Chapter Thirteen: The Bridal Chamber (Three)

  Li Ruofeng and Lin Xiuer sneaked into the kitchen, startling the old mothers who were cleaning up the dishes. This was something that went against their understanding of human relationships and social norms. The newlyweds hadn't even finished their wedding night, so how could they be running out of their bridal chamber?

  Fortunately, Li Ruofeng reacted quickly and repeatedly made "shh" sounds to signal the kitchen maids not to be alarmed.

  "Granny, is there still food? We're starving!" Li Ruofeng had been away from home for seven years, so he wasn't very familiar with the changes and arrangements of people in Lijia Village. He didn't recognize any of the cooks or old mothers in front of him.

  However, although he didn't recognize them, how could these kitchen aunties possibly not recognize the young master and mistress?

  They hastily put down their work and asked in a low voice:

  "Master and mistress, what would you like to eat?"

  "There's still hot bear paw and bird's nest in the steamer, would Master and Mistress like to have some to warm their stomachs?"

  "There are also a few hot desserts, would you like some, young master and mistress?"

  “……”

  The old ladies spoke alternately, one word at a time, and for a moment they got Li Ruofeng into a state of utter bewilderment.

  "Halt! Hold it right there!" Li Ruofeng raised his hands and pressed down repeatedly, then turned to ask Lin Xiuer, "Wife, what do you say we whip up something to eat?"

  Lin Xiuer slightly furrowed her naturally perfect, unadorned eyebrows and thought for a moment before saying: "Prepare a dish of bear paw and swallow nest, also prepare a dish of lotus seed and eight-treasure porridge. Then stir-fry some dishes to go with wine, warm up two jugs of wine, and steam some plain mantou buns."

  Waterfall sweat! Li Ruofeng muttered in his heart, "Wife, so much food, can you finish it?"

  "Aren't you hungry too? This little bit doesn't count as much. Right, Mr... the master of the house, are we eating here or should someone bring it to our room?"

  "The surname Li" nearly slipped out, but Lin Xiuer was fortunate to have a quick mind and knew not to lose face in front of these underlings, so she changed her words to "the master".

  "It's not a big deal to eat here, let them prepare and send it to the house." Li Ruofeng understood that he couldn't stay in the kitchen for too long, if the elders found out, they would definitely scold him.

  "Ah!" Lin Xiuer then began to exercise her authority as the young mistress of the Li family, instructing the old maids: "First bring out the bear paw and swallow's nest eight-treasure soup, I'll take it with Young Master first, hurry up and prepare the rest, send them to Young Master's room as soon as possible."

  "Yes, young mistress." The old servant women hastily responded and dispersed to attend to their duties.

  Everything was ready, so the elderly ladies wouldn't let the young master and mistress serve themselves. Thus, the newlyweds held hands and went back to their room.

  Back in the bridal chamber, after the old woman who brought food left, Lin Xiuer whispered to Li Ruofeng, "Have you had enough, why don't you let go?"

  Li Ruofeng only then realized that he had unknowingly held Lin Xiuer's hand, and it felt so good to hold her slender jade-like hand that he hadn't let go of it all this time.

  Li Ruofeng couldn't help but gently squeeze the slender fingers in his hand again, and he felt a bit embarrassed to let go. He then changed the subject, pointing at the steamed bear paw on the table, "Hehe, this bear paw is well-made, fragrant and smooth, just looking at it makes you know it's delicious."

  "What do you mean?" Lin Xiuer suddenly blew up, "You actually dare to call my aunt's hand a bear paw? If you don't explain yourself today, I'll never be done with you."

  Li Ruofeng knew he had misspoken as soon as the words left his mouth. In fact, that was not what he meant to say; it's just that mentioning bear paws at this time would inevitably lead Lin Xiuer to overthink things.

  "This... this... Xiuer, you misunderstood..." Li Ruofeng was at a loss for words for the time being.

  "You got a good deal and still want to show off, haven't you ever seen anyone being bullied? Lin Xiūcái seemed to be taking advantage of the situation, staring at Li Ruòfēng with an unyielding gaze, expressing her discontent. 'Swallow's nest is fragrant, eight-treasure porridge is flavorful and aromatic, why did you have to mention bear paw? Hmph! I think you're doing it on purpose.'"

  "Heaven and earth are my witnesses, I didn't mean it that way." Li Ruofeng said with a bitter smile: "Xiuer, consider me to have misspoken, sorry, is that enough?"

  "Hmm! Auntie will fill her belly first before settling the score with you." Lin Xiuer snatched that bowl of warm blood swallow's nest and said while drinking.

  Li Ruofeng didn't say a word, sat down and picked up the sharp cow ear knife, cutting the whole crispy and smooth ice bear paw into six pieces. Then he used the tip of the knife to pick up two pieces and sent them to Lin Xiuer's empty plate in front of her.

  Nor did she care whether this greasy high-fat food was suitable for girls to eat, Li Ruofeng buried her head and started eating.

  Before long, the kitchen sent over several stir-fries, some noodles and a warmed-up Red Bean Bun.

  The bridal chamber is decorated with flowers and candles, and the name is posted on the golden list, this is a great achievement in life.

  Li Ruofeng never thought that on their wedding night, he and his bride would end up staying in the bridal chamber, eating and drinking heavily with a third person.

  In his previous life, he graduated from university and was assigned to a telecommunications company. The unit's efficiency was not bad, and he had also been in several relationships with women, but none of them had discussed marriage with him. It seemed that during that era, young men and women who were struggling to make a living in Shenzhen mostly got together just to comfort each other's lonely hearts as they lived away from home. As for the physical aspect of their relationships, most of it was also about satisfying each other's physiological needs.

  The ambition and grand vision of youth were soon worn away by the intense pressure of competition in the workplace caused by economic downturn.

  Wielding power over the world, drunk and sleeping on a beauty's lap. This kind of man's dream can only be achieved through those online platforms to YY for a bit.

  His last memory of his past life was that the day was July 22, 2009. For the rare total solar eclipse on that day, he took a leave from work and prepared expensive optical lenses and digital cameras.

  Who would have thought that day would become his eternal doomsday in the 21st century.

  Fortunately, he was an orphan in his previous life and had no attachments.

  For this kind of soul transmigration and reincarnation that cannot be understood and explained by scientific arguments, he didn't spend too much mind to ponder why. What let him focus on is how to live a good life in this suffering old China, and how to use his innate advantages to protect his loved ones in this era.

  He grew up in an orphanage since he was a child and never knew what his parents looked like. When he went to school as a kid, seeing classmates with their parents accompanying them made him especially envious, wishing he could have the company of parents too, and experience parental love.

  So when he was reborn in this era, he cherished his family's affection even more.

  At the same time, he hopes to do something for the Chinese nation in this era.

  Because he knew that the Second World War could have been an opportunity for the Chinese nation to rise, but the international forces led by the United States had obliterated the opportunities that belonged to the Chinese nation.

  He still has deep feelings for his country.

  He was fortunate to be placed in a relatively well-off orphanage and also fortunate to meet a kind-hearted and enthusiastic director. Under the care of the director's kind social workers and philanthropists, he spent his carefree childhood.

  As he grew up, various policies and social donations provided by the country allowed him to smoothly complete his middle school and university studies.

  When he went to college, the school also exempted him from many tuition fees due to his orphan status. It can be said that without national policies and social kindness, he would not have been able to survive at all, let alone stand on his own in society.

  Although these aids were obtained through his own efforts, he still had a deep reverence for the country.

  It was this experience that formed his philosophical view of life as "heaven helps those who help themselves".

  He fully understands what self-respect, self-improvement, self-reliance and self-help mean. Because he has seen too many of his companions and classmates become social parasites and some even became the dregs of society because they couldn't read these eight characters.

  He is very clear how important a stable and harmonious national social environment is for orphans like them.

  He also once vowed to do something for the country, but unfortunately his personal talent and ability were really limited, so he could only bury this grand wish deep in his heart.

  He felt that being able to return to the Republic of China era was a blessing from heaven, an opportunity given by the heavens for him to repay his country and people. So, starting from the age of five, he began to make plans, knowing that all his plans had one prerequisite: he must protect himself well and not let anyone discover that he had a soul that didn't belong to this era.

  For a long time, he has been walking on thin ice, being extremely cautious about every detail.

  As for the marriage with Lin Xiuer, although he was not satisfied with this parental arrangement, his parents would not harm him and only wanted what was best for him. Moreover, the power of the Lin family could provide great help to his entire plan.

  So he can only choose to obey. No matter how sacred that so-called love is, when facing his entire plan, as long as it is not conducive to the implementation of his entire plan, he can give up.