Chapter 341: Is this bullying? Clearly, it’s a playful interaction!
At night, in the study of the Lin mansion, Lin Beifan was still working on implementing the strategy for population growth and recuperation. Meanwhile, Mo Rushuang was in the kitchen, a bit flustered while preparing bird’s nest soup.
Li Shi Shi approached with graceful steps, observing Mo Rushuang’s slightly blackened face. She chuckled, “Rushuang, what are you doing?”
“I’m making bird’s nest soup for Young Master,” Mo Rushuang replied.
“This small task could have been done by Xiao Cui,” Li Shi Shi smiled.
Mo Rushuang shook her head, “No! Young Master has done so much for my hometown, and I don’t know how to repay him. So, I thought I’d make him a bowl of soup. It’s the only thing I can do for him.”
“I see, Rushuang, you’re thoughtful. Let me help you!” Li Shi Shi laughed.
Mo Rushuang looked surprised, “Shi Shi, you know how to cook bird’s nest soup too?”
In her impression, Li Shi Shi had always been a refined young lady, skilled in everything from music to chess to painting. She excelled in poetry and was knowledgeable in all the arts. How could she do such things?
“Well, I was just bored at home, so I learned a little. I can do some cooking and dish preparation. Who knows, I might need these skills in the future!” Li Shi Shi playfully rolled up her sleeves and smiled.
Mo Rushuang was puzzled, “In the future?”
As long as you stay within the Lin mansion, there are plenty of people to take care of you. How could you need those skills?
Li Shi Shi felt like she had said too much, shook her head, and smiled, “You might find out in the future. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s hurry up and cook the bird’s nest soup!”
“Oh, alright…” Mo Rushuang nodded.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the bird’s nest soup was ready, and both women felt delighted.
“I’ll take it to Young Master right away. Shi Shi, I’m leaving!” Mo Rushuang happily picked up the bowl of bird’s nest soup.
“Wait, Rushuang!” Li Shi Shi called out.
Mo Rushuang turned her head, “Shi Shi, is there something else?”
Li Shi Shi walked over and whispered in Mo Rushuang’s ear, “Rushuang, there’s actually a better way for you to repay the gentleman…”
After listening to Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuang’s cheeks turned red, and her voice sounded gentle, “I’ll take the bird’s nest soup to him first!”
After saying that, she turned and walked away, as if she were running away.
Li Shi Shi called from behind, “Rushuang, let me know when you’ve made up your mind!”
Mo Rushuang hurried away even faster, her face even redder.
A moment later, she entered the study, knocked on the door, and entered. She saw Lin Beifan working on a plan for distributing food. Thinking of what Li Shi Shi had said, she felt a bit shy and said, “Young Master, this is freshly cooked bird’s nest soup. Please enjoy it while it’s hot.”
Lin Beifan looked up and smiled, “Sure! Just put it on the table. I’ll have it in a moment.”
Mo Rushuang walked over with the bird’s nest soup, observing Lin Beifan as he wrote down a plan for distributing food. Curious, she asked, “What is Taiping Rice?”
Lin Beifan chuckled, “It’s a high-yield rice that the court is about to introduce. It’s drought-resistant and cold-resistant, prepared to be cultivated nationwide, allowing the common people to have enough to eat. Northern Hebei is your hometown, so I plan to allocate a bit more for Northern Hebei.”
Mo Rushuang expressed her gratitude with tears in her eyes, “Thank you, Young Master!”
Lin Beifan waved his hand, “No need to thank me. It’s my duty.”
“Alright!” Mo Rushuang nodded slightly, but as she looked at Lin Beifan, her gaze became more affectionate. She made a decision in her heart.
After Lin Beifan finished drinking the bird’s nest soup, Mo Rushuang took the empty bowl away. Later, she shyly approached Li Shi Shi, “Shi Shi, I’ve made up my mind…”
A moment later, Li Shi Shi hurriedly rushed in, looking anxious, “Husband, something’s wrong! It seems like Rushuang is sick. She’s lying in bed without moving. You need to check on her!”
“Is that so?” Lin Beifan was very puzzled.
Just a moment ago, she had a rosy complexion. How could things have changed so quickly?
Moreover, she’s a warrior, how could she get sick?
“I’ll go check!” Lin Beifan hurriedly made his way to Mo Rushuang’s room and found her indeed lying in bed.
“Rushuang, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly fall ill?”
Mo Rushuang blushed, “Young Master, I… I’m not sick!”
Lin Beifan furrowed his brow, “Not sick? Then why…”
Just then, the door clicked shut from the outside, followed by Li Shi Shi’s cheerful voice, “Husband, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold. I’m going back to rest in my room!”
At that moment, Mo Rushuang, with an expectant expression, shyly and hesitantly said, “Young Master, don’t you understand my feelings? Tonight… tonight, please don’t leave!”
In this moment, Lin Beifan, how could he not understand the “scheme” of the two women? To refuse further would be unmanly! Without hesitation, he lunged forward.
“Young Master, please be gentle! Mmm~~”
The next day, Lin Beifan got up refreshed and went to the morning court session.
Li Shi Shi walked in, holding a bowl of brown sugar water, and smiled, “Rushuang, from now on, we can call each other sisters!”
Mo Rushuang’s face turned red, “Yes, sister Shi Shi!”
Li Shi Shi happily said, “Sister Rushuang!”
And so, at night, Lin Beifan had one more place to go to.
However, this matter was accidentally discovered by the little princess.
She seemed to have knocked over a vinegar jar. For no reason at all, she would often glare at Lin Beifan as if suspecting him of being a heartless person who started something and then abandoned it.
Lin Beifan didn’t understand, “Little Princess, I haven’t done anything to you. Why are you glaring at me like this?”
The little princess gritted her teeth, “Hmph! You, bad guy, only know how to bully Sister Rushuang! That’s why I’m glaring at you! I’ll glare at you to death!”
Lin Beifan retorted, “Little Princess, can you call that bullying?”
The little princess countered, “Isn’t it?”
Lin Beifan pounded the table and stood up, “This is clearly playful teasing, just like what we’re doing now!”
The little princess’s face turned red with a swish.
She glared at Lin Beifan again, called him a “big scoundrel,” and ran off!
Li Shi Shi covered her mouth and chuckled, playfully scolding, “Husband, you’ve annoyed the little princess again! She’s still young and innocent. Cut her some slack!”
“Yes, Young Master, go and comfort her. Her anger will fade quickly!” Mo Rushuang pushed Lin Beifan’s arm.
With a helpless sigh, Lin Beifan stood up, “Alright, I’ll go comfort her!”
He leisurely entered the kitchen and found the little princess was indeed there.
She was staring at a pot of slowly simmering chicken soup, drooling slightly.
Seeing Lin Beifan walk in, she pretended not to notice and turned her face to the side, displaying a somewhat childlike demeanor.
Approaching her, Lin Beifan smiled and said, “Little Princess, still upset? We’ve been good friends for many years. Let’s not fight anymore. We should praise each other! Don’t just focus on each other’s shortcomings, also look for the good qualities in each other!”
Upon reflection, the little princess realized he was right and nodded, saying, “Okay!”
“How about this? You praise me, and I’ll praise you. After we’re done praising, we’ll make up and be friends again. Sound good?”
The little princess nodded again, “Good, it’s a deal!”
“You’re so smart and lovely. You go first!” Lin Beifan smiled.
The little princess’s face turned red again, and she playfully glanced at Lin Beifan.
The little princess thought for a moment and said, “You’re handsome and dashing, with an elegant demeanor!”
Lin Beifan immediately raised his thumb, “You’ve got good taste!”
The little princess: “…”
The little princess continued, “You’re incredibly intelligent and resourceful!”
Lin Beifan raised his thumb again, “You’re sincere!”
The little princess: “…”
The little princess raised her small head defiantly and provocatively said, “You have a very exceptional friend, surname Wu, named Yunying!”
Lin Beifan raised his thumb once more, “You’re humorous!”
The little princess: “Fck!”
The little princess was frustrated, “Ah! I’m not playing anymore. All this praising is just praising yourself!”
“Really done playing? Then I’ll leave!” Lin Beifan said.
The little princess’s curiosity was piqued, “Where are you going?”
Lin Beifan said with seriousness, “As a parent to the people, I’m going out to understand the people’s feelings and the hardships they face.”
The little princess snapped, “Clearly, you’re going shopping, yet you’re saying it so eloquently!”
Lin Beifan asked, “So are you coming with me?”
The little princess’s eyes twinkled, she stood up, and exclaimed, “Yes!”
It has to be said that the little princess’s temper comes and goes quickly. In no time, she had made up with Lin Beifan. The two of them left together, chatting and laughing.
At this time, it was the season of autumn harvest. Due to a bountiful crop this year, the saying goes “having grain in hand makes one unafraid.” So, everyone was very happy, and the streets were lively as a result.
As they walked, their hands filled with various snacks, the little princess said while munching, “You big scoundrel, I didn’t expect you to perform so well as a parent to the people! Under your management, the people have food to eat and clothing to wear. It’s really great!”
Lin Beifan responded seriously, “Little princess, I’m actually the Prime Minister now. Give me some face. Don’t call me a scoundrel!”
“I got it, Prime Minister Big Scoundrel!”
Seeing Lin Beifan’s dark expression, the little princess giggled and felt like she had finally taken revenge for earlier.
Just then, they saw a drunken man passed out by the roadside corner. Many people were pointing and mocking him.
“He’s Zhao Kuo, the one who talks big on paper!”
“Yes, he’s the waste who caused us to lose 400,000 soldiers and horses in Great Wu!”
“He’s truly useless! He never led troops in a battle, yet he bragged in the court, causing heavy losses for Great Wu! If it weren’t for the Prime Minister’s intervention, the capital city would have been lost!”
“A rotten mud that can’t be used as support for a wall! Pah!”
…
Lin Beifan frowned, “Why is Zhao Kuo there, and in such a state of drunkenness?”
The little princess sighed, “The impact of that battle on him was immense! So, after he returned, he became like this, getting drunk every day, not caring about anything, no matter how much we try to persuade him.”
“Actually, he’s quite capable, hardworking, and righteous. Among the young masters, he’s one of the best! It’s just that he’s had bad luck and encountered the formidable army of the Prince of Northern Hebei. Sigh!”
Lin Beifan put down the snacks in his hand and walked over.
The little princess called out, “Where are you going?”
Lin Beifan answered, “I’m going to wake him up.”
The little princess exclaimed, “Are you capable of that? If you can’t, don’t mess around!”
“Who says I can’t?” Lin Beifan said confidently, “As a Principal in the Imperial Academy, the teacher of teachers, there’s no one I can’t educate!”
