After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The kitchen also served as a woodshed. To the left and directly in front was a stove built of bricks and stones, with a dark chimney standing above it, leading to the outside of the roof. A window was opened to the left of the stove.

The firewood was chopped into even pieces and neatly stacked on the right side of the kitchen.

The porcelain plates and bowls were placed in an old wooden cabinet against the left wall.

Ning Nan smacked his lips as he walked toward the wooden cabinet.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but after not seeing her for a few days, Cui Cui seems even more aloof and domineering than before.

However, looking at those clear, spring-like eyes, now reddened by the rising fumes, watery and almost on the verge of tears... he couldn't help but smile.

It's like lava bubbling up from the bottom of a clear spring; the bottom is bright red, the surface is boiling, and bubbling water is gushing out.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful.

A quick glance revealed Chef Cui's hands, once as delicate as white porcelain, now stained black with charcoal from adding firewood to the stove. He then hastily wiped his face, leaving his nose, cheeks, and eyes covered in soot... Ning Nan smiled, picked up a plate, placed it beside the iron pot, and casually took the spatula and pot handle from the other's hands.

"I did it," she said, raising an eyebrow warily.

Their fingertips touched, and Ning Nan took the wooden spatula.

The spatula had been held in Chef Cui's palm for a long time, and the handle was quite warm.

"I won't steal your credit." He calmly stir-fried the vegetables, pointed to a basin of well water on the ground not far away and a towel hanging next to the basin, indicating that she should go wash up first. "I'm just serving some vegetables."

Cui Cui wrinkled her nose, glanced at him, and then, as if thinking of something, her expression changed slightly. She pursed her lips and went to wash her face leisurely.

The dish of rice wine duck was modified from the method of beer duck in later generations. Although it contains bay leaves, star anise could not be found, so fennel was used as a substitute. It cannot be compared with the taste of later generations, but it was a real delicacy in this era.

pity.

The texture and fat content of the meat in the pot didn't seem to be duck meat. The meat was much firmer than duck meat. What kind of meat was this? He casually asked Cui Cui, who was wiping her face.

Water droplets hung from Cui Cui's forehead as she said expressionlessly, "Goose meat."

Ning Nan made an "uh..." sound, somewhat puzzled, but didn't ask any further questions. He assumed the other person was just craving something new and wanted to try it. At that time, there weren't any animal protection laws, so tiger meat was edible.

He simmered it for a while longer, just in case Chef Cui hadn't added salt. He shook his chopsticks, picked up a piece of goose meat from the pot, and stuffed it into his mouth. Cui Cui glanced at him with her red eyes.

"Hmm..." Ning Nan made a muffled sound, nodded slightly, said nothing, picked up the white plate, and began to serve the food.

Cui Cui looked away, her lips curving into a smile, and she tilted her chin up.

If it's just me, Cuicui, and my mother, one meat dish and two vegetable dishes are enough.

But today, because there was Uncle Fu and the two coachmen from the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, all three of them had quite a good appetite.

Fortunately, in order to shake off the woman riding the white horse that morning, Ning Nan bought a lot of vegetables and meat from passing caravans and farmers. So, he cooked a few more meat dishes and an extra pot of rice.

But when the dishes were served, they discovered that there was a strange old man sitting in the main room. He was dressed in a black silk robe and looked to be almost sixty years old. He had a peaceful expression and did not look like a country person who was used to doing farm work.

The old man chuckled as he rose to his feet: "I am Xu Qing, and I greet Young Master Ning."

Ning Nan frowned and replied, "And you are, sir?"

The old man took a few steps and said humbly, "Please, sir, let's talk in private for a moment." He then led him into the courtyard.

Three carriages were parked outside the courtyard, which was spacious and quiet. Occasionally, a breeze would carry the aroma of food... Cui Cui was washing the last dish of vegetables she was preparing to cook by the well.

After listening to the old man say a few words in a low voice, Ning Nan paused, and his expression gradually became interesting.

"Finally here..." He stared intently for a while, then let out a long breath.

The old man was a steward in the Zhu family. He first thanked him for saving Cuicui and for going to Nanjing to deliver the message.

Then he explained his purpose... He brought people to Lijia Village to take care of Miss Zhu and Cuicui.

As for why Miss Zhu wasn't taken back to the Zhu residence, the reason is quite simple. Firstly, Miss Zhu has lost her memory and has been staying in Li Family Village for so many days. Her emotions have finally stabilized, so it would be inappropriate to take her back to the residence rashly.

As for the second point, it made Ning Nan frown.

Are they using Miss Zhu as bait to lure out the group of thieves who want to assassinate her?

This Master Zhu is really ruthless... Ning Nan silently curled her lips.

"My master was forced into this desperate measure," the old man sighed.

"To be honest, young master, we and the officials have been secretly investigating for nearly twenty days. Although we've uncovered many traitors within our own ranks, we still haven't found the real culprit. It was only today that we learned about the Black Tiger Stronghold bandits from Miss Cui..."

Old Xu's helplessness was genuine; he simply couldn't understand why His Highness insisted that he tell this young farmer's story.

This person and his mother were His Highness's saviors, but they should be taken back to the palace to live out their lives. Why involve them? He was very worried that this person would ruin important matters.

"How many brothers does Master Zhu have?" Ning Nan asked, frowning.

Old Xu's pupils contracted; this question was quite pointed... He couldn't help but scrutinize the other person up and down for a moment. Seeing that the other person's expression didn't seem mocking or probing, and remembering what His Highness had said, "No matter what he asks, you should try your best to answer him and not hide anything," the old man took a breath and slowly said, "The three of you."

The three of them... Ning Nan lowered his eyes. Miss Zhu is an only child. The reason for not bringing her back to the manor is probably because it is more dangerous there.

Even after eliminating the internal traitor, the fear persists, likely because there are still traitors within the household that cannot be eliminated... such as one's own brother or nephew?

Such traitors can only be dealt with by fishing to obtain evidence first, so that they can be eliminated once and for all. Otherwise, it is not good for the thief to always be hiding. It is exhausting to guard against thieves for a thousand days. If you arrest them directly, you will not be able to convince the clan members. That's roughly the situation.

Ning Nan didn't say much, but simply asked how the other party could guarantee the safety of ordinary people in Lijia Village.

The old man said that he had arranged for people to be stationed in the village, and that an opera troupe would be brought in tomorrow. In addition, Master Zhu had some connections with the government, and several local military garrisons would assist in the defense.

Ning Nan nodded and said thank you, Mr. Xu and Master Zhu, but then frowned and said it wasn't enough.

They were asked to build several refuge villages in the back mountains, with a certain number of people and weapons, especially bows and arrows, and enough food and clothing.

With the Daliang Baojia system in place, the village leaders, under Li Baoxin's command, can lead the villagers to safety.

Afterwards, please ask Master Zhu to give each household in the village some compensation so that the villagers will not suffer too much loss.

Old Xu looked somewhat surprised, but after a moment's thought, he agreed, smiling and cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Young master, you truly have the heart of a bodhisattva."

Ning Nan pursed his lips and didn't say much, only adding a flattering remark: "If the Northern Dynasty crosses the river, or other mountain bandits attack, our village can still use these facilities... Mr. Xu and Master Zhu are truly bodhisattvas."

After the two finished speaking...

Ning Nan then invited the other party into the main room to prepare for dinner... Chef Cui was still stir-frying the last dish of green vegetables.

But as soon as I entered the main room, I saw my mother making tea for the guests.

When she saw Old Man Xu, she smiled and invited him to sit down, then poured him some tea herself.

As soon as the old man sat down.

His mother secretly pulled him into the yard: "Come here, let me tell you something!"

Ning Nan felt somewhat helpless.

I just came in from the yard, and now I'm going out again.

Not long after.

The sounds of cooking in the kitchen gradually subsided. When Zhu Cuiwei carried the last plate of vegetables out of the kitchen, she saw Ning Shi and the young doctor sitting in the courtyard, the mother and son whispering to each other.

She lowered her eyes.

The plates she was carrying were a little hot, so she quickened her pace and headed towards the main room.

When we arrived at the entrance of the main room.

She looked back.

Just then, the young doctor looked up and stared at her in astonishment, his mouth agape.

She was expressionless.

After the two stared at each other for a moment, Zhu Cuiwei shifted her gaze, looked away, and softly called out to the widow Ning's back, "Mother~, come in for dinner..."