Chapter 6: See, I Didn't Lie to You!

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At dawn, Chen Miaoyi was roused from her sleep by a rhythmic thumping sound. She knew that sound well—it was someone pounding something in a stone mortar, echoing from the courtyard outside.

The moment she opened her eyes, Chen Miaoyi sat up abruptly, anxiety flooding her heart: How did I end up here?

She realized she was not lying on the mat in the main room, but on the bed in the bedroom. Not only was she covered with her own quilt, but also with Xu Mo’s bedding.

She quickly lifted the covers to check herself. Seeing her clothes intact and nothing amiss with her body, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The pounding continued outside, relentless and loud, leaving Chen Miaoyi wide awake. She got out of bed, dressed quietly, and made her way to the door of the main room.

Xu Mo was busy in the courtyard, wielding a pestle and crushing dried mushrooms and tiny shrimp in the stone mortar. He had risen at the crack of dawn, not out of diligence, but simply because sleep eluded him—rather than tossing and turning in bed, he preferred to get up and work.

By now, the mushrooms and shrimp dried overnight were almost all crushed, and sweat beaded on Xu Mo’s brow; his arms had long since grown weary.

Watching him toil, Chen Miaoyi frowned and mused in disbelief: Truly, the sun must be rising in the west today.

At that moment, Xu Mo noticed her. “Miaoyi, you’re up early. Did my pounding wake you?”

Chen Miaoyi shook her head and asked, “Husband, why… why did I sleep in your bed?”

Xu Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Oh, when I got up this morning, I saw you curled up like you were cold. I was worried you’d catch a chill, so I carried you to my bed.”

Hearing this, Chen Miaoyi’s face flushed. She lowered her head and murmured, “I… I wasn’t cold. I always sleep like that…”

Xu Mo didn’t reply, turning away to continue his work.

Seeing this, Chen Miaoyi said nothing more and went to tidy up her sleeping mat.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Xu Mo carried a pottery bowl brimming with flavor enhancer into the main room.

“Miaoyi, come see! The flavor enhancer is ready!” Xu Mo was delighted.

Chen Miaoyi peered into the bowl at the unremarkable powder and couldn’t help but ask, “Husband, can this really make dishes taste better?”

“Of course!” Xu Mo, sensing her doubt, declared, “Just wait, I’ll show you right now!”

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With that, Xu Mo set down the bowl and hurried into the kitchen to start the fire.

Soon, he brought out a reheated bowl of yesterday’s leftover fish soup. Before Chen Miaoyi, he sprinkled some of the flavor enhancer into the soup.

“Miaoyi, taste it and see if it’s different from yesterday!” Xu Mo said as he stirred the soup with a spoon.

Chen Miaoyi took the spoon and sampled a small sip. Her expression shifted to surprise; she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! It’s really different—much fresher and more aromatic than yesterday!”

Xu Mo was thrilled. “See, I wasn’t lying! Ha ha…”

Chen Miaoyi enjoyed the taste so much she couldn’t resist drinking several more mouthfuls, feeling as if she couldn’t stop.

Only when the soup was nearly gone did she remember Xu Mo hadn’t had any.

“Husband, I… I forgot you hadn’t drunk any yet. I… I didn’t mean to,” Chen Miaoyi quickly set down the spoon, lowering her head in embarrassment.

Xu Mo shook his head with a smile. “It’s fine. If you like it, drink more. I’m not used to fish soup in the morning.”

Then he turned toward the kitchen. “I’ll cook some porridge. Don’t worry about me—just enjoy your soup.”

Chen Miaoyi stared in disbelief at his retreating figure, unable to believe any of this was real.

Before she transmigrated, Xu Mo had lived alone, struggling in the big city. He’d acquired some cooking skills—not enough for complicated dishes, but he could make porridge and simple home-style food without difficulty.

Half an hour later, Xu Mo brought a steaming pot of vegetable porridge into the main room.

The porridge was thick and hearty, a world apart from the watery millet porridge of yesterday.

“Husband, how much white rice did you use at once?” Chen Miaoyi, frugal by nature, couldn’t help but feel distressed at the sight.

Xu Mo smiled. “It’s nothing—just a little white rice. If we run out, we can buy more.”

Chen Miaoyi sighed and muttered quietly, “Let’s talk about these things after we’ve paid off the debts.”

Xu Mo immediately said, “Miaoyi, I know I’ve disappointed you and caused you pain in the past, but please trust me one more time—I promise I’ll make our days better. Soon, we’ll eat white rice and meat every day!”

“White rice and meat every day? Heh…” Chen Miaoyi gave a bitter smile, feeling no hope in her heart, only saying softly, “Let’s hope so…”

Seeing her like this, Xu Mo felt an inexplicable ache.

He knew all too well that whatever he said now—no matter how grand or fantastical—could not change the impression Chen Miaoyi held of him.

After finishing her porridge with a side of shriveled salted vegetables, Chen Miaoyi went to the kitchen to wash the bowls and chopsticks.

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With nothing else to do, Xu Mo went out to the courtyard to chop wood.

Once Chen Miaoyi finished tidying up, she saw it was getting late and couldn’t help but ask, “Husband, why aren’t you going to Delicacy Pavilion?”

Xu Mo paused, catching his breath. “Young Master Ning will come pick me up—I don’t need to go myself.”

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of a carriage approached outside the gate.

Soon, someone called out, “Mr. Xu, are you home? My young master asks if you’re ready to depart.”

Xu Mo went to open the gate and said to the visitor, “Wait a moment, I’ll be right there.”

He turned back into the main room and slipped a small paper packet from the table into his pocket.

As he left, Xu Mo told Chen Miaoyi, “Miaoyi, don’t cook lunch today. I’ll come back for you later—we’re going to have a feast.”

Chen Miaoyi was stunned.

But before she could ask further, Xu Mo was out the door, boarding Ning Yongqiang’s carriage.

“Always making grand promises,” Chen Miaoyi thought, closing the gate.

…

Inside the carriage, Ning Yongqiang eyed Xu Mo, unable to resist asking, “Xu Mo, what method have you thought of to help me defeat Wang Shunyang? Can’t you give me a hint?”

Xu Mo smiled. “Young Master Ning, I have plenty of ways, but even if I told you now, it might not work.”

“Why?” Ning Yongqiang was puzzled.

Xu Mo replied, “Young Master Ning, it’s like treating an illness. No matter how many prescriptions a doctor has, they must be tailored to each patient—medicine must match the ailment.”

He paused and asked, “Does that make sense, Young Master Ning?”

Ning Yongqiang frowned slightly, then said no more.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later, the carriage arrived near Delicacy Pavilion.

Suddenly, they heard someone loudly hawking outside: “Clearance sale! Clearance sale! Every dish at Delicacy Pavilion is selling cheap!”

At this, Xu Mo’s brows furrowed deeply, and he shouted, “Stop the carriage!”