The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Another Ladder

When the water was boiled, Ji Huan called for Zhen Jili. Hearing no response, she carried a bowl into the main room, only to find him napping with his head on the table.

The water was a bit too hot anyway, so Ji Huan didn’t wake him. She fetched a quilt from Dabao’s room, draped it over him, and tiptoed back to the kitchen.

Although Zhen Jili claimed to have already eaten, a good chunk of the day had passed. He would have to rush back to the barracks soon, so Ji Huan thought it would be best to make him a little something to eat.

She had used up nearly all her ingredients and had forgotten to restock on her recent trip to town. Fortunately, she still had the eggs from the Hu Family and some rice left over from yesterday.

Serving leftover rice wasn’t ideal, but day-old rice that had rested overnight was perfect for making egg-fried rice. The slight fermentation enhanced the flavor, and the grains had separated, ensuring the best possible texture once fried.

The outer stove pot had just been used to boil water, so Ji Huan had Dabao light the fire under the inner one.

She stir-fried the cold rice until it was hot and set it aside, then added oil to the wok. She cracked an egg on the rim of the iron wok, letting the yolk and white fall into a bowl. She stirred it clockwise with chopsticks, then poured it into the moderately hot oil. Once the egg solidified, she broke it into pieces before adding the rice and stir-frying everything together.

She added a pinch of salt and some dried scallions, gave it a final toss, and plated it. A sizzling, fragrant plate of egg-fried rice was ready.

The farm-fresh eggs gave the dish a reddish-yellow hue and a unique, rich aroma. Because she had added a splash of cold water while whisking them, the cooked eggs were fluffy and tender.

On top of that, she had used lard. The resulting aroma was simply irresistible, enough to awaken anyone’s appetite. It even made Ji Huan feel a little hungry herself.

She asked Dabao, "Do you want some?"

Dabao stared at the plate, blinked, and said, "Egg... outside."

There are two ways to make egg-fried rice.

One way is "rice-wrapped egg," which was what she had just made.

The other is "egg-wrapped rice." For that, you pour the whisked egg into the wok, and just as it’s about to set, you add the pre-heated rice. The egg then coats each individual grain. You add a little salt and scallions, stir-fry it, and it’s ready.

Although Ji Huan didn’t think there was much of a difference between the two, Dabao was stubbornly fond of the second version.

"I’ve used up all the rice. Let’s just have this for today. How about I make you egg-wrapped rice tomorrow?"

Dabao glanced at the steaming plate again and gave a reluctant nod.

Ji Huan ladled half a bowl for him. Just as she was about to call for Zhen Jili, he pushed the door open and walked in himself, stretching as he spoke. "What are you making that smells so good? It made my mouth water in my dreams."

’He really does have the nose of a dog,’ Ji Huan thought. ’The kitchen door was closed, after all.’

Ji Huan handed him the large plate of egg-fried rice and a pair of chopsticks. "You’re in a hurry, so just make do with this. It’ll keep you warm on the journey back."

"Oh, come on. I told you I’d already eaten. Why go to all this trouble? But since you’ve already made it, I can’t be rude."

He said one thing, but his body was far more honest.

He was reserved for the first two bites, but then he began to shovel it down ravenously. When he finally set the plate down, not a single grain of rice was left. His performance was a perfect illustration of the idiom "a whirlwind devouring the clouds."

Ji Huan was left speechless.

The portion she had given Dabao wasn’t even a tenth of that, and while Dabao had just begun, Zhen Jili was already finished.

Rubbing his stomach, Zhen Jili looked over at Dabao, who was sitting on a low stool, methodically bringing rice to his mouth.

He squatted down to tease him. "Hey now, have you been counting how many grains of rice you’ve eaten?"

Dabao lifted his eyelids to glance at him, then let them fall again.

"Hey! You little brat, ignoring me. And you eat like a little girl..."

Zhen Jili stood up and asked Ji Huan, "So the little guy can eat by himself now, huh?" The last time he was here, Ji Huan still had to feed him.

"Our Dabao is always making progress, you know."

Zhen Jili grinned. No wonder Lu Danian was always saying that affection makes people blind.

Ji Huan filled a bowl with boiled water and handed it to him. "You just finished a big meal. Let it cool a bit before you drink, or it’ll upset your stomach..."

Zhen Jili wasn’t one for such formalities. He let it cool for a moment before downing it in one go and handing the bowl back to her.

"Alright, it’s time for me to go."

"You’re... leaving already?"

Now that the moment of parting had truly arrived, Ji Huan felt a pang of reluctance.

After all, besides the Hu Family, Zhen Jili was her only friend here.

"We set out tomorrow morning, so I have to go back and pack. As for the General’s illness... once I get to the Capital City, I’ll do as you said and see what I can manage."

"That’s assuming you can even get to see him," Ji Huan reminded him.

"I’m guessing the General is just having trouble accepting the outcome of the peace treaty. Once some time has passed and we’re back in the Capital City, he should be better. He won’t refuse to see me. But let’s not talk about that. Do you still have that Token I gave you?"

When Zhen Jili mentioned the Token, Ji Huan thought he wanted it back and was about to go and get it for him.

"Hold on, listen to me," Zhen Jili said, stopping her.

"The General never said to take it back, so you should keep it. He’s not the man he used to be after this incident, it’s true, but as long as the Emperor doesn’t strip him of his authority, this Token will remain valid. Hold onto it. You never know when it might come in handy. I won’t be around to look out for you anymore, so you have to be careful with everything."

At this, he smiled. His eyes seemed to hold a hint of sadness, but when she looked closer, it was gone.

"Also, the hand cream isn’t much of a secret anymore. I hear the major apothecaries in the city are all trying to develop their own, but it’ll take them a while to get any results. Take this opportunity to weigh your options. If it’s too much trouble, just find a reputable shop and sell the recipe. Don’t be a fool this time. A few dozen taels of silver definitely won’t cut it. You should get at least a few hundred taels out of them."

He paused, then added.

"Take good care of your brother and live your life well. In a couple of years, if you meet someone suitable... but don’t trust men too much. Not many of them are trustworthy... Don’t let yourself be fooled."

His words were earnest, covering every possible angle. He had considered everything for her—things she should worry about and things she shouldn’t—all with thorough, long-term foresight.

Ji Huan was filled with a mix of emotions. ’To be this considerate of my future... even a real family member couldn’t do more.’

Even though he had helped her multiple times before, Ji Huan had never completely let down her guard. She had always believed that every favor comes with an ulterior motive.

In other words, she simply didn’t believe in random acts of kindness. After all, hadn’t she taken in Dabao to repay the kindness of a bowl of water?

But now, Zhen Jili had truly left her confused.

’I just can’t figure it out,’ she thought. ’We’re practically strangers, so why is he being so incredibly good to me?’

This time, however, she buried the question deep in her heart.

She knew that even if she asked, Zhen Jili wouldn’t give her an answer.

Still, there were some things she had to ask.

"Those things you mentioned before... about the matters at court, and the Emperor wanting to use General Kou’s head as a bargaining chip... how did you find all that out?"

Zhen Jili didn’t hide it from her.

"It was Eunuch Feng. He’s... well, let’s just say he’s the new ladder I’ve found."

’General Kou can barely save himself now, and his fate back in the Capital City is uncertain,’ Ji Huan reasoned. ’Zhen Jili can’t help him, so he has no choice but to make other plans for himself.’

This confirmed her suspicions. Zhen Jili was naturally outgoing and had a knack for making people lower their guard, so it wasn’t surprising that he’d managed to get close to Eunuch Feng.

It was just that this Eunuch Feng had no sooner arrived at the Northern Pass than the peace treaty was successfully negotiated. Furthermore, it was hard to say that Kou Changqing’s strange behavior had nothing to do with him.

And now Zhen Jili was getting so close to him...

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!