I’m not going out. You’ve ruined me!
Because of Jiang Bingren and the man in black, Yu Jinnian’s dream was thoroughly disrupted. The man had vomited and smelled rancid, and Yu Jinnian couldn’t tolerate him stinking up his hall. He went to the kitchen to fetch warm water and brought out two sets of clean clothes. Since he and Jiang Bingren were about the same size, he gave one set to Jiang Bingren and the other, which was an old set from Aunt Xu’s husband, to the burly man.
The young master Jiang, proud as ever, looked down on the rough linen clothes and refused to move, still holding on to his airs.
Yu Jinnian, annoyed, said, “What are you pretending for? Haven’t you already hit twelve inches? What’s the harm in changing clothes for him?”
“I didn’t…” Jiang Bingren was about to deny it, but when he looked up at Yu Jinnian’s gaze and saw Ji Hong gracefully walking out to drape a cloak over Yu Jinnian’s shoulders, with the two of them all affectionate and oblivious to everything else, he snorted in frustration. “Fine, I’ll change! What’s the big deal?” He reluctantly took off his indigo silk robe, stained with filth, and, with a grimace, put on Yu Jinnian’s clothes before grimacing further as he tended to the man who had vomited all over himself.
“You take care of him. I’ll go get some warm water,” Yu Jinnian said.
But by the time Yu Jinnian returned with a cup of lightly salted water, the man lay sprawled on the floor, having changed into fresh clothes. However, his hair was a mess, and his shoulders were half exposed as though he’d been manhandled rather than cared for. Meanwhile, the culprit sat nonchalantly on a bench, guiltless, sipping cold tea from a pot.
The man on the ground, seeing the young boy drinking water, swallowed dryly. His throat, sore and parched from vomiting, couldn’t help but beg, “Jiang Ya, thirsty…”
Jiang Bingren furiously slammed the table and kicked him. “How many times do I have to tell you?! Don’t call me Jiang Ya! It’s Jiang with a soft tone, not that sprout nickname! Are you stupid?”
The man nodded, lowering his stance to appease him. “Ya’er, just give me some water…”
So it turned out that he couldn’t understand the difference. Not allowed to call him “Jiang Ya,” he just shortened it to “Ya’er.”
Jiang Bingren was livid, about to throw the cold teapot at him, but the man, though weak from vomiting, still had the reflexes of someone trained in martial arts. Seeing a shadow move in front of him, he instinctively caught the object and yanked it to the side. A clatter followed, accompanied by Jiang Bingren’s yelp of pain.
Yu Jinnian heard the commotion and rushed over with the salt water. Pulling back the curtain, he saw the two entangled on the floor, legs twisted together, arms pressed against one another. From the angle, it looked like the young master Jiang was forcing himself on the man, with a fallen teapot beside them. Yu Jinnian suddenly remembered Jiang Bingren’s notorious flirtations and thought back to his previous romantic escapades. He realized the man, though now disheveled and bearded, wasn’t bad-looking.
This little lecher, Jiang Bingren, had even flirted with Ji Hong before. Now, in the dead of night, he brings home a decently handsome man… Yu Jinnian’s expression changed as he looked at them, and unable to resist, he asked, “You didn’t… force-feed him something to get him excited, did you?”
“Of course not!” Jiang Bingren, both angry and embarrassed, prided himself on being untouchable despite his flirtatious nature. Even the neighborhood women, and dogs for that matter, feared him. Known for being an infamous flirt, Jiang Bingren had never been humiliated like this before, feeling utterly disgraced in front of Yu Jinnian. He stiffened his tongue and retorted, “Who would waste such effort giving him drugs?!”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm.” Yu Jinnian nodded dismissively as he crouched to take the man’s pulse.
Jiang Bingren noticed that Yu Jinnian didn’t seem to believe him and slowly fell silent, fuming as he sat by the side. Just as he was about to take a sip of tea to calm himself, he realized the teapot had already been knocked over. Now even more aggrieved, he kicked the table leg in frustration, though it only hurt his own foot.
The pulse was smooth and flowing, like pearls rolling on a plate—a slippery pulse.
His tongue was thickly coated with yellow, and his mouth reeked terribly.
As Yu Jinnian held the pulse, he quietly asked the man a few questions. Jiang Bingren, still muttering angrily to himself, said, “Good intentions wasted! He scared me with his nonsense, but I still fed him, gave him a bed to sleep in, and tried to be decent. And yet, you all accuse me of such things! He ate so much of my food, like a reincarnated pig spirit! If he keeps eating like this, Spring Breeze Delight will go out of business!”
Turning to Yu Jinnian, he asked, “Tell me, wasn’t I right to scold him? He ate six dishes prepared by our top chef! Six! Then he heard about the temple fair outside West City, and right after setting down his chopsticks, he wanted to eat again, stuffing himself with all sorts of food. I scolded him a little, and he vomited all over me! If it hadn’t been for a nearby barrel vendor, he’d have been beaten to death by now.”
Yu Jinnian nodded. “He certainly deserved to throw up.”
“Huh?!” Jiang Bingren’s eyes widened. “Are you on his side or mine? Why are you defending him?”
He wasn’t siding with anyone, just with his own Ah Hong. Yu Jinnian shook his head. “Sigh. Take him back and take good care of him. Walk with him, enjoy the sights, and maybe pick some plums…”
Jiang Bingren heard his sigh and his words, which sounded like something one would say before someone dies. He grew fearful, his anger momentarily forgotten, and anxiously gripped Yu Jinnian’s arm. He rapid-fired questions, “Is he really that sick? Does he have no cure? How much longer does he have to live?”
Yu Jinnian blinked. Jiang Bingren’s concern was rather amusing, so he kept a straight face, maintaining his silence. The man on the ground, playing along, clutched the bucket and retched a couple more times, his face pale as paper, looking like he might expire at any moment.
Seeing this, Jiang Bingren was even more convinced and teary-eyed. Sniffling, he confessed, “I didn’t mean it. That day in Tongzi Alley, he scared me with his act, tricked me into taking him back to the tavern, and refused to leave my room. Then he ate so much, and in my anger, I added some senna leaves to his tea… The old monk said it wouldn’t kill anyone, just cause some stomach pain and diarrhea. I just wanted to force him to leave. I didn’t think it would turn out like this…”
Senna leaves were bitter and cold, with mild toxicity, not native to the region but brought from foreign lands, mainly used as a laxative. This mild toxicity wasn’t too severe. In his previous life, Yu Jinnian had seen many women use it as tea to maintain their figures. Drinking it without cause was harmful to the body, but it wouldn’t send someone straight to heaven.
Yu Jinnian had intended to tease Jiang Bingren, but hearing him admit everything, he found himself at a loss for words. The man, even more stunned, stared dumbfounded at Jiang Bingren, his mouth half-open.
“I’m sorry!” Jiang Bingren half-knelt and threw himself on Shi Xing, wiping his eyes with his hand. His pampered baby face scrunched up like a steamed bun. He sincerely said, “It’s all my fault. Things have come to this, and I’ll treat you well. Shi Xing, do you have any last wishes or any family left behind? I will take good care of them…”
Yu Jinnian felt he had taken the joke too far and was about to explain when he felt a tug on his calf. Looking down, he saw that the man called Shi Xing was playing along, winking and pulling exaggerated expressions before collapsing on the floor in a dramatic, exaggerated seizure.
This acting was a bit over the top.
Yu Jinnian could barely stand to watch anymore, but Jiang Bingren was still clueless, genuinely believing that Shi Xing was on the verge of death. Overcome with guilt and regret, he held Shi Xing and softly sobbed, “Don’t worry, whatever you want to eat or drink in the future, I’ll get it for you. I won’t say a word against you anymore…”
After crying for a while, Jiang Bingren helped Shi Xing up, no longer bothered by his stench. He bent down, carried Shi Xing on his back, and turned to bid farewell to Yu Jinnian. As they stepped out the door, Shi Xing, still playing weak, struck a delicate pose on Jiang Bingren’s back. As they crossed the threshold, he slyly hooked his little finger at Yu Jinnian and secretly dropped a small pigeon-leg note from his sleeve.
Yu Jinnian stood there, dumbfounded, watching the two leave. After a moment, he finally remembered to pick up the pigeon note.
Ji Hong, having changed his clothes, came out and saw that the crying duo had already left, leaving only the boy standing in the courtyard, looking as if he had experienced something surreal. He led Yu Jinnian back to their room, tucked him into bed, and asked, “What kind of illness makes such a scene?”
“What kind of illness?” Yu Jinnian stuffed the small pigeon note into Ji Hong’s hand, pouting, “It’s just a case of overeating! Stagnant food turned to sourness, foul gas reversed upwards—of course he needed to vomit to feel better. A few days of walking to digest the food, and he’ll be fine. I barely finished explaining, and they started acting like it was a farewell to life.”
He glanced at the man reading the small note and curiously asked, “Is he your man? What does it say?”
“Mm, just a letter confirming his identity,” Ji Hong smiled slightly, not hiding anything, and handed the note to Yu Jinnian. Yu Jinnian saw that it contained a few symbols, but he didn’t understand them. He figured it must be some kind of code they used in their family. Ji Hong continued, “It’s a game my second brother invented, full of flowery words. I was too young to learn it, but my brother often played it with his guards when he was bored. As soon as I saw the symbols, I knew this was one of my second brother’s men.”
Yu Jinnian remarked, “Seems like his name is Shi Xing.”
Ji Hong nodded. “Shi Xing is the most mischievous of my second brother’s men. He’s younger than the other guards and always has tricks up his sleeve, constantly pranking people. Even my second brother isn’t immune to his antics. He’s also great at sweet-talking—he’ll be chased around one day and drinking and playing chess with my brother the next.”
“Oh dear…” Yu Jinnian snuggled into Ji Hong’s embrace, grinning mischievously. “Jiang Bingren’s in for it! It’s just karma coming back to get him, the heavens are finally here to deal with him!”
Ji Hong pinched Yu Jinnian’s ear. “You take so much joy in others’ misfortune. Aren’t you afraid someone will come for you too?”
Yu Jinnian wiggled his waist playfully. “I’m not afraid. I just need to catch you first!”
Before young master Jiang had shown up, the two had been having some fun in bed. Although the mood had faded somewhat, they were still used to cuddling and touching each other. Fortunately, Ji Hong was only interested in one specific thing—something that Yu Jinnian had taught him. Even though Yu Jinnian wasn’t exactly an expert in such matters, he had a professional edge over Ji Hong and knew a bit more, though he never said so. Most importantly, though, he was afraid of pain.
While his thoughts wandered wildly, Ji Hong caught hold of his hand and whispered in his ear, “Shall we measure if it’s six inches?”
Yu Jinnian had never actually measured, and his talk of “six inches” was just to provoke Jiang Bingren. Still, he stubbornly brought up Jiang’s ridiculous comment to save face, “What’s there to brag about? That guy’s twelve inches, he can wrap it around his wrist like a bracelet—can you?”
Ji Hong chuckled, not bothering to argue. He simply teased, “You can’t even handle six inches. Now you’re dreaming about twelve?”
Of course, he couldn’t imagine handling twelve inches—six was more than enough.
—
At the “One Bowl Noodle Shop,” they had stocked up on a lot of lamb parts. Even though the Winter Solstice had passed, the restaurant was still selling lamb soup along with stewed, spicy lamb meat and blood. There were fresh, hot wide lamb noodles and flavorful, juicy lamb and carrot dumplings. All that was missing was a full lamb banquet.
The restaurant never followed conventions. Besides a few dishes that were available year-round, the menu changed daily based on the owner’s mood. You might have a great meal today, but if you came back tomorrow, the same dish might not be available. The place was wild and carefree in its approach, yet it still had plenty of loyal customers.
Yu Jinnian, having prepared a few lamb offal dishes for customers, found some free time to make medicinal pills.
The recipe he used included divine yeast, hawthorn, radish seeds, aged tangerine peel, poria, and pinellia, combined with sprouted grains. It was a common formula called “Baohe Pills,” designed to treat indigestion. Hawthorn helped with digesting meat, sprouted grains aided in digesting rice, and radish seeds were good for digesting flour. Tangerine peel and pinellia helped regulate the qi and stop vomiting. Everything had its purpose. Yu Jinnian figured that although Shi Xing was strong and would recover quickly, the discomfort of vomiting and acid reflux was unpleasant. Moreover, since Shi Xing was one of Ji Hong’s men and would be helping him in the future, it was better to send him some pills.
Instead of using honey to form the pills, which would be too greasy, he used plain water, shaking the powder into small pills on a bamboo tray. This required strength and experience—it looked easy, but doing it was no simple task. In his previous life, machines handled such things, leaving people with little to do. Now, having to do everything by hand, Yu Jinnian finally understood how difficult it really was.
As he painstakingly rolled the pills into various sizes, he left them to dry under the eaves after sprinkling them with some dry powder.
He wanted to deliver the medicine to Jiang Bingren as soon as possible. But as soon as he stepped out of the restaurant, he saw a group of children clapping and cheering, running around in small clusters. Trying to avoid them, he sidestepped and bumped into a cloth-clad servant, full of excitement.
A drumbeat sounded behind him. A group of porters tied with red waist sashes emerged from an alley, carrying bright red boxes. A matchmaker, dressed in rose-colored clothing embroidered with mandarin ducks, bustled about, giving orders: “Careful now, don’t drop anything!” The matchmaker was meticulous, directing when to beat the drum, where to distribute sweets, and when to walk straight or turn sideways, leaving no room for error.
Yu Jinnian called out to the servant he had bumped into and asked, “Who’s getting married?”
With a piece of wedding candy in his mouth, the servant’s cheek bulged like a frog’s, and he happily replied, “It’s the Yan family in the west of the city! The betrothal gifts are being delivered, and wow, it’s quite the spectacle! There must be at least a dozen boxes, and the porters can barely lift them!”
He cheerfully handed Yu Jinnian a piece of wedding candy, wishing him good fortune in his business.
“Such a pity!” a walnut vendor auntie squeezed in to watch the commotion.
“What do you mean?” the servant asked.
The auntie, who knew all the local gossip, whispered, “I’ve played matchmaker myself a few times and have some reputation in the southern part of the city. The Yan family’s daughter is quite a catch—graceful and elegant, with two officials in the family. Yet, somehow, they’ve married her off to a merchant.”
She popped two pieces of walnut into her mouth, shaking her head as she chewed. “And the worst part? He’s not even from here. He’s from far away, in Dianzhou. If the Yan family’s daughter has to go there, who knows how many years she’ll suffer in that remote, impoverished place…”
The servant took advantage of the aunt, eating her walnuts while talking. “Is that true? How could her family be so heartless? Weren’t they saying a few years ago that she would only marry into an official family?”
“Who knows? It’s those rich families’ business—” The aunt looked down at her basket and saw that a whole handful of walnuts were missing. She immediately jumped up and started hitting the servant. “Hey, you little rascal! How could you eat so many of my walnuts? Pay up!”
The two continued their squabble and drifted away, but Yu Jinnian no longer paid attention. Inside, he was filled with joy. Others might not know the full story, but he did—how Yan Yuyao had endured so much hardship to reach this point; how Yan Rong, so rigid and conservative, had finally relented, allowing this pair of lovers to be together. Cao Nuo, who had been loyal for so many years, had finally had his wish granted.
Abandoning his plans to visit Spring Breeze Delight, Yu Jinnian spun around and ran back to his own noodle shop. He rushed inside, finding Ji Hong washing vegetables by the well, his whole figure glowing under the sun. Without hesitation, Yu Jinnian flung himself onto Ji Hong, nearly causing Ji to fall into the well. Yu Jinnian clung to his back, excitedly asking, “Ah Hong, Ah Hong, guess what’s happening outside?”
“I can’t guess. What’s happening?” Ji Hong smiled.
“Young Master Cao is delivering the betrothal gifts!” Yu Jinnian exclaimed, waving his hands and feet excitedly. “Fifth Miss is going to marry him!”
Ji Hong, struggling to hold onto Yu Jinnian as he squirmed on his back, felt dizzy as Yu tugged at his shoulders. Ji Hong had no choice but to pull him down and make him sit quietly on his lap. With a sigh, he asked, “Why are you so happy about someone else’s marriage?”
Yu Jinnian, trapped in Ji Hong’s embrace, couldn’t move. Mischievously, he bent down and bit Ji Hong on the neck, grumbling, “I’m happy for them, can’t I be? If you don’t let me go, I’ll bite again.”
Fearing Yu Jinnian would knock over the water basin, Ji Hong finally loosened his grip. Just then, Qing Huan entered the room, only to find Yu Jinnian still sprawled across Ji Hong’s lap, acting all wild. She covered her eyes and exclaimed, “It’s broad daylight!”
Yu Jinnian teased her back, “You’re the one sneaking touches on Duan Ming’s leg in broad daylight. I saw it!”
Qing Huan picked up a washed vegetable leaf from the basin and threw it at Yu Jinnian in frustration. “You can touch, but I can’t? Get up! The Yan family is hosting a banquet, and an old lady came to invite you to manage it!”
Yu Jinnian exchanged a glance with Ji Hong.
—
The Yan family was hosting a private banquet, which would normally be handled by their own household cooks for a more familiar taste. However, for some reason, Yan Rong had invited Yu Jinnian, despite them not always getting along, to manage the banquet. The servant who came to deliver the message said that not only did they want Yu to cook, but they also wanted to have him join them for the meal.
Without much ceremony, Yu Jinnian agreed quickly, eager to congratulate Yan Yuyao. After packing some essentials, he and Ji Hong followed the servant to the Yan residence.
The dishes were prepared quickly and soon filled the table, arranged in a way that represented blessings of fortune, longevity, and happiness. After setting up the meal, Yu Jinnian made his way to the main hall, passing by a small side room where he saw Yan Yuyao standing outside with a tea tray. Her eyes had recovered, and she was holding the tray with steady hands. Before Yu Jinnian could offer his congratulations, he overheard an argument inside the room.
“I recommended that official from the Ministry of Revenue because I thought he was an honorable man. Who knew that as soon as he heard about Yuyao’s illness and the possibility of long-term effects, he couldn’t wait to send a letter calling off the engagement? His words may have been polite, claiming he wasn’t worthy, but his actions were heartless!” It was the voice of the Yan family’s scholar, his anger unmistakable. “Yuyao has both talent and beauty—why should we worry about finding her a suitable match? Why would we cling to this man?”
An elderly voice replied, sounding frail and accompanied by the tapping of a cane. “Yuyao has broken off two engagements already. How do you expect people to view our Yan family? How is your father supposed to maintain his reputation in the capital? This marriage must be secured no matter what! You write back to them immediately and tell them that Yuyao is in perfect health!”
Yan Rong’s voice lowered. “Forgive me, Grandmother. I will, of course, respond to their letter, but it will be to sever ties completely. Today, I’ve already accepted the betrothal gifts from the Cao family, and soon, Yuyao will be married off to Dianzhou.”
The elderly woman was shocked. “What did you say? You unfilial child, say it again!”
“I’ll say it as many times as you want,” Yan Rong mustered the courage to say. “I’ve always followed the rules—honoring heaven, earth, the emperor, and my parents. I’ve never done anything for myself. But today, I will do something for Yuyao. Punish me if you must, but I’ll ensure my sister’s happiness. If she regrets it one day, let her blame me. I may lack virtue and ability, but I’ll take responsibility for this decision.”
“You—you—!”
“Grandmother!” Yan Rong suddenly shouted.
Yu Jinnian hurriedly pushed open the door, seeing the elderly woman collapse. He quickly went over to check her pulse, and after a moment, he sighed in relief. “It’s nothing serious, just a fainting spell. Take her to rest for a while, and she’ll wake up soon.”
Yan Rong immediately called for servants to carry the old woman to her room and had them light some cooling incense.
“Brother…” Yan Yuyao called softly from the door.
Yan Rong smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you call me brother.”
With the old lady resting, the family banquet lost its festive atmosphere. It was just a few young people sitting around the table, exchanging awkward glances. Feeling the tension, Yan Rong slapped the table and instructed the servants to move the food and wine to the Snow Pavilion in the courtyard. The meal consisted of delicacies, and the wine was the famous “Pizhenchun.” After three rounds of drinking, Yan Rong called for a redwood chest to be brought in. He personally removed the red silk covering it, revealing fine silks and treasures. He asked Yan Yuyao, “Yuyao, do you like it?”
Knowing these were gifts from the Cao family, Yuyao, with tears in her eyes, nodded shyly.
“Why are you crying?” Yan Rong said. “Yuyao, you should know… If you ever feel unhappy in the future, you can always come back. I will take care of you. You will always be my sister.”
The scholar’s drinking tolerance was laughably low, much like Ji Hong’s. After three cups of mixed soup, he was already slurring his words. The night grew darker, the candles dimmed, and the table was left with half-eaten food and spilled wine. The cold wind swept through, signaling the end of the gathering. Yan Yuyao had retired to her room early, and Yu Jinnian and Ji Hong rose to take their leave.
As they exited through the side door of the Yan residence, Yan Rong drunkenly stumbled over the threshold. Yu Jinnian kindly caught him and advised, “If you can’t handle your liquor, don’t drink so much. I’ve had my fill of running to your house to treat illnesses. I hope I won’t have to come again.”
Yan Rong shook off Yu Jinnian’s hand, slurring his words. “You’re the only one who’s clear-headed, the only one not sick! Everyone else is confused—idiots!”
Yu Jinnian, surprised, asked, “What’s with this temper? Why are you suddenly yelling and cursing?”
“I’m so sick of you all!” Yan Rong rambled incoherently. “Why did you have to show up? Why ruin the harmony I had? Why did you destroy the image of my dutiful father and filial son? I’ve never done anything out of line in my life, but today, I went too far…” He collapsed on the wooden doorstep, holding onto the hem of Yu Jinnian’s robe, lamenting pitifully, “I even envy you… I envy a mere plaything…”
Yu Jinnian responded, “I’m not—forget it, why am I trying to reason with a drunk?” He tried to pull his clothes free from Yan Rong’s grip. “Let go, Sir Scholar. I need to go back home to serve our esteemed Lord Ji.”
Yan Rong grimaced at the mention of Ji Hong but still refused to let go, gripping Yu Jinnian’s robe even tighter as he continued to vent his frustrations. Yu Jinnian was left in a ridiculous situation, half-amused, half-exasperated.
Ji Hong frowned. “Yan Rong.”
Hearing Ji Hong’s voice, Yan Rong finally let go, wary of crossing the young man. Yu Jinnian quickly leaped down the steps, appearing to flutter away like a butterfly. To Yan Rong, drunk and stuck in place, it felt as though he were rooted in the ground like a tree, unable to move. Watching Yu Jinnian fly away toward Ji Hong, his heart filled with despair. Suddenly, he stood up and leaned against the doorframe, saying, “Ji Shulan, enjoy your freedom while you can. The capital’s been looking for you everywhere! Your father caught a cold recently, and his old injuries have flared up again, leaving him weakened. The Ji family has lost its backbone and fallen into disarray.”
Yan Rong glanced at Ji Hong and Yu Jinnian, shaking his head. “I can’t believe I’ve kept your whereabouts hidden from the capital all this time. What are you planning to do?”
Yu Jinnian looked up at Ji Hong, but Ji Hong didn’t answer directly. He simply replied, “Thank you.”
As they prepared to leave, Yan Rong added, “Min Xuefei has somehow learned that you’re in the south. It won’t be long before he tracks you down. You know how skilled he is—unless you’re truly dead, he’ll find you eventually.”
Ji Hong calmly responded, “I understand.”
—
On the day of Yan Yuyao’s grand wedding, there was no invitation for Yu Jinnian, and he didn’t attend the festivities. However, his restaurant was always a hub of gossip, so even without seeking out the details, it was as if he were right there. People said the wedding procession stretched down an entire street, and so many sweets were scattered along the route that they couldn’t be picked up fast enough, eventually getting crushed underfoot by the crowd.
They talked about Fifth Miss’s wedding robes, embroidered with gold thread and adorned with pearls, layers of rich crimson fabric shimmering as she walked. The groom, a true gentleman, spared no expense for his new bride. The Yan family’s banquet lasted for three whole days, with a constant stream of guests offering congratulations. Even the stone steps outside their gate were worn down from the endless procession of well-wishers.
Finally, the couple boarded a carriage and headed off to Dianzhou together. Yu Jinnian sat in his noodle shop the entire time, not setting foot outside, but he still knew every detail—how many jewels hung from the carriage, how many curtains were draped, what kind of incense burner was inside, and what fragrance was being burned.
Fifth Miss’s wedding was the most talked-about event in the cold winter months, with the entire city of Xinan caught up in the excitement. Some families even kept the sweets they collected on the day of the procession for weeks, their festive spirit lingering. The event was a true spectacle.
The bustling atmosphere stirred a wave of busyness in the restaurant, and Yu Jinnian was swept up in it for days. When things finally quieted down, he suddenly remembered something important—he had forgotten to deliver the Baohe Pills he had made for Shi Xing!
Since so much time had passed, Shi Xing had likely already recovered. Yu Jinnian placed the Baohe Pills on a shelf in his shop, figuring they could still be useful for customers dealing with indigestion.
Just as he set the bottle on the shelf, a gust of wind blew in from outside, and someone rushed into the shop without a word. The figure darted past the partition and hid in his and Ji Hong’s room, locking the door behind them.
Startled, Yu Jinnian was about to investigate when another person barged in the same way, not bothering with greetings. This second figure seemed like a mirror image of the first.
“Where’s Jiang Ya’er?” the newcomer called out, pacing the courtyard before finally asking.
It was Shi Xing, and from the looks of him—his glowing complexion and added weight—it was clear he had been living quite comfortably at Spring Breeze Delight. Seeing Shi Xing and Jiang Bingren chasing each other, Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but wonder if Shi Xing’s feigned illness had been exposed, upsetting young master Jiang.
Glancing toward the room, Yu Jinnian gave a small signal to Shi Xing, who understood immediately. He approached the door and knocked softly, his tone gentle and a bit apologetic. “Ya’er, it’s me. Come out.”
“Get lost! I don’t want to see you!” Jiang Bingren’s voice shouted from inside.
Ji Hong, holding a leafy vegetable, asked, “What’s going on?”
Yu Jinnian shrugged. “I have no idea…”
Not wanting to involve himself further, Yu Jinnian took the damp vegetable from Ji Hong and joined him in the kitchen to prepare the meal. They were cooking a dish called *milk-braised fish* because Ji Hong had mentioned wanting to eat fish recently. The cold weather inspired Yu Jinnian to make the dish with milk-braised carp, first removing the scales and cleaning the fish, then pan-frying both sides before simmering it in the broth. He added winter bamboo shoots, ham, dried shrimp, and fragrant mushrooms, all combining to fill the kitchen with a rich aroma of fish and milk.
This dish was meant to be eaten like a hot pot, with vegetables continuously added as you ate. The broth was rich, the fish tender, and the vegetables soft, but without the heavy, greasy feel of a typical hot pot. The flavor was delicate yet satisfying, especially perfect for cold winter days when one could sit around the table and enjoy it all afternoon.
Yu Jinnian served a bowl of the broth, cutting small pieces of soft tofu into it for Ji Hong to taste. He also poured himself a bowl.
Meanwhile, Shi Xing was peeking through the door, trying to catch a glimpse inside the room, but he could only see bits and pieces of the furniture. He couldn’t spot even a single strand of Jiang Bingren’s hair. He knocked on the door again, this time more gently, his voice softer and more coaxing. “Ya’er, I was wrong. Come out and let me see if you’re feeling okay. I promise I won’t act up anymore!”
Jiang Bingren refused to listen, sulking inside. From the sound of it, he had even started to cry. “You just want to laugh at me! You’re getting back at me because I tricked you once, and now you’re paying me back! I’m not coming out—you’ve ruined me, and now my butt hurts!”
Yu Jinnian almost spat out his soup, wondering if he had misunderstood the situation.
Then young master Jiang’s voice came again, sobbing, “I’m even bleeding!”