NCCnovel Chapter 563: Honest Boy Long Jinyan
Chapter 563: Honest Boy Long Jinyan
After saying that, she turned to Hongxiu beside her and instructed her, "Hongxiu, go to the kitchen and tell the servants to prepare some good food to entertain Young Master Zhao properly."
Hongxiu accepted the order and was about to turn and leave when Zhao Wuji quickly waved his hand, a gentle smile on his face, and said, "Madam Fang, no, no, I came in a hurry today and have already had breakfast. You don't need to be so polite."
Fang Xiaoxiao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then pursed her lips, a teasing smile flashing in her eyes, and joked, "Young Master Zhao, you are indeed very lucky, but everyone in our courtyard is still hungry."
Her tone was somewhat sarcastic, as if she were watching a clueless child make a fool of themselves.
Long Jinyan, Ouyang Tuoba, and the others, who were still half asleep, instantly woke up after hearing Fang Xiaoxiao's words. They all showed helpless expressions and looked exasperated.
Long Jinyan thought to himself, "Has Zhao Wuji lost his mind? He comes to someone's house so early in the morning, disturbing their sleep, and not only is he empty-handed, but he also doesn't know how to speak properly. How can he refuse the host's hospitality? What a weirdo."
Ouyang Tuoba shook his head inwardly, thinking that Zhao Wuji was really clueless about human relationships. He thought to himself, "It seems that Zhao Wuji has been in the army for a long time and has become unfamiliar with the etiquette of social interactions."
Upon hearing Fang Xiaoxiao's words and noticing the strange looks from the crowd, Zhao Wuji immediately realized he had said the wrong thing, his face flushed slightly, and he appeared somewhat embarrassed.
He quickly added, "Oh dear, look at my mouth, I really don't know how to speak. Although I have already had breakfast, I would be more than happy to have another meal with such a hospitable host, Madam Fang."
His face was full of apologetic smiles, and his eyes showed a hint of panic, just like a child who had done something wrong.
Fang Xiaoxiao looked at Zhao Wuji's flustered explanation and gave him a look of disbelief, her smile widening as she said, "Young Master Zhao, you're too kind. In that case, please wait a moment until the food is served, and we'll eat together."
After saying that, she instructed Hongxiu to hurry to the kitchen to make arrangements, while Zhao Wuji stood there, feeling somewhat uneasy and secretly annoyed at his own rashness.
The family sat around in the main hall, where a sumptuous breakfast was laid out on the table, steaming hot and fragrant.
Long Jinyan was a generous and forthright person. Upon seeing such delicious food, he didn't care about his image at all. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily, making satisfied chewing sounds from time to time. He ate with great joy.
In stark contrast, Murong Changqing, Zhou Wenjian, and Ouyang Tuoba were elegant in demeanor, eating slowly and deliberately, displaying a refined air and appearing almost as delicate as women.
Fang Xiaoxiao, Li Wan'er, and Hongxiu each held a bowl of red date porridge, gently blowing on it to cool it down as they slowly savored it.
The jujube porridge was a beautiful red color and had a sweet and delicious taste. The three of them ate while chatting quietly, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
As for Zhao Wuji, he came from a military background, and his daily diet in the army was mostly simple and plain. He had never seen such a rich breakfast before.
He had hardly ever seen many of the foods on the table before. At that moment, he was holding a bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork, looking at it with some curiosity.
The porridge looked somewhat dark and had a slightly fishy smell when he took a closer sniff, but when he cautiously took a bite, his eyes lit up instantly. The wonderful taste spread in his mouth, and it was absolutely delicious, comparable to the most delicious food he had ever eaten in the world.
However, Zhao Wuji was not used to such a refined dining atmosphere. For a moment, he felt quite awkward and became very careful while eating. Every movement he made seemed a little restrained, as if he was afraid of doing something wrong and making a fool of himself.
Fang Xiaoxiao had been watching Zhao Wuji's actions closely. Seeing his demeanor, she couldn't help but smile and said, "Young Master Zhao, please eat as much as you like. Don't be so reserved, don't dawdle like a woman." Her voice was clear and crisp, with a touch of boldness.
But her words unintentionally stung Zhou Wenjian and the other two.
Ouyang Tuoba, who had been eating elegantly, changed his expression slightly upon hearing this. He then picked up his bowl and began slurping his food voraciously, as if trying to prove his masculinity. Zhou Wenjian and Murong Changqing exchanged a glance, a hint of helplessness flashing in their eyes, but they also quickened their eating pace.
Just then, footsteps sounded, and Li Renyi swaggered in. He came uninvited, a fawning smile on his face, shamelessly finding a chair and sitting down next to Li Wan'er. He grinned at Hongxiu and said, "Miss Hongxiu, could you please get me a set of chopsticks and a bowl?"
Upon seeing this, Fang Xiaoxiao's face instantly darkened. She slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "Li Renyi, don't you have hands? If you want bowls and chopsticks, go get them from the kitchen yourself! How dare you order Hongxiu around like that?"
"If you dare treat Hongxiu like a maid again, you can go back to the Jing'an Marquis's residence and never come to the Fang family's courtyard again!"
Her voice was stern and intimidating.
Startled by her shout, Li Renyi shrank back, his smile instantly freezing, looking somewhat embarrassed. At this moment, the straightforward Long Jinyan, who was chewing his food, was slightly taken aback when he heard Fang Xiaoxiao's words, and muttered softly, "Wife, haven't you always treated Hongxiu like a maid? Why are you talking about Li Renyi?"
Although his voice wasn't loud, it still carried clearly in the quiet main hall.
Fang Xiaoxiao glared at Long Jinyan when she heard his mutterings. Seeing this, Long Jinyan quickly lowered his head and dared not say anything more. He just continued eating in silence, but he felt a little wronged, thinking that he had only told the truth.
After the meal, some people sat and chatted, while others got up and moved around.
Taking advantage of the moment when Li Wan'er was alone, Li Renyi approached her furtively with a fawning smile, his eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.
He quietly took out a jade bracelet from his pocket. The bracelet had a warm luster and shimmered slightly in the sunlight.
He handed the bracelet to Li Wan'er, about to express his love, but before he could utter a single word, with a "whoosh," Long Jinyan, like a nimble monkey, suddenly reached out and snatched the bracelet from Li Renyi's hand.
Long Jinyan, an overly enthusiastic person who was willing to help his good brother, had an excited smile on his face, as if he had discovered some amazing treasure.