Chapter 13 Suspicion Arises
Song Luoning sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Xiao Yu with unfathomable eyes. This person in front of her was becoming more and more incomprehensible. If he was really as useless as the neighbors said, then his remarks on gender equality were so shocking.
Moreover, aside from the lustful look in her eyes when she looked at me, she didn't actually do anything to me. On the contrary, she prepared medicine and cooked for me, and although she wasn't exactly obedient, she was still quite well-behaved.
After finishing her work here, Xiao Yu went into the kitchen. Dinner hadn't been made yet, and she was too lazy to ask the young lady for help.
You have to do this yourself.
I had brown rice porridge for breakfast, and a quick lunch in the county town. I definitely can't have brown rice porridge for dinner. Although brown rice is nutritious, it's not easy to digest, and drinking it long-term can damage the stomach and intestines. Song Luoning, that pampered young lady, definitely can't stand it.
Xiao Yu simply filled a basin with clean water, poured the brown rice into the water, and used the most primitive method to repeatedly rub and wash it to remove the film on the surface of the brown rice, thus obtaining half a basin of refined rice.
Take out a portion to cook porridge tonight, and drain the water from the rest and let it air dry in a ventilated place for next time.
As for vegetables, we don't have any other vegetables at home besides bamboo shoots. We had stir-fried bamboo shoot slices for breakfast, so I'll make some light bamboo shoot salad now. It's refreshing and appetizing, and it goes best with white porridge.
I need to find time to buy some other vegetables tomorrow; we can't keep eating bamboo shoots all the time.
After finishing her work, Xiao Yu brought the food to the table and invited the young lady to dine with her.
"Thank you for your trouble, husband." Song Luoning sat down, her gaze sweeping over the stir-fried bamboo shoots before settling on the white porridge in front of her.
This kind of white rice is only carefully cleaned by wealthy families in pursuit of better taste and comfort; ordinary households simply eat it directly.
Unexpectedly, this person cooked white rice porridge again. Is this something someone who has been starving for a long time would do?
She had observed that although the Xiao family was considered wealthy in Chenjia Village, Xiao Jiangshi's clothes were not particular, only slightly better than those of ordinary farmers. They could not be called a wealthy family at all, and there was only one maid in the family. Would such a family go to such lengths to pursue the taste of food?
Obviously not.
Even officials and wealthy families in the capital don't eat this laborious white rice every day.
Putting that aside, Xiao Yu's cooking skills are also excellent, which is not at all what someone who idles around all day would be capable of.
Suppressing her doubts, Song Luoning raised her eyes and discreetly observed Xiao Yu's every move. The girl's face was sallow and her figure was thin, clearly showing signs of long-term malnutrition.
Do people like that still have the energy to pursue good taste?
Song Luo Ning smiled and said, "My husband's cooking is so good, Luo Ning is going to be very lucky in the future."
Xiao Yu looked up at her.
Does this mean she'll be doing all the cooking from now on?
Xiao Yu didn't want to talk to her and ate her meal in silence. She was tired after a long day and all she wanted to do was finish her meal and go to sleep.
Song Luoning ate a small half bowl of porridge and then put down her chopsticks, looking at Xiao Yu, unsure of what to say.
After Xiao Yu finished eating, she got up to clear the dishes and was about to leave when she heard Song Luoning call her name.
When the woman called out to him again, Xiao Yu's alarm bells went off immediately.
Song Luo Ning hesitated for a moment: "Husband, could you please boil some hot water for me? I would like to take a bath."
“......”?!
Xiao Yu pursed her lips and stood by the door frame for a long time. She closed her eyes and concealed the forbearance in them. The young lady hadn't mentioned a word about money. Before, when she was asked to cook, she knew to pay. But after receiving a piece of paper, she started ordering her around at will.
Composing herself, Xiao Yu went to the kitchen without saying a word, started a fire to boil water. This time, she needed more water than yesterday, when a basin of water would have been enough. Looking at the water tank, it seemed that there wasn't enough water either.
Xiao Yu carried a bucket to the riverbank. Under the moonlight, the surroundings were quiet. The bucket hit the water, and ripples spread out, making the water surface sparkle.
It took five trips to fill the half-person-high bathtub to just barely make it halfway.
I almost died from exhaustion.
"Thank you, sir. Could you please wait outside for a moment?" Song Luoning asked in a low voice.
Xiao Yu stared at Song Luo Ning for a moment, then went to the courtyard without saying a word.
I never expected to adapt to the role of a maid so quickly.
He sighed deeply at the darkness. He needed to start making the earthen huller, the fan, and the stone mortar as early as possible tomorrow. Once he earned some money, he could get rid of Miss Song Luoning sooner.
While Song Luoning was taking a bath, Xiao Yu mentally reviewed the production process again, hoping it would go more smoothly the next day.
The earth huller needs two flat bamboo baskets. In the original owner's memory, Chen Ziyi knew how to weave these, but she didn't know if he would be willing to help her.
The manufacture of the fan is more complicated. Not only does it require splitting the wood into planks, but the intricate mortise and tenon joints alone are beyond the ability to complete. If necessary, a reliable carpenter must be found to help.
As for the stone mortar, it's relatively simple; the key is finding a suitable stone.
After an unknown amount of time, the silvery moonlight was as cool as water, and a clear, melodious female voice came from inside the room, interrupting Xiao Yu's thoughts.
"Husband, may I come in for a moment?"
Xiao Yu came to her senses and guessed that she might have finished washing. She returned to the room and found Song Luoning sitting on the edge of the bed wearing only an undergarment. Her thin figure was vaguely visible through the bed curtains.
In the past, Xiao Yu might have had some romantic thoughts, but after seeing Song Luoning's true character, Xiao Yu snorted coldly in his heart.
"My lord, I'm in trouble."
As for what the trouble might be, Xiao Yu knew without even guessing.
The steaming bathtub raised the temperature of the entire room. Xiao Yu, with a sullen face, scooped the water from the bathtub into a wooden tub and then carried it out.
By the time they finished, it was already past midnight. Xiao Yu was so tired that her hands were trembling. The original owner's small body simply couldn't withstand Miss Song's torment.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep the next second.
The next day, as dawn broke, Xiao Yu woke up, took a bucket to the river to fetch water, filled the water vat, and then went up the mountain to dig up a basket of bamboo shoots. When he returned, he was covered in sweat.
In the morning, I not only finished the housework, but also got some exercise.
I really hope to recover my former physical condition as soon as possible.
At Chenshi (7-9 AM), Song Luoning finally came out of the house. She was secretly surprised to see the bamboo shoots on the ground and the water in the vat, but she remained calm on the surface.
"My lord, you've worked hard. Let Luo Ning make breakfast for you today." Song Luo Ning said softly, and imitating Xiao Yu, she took a bamboo shoot from the bamboo basket and peeled the skin off with her hands.
"Hiss~"
A bloodstain instantly appeared on her fair fingertips, a splash of bright red leaping onto the white snow. Song Luoning's phoenix eyes were misty with tears, wet and indescribably broken.
"......"
I knew I couldn't expect the young lady to do anything. How could her skin be so delicate?
Unlike me, who was destined to be just a maid.
It's just peeling a bamboo shoot.
Xiao Yu snatched the bamboo shoot from her hand with a stern face, put it aside, and pulled her to the sink. He then washed it for her without any expression.
The woman's soft, slightly cool hands were gently kneaded in her hands.
Song Luo Ning frowned, instinctively trying to pull her hand away but was held even tighter by the other woman, her voice cold: "Husband, Luo Ning can manage on her own, so there's no need to trouble you."
"Shut up." The boy's tone was vicious, radiating a chilling aura.
That lecherous scoundrel!
I thought she had the desire but not the courage, but who knew she would actually become so bold.
"Xiao..."
"Alright, if you can't do it, don't try to be a hero, it's too much trouble."
"......"
You scoundrel!
Song Luoning gritted her teeth, withdrew her hand, and said coldly, "I'll trouble you with breakfast, my husband." With that, she turned and went back into the house.
Very well, she kindly helped her clean, but instead of being grateful, she gave her the cold shoulder?
Xiao Yu stared at the tightly closed door, wishing they could never meet again and that she could forget her fate as a maid.
A surge of anger welled up in his chest, and he longed to go up and argue with her again.
After a long pause, reason prevailed. The six hundred taels in his hand were given to him by her, and he needed to stay calm until he made money.
It's just cooking, isn't it?
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu picked up the bamboo shoot that Song Luoning had just peeled, dried it, washed it, and took it to the kitchen, where he neatly sliced it into strips.
He made a simple breakfast and walked to the door: "Song Luoning, open the door." The young man's tone was still clear and cheerful, though his voice was full of emotion.
Upon hearing the sound, Song Luoning's heart tightened. She composed herself, opened the door, and looked wary.
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