Chapter 53

The Fan family didn’t have a dining table. Initially, it was because they couldn’t afford one, and later, they felt there wasn’t enough space to place one even if they bought it.

Their thatched house had only three rooms: the two side rooms were for living, and the middle room was filled with miscellaneous items, taking up most of the space. Adding a table would leave no room to walk.

Outside the house, there was a flat, smooth stone that served as a makeshift dining table. However, the children preferred carrying their bowls and finding a cozy spot to squat and watch ants move around while eating.

Shuiqing didn’t mind; she had loved doing the same when she was a child.

At the moment, the five children gathered around the newcomer, Bai Ziqian, and were shocked by his remarks.

“Kidney slices are meat dishes. My grandmother specially keeps them for us to grow strong. Odor? I didn’t taste anything bad,” stammered Fan Jiang.

Fan He rolled his eyes and muttered, “You’re just not hungry enough! After three days without food, even dung would smell good!”

The youngest, Fan Hu, said in a soft, sticky voice, “Not tasty? No way. Mom’s cooking is the best! Everything she makes is delicious.”

Bai Ziqian scoffed inwardly, thinking a rural woman could hardly cook well. These country bumpkins just didn’t know any better.

Then he thought they were pitiful. Growing up, they probably never had a decent meal. When he returned to the Bai family, he would treat them to a feast… No, no, he vowed to rely on himself, not the Bai family.

However, urged by the enthusiastic recommendation of his three new friends, he reluctantly tried a piece of the kidney slices and was immediately stunned.

It was not fishy or smelly, but fresh, tender, and smooth, with a rich yet not greasy taste, completely different from anything he had eaten before.

Seeing his expression, Fan Jiang and the others understood and proudly said, “See, we told you so.”

“My mom’s cooking is the best!”

“The same dish tastes better when my mom makes it.”

Bai Ziqian couldn’t stop eating, devouring large mouthfuls of rice. The rice grains were shiny and fragrant, even better than the best red rice at home.

As he ate, the spice got to him, so he took a bite of the scrambled eggs with loofah to cool down. The loofah was tender, and the eggs were soft, everything tasted delicious.

Could this remote village be the home of an imperial chef or a famous cook…

“What is this?” Bai Ziqian asked as he accidentally ate some yellow, stringy food while deep in thought.

“Such poor memory! I told you, it’s shredded potatoes,” Fan He replied disdainfully but still answered.

Bai Ziqian looked at the shredded potatoes, which resembled ginger slivers but lacked the spiciness, being instead crisp and slightly starchy.

What kind of texture was this? Why had he never tasted it before?

“Are potatoes unique to your area? I’ve never heard of them outside,” Bai Ziqian asked, puzzled.

Talking about delicious potatoes, the children lit up, even Yan Qiu, who usually ate silently, joined in, “My mom found them in the woods. There are plenty. We planted some and occasionally dig some up for cooking.”

“We just divided the family. The vegetables in the garden will take at least ten days to be ready.

I didn’t expect potatoes to be as good as vegetables. They’re tasty and filling, better than black bread!” Fan Jiang said proudly.

“Potato is the name my mom gave it, but my brother and I prefer calling it ‘black egg,’” Fan He said meaningfully.

Hearing the term “black egg,” Bai Ziqian regretted using a pseudonym that was the complete opposite of his real name.

But he had no choice now and had to ask, “Why?”

Fan Hu answered in his babyish voice, “Because it’s black! When you dig it up, it’s black and round, just like a black egg.”

Bai Ziqian: … So simple and crude.

After finishing the last bite of his meal, under the enthusiastic gazes of his new friends, he stiffly commented, “The presentation isn’t refined, the pairing isn’t visually appealing, and the flavor is too strong. There’s much room for improvement.”

The five children stared in disbelief.

Shuiqing laughed but didn’t take it to heart. However, she wouldn’t let an idle young man just eat without working.

In their household, even if a formidable person like the Bull Demon King visited, they would have to plow two acres before leaving.

With a warm smile, she asked Bai Ziqian, “Hei Zi, are you full?”

Bai Ziqian nodded. Whether he enjoyed it or not, he was indeed full.

The bowl, bigger than his head, had been empty. He thought he wouldn’t finish it but ended up eating every grain—because he was starving from not eating all day.

Yes, it was because he was very hungry. Tomorrow, he definitely wouldn’t finish it.

Seeing his nod, Shuiqing asked kindly, “What kind of work can you do?”

Bai Ziqian looked blankly. Work?

What work could he possibly do? Even dressing and washing had been done by servants.

Oh right, he was no longer in the Bai family, no servants anymore.

Shuiqing patiently inquired, “Boiling water? Mixing feed and feeding chickens? Farming and planting vegetables? Washing clothes…”

With each question, Bai Ziqian shook his head blankly.

Shuiqing didn’t get angry and gently explained, “It’s okay if you don’t know. I’m not asking to test your skills, just letting you know there’s so much work;

Yan Qiu and the others can do it. You’ll follow them tonight to learn, and by tomorrow, you’ll be doing it yourself.”

Bai Ziqian’s mouth dropped open, asking, “Start tomorrow?”

“Is there a problem? Even seven-year-old Fan Hu can do these tasks. You can’t learn in one day?” Shuiqing asked.

Bai Ziqian, with his stubborn nature, lifted his head proudly, “Of course, I can!”

Shuiqing: … Great, he’s suited for reverse psychology.

Bai Ziqian suddenly realized he was being goaded and gritted his teeth, asking, “What about the wages?”

“Wages?”

Bai Ziqian always knew his family, being merchants, valued profit, but the Bai family still paid the servants, let alone hired workers!

Wasn’t he just like a hired hand now?

“I’m like a hired hand. Shouldn’t I get wages?”

If he got paid, he could save up and take it back to show his parents that he could earn money on his own.

“I’m providing you with meals. Three full meals are your wages. Or you can ask around the village if anyone would feed you three meals a day,” Shuiqing didn’t mention that he had just vowed to repay their kindness; she spoke only in practical terms.

A young master from a wealthy family wanting to experience a peasant’s life? She had to play along, right?

She would make sure he had an unforgettable experience!

“Three meals aren’t enough,” Bai Ziqian began to protest, but Fan Jiang and the others started chattering.

“No one in the village eats white rice. They have black rice porridge and cornmeal bread.”

“Not three meals, either. Now that it’s the off-season, it’s two meals a day, half-dry, half-wet.”

“Are you dumb? You know it’s the off-season. How can our village hire people? Even if they did, they wouldn’t hire a boy barely older than us.”

“Maybe to peel chicken head rice.”

“Does he look like he can peel chicken head rice with those hands?”