74, Mindfulness (4 more updates)
“Miss Xie’s cooking always tastes good. It’s the same dish, but why does it taste different when Miss Xie makes it?” Yuanbao couldn’t understand.
Because he was so full, he couldn’t help but burp.
Li Hengyi glanced at him, silent.
He continued to walk in the courtyard to aid digestion.
His courtyard was next to a stream, very close to Xie Zhinuan’s place. So when Xie Zhinuan was cooking something, he could smell the fragrance over here. The aroma was so pure that it almost made his cravings come alive.
From childhood to adulthood, he had tasted all kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas.
His mother had warned him never to show too much fondness, whether for food or for people, because someone like him could not have any weaknesses. Once the enemy found out, it would be an irredeemable disaster.
He had lived a life of luxury, yet he had never felt the experience of having someone quietly placed in his heart, carefully and properly settled, unknown to anyone else.
After practicing martial arts, his senses became keener, and drinking well water this time had taken his martial arts to an even higher level. He heard Xie Zhinuan calling out to Routuan.
The voice was crisp, containing an indescribable tenderness and affection.
Perhaps he should move to another courtyard, farther from the stream, somewhere quieter.
Organized more neatly and exquisitely.
“Yuanbao!”
Yuanbao, having packed things up for someone to take away and clean, stepped forward a few paces, “Yes, my lord?”
“…” Li Hengyi hesitated for a moment before waving his hand, “Never mind, you may go!”
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he still didn’t speak of moving to another courtyard.
Yuanbao didn’t believe it but didn’t dare to ask more.
“Yuanbao!”
“Hmm?” Yuanbao raised an eyebrow.
Looking intently at Li Hengyi
“…”
Li Hengyi wanted to ask, just how beautiful was Miss Xie?
Was it that his status wasn’t attractive enough, or his wealth wasn’t appealing enough? Why had Miss Xie never thought of coming to see him? No matter when, she only spoke with Yuanbao.
Li Hengyi’s gaze towards Yuanbao turned somewhat cold.
Yuanbao shrank his neck at the intense stare, feeling a chill down his spine, “My lord?”
“Leave!”
Upon hearing this, Yuanbao breathed a sigh of relief and scurried away.
Li Hengyi stood still for a while before finally entering his room and picking up a book to read.
Yet, he didn’t turn a single page for a good long while.
He wasn’t even sure what he was thinking about. Strange thoughts filled his mind, and his entire demeanor felt odd.
Xie Zhinuan was busy. When a mute carried wood over to her, Xie Zhinuan wanted to pay him, but he pointed to the mountain and quickly left for the woods.
The wood consisted of three bundles of thick tree trunks, chopped quite evenly. Xie Zhinuan directed him to stack them neatly under the eaves beside the kitchen.
She ladled a bowl of water for him. He took it nervously and drank eagerly, perhaps because he was very thirsty, gulping it down.
Xie Zhinuan gave him thirty wen. As he took the money, excitement sweat beaded on his forehead. His hands trembled as he accepted the coins, and after uttering a few inarticulate sounds, he quickly ran out the door.
“…”
Xie Zhinuan shook her head, helpless.
She was quite satisfied with the firewood. It would be most ideal for heating the kang come winter.
When other young boys came carrying firewood or holding thorn bubbles, Xie Zhinuan paid for the thorn bubbles-fifteen wen, twenty wen. It was a small amount of money for her, but they were exceedingly happy.
She cleaned and sorted the thorn bubbles, cooking them into a paste in a pot, then ladled it into small jars for sealing.
“Miss, what are you making with this?”
“This is jam. We’ll use it for buns and pastries in a few days. Soon, I’ll be relying on these to make money!”
Xie Zhinuan said with a smile as she cleaned the pot.
Over the next several days, she accumulated quite a pile of firewood. Near the main entrance, Xie Zhinuan cleared a spot and set up a straw shelter to store the firewood.
The mute increased his deliveries from three to seven or eight loads a day. The firewood remained thick and dry, without a hint of laziness or deceit.
Xie Zhinuan knew he must have found someone to help but never exposed him.
Chapter 76