Old Man Yun blinked and asked curiously, "Young Master Xiao, do you know my daughter?"
Why was this kid so mysterious? Did he have designs on his daughter...
Xiao Jinfeng smiled and said, "To be honest, on the way to Dashui Village, I had the honor of meeting Miss Yun once!"
Little Xi Tian inwardly scoffed, *You were the one sending people to spy on me, following me all the way from the capital like a shadow, impossible to shake off...*
"Since that's the case, don't just stand there!" Old Man Yun grinned and personally brought over a stool. "Young Master Xiao, do you drink? The liquor we make in the countryside is brewed by ourselves, with no water added. It won't give you a headache!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinfeng twitched his lips. "I... I can drink a little!"
"Oh, that's perfect. Have a couple of bowls with me. Come, sit down quickly. Xiao Lou, go get some bowls and chopsticks!" Old Man Yun said, pulling Xiao Jinfeng to sit beside him and pouring him a large bowl from the wine jar.
Xiao Jinfeng: "..."
They say country folk are warm and hospitable, but this was too hearty.
When he drank in the palace, it was always in small cups or small goblets. He had never drunk from such large bowls.
It was mainly because his mother was too strict, even controlling his eating and drinking, which led Xiao Jinfeng to avoid all delicious food and fine wine since he was young...
"Thank you, old sir!" Xiao Jinfeng gave a dry laugh. After glancing at the dishes on the table, he called Er Longzi over and whispered a few instructions.
A moment later, Er Longzi walked in carrying a packet of cooked food.
Upon opening it, it contained pig's head meat, pig's trotters, dried beef, and half a roasted goose...
This was what Xiao Jinfeng had saved for the journey. Now that he was staying at Old Man Yun's, he took it out to share with everyone.
"Haha, Young Master Xiao might not be used to our country food. It's fine, our food is clean, eat with confidence!" Old Man Yun patted Xiao Jinfeng's shoulder with a smile. "Take our pickled cabbage for example. After the Chinese cabbage matures in autumn, we wash it and pickle it. It's delicious when stewed now. Don't believe me? Try it..."
Old Man Yun was forcing a smile, intending to drink some wine to dispel the somber atmosphere at home.
With both Er Man and San Man in trouble, how could he, as a father, not be worried?
Xiao Jinfeng picked up his chopsticks and asked, "Which one is the pickled cabbage?"
The food on the table was a bit strange, especially that plate of beans sprinkled with salt, fried until red in some parts and already black in others...
Seeing that the entire Yun family enjoyed this dish, Xiao Jinfeng became even more curious.
"Oh dear, look at me. We don't have pickled cabbage tonight, haha!" Old Man Yun chuckled heartily and instructed Zhao Guihua, "Guihua, we have a guest. Go make a plate of stir-fried pickled cabbage with meat!"
"Understood, Father!" Zhao Guihua nodded with a smile and went to the kitchen.
Little Xi Tian was confused and leaned close to her father's ear, asking softly, "Daddy, what are you trying to do?"
Her father, being such a shrewd person, should be able to see that Xiao Jinheng's identity was not simple, and he was likely carrying a special mission to the Yun family...
Old Man Yun winked at his daughter. "Daddy just wants to have a drink with Young Master Xiao. Daughter, have you eaten enough? Go check on Jingde. He's had a fever for several days, and your mother is almost frantic!"
If he didn't get this Young Master Xiao drunk, how could he get any information out of him?
Little Xi Tian stuck out her tongue, hopped off her stool, and ran to Gao Jingde's room...
"Li-little aunt, cough cough, don't come in, I'll infect you, cough cough!" Gao Jingde lay on the bed, with Shangguan Fang'er by his side.
Neither of them had much appetite and hadn't eaten much.
Little Xi Tian walked in with a smile, felt Gao Jingde's pulse, and checked his temperature. "Nephew, you just have a cold. It's cold outside, you need to wear more clothes in the future!"
As she spoke, she opened her small satchel and took out cold medicine and anti-inflammatory drugs. "Take three pills of this at a time, and one pill of this. I'll tell your sister-in-law and Sister Huaihua later to use less chili in cooking these few days. You'll get better quickly after taking the medicine..."
Although he couldn't cure Sister Fang'er's madness, he was confident in treating colds and fevers.
"Thank you, little aunt!" Gao Jingde buried his face in the pillow, and large tears rolled down his cheeks.
He missed his father.
His biological mother, Gao Fengjuan, was slowly fading from his memory, and sometimes his dreams were filled with nightmares...
Shangguan Fang'er, seeing him cry, became flustered. "Don't cry, don't cry. If Jingde cries, I, I'll want to cry too, sob, sob!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
If her third brother and Sister Fang'er really ended up together, then Shangguan Fang'er would be Gao Jingde's stepmother.
However, judging by their current relationship, even if her third brother married her, Shangguan Fang'er wouldn't bully Jingde.
"Don't worry, Third Brother will definitely be alright. I promise!" Little Xi Tian patted her chest.
Gao Jingde heard this, raised his head, and looked at his little aunt with tear-filled eyes...
They all said his little aunt was the family's little lucky charm. Since she said so, his father would surely come back alive.
Little Xi Tian wiped the tears from Gao Jingde's face and sighed softly.
He was only seven years old and had to go through such things. Being able to remain calm and not cry in front of adults was already very strong.
Returning to her room, Little Xi Tian lay on the bed and began to wander in her space...
She hadn't taken care of the big cows for a few days. When they suddenly saw Little Xi Tian, many of the large ones mooed and ran over, nudging her with their big heads.
While milking, Little Xi Tian mumbled, "If I were to bring you out, I'd have to build a cowshed and prepare plenty of feed!"
Otherwise, during the long winter, without grass and concentrated feed, the fat cows would become as thin as reeds...
Fortunately, there was no shortage of feed in the space, and all kinds of medicines were also readily available.
Tomorrow, she would prepare for a big undertaking.
Xiao Jinfeng drank two bowls of sorghum wine and felt his whole body invigorated. Eating peanuts and chewing dried beef while chatting with Old Man Yun was truly a pleasant life...
"Your, Your Highness, you can't drink anymore!" Er Longzi reminded him softly.
If Consort Xian saw this scene, she would be so angry she'd faint.
Xiao Jinfeng's eyes were a bit unfocused. Only when reminded did he realize he was drunk.
"Old, old sir, *hic*!" Xiao Jinfeng swayed and stood up. "I've had a tiring day and would like to rest. Please excuse me, *hic*..."
Old Man Yun was a bit disappointed. He hadn't managed to pry any information out of him while drinking. He then asked Jin Huaihua to escort Xiao Jinfeng back to the guest room to rest.
Jin Huaihua walked ahead with a lantern, while Er Longzi supported Xiao Jinfeng behind her. Soon, they arrived at the guest room.