Transmigrated into the fat wife of the future prime minister

Chapter 45 Lin Yichen
No, Xu Qingmeng didn't think she liked Gu Yunyi. At most, it was probably because of the child in her belly, and she didn't want the child to be without a father!
Oh well, there's no point in overthinking it. Let it be! He sighed and continued eating.

Is there anything that hot pot can't solve? Even if it can't, we still have to eat hot pot first!!!

Ignoring all the nonsense, Xu Qingmeng focused entirely on eating hot pot and ate with even greater enjoyment.

Xu Xun ate with relish, chewing his food and saying indistinctly, "Auntie, this is so delicious! This kind of direct, spicy, and refreshingly hot food is the most comfortable thing to eat on a hot day."

"Hot pot is more suitable for winter. It just so happens that I came across chili peppers and wanted to eat them."

"Indeed, this hot pot warms me up, but Mengniang, your spicy version is too spicy. I want to eat it but I don't dare."

"Actually, it can also be made mildly spicy. Today, I was just too greedy and added too much chili. If it's mildly spicy, Mom should be able to accept it."

"That's a good feeling!"

"This tomato soup can be drunk directly. It's sweet and sour, and the soup base is bone broth, so it tastes especially good. It can also help with digestion and promote intestinal peristalsis. Everyone should drink some, especially Yun Sheng."

"Sister-in-law, how about we have hot pot again tomorrow?" Yun Sheng's face was flushed from eating, and her little belly was round and bulging.

Madam He glanced at Yun Sheng: "Still eating? All you do all day is eat. Look at you, you're about to become a ball of fat!"

"Mengniang, don't spoil her too much."

"Mother, Yun Sheng is still so young. He's chubby and adorable."

"That's right, I'm still young! Besides, I'm not fat, I'm just cute."

He Shi couldn't bear to look at her and turned her head away. Then she saw Yun Mo, who was just as good, with his mouth full of sesame paste.

Madam He couldn't stand it, so in order to stop Yun Sheng from eating, she dragged Yun Sheng and Yun Mo to wash their faces together.

Gu Yunyi poured himself a cup of tea, but fortunately he was more reserved than Xun Ge'er, and his lips didn't turn into sausage lips from the spiciness. However, Xu Qingmeng noticed that his lips were noticeably more moist and full than before.

Xu Qingmeng chuckled to herself, then realized she didn't know he was so close, so she quickly moved to the side.

Gu Yunyi held his cup and quietly looked at Xu Qingmeng. Her fair face was flushed with pink, and her misty eyes looked at him with a puzzled expression, yet they were so clear and transparent.

Gu Yunyi turned his head away somewhat awkwardly, downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, though his heart was pounding and his face was slightly flushed.

After a long while, he finally spoke: "Cough cough, it's too spicy, have some tea to calm down."

Xu Qingmeng also felt that Gu Yunyi was acting strangely, after all, his lips really looked like they had been burned by the spice.

After Gu Yunyi finished his tea, he put down his cup and hurried back to his study. Xu Qingmeng didn't mind, after all, there was still work waiting for her in the kitchen, and today's meal had taken up a lot of time.

Lin Yichen went back, still unable to forget the girl he had fallen for at first sight during the day, and asked his servants to inquire about whose daughter Xu Qingmeng was.

The servant reported, "Young master, that young lady works at the Gu Family Restaurant and is the wife of Gu Yunyi, the top scholar in this case."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yichen frowned slightly, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

He had assumed that the woman was an unmarried young lady from a wealthy family, but he never imagined that she was already someone else's wife.

He sighed softly, leaned back in his chair, his gaze becoming deep, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

“She’s already Gu Yunyi’s wife… How could that be? Wasn’t it said that Gu’s wife was a plump peasant woman?” he repeated in a low voice. He was familiar with the name Gu Yunyi, because he had also participated in the imperial examination and passed, although he ranked fourth.

Upon hearing this, the servant cautiously replied, "Young master, I don't know the details either, but I have heard that Miss Xu is apparently Gu Yunyi's mother. Madam He heard from a fortune teller that she was brought back to Gu Yunyi to bring him good luck."

It is said that on his way back from the imperial examination, Gu Yunyi heard of his father's death and accidentally fell into the lake. After his father's funeral, he fell ill and never recovered. Later, after Miss Xu married into the family, not only did Gu Yunyi gradually recover, but the Gu family's restaurants also came back to life.

The braised dishes that the young master has been enjoying lately are also made by this Miss Xu. Gu's Eatery sells breakfast in the morning and set meals at lunchtime; business is booming.

"Understood, let's go down."

After listening to the servant's report, Lin Yichen remained silent for a long time. The resentment and disappointment in his heart grew stronger. He originally thought that his love at first sight for Miss Xu was just a sudden flutter of the heart, but he never expected that this feeling would be so profound.

He couldn't let it go. He stood up and paced around the room, his thoughts racing.

Xu Qingmeng was busy in the kitchen, completely unaware that she had become someone else's concern.

The next day, Gu Yunyi got up early and read a book for a short while before Zhang Quan came and called him away.

Madam He originally intended to let him eat before leaving, but Xu Qingmeng grabbed her arm.

"No matter how delicious the food at home is, sometimes it can't compete with the novel flavors outside, so let him eat out."

Madam He thought about it and realized that Yun Sheng was right. She ate delicious food every day, but when she saw someone selling candied hawthorns or other tasty treats, she still couldn't resist.

Did you give him the money?

Xu Qingmeng patted her head, paused for a moment, and seemed to realize that there was nothing there.

Madam He chuckled. "Alright, alright. He probably still has a few coins left from copying books, enough for him to eat. We can't give him too much, lest he go out and squander it."

He had heard that those so-called scholars who had studied the classics for a few years liked to use essays, poetry gatherings and the like as an excuse to engage in romantic affairs.

It's good to be broke. Being broke means I won't do anything reckless, and being broke means I can go home.

The poetry gathering was held by the ancient bridge in late spring, when the flowers were still in full bloom. The Bibo River, named after its blue waters, was covered with peach blossoms, and on the opposite bank was a verdant screen, dotted with local teahouses and taverns.

Every spring, Cuiping on the Bibo River is at its most prosperous. The sounds of zithers and lutes echo in the ears, beautiful women with smiling faces are by your side, and the spring scenery is colorful. This scene often inspires countless literati to pick up their brushes and paint, and become intoxicated by it.

"Today's poetry gathering was initiated by Young Master Liu. It seems that Miss Jin Yun has returned. I heard that she loves poetry the most, so Young Master Liu invited many students skilled in poetry to compose poems for her. You are currently the top scholar, so Young Master Liu will definitely call on you. You should respond well then. If you win his favor, in the future..."

Gu Yunyi raised an eyebrow slightly, "What about the future?"

Zhang Quan chuckled, and Gu Yi left him with a knowing look, "There will surely be many benefits in the future."

Gu Yunyi stopped talking and turned to look around. By this time, quite a few people dressed as scholars had arrived.

Gu Yunyi glanced at it, his mind at a loss for words.

This doesn't look like a poetry gathering organized by scholars; it looks more like a brothel frequented by prostitutes.

(End of this chapter)