My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 10 Part 1

Chapter 10 

Huo Shu arrived at the Ji family’s home roughly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn (15 to 30 minutes) after Ji Taoyu had left.  

Ji Taoyu had just returned home, having scattered two handfuls of rice bran to feed the chickens and ducks they kept. After washing his hands, he was about to brew some tea to enjoy under the shade of the courtyard awning when he heard a knock at the gate.  

He wiped his hands and hurried to open the gate, only to see a man nearly as tall as the gate itself holding the food box he had brought earlier.  

“Was it not to your taste?”  

Ji Taoyu couldn’t help but ask.  

Huo Shu lowered his gaze to the little ger staring intently at the food box and replied slowly, “If I said it wasn’t to my taste, would you refuse to let me in?”  

Only then did Ji Taoyu realize he was blocking the entrance. Flustered, he quickly stepped aside. “Ah, Warrior, please come in.”  

“I’m returning the food box to you.”  

Ji Taoyu pursed his lips and, after closing the gate, trotted after Huo Shu.  

Seeing the man’s back turned to him, he ventured, “So… how was the taste?”  

Huo Shu sat down in the shade of the awning, legs slightly apart, and instead of answering, opened the lid of the food box for Ji Taoyu to see.  

Inside were three empty dishes neatly arranged - originally containing osmanthus cakes, a dish of crispy bamboo shoots with cured meat, and a bowl of crucian carp soup.  

The flavors were undeniably good, and all of it had ended up in Huo Shu’s stomach.  

To be fair, Mother Zhao’s cooking was also quite tasty, but between the two, Ji Taoyu's skills were superior - his culinary abilities bordered on refinement.  

This was no overnight achievement, it was the result of constant practice at home.  

The Ji family never lacked for food and drink in the village, with plentiful ingredients on their table, giving them ample opportunity to refine their tastes.  

Though, perhaps this was also honed for the sake of his scholar husband-to-be.  

Huo Shu raised an eyebrow. Why was he even thinking about this?  

“Just some simple home-style dishes, nothing compared to the flavors of city restaurants.”  

Seeing the empty food box, Ji Taoyu couldn’t help but feel pleased. After a modest remark, he carried the box to the kitchen.  

Watching the little ger circle his arms around the box and skip lightly into the house, Huo Shu’s tense brow relaxed slightly.  

By the time Ji Taoyu returned, Huo Shu had already averted his gaze, casually lifting a cup of tea to his lips.  

“Are your parents not home?”  

“Mother is here. Father just left to record this year’s autumn harvest. A mute laborer also went to work in the fields.”  

No sooner had he spoken than Huang Manjing emerged from the house, having heard the commotion outside.  

She greeted Huo Shu politely. Ji Taoyu had already told her earlier that Huo Shu would be coming to discuss something, and that he was specifically looking for Taoyu.  

After asking a few questions and receiving Ji Taoyu's assurance that it was nothing bad, she didn’t press for details.  

Children grew up and had their own affairs, this wasn’t a bad thing. Being able to handle matters independently would serve him well after marriage.  

She exchanged a few words with Huo Shu: “Warrior Huo, feel free to discuss matters with Xiao Taozi (小桃子, little peach) first. His father will be back soon.”  

“Alright.”  

With that, she left to attend to her own tasks, not eavesdropping on their conversation.  

Only after his mother had left did Ji Taoyu sit down diagonally across from Huo Shu. Seeing the man leisurely sipping tea, he took a breath and said, “Warrior…”  

Before he could finish, he was interrupted: “Just call me by my name.”  

“Huo—”  

Though Huo Shu had never personally told him his name, Ji Taoyu already knew it.  

But Huo Shu always seemed so stern, so unlike his peers, that calling him directly by name felt disrespectful. At the last moment, he changed it to: “Brother Huo.”  

Huo Shu’s grip on the teacup tightened imperceptibly. He didn’t look at Ji Taoyu, but his eyes softened slightly in secret.  

“What is it?”  

Ji Taoyu blinked. “So… what are your plans? Have you decided when you’ll leave?”  

Huo Shu set down the cup. “Do you want me to leave?”  

“That’s not what I meant.”  

Ji Taoyu straightened. “I just wanted to ask about your plans. Earlier today, I overheard some unpleasant talk on the road.”  

That morning, after preparing the dishes and sneaking out while his parents weren’t looking, Ji Taoyu had brought the food box to Huo Shu. On his way to the Zhao family, he saw Yuan niangzi (Zhao's mother) heading out, exchanging a few pleasantries with some villagers.  

At first, it was all polite, but as soon as Yuan niangzi walked away, the villagers started gossiping.  

“You know, ever since that tall northerner arrived in our village and started staying at Yuan Huiru’s place, she’s been glowing these past few days, full of energy.”  

One of the women laughed. “Aren’t you ashamed, saying such things?”  

“Oh, don’t act so prim. Didn’t you see how cheerful she looked just now, like it was New Year’s?”  

“Lately, I’ve seen Yuan Huiru buying meat, slaughtering chickens, feasting every day like never before, not even during festivals. Having a man at home really makes a difference!”  

Though they didn’t say it outright, the suggestive tone and laughter made their meaning clear.  

Ji Taoyu was furious. These words were practically insulting both mother and son, utterly disgraceful.  

He hid the food box nearby and stepped forward to argue. “Father already said that northerner is a relative of the Zhao family. How could you speak so crudely?”