Chapter 293: A Few More Meals?

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Herlyee Translations

Ji Zhao thought for a moment and quickly wrote down the ingredients she needed and handed them to Zhu Bai.

“That’s all.”

“Alright, please wait a moment. I’ll prepare it immediately.”

‘Yes, there’s no hurry.”

Ji Zhao caught a glimpse of the round winter melon lying in the corner. She thought of an idea, and she prepared to make a special dish.

She found some bitter melon and dried shrimp, then rolled up her sleeves, washed her hands, and began to make soup.

The bitter gourd’s most bitter part was its core, so the core of the bitter gourd had to be removed first.

After the winter melon’s skin was removed, it was cut into thin slices and some seaweed and dried shrimp were prepared.

Just as Ji Zhao was immersed in cooking, the atmosphere in the side hall of the county office was a little strange.

“No, no, this won’t do!” Ji Ting’an hurriedly grabbed Qin Minghong’s sleeve and said anxiously, “If you place the stone here, won’t you be walking into a trap?”

“Ji Ting’an.” Qin Minghong tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart. His eyes darkened. “A true gentleman doesn’t speak when watching Go.”

“Brother Qin, don’t be angry.” Ji Ting’an retracted his hand in embarrassment, and there was a hint of grievance in his tone. “1 just don’t want you to lose.”

“The fun of the game comes from the competition between the two sides and the control of the situation. If you only think about winning and losing, this game will lose its original fun,” Shen Yao explained softly.

“Oh,” Ji Ting’an replied unhappily. Then, he found an excuse for himself. “l suddenly remembered that I have some official matters to attend to. I’ll go to the study first and look for you later.”

After Ji Ting’an left, Qin Minghong immediately placed the stone in his hand back into the cup.

“I don’t want to play anymre.”

“Brother Qin and Official Ji seem to have a story?” Shen Yao frowned slightly and asked softly.

“We’re just acquaintances.”

Qin Minghong was unwilling to talk about it, so Shen Yao naturally did not say anything else.

‘Why did you and Ah Tao suggest that Ji Ting’an harvest the crops in advance?” Qin Minghong picked up the teacup at the side and took a sip. Then, he looked at Shen Yao and asked in a low voice.

“There will definitely be locusts after a long drought, ” Shen Yao explained softly. “After Ah Tao and I read the Great Jingzhi, we were very worried. Once the locusts pass through, the consequences will be unimaginable. Therefore, after some deliberation, we decided to come and advise Official Ji.”

“But these are just your guesses. ‘

Qin Minghong narrowed his eyes. The worry in his words was self-evident.

“Yes.” Shen Yao nodded calmly. “It’s just that Ah Tao said that even if there’s only a one in ten thousand chance, she doesn’t want to see the villagers crying. The drought is already extremely dangerous. If a locust plague appears, it will be a fatal blow to the commoners who work hard to farm.

“It’ll make things worse. Corpses will definitely be everywhere. At that time, Dingyuan County and even the entire Great Jing Dynasty will probably be in chaos.”

“The history books record many incidents of the people rebelling, but no one investigated what their purpose was. Compared to the Sages and the officials of the Imperial Court, the group of people who hoped for the prosperity of the country and the peace of the people are still ordinary people.’

Qin Minghong lowered his head and rubbed the teacup in his hand. Then, he said in a disappointed tone, “Ah Tao has a kind and gentle temperament. It’s your blessing to be able to marry her.”

“Yes, I think so too.” At the mention of Ah Tao, Shen Yao’s eyes could not help but soften.

‘What you said just now touched me greatly.” Qin Minghong chuckled. The emotions in his tone were unfathomable. “In two days, I will return to the prefecture capital and prepare for the Imperial Examination this autumn.”

“Then I’ll wish Brother Qin success in advance.”

“Thanks a lot.”

In the kitchen, Ji Zhao, who had finished cooking five dishes in a row, suddenly felt a soreness in her wrist.

She found a small stool and was about to sit down to rest when Ji Ting’an walked in.

“I specially asked Zhu Bai to buy a roasted chicken. Madam Shen, can you help me cut it?”

“Okay.”

Ji Zhao smiled and nodded in agreement.

In the blink of an eye, the roasted chicken had already been cut up by Ji Zhao’s hand.

The most amazing thing was that from the outside, this roasted chicken still looked intact.

“Your knife skills are extraordinary!”

Ji Ting’an was in a daze when he saw this scene.

“Official, you flatter me.” Ji Zhao smiled faintly and accepted the praise with great indifference.

“By the way, Madam Shen, do you mind if I ask you a question?’ After getting her approval, Ji Ting’an asked with concern, “l heard that Madam Shen was adopted by an old man from Pomegranate Village. Have you ever thought of investigating your background?”

Ji Zhao was silent for a moment before shaking his head gently.

‘Why?”

“To me, my background is not important. Moreover, I’m very happy to be married to Shen Yao.”

Actually, this was also the Host’s idea. The Host had never thought of going over to find her biological parents.

After all, sometimes, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

“Actually, your appearance is very similar to an elder I know.” After much hesitation, Ji Ting’an still said this.

“Official Ji, there are many similar-looking people in this world!” Ji Zhao shrugged nonchalantly.

Seeing that she was unwilling to continue this topic, Ji Ting’an did not probe further. However, he remembered something else. “By the way, Madam Shen, can you do me a favor?’

“Please speak, Official?”

“Previously, I offended Brother Qin. I’ve always felt very guilty.” Ji Ting’an thought for a moment and slowly said, “A year ago, during the Lantern Festival, my mother forced me to go on a blind date. I didn’t like that girl, so I found a lousy excuse and rejected this marriage.”

“And the lousy excuse was…” Ji Zhao became more and more curious.

“Ahem.” Ji Ting’an coughed uncomfortably, then said right on the heels of that, “I told that lady directly that I have a homosexual nature and don’t like women. It’s just that that lady was a little persistent and insisted that I prove it, so rushed to the private room next door and hugged Brother Qin in public…”

Ji Zhao imagined that scene and the corners of her lips twitched unnaturally.

“Sigh, this matter is ultimately my fault.” Ji Ting’an rubbed the space between his eyebrows in frustration. “Madam Shen, aren’t you and your wife on good terms with Brother Qin? Help me think about what I should do to express my apology.”

“This… I don’t know either.”

How should a man coax another man? This topic was beyond Ji Zhao’s scope!

Gurgle gurlge.

The two-eared jar on the hot stove suddenly made a sound, emitting a thick white fog.

“The soup is ready. Shall we eat first?”

Ji Zhao felt that there was nothing that a meal couldn’t solve.

If it really couldn’t be resolved, then—

A few more meals?

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