Why didn’t Mother stop Liao Shi?

Was it because my mother couldn’t stand my father’s harshness?

Speaking of which, he seemed to have heard someone say that he was born when he was seven months old. Unlike other premature babies, he was healthy, cried loudly, and was larger than ordinary premature babies.

Moreover, his father’s severity towards him had exceeded the usual level of strictness a father should have. Many times, when his father looked at him, there was a hint of disgust and disdain in his eyes.

But just when he thought his father’s attitude towards children was always like this, when his mother became pregnant, his father was as happy as a three or four-year-old child. Every time he leaned close to his mother’s belly, he whispered softly to the unborn child. Even when his mother had a miscarriage due to a fall, his father cried for a full two days.

His father had always been obedient and submissive to his mother, always following her advice. However, his mother’s attitude had always been indifferent. Regardless of the time, it was difficult to discern any particular affection towards his father.

When his father passed away, his mother was not sad but felt relieved.

Later, his Mother left without saying goodbye…

When marrying someone, it meant three mediators and six betrothals. From the matching of the horoscope to the marriage, it was one year faster and two years slower. His mother’s pregnancy with him before the marriage meant that she was involved in an illicit relationship.

Obviously…

He was the son of an adulterer.

Ren Jianbai figured this out, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

The laws of this dynasty are extremely strict regarding adultery and the illegitimate birth of children, with severe punishments.

Adulterers were sentenced to imprisonment and heavy fines, and sometimes the right to determine their life and death was granted to their clan. Illegitimate children born from adultery had no inheritance rights, were despised by society, held a very low status, and were prohibited from participating in the imperial examination system.

If his identity was known, there would be no future for him.

That consequence was far more terrifying than having someone like Liao Shi as a nominal mother who acted maliciously.

But, then again, his father had passed away, and since he couldn’t be identified with blood to prove that he was not his biological son, this matter would be settled.

Others would not offend him, a talented xiùcái and a future jǔrén, for unwarranted reasons.

He had to say that Liao Shi did an extremely useful thing for him.

It wasn’t in vain that he had been filial to Liao Shi for so many years, never skimping on her food and drink.

But…

Ren Jianbai’s eyes turned to Liao Shi, and when he saw the secretive expression on her face, his heart still skipped a beat.

Liao Shi’s attitude towards him was almost paranoid and she did many stupid things, but Liao Shi herself had her own shrewdness.

The reason why she wanted to push his father down the well in the first place was probably not just because his father beat and scolded him endlessly.

Ren Jianbai’s expression was obscure, and he spoke after a long time, “My mother ignored this matter, probably for her reasons. My father has a perverse temperament, and my mother had suffered a lot of grievances over the years.”

“These things have been in the past for a long time. If I hadn’t thought about it, I didn’t want to ask for proof, but now that you have admitted it, let’s leave the matter as it is.”

After saying that, Ren Jianbai squatted down, opened the food box in his hand, and took out the contents. He took everything out and put it on the hay.

White flour steamed buns, a plate of fried dried tofu with celery, a stack of braised pork elbows, and a bowl of egg drop soup.

“These can be regarded as farewell meals. They are all your daily meals.”

Ren Jianbai paused and said, “I made this soup myself. You can warm yourself up by drinking it.”

Liao Shi raised her eyelids that had been drooping and looked at the bowl of egg drop soup.

It was made by Ren Jianbai himself.

Since she arrived at the Ren family, she has taken care of all the trivial matters for Ren Jianbai. Describing Ren Jianbai as someone who had never lifted a finger to do anything would be appropriate. He was so clueless about daily life that he could hardly distinguish between sugar and salt, let alone cook.

Now, Ren Jianbai made egg drop soup.

The eggs in the egg drop soup were almost not beaten, and there was no chopped green onion or coriander on top, let alone sesame oil, and the egg drop still had a slight paste smell.

It seemed more like the work of someone like Ren Jianbai, who was completely inexperienced in the kitchen.

Though Ren Jianbai came to scold and question her, he also gave her egg drop soup.

After drinking this soup, perhaps everything will return to dust and earth.

 However, this was the egg drop soup made by Ren Jianbai…

Perhaps if he were to marry a wife in the future, he might not be able to set aside his pride and cook for his lawful wife. So she would still remain the foremost woman in Ren Jianbai’s life in everything.

Without any hesitation, Liao Shi picked up the bowl of egg drop soup and drank almost all of it in one gulp. Then she threw the soup bowl aside and stuffed the steamed bun into her mouth.

She kept sending braised pork knuckles, celery fried with tofu and dried tofu into his mouth without stopping.

Seeing Liao Shi eating like this, Ren Jianbai stood up and stepped out of the cell door.

The guard of the cell came to lock the door. Seeing Liao Shi devouring the food there, he shook his head slightly.

Hey, it was the fate of a slave. If she kept to herself, he could have lived a very good life with Ren Xiucai. However, she still had to make trouble and cause many disasters. It was not a pity that she ended up in this situation.

When Ren Jianbai came out of the prison, the cell leader was pouring a bowl of wine.

Seeing Ren Jianbai with swollen and reddened eyes, as if he were about to cry, he felt moved by his deep affection and loyalty. He then said, “Although we can’t predict the future, as long as Liao Shi is here, we brothers will definitely treat her well. We will make sure she eats and dresses well, so don’t worry, Ren Xiucai.”

“Thank you very much.” Ren Jianbai choked up and bowed to his head.

Finally, he bowed deeply towards the direction of the prison cell.

After standing for a while, he slowly left.

His back staggered.

This xiucai was really a good man who valued ​​affection and righteousness. If he were to pass the imperial examination and become an official, he would undoubtedly be a good official who seeks the well-being of the people.

The prison head was filled with emotion.

——

The play was sung until after lunch.

Despite having various snacks and fruits to eat while watching the play in the theater, the more tea one drank, pot after pot, the hungrier one felt.

He Yanxiu and Su Yujin were both empty-bellied at this time, and they just wanted to play the empty city strategy.

It was too late to go back and prepare a table of delicious food, so Su Yujin suggested going to the Huibin Building to have something simple.

He Yanxiu also wanted to take a look at the restaurant opened by Su Yujin, so he nodded in agreement.

When he arrived at the Huibin Building, Wu Jiantong saw his boss coming for dinner, and he brought a well-dressed young man with him. He just thought Su Yujin was welcoming a distinguished guest and did not dare to say anything, so he led him up to the best private room on the second floor. He followed Su Yujin’s instructions and served a few of the restaurant’s signature dishes.

Fruitwood roasted duck, braised lion’s head, mapo tofu, crucian carp with bean sprouts, chicken slices with bean sprouts, and pan-fried eggplant slices were the main dishes. The staple food was three treasures stuffed rice, and the soup was sour bamboo shoots and chicken skin soup.

Because He Yanxiu’s sense of taste had not recovered at all, he just ate slowly and smelled it carefully as usual.

Su Yujin ate slowly, savored the dishes carefully, and commented on the taste of these dishes from time to time.

The first three dishes didn’t need to be mentioned, as they were the signature dishes of the entire banquet hall, having been refined and perfected over time, impeccable in every aspect. The spicy crucian carp with fermented soybeans was also excellent, with the soybeans adding just the right amount of flavor. The pan-fried eggplant slices were also delicious, cooked to perfection.

When it came to these bean sprouts and chicken slices…

Su Yujin frowned.

 (End of chapter)

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Here are two recipe videos of two dishes mentioned in the chapter.