CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123: THE LIU FAMILY IN TOWN

After the introduction, it turned out that Young Master Liu had been bedridden since he was three years old, and eating was especially difficult for him. Whether it was medicine or food, he felt uncomfortable after eating.

It wasn’t a serious illness, he just couldn’t eat anything. Even if he did eat, he often had diarrhea, causing him to be extremely thin.

To the point that raising him to six or seven years old almost resulted in him nearly starving several times.

However, previously, Young Master Liu had always been with his parents in the county.

It was only this spring that his parents were busy and worried that the servants couldn’t take good care of him, so they sent him back to the town for Master Liu to personally look after him.

It was around that time that Shopkeeper Liu learned about this matter and sent some vegetables from the Jiang family over as a favor.

Master Liu originally had no hope, but who would have thought that after the servants made the vegetables, Young Master Liu not only ate a rare couple more bites but also didn’t feel uncomfortable at all!

This delighted Master Liu immensely, who personally approached Shopkeeper Liu to request that he deliver vegetables to their residence daily.

After nourishing for half a year, he could finally get out of bed and walk, albeit with some difficulty.

Master Liu knew that the vegetables sent by Shopkeeper Liu were good things. After much persuasion, Shopkeeper Liu finally agreed to introduce them, coincidentally in time for this occasion.

Early in the morning, before dawn, Master Liu personally brought his little grandson to wait at Tongfu Restaurant.

Upon learning that Jiang Hu had been brewing syrup at home last night and was spiritless, they simply invited him to rest in the carriage, while finding a servant to drive the ox cart.

Jiang Hu simply explained to his Second Aunt and also took a large steamed bun. Having rushed out earlier, he too was spiritless and somewhat dazed, and now he was truly hungry.

Visitors rarely came to the house, and both Xiaomi and Tiedan were very curious. Xiaoxue brought out a pot of water, and soon afterward, Xiaomi placed several clean small bowls on a small table.

"Master Liu, Young Master Liu, it’s hot, please have some water."

Setting down the teapot, Xiaoxue glanced at Young Master Liu, "Would you like something to eat? Xiaomi’s porridge is very delicious."

The steamed bun could be left out.

Listening to her father’s explanation, Xiaoxue only felt that Young Master Liu was truly pitiful, clearly having food at home but unable to eat it.

Xiaoxue often went hungry before and could fully empathize with that feeling.

Young Master Liu was taken aback, not expecting the first to ask would be the usually quiet Second Sister.

Before he could react, Master Liu beside him nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, please, Miss Xiaoxue, just a small bowl for Ze’er will do, the rest of us don’t need any."

Xiaoxue nodded, "Oh, would you like some cucumber? Smashed cucumber, also delicious, not spicy."

For this, Master Liu looked at his little grandson. Smashed cucumber is raw, and they hadn’t dared to let him eat it at home; he’d only eaten stir-fried before.

But Young Master Liu was in a slight daze once again and then nodded slightly, "I can try it, thank you, Miss Xiaoxue."

After speaking, his cheeks turned even redder.

Xiaoxue, however, felt nothing unusual and turned to go inside. Shortly after, she came out with a bowl in each hand, one with green vegetable porridge and one with smashed cucumber, and also brought a pair of clean chopsticks.

The small table was brought over from inside the house, where they sometimes rested in the main room, making it convenient to place things on it.

Xiaoxue set the two bowls on it, looked at the water pot, and then at Young Master Liu, "Or maybe drink a bit of water before eating, it will feel better on the stomach."

They hadn’t known before, but after Xiaomi developed a habit of drinking warm water before meals, especially in the morning, everyone else adopted it as well.

Young Master Liu was a bit flattered, "Oh, oh, okay, thank you, Miss Xiaoxue."

"Then you take your time resting. I’ll go help Mother make food." With that, Xiaoxue turned and went into the kitchen.

Jiang Hu wolfed down his food to fill his stomach, asked his Second Aunt to boil water, and picked up a kitchen knife to prepare to butcher a chicken.

Master Liu saw this and felt embarrassed, "Sorry, Brother Jiang Hu, it was such bad timing, how about you rest for a bit? We can just sit here."

Jiang Hu waved his hand, "No problem, it’s time to cook anyway, I’ll sleep in the afternoon."

He hadn’t slept for a whole day and night. Though very sleepy, it wasn’t enough to affect work, and moreover, he had already dozed off once in the carriage and washed his face with cold water, so he felt much more refreshed.

Master Liu immediately called his own servant to help.

Second Aunt hesitated for a moment and then had him help with the fire while she took Xiaoxue to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables.

Tiedan wasn’t much interested in the several guests and played with Xiaohei, while Xiaomi, after pondering for a bit, didn’t move forward either, but went to find her father.

She didn’t want outsiders to see her in an overly extraordinary manner and was also worried that if she chatted with Master Liu a few times, she might accidentally let slip something.

After asking, it was found out that Young Master Liu had no particular dietary restrictions other than spicy and strongly flavored foods, and Second Aunt simply arranged a lunch menu.

A bamboo shoot and mushroom chicken stew, a braised rabbit, a big bowl of steamed eggs, a steamed fish, and stir-fried cowpeas and eggplant.

Today Jiang Hu bought nothing, but fortunately, they sprouted a pot of bean sprouts a few days ago, just perfect for stir-frying one.

After some thought, he also asked Xiaoxue to pick a few green onions to stir-fry a plate of wild chicken eggs.

Considering that Young Master Liu wasn’t very old and might like sweets, he also used sugar to mix a dish of tomatoes and cucumbers.

The lunch was generously made with fine rice, and there was plenty to go around.

Hurriedly busy, they even used the stone mortar set up outside from last night, placed the clay pot to braise the chicken, rushed to keep up with mealtime, and finally finished lunch by dinnertime.

With lots of dishes, ten in total, many being meat dishes, it could be considered an extremely high standard of hospitality for a rural family.

The servant and coachman didn’t want to sit at the main table, and there really weren’t enough chairs, so Jiang Hu used several large sea bowls to give them a bit of each dish to eat at the small table.

The dining table was in the kitchen, a large square table, seating seven people, which wasn’t too crowded either.

Master Liu looked at the table full of dishes, which although lacked compared to his family’s cook in terms of color, aroma, and taste, made his appetite increase thinking of the vegetables his cousin had sent to him.

"Brother Jiang Hu, Mrs. Jiang, today we came unexpectedly and caused you trouble."

Though he wanted to eat, it was still necessary to say a few polite words first.

Jiang Hu hurriedly waved his hand, "It’s nothing, nothing at all. Master Liu, you should have a taste first and see how it is."

With Jiang Hu saying so, Master Liu naturally wasn’t reserved either, quickly signaling to his grandson, and then promptly reached out for a piece of braised rabbit.

"Delicious!" Master Liu’s eyes lit up, and he quickly gave a piece to his grandson, "Ze’er, have a taste, it’s even better than what the cook at our house makes!"

The dishes were mainly made by the Second Aunt. Seeing this, she, who hadn’t spoken much, let out a sigh of relief and glanced at Jiang Hu, who happened to be looking over as well.

"Second Aunt, you’ve worked hard. You should also eat quickly."

Second Aunt’s face flushed slightly, and she nodded gently. Even though they weren’t sitting together, they felt as if they were side by side.

Xiaomi noticed and pursed her lips; her father and mother were at it again.