"Husband, what is that black, leaf-like thing?"
"It's kelp, a vegetable from the sea."
"Oh, right, it's delicious when stewed with chicken."
"Just wait."
Ye Ming ladled some hot water into a wooden basin and put the kelp in to soak. Then he added some water to the pot.
It was a shame he didn't have a steamer, or he'd really like to steam a few bowls of rice.
There weren't any for sale in the city, so he might as well make one himself someday.
He kept busy until sunset, when Ye Ming's dinner was finally ready.
The aroma wafting from the pot made Su Xiaorong's mouth water.
"Husband, it smells so good. Can we eat now?"
"Yes, bring me a bowl."
"Yes," Su Xiaorong said, bringing a large bowl and placing two bowls of porridge on the table.
Su Xiaorong was no longer as reserved as she had been at first.
Back then, she'd insisted on waiting until Ye Ming finished before eating.
After several nights of deep communication, they could now eat together.
"Thank you for your hard work, my dear. Try this first."
Su Xiaorong lifted a piece of chicken and held it to Ye Ming's lips.
"Good." Ye Ming devoured it in one gulp, finding it quite good.
Seeing Ye Ming finish, Su Xiaorong lifted another piece and held it to her.
"Wow, it's delicious! My dear, this is the best thing I've ever tasted."
How could it not be delicious? Refined salt and MSG are the result of modern technology and hard work.
"Eat more if you like. There's more in the pot if you don't have enough."
After dinner, the last wisp of rosy clouds in the sky vanished, replaced by a riot of stars.
While Su Xiaorong washed up, Ye Ming set up the entire Himmon mattress.
"Now I can get a good night's sleep." Ye Ming felt a surge of satisfaction as he gazed upon his masterpiece.
"It's just that this room doesn't match the bedding. It feels like flowers stuck on cow dung."
Thinking about how everyone else was still sleeping on straw mats while he was sleeping on the Himmon mattress felt a bit refreshing.
"Husband, I'm done."
When Su Xiaorong opened the door again, she saw another strange sight. But with the lessons learned from the past, she also developed resistance.
Needless to say, it must have been given by that immortal.
"Husband, what is this?"
"This is called Simmons, something used in the immortal world. It's so comfortable to sleep on it. By the way, it's getting late, let's get some rest."
Speaking of rest, Su Xiaorong's face flushed, and she turned around and took out something from the shabby cabinet.
"Husband, this is the clothes I made for you. Try them and see if they fit you."
Ye Ming hadn't noticed during the day, but there were two needle marks on Su Xiaorong's fingers.
It hurt just looking at it.
"Didn't you do it for yourself?"
Su Xiaorong felt a little guilty when she heard Ye Ming's questioning tone.
"It's okay, husband, my clothes can still be worn, I'm not cold."
Ye Ming felt helpless and distressed when he saw Su Xiaorong's expression.
It was obvious that she was not dressed well, and her body was still blue and purple when he just came.
And she was still thinking about herself.
"Take this dress and have it altered, then wear it yourself."
"There's no rush for my clothes."
Su Xiaorong was nearly in tears when she heard Ye Ming didn't want to wear the clothes he'd made.
"Husband, are you dissatisfied?"
"No, don't cry, I already have clothes to wear."
"Make your own clothes first, don't get cold. You're my woman, and if you get cold, I'll be laughed at by others."
Seeing Su Xiaorong still looking sad, Ye Ming had no choice but to hug her.
"Okay, I like your clothes very much, but until your own clothes are finished, wear mine first."
Hearing that Ye Ming liked the clothes he'd made, her eyes brightened again.
"Really?"
"Of course it's true." Ye Ming said, pulling Su Xiaorong to rest.
"Husband, um, um, I'm on my period. It might be a little inconvenient tonight."
"Hehehe, it's okay. Tonight, husband will teach you how to make medicine with a jade rabbit."
Su Xiaorong was startled by these words, but she quickly realized what was happening.
Her face flushed.
The next morning, Ye Ming's hands were still resting on his steamed bun when a bustling chatter erupted outside.
"Do you think what Ming'er said is true?"
"Who knows? Let's just take it one step at a time."
Hearing the commotion outside, Su Xiaorong, who had spent over an hour mixing medicine the previous night, gradually woke up.
"Husband, get up quickly! The uncles and aunts from the village are here."
Although Ye Ming was reluctant to get up early, Su Xiaorong pulled him up anyway.
[Ding, today's special: secret barbecue ingredients for 1 life point each.]
"Oh, it would be great if I had something to make money,"
Su Xiaorong complained as she finished off Ye Ming. It must be said that Su Xiaorong, aside from her illiteracy, was practically perfect.
She was virtuous, could cook, and had Ye Ming in her heart.
In his previous life, he would have willingly broken Ye Ming's bones to make soup for her.
"Brother Ming, you're finally out. Tell us what we should do!"
About twenty or thirty people had come to the village today, with only one or two people from each household.
They were carrying tools like stone hoes and backpacks.
The majority of them were women, after all, many men had been conscripted into the army.
"Brother Qiang, Aunt Huang, please bring your uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters with you to follow me."
"Wait!"
"Can you take me with you, my husband? I'm idle at home anyway, and I want to help my husband."
Ye Ming gently placed his hand on Su Xiaorong's shoulder and said gently, "You don't have to follow me."
"I'll have Aunt Huang bring two aunts back later to help you cook."
"Don't be stingy with the food at home. Let's feed everyone."
Looking at the twenty-odd people before her, Su Xiaorong felt her husband was a bit of a spendthrift.
If they didn't save money, the family's food would be gone in two meals.
"Brother Ming, it's not easy for you either. You'd better save a little."
"We just need two bowls of porridge and some wild vegetables and roots."
Ye Ming shook his head.
"That won't do. The porridge and vegetables must be enough to fill you up. When the ceramics officially go on sale, I'll make sure you have meat every day!"
Ye Ming then took out twenty taels of silver and handed it to Liu Qiang.
"Brother Qiang, please take the two of you to the city to buy some rice and flour. Buy good ones and exchange them for five strings of copper coins."
Liu Qiang looked at the silver in his hand, hesitant.
"Brother Ming, isn't that too much? Twenty taels of rice and flour is enough for everyone to eat for about twenty days."
Of course, Liu Qiang was calculating based on one meal a day, so it was indeed enough to feed over twenty people for about ten days.
If we switch to wheat bran, we can eat it for one or two months.
If it weren't for the war and the rise in food prices, we could eat it for even longer.
"Give me five taels of silver to exchange for copper coins, and use the rest to buy rice, flour, grain, and oil."
"It should be enough to last until the first batch of kiln shipments are shipped. If it's not enough, come to me for silver again."
Seeing Ye Ming spending money lavishly, Liu Qiang felt distressed even though he was not spending his own money.
"Brother Ming, we don't need to eat such good food, just switch to millet bran. This way everyone can eat more and take some back home for the children and the elderly."
"Don't worry, there's enough white rice and white flour."
"And you can get five days' wages in one day."