I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 243 She has the ability to protect herself

There's nothing to do with the Prince of Dun's family. If they were to acknowledge each other, it would disrupt the balance, which is something she doesn't want to see.

"When you leave, I'll give you a little of everything. You can take it back and boil it in water to eat."

Whatever your mother's preferences are, have your household chef prepare it fresh.

Making dumplings doesn't require any special skills; you can learn it in no time.

Cang Lingchen looked surprised: "It won't break?"

Dongfang Jin smiled: "Brother, it's so cold outside, the dumplings I gave you are frozen."

Frozen dumplings can be stored for a long time; as long as they don't thaw, they can be eaten anytime.

When Cang Lingchen heard her call him "Big Brother," his heart was filled with emotion. Is this what it feels like to be an older brother?

Long Er munched on a lamb chop, looking at the imagined Prince Chen, and sneered inwardly: "Xiao Jin, why don't you send some over to the master? He's never had dumplings before."

Dongfang Jin nodded: "I know, hurry up and eat yours, otherwise it will get soggy and won't taste good."

This guy is just as unlikable as Eleven; he only thinks about his master.

Look at Long Jiu, all he does is eat, he doesn't talk much, he takes whatever is offered and doesn't ask for anything in return, he's so nice.

Gu Yumei brought another bowl of mutton soup to their table and a bowl of chili oil to Long Jiu, placing it in front of him and saying with a smile, "This is freshly made for you. There are no crushed peanuts, so you can eat it without worry."

Long Jiu said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Yumei."

He didn't know when, but his face started to itch whenever he ate peanuts. Dongfang Jin said he was allergic to peanuts. Sure enough, as long as he didn't eat peanuts, his face really stopped itching.

I didn't expect Sister Yumei to still remember.

"Don't mention it, I'll make more for you if you like it," Gu Yumei said, bowed to Cang Lingchen, and then left.

Dongfang Jin looked at the moved Long Jiu. This guy... Yu Mei and Aunt Hui, Jun Qixian, Dongju, Xueju, Jun Qirui, Gu Jingye and Shen Qihui were eating in the kitchen and didn't come over here.

Wei Ying watched as Long Jiu ladled out a bowl of mutton soup, put a few dumplings in it, added a spoonful of chili oil, sprinkled some chopped cilantro, and then began to eat it with the green garlic.

He watched with envy, and then he followed suit and had a bowl too. He didn't put too much chili oil in it, and he ate it.

Lamb soup with dumplings, a bite of Laba garlic, and chili oil—it really does have a unique flavor.

Then take a bite of cucumber, with a hint of vinegar, so refreshing.

Cang Lingchen watched them eat, and then he started eating too. Even though he had put aside his airs, some things are just innate and cannot be hidden.

This is why Jun Wenhui doesn't let her son come into the house to eat.

Sensitive as she was, she knew from the moment Long Jiu came in and whispered those words in Long Er's ear that this young master's identity was extraordinary.

By the time Cang Lingchen finished eating the dumplings, the sun was already setting.

They didn't linger. Upon learning that he was going to the county government office, Dongfang Jin asked him to bring Lu Yunqing a lot of things, including dumplings, of course.

Today is the Little New Year, but they don't celebrate it here. Dongfang Jin had already said on Laba Festival that they would celebrate the Little New Year on their own.

Anyway, it's cold now, and there are plenty of dumplings in the fridge. Just unpack them, wrap them in a cotton cloth, and who knows they came from the fridge.

As they left, Dongfang Jin repeatedly instructed them not to put the dumplings in a warm place.

Cang Lingchen repeatedly promised that he would not let the dumplings melt from the heat.

Looking at the overcast sky, Dongfang Jin watched the departing carriage and said, "Looks like it's going to snow again."

Long Jiu rubbed his face: "Yes, I'm going to go to the hot springs in the back mountains to go into seclusion."

Dongfang Jin nodded: "Go ahead, there's Brother Long Er at home. After you succeed, I'll go find Little Golden Monkey and see if he still has that fruit."

If there are any, I'll try to get more, and then we'll each have one.

Long Jiu almost fell to the ground after hearing her words. Luckily, Long Er pulled him up, otherwise his chin would have hit the steps.

This piqued Ryuji's curiosity: "What is that?"

Dongfang Jin continued talking to herself, "Fragrant Pear, Long Jiu said it's some kind of passion fruit, pear is fine, why give it such an irrelevant name."

She spoke so casually that Long Jiu sighed and Long Er was completely bewildered. Finally, he looked at Long Jiu and asked, "Passion fruit?"

Long Jiu nodded.

Now it was Long Jiu's turn to pull Long Er, and Long Er almost tripped over his own foot.

Dongfang Jin pouted: "Is it really necessary?"

Long Jiu and Long Er said in unison, "As for it." That's a rare treasure, something martial artists would risk their lives to fight for.

This is a treasure that can advance one rank! Without the aid of medicine, how many years would it take to advance to this rank?

Long Er stood there, looking at Long Jiu with a face full of sorrow, grievance, and resentment.

Dongfang Jin: "..."

As for?

"Should I go to the mountains now and ask the little golden monkey?"

Ryuji: "How do I ask?"

Long Jiu tugged at Long Er: "Is it dangerous?"

Dongfang Jin glanced at the courtyard: "It's not dangerous. You guys cover for me. I'll be back by tomorrow morning at the latest."

If you want to bring back more, the rest of you can go into seclusion together.

Perfect timing! It's time to get Dongju and Xueju's training started. If the younger ones want to learn too, let them learn along with them.

I'll send a few more over in a few days. Ma Wencai and the others probably won't be back until the day after tomorrow.

"These next two days, you two should clear out the open space on both sides of the hot spring, just enough to fit a bed. The temperature inside the cave is quite warm, so sleeping in a bed shouldn't be a problem."

Long Jiu was a little excited: "Okay, go ahead, be careful."

He and Long Er knew her abilities and that she had ways to save her life.

Seeing that the two of them agreed so quickly, Dongfang Jin didn't go home and went straight to the back mountain.

Long Er watched Dongfang Jin leave: "Xiao Jiu, are you really alright?"

Long Jiu waved his hand: "Don't worry, she has the ability to protect herself."

When Long Er and Long Jiu returned to the courtyard, Gu Jingye asked about Dongfang Jin's whereabouts, and Long Jiu said that Dongfang Jin had gone to the county.

After what happened yesterday, Gu Jingye seemed to have matured a lot overnight and didn't ask any more questions.

He just felt uneasy with his father away, always feeling that his stepmother was going to leave them.

Jun Wenhui and the others, being more sensible, didn't ask any more questions and went about their own work.

Not long after Long Er and Long Jiu entered the courtyard, Dongfang Jin entered the space next to the thatched shed behind the house.

Unbeknownst to her, just after she entered the space, two people, a man and a woman, emerged from a ravine not far from her home.

The woman was Gu Meixiang, and the man was alright looking, but he had a carefree and irresponsible air about him, and his eyes were full of greed and lewdness.

This man is Ye Zhigang, the son of Granny Gu's cousin.

"Meixiang, is this the home of that bastard Gu Chenglin?"

"Cousin, this is the place. I've been asking around these past few days. That bastard Gu Chenglin isn't home. He's supposed to be out with a caravan."

Currently, there is only one weak and pedantic scholar in the family; otherwise, the rest of the household consists of either beauties or children.

No one can stand against you. Once you sleep with that bastard Gu Chenglin's wife, you can kick out those people living in their house.

Then sell off Gu Chenglin's two little bastards, and see what those bastards can do to you when they get back.

Gu Meixiang spoke vicious words, her face contorted in a way that was astonishing.

Looking at the mansion in front of him, he screamed in his heart, "Why? That bastard is such a good-for-nothing. He's been married for so long and hasn't even consummated the marriage with that jinx."

Ye Zhigang put his arm around Gu Meixiang's waist, his hand involuntarily patting her buttocks, and said with a lewd grin, "Isn't that perfect? ​​Sis, if I get my hands on that jinx, this house..."

Gu Meixiang sneered: "Didn't we agree that once it's sold, we'll split it 50/50?"