Wang Yongzhu yawned and said, "Ordinary folks have to work hard all year just to barely get by, who has the ti to play this? Besides, n have to socialize outside, at most it’s just the won in the house calling a couple of friends to pass the ti."
She really wasn’t worried. In this era, productivity is underdeveloped, and most people still have to hustle for their daily als without much free ti.
Even for the n, aren’t the taverns and brothels enticing enough?
Even in her own ti, Mahjong existed for many years, but in ancient tis, it was rely sothing for the won of wealthy families to spend their spare ti on.
It was unheard of for regular folks to play this.
As she spoke, she forced herself to calculate a bill for Song Chongjin, noting that these hundreds of Mahjong tiles are all handcrafted, which makes them quite expensive.
She had a few sets custom-made to send as New Year gifts to the Capital City, which used jade in their making — truly rare.
Which family has the spare money to do this just for so leisure activity?
For ordinary families, even using cheap materials like wood is possible, but where is the ti?
Song Chongjin did the math and agreed, realizing he was worrying unnecessarily.
The night passed without a word.
Everyone woke up late the next day.
Song Chongjin fared better, as he was used to his biological clock, so despite being slightly late, it wasn’t troubleso.
But when he went to handle affairs at the County Yan, he couldn’t resist a yawn, prompting Jian Huaifeng to ask, "Sir, you seem lacking in energy today, did you not rest well last night?"
Song Chongjin ntioned staying up late playing Mahjong, and Jian Huaifeng expressed interest, "Such a fine item? You shouldn’t keep it to yourself, how about sending soone to the back yard to ask Madam to bring this Mahjong for the old man to see?"
Song Chongjin could only laugh, sending soone to the back yard, where Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang were playing along with Li Xia and Gu Yu, completing a round already.
Upon hearing Jian Huaifeng wanted a look, before Wang Yongzhu could even respond, Old Granny Zhang hugged the tiles saying they were a custom gift from her daughter, ant solely for her, and not to be loaned.
She instructed Song Xiaomao, who ca to borrow, to reply that if Mr. Jian likes them, she will have a set made for him in a few days.
Song Xiaomao rubbed his head and delivered the ssage.
Jian Huaifeng rely looked at Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin scratched his nose, "Well, how about, sir waits a few more days?"
Already feeling anxious, he thought he might have offended his mother-in-law and considered sending soone out to buy the most authentic sheep broth from the county to make ands.
To Jian Huaifeng’s judgnt, his master was young and capable, resourceful, patient, and not stubborn, and well-rounded, though still adhering to scholarly principles.
With ti, having the Duke Weiguo and Gu Family as backing, his future would be limitless.
Just one thing, Jian Huaifeng found hard to comnt on.
Which is extre fear of his wife, extending even to fear of his mother-in-law!
Of course, cough cough, if he had such a fierce wife who could nab water bandits as effortlessly as fishing, he would be scared too!
Yet, serving his mother-in-law more attentively than his own parents, always keeping her in mind, but getting estranged from his father in the Capital, was sothing Jian Huaifeng rarely saw.
Seeing Song Chongjin’s expression, he knew getting Mahjongs from him was hopeless.
The less hope there was, the more Jian Huaifeng wanted to see it.
To intrigue such a self-controlled person as Song Chongjin into losing track of ti, how could he not be curious?
Moreover, Jian Huaifeng knew Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu always respected him, never withholding any good things from him.
For Old Granny Zhang to protect them so carefully ant they were surely extraordinary; Jian Huaifeng’s curiosity was already piqued.
Upon deciding, Jian Huaifeng spent the entire morning next to Song Chongjin, and when he heard Song Chongjin instructing Song Xiaomao to buy the most reputed sheep broth, he couldn’t help but salivate.
The county’s sheep broth belongs to a hundred-year-old shop’s branch from Linshui. Rumor has it; it was originally started by the Ma Family brothers.
These two brothers, one excelled in slaughtering and chopping sheep, reportedly mastered the knife like magic. Under his hands, the sheep at obeyed with a few swift cuts separating bone from at perfectly clean, and could slice at paper-thin.
The other prepared excellent sheep broth; the cooked at was rich but not greasy, served with his secret sauces, truly delicious.
The broth was milky white, without any foul sll, also tasting fresh and sweet.
Not to ntion, their fried lamb liver was super tender! Fried lamb tripe was exceptional.
And there was lamb hoof broth, stewed to perfection, lting in the mouth, making everyone praise it.
Since settling in Chicheng County, upon recomndation, Song Chongjin bought so ho for Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang to taste.
Old Granny Zhang loved their lamb hoof broth and fried lamb liver, but in this weather, frying lamb liver got cold upon bringing it back. Although reheated, it was tasty but not as good as fresh.
After Old Granny Zhang’s severe illness, Wang Yongzhu took extra care regarding her health. In winter, as Chicheng had few vegetables, eating unchecked made them develop excess heat soon after.
Despite Wang Yongzhu brewing cooling herbal tea, she remained cautious, advising consumption once every ten or more days and not too much at a ti.
Song Chongjin counted the days and reckoned almost ten days had passed, instructing to buy Old Granny Zhang’s favorite lamb hoof broth and Yongzhu’s favorite sheep broth.
Jian Huaifeng quickly added, "And slice a pound of lamb, bring extra dipping sauce—"
Song Xiaomao agreed and went.
With lamb and broth on offer, Jian Huaifeng stuck around, staying in Song Chongjin’s study, claiming matters were unimportant, until seeing Song Xiaomao return with two big food boxes.
Seeing the ti, Jian Huaifeng approached Song Chongjin, "Sir, given the hour, lunch is probably ready. I’m shalessly tagging along to the backyard for a bowl of sheep broth to warm up against the cold."
What could Song Chongjin say?
He could only take Jian Huaifeng to the backyard.
Luckily, Wang Yongzhu had learned her lesson from yesterday. As noon approached, she suggested taking a break, stating sitting for too long wasn’t good.
Perfect timing to get so exercise; it wouldn’t be too late to continue after eating.
Old Granny Zhang was slightly reluctant, but hearing Yongzhu say they could play Mahjong with stakes in the afternoon, her eyes lit up instantly.
In her mind, considering she mostly won in the morning, adding stakes could amount to quite a lot of Silver Coins in winnings.
With such thoughts, she decided, "Eat first! Continue after eating!"
Though Gu Yu and Li Xia were disheartened, as Gu Yu barely learned to play, struggling with card grabbing and playing, moving extraordinarily slow, yet fortunately, everyone patiently awaited her.
Having hardly won in the morning, if playing with stakes in the afternoon, she feared her monthly allowance might vanish.
Wang Yongzhu knew these two maids, one was hopeless at winning, the other afraid to win, thus she intended to say that she would supply the money for playing, losing was her responsibility, winning was theirs.
Then she heard soone announce that Song Chongjin and Mr. Jian were coming.
Upon hearing, Old Granny Zhang understood quickly, promptly urging everyone to tidy up the Mahjong, lest Mr. Jian fix upon it; if he requested directly, would she not give it? Or just not give it?
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