“…A stranger? Which stranger?”

Jiang Ji didn’t quite understand; standing at the doorway of the small hut, he asked humbly for clarification.

What on earth was he so upset about?

“Any stranger will do. A husband just isn’t as appealing as a stranger!”

Ye Li said with a huff.

But Jiang Ji shook his head: “I don’t believe it. In all the villages within ten miles, you couldn’t find a single man more appealing than me.”

Back when Ye Li was clamoring to consummate their marriage, wasn’t he just lusting after his body?

“Tsk tsk, Jiang Ji, Jiang Ji, speaking like that puts you in a lower realm, you don’t even realize how beautiful you are! Once you do, you’ll just get too clingy!”

“…Alright, alright, Lord Li of the highest realm, I am a fool. Please enlighten me so I may apologize properly.”

Jiang Ji stood up straight and bowed to Ye Li, begging for mercy.

But Ye Li wasn’t satisfied: “You’re still putting on an act. When you first came back, your eyes were darting all over the place—were you trying to catch someone in the act?”

Originally, he hadn’t thought of it that way.

At the time, he’d been completely absorbed in the joy of this person’s return.

But just now, while tidying up the kitchen alone, he’d been reflecting on the little details of this person’s return today, and it suddenly dawned on him.

Those shifty eyes of his back then—was he trying to catch a stranger in the act?!

The moment that thought crossed his mind, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of rage.

He was home alone, raising two little ones and running the business—he’d truly given this husband of convenience one hundred percent of his heart!

Yet this husband of convenience, of all people, didn’t even trust him!

How could this not break his heart?

Without even the most basic trust, what was the point of living like this?

Just as he grew angrier the more he thought about it, Jiang Ji cried out in protest: “I didn’t do anything! I was just wondering what you were up to when you closed the courtyard gate!”

“You know, there are plenty of things about you I don’t understand. My eyes darting around was out of curiosity, not to catch you in the act!”

“If I had any such intentions, may I remain a virgin for the rest of my life and never pass the imperial exams!”

He certainly didn’t have any impure thoughts!

This explanation was not only reasonable but also struck precisely at Ye Li’s guilty conscience.

Now it was Ye Li’s turn to shift her gaze nervously.

Not catching someone in the act?

Just curious about those unexplainable things about him?

So it was just a misunderstanding on his part.

But!

The less he could explain, the less he could show any guilt.

Even if he was in the wrong, he had to speak up—he couldn’t let him outdo him in confidence!

Ye Li declared with conviction, “You go ahead and make your vows. Mind your own business—why drag me into this?”

“You may not want to be a Xiucai, but I still want to be a Xiucai’s Fulang!”

Jiang Ji: “……”

He was at a loss for words, caught between laughter and exasperation.

Yet he keenly sensed Ye Li’s posturing.

By not harping on his “catching him in the act,” he was clearly accepting his explanation.

He boldly took a step into the hut: “Master Ye, then how should I atone for my mistake?”

Ye Li remained silent.

How was he supposed to respond?

He’d just realized he’d wronged someone.

Clearly, it was he who should be apologizing.

Seeing that Ye Li didn’t answer, Jiang Ji took another step forward.

The shed was small, and his strides were long; in an instant, he stood directly in front of Ye Li.

Ye Li was covered in steam, mingled with the subtle fragrance of orchids from the bath beans. Jiang Ji’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his large hand rested on Ye Li’s shoulder.

Seeing that Ye Li didn’t push him away, his hand slid downward, quickly reaching her lower abdomen.

He chuckled softly, “Is this how you’re going to apologize?”

With that, he began to crouch down.

Come to think of it, it had been over half a month since Ye Li, and he had been intimate.

But rather than seeking physical pleasure, Ye Li reached out with both hands to stop him: “No, kiss me.”

He wanted to kiss Jiang Ji.

He wanted to experience the intimacy of their lips and tongues entwined even more!

Upon hearing those four words, Jiang Ji immediately stood up, stretched out his arms, and pulled him into his embrace. Then, cupping his face with his large hands, he brought his warm lips down.

As their lips met, he closed his eyes in contentment.

He longed for and savored this moment.

He wrapped his arms tightly around Jiang Ji’s shoulders and tilted his head back slightly, but as soon as Jiang Ji’s tongue entered his mouth, it shot straight toward his palate.

He tried to block it with his own tongue.

Instead, Jiang Ji took his tongue into his mouth, sucking and licking, his pert nose brushing against his from time to time, while his large hands roamed over his body. Before long, he was completely drained of strength.

He could only go limp and rest in Jiang Ji’s embrace.

But inside, he was overjoyed.

Jiang Ji’s tongue was hot, and his hands were scorching—so hot they made his head spin. His hands instinctively reached out to tear at Jiang Ji’s clothes.

The little shed was stifling and cramped.

Jiang Ji held him as they stood at the entrance of the shed.

The moonlight was cool and gentle.

But the silence around them wasn’t as intense anymore.

He could feel his own heart racing; his breathing was heavy, and Jiang Ji’s was rapid, too.

Just then, a night breeze blew in.

Though it wasn’t cool, it carried away much of the dampness.

He wrapped his arms around Jiang Ji’s neck and called out with a smile, “Jiang Ji.”

“Hmm?” Jiang Ji’s large hands were busy below, and he replied with just a single syllable.

But that syllable was deep, hoarse, and melodious, causing him to shiver again.

Satisfied, he pressed his cheek against Jiang Ji’s, rubbing it gently first before saying, “Lying out here under the open sky like this—aren’t we being a bit too wild and unrestrained?”

Jiang Ji: “……”

He took a deep breath. “Stop using idioms. You’ll make me change my mind and go back down there.”

At those words, Ye Li burst into uncontrollable laughter: “It’s clearly still standing.”

“Say another word, and it won’t be standing anymore,” Jiang Ji gritted his teeth.

On purpose!

He was certain Ye Li was doing it on purpose!

But he dared not ask.

He could only watch helplessly as Ye Li teased him with utter impunity.

“All right, all right, I won’t say another word. My dear husband, hurry up.”

Seeing that he was genuinely getting impatient, Ye Li stopped teasing him.

However, thinking of the newly made stool, Ye Li added, “The second stool that Brother Datong made—we haven’t used it yet. Hurry up; let’s try it out once we get back inside.”

The moment those words left her mouth, Jiang Ji couldn’t help but recall the sight of Ye Li lying bare on the first stool.

That snow-white skin.

Those shapely legs.

And, of course, that face that perfectly matched his aesthetic.

Truly, there wasn’t a single part of him that he didn’t love.

He couldn’t stand it anymore!

He stopped dawdling and moved quickly.

It was pitch black inside the small shed; he couldn’t see a thing and had to rely solely on touch.

But when sight was blocked, the other senses became keener.

He was determined to get it over with quickly.

Soon, Ye Li’s mind went completely blank.

Ye Li was over the moon. Afterward, he cupped his face, almost reluctant to part his lips and tongue from his.

When they moved to the west room, she was extremely cooperative, making sure he got his fill as well.

It must be said, the new stool was a real improvement. Though the width hadn’t increased, the depth had grown considerably.

Not only could Ye Li sit on it, but Jiang Ji could also squat up on it.

Jiang Tong was quite capable; even with both of them on it, it remained perfectly stable. Not a single wobble.

The oil lamp cast a dim, hazy glow.

It draped a soft filter over both of them.

While Jiang Ji feasted his eyes, Ye Li was equally treated to a feast for the eyes.

Her husband’s physique was truly flawless—six-pack abs, lean and muscular, with a defined waist and legs; he was a living clothes hanger.

Add to that his striking face, and seeing such a man standing on a stool, engaged in the most intimate act imaginable with him, made Ye Li’s heart swell with joy.

Even without his husband prompting him, he took the initiative to try some advanced moves.

As for whether his thighs would ache tomorrow or if he’d walk with a limp, he didn’t care at all.

After all, he was enjoying the moment!

Afterward, Jiang Ji carried him to the small shed to wash up. After all that fuss, by the time they lay down on the kang, it was truly late at night—time to sleep.

But both of their minds were still buzzing with excitement.

Even though the room was hot, they still held each other tight, unwilling to let go.

Jiang Ji freed one hand to fan them both; the old house was cool, and the breeze carried a hint of chill.

Ye Li rested his arm around Jiang Ji’s waist, his fingers unconsciously brushing against his body now and then. Thinking of their separation tomorrow, he was suddenly overcome with sorrow.

Fortunately, the private school was about to break for vacation.

Counting from tomorrow, in three days, Jiang Ji would be back.

With no wheat harvest this time, they’d have a little more time together.

“By the way, when is Bao Beiyuan’s good brother coming to pick up the preserved eggs?” He remembered this and hurriedly asked.

“In the next couple of days. Bao Beiyuan will bring him over then.” Jiang Ji didn’t know the exact time either.

It would be within the next couple of days, more or less.

Ye Li sighed a little: “Ah, preserved eggs are really going to take off.”

“As you said, there aren’t actually that many,” Jiang Ji remarked.

At dinner, Ye Li and the two little ones chatted back and forth, explaining in detail how the entire village had made preserved eggs.

Of the twenty-two households in the village, all twenty-one remaining households had started making preserved eggs.

Compared to other businesses, the investment in preserved eggs was small.

But for the villagers, even if just one jar of eggs failed, it would be enough to break their hearts.

Therefore, the scale of each household’s operation was modest.

Earning one or two taels a month was the limit for each family.

Ye Li was no exception.

He had money, but he didn’t dare to invest it all in preserved eggs.

However, now that the entire village was sharing the risk, Ye Li’s earnings had increased significantly.

Ye Li’s household contributed one hundred wen per month. Excluding the households of Jiang Liu and Jiang Tong, the remaining nineteen households contributed a total of one thousand nine hundred wen.

That was nearly two taels of silver.

That wasn’t a small amount.

Add in the two taels from Bao Beiyuan’s share, and thanks to others, Ye Li now has an income of four taels a month.

This life is even better than that of a landlord.

A landlord only collects rent twice a year, but Ye Li gets to sit back and count money every month.

He pursed his lips, his feelings somewhat complicated.

With such an outstanding Fulang, of course, he was happy.

But Ye Li had far too many secrets. A country bumpkin who knew both medicinal formulas and classical idioms…

Yet he dared not ask.

He hadn’t dared to ask before because he feared Ye Li wouldn’t give a straightforward answer, leaving him in an awkward position.

Now he didn’t dare ask, not just because of the awkwardness—he feared far more than that.

Never mind.

Just like before, he’d avoid the subject.

He’d bury his head in the sand.

Having made up his mind, he exhaled quietly and was about to blow out the oil lamp when Ye Li suddenly struck up a conversation with him: “It’s true, this business won’t make us rich.”

“In our village, our family used to be the poorest, and Uncle Jiang’s was the richest—though Uncle Jiang wasn’t exactly wealthy either. As for the rest of the villagers, their lives were just average.”

“So, I’ve been thinking about whether we could find another way to make money.”

The village head was the lowest-ranking official in Daxia; the imperial court only distributed grain and cloth each season, and Jiang Fuzheng received no salary in cash.

He oversaw six surrounding villages, but he didn’t exploit the villagers. He simply relied on the reward money he’d received—which was slightly more than what his father had received—to purchase a few acres of land.

On top of that, villagers would bring him food and drink whenever they sought his help, which made his household appear relatively well-off.

But in reality, his children and grandchildren had to work the fields every day, just like any other farmer.

Moreover, his daily expenses were considerable. Since Yezaopo was close to the county seat, he had to spend money on drinks and meals to build relationships with the officials there.

If even Jiang Fuzheng, a village head, lived like this, the lives of the other villagers were merely at a level just above the subsistence line—though not far from it.

If a major misfortune struck a household, they would have to sell their land.

Therefore, Aunt Qiumei approached Jiang Fuzheng, hoping to learn how to make preserved eggs.

Jiang Fuzheng was quite enthusiastic about the idea, hoping to help the villagers earn a little extra income.

But the profit from preserved eggs—just one or two taels a month—wasn’t much, and it would do little to improve the villagers’ financial situation.

Yezaopo was so close to Beiyang County. With such a large market right there, it would be a real shame not to seize the opportunity and come up with something new.

Jiang Ji studied his expression closely and asked curiously, “What new source of income?”

Ye Li said, “I already have an idea, but whether it can be implemented depends on how the preserved egg business goes. If everyone really keeps the recipe to themselves, then I’ll definitely have to give everyone a hand.”

“After all, this opportunity is beneficial to me as well.”

Jiang Ji: “……You’re keeping it a secret from me, too?”

His tone carried a clear sense of grievance.

Ye Li couldn’t help but laugh.

Ye Li sat up, leaning against the wall at the head of the bed, and looked at him with a smile: “My dear husband, why would I keep it a secret from you?”

Jiang Ji also sat up, stretched out his long arm, and pulled her into his embrace: “Then tell me.”

Ye Li wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck and said with a smile, “My money-making scheme is to set up a small village-scale workshop. This workshop will specialize in producing tofu puffs and skewered meat.”

“With Beiyang County right behind us, we’ll be able to sell as many tofu puffs and skewers as we want. There are so many ways to eat these two foods—it’s not just limited to sandwiches.”

“By then, I’ll be able to shake off this leash, stop worrying about the day-to-day, and just collect my share of the profits.”

“It’s a win-win for both of us. Everyone’s happy. Don’t you think so?”

Jiang Ji: “……”

He stared into Ye Li’s sparkling eyes. After a moment, he nodded slowly: “This is a solid business opportunity—I can’t find a single flaw in it.”

“Right? I can’t find any flaws either. Now it all depends on whether the villagers keep their word.”

Ye Li wore a smug expression.

Jiang Ji really liked that look on his face, and seeing it, a smile spread across his own face: “If a few people don’t keep their word, then you just let the trustworthy ones participate.”

“Actually, that’s exactly what I was planning. I’m so eager to shake off this leash.”

Ye Li nodded.

The work isn’t heavy, but it takes up time!

It tied him down in the mornings and afternoons; as a result, even a quick trip into town became a rush, effectively keeping him tied up all day.

“You’ve been working so hard,” Jiang Ji said, a look of concern flitting across his handsome face. “Why don’t I just take a year off to rest at home, regardless of how the provincial exams turn out?”

The thought of piling all the household responsibilities onto Ye Li’s shoulders was agonizing every time it crossed his mind.

Moreover, the pangs of longing tormented him like a mountain of knives or a cauldron of boiling oil.

After all, life at home had improved…

But Ye Li shook his head.

Still, he smiled: “It’s enough that you know how hard I’m working.”

“I’m easy to please. As long as you understand in your heart, I’ll gladly endure any hardship.”

“……”

Jiang Ji sighed helplessly, then leaned in and kissed his lips.

Ye Li smiled triumphantly, wrapped his arms around his shoulders, and the two of them fell onto the kang, sharing a passionate kiss.

When the kiss ended, both of them felt a bit flushed.

But as adults, they still possessed a basic level of self-control.

So, after taking a few deep breaths, they blew out the oil lamp and went to sleep.

Jiang Dahu, unaware that Jiang Ji had returned, knocked on the door at the usual time. Consequently, the two, who had indulged themselves a bit too much the night before, woke up with heavy heads.

Ye Li also had a sore groin.

When Jiang Dahu saw Jiang Ji, his initial joy was followed by a touch of worry—wasn’t his nephew coming back a bit too often?

Upon learning that Jiang Ji had come on official business, he immediately cheered up.

“That’s great news!”

Ye Li’s preserved eggs had already gained a reputation in the county seat. This meant that once the villagers’ preserved eggs were ready, they could simply take them straight to the county seat to sell.

Jiang Dahu left with a look of pure joy on his face.

Jiang Ji was also quite invested in this matter. Now that the entire village was making preserved eggs, he needed to find a market for them.

After school that evening, he went to find Bao Beiyuan.

Bao Beiyuan hadn’t expected that everyone in Yezaopo had started making preserved eggs. The next day, while selling his drinks, he made a special detour to the cold noodle shop.

Business was booming now; he no longer needed to go door-to-door selling at the cold noodle shop. By delivering to regular customers, he could sell nearly all the drinks he made that day.

When it came to his own business, Gong Lisheng took it quite seriously.

That afternoon, after Bao Beiyuan finished selling his drinks, he rented a mule cart and came to Yezaopo with Bao Beiyuan.

Gong Lisheng had never seen preserved eggs before; he’d only heard Bao Beiyuan rave about them.

As the seller, Ye Li naturally couldn’t let Gong Lisheng take the preserved eggs away without fully understanding them.

The most delicious way to eat preserved eggs is in a cold salad with cucumbers.

He went to the vegetable garden to pick two cucumbers and peel a few preserved eggs. To make the presentation look nicer, he took extra care slicing the eggs this time, ensuring each slice had a bit of yolk.

As a result, this cold-served preserved egg dish was not only delicious but also visually appealing.

The preserved eggs were translucent like amber, each slice clustering around the green cucumbers in the center of the plate; just looking at the presentation was incredibly tempting.

Gong Lisheng was pleasantly surprised.

Once he tasted the preserved eggs, he was even more surprised.

So fresh!

The texture is so unique!

Just then, Ye Li poured him another bowl of rice wine.

He picked up the bowl and drained it in one gulp.

Then, wiping his mouth, he smiled and said, “That hit the spot!”

Seeing his smile, Bao Beiyuan felt reassured: “Brother Sheng, this dish has real potential, doesn’t it?”

“Absolutely!” Gong Lisheng replied with unwavering certainty.

“Xiao Yuan, you’ve found such a great livelihood for your older brother. Come over for a drink at my place tomorrow evening—I’ll have Sister Cuihua cook a couple extra dishes for you!”

Bao Beiyuan nodded with a smile: “That sounds wonderful. I’ll definitely be there.”

Ye Li also smiled: “Brother Sheng, why don’t you learn how to make the cold-served preserved eggs? That way, you can teach Sister-in-law Cuihua when you get back.”

“Of course,” Gong Lisheng agreed.

He studied the recipe for cold-served preserved eggs carefully, then counted the eggs, paid Ye Li in copper coins, and set off for the county seat in his mule cart.

As he rode along, he cracked his whip through the air with a loud crack—he was in such high spirits he felt like singing out loud.

He had a hunch that the cold-served preserved eggs would sell exceptionally well.

His cold noodle shop was bound to do even better business than when his father was in charge!

His family’s cold noodle shop was still a bit small. Not only was the shop itself small, but they had only rented a single room in the courtyard behind it. After his father stopped cooking, he had no choice but to return to the countryside.

With the couple busy running the business, they often had to send their child back to the countryside as well.

He didn’t expect to earn enough to buy a large courtyard like the Bao Family Noodle House.

If he could rent the entire compound where he currently lives, bringing the whole family together, he would be perfectly content.