She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 345 - 344: Brother Guan is Just a Glutton

Chapter 345: Chapter 344: Brother Guan is Just a Glutton

"Hmm, not bad, he looks like a scion of a prestigious family now," Jinrong said, quite satisfied with Qi Jiaer’s demeanor and attire. He took Qi Jiaer’s hand and said to himself, "Let’s go. Since you’re a young master now, let’s have breakfast together."

Qi Jiajia hurried to catch up, hesitated slightly, and said, "Sixth Master, I’ve already had breakfast just now, with my sister."

Jiang Yifan laughed out loud.

Jinrong stopped in his tracks, glanced at Ye Xinyan, looked Qi Jiajia up and down in surprise, and asked, "You’ve eaten this early? On New Year’s, don’t children sleep in?"

Jiang Yifan nudged Jinrong and said, "Brother, you have to give him and Qi Sanshun morning training, he had to get up even earlier. Alright, let Jiajia go play, let’s go have breakfast. If we’re any later, Brother will complain, and Sixth Master will have another argument with Brother, which affects the enjoyment of the meal."

Qi Jia quickly interjected, "No, I still have to find Grandfather and pay my respects."

Indeed, Guan He was already waiting in the dining room, chatting with Qi Younian, Cheung Wusi, and Wong Qiao. After greeting everyone, Ye Xinyan and Qi Jiajia stepped back, leaving the space for those who were going to have breakfast.

Qi Younian called after Ye Xinyan, "Where is Ye Zi going? You don’t have to supervise the business today, do you?"

"Not today, tomorrow I’ll go to wish the workers a Happy New Year," Ye Xinyan waved her hand without turning back and took Qi Jiajia straight out the door.

Guan He watched Ye Xinyan lift the curtain and leave, clicked his tongue twice, and remarked, "It seems life away from the capital allows for more freedom. Look at that, not even turning her head back once, how carefree and comfortable she is."

Jiang Yifan watched Ye Xinyan’s retreating figure and thought that it probably wasn’t the carefreeness after leaving the capital, but rather that this was her natural state; she had always been casual, candid, and unconstrained by common customs.

Qi Younian defended his granddaughter, "Ye Zi is just more casual on normal days, but she knows her manners and is polite when she meets elders and children in the village. The village aunts and grandmothers always speak highly of Ye Zi, saying she greets everyone with a smile and doesn’t speak without smiling."

Guan He didn’t argue with Qi Younian, no matter whether Ye Xinyan understood etiquette or not; when Old Master Qi praised his own family, no one could dispute it, otherwise they would be asking for trouble.

"We’ve all been seated for quite a while now, just waiting for the two of you to join us for the meal. So, Sixth Master, shall we start the meal?" Guan He asked Jinrong.

Jinrong, with an apologetic smile, replied, "Last night’s dinner was delicious and we enjoyed it until late, making you wait. Let’s start the meal. I got up early this morning, and Hongzhi brought me a cup of warm water to drink, which didn’t make me feel hungry or thirsty. Hongzhi says that’s the Qi family practice, to have a cup of warm water first thing in the morning to moisturize the stomach."

He turned to ask Jiang Yifan, "Did you have a cup, too?"

Cheung Wusi laughed and took over the conversation, "The same for me. Ever since I’ve been here, I also start the day with a cup of warm water, without fail. Whether it moisturizes the stomach, I don’t know, but from the day I started drinking it in the morning, no matter what I have for breakfast, I never feel dry or thirsty. It’s true that I feel comfortable all over, indeed."

Qi Younian explained, "Back when we were struggling, life was very hectic, and we often hastily filled our stomachs with food, occasionally leading to stomach discomfort. Then Ye Zi started preparing a cup of warm water for us every morning, and it really made a big difference. Gradually, it became a habit."

Jiang Yifan said, "I once heard an elder from the Apricot Forest Prominent Family say that drinking a cup of warm water in the morning is very good for one’s health. It seems Ye Zi’s practice indeed coincides with the principles of nourishing life."

Qi Younian laughed and said, "That’s even better. With this glass of water to moisten the stomach, Sixth Master and Lord Jiang can enjoy breakfast to their heart’s content. Nanny Liu also simmered some milk tea, Sixth Master can really savor the taste." As he spoke, he gestured for Nanny Liu to serve the meal.

Because Jinrong had inquired specifically yesterday, Nanny Liu had taken extra time today to simmer the milk tea. There was also glutinous rice porridge and noodle soup; staple foods included deep-fried dough sticks, steamed dumplings, small flower rolls, yogurt balls, pumpkin cakes, a plate of small cakes, and several side dishes for the meal.

Additionally, a cup of hot cow’s milk was placed in front of each person.

Jinrong, pointing to the cup of cow’s milk, asked Qi Younian, "Is this also a custom of the Qi family?"

Qi Younian nodded helplessly and said, "Yes, Ye Zi says drinking some cow’s milk every day builds a strong body. Boiled cow’s milk tastes not bad, Sixth Master can try it."

Jinrong nodded, Ye Xinyan indeed liked to fuss over things, with the warm water and cow’s milk, and all that extra talk.

He looked at the array of breakfast items on the table, rubbed his hands together, and laughed, "Not bad, huh. The Qi family started their business with breakfast, and indeed, they make the meal in such a unique way that it whets the appetite just looking at it."

Guan He seemed very satisfied with today’s breakfast, and proudly nodded at Jinrong, "What do you think? There are many items you’ve never had before, right? Do you want to start eating right away, and see how they taste?"

Jinrong chose to ignore Guan He’s pride and simply asked him, "Which item do you plan to choose first?"

Guan He surveyed the table and said, "Isn’t Sixth Master going to drink milk tea? Brother Guan recommends pairing it with deep-fried dough sticks, delicious. I often get to drink milk tea, so I plan to start with the noodle soup, with deep-fried dough sticks and small flower rolls, which are also delicious."

Jinrong nodded earnestly, "I discovered yesterday that Brother Guan is truly a connoisseur of food. Following your advice will definitely not be a mistake. I’ll first try the milk tea with deep-fried dough sticks, then the noodle soup and flower rolls."

Bi Ning stepped forward upon hearing this and poured Jinrong half a bowl of milk tea, while Guan He waved her off, "That’s enough, you can step back. We can fend for ourselves." As he spoke, he had already picked up the soup spoon, serving himself noodle soup, and called out to the others, "Go ahead and help yourselves, choosing for yourself is how to enjoy it most."

Jinrong looked at the bowl of noodle soup in Guan He’s hand, with its hearty ingredients―meatballs, cabbage, tofu, wide noodles―floating in the thick soup, an image that was truly tantalizing to the appetite.

Wong Qiao followed Guan He with his own bowl of noodle soup. Qi Younian, observing Jinrong’s dilemma, offered, "How about Sixth Master tries the noodle soup first?"

Jinrong glanced at the steaming cup of milk tea in front of him, shook his head, and said, "No, I’ll try the milk tea first." Looking at Guan He, he added, "After all, we’re going to be staying here for a while. If I haven’t had my fill, we can always stay a few more days."

Guan He laughed at him, proceeding to pick up a deep-fried dough stick, unable to suppress his amusement. Stay a few more days? As if there would be more opportunities to enjoy delicious food than by staying permanently? Breakfast is most interesting when it’s warm, so he decided not to argue.

Jinrong first sipped the milk tea, merely tasting it, then picked up a deep-fried dough stick, following Guan He’s lead, dipping it in the tea before eating, all the while nodding his head as he ate and drank.

Qi Younian and Cheung Wusi, being older, preferred the lighter porridges and naturally went to serve themselves some porridge to drink, pairing it with the lighter small flower rolls and side dishes.