An Jing’s eyes were also filled with tenderness, simply because she was looking at her beloved husband.
In the eyes of both, there was not only tenderness for each other but also a profound affection that was too thick to be dissolved.
After gazing into each other’s eyes for a while, they lowered their heads to continue grafting.
Thinking of the bet she had just made with Master Zhou and the others, An Jing couldn’t help but laugh, "Husband, if these cucumber seedlings survive, the expressions on Master Zhou and their faces will certainly be priceless. Hehe, to have their wives and concubines wash their feet—it’ll be even more unbearable for them than a slap in the face."
Xiao Changyi simply continued grafting while indulging and pampering An Jing with a glance.
Once Xiao Changyi and An Jing had finished grafting, they planted the grafted seedlings in the plot of land where they grew cucumbers every year, spacing them closer together to facilitate setting up a trellis for nurturing the seedlings.
Because they were planted densely, the arch trellis built to protect the seedlings from wind, rain, and sun didn’t need to be too large, and in the end, they only set up a small one.
Currently, the seedlings were not suited for outdoor transplanting; they would only be transplanted into the ground, spaced appropriately apart, once they had survived and grown strong enough for transplanting.
Once the trellis was erected and confirmed to be stable enough to withstand wind and rain, An Jing and Xiao Changyi finished cleaning up and went home.
The next day, at the third quarter of the hour of si, An Jing and Xiao Changyi were in their home’s courtyard with their four children, when Meng Zhuqing suddenly reported, "My lord, Madam, Farmer Official Li Jifan from the Agricultural Institute has come and says he has important matters to discuss with the Madam."
Xiao Changyi immediately said, "Don’t see him."
An Jing, unable to suppress a chuckle, said, "Husband, don’t be like that."
After soothing her clearly jealous husband, An Jing then told Meng Zhuqing, "Let him in, please."
As soon as Li Jifan was brought in, he greeted An Jing with a bow, "Lord An."
"Official Li," An Jing returned the bow.
Li Jifan didn’t immediately state his business but upon seeing the four little ones in the courtyard, his eyes revealed envy, "These must be your four sons, Lord An."
An Jing smiled and said, "Yes, they are."
"You are truly blessed, Lord An," Li Jifan said earnestly, his gaze fixed on the four children, "my wife has yet to give me a son to this day, but now a concubine at home is pregnant. I hope it’s a boy."
Aren’t girls humans too?
You were also born of a woman!
These thoughts ran through An Jing’s mind, but she quickly steered the conversation back on track, "Official Li, didn’t you come here to discuss something important with me? What is the matter?"
"This..." Li Jifan hesitated, looking around the courtyard as if it were inappropriate to speak there.
Only then did An Jing say, "Official Li, if that’s the case, shall we go to the study to talk?"
Li Jifan immediately smiled, "Nothing could be better!"
"Please," An Jing gestured for Li Jifan to follow her.
An Jing led the way to the study, while Xiao Changyi stood up, left the children with Meng Zhuqing, and then he too headed for the study.
No sooner had Li Jifan taken a seat in the study than Xiao Changyi entered, causing him to frown slightly.
Xiao Changyi settled down beside An Jing as if Li Jifan didn’t exist.
Thinking Xiao Changyi would leave soon, Li Jifan waited, but even after Meng Zhuqing brought in tea and left, he saw no sign of Xiao Changyi leaving. Finally, he had to speak up again.
"Lord An, this..." Li Jifan gestured towards Xiao Changyi to An Jing, indicating he had important matters to discuss with her and wondering what Xiao Changyi’s presence meant.