Su Yujin, “…”

Ren Jianbai wanted to rush to be her teacher?

She didn’t know if he was so diligent because he felt guilty about Liao Shi’s sins and wanted to do something to make up for it, or because he had other purposes.

But no matter why, she didn’t need this kind of thing.

“As a xiucai, you have a heavy workload and the rules of the county school are strict. I’m afraid it will be inconvenient.” Su Yujin declined politely.

“It’s okay, it’s just a matter of teaching Miss Su a few words. It won’t take much effort.” Ren Jianbai said hurriedly, “At the county school, because of family matters, I have told the master that I can take leave at any time.”

Was it low emotional intelligence or pretending to be clueless when fully aware?

Su Yujin furrowed her brow, abandoning formalities and raising her tone. “I never liked these matters to begin with. With two shops to manage, I’m often busy and have no time to learn about them. Furthermore, I am a young woman, and Ren Xiucai is a man. There are many inconveniences between men and women, so please behave accordingly, Ren Xiucai.”

Indeed, it seemed it was still not working.

But it also showed her self-respect and dignity. She didn’t seem like an ordinary person who would lose herself just by talking to a man, eagerly seeking his approval.

“Since Miss Su insists, let’s give up.” Ren Jianbai said, “But in the future, if you need to inscribe a letter or need help memorizing something if you need my help, Miss Su must not be polite to me.”

Su Yujin did not reject it, but there was no nodding either.

After a moment, she said, “There are still chores at home that need attending to, so I won’t detain Mr. Ren any longer. You may leave now, Mr. Ren, and I won’t see you off.”

Su Yujin bowed slightly, then turned and closed the door behind her.

Ren Jianbai saw that the double doors were closed again, and even the door knockers stopped trembling. He paced back and forth for several steps, refusing to leave.

He always felt like she was a little distant from him.

At least she wasn’t as easy-going and smiling as when she met him at Su Ji’s restaurant.

After all, her business was almost destroyed and she was almost kidnapped. She must have hated Liao Shi so much that she had no good feelings toward him, Liao Shi’s master.

After all, Liao Shi’s incident affected their relationship.

Ren Jianbai sighed.

Su Yujin returned to the yard and continued to be busy.

Ai Cao came to give He Yanxiu a cup of hot tea in the room.

He Yanxiu put down the book in his hand, “I just saw your Miss going out. She came back after a long time, and there were voices at the door again. Who was here?”

“It’s Ren Xiucai.” Ai Cao replied, “He’s here to apologize on behalf of Aunt Liao to our Miss.”

“Apologise? What did Liao Shi do to offend your Miss?” He Yanxiu sat up straight.

“This can’t be called an offense, it’s a murder!”

When Liao Shi’s name came up, Ai Cao was also filled with righteous indignation. She angrily recounted to He Yanxiu in detail how Liao Shi had instructed Zhang Huaihua, Shen Cang, and Meng Dahai.

“There was such a thing. How come I have been here for so many days, and your Miss and you two didn’t tell me anything?”

While Su Yujin’s actions may have been somewhat for show, once she was bought back, she became part of the He family.

There was no reason why others could bully her at will.

Ai Cao bit her lower lip and said, “Miss told us not to tell the Second Young Master because he is busy with things normally. These are small things and there is really no need to waste the Second Young Master’s energy.”

“Besides, this matter has been resolved. Mr. Ye, the county magistrate, made the decision, and it was settled. When Mr. Ye was investigating the case, Miss also revealed that she had a relative in the family who was an official in Beijing. She borrowed the name of the Second Young Master, and so Second Young Master, you also helped.”

She wasn’t someone who just knew how to keep quiet and behave; she knew when to speak and what actions to take.

“I know.” He Yanxiu picked up the book again.

Ai Cao carried the kettle and picked up the curtain to go out.

After a busy afternoon, the meal for dinner was particularly sumptuous.

Braised freshwater fish with sauce, minced meat and vermicelli casserole, salt-baked chicken, sour plum goose, cold shredded king oyster mushrooms, blanched lettuce hearts, Luohan Han Zhai, fried radish meatballs, shrimp and tofu soup, and fluffy steamed buns with a creamy aroma.

It included vegetables, soup, and staple food, which made up ten plates.

Everything is delicious and delicious.

He Yanxiu smelled the aroma that filled the table and felt very satisfied, but also a little sad.

When he returned to the capital tomorrow, the cook at home was not as good as Su Yujin. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to smell the aroma of such delicious food at home.

But then again, it would happen every seven days from now on, so it didn’t have to be too long.

He Yanxiu felt at peace and ate some more of the Luohan Han Zhai.

In Luo Han Zhai, the fungus was crispy, the yuba was soft and waxy, the straw mushroom was smooth, and the winter bamboo shoots and carrots were crispy. They all tasted excellent.

The fried radish balls were crispy when eaten, soft and tender inside, and had the fragrant taste of white radish.

The vermicelli in the minced meat and vermicelli casserole was not so soft, but rather chewy when eaten. The rice aroma of the vermicelli mixed with the rich flavor of the minced meat, and the smell was full of rich aroma.

…

It could be said that everything was excellent.

When it came to the sour plum goose, He Yanxiu chewed a mouthful of goose meat for a long time and frowned slightly.

“Second Young Master, is this goose meat not delicious?” Su Yujin asked.

“It’s not that it doesn’t taste good. The goose meat is fresh and tender. You probably put too many pickled plums in it, so it tastes sour and a bit unpleasant…”

The word “shou” did not slip off the tip of his tongue, and the chopsticks in He Yanxiu’s hand froze in mid-air.

Tasted sour?

He Yanxiu hurriedly took another piece of goose meat and tasted it carefully.

It was sour.

The long-lost sour taste started to spread from the tip of the tongue. It was light and subtle to the point where it was almost imperceptible. However, because He Yanxiu had not experienced any taste for a long time, he only felt that the sour taste was strong at this time.

“It seems that the treatment of these past few days has been somewhat effective.” Su Yujin observed a slight improvement in He Yanxiu’s condition, which brought some relief to her. “However, despite this progress, it’s only the beginning. Once you start to taste some flavors and gradually adapt, there may be a few days when it seems like the taste has disappeared again. Don’t worry when that happens.”

“Furthermore, after returning to the capital, Second Young Master must remember not to indulge too much in food, lest it affects the future treatment. Later, I’ll take your pulse again, and I’ll make some slight adjustments to the prescription for the medicine you’ll take back to the capital.”

“Okay.”

He Yanxiu agreed. He picked up the side dishes and ate them.

After trying it for a while, he could taste only this sour plum goose.

He thought it was just that it’s effective initially, and it’s better to wait for other tastes gradually.

If he could taste the sourness, other flavors would naturally not have to wait too long.

He Yanxiu curled his lips.

The next morning, after breakfast, everything was packed. He Yanxiu took a carriage and set off back to the capital with everything he needed, as well as the pork jerky, rice cakes, almond sponge cake made by Su Yujin, and the prescribed medicine.

After leaving Shuanggui Lane, the carriage took to the main road.

When He Yanxiu saw that the figure of Su Yujin who had been sent to the alley entrance had disappeared, he told Xing’an, “There is no need to leave the county yet.”

“Where are you going, Second Young Master?”

“To Qinghe County Yamen.” He Yanxiu said in a deep voice.

He Yanxiu: I have had a question for a long time, why is the first taste I taste sour?

(End of chapter)

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