The Laid-back Life of a Stepmother

A meal revealed to Wen Ye what a man looks like when he's making clever arguments.

If Xu Yuejia had become a profligate, ten Duke Xu’s would not be enough to foot his bills.

Wen Ye felt inferior, after all, she always brought warmth to Madam Lu, what has Duke Xu received from Xu Yuejia?

Possibly just endless silence?

Wen Ye suddenly felt the urge to mourn for Duke Xu in silence.

Before leaving the Juexian Building, Manager Qin came forward again, with an apologetic smile he presented a food box, saying, “This is right out of our new collection.”

Unlike ordinary green plum cakes, this bore a resemblance to the snowskin mooncakes Wen Ye ate in her previous life, the white and slightly cold surface wrapping around a green plum filling.

The green plum was sour and sweet, perfect for summer, never cloying.

The quantity of this snowskin green plum cake sold every day is less than the ordinary green plum cake, and Juexian Restaurant is selling it for the first time. Because it's fresh, it’s selling like hotcakes, those wanting to place a pre-order now have to wait more than a month to get it.

Manager Qin then laughed and said, "It’s a small token, out of respect."

Xu Yuejia shifted his gaze from Wen Ye's face to Manager Qin, thanking him politely: "Thank you, Manager Qin." Manager Qin bowed slightly: “It’s just a box of pastries, I hope you and the lady would not mind.”

Knowing ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‍that the pastries had found the right recipients, the smile on Manager Qin's face became more genuine, “Master Xu and Madam, take care on your way.” Xu Yuejia carried the pastry box until they got on the palanquin, Wen Ye then urged him to open it in a low voice. Xu Yuejia glanced at her slightly bulging belly, slightly confused: “You still have room for more?” Wen Ye covered her stomach and replied: “I didn’t eat other pastries today, it’s okay.”

She was only full from eating and drinking.

Xu Yuejia had no choice but to open the food box. There were two layers, the pastries were small, about the size of a baby’s palm, and there were six on each layer.

Wen Ye immediately tasted one.

And seriously commented: "Delicious."

She went on to eat a few more, after finishing the first layer, Wen Ye, while looking at the remaining six, pondered: “Should we save these for my sister-in-law?” Hearing this, Xu Yuejia looked over her way. Perhaps thinking of something, his lips twitched.

He hoped she really could save them.

At the time of the ‘Dashi’, the palanquin carrying the couple finally returned to the Duke's Mansion.

Wen Ye was holding the food box and parted ways with Xu Yuejia halfway. She needed to drop by the main courtyard first.

Unfortunately, Madam Lu was not in the mansion at the moment, she had gone to a feast, and with so many banquet invitations flying around at this time of the year, she hadn’t returned. After understanding the situation, Wen Ye

handed over the food box to Qingxue, and told her it was the dessert she had specially brought from Yufang Restaurant. She also casually mentioned that she and Xu Yuejia went to Juexian Restaurant for their meal.

Yufang Restaurant is not close to Juexian Restaurant after all.

Madam Lu returned about forty-five minutes after Wen Ye, she attended the lotus viewing banquet held by the Marchioness of Peaceful Distance today. There was a slight hiccup, which caused Madam Lu to return late.

Fortunately, it was all handled well.

Madam Lu sat in the main hall, Bai Mei served tea while Qingxue arranged the pastries that Wen Ye brought back on a plate, brought it up and said, “Madam, these are the pastries that Second Madam brought from Yufang Restaurant for you.”

Wen Ye left the manor today, unbeknownst to Madam Lu, who immediately asked, "Did the Second Madame head out today?"

Qingxue respectfully replied, "Yes, she went to Juxian Lounge with the Second Master. The Second Madame said she happened to pass by Yufang Restaurant on her way back to the manor, so she bought a box of pastries."

Madam Lu glanced at the pastries on the table, her heart filled with thoughts. However, she was even more surprised that her younger brother had also gone out, as she clearly remembered Duke Xu saying that the Ministry of Punishment was quite busy recently.

As Wen Ye left the main courtyard and returned to the west yard, she just stepped into the courtyard and saw Xu Yuxuan's figure.

He was waiting in the corridor, stretching his neck. When he finally saw her return, he first unconsciously smiled, but then somehow, the corners of his mouth dropped down, twisted his body, clasping his belly, leaning back against Wen Ye.

His eyes, which were usually twirling around, were making an effort to steal glances at Wen Ye from time to time.

As Wen Ye approached, he intentionally gave a heavy humph to express his dissatisfaction.

Wen Ye took the light food box from Tao Zhi, smiled, and leaned closer, "Xuan, your mother especially brought you some pastries." Xu Yuxuan was standing under the outer window of the west side study. Inside the study, Xu Yuejia was reviewing official documents. Hearing the voice, he looked up. He saw Wen Ye bending over and opened the food box.

Under the window, Xu Yuxuan was still puckering his little mouth, "Xuan has waited for mother for so long, she was not around, liar, Humph!”

Wen Ye did not explain, she directly took the only remaining Bingpi Qingmei pastry from the food box and held it to Xu Yuxuan's mouth, enticing, "Try it first, Xuan."

Xu Yuxuan opened his mouth, "No--"

Then he accidentally bit off a small piece.

The remaining complaints entered his stomach with this bit of pastry. "Tasty?" Wen Ye asked with a smile.@@novelbin@@

Xu Yuxuan's mouth was still moving. Hearing Wen Ye's question, he subconsciously replied, "Tasty."

Wen Ye gave him the remaining, larger piece, "This is what your mother waited in such a long line to bring back. There was only one left, and your mother didn't even want to eat it."

Xu Yuxuan looked at the pastry in his hand and immediately tried to return it, "Mother eat too!”

Wen Ye looked at the faint saliva mark on the bitten portion of the pastry, decisively shook her head, firmly refused, "Xuan can eat, Mother isn't hungry."

Xu Yuxuan bit off another piece, and after finishing the pastry, the corners of his mouth curled up considerably.

Clearly, he was happy.

Kids are easy to please, thought Wen Ye, thanking her luck that she had saved one piece.

Originally she thought to, keep all six pieces, bring them back for Madam Lu to taste something novel. Who knew that the journey back to the manor would be so long, she couldn't hold back.

It appears she will have to head back to Yufang Restaurant to buy another box of different flavored pastries.

Thankfully, all of Yufang Restaurant's pastries are exquisite, and Madam Lu should like them.

Unbeknownst to Wen Ye, after Madam Lu tasted two of her returned pastries and drunk two cups of tea, Duke Xu also brought back pastries from Yufang Restaurant to the main courtyard.

Invisibly, her image in Duke Xu's heart 'deteriorated' a bit.

Since the last time Wen Ye went to Juxian Lounge with Xu Yuejia, she hadn't left the manor again. The weather was getting hotter and hotter, but thankfully the Duke's manor was rich and prosperous, plus she had Madam Lu's thigh to piggyback on.

Every day, the ice basin in the room was filled, and throughout the day, the room remained chilled.

Wen Ye seldom leaves her courtyard nowadays. If she ever does, it is to visit the main house, especially to show her face to Madam Lu. Today, Madam Lu sent over a basket of fresh lychees, which Wen Ye used to make a lychee and bayberry iced drink.

She sent three bowls to the main house, and drank half of the remaining before Xu Yuxuan could return from his studies with Xu Xuejia, and before Xu Yuejia could return to the house. It was a hot day, and there were mostly cold dishes for dinner. The few remaining hot dishes were relatively light. Wen Ye asked Tao Zhi to serve a bowl for both father and son.

Xu Yuxuan curiously touched the side of the bowl, surprised and exclaimed, "It’s cold!"

Wen Ye replied, "But it’s tasty."

In reality, Xu Yuxuan’s bowl had only been chilled for a moment, it was not very cold.

Yet, for Xu Yuxuan who had never experienced ice before, it was sufficient. He saw that both he and his father had a bowl and couldn't help but ask, "Mother doesn’t have one?"

"I do." Wen Ye moved her own bowl with the iced drink in front of her and said, "Mother will finish the leftovers." Xu Yuxuan did not fully understand the concept of 'quantity', but he understood what 'leftovers' meant.

How could mother drink the leftovers? Xu Yuxuan looked around and decided, "Mother and Father should swap." No doubt, the portion his father had seemed much more delicious.

Xu Yuejia: "

Holding back her laughter, Wen Ye declined: "Your father is the head of the family, he works from dawn till dusk, bringing back pastries for Xuan’er, how can he drink the leftovers?"

After hearing that, Xu Yuxuan suggested hesitantly, "Then... mother can have mine?"

After saying so, he inched his bowl towards Wen Ye, his gaze full of unwillingness.

"Xuan’er works hard studying every day too, he shouldn’t have to drink the leftovers," Wen Ye continued.

Xu Yuxuan was puzzled, "Then, who should drink it?"

"Well, I should. I'm the one with nothing to do all day. It's suitable for me to have the leftovers," Wen Ye responded quite knowingly.

After much hesitation, Xu Yuxuan finally said, "Next time, I'll swap with mother."

Wen Ye patted his head and agreed, "Good, we'll swap next time."

Next time, I'll make sure you get the larger serving.

There was watermelon after dinner. Xu Yuxuan had a small piece, and was content after eating it and went back to his own courtyard.

Xu Yuejia had two slices, while Wen Ye waited till Xu Yuxuan left, then she held half a watermelon in her arms, slowly scooping it with a wooden spoon to eat. The watermelon was grown on a plantation on the outskirts of Beijing and was sent to their house early in the morning. After being iced, it tasted quite refreshing. It was sweet indeed, but somehow, it was not as good as the ones she had back at her parent's home.

Wen Ye couldn't help but admit that Second Uncle Wen might not have been good at reading, but he did have an accomplishment in growing watermelons. Now she realized how spoiled she had been. After finishing half the watermelon, Wen Ye still couldn't help but crave for that old taste.

After pondering over it, she decided to act on her impulse, calling out, "My dear husband, please come help."

Xu Yuejia came over, only to find out that he was to help her make a paste of the seeds.

Wen Ye volunteered an explanation: "I have a second uncle, back in Suzhou, his watermelons are even tastier."

Calculating the days, watermelons from her Suzhou hometown should be shipped to Sheng Jing soon.

Her writing a letter back at this time would be perfect.

Xu Yuejia fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Are today's not sweet enough?" Wen Ye shook her head and answered: "Not exactly." She doesn't feel like explaining further, only hinting, "In a few days, once you taste them yourself, you'll understand."

This year, her younger uncle hired a carriage team to bring over a dozen loads of melons and fruits. Following routine, Madam Shen had distributed some among the houses first, storing the leftovers in the warehouse.

After organizing all of this, she went to check the letter that Wen Ye had sent. After reading, Madam Shen fell into a long silence.

She then instructed Nanny Han to prepare a portion of fruits from Suzhou for each of the ladies in the house who had married out, and to deliver them. Wen Ye received the watermelons dispatched by Madam Shen three days later.

There were five in total, more than her usual share. Wen Ye had Tao Zhi find two maids to deliver two watermelons to the main yard.

The remainder belonged to some other fruits, of which there was plenty in the house, so Wen Ye didn't share them.

When Madam Lu received two large watermelons, Xu Jinglin happened to be there, clamoring to have some.

Madam Lu then ordered someone to slice open one.

Mother and son each had a piece, and with Xu Jinglin's fussy palate, he immediately noticed the difference, "Mother, this tastes better than yesterday's." Madam Lu felt the same, so she had someone inquire about its origin.

They came to discover that these were the melons planted by Wen Ye's Second Uncle Wen and transported all the way from Suzhou to Sheng Jing.

Madam Lu couldn’t help but speak with Nanny Xi next to her, "As I remember, Yangzhou is not far from Suzhou."

Nanny Xi understood the implication in Madam Lu's words and pondered before replying, "You know, Third Master Xu's health has been poor."

Otherwise, who would leave a bustling place like Sheng Jing to return to their Yangzhou hometown to retire?

To ask Third Master Xu to cultivate melons is really a tall order.

Third Master Xu: Cough, cough, cough... Bedridden.

Second Uncle Wen: This year's melons are even juicier and sweeter than last year's!