In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

The two laughed and joked as they returned to their room. Upon entering, he felt a wave of heat and paused, noticing a small pot already on the dining table, the charcoal beneath still glowing red.

The chopped fresh ingredients were arranged next to the small pot, which reminded him of that delicious taste.

"How about it, my lord? Aren't these preparations enough?" Su Zhen asked when he saw him standing there in a daze.

"Enough! That's more than enough!" Han Zhi shoved the meat bun into Su Zhen's hand, then put down his book box and began to examine everything on the table.

Su Zhen, meanwhile, was eating a meat bun while standing to the side, watching Han Zhi's actions.

He picked up a piece of raw meat with his chopsticks and placed it into the boiling broth. After a quick rinse, he took it out, blew on it gently, and tested the temperature with his lips.

After confirming that it was safe to eat, he supported it with his hand from below and carefully brought it to Su Zhen's lips. He even blew on it to make sure she wasn't burned.

"Eighth Sister, hurry up and try it, see how it tastes."

Su Zhen opened her mouth and put the slice of meat in. After chewing it carefully, her beautiful eyes brightened slightly, and Han Zhi asked, "How is it, Eighth Sister? How does it taste?"

She thought about it carefully for a moment, then said, "The taste hasn't changed much, it's just ordinary soup and meat. My husband boasted so much yesterday, but after seeing it today, he doesn't seem to have any real skill."

Han Zhi's face scrunched up at this point, then he returned to the table, cooked a piece of meat in the broth, and put it directly into his mouth to taste. After savoring it carefully, he felt that it tasted similar to the clear broth hot pot he used to eat.

But why does it taste just so-so?

He was completely baffled, but could only say dejectedly, "Although the taste is really just so-so, Eighth Sister can't go without eating, can she? Let's eat first, and I'll study it again when I have time."

Seeing Han Zhi's gloomy expression, Su Zhen couldn't help but chuckle.

Han Zhi looked over, his eyes filled with disappointment, while Su Zhen sat down beside him with a smile and said, "Why do you believe everything I say?"

"If I say this food doesn't taste good, my lord might find it hard to say; but if I say my lord has another wife, would my lord really go and question every single wife in the house?"

Han Zhi paused for a moment, then called out, "Yueping!"

Su Zhen quickly pulled him back and stuffed half a meat bun into Han Zhi's mouth. Looking at his "harmless" eyes, she laughed again and said:

"Even though you're a grown man, you're still as naive and childlike as ever."

Han Zhi blinked twice, as if he had something to say, so Su Zhen took the meat bun away. But then she saw Han Zhi with his mouth full of oil, and her smile widened. She took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

"I'm just afraid I really do have it." Han Zhi used his chopsticks to pick up some more meat and put it into the pot, gently swishing it around in the broth.

At this moment, Su Zhen poked Han Zhi's head and said in a feignedly weak tone, "What are you thinking about, my lord! I've already tidied up the study."

"what?"

Han Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Isn't it supposed to taste bad? I'd rather listen to Eighth Sister."

Su Zhen said, "I was just teasing you, sir. How could you believe my lies instead of my truth?"

Han Zhi blinked, his mind racing, and finally understood. He quickly took the bowl in front of Su Zhen, scooped out all the meat that had just been cooked, and put it all into Su Zhen's bowl.

Then he stood up again, put all the meat into the pot, blew on it and placed it in front of Su Zhen's bowl.

"Eat more, Eighth Sister. I saw that the meat is still very tender. Eat it while it's hot."

"Why are there so many? I haven't finished my meat buns yet." Su Zhen frowned slightly, feeling somewhat helpless at Han Zhi's sudden renewed attentiveness.

"Eat it all, eat it all." Han Zhi chuckled, then put the meat slices he had just tied into Su Zhen's bowl, and then filled his own bowl with a large portion of rice, placing them in front of Su Zhen as well.

This time, Su Zhen was stunned, and then quickly asked, "What are you doing, sir?"

"One bowl for meat, one bowl for rice, just the right amount," Han Zhi said with a smile. "Eighth Sister, you should eat more to nourish your body. I'll just eat what's left."

"That makes no sense!" Su Zhen frowned, puzzled.

Han Zhi waved his hand and said, "That's normal, eat quickly."

As he spoke, he picked up the bowl himself and fed Su Zhen. While feeding her, he said, "Eat quickly, eat quickly. Eighth Sister needs to eat until she's plump and round. That way she'll get enough nutrition and won't get sick after giving birth to the baby."

"Here, here, there are some more dishes that I'll cook in a bit."

Su Zhen could only be fed until his mouth was full of food, and he couldn't even eat the steamed bun in his hand.

......

Just then, the jarring "woof woof" sound continued at the doorway. The couple looked over and saw Little Black sitting by the door, its food bowl beside it.

Neither Yueping nor Qiansu were with it; it brought the food bowl over by itself.

Su Zhen and Han Zhi exchanged a glance, and the latter quickly understood Xiao Hei's thoughts. Su Zhen also smiled and said, "The hot pot that my husband made smells so good that even Xiao Hei was attracted over."

Han Zhi smiled and then said, "Xiao Hei is a dog, so its nose is naturally very sensitive."

"Then hurry up and add some meat for Xiao Hei. How can we treat a family poorly?"

Han Zhi nodded and said, "Xiao Hei, come here."

Xiao Hei was very quiet. Then it carried its food bowl in and placed it beside Han Zhi's feet, then sat obediently to the side. Han Zhi picked up some meat, rinsed it, and put it into its bowl.

As a purebred Chinese rural dog, the rules ingrained in its blood compelled it to pick up its food bowl, go outside, and eat by itself.

Su Zhen didn't eat much, and with the large portion of the meat bun, he finished eating quickly.

The two didn't say anything more until Han Zhi finished eating. They kept adding meat to Xiao Hei's plate, and the family seemed quite cozy.

After lunch, while waiting for Yueping and the others to clear the table, Su Zhen wiped Han Zhi's mouth. Once all the servants had left, Su Zhen picked up his tea, took a sip, and asked:

"Sir, did you finish eating just now?"

Han Zhi, not understanding why, nodded and said, "It's been a long time since I've eaten so heartily."

"Then the gentleman should be in his study by now."

Han Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Well, it's not time for afternoon study yet, so you can't send me away, Eighth Sister."

Su Zhen laughed and said, "Although I lost the bet with you, my lord, that cannot be an excuse for you to postpone your studies."

"Now that you've had your lunch, shouldn't you remember that there's something else you want to eat?"

Han Zhi blinked, then remembered, and stood up with a smile. Without a word, he simply picked up Su Zhen and carried her towards the study...