Chapter 47 Jiang Ji dared not ask Ye Li about his new plans
"...Wild man? Which wild man?"
Jiang Ji didn't quite understand, so he stood at the entrance of the shed and humbly asked for help.
What's with this anger?
"Any wild one will do. A wild man smells better than a house man!"
Ye Li huffed.
But Jiang Ji shook his head: "I don't believe it. In these surrounding villages, you can't find one that smells better than me."
When Ye Li was clamoring for a wedding night, wasn't it just because she coveted his body?
"Tsk tsk, Jiang Ji, you've really lowered yourself by saying that. You're unaware of your own beauty! Once you realize it, you'll easily become greasy!"
"...Alright, alright, Master Li, you are a master of the highest level. I am foolish and need your guidance so that I may admit my mistake."
Jiang Ji straightened up and bowed to Ye Li, begging for mercy.
But Ye Li wasn't satisfied: "Still pretending? When you first came back, your eyes were darting around, were you trying to catch them cheating?"
Originally, he hadn't thought of this aspect.
At the time, I was only immersed in the joy of this person's return.
But as he was cleaning the kitchen alone just now, he reflected on the details of this person's return today, and suddenly it dawned on him.
That guy's eyes were darting around suspiciously; was he trying to catch some random guy?!
The thought of this filled him with rage.
She single-handedly raised two little ones at home and also ran a business. She truly gave her whole heart to this cheap husband!
But my husband, who's so kind, doesn't believe him at all!
How could he not feel disheartened?
If there's no basic trust, what's the point of living together?
Just as he was getting angrier and angrier, Jiang Ji cried out that he was innocent: "What did I do! I just wanted to see what you were going to do by closing the courtyard gate!"
"You know, there are many things about you that I don't understand."
"My eyes were darting around out of curiosity, not to catch them cheating!"
"If I ever think of catching someone in the act of adultery, then may I be forever barred from becoming a mere student and never be able to pass the imperial examinations!"
He doesn't have any messy thoughts!
This explanation was not only reasonable, but it also precisely hit Ye Li's weak spot.
Now it was Ye Li's turn to have her eyes darting around.
Not catching someone in the act?
Are you curious about something about him that's hard to explain?
...
It turns out he misunderstood.
but!
The less you can explain, the less you should feel guilty.
Even if you're wrong, you must speak loudly; you can't be weak in terms of momentum!
Ye Li argued vehemently: "You make your own oath, you can involve yourself, why involve me?"
"You don't want to be a scholar, but you still want to be a scholar's husband!"
Jiang Ji: "..."
He found himself in a state of bewilderment, both amused and exasperated.
But he also keenly noticed Ye Li's pretentiousness.
The fact that they stopped harping on his "caught in the act" clearly indicates that they accepted his explanation.
He boldly stepped into the shed: "Master Li, how should I apologize?"
Ye Li remained silent.
What is he supposed to say?
Only then did he realize that he had wronged someone.
He should be the one apologizing.
Seeing that Ye Li did not answer, Jiang Ji took another step forward.
The shed was small, but he took big steps, and now he stood right in front of Ye Li.
Ye Li was covered in moisture, mixed with the delicate fragrance of orchids from the bath beans. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he placed his large hand on Ye Li's shoulder.
Seeing that Ye Li didn't hit him, he moved his large hand down and quickly reached his lower abdomen.
He chuckled and said, "Is this a satisfactory way to apologize?"
After saying that, he tried to squat down.
It's been more than half a month since Ye Li and he had any close contact.
However, more than physical pleasure, Ye Li reached out her hands to stop him: "No, come and kiss me."
He wanted to kiss Jiang Ji.
He longed to experience the intimacy of lips and tongues entwined!
Upon hearing those four words, Jiang Ji immediately stood up, stretched out his arms, and pulled him into his embrace. Then, he cupped Jiang Ji's face in his hands and kissed him with his warm lips.
Their lips met, and he closed his eyes contentedly.
He longed for and enjoyed this moment.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Jiang Ji's shoulders and tilted his head back slightly, but who knew that as soon as Jiang Ji's tongue entered his mouth, it went straight for his upper jaw.
He tried to stop it with his tongue.
As a result, Jiang Ji sucked on his tongue, his upturned nose occasionally brushing against his, and his large hands rubbed and kneaded his body. Soon, he was exhausted.
She could only lie limply in Jiang Ji's arms.
But he was secretly thrilled.
Jiang Ji's tongue was hot, and his large hands were also burning hot, making him dizzy. He subconsciously reached out to pull at Jiang Ji's clothes.
The shed was stuffy and cramped.
Jiang Ji held him and stood at the entrance of the shed.
The moonlight was cool and soft.
But the silence around me was no longer so intense.
He could feel his heart beating fast, his breathing heavy, and Jiang Ji's breathing rapid as well.
Just then, a night breeze blew in.
Although it wasn't cool, it did sweep away a lot of dampness.
He wrapped his arms around Jiang Ji's neck and called out with a smile, "Jiang Ji."
"Hmm?" Jiang Ji's large hands were busy below, and he only replied with a single word.
But the word was deep, hoarse, and melodious, which immediately made him shudder.
He pressed his cheek against Jiang Ji's face with satisfaction, rubbing it gently before saying, "Isn't it a bit too unrestrained for us to be like this, sleeping under the open sky?"
Jiang Ji: "..."
He took a deep breath: "Use fewer idioms, lest I change my mind and fall down again."
Upon hearing this, Ye Li burst into laughter, "It's still standing!"
"If you keep talking, then we won't establish it," Jiang Ji said through gritted teeth.
It was intentional!
He was certain that Ye Li did it on purpose!
But he dared not ask.
He could only watch helplessly as Ye Li deliberately teased him with impunity.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore, my dear husband, hurry up."
Seeing that he was genuinely anxious, Ye Li stopped teasing him.
However, thinking of the newly made stool, Ye Li added, "We haven't used the second stool that Brother Datong made yet. Let's hurry back inside and try it out."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ji couldn't help but recall the image of Ye Li sitting naked on the first stool.
It was all white.
Those legs are well-proportioned.
Of course, there's also that face that perfectly matches his aesthetic.
There's truly no place he doesn't love.
I can't stand it!
He stopped dawdling and started moving quickly.
It was pitch black in the small shed, and you couldn't see anything; you could only rely on your senses.
But when vision is impaired, other senses become more acute.
He was also planning to resolve the matter quickly.
Ye Li's mind quickly went blank.
Ye Li was overjoyed. After it was over, she held his face in her hands, almost reluctant to part from his lips and tongue.
When they moved to the west room, they were very cooperative, so that he could also have a go.
I must say, the new stool is great. Although the width hasn't increased, the depth has increased considerably.
Not only can Ye Li sit on it, but Jiang Ji can also squat on it.
Jiang Tong is quite capable; even with both of them on board, he remained very stable. There wasn't a single sway.
The oil lamp was dim, yet hazy.
It casts a filter over both of them.
While Jiang Ji was having a good time, Ye Li was also enjoying a feast for the eyes.
My husband's physique is truly impeccable; he has abs, is lean and fit all over, with a defined waist and legs—a perfect clothes hanger.
Add to that his outstanding face, and the thought of him standing on a stool, doing the most intimate thing in the world with him, filled Ye Li with immense joy.
Even if her cheap husband doesn't mention it, he will still take the initiative to unlock some difficult moves.
He didn't care at all whether his groin would hurt tomorrow or whether he would walk with bowlegs.
Anyway, I enjoyed this moment!
Afterwards, Jiang Ji carried him to the small shed to wash up. After all that fuss, by the time he lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed), it was already late and time for Zhenzhen to sleep.
Both of them were somewhat excited.
Despite the heat in the room, they still held each other tightly, unwilling to let go.
Jiang Ji freed one hand to fan them both; the old house was shady, and the breeze carried a slight chill.
Ye Li draped her arm around Jiang Ji's waist, her fingers unconsciously touching his body. The thought of parting again tomorrow filled her with sorrow.
Fortunately, the private school is about to close for the holidays.
Starting tomorrow, Jiang Ji should be back in three days.
Since there was no wheat harvest this time, the two of them could spend more time together.
"By the way, when is Bao Beiyuan's brother coming to pick up the preserved eggs?" He remembered this and hurriedly asked.
"In the next couple of days, Bao Beiyuan will lead the way." Jiang Ji didn't know the exact time.
It will be in the next two days or so.
Ye Li sighed, "Wow, the 'Changdan' (a type of egg-shaped pastry) is really going to be a hit."
“According to you, there isn’t actually that much,” Jiang Ji said.
During dinner, Ye Li and her two little ones explained the whole village's tradition of making preserved eggs, one after the other.
Of the twenty-two households in the village, the remaining twenty-one households all made preserved eggs.
Compared to other businesses, the investment in preserved eggs is small.
But for the villagers, even if only one jar of eggs failed, it was enough to break their hearts.
Therefore, each household was not very large.
Each family could only earn a meager amount per month.
The same applies to cherries.
He has money, but he doesn't dare to spend it all on egg-making.
However, now that the whole village is sharing the risk, Ye Li's income has increased significantly.
Ye Li charged 100 coins per household. After deducting the households of Jiang Liu and Jiang Tong, there were a total of 19 households left, which amounted to 1,900 coins.
It cost nearly two taels of silver.
That's quite a lot.
Including Bao Beiyuan's share of the drink, Ye Li could earn four taels a month by relying on others.
This life is even better than that of a landlord.
The landlord only collected rent for two seasons a year, but Ye Li could sit and count money every month.
...
He pursed his lips, his feelings somewhat complicated.
Of course he was happy that his husband was so outstanding.
But Ye Li has too many secrets about him; he's just a country bumpkin who knows both recipes and idioms...
But he didn't dare to ask.
He didn't dare ask before because he was afraid Ye Li wouldn't give a straight answer, leaving him feeling awkward.
He doesn't dare to ask now, not just because he's afraid of embarrassment, but because he's afraid of many other things.
never mind.
As before, avoidance.
He pretended to be an ostrich.
Having made up his mind, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to blow out the oil lamp when Ye Li started discussing with him: "Indeed, this business won't make you rich."
“In our village, our family used to be the poorest, and Uncle Jiang’s family was the richest, but Uncle Jiang wasn’t that rich either. The rest of the villagers were living in very modest circumstances.”
"So, I started thinking about whether I could find another way to make money."
The village head was the lowest-ranking official in the Great Xia Dynasty. The imperial court only provided some grain and cloth each quarter, and Jiang Fuzheng did not receive any cash salary.
He governed six surrounding villages, but he did not oppress the locals. He simply used the reward money he received, which was more than that of Jiang's father, to acquire a few acres of land.
In addition, villagers would give him food and drinks when they needed his help, which made his family seem well-off.
In reality, his children and grandchildren work in the fields every day, just like other farmers.
Moreover, his daily expenses were not small. Yezaopo was close to the county town, and he had to spend money to maintain relationships with the officials there.
Jiang Fuzheng, a village head, is already struggling like this; the other villagers are barely above the poverty line, but not far from it either.
If there is any major change in the family situation, then they may have to sell the land.
Therefore, Aunt Qiumei asked Jiang Fuzheng for help, hoping to learn how to make preserved eggs.
Jiang Fuzheng was also quite enthusiastic about this matter, hoping to increase the income of the villagers.
The monthly income from the variable eggs is only one or two ounces, which is not much and has a limited impact on improving the villagers' financial situation.
Yezaopo is so close to Beiyang County, and has such a large market. It would be a real shame not to take advantage of it and develop something new.
Jiang Ji carefully observed his expression and asked curiously, "What new way to make money?"
Ye Li said, "I already have an idea, but whether it can be implemented depends on how well the preserved egg business goes. If everyone really doesn't want to pass on the recipe, then I will definitely give everyone a hand."
"After all, this path to wealth is also very beneficial to me."
Jiang Ji: "...You kept it a secret from me too?"
His tone clearly conveyed grievance.
Ye Li couldn't help but laugh.
Ye Li sat up, leaned against the wall by the kang (heated brick bed), and looked at him with a smile: "Good husband, how could I keep this a secret from you?"
Jiang Ji also sat up, stretched out his long arm, and pulled him into his arms: "Then tell me."
Ye Li wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and said with a smile, "My way of making money is to run a small workshop on a village scale. This small workshop specializes in producing tofu puffs and large skewers."
“We are backed by Beiyang County, so we can sell a lot of tofu puffs and skewers. There are many ways to eat these two foods, not just in a pancake with vegetables.”
"By then, I will be able to get rid of this dog leash, not have to do anything every day, and just take a share of the profits."
"A win-win situation for both sides, everyone's happy. Don't you think so?"
Jiang Ji: "..."
He stared into Ye Li's bright eyes, and after a moment, slowly nodded: "This path to wealth is so good, there's not a single fault with it."
"Right? I can't find any fault with it either. Now it depends on whether the villagers keep their promises."
Ye Li looked smug.
Jiang Ji was quite pleased with his expression, and upon seeing this, a smile appeared on his face: "If a few individuals are not trustworthy, then you can only let those who are trustworthy participate."
"Actually, that's what I was planning to do too. I really want to get rid of this leash."
Ye Li nodded.
The work itself isn't strenuous, but it takes up a lot of time!
The mornings and afternoons that trapped him meant that he had to rush to get into the city, effectively keeping him tied down for the entire day.
"You've worked so hard." Jiang Jijun's face showed concern. "How about I stay home and rest for a year, regardless of the outcome of this year's provincial examination?"
The thought of leaving all the household chores on Ye Li's shoulders caused him considerable distress.
Moreover, the pain of unrequited love tormented him like a mountain of knives and a cauldron of boiling oil.
Life at home is getting better...
Ye Li shook her head.
However, Ye Li smiled and said, "It's enough that you know how hard I've worked."
"I'm easy to please. As long as you understand, I'll gladly endure any hardship."
"..."
Jiang Ji sighed helplessly, then kissed his lips.
Ye Li smiled smugly, put her arm around his shoulder, and the two fell onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and exchanged a lingering kiss.
After the kiss ended, both of them felt a little hot.
But adults, after all, still have basic self-control.
So, after taking a few deep breaths, the two blew out the oil lamp and went to sleep.
Jiang Dahe, unaware that Jiang Ji had returned, knocked on the door at the usual time. As a result, the two, who had been too indulgent the night before, woke up with groggy heads.
Ye Li also suffered from leg pain.
When Jiang Dahe saw Jiang Ji, he was overjoyed but also a little worried. Was his nephew coming back too frequently?
Upon learning that Jiang Ji had important business to attend to, he immediately became happy.
That's great news!
Ye Li's preserved eggs first gained fame in the county town, so that when the villagers finished making their preserved eggs, they could simply take them to the county town to sell.
Jiang Dahe left with a happy expression.
Jiang Ji was also quite concerned about this matter. Now that everyone in the village was making preserved eggs, he had to find a market for them.
After school in the evening, he went to find Bao Beiyuan.
Bao Beiyuan hadn't expected that everyone at Wild Jujube Slope would be making preserved eggs. The next day, when selling drinks, he made a detour to the cold jelly shop—
Business is good now, so he doesn't need to sell his cold noodles at the shop anymore. He can deliver them to regular customers and sell most of the drinks he makes that day.
Gong Lisheng was quite concerned about his own business.
In the afternoon, after Bao Beiyuan finished selling his drinks, he rented a mule cart and went to Yezaopo with Bao Beiyuan.
Gong Lisheng had never seen a preserved egg before, but he had heard Bao Beiyuan praise it to the skies.
As the seller, Ye Li naturally couldn't let Gong Lisheng take the preserved egg away in a daze.
The most delicious way to eat preserved eggs is to make a cold salad with cucumber.
He went to the vegetable garden and picked two cucumbers and peeled a few preserved eggs. To make the dish look nicer, he put extra effort into slicing the preserved eggs this time, making sure that each slice had a bit of yolk in it.
In this way, this cold preserved egg salad is not only delicious, but also visually appealing.
The preserved egg is as translucent as amber, with each segment surrounding the green cucumber in the center of the plate. Just looking at its appearance is incredibly tempting.
Gong Lisheng was pleasantly surprised.
The surprise will be even greater when you finally taste the preserved egg.
So fresh!
The taste is so unique!
Just then, Ye Li poured him another bowl of yellow wine.
He picked up the yellow wine and drank it all in one gulp.
He then wiped his mouth and said with a smile, "That was awesome!"
Seeing his smile, Bao Beiyuan felt relieved: "Brother Sheng, this preserved egg has great potential, right?"
"Yes!" Gong Lisheng answered decisively.
"Xiao Yuan, you've found such a good job for your brother. Come over for a drink tomorrow evening, and I'll have your sister-in-law Cuihua cook a couple more dishes!"
Bao Beiyuan smiled and nodded: "That's great, I'll definitely go."
Ye Li also laughed: "Brother Sheng, then you should learn how to make cold preserved egg salad so you can teach Sister Cuihua when you get back."
“That’s natural,” Gong Lisheng replied.
He carefully learned how to make cold preserved eggs, then counted the number of preserved eggs, paid Ye Li a copper coin, and then drove the mule cart back to the county town.
Walking down the street, he cracked his whip loudly in the air, so happy he just wanted to sing out loud.
He had a feeling that the cold-dressed preserved eggs would sell extremely well.
His cold jelly shop will definitely be even more successful than when his father was in charge!
His family's cold noodle shop was still a bit small. Not only was the shop small, but the back yard was also only rented out in one room. After his father stopped cooking, he had to go back to the countryside.
The couple were busy with their business and often had to send their child back to the countryside.
He didn't expect to make a fortune like the Bao family's noodle shop and build such a large courtyard.
He would be content if he could rent the entire courtyard where he currently lives, so that his family could be reunited.
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