The one driving the carriage was Ming Ye, whom An Jing had once threatened with an axe to his neck.
Upon seeing Ming Ye, An Jing slightly furrowed her brows, then turned to look at her husband, Xiao Changyi.
Xiao Changyi didn’t say anything, nor did he show any expression, making it clear that he wanted her to watch and wait.
As soon as Ming Ye saw An Jing standing in the courtyard, the memory of the axe held to his neck instantly surged back, and his body shivered uncontrollably. He hadn’t expected to see An Jing again but still, suppressing his fear, he mustered up the courage to ask loudly, "Excuse me, is this the home of An Jing, the one who makes fermented bean curd?"
An Jing immediately scoffed, "Ming Ye, it hasn’t been that long, have you already forgotten my name?"
Ming Ye shivered again and stammered, "Aren’t you... aren’t you Lin Anjing?"
An Jing secretly felt she had an edge now, as this person must have come for the fermented bean curd. She chuckled lightly, "I’ve been sold, so what Lin am I? Now, I’m just An Jing, An by surname and Jing by name."
Ming Ye shuddered once more, How could it be this fierce woman again, but before he could speak, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a chubby young man poked his face out.
The chubby man asked, "Daming, is this the household?"
Ming Ye immediately nodded and bowed, "Yes, Young Master, it’s this household." He paused, "However, Young Master, this household... uhh... the lady here is Lin Anjing, the one our master almost bought as a concubine."
The chubby man obviously hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively, "It’s of no consequence, all that is in the past, and we shall not speak of it again."
With that, the chubby man stood up and stepped down from the carriage.
An Jing observed that the chubby man wore a blue brocade robe, and considering how Ming Ye had addressed him as Young Master, it was clear that this man was the only son of Landlord Wang, Young Master Wang of the small landowners.
He truly lived up to being a landlord’s son, being so fat.
Upon alighting from the carriage, Young Master Wang didn’t enter the courtyard but instead gave a very polite clasped-hand salute, "My name is Wang Youbao, and I have come especially to purchase your fermented bean curd. May I ask if you have any in stock at home?"
An Jing saw that Wang Youbao, although fat, was quite well-mannered. She smiled and said, "Since you’re here to buy the fermented bean curd, please come in and talk, Young Master Wang."
"Thank you." Only then did Wang Youbao enter the courtyard.
Ming Ye hesitated for a moment but still plucked up the courage to follow behind Wang Youbao.
As they entered the main hall, An Jing and Xiao Changyi sat on one side, Wang Youbao on the other, with Ming Ye standing behind him.
An Jing watched Ming Ye struggle to maintain an expression of fearlessness and called out, "Ming Ye, why don’t you sit down?"
Wang Youbao immediately turned around to look at Ming Ye, the implication clear: You dare call yourself ’Ye’ outside?
Ming Ye instantly bent over in fright, nervously saying, "I wouldn’t presume, I wouldn’t presume. Just call me Daming. My name is Yu Daming, I am a house servant in our Young Master’s home."
An Jing laughed meaningfully, then turned to Wang Youbao and said, "Our home is humble, and we don’t have tea to offer Young Master Wang. Would you care for some well water?"
"No need," Wang Youbao declined, shaking his head—which, due to his plumpness, looked as if he had no neck, making it quite comedic.
An Jing held back her laughter and instead took Xiao Changyi’s hand under the table.
Xiao Changyi glanced at An Jing and then intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Not to hide it from both of you," Wang Youbao continued, "my father has been bedridden, unable to eat much. Seeing his body get thinner by the day. By chance, our cook brought home a jin of fermented bean curd from here a few days ago. My father managed to drink half a bowl of porridge with the fermented bean curd that day..."