98 Guest
Jian Qingqing finally understood. She was a little conflicted and did not know what to say. That chili was also an imported product. There was not any naturally-grown chili here. However, last time, she only told him that the corn was bought from the preacher, she had forgotten to mention that the chili was also from the preacher. Now that she said it was from the preacher, even she felt her credibility was flimsy.
Ming Zhiyan saw that she was unwilling to say anything. He smiled gently, “Is there any inconvenience for Miss Jian? I know it’s very presumptuous to ask about the secret recipe, but if Miss Jian is willing, I can buy the recipe. No matter what Miss Jian’s request is, I will do my best to fulfill it.”
Jian Qingqing came back to her senses, she shook her head and smiled. “How could I not be willing? Lord Ming has helped us so much, and I’m not an ungrateful person. It’s just that there’s an extremely rare spice in making that base material. It’s called chili, and it’s… I bought it from a porter. According to him, he said that he got it from a sea merchant. He only gave me a little bit of it. After I planted that seed, I don’t have much now.”
Ming Zhiyan was speechless, and he thought, ‘Do you think I believe you?’
“Then when do you think Miss Jian will be able to plant it in large quantities?”
Jian Qingqing saw that he did not pursue the matter and smiled gratefully, “Next spring, I will be able to plant it in the entire village. The year after that, I will be able to plant it in Shifeng County.”
Ming Zhiyan nodded and said solemnly, “Alright, I will wait for Miss Jian’s good news. If Miss Jian needs help, you can come and look for me.”
Jian Qingqing smiled and said, “This is what I ought to do. The soldiers defend the borders of Great Wei and protect the country. If it weren’t for them fighting on the battlefield, we would not be safe at home. I’m happy to do something for them.”
Ming Zhiyan was surprised. He did not expect Jian Qingqing to say such a thing. He looked at the girl’s smiling face and his heart softened.
Some people in the imperial court only laze around and do nothing, and were protected by the soldiers. They only sucked the blood of the imperial court like leeches.
In the throne room, the civil officials who only knew how to talk nonsense and had to quarrel every day to reduce the expenditure of the military. They were all scholars, but their thoughts were far inferior to that of an eight or nine-year-old girl.
In winter, Shifeng County was often wet and rainy. Old Man Jian and the others could not stay at home, so they went out to pass the time.
When they came back, they saw that Ming Zhiyan was at their house. They were stunned for a moment, then enthusiastically invited him to have lunch.
Ming Zhiyan could not refuse, so he stayed.
Ever since they ate hotpot, Old Man Jian and Jian Dalang wished they could eat hotpot for three meals a day. When distinguished guests came to their door, they naturally took out their best food.
The base material was ready. The Jian Family usually did the work together as a family. After boiling a pot of hot water, the family sat together, washing the vegetables, and cutting the vegetables.
Ming Zhiyan did not want to just sit around, so he went to help.
Jian Qingqing glanced at and smiled. She secretly gave him a piece of pork for him to cut. She had never seen what it was like for a person who was in the prime of his life to cut the meat.
Ming Zhiyan did not know what she was thinking. He just took the pork and used the kitchen knife to slice it.
Jian Qingqing looked at him in a daze. He was originally a handsome young man who could not be reached, but he lowered his head and cut the meat with a gentle look. His slender fingers did not match the rough kitchen knife at all. He was like a gentle sun that brightened up the kitchen,
She swallowed her saliva and silently moved her eyes away. She could not resist such a handsome young man. If she were a few years older, she might not be able to resist pouncing on him.