Divorce with three kids? I'll build a house and eat meat, driving my in-laws crazy.

Chapter 253 Punishing Himself with a Drink as an Apology
Fang Xingzhi said irritably, "You don't distinguish right from wrong by your surname, and you like to arrest people randomly by your given name."

He got angry as soon as he saw Magistrate Chu. He thought he was a brainless idiot who dared to arrest Aru.

Magistrate Chu's smile froze on his face. Shen Kuo tried to smooth things over, saying, "My master's surname is Fang, and he loves to joke around."

Magistrate Chu forced a bitter smile. He couldn't blame the old man for being hostile towards him; he had indeed wrongly arrested Li Ruru.

Alas, it's all my fault for being so blind and believing Xue's lies.

He was carrying a bunch of garlic sprouts in his hand. He wandered around the house and then came inside, saying to Master Bai, "I heard you divorced your wife?"

Bai Lu and Li Ruru exchanged a glance, both of them a little nervous.

After all, Xue was the former sister-in-law of Magistrate Chu, so it was not a good thing for Magistrate Chu to come and question her.

Master Bai patted his daughter's hand and gave her a comforting look.

He then said to Magistrate Chu, "Yes, Xue bullied my daughter and was very disrespectful to my mother. She should be divorced."

Magistrate Chu clenched the garlic sprouts in his hand and said with a smile, "Good riddance!"

It's all Xue's fault. He worked diligently for the country and the people, always busy, but he almost became a corrupt official in the eyes of the people because of her.

She almost ruined his lifelong reputation; he really deserves a divorce.

No, it's too lenient for Master Bai to divorce her.

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, instantly easing the tense atmosphere.

After settling things at home, Pan Dayan and Hai Shi rushed over.

Just then, Pan Dayan overheard Magistrate Chu saying that the divorce was a good idea, and she slapped her thigh: "Oh dear, let me tell you about that Xue family..."

Once they start talking, they can't stop.

Magistrate Chu was caught in a pincer movement between Pan Dayan and Hai Shi, and he couldn't stop cursing Xue Shi.

The magistrate of Chu County became more and more excited as he listened, and even echoed a few words of agreement.

For the first time, he felt that crickets chirping behind people's backs was a particularly joyful thing.

It felt like a weight had been lifted from my heart, and I felt much lighter and more relaxed.

"Aru, the meat is all cut and the glass noodles are soaked. We're just waiting for you."

Fang Xingzhi took the spoon and went into the house, then naturally called Li Ruru to the kitchen.

The men could cook simple home-cooked meals, but they couldn't cook anything more fancy, so they had to ask Li Ruru for help.

Li Ruru smiled and agreed, then followed.

With a bunch of helpers around, a big pot of pork stew with vermicelli was quickly made.

Because there were many people, we added a few more dishes: braised pork trotters, fish head with chopped chili peppers, sweet and sour pork, and sweet and sour pork tenderloin were all cooked.

The vegetarian dishes were mainly wild vegetables, with the addition of smashed cucumber, peanuts, and konjac tofu.

After finishing these, I cooked two large pots of soup, one of which was a tender white fish soup with red dates and goji berries floating on top.

There was also a pot of dumpling soup, with tomatoes, bok choy, and eggs all mixed together. The red, green, and yellow colors looked delicious.

Finally, we added fried chicken, fries, and baked potatoes.

Since there wasn't enough room inside, everyone sat down at the long table in the courtyard.

The four maids finally found something to do. They filed in to serve the dishes, and more than twenty dishes were laid out on a large table.

Beer, fruit beer, and red wine were also served.

Li Ruru raised her cup and said, "Today, the magistrate has graced my humble abode with his presence. I have not had time to prepare anything, so I can only hastily prepare some simple country-style food. I am truly sorry to have troubled you."

Magistrate Chu chuckled and said, "I'm not aggrieved. It was I who mistakenly arrested you. I'll punish myself by drinking a cup to apologize to everyone."

He gulped down a big mouthful of beer, finding it incredibly refreshing.

Chu Xiu was afraid that everyone would feel uncomfortable because his father was there, so he said, "Don't treat my father like a county magistrate. Eat and drink as usual. He won't bite anyone."

One sentence made Yin Yin giggle, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Kuo stared in disbelief at the table full of dishes. Was this what you called simple?
With so many dishes, it's no simple matter! He picked up a soft potato and put it in his mouth, his eyes lighting up as he asked Fang Xingzhi next to him, "Master, what is this yellowish-orange thing? It's delicious."

Fang Xingzhi said, "This is called a potato. Aru found it on the mountain."

Shen Kuo ate another French fry. "This one is delicious too."

Fang Xingzhi: "This is also made of potatoes."

"Then what is this?" Shen Kuo asked after eating a piece of konjac tofu.

Fang Xingzhi: "This is konjac tofu. Aru opened a workshop that specializes in making this."

Also, the cup next to you contains water infused with maltose, and the saucer over there has sesame candy.

Fang Xingzhi introduced them one by one, his tone filled with undisguised pride.

All of these things were researched and developed by Aru. My Aru is amazing.

Shen Kuo, who had tasted all sorts of delicacies, felt for the first time how ignorant he was. He had never even heard of these things, let alone eaten them.

Good heavens, what a bland and tasteless life he used to live.

No wonder Master stayed at Master's wife's house and wouldn't leave; it's because there's so much delicious food there!

Shen Kuo was like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, dazzled by the delicious food and unable to stop eating.

Magistrate Chu performed relatively better, after all, he had eaten Li Ruru's cooking before.

He took a sip of beer, then a sip of red wine, and busily picked up food with his chopsticks.

This pig's trotter is good; it has soybeans in it, so it's not greasy at all.

This sweet and sour pork is absolutely amazing; how can pork taste so good?

Lu Da joined in midway through the meal, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then began to eat seriously.

She was afraid that if she ate too slowly, Shen Kuo and Magistrate Chu would eat all the food.

After finishing their meal, everyone patted their bellies and entered a moment of leisure.

The entire table of food was devoured, leaving not a drop of fish soup or dumpling soup.

The four maids finished clearing the table with long faces. They thought there would be some left for them when they saw so much food, but who would have thought that the other party would eat it all.

Xiao Yishan pointed to the cutting board and said, "There's food left for you there. Go and eat, you can clean up after you're done."

The four maids were moved to tears. What a wonderful family this was! The master had actually left them food.

At the dinner table, Chu Xiu tilted his head back and asked everyone, "Is the shredded potato delicious? I made it!"

Li Ruru nodded and praised, "It tastes good. Next time, cut the shreds into thinner pieces and it will be even more perfect."

Chaochao: "Master Chu is really amazing. He can read books, cook, and is capable of everything."

It's no exaggeration to say that Chu Xiu was perfect in her eyes.

Peipei: "If Master Chu works hard for a few more years, he will be able to catch up with my mother's level."

Fang Xingzhi: "Chu Xiu has been doing well with his studies lately, so here's a reward for you... a beer."

He casually handed over an untouched bottle of beer, which Chu Xiu happily accepted. "Hehe, everyone is too kind. I will definitely work harder in the future."

Magistrate Chu had never seen a son like this before, nor had he ever heard anyone praise his son like this.

Looking back, it seems he never really understood his son.

She usually does nothing but scold and belittle her son.

The magistrate of Chu County silently drank a bottle of fruit beer.

Shen Kuo spoke up at the opportune moment: "I heard that your village has grown a lot of potatoes. May I go and take a look?"
There are also workshops making maltose and konjac tofu; if it's convenient, I'd like to see them too.

Magistrate Chu chimed in, "Yes, yes, I'd like to see it too."

Lü Da, Hai Shi, and Pan Dayan remained silent, subconsciously glancing at Li Ruru.