"Your grandmother still needs you here. When she's feeling much better, if you're still interested in growing sweet potatoes, I'll have Guang Bai come back to pick you up."
Xie Jiang shot Guang Bai a fierce glare, then looked unhappily at Xu Hengyan.
For some reason, Xu Hengyan immediately understood her meaning. "If I have time, I'll come back myself."
Only then was Xie Jiang satisfied.
Xu Hengyi felt that his second brother's reaction was a bit off.
He couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong.
Xu Hengyan had returned in a hurry, and he left just as quickly.
Xu Hengyi had spent more time in Shi'an Courtyard these past few days than in the previous decade combined.
He didn't dare to come when his second brother was home. Why would he invite trouble?
Facing his second brother was more nerve-wracking than facing his uncle, he didn't even dare to breathe.
He didn't want to come when his second brother wasn't home. The atmosphere in Shi'an Courtyard was the same as his second brother's demeanor.
Now that Xie Jiang had moved into Shi'an Courtyard, things were different. Xie Jiang seemed to possess an innate aura of dominance. Being around her, one didn't feel the solemnity of Shi'an Courtyard anymore.
He also got to eat many delicious dishes he had never tasted before.
Ever since he tasted the food Xie Jiang cooked, everything else seemed unappetizing.
It was a shame his courtyard didn't have a small kitchen. Otherwise, he could have asked Xie Jiang to live there, and then he could eat whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
"I want to eat braised pork belly for lunch."
Xu Hengyi gazed at Xie Jiang with longing, his mouth watering as he spoke. His mother would surely spank him if she saw him; he had no image of a young master from a ducal estate.
"I just saw a piece of pork belly in the kitchen, it's truly one in a hundred. Young Master Xie, would you consider cooking?"
"I don't want to. I'm not interested."
"How can you not be interested in something so delicious?"
"Am I your cook? Take a look in the mirror, do you have that much cheek?"
"Maybe I don't have that much cheek, but..." Xu Hengyi pointed to his own backside, "I took it for you, in a way. Aren't you going to repay me with something?"
"Say that again, for whom did you take it?" Xie Jiang hurled the teacup in her hand, smashing it into pieces on the floor tiles.
Xu Hengyi, still shaken, clutched his backside. "Myself! Myself! I did it for myself..."
Too volatile! Too volatile! How could someone so young be so...
Never mind. His uncle and second brother had to compromise when dealing with this rascal, so it was normal for him to get beaten.
Besides, it didn't hit him, did it?
Should he ask the cooks to try making it? Xie Jiang had made it once before; they should have some insights by now.
Otherwise, it would be a waste of such good pork belly.
Xu Hengyi, unable to help himself, started drooling again.
"Is the meat really that good?" Xie Jiang asked, glancing at him sideways.
Upon hearing there was a chance, Xu Hengyi excitedly said, "I specifically asked the procurement staff to select it carefully. We might not be able to buy such good quality next time."
"Let me see first." Xie Jiang got up from the lounge chair and headed towards the kitchen.
Xu Hengyi's mouth curved into a wide smile.
The two cooks in the small kitchen were also delighted to see Xie Jiang arrive.
They had learned many new dishes by following her these days. Although they hadn't grasped the essence yet, they had gained some insights.
Xie Jiang personally examined the pork belly that Xu Hengyi had praised so highly.
"Indeed, it's good. This pig grew well."
Xu Hengyi seemed to already smell the aroma of braised pork belly. "I told you so! It would be a waste not to make braised pork belly with such good pork belly."
Xie Jiang said, "We're not making braised pork belly today. We'll try a different method."
Xu Hengyi was a bit dejected at not getting braised pork belly, but he quickly became expectant again. When had Xie Jiang's cooking ever disappointed him?