Сhарter 10: An Uneхрectеd Encоuntеr with Реi Zhао
Thе wаlnut аnd sрinach dish rеceived unanimоus рraisе frоm Nаnnу Su аnd Rendоng. Тhis wаs the first time еithеr of thеm had eatеn anуthing spicy, аnd evеn the mild hеаt from the рrickly ash оil mаdе thеm break оut in а swеаt on their fоrehеads. Yet, thеy cоuldn’t help but kеep reасhing fоr morе.
Wаtching their reаctiоns, Хi Ning secrеtly smiled tо hersеlf. Оnсe thе chili pеppеrs mаturеd and she cooked with them, she wоndеred just how spicу thеse two would find it.
Аftеr the meal, Xi Ning told them about her plan to buy land. Nanny Su and Rendong had no objections—a manor and fields were assets, something that could provide security.
Although they both hoped Xi Ning could enter the Duke’s estate, they also knew that beauty fades and affection wanes; a man’s favor was the least reliable thing.
“Then tomorrow we won’t set up the stall. We’ll accompany you to look at the manor.”
Since they would be out for most of the following day, Xi Ning prepared a pot of vegetable buns for their midday meal.
She chopped blanched spinach into sections, shredded carrots, diced mushrooms, and combined them with scrambled egg pieces in a white porcelain bowl. Adding salt and a little sesame oil, she mixed in a large spoonful of flour to bind everything together.
The dish would have been even more delicious with pepper and five-spice powder, but Xi Ning couldn’t afford them at the moment. She planned to plant all the necessary seasonings after buying the manor—just selling spices alone would be enough for her to build a fortune.
She shaped the mixed vegetables into buns in her hands, coated them with another layer of flour, and steamed them.
The steamed buns had a translucent, chewy skin, with the colorful vegetables clearly visible inside: green spinach, red carrot shreds, white mushrooms, and yellow egg. The appealing aroma and vibrant colors whetted the appetite.
Xi Ning ate one while it was still hot. Though the seasoning wasn’t complete, the natural freshness of the vegetables made it delicious. Moreover, these buns were tasty yet low in calories, perfect for those trying to lose weight.
However, the original owner’s slender figure meant there was no need for dieting.
Early the next morning, Xi Ning and her two servants boarded the oxcart from the brokerage. The manor was outside the city, requiring an hour’s journey. Fortunately, Aunt Wang was someone they knew well, or Xi Ning would never have dared to venture out with her.
After a bumpy ride, the oxcart finally stopped in front of the manor.
At that moment, many people were busy working in the fields. When the oxcart halted, they all set down their tools to watch.
“How many is this one?”
“If not ten, then at least eight. I’ve lost count. Do you think this one will agree to keep us?”
“How could they? Few nobles are as kind-hearted as Master Liu. If it really doesn’t work out, we’ll just leave on our own. Master Liu has already done enough for us.”
Because of them, the manor had been difficult to sell, and the long-term laborers were growing anxious.
“We’re here. Let’s go in.”
Aunt Wang had visited several times before and wasn’t intimidated by the crowd of laborers. She shielded Xi Ning as they walked inside. It wasn’t until they approached that the laborers realized the person stepping down from the oxcart was a delicate young lady. They were momentarily stunned, and by the time they recovered, Xi Ning had already entered the manor.
“Come on, let’s follow and see.”
The manor’s overseer, surnamed Liu, was a hereditary servant of the Liu household, with his entire family working on the estate. He appeared to be in his early forties, weathered and sun-tanned, looking like an honest, hardworking farmer.
When Xi Ning and the others arrived, Old Man Liu’s eyes showed no flicker of emotion—clearly, he had grown numb to it all.
“Aunt Wang.”
“Old Man Liu, the noble lady I’ve brought this time is genuinely interested in buying. Take us around the manor. If it’s suitable, we’ll settle the deal.”Finally encountering a suitable buyer, Aunt Wang didn’t want this estate to fall through her hands.
Old Man Liu, though honest, was not foolish. Hearing Aunt Wang’s words, he understood that Xi Ning was willing to keep them, the servants, and his dull eyes suddenly lit up.
“Yes, yes, I’ll take you all there right away.”
The estate wasn’t large, with a total of fifteen households. Each family could only be allocated a little over one mu of land, which was barely enough to eat after paying the rent.
Logically, these twenty mu of land shouldn’t require so many people. Old Man Liu knew their doubts and explained the reason.
It turned out that the people in this estate had all come from the Liu household. Master Liu had served as a soldier for two years in his youth and had taken in his homeless former comrades, buying this estate specifically to shelter them.
“Miss Xi, rest assured, we are all hardworking and diligent people, with no intention of deceiving our master. To be honest with you, if no one had bought the estate, we were all planning to leave.”
Master Liu had shown them great kindness, and they couldn’t repay it with betrayal.
Xi Ning prided herself on having some ability to judge people. Old Man Liu was telling the truth, and along the way, the laborers they encountered were all honest and kind-faced. She had already made up her mind.
“Alright, I’ll consider it carefully.”
She didn’t give a definitive answer. After walking around the estate, she left with Aunt Wang. Old Man Liu had wanted to invite her to stay for a meal, as Xi Ning was the only potential buyer among the many distinguished guests who had considered purchasing them. He wanted to make a good impression on her.
“It’s fine, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I brought my own food, so you can go back to your work.”
Hearing her words, Old Man Liu understood and smiled broadly, his wrinkled face beaming with joy.
“Very well, take care on your way back, honored guest.”
By the time they returned, the sun had already passed noon. The early April weather was somewhat warm. Xi Ning took a few sips of water from her bamboo canteen and shared the prepared vegetable buns with the others. Aunt Wang was pleasantly surprised to receive one as well.
“Thank you, miss.”
Yesterday, she had tasted the thin pancakes and finally understood why the Xi family’s wonton noodles were so popular. The vegetable buns were round and adorable, bursting with the fragrance of vegetables with each bite. Though cold, they were not unpleasant to eat, and as travel provisions, they were far better than the hard, teeth-grating biscuits.
The group finished their meal with water. Xi Ning had brought plenty, and even after everyone had eaten their fill, there was still a small half-basket left.
Satiated and refreshed, Xi Ning leaned back in the oxcart, dozing off. On both sides of the road were lush green crops. In the capital, winter wheat was mostly grown, which by now had reached knee height. People were busy weeding in the fields, a scene she had only ever seen in paintings before.
No matter the era, what the common people sought was simply to have enough to eat and wear. Xi Ning didn’t have grand ambitions, but she didn’t want the research achievements of her past life to go to waste. The estate was her first step toward improving people’s livelihoods.
Lost in thought as she gazed at the fields, she didn’t notice a carriage approaching from behind.
Xi Ning had dressed plainly for her outing that day, but her enchanting appearance made it impossible for her to blend into the crowd. Chang Lin, driving the carriage, spotted her at a glance.
“Master, it’s Miss Xi.”
Xi Ning?
The man inside the carriage lifted a corner of the curtain upon hearing his servant’s words. The woman in the oxcart ahead wore white clothes and dark hair. Though still as enchanting as ever, there was now a touch of free-spiritedness in her eyes, as if she were merging with the world around her.
Pei Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, and he let the curtain fall, concealing the spring-like scene outside.
Chang Lin, facing away from him, didn’t notice his master’s unusual reaction. Still thinking about the food Xi Ning had made, he urged the carriage forward to catch up.”Miss Xi, what a coincidence, you’ve also left the city?”
Generally, women seldom ventured out, especially since she was Pei Zhao’s mistress, but Xi Ning had no such awareness.
Seeing Chang Lin, Xi Ning instinctively glanced toward the carriage. Chang Lin thought she wanted to see Pei Zhao and quickly tried to please her.
“Third Master is in the carriage. Please get in, Miss, we’ll take you back.”
Although Xi Ning had mentioned last time that she would reclaim her deed of indenture in the future, Chang Lin didn’t believe it. Back then, Miss Xi had loved their Third Master to the point of life and death—how could she change so easily? Perhaps it was all part of Miss Xi’s strategy of retreating to advance.
Xi Ning shook her head, intending to refuse, but suddenly a voice came from behind the carriage curtain.
“Get in.”