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“Ruler, am I seeing things? We’re seeing Southern seafood in this Northern town?”

Wang Jiaru didn’t expect Qiao Mai to be capable of making such dishes. She swallowed her saliva.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had this. It smells so good.”

Among the dishes, only one had been tried by the children. The rest were entirely new to them.

Qiao Mai wiped her hands and entered the living room. “Feng’er, you guys go set the tableware. I’ll open a jar of grain wine. Remember, you can’t eat fruits or drink fruit juice with this. It can upset your stomach. In severe cases, pose a danger to your health.” “Yes, they usually pair it with rice wine in the south.”

“Grain wine is the same.”

The smell of seafood wafted through the living room, and everyone couldn’t help but take their seats.

After the tableware was set, Qiao Mai first filled a glass of wine for Old Mister Wang.

“Sir, I promise you that as long as you agree to take in my husband and children and educate them, I can provide you with meals like these every month.”

“Is that so!”

“If it’s false, you don’t have to teach them.”

“Let it be settled then. In appreciation for these meals, I’ll accept them. We don’t need to worry about things like tuition fees. Having a table like this once a month will be compensation enough.’

“Sir, you truly are an enthusiastic scholar.”

Once everyone had taken their seats, Old Mister Wang ignored his wine and reached out towards a king crab.

Wang Jiaru reached out for a large lobster, while Wang Zihan wanted the oysters. The children were all dumbfounded, not knowing how to eat these dishes. Even Yuan Jiaqi was in the same state, holding his chopsticks in a daze.

With a smile, Qiao Mai guided them through each dish, explaining how to eat them.

The dishes were pre-prepared, and even the crabs were properly processed. It was a matter of plucking the meat out.

Practice makes perfect. After eating it a few times, they got the hang of it.

Old Mister Wang thoroughly enjoyed this meal, finishing all twelve dishes until the plates were spotless.

“What does everyone want for the main dish?”

“Take care of it. I can’t eat dry rations anymore. Could you prepare something soupy?”

“Sure thing!”

Qiao Mai went back to the kitchen and prepared the food personally. From her space, she retrieved a few crabs and made a pot of crab roe and egg drop soup. The taste was exquisite.

Old Mister Wang had three bowls. Afterward, he paced around the courtyard to digest his meal.

Seeing the quails, the puppies, and Dong Zao, he thought the Qiao family could consider raising pigs, as even the birds here were plump.

Pointing at the quails, he asked, “Can these little things be eaten?”

Qiao Mai held her child and said, “Yes, but I won’t eat the ones we raise at home. I’ve watched them grow from eggs to now, and I’ve developed an attachment to them. I can’t bear to eat them.”

“What about the ones outside?”

“I’m not attached to them, so I can eat those without feeling guilty.”

“You’re quite interesting, young lady.”

“When will classes begin?”

“Your place is too small. I feel suffocated staying here.”

Rolling her eyes, Qiao Mai responded, “I bought some land and plan to build a house.”

“Would you listen to my suggestion?”

“Please speak your mind.”

“How about letting them stay at my place? I’ll cover their expenses. They can come back every month for three days. I’ll accompany them. You can prepare a meal like this for me or come over and cook at my place.”

“No, it’s better for them to return once a month. My sons should come home. Otherwise, what’s the point of being a family? Also, I have to continue running my business here.”

“That works. Separation is hard for the older ones. Your husband wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

Yuan Jiaqi blushed and didn’t join the conversation. Qiao Mai rolled her eyes again, thinking the old man was quite cheeky.

“When my house is built, you can come over and teach. I’ll make you a seafood feast every day.”

“I’ll hold you to your word. Build your house quickly. I’m eager to start teaching at your place.”

“Sure thing. By the way, I’ll also give you a three-day break sometime. You can experience the feeling of spending less time together with your family.”

Old Mister Wang glared at her. “Br*t, you won’t let go of a grudge. I’m an old man. As long as I eat well, sleep well, and live well, it’s the same anywhere. It’s not like you youngsters who can’t stand being apart for a while and start to miss each other.”

Wang Jiaru tugged at his arm from behind. “Grandfather, it’s about time. Shall we head back?”

“Prepare yourselves. I’ll send a carriage to pick them up the day after tomorrow. I’ll have a courtyard cleaned up tomorrow, exclusively for them to stay. There’s no need to bring bedding. I’ll prepare everything on my side. Just bring their clothes.”

With that, he left. If it weren’t for the limitations of the carriage, Old Mister Wang might have cleaned out the entire Qiao household.

After sending them off, the matter of hiring a teacher was also settled, relieving the weight in her heart.

Back in the living room, Yuan Jiaqi bowed deeply to her.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Chuan’er and I wouldn’t have had this opportunity. In the future…”

“Enough about the future. I’ve bought a hundred acres of land. No matter what, you have to get a Recommended Scholar title. Dealing with taxes every season is too troublesome.”

“I will do my best!”

“That’s right. From now on, speak less about empty words and focus on doing practical things.”

“Yes, from now on, I’ll listen to Madam Qiao’s orders.”

“Well, everyone’s tired today. I won’t cook dinner tonight. I’ll take Ling’er to rest. ”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Qiao Mai carried Ling’er back to the room. Yuan Jiaqi looked at her door and couldn’t help but tear up.

Qiao Mai wasn’t in a rush to draw her design after resting. After preparing well, she packed their luggage.

She prepared one large trunk for each. Inside were their everyday clothes, as well as writing materials. Although Old Mister Wang said they would prepare everything, using someone else’s things wouldn’t be appropriate. After all, they hadn’t even given him anything.

The four of them would be like students in a school, just that their meals and accommodations were provided.

After getting everything ready, she called the family members into the room and reminded them again.

“The Capital is large, and there are many human traffickers. Try not to go out.”

“I won’t let them go out. Even if they want to, I’ll hire a carriage and let them see the outside from the carriage.”

Qiao Mai took out four money pouches, giving the largest to Yuan Jiaqi and a smaller one to each of the three children.

“Here are some silver coins. Take them in case of emergencies.”

“I have some with me too.”

“These are for self-defense. I know you don’t have much left.”

Yuan Jiaqi’s expression softened. He had spent a hundred taels of silver to transfer his household registration and another hundred taels to his parents. He didn’t have much left. Qiao Mai could see right through him.

He owed her so much. Even if he sold his life to repay the debt now, it was not enough.

He might not want to owe other people, but for some reason, he felt the more he owed Qiao Mai, the better. The more he owed, the more he felt willing to spend his whole life repaying.

Sure enough, the carriage from the Wang family arrived on the agreed-upon day. Qiao Mai hired a carriage from the town, loaded it with their belongings, and followed the Wang family’s carriage.

She held Ling’er and bid farewell at the courtyard gate.

It wasn’t a long journey, and they would be back soon. There was no need to be reluctant.

She would be fine, but the children held onto the windows, tears streaming down their faces. A month without their mother’s food must be really uncomfortable.

And their pet quails, Wu Zhui, Sai Xue, Dong Zao — They wouldn’t be able to see them for a long time.

With just Qiao Mai alone to care for Ling’er without anyone to help, how hard it must be! Thinking of this, the three children started crying in the carriage.

Yuan Jiaqi didn’t feel well either. They had met by chance, but she saved him and his son. They treated each other with respect and lived as closely as a family.

In the days they had spent together, he had grown accustomed to her presence, enjoyed her cooking, and cherished their conversations.

Even though their separation would be brief, he felt like a small piece of his heart was empty.

“Don’t cry. If you think your mother is working hard, then study well. Exercise every morning and practice the martial arts your mother taught you. Don’t disappoint her.”

“Yes, Father. We won’t let Mother down.”

“That’s right. Your mother and sister are women. We are men. We must become strong and excel in both literary and martial arts to protect them.. What do you say?