Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan staring intently and did not disturb him, following the servant to the kitchen. "Thank you, big brother, for leading the way." Seeing that the kitchen was ready, she put on an apron and began to cook.
Jun Yelan had always helped out at home, and it was no different here.
The others in the kitchen watched the pair, their coordination so perfect that there was no need for them to interfere. They snacked on melon seeds, murmuring softly, "This girl has skill in her hands; her stir-frying technique is superb."
"And it's fragrant, and it looks good too." They had never seen such a dish that excelled in aroma, appearance, and taste.
Some wondered, "Are these two married? When the girl reaches out, the young master hands her things, and they don't even need to speak."
"Is that even a question? Of course, they are. And they both look refined; they're quite suited for each other."
Lan Yan was busy cooking, while Jun Yelan overheard these whispers. If he had been angered before, he now felt indifferent, and sometimes he even mused about it.
He felt that being with Lan Yan wasn't so bad after all.
He glanced at the person beside him who was concentrating, saw Lan Yan reach out again, and his lips curved slightly as he handed her the scallions.
After finishing the cooking, Lan Yan looked at the table full of dishes and clapped her hands, "Done!"
She looked at the kitchen staff who were still cracking melon seeds and smiled, "There are some leftover small portions for you all to eat. Please inform Old Hu, and my husband and I will be leaving."
The kitchen staff chuckled, "Alright, miss. You two go ahead. We wish you a lifetime of happiness!"
Lan Yan blinked, surprised by the turn of the conversation. She looked at Jun Yelan, who remained expressionless. She gave an embarrassed laugh and walked towards the door.
Gossip has always been a favorite pastime since ancient times.
When they reached the mansion gate, she deliberately took a different path, one that passed by the schoolhouse.
The sound of clear reading voices drifted from the schoolhouse. Jun Yelan paused, looking inside the gate, his eyes growing deep. He clenched his fists and walked forward, never looking back.
Lan Yan glanced over, recalling Jun Yelan's childhood experiences where he was always forced to make choices and rarely able to follow his own desires.
Jun Yelan was born in a brothel; his mother was a courtesan, and his father was from a prominent family but did not acknowledge him. When he finally grew up, after his mother died, he was manipulated by the brothel madam. Had he not been clever, he would have been sold off to old men long ago.
She looked at Jun Yelan's clenched fist and suddenly felt a strong urge to hold it, so she did. Jun Yelan froze. She smiled, "My hands are a bit cold; I'm borrowing your hands to warm them."
Jun Yelan looked at the sky, which was clear and bright. He pursed his lips, not withdrawing his hand.
Lan Yan's lips curved upward, and she held Jun Yelan's hand all the way home. She went to her room, rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find the paper and brush left by her mother, along with a copy of the Three Character Classic gnawed by mice.
She took them to the courtyard, wrote the three characters "君夜阑" on the paper, and called out to the man chopping wood in the yard, "Jun Yelan, come here for a moment."
Jun Yelan walked over, puzzled, and was stunned when he saw the characters on the paper. His intuition told him it was his name. He had once asked his mother how to write his name, and she had said it was too complicated and refused to teach him.
His mother always said that despite all her learning, she ended up with the same fate, so she refused to teach him anything, wanting him to live an easier life. But his birth had already determined that an easy life was impossible.
Seeing that Jun Yelan remained silent, Lan Yan smiled, "This is your name. From today onwards, I will teach you to recognize and write characters in the evening. Once you have a basic foundation, you can then attend the schoolhouse."
She had inquired and found that there was only one schoolhouse in town, and it accepted students who had been studying for several years, some of whom were already Tong Sheng (literary scholars).
She knew that for the schoolhouse, Jun Yelan was starting late. But for Jun Yelan himself, it was never too late to start. She hoped that Jun Yelan could do what he wanted and be happy.
"My name." Jun Yelan memorized the three characters after just one look. He picked up the brush on the table and began to trace them.
It was Lan Yan's turn to be astonished. Hadn't Jun Yelan never studied before? How could he do it so easily!
Jun Yelan said, "I've seen others write." He wrote it again on a blank sheet of paper and, looking at the slightly crooked three characters, a faint smile touched his lips.
Lan Yan also noticed that Jun Yelan seemed to truly enjoy writing. "I'll teach you something else," she said, thinking of a sentence, writing it down, and narrowing her eyes.
Jun Yelan only recognized two of the characters. Seeing Lan Yan's expression, he felt there was something mischievous about it. After writing it once, he asked, "Where is this sentence from?"
"I made it up myself," Lan Yan said, picking up the paper and reading word for word: "Lan Yan is the best girl in the world. Come, read it with me, so you can remember it."
Jun Yelan: "..." He stared directly at Lan Yan, parting his lips slightly, but for a long time, he couldn't utter a single word.
"Never mind, I won't force you. You continue practicing." Lan Yan smiled and put down the paper. Seeing Jun Yelan's expression change was enough for her. There would be plenty of time in the future; she would eventually make Jun Yelan praise her.
She turned and walked towards her room.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's retreating back, his expression becoming complex. He had never met such a woman. She was so carefree, yet possessed a unique charm.
He lowered his head and continued practicing, writing the first two characters no less than twenty times. In the end, only the words "Lan Yan" remained on the paper.
As evening approached, Lan Yan looked out of her window and saw Li Erya. She called out, "Li Erya, come over here. This dirty water is about to be dumped on you."
A bucket of water was placed at her feet.
Li Erya trembled all over and stood still, saying, "I'm not here to cause trouble for you today. I heard your business is doing well, and my sister asked me to come and ask your older brother to buy a portion, as they were once engaged."
In reality, this was just an excuse. Seeing Lan Yan prosper while she remained impoverished, she was unwilling to be left behind and wanted to learn how to do business.
Lan Yan curled her lips, "My business is doing well, so naturally, it's sold out. Also, since it's 'once,' don't bring it up again. People should still leave themselves some dignity. Don't you think so, Li Erya?"
Anger flared in Li Erya's eyes. She bit her lip and said, "Then what ingredients do you use? I'll make one myself when I get back."
Hearing this, Lan Yan understood Li Erya's true purpose for visiting – she was here to gather information. She rolled her eyes and smiled, "First, you need a large amount of flour, then you need wild fruits from the mountains, and then..."
"Wait, I can't remember," Li Erya called out anxiously, this annoying Lan Yan was deliberately tormenting her.
Lan Yan sped up even more, then closed the window, her eyes almost forming slits. She was quite curious to see what Li Erya would do next. She leisurely walked back to her room to tally her accounts.
This money was enough to open a shop. She couldn't set up a stall with Jun Yelan every day; she needed to do other things and also nurture her relationship with Jun Yelan.
With that thought, her lips curved.