Mr. Xunmei's expression turned strange in an instant. He glanced at Jiang Shan and saw her waving at him with an embarrassed look on her face, so he said nothing more.
"Dad, che, weng, che!" Jiang Huai grabbed a spoon, stretched his chubby little hand forward, but couldn't grab any food, so he grabbed Mr. Xunmei's sleeve with one hand and pulled Fu Qiyuan's arm with the other, shouting.
Jiang Huai has been talking a lot lately, calling out to people very frequently. Apart from his speech not being very clear, he's fine.
Mr. Xunmei and Fu Qiyuan worked together happily, simultaneously feeding him.
Jiang Huai's eyes lit up. He grabbed Mr. Xunmei's spoon, opened his mouth and ate the bok choy that Fu Qiyuan had picked up. Then he put his mouth to eat the steamed egg custard that Mr. Xunmei had scooped for him.
“Sirs, don’t spoil him. He’s so unruly and disrespectful! Xi’er, take him downstairs and feed him!” Jiang Shan said.
Upon hearing this, Xi'er hurriedly went forward to hug Jiang Huai.
To everyone's surprise, Jiang Huai reacted too violently and actually scratched Xi'er, leaving a very thin bloodstain.
Jiang Shan's face darkened, and just as he was about to get up, Fu Qiyuan moved.
He picked up a bamboo skewer labeled with the name of a dish, tapped it lightly twice in Jiang Huai's small hand, and said sternly, "Who gave you permission to hit people? Let me ask you, if I hit you, does it hurt? Do you still dare to hit people without cause?"
Jiang Huai stared blankly at Fu Qiyuan, then looked at her own little hands. She pouted as if she wanted to say something, but perhaps realizing that Fu Qiyuan was no longer as approachable as before, she immediately pouted and clung to Xi'er's shoulder, crying pitifully.
Everyone was stunned, finding it unbelievable yet somehow reasonable. Besides Jiangshan's mother, who else present would dare treat their precious child like this? This was the county magistrate, so his actions weren't entirely excessive.
Mr. Xunmei stroked his beard and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Jiang Huai was still sobbing pitifully when Jiang Shan waved for Xi'er to take him downstairs to feed him.
Jiang Shan treated what had just happened as a minor incident and didn't take it to heart.
An Jing was truly shocked. Subconsciously, he thought that Fu Qiyuan, as a county magistrate and a well-read scholar, would be perfectly justified in educating his own child in this way. But this was someone else's child! How could he arbitrarily discipline someone else's child? A child who was not even a year old!
What makes him so special?!
Why? Because he wanted to raise the child well, because he wanted to raise the child as his own, because he... had an extraordinary relationship with Jiang Shan.
An Jing is jealous!
It felt like I'd drunk three pounds of aged vinegar; it was so sour it was burning my stomach.
There were only eight people seated at the table, divided into host and guest. Mr. Xunmei and Fu Qiyuan sat at the head of the table, with Jiang Shan and Sanlang sitting on the left and right respectively. Then, in order, were An Jing, An Er, Manager Li, and Aunt Hong.
Jiang Shan is next to An Jing, and between An Jing and Fu Qiyuan are Jiang Shan and Mr. Xun Mei. The two are in complete opposition from all angles.
Fu Qiyuan could smell the sourness emanating from An Jing even across half a table.
He exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Xunmei in a calm and unassuming manner, displaying the thoughtfulness and consideration of a junior. Coupled with his extensive knowledge of classical literature, he was able to have a very pleasant conversation with Mr. Xunmei.
Unbeknownst to him, Mr. Xunmei's attitude towards him had changed drastically.
The two were talking about something when Mr. Xunmei rebuked them, saying, "Everyone is different. No matter how talented and intelligent someone is, you can't generalize. Not everything that is best is the most suitable. You have to teach according to their aptitude!"
Fu Qiyuan paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "What you say is absolutely right, sir. I was overthinking it. With your personal instruction, Sanlang will surely become a pillar of the nation in the future!"
Mr. Xunmei glanced at him and snorted, "He's more intelligent and has a higher level of understanding than you, so he's certainly not bad!"
Sanlang looked up at Fu Qiyuan with a delighted expression, his eyes filled with affection and dependence that was enough to make anyone envious.
Mr. Xunmei did not ignore his young apprentice's feelings. After all, they were family. If this young man could break free from his mother's control, he would not mind helping him.
It's mainly because he really likes these two siblings, not because of this young man!
Seeing that Mr. Xunmei had also opened his heart to Fu Qiyuan, An Jing felt increasingly choked up.
He looked at the people at the table. Only Manager Li was on his side, but this old iron tree had never even blossomed, so how could he help him? Aunt Hong was a sensible person, but all she cared about was the country.
As for An Er, ha, he's just someone who's always ready to steal someone else's partner!
"I wonder if Lord Fu is on official business in Yuzhou this time?" An Jing steered the conversation uncomfortably, as he didn't want Jiang Shan to keep focusing his attention on that person.
Fu Qiyuan smiled and said gently, "I suppose so. The main culprit in a major criminal case in Guyang County is from Yuzhou, and I need to come here personally to handle the aftermath."
“My lord, you are busy with official duties and have traveled a long way. I have already booked a room at an inn under the name of Juxian Manor. Please stay here tonight!” An Jing said with a smile.
Fu Qiyuan didn't speak, but his clear eyes glanced at An Er intentionally or unintentionally.
An Er swallowed a mouthful of mandarin fish and looked up at Fu Qiyuan expressionlessly.
"Troublesome! Isn't there a lounge in Miss Jiang's office? Let's just use that. Even if I'm drunk, I can still sneak over there!"
Jiang Shan looked at An Er in astonishment, his eyes silently asking: "Big brother, are you serious? That's where I take my lunch break in the office, not for entertaining guests!"
"Very well, then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master An!" Fu Qiyuan smiled gently, raised his wine cup to An Er, and drank it all in one gulp.
An Jing's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He pointed at An Er, as if to say, "You big brute, do you even know what etiquette and shame are?" Jiang Shan's office was where she usually took her lunch break; it was her boudoir!
Do you understand what a woman's private room is? It's a woman's private space; how can you let any man enter it?
I'd like to stay overnight!
What a crude and uncouth man!
“Lord Fu, I’m afraid this is inappropriate! You’ve come from afar, there’s no reason for you to stay in an office cubicle. You should go to Juxian Manor!” An Jing’s tone was laced with hostility.
"Thank you, Young Master An, but there's no need to trouble you. My residence in Guyang County is only a wall away from the Jiao residence. We're all family, so there's no need for formalities."
Before An Jing could say anything more, the waiter brought out a dish.
Jiang Shan briefly introduced the flavor of the Vinegar-Braised Eight Delicacies and was about to have the waiter deliver it to Mr. Xunmei when Fu Qiyuan pointed and said with a smile, "It's vinegar-braised, with a refreshing and sour taste. Young Master An should like it."
An Jing's face turned green. "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Fu. This is a new dish that Miss Jiang has just developed. It's very popular. Would you like to try it, Lord Fu?"
Fu Qiyuan said meaningfully, "Young Master An, you may not know this, but I am a sentimental person. What catches my eye and touches my heart is the best. No matter how good the taste or how vibrant the color of other dishes are, they are irrelevant to me. This dish is appetizing, so please have some."
If Jiang Shan still hadn't noticed something was wrong by this point, then she would have wasted her time as a transmigrated heroine.
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