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

Chapter 43 The County Magistrate is Unmarried

"This is home, there's no need for formalities. Your husband probably won't be back for another couple of days."

Old Master Chu sent word back that his injury had become infected, and his leg bone needed to be re-set, so he couldn't move.

"Oh, I know."

In ancient times, medicine was underdeveloped, hygiene was poor, and medicines were scarce, so it would be strange if inflammation didn't occur.

Moreover, his clothes were so worn they were practically worn out; if we hadn't forced him to change, he probably would still be wearing them.

Lu Yunqing pointed to what she had written: "What is this?"

Dongfang Jin still didn't realize that the person standing in front of her was the county magistrate, and continued to do as she pleased without being aware of the difference in rank: "It's just a food made of sesame seeds. I plan to sell the recipe and use the money to buy a house and land."

Her actions terrified her maid.

When Lu Yunqing heard her say that, his curiosity was completely piqued: "Oh, what is this for?"

Dongfang Jin handed him the sesame paste recipe that she had already written down: "Here, take a look for yourself, it's written here."

Lu Yunqing took the paper from her hand. It looked like the sesame seeds were first washed, roasted, cooled, and ground... to extract oil, sesame oil?

"Can this tiny sesame seed really have so many uses?"

Dongfang Jin nodded and began to explain to him, pointing to his fingers: "Of course, there are many ways to eat this sesame paste. It can be used in cold dishes, noodles, and as a condiment, etc."

You can also marinate eggs in sesame paste to make sesame paste eggs.

Lu Yunqing took the paper and sat down opposite her: "I've eaten sesame candy before, when I was the magistrate of Linyang County in Guanglin Prefecture. Once, when I was on an inspection tour to handle a case, the local people gave me sesame salt, which tastes alright when added to porridge."

"You've served as a county magistrate in other places as well?" Dongfang Jin asked in surprise.

"Yes, the prefect of Guanglin Prefecture is my senior brother. I was in his jurisdiction when I first became a county magistrate. After my three-year term was over... I didn't expect to be assigned to Ling'an County again."

"This sesame paste is quite good. Why don't you sell it to me? How much?" This time, Lu Yunqing and Dongfang Jin didn't use "this official" when they spoke, but instead used "I" to refer to each other.

Dongfang Jin was unaware that A Dong and the pale-faced maid had heard everything clearly.

Dongfang Jin was startled by his words. What did he mean?

"Huh? This is for the village head's family. What do you need it for? Do you think officials here can do business?"

Wasn't it said that officials couldn't do business? Didn't the ancients place great importance on scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants? Weren't merchants considered the most disrespectable class in ancient times?

Why... why is this county magistrate doing this?

Looking at her constantly changing face, Lu Yunqing shook her head and smiled helplessly: "No, it's my older sister. My brother-in-law is stationed at the border year-round."

The imperial court wasn't wealthy either, so my elder sister often helped her husband's family with their business...that way, her husband wouldn't have to work too hard.

Hearing what he said, Dongfang Jin understood a little, but she didn't think too much about it: "I see. But this sesame paste doesn't make much money, does your sister own a restaurant?"

"Yes, that restaurant is quite large, but business is just so-so."

Dongfang Jin frowned: "Is that so? If the village head's family is in the sesame paste business... I mean, they're doing it right here in Ling'an County."

I imagine they're finding it quite challenging to reach Anyang Prefecture. Will this conflict with your sister doing this?

Lu Yunqing hesitated for a moment, but still expressed her thoughts: "This...? It would be best if it were exclusive."

When Dongfang Jin heard him say that, her heart skipped a beat. Eating all the food herself? That's not good; how can the country progress like that?

Thinking it over, the lisp blurted out what was on his mind: "Eating all the food by himself? That's not good. How can that promote economic development?"

At this point, he realized he had let something slip and quickly changed the subject: "If you agree, I'll find your sister a long-term business, guaranteed to be unique. This business will also require a lot of sesame paste."

Looking at her annoyed expression, Lu Yunqing smiled and raised an eyebrow: "Tell me about it."

Dongfang Jin slammed his hand on the table: "It's hot pot..."

After that, Dongfang Jin explained how to eat hot pot and what the dipping sauce was.

Lu Yunqing was genuinely surprised to hear this: "This... can it really be made? Will anyone actually eat it?"

Dongfang Jin swallowed hard, her bright black eyes fixed on Lu Yunqing: "Magistrate, how about we have a meal tonight?"

Lu Yunqing became interested after hearing what she said: "That works. What do you need? I'll have Adong buy it for you."

Dongfang Jin didn't stand on ceremony with him and listed them one by one: "Small millstone, we'll use it to grind sesame paste, we definitely need a lot of sesame seeds, and we'll buy some peanuts..."

Then there are the vegetables; we'll get a little of everything available at the market, including mutton.

"Okay, Adong."

Ah Dong, who was listening nearby, also wanted to eat: "Yes, young master, I'll go right away."

After A Dong left, Lu Yunqing poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and looked at Dongfang Jin, asking, "What did you mean by 'eating alone' and 'affecting economic development'?"

"Huh? Did I say that?" Dongfang Jin blinked at him, wondering if he would admit it.

“What do you think? Go ahead and speak. There are no outsiders here. I am eleven years older than you. You can treat me as an elder brother.”

"Wow! You're so young, twenty-five, six, twenty-six years old?" Dongfang Jin counted on her fingers.

"Hehe, yes, it's just that I don't look old," Lu Yunqing said, a hint of melancholy flashing across her face.

Dongfang Jin asked, "How many children do you have?"

Lu Yunqing smiled at her: "I am not yet married."

"Huh?" Dongfang Jin was a little confused. 26 years old and still unmarried was quite unusual in ancient times.

It's important to know that in ancient times, it was not uncommon for men to have children before they even reached adulthood.

Lu Yunqing gave a bitter smile and said quietly, "My sixteenth grandfather passed away, and I observed three years of mourning for him. Then the Lu family had a misfortune..."

I was jilted again, and then my mother passed away...

"It's fine to just let it sit like this; it's peaceful and relaxing, without any burden."

Dongfang Jin listened attentively and, after he finished speaking, agreed with him: "That's true. Twenty-six isn't old. It's better to get married later."

In modern times, there are plenty of unmarried women who are 26 years old; isn't she one of them?

But why does Lu Yunqing seem a bit unlucky?

Gu Jingye then leaned over and said, "Little sister, I've memorized the ancient poem."

This county magistrate is unmarried? And looking at how happily he's chatting with his concubine, this is hardly a good thing.

His concubine can only belong to them. Since his father is not here, he must keep a close eye on her and not let anyone take advantage of the situation.

He knew his father also liked his stepmother; he never looked at his stepmother with the same eyes. He didn't want his father to lose his stepmother.

Although he knew his mother was not dead, he had also secretly overheard what the man said when he gave money to his grandfather.

His mother has remarried and is now someone else's mother; she no longer wants him and his sister.

He and his sister already lost their mother; they couldn't lose their stepmother too.

Although he had only spent a few days with this young woman, he could sense that she genuinely liked the brother and sister and truly protected them.

To put it bluntly, he is much better than his mother. His mother could only cry when something happened and could not do anything. Even if he was beaten by that family, his mother could only cry and could not protect him.

Sometimes, when she was mistreated outside, she would beat him and her sister, calling them a burden and a debt.