Chapter 7: Relieving Boredom with Tangtang

The young male concubine sighed softly and took a big bite of the steamed bun in his hand.

He felt a bit lost.

However, since it was what Li Ruantang liked, to each their own. He would act as the middleman and properly match them up.

Those beautiful phoenix eyes turned and landed on the almost completely peeled potato in her hand.

After sitting at the table and drinking some porridge, Li Ruantang was busy battling with the potato skin. Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, concentrating as if what she held between her fingertips wasn’t a thin skin, but gold foil.

Three people sat at the table.

Hu Sanniang and Zhou Fulang had finished eating early and went to work in the fields, leaving only Hu Youning to accompany Li Ruantang and Meng Jun.

He had truly never seen anyone have such a hard time peeling a potato skin.

Hu Youning glanced at Li Ruantang with disinterest and turned to chat softly with Meng Jun.

“Li Fulang, when you eat at home, is Madam Li also this… uh.”

The word on the tip of his tongue was forcibly swallowed back by Hu Youning. After pondering for a moment, he changed his wording in an extremely elegant manner, “Also this serious?”

Li Fulang???

Meng Jun was stunned, feeling a bit confused. He subconsciously glanced at Li Ruantang sitting beside him and suddenly understood, “I…”

It had been several years since he last saw Li Ruantang, and childhood memories had long become hazy. How would he know what she looked like when eating?

But the words “I don’t know” absolutely could not be said.

Noble families had strict rules for dining, emphasizing chewing slowly and thoroughly.

Moreover, on normal days, there was no need for Li Ruantang to personally peel potato skins. It was natural for her to be slow the first time doing it.

The young male concubine smiled slightly, “My Mistress is a meticulous person, so she is a bit more earnest when doing things.”

“Oh.” Hu Youning slowly nodded. He had made plans with a good friend from the same village to go mushroom picking in Changshan Valley today.

Although it was not yet the rainy season, the mountains were cool and damp. With luck, they could still find a few. Plus, his mother had previously set traps in Changshan Valley, so it was time to check if there was any harvest.

Otherwise, in a day or two, there would truly be nothing left at home to entertain the noble guests with.

He couldn’t sit still but also couldn’t speak up.

Meng Jun had long noticed that Hu Youning was starting to become a bit distracted. The male concubine’s eyes were gentle, containing a faint smile, as he lowered his voice and said, “Does Young Master Hu have other matters to attend to?”

Although Li Ruantang’s taste in men wasn’t very good, there was one thing she said that was extremely accurate.

Hu Youning was indeed a simple-minded person, and there was no need to beat around the bush when interacting with him.

Therefore, Meng Jun also asked bluntly.

Hu Youning’s brows lifted in delight, and he quickly nodded, “Please excuse me, Li Fulang. Originally, Father asked me to accompany you to eat, but I indeed have something to do…”

He hesitated slightly, and Meng Jun immediately smiled, “Then Young Master Hu should go attend to it first. If there is anything to note at home, please feel free to instruct me.”

Today, the sunlight outside was not very bright, and the sky was gloomy.

Apart from these few tiled houses that were still worth something, the Hu family didn’t have anything valuable. However, Zhou Fulang had also reminded Hu Youning that the noble guests might not know how to start a fire, so the pot of hot water must not run out.

“Then…” Hu Youning considered for a moment and said softly, “Does Li Fulang know how to start a fire?”

“Start a fire?” Meng Jun was in a difficult position.

“Young Master Hu should go attend to his matters.” Li Ruantang, who had been silently peeling the potato skin, spoke up. She raised her eyes and looked over with a smile, “As for starting a fire, I have done it a few times in the army. Young Master Hu need not worry.”

“Ah?”

Hu Youning was slightly surprised in his heart. He truly didn’t expect Li Ruantang to dote on her male concubine so much that she was even willing to take on the task of starting a fire in the kitchen. One should know that the wives in the village would never enter the kitchen.

He originally thought that washing clothes yesterday was just Li Ruantang’s whim, but now it seemed that she was indeed earnestly taking care of her male concubine who knew nothing.

Thinking this, Hu Youning’s gaze fell on Meng Jun once again.

The male concubine’s appearance was like an immortal. Even sitting by the crude wooden table, his back remained straight, and his every movement exuded elegance.

Those usually gentle phoenix eyes were currently carefully looking at the potato Li Ruantang handed over.

“Did you peel this for me, my Mistress?” The young male concubine’s voice was clear, with a hint of barely noticeable delight in his tone.