Exiled to Lingnan, the Crown Prince's wife raises children, cultivates the land, and leads the

"Qiqi, I'll cook."

Liu Suyi's voice rang out, and Cheng Qiqi, who was crushing clam shells, paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay!"

After a busy day, Cheng Qiqi really didn't want to cook anymore. She was planning to make betel nuts for tasting today and then sell them tomorrow!

Not a moment can be wasted!

There was quite a commotion in the kitchen, and Cheng Qiqi was craning her neck.

"Sister-in-law, I've never seen Second Aunt cook before." Gao Shenglan also craned her neck. Second Aunt, that's the wife of the Marquis of Zhongyong, the head of the household.

After getting married, Gao Shenglan also accompanied her mother-in-law to the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion to pay her respects to the mistress. The size of the mansion broadened her horizons!

The matriarch of the household, Liu Suyi, was even more elegant and noble.

During her exile, Liu Suyi would do chores, but cooking...

"Mom is very smart; her cooking is simple."

Cheng Qiqi glanced at it, then lowered her head and continued grinding the clam shells into powder. Washing them clean and grinding them into powder was a really difficult process.

Fortunately, she could make a lot of areca nuts by grinding a little bit of clam shell powder; otherwise, she was afraid she wouldn't have the ability to make a whole bunch.

"Haha, I'm in for a treat today!"

Before the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery returned, laughter came back first. Besides his hands being covered in blood on the first day, he brought wild boar meat yesterday, and today he brought wild rabbits!

"Perfect, let's nourish An'an and her mother."

Marquis Zhongyong returned happily carrying a wild rabbit, saying, "We came across another rabbit litter while cutting camphor wood today. We gave the lion's share to Lord Zhao, and brought the rest back with us."

Zhongyonghou is not a completely useless place in Lingnan. The winters are not so cold, and there are many prey in the mountains.

"Suyi, you...you made meat broth porridge?"

When the Marquis of Zhongyong entered the kitchen, he was stunned to see the meat broth porridge that Liu Suyi had made!

In the early days of their marriage, Liu Suyi did go into the kitchen, but only to make some snacks. The cook did most of the chores, such as washing and preparing vegetables. Even if she had to do something, it was very little.

"Qiqi is busy with important matters. What's the big deal that I'm making porridge?"

Liu Suyi stayed by Cheng Qiqi's side almost every step of the way, and learned a lot from her.

"Quick, have a taste."

Liu Suyi handed over the porridge.

The porridge smelled delicious with meat, and the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor praised it again and again.

That evening, Cheng Qiqi ate her meat broth porridge and fell silent. The Marquis of Zhongyong was really praising her without thinking!

The rice was probably not cooked long enough; it was still a bit hard.

After dinner, the still-alive wild rabbit was quickly caught and caged by the Marquis of Zhongyong.

"Dad, I made some betel nuts today. Would you like to try some?"

Cheng Qiqi couldn't wait to take out the areca nuts she had made. She mixed five different kinds of clam shell paste, spread a thin layer on the withered leaves, and then wrapped the areca nuts in the withered leaves.

"Okay, I'll try it."

After eating and drinking his fill, Marquis Zhongyong became familiar with Zhao Heizi. Zhao Heizi was also very pleased with his hunting skills. He could clearly feel that the tools assigned for work were now being distributed better!

Not only did Marquis Zhongyong try all five flavors of areca nut, but even Grandpa Jin did.

"You can try anything you want."

Cheng Qiqi took the initiative to speak.

Jin Runzhi watched as his wife washed betel nuts all day and took the initiative to try some.

Cheng Qiqi looked at the Marquis of Zhongyong expectantly and asked, "Father, what do you think of the taste compared to what you buy?"

"It seems that the astringency at first bite is not that strong, and it gets more fragrant the more you chew."

Marquis Zhongyong tasted them one by one, and finally said, "These third and fifth ones, do they have spices added? They seem to have a stronger aroma, and the texture is different too."

"The first one tastes the best."

After carefully tasting the five kinds of areca nuts, the Marquis of Zhongyong summarized.

"Second brother is right."

Mr. Jin, who had also eaten betel nuts, nodded in agreement, saying, "I like the fifth one. The aroma... it's a bit like the smell of tea, isn't it?"

"black tea."

Marquis Zhongyong nodded affirmatively and said, "This, it also has a jasmine scent, right?"

"So, do you think this can be sold for money?"

Cheng Qiqi's eyes were full of anticipation.

"able."

Marquis Zhongyong said, "The betel nuts you gave me the other day weren't as good as the ones you made!"

"Then I'll go sell betel nuts tomorrow."

Cheng Qiqi made a decision immediately.

Selling betel nuts?

To openly sell betel nuts?

The Jin family fell silent. Marquis Zhongyong said, "Let Heitu go with you." The boy was leaving soon, so let him spend more time with his wife and help her sell things to earn money.

"Dad, is it inconvenient for him?"

Cheng Qiqi thought that even if they were the prince's former subordinates, they were still men.

"Second Uncle, I'll go with you," Jin Lizhi said. "I used to be in charge of the business outside the estate."

"OK."

Cheng Qiqi responded.

Jin Runzhi from the third wife's family and Jin Mingzhi from the fourth wife's family both wanted to go, but with such a small amount of work, they definitely couldn't need so many people.

"Dad, I want to go!"

Jin Yanzhi, who had been feeling drowsy, immediately perked up after smelling the aroma of betel nut and taking a bite.

He spent three days cutting down camphor trees on the mountain. He applied medicine and bandaged his wounds, and they healed quite well. However, whether he was cutting down camphor trees or transporting them, he always felt like he was going to die!

Back home, I didn't dare rest; I gathered firewood, chopped it, and piled it up...

If you don't work, you'll get beaten.

Jin Yanzhi dared not run away, nor dared not do it. Now he heard that selling betel nuts in the county was a better job than cutting camphor wood.

"What can you do there?"

Marquis Zhongyong glanced at him. Back in the Marquis's mansion, this kid was always either indulging in debauchery or listening to music and watching plays. And he was selling betel nuts? He'd be lucky if he didn't drag the whole thing down!

Jin Yanzhi sat up straight. He had used all his intelligence to sell betel nuts: "Father, because I know a lot of people, maybe I can help my sister-in-law."

"Yes, I went to help. I've seen those vendors hawking their wares on the street before, and I'm sure I can do it."

"Dad, please let me try. If I can't sell the betel nuts, I'll work honestly from now on."

Jin Yanzhi looked at Marquis Zhongyong with pleading eyes.

"..."

Marquis Zhongyong was silent for a moment before looking at Cheng Qiqi and asking, "Qiqi, you decide who to bring."

Cheng Qiqi's eyes darted around, thinking of the two thugs she had encountered last time. Jin Lizhi seemed too honest. If she brought Jin Yanzhi along, perhaps they could put these former playboys in check if they ran into them again.

"OK."

Cheng Qiqi agreed.

The next day, Cheng Qiqi paused for a moment when she saw Heitu, Jin Lizhi, and Jin Yanzhi when she went out.

"Qiqi, when you go out, have Heitu protect you." Liu Suyi pulled Cheng Qiqi aside and whispered a reminder. Even if Mo'er's subordinates are eunuchs, they must be quite skilled!

"Mother, he is, after all, a man from another family, isn't he...?"

Cheng Qiqi felt that she should avoid suspicion.

"Don't be afraid, he's a eunuch, you can order him around without worry."

Looking at her beautiful face, Liu Suyi moved her lips and finally said, "If you really meet someone you like and you want to get married, I will prepare a dowry for you."