Chapter 29: Eating Together with Jiang Li

Mu Jingxun then told Jiang Li what happened after she left. After listening to Mu Jingxun’s explanation, Jiang Li burst into laughter.  Someone as scheming as Peng Zhigang deserved to be treated that way.  In a good mood, Jiang Li took out the remaining wild chicken to prepare it. Mu Jingxun again volunteered to help.

Jiang Li didn’t object. “Okay, help me with this. I’ll treat you to more meat today.” Mu Jingxun, remembering the delicious rabbit meat Jiang Li had given him last time, eagerly anticipated tasting her wild chicken. Bai Ziyong, hearing there would be chicken for lunch, was also delighted. Mu Jingxun processed the chicken, while Bai Ziyong diligently chopped it into pieces and cleaned it before giving it to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li found the two quite thoughtful, saving her a lot of trouble.  With the chicken prepared, Jiang Li went back inside to cook. Although lunch was just one dish – chicken and mushroom stew – it was more than enough for her.

 Jiang Li cleaned the mushrooms; the chicken was already delicious, but stewing it with mushrooms made it even more mouthwatering. Jiang Li rolled some dough and stuck it around the edge of the pot. The bread soaked in the chicken broth was naturally delicious. The aroma of the chicken made the other educated youths cry out in longing.

They wished they could also have meat. After the chicken stew was ready, Jiang Li served a large bowl to Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong, along with some bread. Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong were also preparing lunch; they had stir-fried two small green vegetables and cooked rice, waiting for the chicken Jiang Li was bringing.

The aroma had already made their mouths water.  As soon as Jiang Li delivered the chicken, they devoured it. Jiang Li’s chicken and mushroom stew was truly amazing. Bai Ziyong exclaimed as he ate, “Brother Xun, Jiang Zhiqing’s cooking is so good! If we could cook together with Jiang Zhiqing, we’d have a feast. We have plenty of good ingredients, but our cooking isn’t very good. It feels like we’re wasting good food.

” Mu Jingxun, who initially thought his cooking was acceptable, realized in comparison to Jiang Li’s, that he was indeed wasting ingredients. Jiang Li’s cooking was excellent, even better than the state-run restaurant.  Enjoying Jiang Li’s cooking, Mu Jingxun considered the idea of sharing meals with her. He just wasn’t sure if she would agree.

He decided to ask her; what if she said yes? If they shared meals with Jiang Li, they could enjoy delicious food every day. With this in mind, after lunch, Mu Jingxun washed the bowl Jiang Li had used and returned it, taking the opportunity to ask about sharing meals. “Jiang Zhiqing, I want to discuss something with you.

” Jiang Li looked at Mu Jingxun. “Say it.”  Mu Jingxun, under her gaze, felt inexplicably nervous and flustered. He hadn’t felt this way with other girls before. “Jiang Zhiqing, could Bai Zhiqing and I share meals with you? If we do, we won’t let you suffer any losses. We can provide many ingredients, and we’ll take care of the coal and firewood. You just need to cook, and we’ll handle the washing and cleaning.

”  Jiang Li found Mu Jingxun’s proposal interesting. She didn’t mind cooking, but she really disliked washing dishes. If someone could share those chores, and she only needed to cook, she found it acceptable. After a moment’s thought, Jiang Li said, “Okay, I agree to share meals with you. But I’ll decide what we eat.

 I’ll make extra portions, enough for all of us. If you have no objections, we’ll share meals; otherwise, forget it.” Mu Jingxun readily agreed. Jiang Li’s cooking was excellent; whatever she made would be delicious.

 Letting her decide what to eat was perfectly fine.  After agreeing, Mu Jingxun shared the good news with Bai Ziyong. Bai Ziyong was also thrilled that Jiang Li agreed to share meals with them.  They would have delicious food every day! Bai Ziyong immediately urged Mu Jingxun to send some of their ingredients to Jiang Li.

 They had cured meat, sausages, and ham – all excellent ingredients that Jiang Li could utilize to their fullest potential. They also brought some grain to Jiang Li.

 Sun Wenwen, upon learning that Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong were sharing meals with Jiang Li, immediately confronted them. “Didn’t you say it’s inconvenient to share meals with women? Why aren’t you sharing meals with me, but with Jiang Zhiqing?” Sun Wenwen’s tone was accusatory.

Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong thought Sun Wenwen was crazy. What was her status? Why was she questioning them? Bai Ziyong retorted, “Why? Because Jiang Zhiqing is beautiful, and you’re ugly.  I can’t eat when I see you. Xun and I can share meals with whomever we want; it’s none of your business!”  Jiang Li couldn’t help but laugh at Bai Ziyong’s sharp words. He had quite a venomous tongue. 

After being rebuked by Bai Ziyong, Sun Wenwen’s face turned green. Ugly? Although Sun Wenwen wasn’t as pretty as Jiang Li, she wasn’t ugly.

If she were truly ugly, how could a country bumpkin have been infatuated with her in her past life?  Even though she knew Bai Ziyong was deliberately provoking her, Sun Wenwen couldn’t accept it, especially the comparison with Jiang Li. Sun Wenwen burst into tears, then glared resentfully at Jiang Li before running back to her room.

Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong again thought Sun Wenwen was crazy. Why was she glaring at Jiang Li? Jiang Li hadn’t done anything to provoke her. Jiang Li, however, understood Sun Wenwen’s glare. This woman had come to the countryside for Mu Jingxun, and seeing him share meals with Jiang Li, she was jealous, considering her a rival.

 But Jiang Li didn’t care about her feelings; she would stick to her plans. After lunch, Jiang Li lay down for a while and took a nap.

The other educated youths also took naps to prepare for the afternoon’s work.  Jiang Li, having already completed her assigned tasks, didn’t go to the fields in the afternoon. Instead, she went back to the mountain, to absorb spiritual energy for her cultivation and to see if she could hunt more game.

 Jiang Li wouldn’t deprive herself of good food.