newbobooks Chapter 279 The Neighbor Next Door
Chapter 279 The Neighbor Next Door
Inside the wooden barrel.
Two large red koi carp struggled vigorously.
Struggling desperately.
They never imagined that they were just stretching out their mouths to beg for food.
Then this kid scooped it up, and it was about to become their meal.
Jiang Miaomiao: ……
These aren't the koi in the backyard pond!!
Is this... edible?
After thinking about it, I realized that the fish food is all-natural right now.
Humans should be edible, right?
I just don't know if it tastes good. I've never tried it.
Well, having something to eat is better than having nothing at all.
Lu Qingyao stared at the fish for a while, wondering if it was safe to eat since she had never seen anyone eat it.
The cooks looked at the fish, feeling a bit of a headache.
This is my first time making stewed koi. I heard that this fish is very fishy.
However, Xiuxiu had no intention of letting them cook; she had to cook herself to entertain distinguished guests.
In the blink of an eye, the two koi carp were in Auntie's hands. "Don't worry, as long as they're not poisonous, I can cook them any kind of meat deliciously."
Everyone felt reassured that Auntie was cooking herself.
Soon, the fish was cooked, and everyone suspected that Mu Yunji had come by smelling the aroma.
He looked a little embarrassed.
Jiang Miaomiao ran over, breaking the awkward atmosphere, "Daddy, why did it take you so long to come see me?"
Mu Yunji had only been a father for less than half a year and hadn't seen him for a long time, so he was still a little unaccustomed to it.
But he adapted quickly.
Because the little girl is a chatterbox.
"Father, do you usually live here?"
"Daddy, do you like bamboo shoots? Auntie brought these from Jiangzhou; they're a specialty of Jiangzhou."
"Father, you should eat more."
"Father, these pickled bamboo shoots were also brought from Jiangzhou."
"These eggs were laid by the old hen in the backyard; I just collected them this morning."
……
Mu Yunji was overjoyed to hear this.
Jiang Miaomiao said, "Daddy, there's also this fish. My brother caught it in the pond in the backyard. I don't know if it tastes good, but everything Auntie makes tastes good."
Lu Qingyao: ...
She had no intention of letting Mu Yunji know where the fish came from.
Who serves koi carp to honored guests?
"Brother Mu, Feng'er caught this. He said he wanted to try koi and see if it tastes good."
Jiang Zifeng looked at his mother and asked, "What's wrong with this fish? It looks perfectly fine. It's so fat."
Mu Yunji's lips twitched.
The fish he put in just a few days ago, how could they...?
She remembered that the little girl liked to feed the fish, but she had never heard that the girl liked to eat fish.
It's so small, it can probably only eat sea bass, right?
I should have put some sea bass in.
Lu Qingyao personally served him a bowl of fish soup. "Brother Mu, I didn't know you were coming to this house. I only have some simple home-cooked dishes. Please make do with these."
Jiang Miaomiao stared intently at her godfather, eager to know if the koi meat was delicious.
Koi are beautiful, but they seem to have a strong fishy smell.
Not just the little girl, the whole family was watching him.
Mu Yunji: ...
I can't eat if you keep staring at me like that.
Hearing that Qingyao's family had arrived in the capital yesterday, he came over early this morning.
I was looking for an excuse to come and visit when I saw Jiang Zifeng come to visit. What a coincidence!
I just didn't expect it to come so abruptly; they even caught koi fish for him to eat.
But he just really liked Qingyao's family.
Seeing that Mu Yunji was eating heartily, everyone was relieved.
After finishing the meal and sending the eldest brother away, the godfather said to the mother, "Qingyao, don't worry about Feng'er going to the military camp. I won't let him go to the battlefield. He's just going to gain some experience and visit Uncle Lu."
“I feel very reassured about going with you.” Lu Qingyao didn’t know what to say at first, but once she started talking about her father and brothers, she immediately opened up.
“Brother Mu, you don’t need to spoil Feng’er. She still needs to be disciplined.”
"Brother Mu, I want to bring some clothes and food to my father and brother. Could you please deliver them to them for me?"
"Brother Mu, after this exile, Father's health is probably not as good as before. Please keep an eye on him for me and don't overwork him..."
……
"Okay, Qingyao, don't worry." Mu Yunji nodded repeatedly.
Finally, Lu Qingyao said, "Brother Mu, the battlefield is dangerous. Be careful and make sure you return safely."
As she said the last sentence, Jiang Miaomiao noticed that her godfather had a smile on his lips.
My mother gave me so many instructions, yet my godfather could still laugh.
However, her appearance made her feel somewhat dazed.
It's like a wife giving instructions to her husband who is away from home.
Jiang Miaomiao had the idea of finding stepfathers for her brothers.
However, things rarely go as planned.
After the family finished eating, Grandma busied herself packing up Grandpa's and uncles' things—food, supplies, clothes—a whole cartload.
Jiang Miaomiao felt that her mother was getting more and more comfortable asking her godfather for help.
Mu Yunji felt as if Qingyao and he had returned to their youth, when she had also asked him to keep an eye on Uncle Lu.
In the evening, Aunt Jiang Yue sent someone to pick up the family and take them to the Duke's mansion for a gathering.
Jiang Miaomiao met Aunt Qianxue, as well as Old Madam Mu. Aunt Jiang Yue and her husband were also there.
Madam Mu was a very spirited and dashing old lady.
The Mu family residence was close to the capital city, and its neighbors were either princes, nobles, or imperial relatives. This area was the entire circle of powerful and influential people in the capital.
No, it's more than that; it should be described as the elite circle of the Great Liang.
Princesses and royal palaces are all next door.
When they arrived at the Mu family home, they saw Old Mrs. Mu slapping her eldest grandson because he had painted all her homing pigeons red.
The slap was crisp and clear.
Jiang Miaomiao shrank back, blaming Aunt Jiang Yue for having explosive fighting power.
It turns out they come from a family with a long tradition of scholarship.
Aunt Qianxue was somewhat of an oddball in this family.
Upon seeing them arrive, Grandma Mu put down her grandson and came to greet them. She hugged her mother, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Yaoyao, we've finally been waiting for you! You left so quietly three years ago, and your aunt was so worried. But now it's all good, your mother is coming back soon. We've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."
The two embraced and wept bitterly, completely unaware that there were other people around.
After she finished crying, Grandma Mu finally noticed the little girl standing to the side.
She hugged her again and said, "Miaomiao, you will be my granddaughter from now on. Call me grandma and let me hear it."
She was quite pleased to hear that her son had adopted a son and daughter; the Mu family finally had some life back in them.
“Grandmother,” Jiang Miaomiao called out sweetly.
She fell into the old woman's arms, and saw her take out a bright green jade Buddha from her bosom and hang it around her neck.
It looks like it's worth a lot of money.
Jiang Miaomiao felt overwhelmed by the gifts she received these past two days, because her godfather had also given her a gift at noon: two shops in the East Market and a box of jewelry.
It was said to be a gift from the emperor.
In return, Mother also sent the Mu family many delicacies such as bamboo fungus. Fortunately, these things are now considered very rare and precious.
Even the noble ladies in the palace liked it.
Otherwise, it would be very difficult to repay the debt owed to others.
After all, the Mu family lacks nothing, so it's hard to know what kind of gift they can return.
After meeting people, catching up, and having dinner, in front of her children, Old Madam Mu took Lu Qingyao's hand and said, "Yaoyao, Jiang Yue has told me about your divorce. If you're willing, call me godmother. You and Jiang Yue have been close since childhood, almost like sisters."
Mu Jiangyue nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, Yao Yao, we're family now."
"No, I...I disagree."
Mu Yunji suddenly stood up.
……