Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Who Is the Madman

Qin Yao wasn’t annoyed, because she knew the old man wasn’t talking about her.

She went along with his words, curiously asking, “Sir, who is the madman?”

Actually, Qin Yao wanted to ask if he’s referring to the Holy Empress or the Princess.

But then she thought, how could a village woman like herself know such figures, and dare not speculate about these noble people, so she didn’t ask.

Gongliang Liao suddenly said, “I seem a little hungry.”

Well, that’s a really clumsy shift in topic.

Qin Yao didn’t push further, nodded, and pushed him back home, telling Ah Wang to prepare dinner.

Tonight there were many people to dine, so after waking up Liu Ji to look after Gongliang Liao, Qin Yao herself went into the kitchen to help.

Today Liu Zhong went to pick up the kids from school, allowing Ah Wang to stay at home.

Since Jinhua started school, Liu Zhong began to alternate with Ah Wang to pick up and drop off the kids.

After all, she is the only daughter of the family, so as the old father, Liu Zhong had to worry a bit more.

When Jinhua first went to school, Liu Zhong was often worried she might be bullied or worried that her inattentiveness would lead to scoldings from the teacher.

Ultimately, he couldn’t take it and simply started alternating the pick-ups with Ah Wang.

If the factory was busy, Ah Wang would go; if the factory was not so busy, Liu Zhong would personally go both ways.

With Liu Zhong’s help, Ah Wang became much more relieved and even managed to plant seasonable vegetables in the garden that was always left barren, making it lush and pleasing to the eye.

Since Ah Wang came to the family, Qin Yao no longer needed to buy vegetables from the villagers, saving a small expense.

With many people dining today, Ah Wang didn’t plan on making anything too refined.

He cooked a large pot of white porridge and made two big steamers of buns.

The side dish was a big pot of stew; it had everything: meat, tofu, cured sausage, all put in, spiced heavily and stir-fried until six-tenths cooked, then added a few scoops of bone broth simmered earlier, covered for fifteen minutes.

Finally, lifted the lid, poured in blended sauce to enhance the flavor, and sprinkled with green onions. The fragrance filled the courtyard, causing everyone there to swallow.

The children had returned from school, and Qin Yao led them to set the tables and chairs.

Ah Wang placed the thick, steaming white porridge and fluffy buns on the table, along with a large plate of appetizing pickles.

The big pot stew was served, one pot outside, one pot inside the house.

Just waiting for Gongliang Liao to start eating, the entire courtyard was filled with sounds of big bites chewing.

The big pot stew, with all sorts of ingredients, went well with either porridge or buns.

Having eaten delicately plated meals at the He Family for three months, now Gongliang Liao most missed the farmhouse meals at Qin Yao’s that are served hot right when they’re done.

The porridge and buns were easy to swallow, and the assortment of stewed vegetables catered to the young ones’ appetites. This simple meal was enjoyed by both young and old.

Drinking a cup of wine with his family’s third son, and teasing his family’s identical Dragon and Phoenix Twins, life felt divine!

Sanlang had just taken a sip of wine from Gongliang Liao; the silly boy did not run away like Si Niang, came up out of curiosity to take a sip, only to be choked, running circles crying.

Liu Ji and Gongliang Liao laughed heartily, but refrained with Qin Yao present, they hastily let Da Lang fetch some cold soup for him to drink.

Da Lang gave his dad a glare, reluctantly stood up to lead his younger brother to the kitchen to find leftover cold soup from the morning to relieve the spicy taste of the wine.

Returning to the dining table, Sanlang avoided his father and steward from afar.

For this, Liu Ji had to coax him for three days, even drew a big pancake with a hundred candied haws, and only then did the little son make peace with him.

After the meal, Liu Ji accompanied Gongliang Liao to the Lotus Courtyard.

Entering the Lotus Courtyard, Gongliang Liao was like a fish in water, immensely delighted.

He ordered his servants to boil two big pots of hot water and enjoyed a bright bath in the specialized bathroom designed for himself, still feeling not quite enough, he pointed mysteriously beneath the bed to Liu Ji.

The two of them had a tacit understanding; Liu Ji’s eyes lit up, immediately diving under the bed to pull out the wooden box kept here for several months.

Opening it, five small jars of unopened fragrant wines awaited their tasting.

Fearing getting a scolding at home for drinking too much, Liu Ji took out a small jar, emptied the teapot on the table, poured the wine inside, with two teacups, merrily entered the bath.

With no concerns of the He Family, Qi Xian not around, the two of them relaxed completely, drinking and boasting while bathing.

Gongliang Liao seemed to want to vent all his stifled restraint from those three months at the He Family, drank three glasses in succession, letting out a satisfied burp, enthusiastically composing a free and easy poem.

Liu Ji holding his wine cup, watched the joyful old man with crippled legs before him, felt a profound sense of admiration.

In such life’s predicament, still able to enjoy openly, such openness he himself admitted lacking.

But if ever one day he achieved success only to fall from grace, he would certainly recall this moment.

Perhaps, gaining the perseverance to rise again.

…

Liu Ji stayed at the Lotus Courtyard until late before returning home.

By then, the children had already reached dreamland; Qin Yao and Ah Wang finished tidying up after the meal, each returned to their rooms.

However, the sound of the courtyard door opening was heard by Qin Yao.

Standing at the half-open bedroom door, Qin Yao watched Liu Ji sneak into the kitchen to heat up some leftovers, asked puzzled:

“Why took so long?”

Liu Ji hadn’t noticed her, and the unexpected inquiry startled his guilty conscience, causing his hand to tremble, almost flipping the cold rice meant to be reheated onto the stove.

Hastily steadying the bowl, Liu Ji turned back, seeing Qin Yao at the bedroom door, looking at him with curiosity.

Liu Ji sighed in relief, at this distance she hopefully couldn’t smell the alcohol on him.

“The teacher needed a bath, I wasn’t assured by others serving, it delayed a bit.” Liu Ji explained earnestly.

At that moment, Qin Yao’s nose twitched a few times.

Liu Ji stepped forward, closing the kitchen door, explained: “I felt a bit hungry, just heating up a snack before bed, didn’t intend to disturb your rest. I’ll shut the door now, be quiet, you continue resting dear.”

Qin Yao skeptically glanced at him, half hidden behind the kitchen door and obscured by dim candlelight, she didn’t see Liu Ji’s flushed face.

But Gongliang Liao’s stored wine was indeed good wine, its rich aroma, Qin Yao inevitably caught a few strands drifting with the wind.

Her eyes squinted slightly, under Liu Ji’s nervous gaze, she turned and closed the bedroom door, going off to sleep.

Seeing the candle extinguished inside, Liu Ji in the kitchen wiped the sweat from his forehead, taking a deep breath of relief.

Perhaps from guilt, or a rare stroke of conscience, Liu Ji got up early the next day to write down the Free and Easy poem composed by the teacher during the drunken spree.

Planning to post it at the village entrance, contributing a bit to Qin Yao’s cherished venture of improving the Liu Family Village.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep