After receiving the gifts from Ning Meng Yao, everyone smiled and said that they didn’t have to buy meat for tomorrow anymore.
To celebrate the festival on the second day, Ning Meng Yao gave everyone a day off, to let them rest. Since there was still sufficient inventory, a day off wouldn’t affect too much.
Qiao Tian Chang naturally dropped by early in the morning to help. After having breakfast, he went to the mountains with his bow and arrows.
Ever since the two of them broke through the awkward stage of the relationship, Qiao Tian Chang could fall asleep easily at her place. Every day, he would have his three meals at Ning Meng Yao’s. Grandmother Qin and the other maids all agreed that the way he acted seemed as if he couldn’t wait to marry her.
After Qiao Tian Chang left, Ning Meng Yao thought about it for a long while, before shrugging it off and got busy.
She planned to do cook more delicious food today so she had been busy in the kitchen after having breakfast in the morning. With Grandmother Qin and Qing Xue helping her, the preparation became less tiresome.
“Miss, what are you doing today?” Looking at the ingredients prepared by Ning Meng Yao, Qing Xue was curious.
“Erm, just something simple.” Ning Meng Yao said, but her hands never stopped moving.
When they were almost done, Qiao Tian Chang returned, carrying a wild deer on his shoulder, a donkey in his hand, a pheasant, and a hare.
Upon seeing this, Ning Meng Yao stared at Qiao Tian Chang: “Where did you get all these energy from?”
“Make a guess?” Qiao Tian Chang approached Ning Meng Yao.
“You stand there, you’re covered in blood.” Ning Meng Yao pushed him away and pointed to the blood on his body.
Qiao Tian Chang raised his eyebrows and walked to Ning Meng Yao’s side. He stretched his hands and hugged her: “Just a little blood and you’re chasing me away already.”
“You’re disgusting. Go home, wash up and change your clothes first before coming back here.” Ning Meng Yao broke free from his arms and stared at him.
Qiao Tian Chang shook his head: “No, I’ll have to handle these things first. Didn’t you say that you wanted to have some roasted venison last time? Would you like to try it today?”
Ning Meng Yao’s eyes brightened and thought it was a good idea: “Fine. It’s decided then. We’ll have a barbecue tonight. Qing Shuang, go to Uncle Yang’s house and invite them over tonight.”
“Yes, Miss.”
In his blood-stained clothes, Qiao Tian Chang prepared the meat. Ning Meng Yao looked at him for a while and then became uninterested so she went back to cooking instead.
She made nine dishes today and all of them were delicious.
“I’m so hungry.” Qiao Tian Chang washed his hand and sat on the stool.
Smelling the rich fragrance, he no longer has the intention to clean the meat.
Ning Meng Yao looked sternly at Qiao Tian Chang and stuffed a pair of chopsticks in his hand. Then she said: “There’s so much to eat, yet you can still talk so much.”
“Miss, there’s a dragon boat race in the county today…” Qing Zhu complained to Ning Meng Yao.
Ning Meng Yao nodded.
“How about let’s go after having our meal?” It was about 11 or 12 o’clock now so it would be about late afternoon by the time they reached there. Then they could return home earlier in the evening.
“If you want to go, then you’ll have to eat faster.” Qiao Tian Chang said loudly at those few who were still daydreaming.
Several people were surprised by him, and began to eat immediately. After the meal, Qiao Tian Chang went to change clothes, while everyone else went to prepare themselves too.
Grandmother Qin and Jiang Quan didn’t want to go. They said they would be preparing the ingredients needed for the meal tonight, so Ning Meng Yao took the other three servants with Qiao Tian Chang and Qing Xuan to the county.
When they arrived, there were a lot of people gathered at the lakeside.
Normally, this place was a nice place to have fun. Since there was a competition today, there was a bigger crowd than usual.
“So many people, how are we going to see the race?” Ning Meng Yao looked helplessly at the crowd.
Qiao Tian Chang carried her to the front.
Standing at the forefront Ning Meng Yao still wondered how he did that.
“You’re so amazing.” Ning Meng Yao said dumbly.
“Hehe, it’s nothing big. We came right on time, the race is almost over.” Looking at the progress of the race, Qiao Tian Chang said. It was already in the second half.
Ning Meng Yao nodded and concentrated on the race. She listened to the sound of the drums and the loud yelling. The onlookers couldn’t help but be excited. The bolder ones were cheering together.
