The buns were stuffed with pork and green onions, white, plump, soft and fragrant.
After getting Pei Yuan's permission, Bao Ning brought the buns, garlic dish, and freshly made cold radish shreds from the kitchen, placed them on the small kang table, and finally put a pot of hot tea.
Pei Yuan was stunned by this sumptuous breakfast.
He could understand the dumpling soup last night, which was simple to make and could be learned, but today's...
Pei Yuan still found it unbelievable and asked in surprise: "Did you make it?"
Bao Ning nodded. She heard the implicit praise in this sentence and smiled even more. Suddenly remembering something, she said "ah" and said to Pei Yuan: "Fourth Prince, wait a minute, there is one more."
Pei Yuan watched her trot out the door with her skirt lifted.
She wore a different skirt from yesterday, a shimmering pink one, wrapped around her waist, slender and graceful. She had a swaying peach blossom brooch pinned in her hair, and if you look closely, you can see she was wearing a pair of silver pendants on her ears. She was dressed up beautifully and looked very happy.
Pei Yuan was surprised that she was in such a good mood to dress up.
Just as he was thinking, Bao Ning came in from outside, holding an egg in her hands. Maybe it was too hot, she flipped it left and right with both hands, and didn't let out a sigh of relief until she put the egg on the table.
Maybe it was because the door was not closed in time, letting the long-lost sunlight in, Pei Yuan suddenly felt that this dark and dilapidated house was bright.
He felt as if his heart was brightening up a little.
Baoning smiled at him: "Fourth Prince, I boiled an egg for you. From now on, boil one every morning. It will nourish your body."
Pei Yuan had forgotten how long it had been since he had eaten such a meal, and how long it had been since someone spoke to him in such a tone. But today, with the help of this new little wife, he actually had everything. The little wife has a good temper and does not bear grudges. He originally imagined her to be a jackal, tiger or leopard, but now it seems that she may really have no ill intentions. I
don't know if she is too cunning and good at pretending to be like this. Or is she not cunning at all, just a simple little fool.
Pei Yuan stopped thinking about those things, picked up a bun with chopsticks, dipped it in the garlic dish, and put it into his mouth.
The bun skin was very soft. With a light bite, the juice in the meat flowed out, and the meat aroma filled the lips and teeth. It was fresh and not greasy, and the fragrance was delicious.
It was really a good craft. Pei Yuan's eyes lit up.
Bao Ning asked: "Is it delicious?"
Pei Yuan nodded.
Bao Ning smiled with his eyes squinted: "Then I will make it for you every day in the future."
What he said... Pei Yuan's chopsticks stopped in mid-air. His breathing stagnated for a moment. He didn't know how to answer, and he covered up by picking up the radish shreds next to him.
Bao Ning looked at him silently for a long time, and suddenly said: "Well, the fourth prince..."
She only said half a sentence, and then there was no more. Pei Yuan glanced at her and motioned for her to continue.
Bao Ning's cheeks were a little red, his eyes were shining, and he looked like he was embarrassed to say it.
"Fourth Prince, I'm very good at cooking. I can cook everything. How about we exchange? I'll cook for you whatever you want to eat in the future. Can you please stop being so mean to me?"
...
Pei Yuan still hadn't recovered from his emotions until Baoning went out and closed the door.
He forgot how he answered just now, and it seemed that he just nodded casually. Baoning looked very happy after getting the response. He said that he would bring him hot water later, and then left.
Is it so easy to be satisfied?
Pei Yuan was upset. He didn't know what Baoning was thinking and why he was so nice to him. He also didn't know what he was thinking and why he was such a mess.
According to his original idea, he should have kicked Bao Ning out early. No matter whether she was kind or bad, he didn't want her to prevent future troubles.
But how did it turn out like this?
The buns on the table exuded waves of fragrance. Pei Yuan told himself not to let his imagination run wild. After today, he still had to kick her out.
He was already ruined. No one would be willing to stay with him forever. Bao Ning's kindness to him was temporary. She was only fifteen years old. What did she know? After a few years, or even just a few months, she would realize how sad it was to marry a cripple. She would regret it and leave. Which woman doesn't like wealth and glory? Who would be willing to spend her life in this desolate place.
She would figure it out sooner or later.
Pei Yuan quickly finished the buns. He thought that after taking a bath, he would talk to her again and let her go.
...
There is no bathtub here. Even if there is, Pei Yuan can't use it with his body. He can only wipe with a towel.
There is only one tub in the kitchen. Bao Ning was afraid that there was not enough water. She was embarrassed to go in when Pei Yuan was bathing, so she asked Pei Yuan to go to the west room to take a bath. There was a full pot of hot water and a stove. It was very warm.
She gave her own soap to Pei Yuan, and took a change of clothes and two cloth towels. After settling everything, she hurried out with a red face.
Bao Ning didn't want to blush, but this matter was a bit private, and she and Pei Yuan were not really familiar with each other, so she felt embarrassed.
The sun was very bright, and it was a rare good day. Bao Ning stood at the door to bask in the sun for a while, and heard the sound of water splashing in the house.
While Pei Yuan was taking a shower, she tidied up the things in the east room, ventilated it, mopped the floor, and most importantly, changed the quilt, took apart the old quilt, washed it, and hung it up to dry.
If you want to recover from your illness, eating well is one thing, and living as comfortably as possible is also important. It doesn't matter whether it is luxurious or not, the important thing is to keep it clean and fresh. Bao Ning thought that she would help Pei Yuan dry the quilt every five or six days in the future, otherwise the quilt would be wet and cold, which is always bad for the wound.
When she walked into the door of the east wing, Bao Ning looked back at the bright courtyard and made a secret resolution in her heart that she must plant a grape rack and get a reclining chair so that she could sit under it and enjoy the cool in the summer.
...
Hearing the "click" of the door closing, Pei Yuan sat down and took off his clothes one by one.
He seemed to have not taken a shower for nearly a month. He had not washed since the accident, and he had always worn the same clothes, which were stained with dirt and blood, and were so gray that the original color could no longer be seen.
There were wounds on his legs, arms and back. Some of the wounds were stuck to the fabric and could not be taken off.
Pei Yuan gritted his teeth and pulled down, and his flesh broke open. He took a few heavy breaths, crumpled the dirty clothes into a ball and threw them on the ground.
The strong muscles were exposed, with scars on them, some were shallow and had healed, forming a light red line, and some were deep and bleeding after the violent pulling just now.
Pei Yuan's eyes showed a fierce look.
Bao Ning had already prepared the water, which was warm and just right. Pei Yuan scooped a bucket of water and poured it over his head, sighing with comfort.
He turned around to get the scented soap, rubbed it, and was about to apply it on his head when he suddenly found something wrong. He put the soap under his nose and smelled it, his face turned weird.
This thing smells like jasmine.
How could a grown man like him take a bath with jasmine-scented soap, with a weird fragrance all over his body, what would it look like!
Pei Yuan threw the soap back to where it was.
But it wouldn't be clean if he didn't use it.
Pei Yuan was confused for a moment, then took the soap back, thinking, forget it, just this once.
...
When Pei Yuan finished washing and returned to the room, Bao Ning was kneeling on the kang to make the bed.
There were two new quilts in her dowry. She used one set herself, and there was one set left for Pei Yuan. Because it was a dowry, the quilt was bright red and festive, and it was embroidered with swimming ducks.
Xu used the best cotton and cloth, and it felt soft to the touch. Bao Ning lay down and pressed his face against the quilt, wishing he could lie down and sleep right away.
The room was brand new, as if it had changed. The tables and chairs were all clean and seemed to be shining. Even the window frames had been wiped.
There was a small incense burner on the table, and a faint fragrance emanated from it. It was a very light smell, spiraling upwards.
Pei Yuan was stunned at the door.
He suddenly realized that he had been stunned many times since Bao Ning came.
Pei Yuan was too tall, and standing there, most of the light from the door was blocked. Bao Ning turned her head while holding the pillow, and saw the shock in his eyes.
After washing his face, Bao Ning saw his original appearance, with a straight nose, narrow eyes, and a faint redness at the end of his eyes as if he was drunk. He had a natural bandit aura and a sharp edge.
He would look better if there was no stubble around his lips.
Bao Ning wanted to help him shave, but then she thought that she didn't know how to do it and Pei Yuan would definitely not be happy, so forget it.
He was wearing a white undershirt, and his hair was still wet, with water dripping down.
Bao Ning suddenly came back to her senses, remembering that Pei Yuan was still sick and couldn't stand the wind, so she waved to him: "Fourth Prince, come in quickly, be careful not to freeze."
She jumped down and wanted to help Pei Yuan, but thinking that he didn't like this, her hand stopped in mid-air and then let it go.
There was a faint fragrance on his body, Bao Ning smelled that it was the smell of her soap, and blinked.
Pei Yuan was confused, even more confused than in the morning.
He had thought about it, to find Bao Ning and let her go. But now she was standing in front of him, he opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
He was obviously not a soft-hearted person.
Pei Yuan tightened his hand holding the stick, walked around Bao Ning, walked straight into the house, sat on the kang, and looked at her with a gloomy face.
Bao Ning's heart tightened. She knew that Pei Yuan was asking her to leave.
He had eaten her meal in the morning, and his attitude was fine then, but how come he changed back to the same attitude in the blink of an eye?
Bao Ning tentatively asked, "Fourth Prince, then I'm leaving?"
Pei Yuan said nothing. Bao Ning sighed, went out with the changed dirty quilt, and closed the door.
Pei Yuan lay back on the kang, feeling upset, but couldn't help but listen to the sounds outside.
She seemed to be washing clothes.
Pei Yuan closed his eyes. He didn't want to admit it, but he was really moved. He wanted to get close to her, but was afraid it was a scam. He was not a person who was sentimental, but now he was inexplicably trapped in this short-lived consideration and warmth.
Let's wait and see. Even if he doesn't say it, she might regret it after a few days.
...
Their relationship fell into a subtle embarrassment.
Until the third night, Pei Yuan still refused to communicate with her. He ate the food she sent over, but he ignored her except when eating.
The candlelight was dim. Bao Ning forced herself to do needlework for a while, but her eyes hurt. She was thinking about Pei Yuan in her heart, and she was absent-minded. She simply stopped working, put the needle back into the thread board and put it aside.
Bao Ning suddenly remembered that it was time to return home tomorrow. Thinking of her brother and aunt, her heart began to beat fast.
But...how to go back?
This place is so far from the capital, and she doesn't know the way. The Shaofu Supervisor will not come to pick her up, and she can't go back.
Bao Ning's eyes dimmed.
She lay on the table, wondering what her aunt and Ji Yan were doing now. If she couldn't go back tomorrow, would her aunt be very sad?
…Just as she was thinking, she heard a rustling sound. Bao Ning looked in the direction of the sound and met the black eyes of a big fat rat. Her breathing stagnated, and she felt her hands and feet were numb, and she screamed.
She was shouting in the west room, and Pei Yuan in the east room heard it clearly and shuddered with fear.
He didn't want to pay attention, but after thinking about it, he frowned and shouted back: "What's wrong?"
Bao Ning was so scared that tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't dare to stay any longer. She ran to Pei Yuan's door in her slippers and cried, "There is a big gray rat in my room!"
"..." Pei Yuan was speechless, "Come in."