Chapter 103 Vegetable and Lean Meat Porridge
Lu Zhao fell ill. He didn't sleep or eat anything all night in the snowy night. Even a body of iron couldn't withstand such an ordeal.
The Meng couple felt even more guilty, so they hired a doctor and had Meng Chunsheng stay with them.
Qingjiu stayed by her side constantly, and when Miss Qiao asked about her master, tears streamed down her face.
Seeing Qingjiu like this, Qiao Mianmian thought Lu Zhao was seriously injured, so she and her brother went to check on Lu Zhao.
When she entered, Lu Zhao was still asleep, her face a little pale. Now that she was quiet, she had a more sickly beauty about her.
"A good-looking person looks good even when they're sick," Qiao Mianmian thought to herself.
"Chunsheng, is Lord Lu still running a fever?" Qiao Jiaxing asked in a low voice.
Chunsheng said his fever had subsided. "I woke up an hour ago and drank some porridge. My voice is a little hoarse."
"That's good." Qiao Jiaxing breathed a sigh of relief. People can't withstand illness, especially ordinary people like them. A simple illness can take half their lives.
Qiao Mianmian tugged at her second brother, "Second brother, let's go back first." She wanted to go back and play with her little nephew for a while.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Lu Zhao's long, curled eyelashes blink. She was still thinking how lucky God was to have Lu Zhao's face, even his eyelashes were so beautiful, when Lu Zhao suddenly opened his eyes.
Their eyes met, and Qiao Mianmian was slightly startled, but then she heard Lu Zhao mutter, "Is it another dream?"
What dream?
Before the Qiao siblings could react, Qingjiu rushed to the bedside, "My lord, you're awake! Are you hungry? Is anything bothering you?"
Qingjiu's loud voice gave Lu Zhao an instant headache, his head buzzing. He patted his head twice, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw the same scene as before, realizing it wasn't a dream.
"My lord, are you alright? Why aren't you saying anything?" Qingjiu was almost frantic, and was about to pat her master.
"Shut up!"
Lu Zhao gritted his teeth and said in a low, forceful voice, "Don't make a sound!"
"Oh." Qingjiu immediately quieted down and obediently squatted on the edge of the bed, waiting for her master to speak.
Qiao Mianmian and Qiao Jiaxing, who were about to leave, stopped when they saw Lu Zhao wake up.
After a while, it was Qiao Mianmian who asked Meng Chunsheng to pour tea, and only then did they think to pour tea for Lu Zhao to soothe his throat.
Lu Zhao felt a little better after drinking the warm tea, but his throat still hurt. Every time he swallowed, it felt like a knife was cutting his throat.
He confirmed it wasn't a dream, and subconsciously looked down. Luckily, he was covered by the blanket. "I'm alright now. Chunsheng, are you all okay?"
"Mmm, I'm fine." Chunsheng had a runny nose when he first came back, but it cleared up after drinking ginger tea. His father, like Lord Lu, had a fever, and his mother took care of him every step of the way.
Lu Zhao was surprised that he was no match for Chun Sheng. Before he could say anything, Qiao Mianmian spoke first, "Since Lord Lu has woken up, let's go back first. It's getting late, so you should all get some rest. I've already given the winter melon and pork rib soup to Cui Zhi. If Lord Lu is hungry, Cui Zhi can heat it up for him."
She skimmed off all the oil from the pork rib soup, as Lord Lu was currently ill and needed something lighter to eat.
"Thank you, Miss Qiao." After watching Qiao Mianmian and her brother leave, Lu Zhao told Chunsheng to go back as well, and then asked Cuizhi to heat up the pork rib soup.
When he remembered, Qingjiu pressed him down, preventing him from doing so.
“The doctor said you need to rest more. It’s already dark, so don’t get up. Just tell us if you need anything.” Qingjiu said, tears streaming down her face again. “If Grandma finds out you’re sick, she’ll definitely scold me for not taking good care of you. You need to get better soon, or Grandma won’t let me stay by your side to serve you.”
"I need to go to the outhouse." Lu Zhao couldn't refuse Qingjiu, so he said with a stern face, "If you keep talking, I'll send you back to Bianjing first."
Qingjiu quickly covered her mouth and handed her master a thick cloak.
After relieving himself, Lu Zhao drank a hot winter melon and pork rib soup and felt much better. Cui Zhi then brought over a bowl of medicine, which was dark and made Qing Jiu frown, but Lu Zhao drank it down in big gulps without thinking.
He asked Qingjiu to open a window so that he could see the moon with a missing piece.
"My lord, it's chilly at night, you shouldn't be exposed to the wind." Qingjiu closed the window anyway.
"Qingjiu, would you like a harmonious and happy home of your own?"
A loving father, a considerate wife, several obedient and sensible children, and supportive siblings. Lu Zhao thought of the scene in his dream. When did he begin to envy it?
Perhaps it was when I first met the Qiao family.
Qingjiu replied instinctively, "I have you as my home. Aren't we doing well now?"
As long as his master is around, Qingjiu is content. He was one of the people his master left behind, having grown up with him since childhood; his master is the most important person to him.
Lu Zhao glanced at Qingjiu, "Don't you want to settle down?"
"Since you're not married, I naturally have no interest in this. Why are you suddenly asking this? Is it because you're thinking of getting married?" Qingjiu let her imagination run wild. "If you were to get married, the old lady would be the happiest, and I'd be happy too. You'd better have a few more children, that way the house would be lively. I can teach the young master martial arts, and the young ladies can be taken care of by the madam. Your children will definitely be beautiful, and then..."
"Stop, stop, stop it now." Lu Zhao had only just begun when Qingjiu started rambling on and on, making his head ache even more.
Qingjiu's lips curled into a smile as she spoke, "Mmm, I won't say anymore. Are you sleepy? Do you want to go to sleep?"
"Do you think I'm a pig?" Lu Zhao slept most of the day and wasn't sleepy at all. He asked Qingjiu to bring two books.
But once he actually opened the book, he couldn't concentrate on reading.
The candlelight was bright, and Qingjiu was already fast asleep on the tatami mat, snoring softly.
Lu Zhao quietly got up, brought over a quilt to cover Qingjiu, and then moved the candlestick a little further away.
Qingjiu slept very well that night, but when she woke up and didn't see her master, she rushed out in a hurry and saw that her master was already practicing boxing in the courtyard. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You scared me to death! I thought you had gone somewhere?"
Lu Zhao broke out in a sweat. "From now on, you'll have to get up early and plan ahead like me." He pointed to Qingjiu's belly. "If you keep being lazy, your belly will be big enough to balance bowls on its head and perform acrobatics!"
Qingjiu never contradicted his master. He rubbed his stomach and chuckled, "It is indeed a bit big. Then I'll practice with you. It'll be good to practice a little longer so I can eat more!"
Speaking of food, he smelled a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen. Since Cuizhi arrived, they had only eaten at Qiao's Restaurant for lunch and dinner; Cuizhi usually prepared simple meals for breakfast. But why did today's breakfast smell so good?
"Sir, can you smell it?"
"What?"
"That smells amazing! It's coming from our kitchen! I'll go see what Cuizhi made today!" With that, Qingjiu rushed to the kitchen. "Cuizhi, what did you make today?"
Cuizhi was adding firewood to the stove. "I didn't make it. Yesterday, Miss Qiao specifically instructed that the adults like tofu soup, so she made some and brought it over. Look, Miss Qiao brought over a big bowl of tofu soup, it looks so fresh and tender. There's also vegetable and lean meat porridge, which was also sent over by the Qiao family."
"It was sent by the Qiao family. Miss Qiao is so thoughtful, she's such a kind person." Qingjiu's mouth watered as she looked at the tofu soup. "We have some pickled vegetables that the Qiao family sent before, take some out. We don't have much of an appetite if we just eat this bland food. Let the adults eat it, we'll have some pickled vegetables, it will taste better."
As he spoke, he remembered that Cuizhi was not familiar with the kitchen, so he took out the kimchi himself.
When breakfast was served, Lu Zhao immediately recognized that it wasn't Cuizhi's cooking. "Did you buy this from outside?"
"No, it was specially requested by Miss Qiao yesterday to be delivered today." Qingjiu had already eaten half a bowl of vegetable and lean meat porridge. It was his first time eating this kind of porridge. The rice was stewed with lean meat, which added a fragrant meat broth. The small green vegetables that had been touched by frost had a sweeter taste. It tasted much more refreshing than he had imagined.
After another bite of the sour and spicy kimchi, Qingjiu finished the remaining half bowl of porridge. "The tofu soup is also delicious. It's smooth and tender, and it has eggs and scallions added. My mouth is still full of the aroma of beans."
Lu Zhao doesn't talk while eating, just like Qingjiu used to, but since coming to Lin'an, Qingjiu has become more and more relaxed.
He remembered that it was Qiao Wu Guniang who had instructed him to do it. When he looked at the porridge in the bowl again, there was still a trace of sweetness in his mouth, which he guessed was the sweetness of the green vegetables.
After the master and servant finished their meal, Lu Zhao had to go to the City God's Office. With the end of the year approaching, patrols in the city needed to be strengthened, so he couldn't stay at home for too long.
When they went to Qiao's Food Shop at noon, the Lin family was very surprised.
"Lord Lu, what brings you here?" Lin asked. Upon learning that Lu Zhao had gone to the City God's Office, she frowned and said, "You're not fully recovered yet, why are you in such a hurry to go to the City God's Office? You should rest more. Look at how pale your lips are, it's obvious you're not fully recovered."
She told Lu Zhao to go upstairs, "Go sit upstairs quickly, don't stand in the wind here."
Lu Zhao thought he wasn't that precious, but he still obediently went upstairs.
Qiao Mancang led Lu Zhao and his servant upstairs, asking, "How is Lord Lu today?"
"Yes, I feel much better. Thank you for bringing me the food."
“It was Mianmian’s thoughtfulness that made her think of that. She said you’re a good person and have helped everyone a lot. Now that you’re sick, we should take good care of you so that even if you move away in the future, you’ll still remember our neighborly friendship,” Qiao Mancang said with a smile.
Lu Zhao said he had no intention of moving.
"Didn't you sell your new house?" Qiao Mancang asked, puzzled.
“My grandmother bought it for my wedding,” Lu Zhao explained.
“That’s right. After you get married, you’ll still have to move out. We’re all reluctant to see you go, but moving to a new house is a good thing. Come, please come into this room.” Qiao Mancang led Lu Zhao and his servant into the private room, and after they ordered their food, they went downstairs.
When Lu Zhao sat down, he felt like he wasn't fully recovered. His mind was buzzing, and he was still thinking about Qiao Mancang's words, "I can't bear to part with you."
Suddenly, an idea popped into his head—Could Miss Qiao really bear to let him move away?
Lu Zhao was startled by this idea, and he didn't even hear Qingjiu calling him.
"grown ups?"
"Um?"
"I need to use the restroom. Please sit down first. The food is here, so please eat first." Qingjiu clutched her stomach and ran off quickly, not even closing the door properly.
A gust of wind blew in, and as Lu Zhao got up to close the door, he suddenly heard Qiao Mianmian's voice, and his hand that was closing the door suddenly stopped.
Qiao Mianmian was talking to Xu Mingxuan. The Xu family was also coming to eat today. In winter, there are many food delivery services. Her eldest and second eldest brothers were both out delivering food. Qiao Mianmian had just finished cooking for the Xu family and came to deliver the food.
As soon as she stepped out of the private room, Xu Mingxuan chased after her, saying he would deliver Spring Festival couplets to the people in the alley.
“You mean Spring Festival couplets? Sure, my mother will be very happy!” Qiao Mianmian looked at Xu Mingxuan with a smile. “You are the most educated person in our alley. With you writing Spring Festival couplets, everyone can share in the joy.”
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, looked around, and whispered on tiptoe, "Brother Xu, do you know where I can rent sketchbooks?"
After having money, Qiao Mianmian started to develop some hobbies, from buying jewelry and rouge to now wanting to look at sketchbooks.
She knew that ancient books were expensive, so she thought about renting them. She was particularly curious about what kinds of illustrated books existed in ancient times, what their contents were, and whether any of them contained explicit content!
"Do you like looking at picture books?" Xu Mingxuan asked.
"No, it's just that I've heard people mention it and I'm a little curious. You frequent bookstores and are a scholar, so you should know, right?" Her eyes became eager, and her tone softened involuntarily, making Xu Mingxuan feel as if his ears were being tickled by feathers.
Xu Mingxuan said in a serious tone, "Miss Qiao, I think you'd better not read it. Illustrations aren't proper books. If you want to read, I can lend you some other books."
Thinking that Xu Mingxuan's book must be some policy essays, Qiao Mianmian quickly shook her head, "Forget it, pretend I didn't ask."
"No need, I just suddenly thought of it and was just asking. You go eat, I'm leaving." Qiao Mianmian was afraid that Xu Mingxuan would really give her the book, so she quickly left.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she saw that the door to the private room was open. She saw Lu Zhao behind the door and greeted him warmly, "Lord Lu, what brings you here today? Are you feeling any better?"
"I'm feeling much better." Lu Zhao felt guilty when he was caught eavesdropping.
"I'm feeling better now. Please sit for a while, and I'll go cook something for you." Qiao Mianmian couldn't leave the kitchen for too long.
But just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Lu Zhao suddenly called out to her, "What is it, Lord Lu?"
"Miss Qiao, is this how you always act when you need something from someone?" Lu Zhao blurted out.
Qiao Mianmian exclaimed "Ah," not understanding Lu Zhao's meaning, "What am I like?"
What was she looking at Xu Mingxuan like just now?
That's perfectly normal!
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Zhao regretted them. He felt that he had really lost his mind because of his illness, and had started speaking without thinking.
And how could he talk to a young lady like that? He looked away in annoyance. "I'm sorry, I'm not fully recovered yet, I don't know what I'm saying."
"It's alright, it's alright. You should go in and rest. Judging from your complexion, you haven't fully recovered yet. Drink a couple more bowls of hot soup later."
After Qiao Mianmian went downstairs, she thought about Lu Zhao's words, but still didn't understand why Lu Zhao asked that question. What was wrong with him?
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