Chapter 48

Sister-in-law Zhang looked at him skeptically. “You really have a way?”

Tian Yao nodded. “Sister-in-law, could you help me announce my presence?”

After some internal deliberation, Sister-in-law Zhang pressed Tian Yao’s shoulder. “Then wait here for a bit. I’ll go ask for you.”

In the main courtyard of the Liu residence, the Young Madam was vomiting violently. Having eaten little in recent days, she was only retching up bile.

Two maidservants were helping soothe her. Young Master Liu also stayed by her side, never leaving. “The kitchen staff are all a bunch of useless fools! They still brag about their ancestors being imperial chefs, yet my wife won’t even glance at what they make.”

The Young Madam felt a little better and said in a soft voice, “Don’t blame them. It’s just my constitution being weak, that’s all.”

The Young Madam was a young lady from the Prefectural City. Raised in a well-bred, proper manner since childhood, she would not lightly do things like punish the servants.

“At this rate, with my wife eating and drinking next to nothing, what’s to be done?!” Young Master Liu paced the room, extremely agitated.

It was at this time that Sister-in-law Zhang arrived at the main courtyard. She was just responsible for cleaning within the Liu residence and normally had no opportunity to come to the main courtyard. But seeing Tian Yao’s earnest expression, and thinking that perhaps he truly had a solution…

She was announced. “Greetings to the Young Master.”

Young Master Liu looked at Sister-in-law Zhang. He clearly had no impression of her, but he didn’t reprimand her, just felt irritable.

Just before he could lose his temper, Sister-in-law Zhang quickly said, “Today, one of my fellow villagers came to deliver something to me. Upon hearing that the Young Madam is suffering from poor appetite during her pregnancy, he said he has a method that could help the Young Madam keep her food down.”

Young Master Liu looked at her dubiously. Sister-in-law Zhang added, “Do you perhaps remember the ger who delivered the betrothal geese for you before? The one you kindly allowed to work at the residence for a while after that?”

At this, Young Master Liu had some recollection. “That ger with the unusually great strength?”

Sister-in-law Zhang thought it was true that Tian Yao’s strength was great and said, “Yes, yes, that’s the one. That very strong ger.”

“Then let him come in.” Young Master Liu waved his fan. “Let’s hope he truly has a solution.”

So a servant of Young Master Liu went to the gatehouse to summon Tian Yao. Tian Yao’s heart was uneasy as he walked, constantly steadying his breathing. The last time he had been here, the place he stayed was the front courtyard of the Liu residence, specifically the servants’ quarters. This was his first time entering the inner courtyard. Everywhere he looked, there were flourishing plants, carved beams, and painted rafters, so beautiful that Tian Yao could hardly tear his eyes away.

Passing through the garden and the lake pavilion, he finally reached the rear courtyard. Tian Yao took a deep breath. As he walked into this place, a refreshing coolness washed over him. He thought to himself, when would he ever be able to give Yu Nian a life where he could also enjoy the luxury of using ice to cool down during the summer?

“The Young Master is up ahead. Go and give your report,” the servant said to him.

Only then did Tian Yao walk forward. He didn’t cower; his steps were brisk and decisive.

“Are you the one who says you have something that can help the Young Madam eat?” Young Master Liu’s fan hadn’t stopped moving. Even in this cool room, there was still sweat on his forehead, showing just how agitated he was.

Tian Yao’s attitude was neither humble nor arrogant. Only then did he say, “Yes. Why not let the Young Madam give it a try?”

“What is this thing?”

Tian Yao then put down his bamboo basket. Inside were the fruits he had originally planned to bring to Old Zhou. He took one out and presented it to Young Master Liu.

Seeing that the fruit was large and vividly red, Young Master Liu swallowed involuntarily. “It does look appealing. But I’ve never seen this before. Is it really edible?”

“It is edible.” Afraid that Young Master Liu would have doubts, Tian Yao immediately took a big bite. “You see, it’s not poisonous.”

They were speaking in the outer room. The Young Madam in the bedroom felt somewhat better and came out. Seeing the fruit in Tian Yao’s hand, she expressed some interest. “Is this the thing you said I’d be able to eat? It does look quite attractive.”

Tian Yao hurriedly wiped his mouth. “Greetings, Young Madam.”

The Young Madam looked at his basket. “Could you let me see one?”

Tian Yao naturally couldn’t hand over the fruit he’d already messily bitten into. So he quickly finished that one in two bites and hurriedly brought out another. He wanted to pass it to the Young Madam but then used his own clothing to wipe it once before offering it.

“I can’t quite tell what it is. But this red color is delightful.” Seeing his simple, honest demeanor, the knot of frustration in the Young Madam’s heart eased somewhat.

“Young Madam, please have a taste.”

Seeing that his wife seemed to like it, Young Master Liu waved his hand and ordered someone to take it and prepare it properly.

The Young Madam looked at Tian Yao. “You don’t seem like an ordinary ger.”

Perhaps it was the approachable air of the Young Madam that made Tian Yao feel at ease. He smiled. “I’m stronger than most gers.”

“You’re rather interesting. I heard the betrothal geese for my wedding were hunted by you?” During that season, all the birds had migrated south, making it very difficult to find wild geese. Yet the Liu family had managed to deliver a pair. The Young Madam’s marriage into the Liu family was, in fact, marrying down. Accepting such generous betrothal gifts had ultimately given her family prestige and shown them the sincerity of the Liu household.

Tian Yao nodded. “My husband caught them. His archery skills are superb.”

Seeing Tian Yao’s inability to hold back his praise at the mention of his husband, the Young Madam smiled. “From the sound of it, you two have a very loving relationship.”

Tian Yao felt a little shy, but once he started talking about Yu Nian, he couldn’t stop. Leaving out sensitive details about Yu Nian’s background, he recounted his story with Yu Nian again for the Young Madam.

When he spoke of the refugee attack, the Young Madam clutched her handkerchief tightly, anxious for them. When she heard they had been safe and unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief.

The Young Madam wanted to ask more, but a maidservant returned carrying the sliced tomatoes. Tian Yao looked and sighed in amazement – as expected of a wealthy household! Even eating fruit required carving it into decorative shapes. Not like them, who just picked it up and bit right in.

But presented this way by the small kitchen, it did look even more appetizing than before.

Young Master Liu came closer. “My lady, does this spark your appetite somewhat?”

The Young Madam nodded. “Let me try a piece.”

The jade fruit pick was cool to the touch. The bright red fruit, topped with some kind of tiny, unknown granules, glistened translucently.

She tasted a piece. She had expected either an overwhelmingly sweet or unbearably sour fruit, but what she experienced was neither. A very unique flavor. But it whetted the appetite.

One piece wasn’t enough. After finishing, the Young Madam wiped her mouth. “I find this quite agreeable.”

Young Master Liu breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Tian Yao. “I’ll take all of what you have here.”

But Tian Yao hadn’t brought much. It was mainly meant for Old Zhou to sample, so he’d only brought ten. He’d eaten one himself, leaving only eight.

Tian Yao was a little embarrassed. “I originally came to visit a teacher, so I didn’t prepare a large quantity. If you need more, I can deliver another batch this afternoon?”

Young Master Liu was somewhat dissatisfied. “If we wait for you to go back and return, the day will be over.” Right now, nothing in heaven or earth was more important than his wife.

The Young Madam, however, didn’t want to make things difficult for Tian Yao. She found this ger, so open and straightforward, rather agreeable. “If it’s convenient, we could send someone from the household to pick it up.”

Tian Yao nodded. “But I need to make a trip to the clinic for a while. How about this: around noon, have someone from your household come with me to collect it?”

Young Master Liu had to reluctantly agree but still kept five of Tian Yao’s fruits.

Just before Tian Yao left, he added, “If the weather is too hot, you can add a bit of honey and chill it briefly on ice. The flavor will be even better.”

But Young Master Liu was somewhat displeased. “My wife is pregnant; how can she touch cold things?”

Tian Yao smiled. “Young Master, a tiny bit won’t hurt. Besides, the most important thing is that the Young Madam can actually eat something, isn’t it?”

Young Master Liu turned to look at the Young Madam, only to see her looking back with hopeful expectation.

Tian Yao added, “This fruit can also be used for cooking. Just a simple stir-fry with eggs, and it becomes a dish that goes very well with rice.”

“It can even be used for cooking?” The Young Madam was a little surprised. She had assumed it was just a fruit, never expecting it had other culinary uses.

Tian Yao nodded. “No need for other seasonings, just a few grains of coarse salt. Adding anything else would be needless.”

The maidservant beside the Young Madam nodded, silently noting this down.

Sister-in-law Zhang escorted Tian Yao out the main gate of the Liu residence. Only then did Tian Yao finally breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, sister-in-law.”

Sister-in-law Zhang was also nervous. “It was my first time giving a report directly to the Young Master and Young Madam, too. But the outcome was good.”

Tian Yao still had three fruits left. He offered one to Sister-in-law Zhang, but she firmly refused. She pulled him aside. “If I want some, I can get some later when you’re back home. Right now, in the main household, it’s not appropriate.”

Tian Yao seemed to understand, though not fully. “Then you must definitely come find me when you go back to the village.”

After leaving the Liu residence, it struck Tian Yao – he had completely forgotten to discuss the price with Young Master Liu!

But seeing that it was getting late, Tian Yao hurried to the clinic. Old Zhou was, as usual, scolding his apprentices.

“Old Zhou.”

Seeing Tian Yao, Old Zhou finally let the apprentices off the hook. “What wind blew you here?”

“I came to bring you something delicious.”

Tian Yao handed him the fruit directly. “I grew this myself. It’s very tasty.”

Old Zhou wasn’t fussy and took a bite directly. Being older, he wasn’t overly fond of sweets. This fruit was quite suitable – not excessively sweet, with a pleasant aftertaste. “This fruit isn’t bad. Why did you only bring me three?”

“If you like it, I’ll bring more next time.”

Only then did Tian Yao state his purpose for coming. “We’ve decided to come for the leg treatment during the autumn harvest break.”

“So you’ve truly made up your mind?” Old Zhou said. “Once his leg is healed, he’ll be able to run off then.”

Tian Yao pouted. “He’s my husband. Wherever he goes, he has to take me with him.”

Seeing that Tian Yao had firmly made his decision, Old Zhou said, “He’ll need to stay here for two months then. Starting today, I have to begin preparing all the necessary medicinal supplies. I’ll need you to pay a ten-tael deposit first.”

Tian Yao nodded. “No problem.”

“During that time, he’ll eat and stay at the clinic. I don’t keep idle hands here, so he’ll have to help with whatever chores there are.”

Tian Yao: ???

“He’s undergoing leg treatment, and he still has to work?”

Old Zhou stroked his beard. “I’m not letting him read those notes of mine for nothing. For common ailments like colds and fevers, he’ll have to help me prepare prescriptions and take pulses as well.”

Tian Yao’s mouth fell open. Wasn’t that exactly what Old Zhou’s apprentices did? He raised his eyes. “Are you going to take Yu Nian as your disciple?!”

“I never take disciples!”

Tian Yao didn’t care about that. He was willing to give Yu Nian his notes and let him help prepare medicine in the clinic – wasn’t that exactly taking a disciple?!

Tian Yao was overjoyed, feeling that this trip to town had been truly worthwhile. “I have to head back first. Next time I come, I’ll bring some dishes I made. They’ll be delicious, a flavor you’ve definitely never tasted before, guaranteed.”

He then jogged to the crossroads, where he saw the people from the Liu residence already waiting for him. They had brought a horse-drawn carriage and invited Tian Yao to get on, which made Tian Yao feel quite self-conscious.

He climbed into the carriage. Inside sat one of the Young Madam’s maidservants, whom he had met that morning – he remembered the Young Madam calling her Yin’er. She nodded at Tian Yao. “The Young Madam asked me to learn how you prepare that dish.”

Tian Yao truly couldn’t handle being addressed so formally. He stood at the entrance of the carriage, looking at the plush carpet inside, not quite daring to step on it. Yin’er pulled him in. “Sit tight.” Then she lifted the curtain and instructed them to set off.

Sitting in the carriage, Tian Yao was extremely tense, afraid he’d leave footprints on the carpet. He sat as if suspended in mid-air.

After a difficult journey, they were almost there. Tian Yao didn’t let them enter the village – it would be too ostentatious. He just had them wait while he went home to fetch the fruits.

When he got home, Yu Nian hadn’t returned yet. He inventoried the remaining tomatoes at home; several dozen were ripe. After some thought, he also brought the handbook with the illustrated recipes. Hefting his basket, he went back.

Yin’er counted the fruits and then prepared to give him silver. Tian Yao paused for a moment and handed her the handbook. “My Little Dad drew this. You can memorize the cooking methods inside.”

Yin’er asked, “Can’t I just take it with me?”

Tian Yao shook his head. “This was left to me by my Little Dad. It can’t be passed on to outsiders.”

Yin’er looked at it for a long time, then took out a pouch and handed it to him. “This is compensation from the Young Master and Young Madam.”

With that, the carriage headed back towards town. Tian Yao, holding the slightly heavy pouch, breathed a sigh of relief.