While everyone was eating vegetarian dishes in the dining hall, Song Jixue stared intently at Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong, but neither of them gave her an extra glance.
Song Jiyun whispered to Yuan Yunzhong about one of the dishes, "It’s called cherry meat. It’s a signature dish of the Nameless Temple, but I’ve had it several times and still can’t figure out what it’s made of. Wheat gluten isn’t this crisp, dried tofu isn’t this fluffy. Yuba? Bean bubble? Old tofu?"
Yuan Yunzhong tasted it carefully and whispered back, "Could it be made from bean dregs?"
Song Jiyun was startled.
Yuan Yunzhong quietly said, "I know a method. Mix the bean dregs with flour and then add a type of mushroom powder. At first taste, it’s just like meat."
Song Jiyun knew some people used king oyster mushrooms as a meat substitute in vegetarian dishes.
She tasted it carefully, and it really was somewhat as Yuan Yunzhong had described.
Yuan Yunzhong then said, "This vegetarian dish is also quite well made. However, if you like vegetarian food, there is a place called Liu Ji on Front Street in the Capital City, famous for its mock chicken, duck, fish, and pork shoulder. I’ll take you to Liu Ji for vegetarian dishes if we get a chance."
"Sure!" Song Jiyun felt there might not be such an opportunity, but as Song Jiyu and Xiong Wenqing were successfully getting along and everyone was happy, she didn’t want to dampen the mood at this moment.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yunzhong was indeed very enthusiastic, and even used communal chopsticks to offer her a serving of mixed vegetables, saying, "Their sprouts are very fresh, probably grown themselves; I also saw some yellow carrots, common in the north but rarely seen in the south. It shows they really put effort into their vegetarian dishes. Give it a try. I think the flavor is quite good."
Song Jiyun realized not only were the sprouts homemade, but the autumn oil must also have been home-brewed. She couldn’t help but reflect, "Previously, I wanted to open a restaurant, brew my own autumn oil, make my own soy paste, and make my own tofu."
Then the private plane crashed, and she arrived here.
Here, all the autumn oil was brewed at home, all the soy paste was made at home, and all the tofu was homemade.
She lost her advantage and could no longer think about opening a restaurant.
Yuan Yunzhong smiled slightly.
Miss Song, always full of wonderful ideas.
He offered her another serving of vegetarian chicken.
Song Jixue could no longer hold back, and she slammed her rice bowl heavily on the dining table.
The few people who had been whispering instantly looked over at the sound.
For a moment, the dining hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Song Jixue’s face turned red, and she subconsciously felt she couldn’t let people know about the secret fun her sister and brother-in-law were having.
She stammered, "I, I didn’t hold the bowl steady."
The crowd teased her a bit with laughter, then turned back to their meals. Even Song Jiyu, who was usually shy and often stayed with her, was fully engaged in conversation with Mrs. Xiong and didn’t notice her.
She hung her head in dejection.
A warm hand patted her on the head, saying, "Just hold on, we’ll go fly kites soon!"
When she looked up, it was her brother-in-law’s handsome face.
Unknown to her, Song Jiyun was whispering to Madam Yan.
Song Jixue nodded repeatedly, her eyes brightening, yet she couldn’t help but quietly complain, "You all ignore me!"
Yuan Yunzhong chuckled and ruffled her hair.
Song Jixue then tugged at Yuan Yunzhong’s sleeve and whispered, "Is my second sister really going to marry into the Xiong family?"
Yuan Yunzhong smiled and said, "Do you think it’s not good?"
Song Jixue shook her head, hesitatingly said, "What if my second sister doesn’t have a good life?"
It was her first time meeting Xiong Wenqing, and she always felt that he didn’t give her the same reassurance as Yuan Yunzhong.
"Then come back!" Yuan Yunzhong said without any hesitation, "There are plenty of girls who return home. If life is not good, bring the children back. Our family won’t lack a bowl of porridge or a cup of tea."
He also comforted Song Jixue, "Now, these are all worries for your sister and I to handle. You only need to learn your skills well and prepare to take over the family business one day."
Because of her trust in Yuan Yunzhong, Song Jixue completely let go of her concerns. She nodded with a smile and started talking to Yuan Yunzhong about going kite flying later, "It’s good that you didn’t fly my centipede kite, or else I would have definitely told mother."
Yuan Yunzhong smiled and patted her shoulder.
Everyone had finished their meal and moved to the side chamber for tea.
The temple’s guest-receiving monk brought over blessed amulet bags.
After everyone had made their selections, it was time for the Xiong Family to take their leave.
The Song Family escorted the Xiong Family out of the temple.
Mrs. Xiong held Madam Qian’s hand just before getting on the carriage, "When your fourth daughter reaches a hundred days, remember to invite me. And in autumn when the weather is nice, bring your children to visit our home and enjoy some delicacies from the mountains."
The Xiong family’s mountain produced not only pine wood but various other mountain delicacies.
Madam Qian smilingly agreed repeatedly and waved goodbye to the Xiong Family.
Once the Xiong family’s carriage was out of sight, everyone relaxed.
Song Jixue even started clamoring, "We can go fly kites now!"
Everyone couldn’t help but chuckle.
Eleventh Grand Master Song was supposed to leave by this point, but seeing Yuan Yunzhong standing behind Madam Qian, he ultimately decided to stay and go kite flying together.
Old Master Yan felt Eleventh Grand Master Song was being tactless and urged him to leave quickly, "Don’t you have matters to attend to at home? What great master goes fly kites?"
However, Eleventh Grand Master Song was determined to bond with Yuan Yunzhong and pretended not to understand, saying, "It’s rare for us to come out. While the ladies fly kites, we can hike and enjoy the outdoors. We can keep each other company on the way back. Why be in such a rush to return?"
Old Master Yan had no choice but to stay as well.
However, Yuan Yunzhong ended up spending his whole time teaching the Song sisters how to fly kites.
More accurately, he was instructing the servant boys to help Song Jixue with her kite flying.
Song Jiyun was sitting on the carpet with her mother, Madam Yan, and Eleventh Grand Master Song’s family, chatting and having tea and snacks. Song Jiyu was behaving properly, holding a kite that the servant boys had already flown. Only Song Jixue was bustling about, adjusting her centipede kite one moment, and following Yuan Yunzhong’s instruction to personally fly a paper kite the next, running all over the hillside.
Madam Yan’s granddaughter was only a year or two younger than Song Jiyun. Seeing the scene, she regretted not bringing her along, saying, "Had I known you were truly here to fly kites, I should have brought her over. Look at your Jixue, she’s having such a good time."
Madam Qian also regretted that Yuan Yunzhong was not their real son-in-law.
But she was very grateful that Yuan Yunzhong took the time to play with Song Jixue, who was grieving her father’s death.
"Lord Yuan is a very good man!" she said, while beckoning Song Jixue over to wipe her sweat.
Just then, the conversation at Eleventh Grand Master Song’s turned to Song Jiyu’s marriage, "With such an elder brother-in-law supporting, even if your daughters were to choose blindly, no one would dare to bully them. You just wait to enjoy your blessings!"
Song Jixue, at an age where whatever she heard seemed right, immediately retorted upon catching a few words, "My brother-in-law said if my second sister isn’t happy, she just needs to bring her children back home. Our family isn’t too poor to support them!"
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