of helplessness again.

Liang Minglang was different from him. Liang Minglang's eyes were full of admiration and pride, as if he had the feeling of "This amazing wife is my wife!"

Ji Yingxuan understood, and rolled her eyes at him with displeasure, inwardly scoffing: Zhichun works so hard, and instead of trying to help, he just stands by and watches. Zhichun must be blind to marry him.

No, Zhichun didn't marry him!

Ji Yingxuan wished he could slap himself.

After staying at the estate for two more days, Xu Zhichun and Liang Minglang took Chunfen home, and Ji Yingxuan went with them.

Back home, Granny Qin and Muxiang happily welcomed their two mistresses into the house. They were taken aback when they saw the unfamiliar man, but when the master told them that he was the distinguished guest, Young Master Ji, they treated him as a guest of the master and treated him with great hospitality.