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Tao'er had no idea that Xiao Yi and the others had overheard everything she and Sister Dongkui had said last night.

If she had known they were all standing outside the window, she would never have said it so bluntly.

Although she felt completely at ease, in the eyes of outsiders she was still an unmarried young woman, and it would be somewhat inappropriate for those words to get out.

People might think her ideas are bizarre and contrary to the natural order!

Especially in ancient times, when husbands were considered the most important figures, women relied almost entirely on men.

When I was a child, I listened to my father; after I got married, I listened to my husband; and after my husband died, I had to listen to my son.

Moreover, she was just a little girl who tended the fire, while those two were noble young men. To outsiders, if they liked her, she should be overjoyed.

She said she didn't like any of them, which probably makes everyone think she's out of her mind!

But they didn't know her soul came from the future, so naturally they didn't have such outdated ideas.

But when others hear this, they inevitably think she is ignorant and arrogant.

Fortunately, she knew nothing about it.

At the breakfast table, she didn't notice anything wrong between Xiao Yi and A Chen.

Her mind was entirely on Ayan and Huanhuan. She would put a piece of green vegetable on Ayan's plate one minute and a peeled egg in Huanhuan's bowl the next.

But what I was really thinking was: the two kids are at the age where they're growing, they need to be properly nourished.

The milk she took out from her spatial storage isn't enough!

You need to get it from your diet.

"Brother Shi Qi, are you free after you finish eating?"

Thinking of this, Tao'er put down her chopsticks, looked up and asked.

Xiao Yi's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it on his face and nodded: "I'm free."

"Peach, is there something you need me to do?"

He suppressed his excitement; now was the time to shine, and he had to seize the opportunity.

The fact that Tao'er turns to him first when she needs help shows that he is the most important person to her.

Before Tao'er could speak, A-Chen interrupted, "Tao'er, I'm free too."

Whatever your plans are, I can do them too.

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yi indifferently, "Brother Shi Qi will need to take a medicinal bath later, so let's not trouble him."

"Oh, that's true."

Tao slapped her forehead.

"I forgot, today is the day when Seventh Brother is supposed to take a medicinal bath."

"Then forget it, Qingfeng, come with me!"

"no……"

Two voices rang out in unison, almost simultaneously.

Tao'er was taken aback. She looked at Xiao Yi, then at A Chen, her face full of confusion: "What's wrong with you two?"

Why didn't you let Qingfeng come with me?

Ah Chen's expression remained unchanged, but his tone was unusually serious: "Ah Tao, Qing Feng still has to chop wood, he doesn't have time."

I'm free, I'll go with you.

"Young Master Chen, you are not feeling well."

"Qingfeng needs to chop wood, I'll do it instead."

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and added unhurriedly, "I take my medicinal bath at night, not in the middle of the day."

The two looked into each other's eyes, and there was a faint crackling sound in the air.

At this moment, Qingfeng muttered softly, "There's plenty of firewood in the yard. I chopped enough to last for half a month..."

Before she could finish speaking, she was met with a cold, piercing gaze from her young master.

Qingfeng froze, quickly buried his head in his rice, and dared not utter another word.

Why couldn't he hold back? Wasn't he just asking for a beating?

Sitting next to him, Dongkui lowered her head, nudged him gently with her elbow, and said in a low voice, "Brother Qingfeng, please don't say anything."

"Didn't you see something was off about those two?"

Qingfeng nodded like a chick pecking at rice, not daring to pick up any more food.

"Brother Chen, Brother Shi Qi is right."

Tao shook her head, completely unaware that the two were secretly competing with each other.

"Your injury has just healed, so you shouldn't overexert yourself."

"You should just stay home and rest. If you're really bored, play with Huanhuan."

She didn't want Ah Chen to come along, and her reason was actually quite simple: she was afraid something might happen to him.

This is His Highness the Northern King, a person of noble birth and precious status. If anyone were to bump into or get hurt in front of her, or if any accident were to occur, everyone in this courtyard would be in deep trouble.

Staying at home is still the safest option.

"Miss Peach, my injury has long since healed."

Ah Chen, who had been aloof, showed a hint of grievance on his face. "I can do it. Just tell me what you need."

I've been staying in the yard every day these past few days to recover from my injury, I'm so bored, I feel like I'm going to mold...

You never let me do anything, I feel like I'm a useless piece of trash.

As he spoke, he looked at Tao'er with pitiful eyes, like a child who had been wronged.

Seeing his appearance, Tao'er thought about it and realized that this guy had indeed hardly left the house recently. It was no wonder that a grown man would be bored staying in the yard for so long.

"Well... okay then."

She hesitated for a moment, then finally relented.

"Actually, it's nothing serious. If you're really bored, you can come along."

I just wanted to catch some river shrimp from the nearby irrigation ditch or fields to nourish Ayan and Huanhuan, the two little ones.

"I want to go too!"

Xiao Yi immediately chimed in, "Tao'er, I'm bored too."

Besides, Young Master Chen probably doesn't even know what a river shrimp looks like, so he wouldn't be of any help even if he went.

"I can help if I go; I know about river shrimp."

He said this with great confidence.

When we were on military campaigns, what hadn't we seen: wild game from the mountains, fish and shrimp from the rivers?

Tao'er glanced at him, then at A-Chen, hesitated for a while, and finally nodded: "Alright then, let's go together."

Maybe we can even catch a few fish.

She thought that if it were just her and Ah Chen going, it wouldn't be good for a lone man and woman to go alone.

With one more person, there will be no more gossip.

Dongkui kept her head down as she ate her rice, her shoulders trembling slightly as she forced herself not to laugh out loud.

She didn't speak up for anyone just now because her younger sister, Tao'er, had already said last night that she didn't want to get married and didn't like them.

If that's the case, why should she get involved?

Everything should be based on Peach Sister's wishes.

Anyway, she'll support whichever one her younger sister likes.

However, she also wanted to go catch river shrimp, and she had just realized that Tao'er didn't want to be alone with either Brother Shi or Young Master Chen.

In that case, she should go even more.

Thinking of this, Dongkui said, "Sister Tao'er, I'll go with you too. Many hands make light work, and we can catch more river shrimp that way."

Without hesitation, Tao'er agreed, "Okay, since Sister Dongkui wants to go, let's go together!"

"Miss Tao'er, I want to go too. I'll go protect you."

Seeing that Dongkui had also gone, Qingfeng immediately spoke up.

Tao'er smiled and nodded, "Okay, Brother Qingfeng will come too."

She knew Qingfeng was going to see Sister Dongkui, so of course she couldn't refuse.

"Sister Tao'er, I want to go too. Ayan hasn't gone out to play in a long time, okay?"

Please, Sister Tao'er, just once.

I'll catch up on my homework tonight.

Ayan held Tao'er's hand and shook it, his eyes full of expectation.

Huanhuan, who was standing nearby, whispered, "Sister Tao'er, Huanhuan wants to go too, is that okay?"

Huanhuan's beautiful eyes held a hint of anticipation.

Tao'er couldn't bear it any longer, so she nodded and said, "Alright then!"

"Then let's go together. Let's bring some things with us and have a picnic all day."

Everyone's been on edge lately, so let's relax a bit.

Now that King Cheng and the others are in that state and out of immediate danger, it wouldn't be a bad idea for them to relax a bit.

"Yay, long live Sister Tao'er!"

When Ayan saw that Sister Tao'er had agreed, he cheered.

Although Huanhuan didn't do that, the smile on her face was incredibly bright.

"You've all left, leaving me, an old man, alone at home?"

"You guys are so mean!"

Elder Li sighed, looking pitiful.

"Uncle Li, of course you should come along too!"

You are our elder; we can't do without you, no matter who else is missing..."

Tao'er quickly replied.

"That's more like it!"

Elder Li nodded in satisfaction.

Being with these young people made him feel that his life had become more vibrant and alive.

Xiao Yi and A Chen sighed inwardly: What was supposed to be a nice date between the two of them had turned into...

Never mind, there will be another chance next time!

This time, at least I can get in touch with Tao'er.

"Peach, eat more."

Xiao Yi picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it into Tao'er's bowl.

"You've lost weight recently, and your double chin is gone."

Before Tao'er could react, A-Chen had already peeled an egg and placed it on the small plate in front of her, saying gently, "Tao'er, have an egg. I've heard that eating more eggs can make your skin more delicate."

Tao'er belatedly realized that the two of them were competing with each other.

She didn't want to put the food back, since her own utensils had already been touched. She just frowned slightly and said seriously, "Don't put food on my plate anymore. I don't like that."

"Let's eat quickly so we can set off."

After saying that, she lowered her head and focused on eating her rice, no longer looking at the two people.

Xiao Yi and A Chen exchanged a glance, then looked away and quietly began to eat their meal.

However, the subtle competitive atmosphere at the table lingered.