Feng Jin admired her own business acumen. If things continued like this, she would soon become the wealthiest person in the land.
Wealth and power – wasn't this the life everyone desired? She would soon reach the pinnacle of her life.
Thinking of this, Feng Jin couldn't control her excitement.
"Young Madam, the Young General said you should head to the front hall for your meal after you're done. Please don't dawdle."
She had met the Young General on her way here. He had specifically instructed her to quickly invite the Young Madam to the front hall for their meal.
Feng Jin's hands, which were applying makeup, paused slightly. She then said dismissively, "Tell him to wait. I'll go over when I'm ready."
Feng Jin continued her unhurried tasks, much to Cai Qing's anxiety. She feared being late, which might incur the Young General's displeasure. Not daring to trouble the Young Madam, she worried that all the blame would fall on her, making her situation dire.
"Don't worry, if Ling Mo Han tries to cause trouble for you over this, I'll back you up. No need to be afraid!"
Feng Jin, seeing Cai Qing's worry, patted her shoulder to comfort her.
"Thank you, Young Madam. But could you please hurry?"
She was almost worried to death. It had been nearly an hour, and the Young General must be getting impatient.
If they dallied any longer, perhaps Lu Shi would be sent to fetch them. Fearing Ling Mo Han, Cai Qing only dared to urge Feng Jin.
Seeing Cai Qing's pitiable state, Feng Jin couldn't bear it. She put down the makeup brush in her hand and stood up, adjusting her skirt. "Let's go."
When Feng Jin arrived at the front hall, the place was empty. Ling Mo Han was nowhere to be seen. The table was bare, not even a bowl of soup remained.
Good! Ling Mo Han was truly something. He had learned to stand her up now. She'd remember this.
"The Young General must have left because he couldn't wait any longer. Young Madam, please take a seat. I'll have the kitchen bring you the food."
Cai Qing hurriedly defended Ling Mo Han, trying to calm Feng Jin's emotions before rushing to urge the kitchen. After all, people often said that a full stomach led to a happy mood.
The priority now was to ensure the Young Madam ate her fill.
"Young Madam, look, these are all dishes you like from home. Although the taste might not compare to your home's, please make do for now."
Before the food was served, Cai Qing had tasted it. Indeed, it couldn't compare to the dishes made in their small home kitchen, but it was edible.
Feng Jin picked up a piece of the simplest dish, pea cake, and took a bite. Her brow furrowed slightly as it entered her mouth. It wasn't just a little bit off; it was terribly so.
The pea cake was dry and hard, and the sweetness made her gums ache. She then tried a few other dishes, all of which were abysmal.
After tasting everything, Feng Jin still felt that the simplest, most unadorned bowl of plain congee before her was the most delicious thing in the world.
"Cai Qing, please bring another bowl of plain congee."
She had thought life would be easier in Yun Cheng. Compared to this, Feng Jin almost missed the taste of rice cakes, which she could eat with a bit of preserved vegetables. It was certainly better than having only plain congee now.
Cai Qing brought a bowl of plain congee and placed it before Feng Jin. "Young Madam, didn't you always dislike plain congee? Why are you drinking two bowls today?"
She knew that Feng Jin used to lose her appetite at the sight of plain congee, only managing to drink a couple of mouthfuls at most. Why was she so strange today?
"That's because I have no other choice besides plain congee."
She would rather eat plain congee than force herself to eat those indigestible dishes. At least she could be full.
She could make do with whatever, but her two children couldn't be treated this way.
"Cai Qing, have someone go out later and buy all the vegetables and meat available in Yun Cheng."
"Yes, Young Madam. I'll go right away."
After Cai Qing procured all the necessary ingredients, Feng Jin rushed to the kitchen to cook. Finally, she could properly treat her stomach. The food she had been eating these past few days was simply too poor.
She had almost forgotten that the true purpose of food was to be enjoyed.
After a busy noon, the dishes were finally ready. Just as Feng Jin was feeding the two children, Ling Mo Han returned.
"Today's meal is quite lavish."
Ling Mo Han looked at the table full of delicious dishes, his taste buds stimulated. He had smelled the aroma as soon as he entered the courtyard and was already hungry. He sat down, ready to start eating, but Feng Jin snatched his chopsticks away.
"I didn't cook for the Young General. You should go eat the food made at the post station."
She was still angry about Ling Mo Han leaving that morning. Now, the man returns, offers no explanation, and simply reaches for the ready meal? Was there such a thing?
"Are you angry?"
From his understanding of Feng Jin, when she spoke sarcastically and with veiled barbs, it was definitely because she was angry.
Feng Jin shot him a fierce glare. Did this man have vision problems? Wasn't it obvious that he was asking what he already knew?
"I know I was wrong." No matter what, admitting fault first was the right approach.
"Then tell me, where were you wrong?"
Ling Mo Han was speechless. He really didn't know how to answer. He seemed to have made quite a few mistakes, and he wasn't even sure what he had done wrong today. After a moment of thought, Ling Mo Han gave a perfunctory answer: "Regardless, if my wife is unhappy, it is my fault. It's all because I didn't do well enough. I will reflect on myself carefully in the future."
These were all words taught to him by Gu Bei Chen. He had even said that this was the standard answer, and that if Feng Jin got angry, he should say these words to her, and she would surely calm down.
Feng Jin's lips twitched uncontrollably. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes and heard it with her own ears, she would never have believed that such childish and brainless words could come from Ling Mo Han. It was simply unbelievable.
She even suspected that the person before her was not Ling Mo Han. "Where did you learn those words?"
"Are you not satisfied?"
Feng Jin nodded firmly. "Not satisfied. I even find them somewhat disgusting."
Disgusting... Ling Mo Han's eyes widened abruptly. This reaction was different from what Gu Bei Chen had described.
Instead of the expected感动 (moved emotion), it had made her feel disgusted.
Ling Mo Han mentally cursed Gu Bei Chen severely. He couldn't do anything right, and he even messed up something as simple as this.
He really wanted to return to the capital now and have Gu Bei Chen packed up and sent to Xi Liang, preferably never to return to Dong Chu, to spare him the annoyance.
"These words of yours, Gu Bei Chen taught them to you, didn't he?"
After much thought, only Gu Bei Chen could say such brainless things.
"How did you know?"
"Even a fool could tell. You're truly something..."