Hearing Jinrong question the quality of the cheese, Xie Chun hurriedly said, "Not much was removed, just a very thin rind, about the thickness of a piece of paper. And it probably isn’t spoiled, Lady Qi tasted a bit of the shaved rind and said it wasn’t rotten, probably just discolored from coming into contact with the outside environment."
Seeing Jinrong’s stern glance, he quickly added, "We all tasted it, there was no strange smell, and it tasted just like the cheese we have tasted." As he spoke, he subconsciously wiped his forehead, which was indeed sweaty. When did Sixth Master’s mood start to change so quickly?
Jinrong picked up his tea, took a sip, and slowly asked, "You used to wield power and influence outside, having tasted quite a few delicacies, what do you think of the taste of this fermented cheese?"
Frightened by the way the question was asked, Xie Chun protested repeatedly, "Sixth Master, you can’t say that. When did I dare to wield power and influence? Not to mention me, even stewards who are more formidable than me wouldn’t dare to swagger about using the mansion’s name. Sixth Master, you can’t wrong me ."
"Alright, alright, your master was just talking off the cuff," Jinrong waved his hand impatiently, "I’m asking you a question. How does the fermented cheese really taste?"
Xie Chun lamented his bad luck, why did Old Master Qi have to send him to report back. He had already sent a message back, there was absolutely no need for this trip. How should he answer? If he had never wielded power and enjoyed such things, even if he said it was delicious, his words would not be considered of any value. But if he casually said it was tasty, wouldn’t he be burying that exquisite flavor?
"What are you thinking about? It’s so hard to give a reply," Jinrong urged.
Grinding his teeth, Xie Chun said, "Replying to Sixth Master, although the fermented cheese was hard to get used to at the start, after tasting it a couple of times, it turned out to be a rare delicacy. This is what I think, as for others, I can’t guarantee."
Jinrong glanced at him sideways and laughed wryly, "Even giving a response, you can twist the words so much. No matter how much you twist, you can’t cover up your past of being praised and treated well everywhere."
"That’s right, that’s right, receiving such treatment wherever I go, thanks to our mansion’s name," Xie Chun quickly bowed.
Outside, Hong Wu relayed a message: "Sixth Master, Lord Jiang and the father-in-law of the Qi family are here."
As soon as Jiang Yifan entered the room, Jinrong smiled and asked, "When will Guan He change his willful ways?"
"You can ask him yourself when you see him, Sixth Master," Jiang Yifan replied with a sullen glance, and together with Qi Younian, they both respectfully greeted and then allowed Qi Younian to sit before taking a seat below Jinrong.
After the two sat down, Jinrong laughed and continued, "I thought that after all these years, now that Guan He is in his thirties, he would’ve become more reliable. I didn’t expect him to still be the same." As he spoke, he laughed heartily as if remembering something.
Jiang Yifan’s face grew uglier with the laughter, and he asked bluntly, "How have you arranged things, Sixth Master? If you are in a good mood, continue enjoying it here in your mansion. I will accompany Old Master Qi back to see what’s going on."
"No, wait," Jinrong barely managed to stop his laughter, "Let’s go together. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Now that we’re about to start a business that will make money, I, as the Shop Owner, should inspect and experience everything personally."
Jiang Yifan scoffed, "I thought you were a steady person, Sixth Master. It turns out you can’t wait either."
Shi Yu, Hongzhi, and others promptly turned their heads, casting their gazes in different directions. It seemed best for them as servants to pretend not to understand, given the embarrassing thing that was making Lord Jiang so vexed by Sixth Master’s laughter.
Jinrong patted Jiang Yifan’s shoulder across the table and said with a smile, "It’s good to have such a martial brother. I don’t have one, and if I did, I’m sure I would be even less reliable than I am now."
Jiang Yifan felt somewhat placated. Even if he couldn’t get the better of his martial brother, he hadn’t been wronged outside. As a youth in the capital, he had fought with Jinrong, who was a prince at the time. Although he had lost and nearly forfeited half his life as a punishment from their master, his martial brother had helped him regain his honor later, which is why Jinrong was so impressed by his martial brother.
"Hey, what do you think Guan He is doing right now? He wouldn’t be huddled in some corner stealing cheese, would he? The problem is he doesn’t know that it should be eaten," Jinrong muttered to himself.
"..." Jiang Yifan was also taken aback. Following past experiences, his martial brother wouldn’t be that shameful, even if he wanted to eat cheese, he wouldn’t hide in a corner to steal it.
He glanced at Jinrong and said slowly, "Aren’t we going to check on him soon? Just look and we’ll know."
Jinrong shook his head decisively, "He shouldn’t. Given Guan He’s careless nature, he might even have climbed up to the Qi family’s roof to eat cheese."
Hongzhi exchanged a glance with Shi Yu; their Sixth Master seemed a bit embarrassing.