For no other reason than to make Su Mu’s meals even better.

The culinary skills he had learned at Li Scholar’s house before were just superficial. Because he was cooking for Li Scholar and her husband, he didn’t care whether the food tasted good or not, whether it had good color, aroma, and taste. It would have been best if it poisoned them all.

But now he was serving Su Mu, so naturally, he wanted to make the most delicious dishes for Su Mu to taste.

Su Mu had now become a scholar, receiving 6 pecks of rice and 500 coins of silver monthly. Although their life was somewhat frugal, Xie Yi wanted to make Su Mu’s meals as good as possible within their modest means.

He didn’t believe in what those scholars said about ‘toiling one’s muscles and bones and starving one’s body’. His Su Mu should eat and drink well, so she would have the energy to read books and write articles.

Su Mu was relieved; she had been worried about Xie Yi’s social skills before.

“That’s good. I’m going to the market later, want to come along?” Su Mu asked.

Xie Yi nodded: “Sure.”

He couldn’t ask for more than to walk side by side with Su Mu openly.

They tidied up a bit and went out together.

The market was lively with vendors’ calls rising and falling. Su Mu took Xie Yi around. Now that Xie Yi had firmly taken control of the kitchen, Su Mu couldn’t even touch the kitchen door.

Because Xie Yi said: “Women should stay away from the kitchen, cooking is a man’s duty.” So now Su Mu didn’t even know what the kitchen lacked, and could only watch Xie Yi shop.

However, Xie Yi was very respectful of her tastes. Before buying each vegetable, he would ask: “Sister Mu, do you like this? Sister Mu, is there anything you can’t eat? Sister Mu, what do you want to eat today? Sister Mu, you’ve been eating very light meals recently, let’s have some meat, otherwise you won’t have energy to read books.” He was even more considerate than a nanny.

“Alright,” Su Mu agreed.

Of the 100 taels of silver Yan Ruyu had given her last time, she had about 10 taels left. Adding that to her savings and the monthly allowance from the government, if she couldn’t pass the provincial examination to become a Juren, she could still become a private tutor, earning nearly 1 tael of silver per month.

Xie Yi’s emerald eyes curved: “Then what does Sister Mu want to eat? Shall I make braised pork for you?”

“You can make braised pork?”

Xie Yi nodded: “Yes, would Sister Mu like to try?”

He had watched many times in Householder Qiao’s kitchen, memorizing every step by heart, just waiting for the moment when he could make an equally delicious dish and see the look of praise in Su Mu’s eyes.

Just thinking about it… Xie Yi’s fingers curled in excitement.

“Then let’s have braised pork,” Su Mu nodded.

They went to the meat stall and bought two and a half jin of pork belly, along with some rock sugar for seasoning.

Of course, the honey-coated seeds that Xie Yi yearned for were not to be missed. Su Mu bought him another packet.

“Honey-coated seeds are too sweet, be careful of cavities,” Su Mu smiled as she placed the bulging packet of honey-coated seeds in his arms.

Xie Yi’s face reddened slightly: “It won’t happen, my teeth are very good, I won’t get cavities.”

“Well, isn’t this the great Scholar Su, out shopping with your delicate husband?” Yan Ruyu stood behind her with an ambiguous smile.

Su Mu turned around: “What, do you need something?”

Xie Yi looked at Su Mu in surprise, his neck flushing red hot.

…She didn’t deny it.

Xie Yi lowered his head in confusion, avoiding letting others see the blush on his face.

“Not really, just saw Scholar Su and wanted to come say hello.”

“Oh, you’ve said it, so goodbye then,” Su Mu replied coldly.

Yan Ruyu’s expression changed, and she quickly stepped forward to block Su Mu: “Hey, don’t go, after all, you were once my cousin-in-law.”

“You said it yourself, ‘once’.”

Yan Ruyu smiled again: “A day as husband and wife, a hundred days of grace. Moreover, now that you’ve become a scholar, I admit that we looked down on you before, thinking you were of low status and poor background, marrying into the Yan family for money as a son-in-law.”

After a long string of belittling comments, Yan Ruyu finally came around: “But now that you’ve become a scholar, our Yan family is willing to let bygones be bygones and marry Jiyue to you again. Don’t be hasty, it’s marrying him to you, not asking you to be a son-in-law again.”

Su Mu laughed coldly: “Get lost!”

“You—” Yan Ruyu said angrily, “How dare you curse at me! I’m telling you, our Yan family is willing to marry Jiyue to you, a former son-in-law, that’s giving you face. Don’t be ungrateful.”

Yan Ruyu deliberately shouted loudly, causing people shopping in the market to turn and look at them.

“I…”

“How ridiculous. If you looked down on her before, why did you beg her to marry in as a son-in-law? After the divorce, seeing that she’s become a scholar with a bright future ahead, you come fawning again, and when that doesn’t work, you try to bully her. What a loud drum you’re beating!” Shen Yuxue fanned herself, stepping out among a group of servants.

The body Shen Yuxue had possessed was originally quite heroic, but because the original owner was too lustful, she had a weak and sickly appearance. Fortunately, the body had been nursed back to health by Shen Yuxue. Now she exuded a heroic aura, standing with the air of a female knight that made countless young men’s hearts flutter.

She and Su Mu, one with the aura of a military general, the other with the elegant and slender demeanor of a scholar. Standing together, one strong and one gentle, for a moment the unmarried young men around couldn’t take their eyes off them, not knowing which one to focus on.

Only Xie Yi behaved himself, quietly standing behind Su Mu. Rather than looking at Shen Yuxue, his gaze never left the hem of Su Mu’s clothes.

Seeing that the newcomer was Shen Yuxue, Yan Ruyu snorted coldly: “Who do we have here, isn’t it the great talented lady who submitted a blank exam paper?”

Shen Yuxue acted as if she hadn’t heard Yan Ruyu’s sarcasm and admitted frankly: “That’s right, it’s me.”

Yan Ruyu rolled her eyes: “You really can’t tell good from bad. Su Mu, don’t think this person is helping you now. Her reputation is even worse than yours. Submitting a blank exam paper, insulting the imperial examination system, she’s been ordered not to participate in the exams again before she’s forty. If you hang out with her, your life is over.”

“That’s none of your concern,” Su Mu smiled faintly, walking closer to Yan Ruyu and whispering in her ear: “Although I don’t know whether it was your idea or your father’s to make a scene in the market, let me tell you, don’t worry, I won’t get back together with Yan Jiyue.”

Yan Ruyu’s eyes widened, not expecting that the carefully planned scheme she and her father had devised would be seen through by Su Mu at a glance.

Su Mu looked at her dumbfounded expression and smiled: “Don’t understand how I knew what you were thinking?”

Yan Ruyu nodded.

Su Mu laughed without mercy: “Go home and read more books.”