It's really hard to just farm peacefully.

"Your bodies are too delicate; you can't even eat a little bit of sour meat. Go ask around outside; everyone eats sour meat and they're all doing just fine."

Jiang Yan: ...That's right, those who have finished eating don't have a chance to speak up, and besides, she didn't intentionally pickle this meat.

Her darker side was stirred. Did Chef Li—no, Chef Li the Third Chef who oversaw the meals for the Fu family—carelessly use sour meat or other slightly spoiled ingredients when preparing the large pot dishes?

Thinking about it, it seems there were a few times when the food tasted strange and my stomach felt uncomfortable after eating, but it didn't get to the point of vomiting or diarrhea.

Jiang Yan kept her complaints to herself for the time being. She didn't have any concrete evidence, and if she spoke out rashly, she would easily be seen as deliberately picking a fight. How could she then come to the kitchen to borrow fire and cook for herself in the future?

After giving two spare ribs to the adventurous Chef Li as payment, Jiang Yan stayed at the mansion for a few more days. Upon learning that he had eaten the meat without any ill effects, she quickly took leave and rushed to Dongshan Village with the rest of the spare ribs.

"How could you let someone else try things for you? What if they get sick from it? Wouldn't that be harming them?" Jiang Wang said to Jiang Yan, who was listening attentively with her lips pursed, his gaze deep.

The room was quiet for a while before Jiang Yan finally spoke: "I asked Aunt Panyu again. If she also says it's okay, I'll stew some more and share it with everyone."

Jiang Wang couldn't help but sigh, "Go ahead, call me when it's almost done to taste the first bowl." During the famine years, he had eaten and drunk a lot of things, both edible and inedible, so he was experienced and resilient. He didn't want her to worry so he would try it first.

Jiang Yan went to Aunt Zhou Panyu's house to get the soy sauce jar. Hearing the noise, Jiang Taiping rushed out and greeted her enthusiastically, "Aunt Yan, long time no see! I'll take you to see the big fat pig! Uncle Xiaoli, Awang, and I are taking good care of it~~"

Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I'll come over later. I brought you some pastries and candies, so remember to come and pick them up."

Upon returning, it was immediately apparent that Rongcheng County had become much more bustling. Thanks to the stability and favorable weather of recent years, grain prices had dropped significantly for the first time. She could now buy two packs of the county's expensive pastries without hesitation, without feeling heartbroken.

The hired laborers stacked tall piles of firewood on the outer wall of Jiang Yan's courtyard, and Jiang Yan quickly heated up the stove to start stewing the ribs.

Jiang Wang estimated that Jiang Yan wouldn't come to call him yet, so without much thought, he brought a basket of vegetables to her door. Sure enough, Jiang Yan was in the kitchen, eating from a ceramic bowl.

He increased the weight of his footsteps and deliberately made some other loud noises, but unexpectedly, the usually perceptive Jiang Yan didn't turn around until he had one foot in the kitchen.

Jiang Wang found Jiang Yan's unusual behavior a bit strange. He looked at Jiang Yan and couldn't see any unfocused pupils. He asked with concern, "Are you... alright? Is anything bothering you?"

Jiang Yan shook her head: "I was just tired and lost focus. I just need to rest." She then added: "I just ate, I'll bring more to everyone later."

It would take a while, and as Jiang Wang got older, even though he was still very energetic, Jiang Yan didn't dare to invite him to sit on the small stool next to her. When a high stool was brought over from the next room, Jiang Wang was a little stunned for a moment.

The room was strangely quiet, with only the bubbling sound of the pot boiling.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Wang suddenly said calmly, "Your Grandma Li Hao also passed away at the end of March. Jiang Ying, you must be on good terms with her. Remember to comfort her when you return to the county."

Jiang Yan suddenly felt a tightness in her nose and couldn't breathe.