She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 288 - 287: Have a Good Time

Chapter 288: Chapter 287: Have a Good Time

Jinrong also thought the same as Jiang Yifan, he peered over to see the cheese slices cut by Zi Ning and asked Guan He, "I heard from the manager of the Dairy Products Store that they are not accustomed to eating fermented cheese for the first time. Brother Guan, you can really eat it comfortably?"

Guan He smiled and said, "You all guard this thing like treasure, how could I possibly give up the opportunity to try it? It’s just that yesterday’s method of eating at dinner was too troublesome, and what’s the point of baking it on top of noodles? I just took a piece and wrapped it in cooked meat to bake, quite delicious."

Ye Xinyan listened in astonishment, stealing something and talking about it so calmly, even in front of the prince. What kind of world was this?

Guan He pointed to a skewer in a child’s hand, threaded with roasted meat and cheese, then turned to Jinrong and said, "This is the cheese taken by Guan without notifying, if Sixth Master doesn’t mind the origin of the cheese, you could try it first. I believe Qi Ye still has fresh ways to entertain Sixth Master with a proper meal, by then, Sixth Master would be eating cheese for the second time, and presumably, you would be more accustomed to it."

Jinrong laughed and said, "I have been eagerly waiting for several months, I will definitely try it. Brother Guan, you don’t have to be a stranger with me, just for taking some food; it’s not as serious as you say. As long as Brother Guan likes it, from now on, the cheese that Brother Guan eats can all come from me."

Hearing Jinrong speak so warmly, Xinyan couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Guan He. From the moment Jinrong came in, he was extremely polite and familiar to Guan He. Jinrong, being a prince, could be like this towards Guan He, which suggested that Guan He must be quite capable?

When Jinrong’s steps turned back, Nanny Liu had already summoned the maids and old woman servants in the courtyard to wait on the side, ready for Ye Xinyan or Qi Younian to instruct the arrangement of the tables and chairs.

Guan He, smiling, said to Qi Younian, "It seems that I might be stealing the limelight, Father-in-law Qi, what do you think, shall we sit here for a while first?"

Qi Younian was a bit hesitant; he, along with Cheung Wusi and Wong Qiao, had suffered through all sorts of hardships, so this kind of weather was nothing to them. An eccentric expert like Guan He would be even less troubled, perhaps much stronger than them, and would have no problem staying outside for several days and nights. The key concern was Prince Yu and Lord Jiang, could they withstand it?

Qi Younian said, "We are all outdoor workers, the weather doesn’t bother us, anywhere is fine. It just depends on whether Sixth Master and Lord Jiang can withstand the cold."

Jinrong laughed and said, "The older gentleman underestimates us; we also often trek the whole day in the cold winter days. Here we have a bonfire and food, it’s not bad. Let’s sit here for a while and join the fun with these youngsters."

Qi Younian nodded and said, "All right then, if Sixth Master and gentlemen don’t mind the simplicity and cold outside, we’ll just be casual." He turned and instructed Nanny Liu, "Nanny, lead someone to set up tables and chairs over here. Our house has fur, bring that as well."

Ye Xinyan saw that these people were seriously preparing to have a barbecue in the courtyard. Feeling the temperature, although winter had arrived late this year, it was still winter, and staying outside for an extended period was not a very comfortable thing; not everyone had such an interest. For example, herself - she felt staying inside was more comfortable and pleasant.

She was hesitating, whether to quietly head back to the rear courtyard or whether it would be more appropriate to say goodbye before leaving, when she heard Jinrong call her name, "Ye Zi, in this deep winter, there’s no need for a lady like you to accompany us outside. Have someone find Zhang Baokui, I will ask him and Xie Chun about the cheese. After the meal, I will find you to discuss matters."

Naturally, Xinyan could not ask for more, and quickly agreed. As for what matter to discuss, that would be dealt with later.

Guan He was clearly no ordinary brute from Jianghu; he handled his appearance on the scene with apt precision, and there was no occurrence of a lack of supplies.

In the Qi Family Courtyard, over a dozen children, big and small, along with several adults, were busy grilling meat and cheese. The wild rabbits and wild fowl he had brought back, coupled with the stolen cheese, were surprisingly sufficient. Coupled with the kitchen’s food, adults and children alike had a noisy good time and ate to their hearts’ content.

It must be said that children have a remarkable capacity for embracing new things. The first time Ye Xinyan made a cheeseburger, only Qi Jiajia thought it tasted good among the whole family.

This time, when the village children tried cheese for the first time, they were extremely fond of its flavor, wishing they could layer several slices of cheese on every piece of grilled meat. Although this had to do with the way it was eaten—melting the cheese with the meat to maximize the aroma and benefits of the cheese—the natural affinity children have for dairy products was undeniable.

Jinrong and Jiang Yifan came from wealthy backgrounds; their exposure and habitual self-restraint in eating habits prevented them from indulging excessively, even in the face of delicious food. They tasted the cheese intermittently, paired with other side dishes, and this method of consumption turned out to be remarkably effective; despite it being their first time, they greatly enjoyed the cheese.

After having lunch in her room in the backyard, Ye Xinyan discussed with Nanny Liu and Anshun’s Household where to arrange accommodation for Guan He.

Both Nanny Liu and the old woman servant from Anshun’s Household were the type to watch their master for cues. Although it was their first time hearing about Guan He, they could tell from Jinrong’s attitude towards him that Guan He was no ordinary guard. After a brief discussion, they decided to accommodate Guan He in the same way as Cheung Wusi and Wong Qiao, treating him like family and arranging for him to stay in the east wing room of the outer courtyard.

Jinrong and Qi Younian, along with the others, had cheese-grilled meat for their lunch, accompanied by other barbecued foods, and finally, a big bowl of soup with noodles to finish.

After lunch, they let the children outside clean up while they moved to the main house’s hall to rest and have a casual conversation. Guan He then excused himself and was led by Nanny Liu to the east wing.

To facilitate a more convenient conversation between Jinrong and Jiang Yifan, Qi Younian and the other two also excused themselves.

Qi Younian went to chat with Guan He; out of trust for Jiang Yifan and respect for Guan He, the old master didn’t ask much about Guan He’s background. Instead, he talked to Guan He about his family’s past. Although their backgrounds were different, both were straightforward characters, and they enjoyed each other’s company immensely.

Jinrong moved to sit in an armchair on one side of the hall and exclaimed to Jiang Yifan, "I didn’t expect that cheese could be made like this, without changing its quality before opening the package. This stuff can be transported long distances and sold in various places—it looks like the deal is done now."

Jiang Yifan slowly swirled his cup, seemingly lost in thought, as if he hadn’t heard Jinrong’s words.

Jinrong didn’t mind whether he responded or not and continued, "According to Zhang Baokui, Ye Zi plans to extend the fermentation time of the cheese, apparently to see which fermentation period produces the best flavor. I think, while she experiments, I can take a portion and start promoting it in a small circle in the capital first. Such a limited supply will further reflect the exclusivity of the ingredient."

As he spoke, Jinrong kicked Jiang Yifan with his foot and asked, "What do you think?"

Jiang Yifan glanced at him and said, "It should work, if the cheese is fermented to a degree that maintains a certain softness while still being suitable for storage and transportation, it would already meet the expectations of Sixth Master and Ye Zi. As for the future improvement in quality, that goes without saying—as for those old brands that have been in business for years, not only do they ensure that the quality of their own products remains unchanged, but also getting better is key to maintaining their reputation. However, Sixth Master still needs to check whether the storehouse has enough cheese to send to the capital."

Thank you to Princess Liu for the reward.

It seemed awkward no matter how I looked at it, so I made a major revision. The next Chapter will be a bit later, in about ten to fifteen minutes.