Ah Man shook his little head and said, "Ah Man, Huo Ah Man."

"Is this also your name?"

"Yes, Daddy said my mom named it for me."

"So, do you like this name?"

"My dad likes it."

Ah Man didn't say whether she liked it or not, she only said that her father liked it. Jian Ning was quite surprised. She thought that wealthy families would pay great attention to naming their children. Names like Huo Jincheng and Yang Jinyu were both good.

After Yang Jinyu became her disciple, he took the initiative to tell her about his family background, saying that his father was a court censor, that he had been a tutor to the prince, and that his dream was to become a famous physician in the Imperial Medical Service.

Jian Ning didn't expect that she accidentally made friends with two second-generation officials, and both of them could be considered young talents. Of course, in her eyes, her apprentice was better than Huo Jincheng in all aspects.

Jane Ning couldn't say whether she liked or disliked Huo Jincheng, but she did have some opinions about his parents. She had only heard Ah Man mention her grandmother's Snowball once, and apart from that, Ah Man never mentioned her grandparents again.

Children are the most discerning about who likes and dislikes them. She guessed that because Ah Man was a girl, she might not be favored by her grandparents. Otherwise, how could they send her so far from the capital without even assigning her a nanny? Instead, they sent a half-grown maid to accompany her?

It seems that whether it is a farming family or a wealthy family, they all favor boys over girls.

It has been the same since ancient times. At least in her previous life, many of her grandparents, who were born in the 1990s like her, still favored boys over girls.

She remembered the grandparents who lived in a residential compound when she was little. When other families' wives gave birth, they would ask what kind of child they wanted. If they said a son, they would enthusiastically say "good!" But if they said a daughter, they would just say "okay too."

Jian Ning couldn't understand this idea of ​​favoring boys over girls. Aren't Mu Guiying, Hua Mulan, and the female generals of the Yang Clan all women? This also strengthened her determination to train the three of them, Da Niu.

Ding Youtian came over from Blind Liu's house and saw Erniu doing horse stance. He went up to her and asked her why. Erniu said, "I said something wrong and my mother punished me."

She remained motionless with sandbags tied to her legs. There were three large pots in the yard brewing wine. It was only October and the temperature was still high. After a long time, sweat dripped down her forehead.

Ding Youtian saw it, nodded, and said, "If you make a mistake, admit it, but think carefully about where you went wrong. Don't make the same mistake again after admitting it, understand?"

Erniu said "hmm".

Ding Youtian walked towards the kitchen, and when he reached the corridor, he turned back and looked at Tian and Chang who were making fire and brewing wine. He thought that he had to ask someone to build a shed quickly, otherwise when the weather got cold and windy, not only would he be cold, but it would also delay things if it rained.

He went into the kitchen and saw Jian Ning kneading dough. He hurriedly washed his hands and volunteered to take over the job. He also saw that Jian Ning's complexion had improved a lot and his mood had obviously stabilized.

"Are you going to make ramen for lunch?" he asked.

"No. Auntie said to make dumplings." Ah Man said quickly.

"Dumplings?" Ding Youtian frowned. When he was studying in the town, his teacher's family also made vegetarian dumplings. He ate the best food in the family when he was studying, so the dumplings that time left a deep impression on him. They were extremely unpalatable and a bit bitter.

He suddenly lost the energy to knead the dough.

"Let's make ramen." He looked at Jian Ning who was chopping meat.

Jian Ning said: "Okay, I'll make ramen just for you. Just think it over and don't regret it."

"No regrets." He answered very straightforwardly, and instantly he was full of energy. His wife was willing to make ramen for him alone, which showed that his status in his wife's mind had been improved, and he felt very happy in his heart.

There are many kinds of herbs planted in Jian Ning's herb room, many of which can be used as spices in food. She went to the backyard and got some fennel, star anise, cinnamon and peppercorns in her hands. She infused the peppercorns, cinnamon and star anise into spiritual spring water and boiled them. Then she rubbed the fragrant water into the meat filling three times. Finally, she poured ginger slices and shallot whites into the oil pan. After the oil was fragrant, she poured it into the vegetable filling mixed with shallot and fennel. A large pot of fragrant dumpling filling was ready.

Ding Youtian felt a little regretful just by looking at the meat filling, but a real man should never go back on his word, and he could always settle for the next best thing. He pretended to be nonchalant and said to Jian Ning, "There's no need to make a separate meat sauce for ramen. It would be easier to just stir-fry it with this dumpling filling."

"Then let's save the trouble. I'll make you ramen next time, okay? We'll just have dumplings today." Jane Ning knew he regretted it when she heard what he said. Considering that he waited for her by the door last night, she gave him face and didn't expose him.

Ding Youtian smiled so hard that he could hang a bottle of oil from his mouth when he heard this, but at the same time he also remembered a lesson: one should not make a conclusion easily on everything.

It was time to make dumplings. Meixiang sat down next to Ding Youtian, calling him "Brother Ding" and offering to teach him how to make them. She pressed herself against him uncontrollably, frightening Ding Youtian so much that he quickly made an excuse and said, "I'd better go light the fire and make some wine. I'll ask Aunt Ma to come make them. I can't learn this."

He stood up and called Tian, ​​who was very efficient and had wrapped it in a short time. Jian Ning secretly sighed in her heart, thankful that Ding Youtian reminded her today. Although she had scolded Ding Youtian at that time, she had listened to his words in her heart. Otherwise, she would not have hidden away after hearing Chang teasing Tian. If she had really lost her temper in front of Tian, ​​she would probably regret it now.

Tian was not only capable, but also had always treated her original self, Jian Ning, as good sisters, and was sincere in her heart. She took the opportunity and when Meixiang took A'man to the toilet, she quietly told Jian Ning about Meixiang's little thoughts.

"Don't be careless. You have to keep an eye on this little devil. She's always painting her eyebrows and putting on powder in her room. Few men can resist the temptation of such a slut."

Jian Ning wanted to ask her if the men she mentioned included Ma Fuquan. But after thinking about it, she held back. Tian might understand Ma Fuquan, but she couldn't possibly understand Wu Yanxu. Even she didn't necessarily understand Captain Wu. She had thought she knew him somewhat before, but now she wasn't so sure. She had never imagined he would end up in bed with Tian so soon.

Facing Tian's kind reminder, she smiled and said, "If a man's heart is not with you, it's useless to be on guard. On the other hand, if he has you in his heart, there's no need to be on guard. Just wait and see what he does."

Jian Ning wasn't worried. She and Ding Youtian were married in name only, and Meixiang was still a minor, a junior high school girl in her previous life. She could understand a young girl's initial infatuation with a handsome man, much like a fan's crush on a male celebrity.

If Meixiang were really asked to marry Ding Youtian, even as his legal wife, she might not be willing. After all, she was still a virgin and quite pretty. How could she be willing to marry a man with four children?

I'm afraid she has never considered this issue at all, but simply thinks Ding Youtian is handsome and is attracted to him for a while.

Nothing to worry about.