“We also saw that Jiang Jingyi had never studied and were afraid of wasting this opportunity. It would be better to give it to Yaozu. He passed the imperial examination at such a young age. Isn’t he a genius?”
Seeing this, Xu Wanli also chimed in, unconvinced, thinking that if things had already broken down, so be it.
"Is that what you mean too?" Li Xu ignored the village chief who couldn't distinguish right from wrong, turned to Xu Yaozu, and asked in a deep voice.
Xu Yaozu's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly shook his head: "No, Master!"
"Then go back and study hard. When the time comes, go to Shifang Academy to enroll." Li Xu nodded in satisfaction.
"As far as I know, Doctor Jiang severed ties with those unreasonable family members a long time ago, so where did this younger brother come from?" Li Xu then looked at Xu Dagui.
“Even if we’ve severed ties, he still has my blood in his veins, right?” Xu Dagui argued.
"Master, Dean Li, you are both scholars who have studied the classics, you should know that the debt of gratitude for life cannot be severed so easily." Xu Wanli said with a smirk.
“I have a letter from Jiang Hua severing ties with your family. You bought it from her for fifty taels of silver and even signed it yourself,” Bai Heng suddenly said.
"Who are you? Are you Jiang Hua's new lover?" Madam Xu looked at Bai Heng with disgust in her eyes.
She's good-looking, I never expected her to be in this line of work.
"He is the magistrate of Qingshi County, Lord Bai," Jiang Hua kindly reminded him.
Bai Heng also took out the magistrate's token. Upon seeing the token, Xu Wanli and his family immediately knelt down in panic.
"Please spare us, sir! We were blind and didn't recognize your greatness!" the men quickly said.
"Your letter of severance with Jiang Hua is on file with the yamen. What, are you unwilling to admit it?" Bai Heng asked coldly.
"No, no!" Xu Dagui kowtowed.
In his heart, however, he was complaining: When did this brat get involved with the county magistrate?
"I'll let you off this time, but if there's a next time, take them all back and have them flogged." Bai Heng said, putting away the token.
"Xu Wanli, if you don't want to be the village chief anymore, you can speak up as soon as possible, and I can help you choose someone else to replace you!"
"Yes, yes, sir, I was just confused for a moment, I will definitely not do it again!"
Xu Wanli felt his back was soaked with sweat, and he almost lost his position as village chief.
"Jiang Hua, are you satisfied?" After saying that, Bai Heng looked at Jiang Hua with a smile and asked.
For a moment, Bai Heng's captivating smile made Jiang Hua's heart skip a beat.
"Thank you very much, Lord Bai." Jiang Hua bowed slightly.
At Bai Heng's command, Xu Wanli and Xu Dagui's family scrambled away from Jiang Hua's courtyard.
"Dean Li, Madam Li, Lord Bai, please come in and have some tea." Jiang Hua welcomed them in.
Seeing this, Aunt Liu quickly followed Jiang Jingyi into the kitchen to boil water and make tea.
"Ayi, how did your stepmother become a miracle doctor?"
In the kitchen, Aunt Liu couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
“My stepmother saved Dean Li at Mingde Hall today,” Jiang Jingyi replied.
"Huahua knows medicine?" Aunt Liu asked suspiciously.
“Yes, my stepmother said that she met a kind-hearted miracle doctor who taught her.” Jiang Jingyi repeated the excuse Jiang Hua gave to others.
"I see." Aunt Liu nodded.
The two brought out the brewed tea, and Jiang Hua was already chatting with them with ease.
However, they mostly chatted about everyday family matters with Mrs. Li.
"Ayi, come here." Dean Li waved to Jiang Jingyi as he came out.
“Our academy provides food and lodging. I just spoke with Doctor Jiang, and she said she’d like to see what you think,” Dean Li said.
Tuition fees are waived.
"Is it always like this?" Jiang Jingyi asked as he sat down.
"No, we halve the tuition fee for other students," Li Xu explained.
"Because Doctor Jiang saved Master, that's why you're exempt from tuition fees."
"Dean, Master, I should receive the same treatment as the other students. I shouldn't be given special treatment." Jiang Jingyi refused Dean Li and the others' offer.
"Dean Li was saved by my stepmother, it has nothing to do with me, they are two separate things and should not be confused."
"As for staying at Shifang Academy, we'll follow the academy's rules," Jiang Jingyi said, acting like a little adult.
"I can go back on my day off, it's the same."
"Good, I knew I hadn't misjudged you." Dean Li nodded in satisfaction.
“Then, Dr. Jiang, you…” Dean Li looked at Jiang Hua again.
"Just do as he says."
Jiang Hua didn't interfere with Jiang Jingyi's decisions; she just provided the necessary funds and cooperated.
"It's getting late, let's have a meal here, it'll be late to go back anyway," Jiang Hua said, glancing at the sky.
"How could I possibly see Doctor Jiang!" Madam Li declined.
“Yes, Mrs. Li, why don’t you stay? We’ll lend a hand, it’ll be quick,” Aunt Liu added from the side.
"I've long heard of Doctor Jiang's superb culinary skills, and today I finally have the chance to try them," Bai Heng suddenly said.
"Then let's stay." Seeing that Bai Heng had said so, Dean Li no longer insisted.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Dr. Jiang."
Jiang Hua asked Jiang Jingyi to stay and chat with Dean Li and the others, while she, Aunt Liu, and Uncle Liu went into the kitchen.
"Huahua, we have a few chickens at home. I'll ask Tianming to go back and bring one over to kill." Aunt Liu glanced at the groceries Jiang Hua had bought that day in the kitchen.
There was a three-pound fish, a slaughtered duck, and three pork ribs.
How can you entertain guests without chicken? As the saying goes, no feast is complete without chicken.
"Thank you very much, Auntie. I'll calculate the amount for you later," Jiang Hua nodded in thanks.
"No need, no need," Aunt Liu said with a smile.
That was for entertaining the dean and teacher of Shifang Academy, as well as the county magistrate; it was just a chicken.
Since Dean Li was not feeling well and could not eat spicy or stimulating foods, Jiang Hua decided to cook some light dishes.
One dish of steamed pork ribs with fermented black beans, one dish of steamed fish, chicken soup, and a dish of blanched bok choy.
Aunt Liu had started cooking the rice, and Uncle Liu had cleaned the fish.
Jiang Hua took the cleaned fish from Uncle Liu, picked up a sharp cleaver, and made diagonal cuts on the fish's back. This way, the fish would absorb more flavor when marinated later.
Sprinkle with salt, rice wine, and ginger to marinate and remove any fishy smell.
Steaming fish is quick; just bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook for seven or eight minutes.
So Jiang Hua left the fish to be steamed last, marinated it first, and then chopped up the ribs.
After chopping the three ribs, Jiang Hua put them into two dishes. She thought for a moment and decided to steam one dish as planned and make salt and pepper sauce for the other.
For the steamed pork ribs, add some ginger, garlic, washed fermented black beans, cornstarch, salt, and soy sauce, mix them together, and finally pour in a little oil to lock in the moisture. Set aside to marinate.
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