14 Developing A Game (1/2)

14 Developing A Game

Translator: YTJS_ | Editor: Perriemix

Dinner was plain porridge with meat patty.

The porridge was boiled until it was thick and mushy and the meat patty was made with fresh pork and leeks. With the addition of pickled vegetables from Auntie Jiang, the three-inch patty, which was pan-fried till golden brown on both sides, emitted a lovely fragrance that burst through with each bite.

At first, Xia Chunyu despised the simple dinner. However, the patty was decadently delicious and the plain porridge had a tinge of sweetness amidst the fragrance. Looking at it, he could tell that it was boiled for a long time in a steady fire.

”Have as much as you want, there is still more in the pot!” Ye Jiayao said like a proper mistress, laughing heartily while she urged everyone to eat more.

Song Qi whispered beside him, ”At first, sister-in-law told me to get some vegetables from the kitchen but Old Head Yu is too stingy. He said that the chicken that we took was meant for everyone and refused to give me any more. Sister-in-law could only use the leftover streaky pork from the pork meatballs to make patties.”

Xia Chunyu nodded understandingly. ”Don't worry about it, the few thousand brothers in the stockade still has to eat. It’s not easy for Old Head Yu too.”

Peng Wu said, ”The meat we got from robbing Feng village is almost finished. Looks like we have to take a trip down soon.”

Ye Jiayao served another plate of the patty. ”After you're done, give these to Auntie and Uncle Jiang for them to try,” she told Song Qi.

Song Qi agreed happily, ”Sure!”

Ye Jiayao sought Xia Chunyu’s opinion, asking, ”Shall we take a few to big brother and second brother for them to try?”

Xia Chunyu replied indifferently, ”Peng Wu, deliver it later.”

After dinner, Song Qi and Peng Wu delivered the patties. Ye Jiayao cleaned up the kitchen while Xia Chunyu went back to the room to prepare a change of clothes for a swim at the lake.

Once he stepped into the room, he got his nth surprise for the day. The windows were all clean and gleaming. The original vases that were on the cabinet, now held a few stalks of red azalea, were moved strategically to the table. The crimson satin sheets were changed to a plain, grey one, and the mosquito net was also now white. The semi-circle table that was against the wall had a pot of lovely orchid on it. The addition of plants as decoration made the entire room appear to be more exuberant and it was a pleasant change.

Being born to the Hou family, Xia Chunyu never had a shortage of people serving him. The house was always neat and tidy and did not lack any valuable plants. Ever since he came up the mountains, not knowing how to do all those things, he had tasked Song Qi and Peng Wu to do all the cleaning. However, those two boors just go through the motions carelessly and he had no choice but to put up with it despite being unsatisfied.

The interior of the house was suddenly changed to one that he had always desired. This made the anger in Xia Chunyu die down a little. Although she had many shortcomings and was extremely opinionated, there were still some redeeming qualities in her. For example, she could cook up a sumptuous meal. Also, unlike normal ladies from wealthy families that were spoiled and pampered, she could handle household chores professionally. Could it be that what she said was the truth? Did really being given the cold shoulder and having things made difficult for her forced her to do everything by herself?

On the couch, a clean set of clothes that he could change into were laid out, all his other clothes nowhere to be seen.

Xia Chunyu opened the cupboard but it was not in there. He opened the trunk at the foot of the bed and saw his clothes stacked neatly inside.

A sense of warmth filled his heart, an emotion that Xia Chunyu himself did not recognize.

Ye Jiayao hid behind the entrance of the kitchen, looking around. She knew that she had angered him today. During mealtime, his face was dark and he did not even take a look at her. She could not be so stupid to allow his temporary patience to breed her recklessness. As Grandpa Mao said, when the enemy advance, she should retreat, and advance when the enemy retreated. This battle tactic was also applicable to help couples get along well. Granted, they were a fake couple, but still, a couple.

Hopefully, he would calm down after seeing her efforts.

Seeing the door open, Ye Jiayao hurriedly pretended to be busy with chores.

When Xia Chunyu walked pass the kitchen with his clothes, he saw her busy silhouette and couldn’t help but stop by, hesitating before he said, ”I’m going for a swim.”

Ye Jiayao turned to him and smiled sweetly, ”Remember to warm up before you enter the water, otherwise you would get cramps easily.”

How did she even know about this?

”You know how to swim?” Xia Chunyu asked.

I was once in the school’s swimming team, what do you think? I might even be faster than you. However, she could not say the truth. In the past, wealthy ladies who knew how to swim would be inconceivable.

”I don’t know how to swim but my younger brother does. Every time, before he enters the water, I would hear the guard remind him this.” Ye Jiayao smiled.

Oh. Xia Chunyu shrugged his doubts off and went out.

Ye Jiayao called behind him, ”Chunyu… come back early.”

This time, she did not roll her tongue and she called him so naturally, like a virtuous wife eagerly reminding his husband. For a very short moment, Xia Chunyu felt that having her around did not seem to be such a bad thing.

When Song Qi returned, he presented a basketful of duck eggs to Ye Jiayao. ”Sister-in-law, this is from Auntie Jiang. Fresh duck eggs.”

Ye Jiayao took it gratefully. ”Auntie Jiang is too kind.”

Songqi replied, ”She is, but sister-in-law, third-in-charge doesn't like to eat duck eggs. He thinks that it is too fishy.”

Ugh! Actually, she doesn't really like to eat it too. Duck eggs were the good stuff, being rich in protein, fats, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, and many more nutrients. It also has many health benefits that's why in the modern times, duck eggs were difficult to find. Despite all that, she still did not care much for it.

”How about making it into a salted egg?” Ye Jiayao inquired.

Song Qi shook his head. ”Third-in-charge doesn't really like to eat that too.”

”What about a preserved egg?”