The eggs laid by the chickens at home, they did not sell, nor did they plan to sell, but kept them to eat at home.
In the egg custard, he also carefully added chives. An Jing didn’t actually like egg custard much, but she really enjoyed the layer of chives on top of it. However, if you asked her to eat chives alone, she didn’t like them that much.
The two of them ate at the kitchen table.
"Try this," Xiao Changyi passed a pair of chopsticks to An Jing and asked her to taste the dish he had made. Although his face showed no expression, he was still very nervous inside.
Even though he knew she wouldn’t mind however he cooked the dish, he still hoped to make it well so she could enjoy it even more.
"Mm!" An Jing nodded vigorously and smiled before picking up a piece of eggplant and putting it in her mouth.
Xiao Changyi’s heart immediately leapt, "Is it salty?" He had tried cooking several times before, but each time he had made the dishes too salty.
An Jing deliberately kept Xiao Changyi in suspense for a long while before smiling and saying, "It’s not salty; the flavor is just right."
Xiao Changyi didn’t immediately believe An Jing’s words, because she always said the same after tasting his dishes. He just picked up a piece of eggplant himself, put it in his mouth, and only after he felt that the taste was just right—not too salty or too bland—did he put more onto An Jing’s bowl and said, "Then you should eat more."
After trying the green beans and finding them tasty as well, she praised him, "Husband, you are improving so fast!"
Xiao Changyi immediately said, "Then I will cook for you again in the future."
"Mm-hmm~" An Jing smiled again. Although her husband’s cooking was not as good as hers, she was truly very happy to occasionally have a meal he cooked.
"This chive layer is for you." Xiao Changyi scooped up the top layer of the egg custard, rich with chives, into her bowl.
"Thank you, Husband~" She knew he remembered everything she liked, down to the smallest detail.
September 30th was the last day of September, and on this day, the Lord County Magistrate rode in a sedan chair, while a jubilant government official clanged a gong and sang all the way, "Hecheng County has a woman named An Jing who invented grain rice, a blessing to all the people, now awarded the title of First-class Good Citizen!"
From the County Government of Hecheng to the doorstep of An Jing and Xiao Changyi, they sang all the way and gonged to widely proclaim this joyous event.
It had been thirty-five years since Hecheng County had produced a First-class Good Citizen, so the sudden announcement of a new one made everyone extremely envious, and they felt as though they shared in the honor.
As the celebratory procession passed through Jiuping Village, the villagers didn’t quite know how to feel.
This was especially true for the people of the Lin Clan and the Xiao Clan.
Lin Clan: If An Jing were still a part of the Lin Clan, it would have brought great honor to their ancestors!
Xiao Clan: If Xiao Changyi were not married into his wife’s family, this title of First-class Good Citizen would surely have fallen on him, and the Xiao Clan could also bask in the glory!
The celebration troop hadn’t reached their doorstep yet when An Jing, who was working in the garden, and Xiao Changyi, who was inside, heard them coming. Xiao Changyi didn’t really react, but An Jing couldn’t help it and burst into laughter.
"The government informs people of good news with a gong too, huh?" An Jing teased.
Xiao Changyi lightly responded, "Hmm," then paused, "The sound of the gong allows more people to hear and become aware of the news."
Upon hearing this, An Jing sighed, "People here really do care about reputation."
The couple waited until they had washed their hands before stepping out of the house. Just as they came out, the celebratory procession arrived at their front gate.