plumnovel Chapter 7 Li Zhi
Chapter 7 Li Zhi
As dawn broke, Wang Zhihuan was already busy in his kitchen.
There was no other reason—that little girl kept saying before she left yesterday that she wanted to come back today and bring her sister with her.
What a three- or four-year-old says may not be reliable, but what if she really comes?
It's not right to let people come and just sit there waiting for food.
He rinsed two more handfuls of rice than usual and steamed a few more buns.
The flames in the stove licked the bottom of the pot merrily, and the kitchen gradually warmed up.
As he was cutting tomatoes, he glanced into the yard.
The yard was still empty, but the sparrows in the jujube tree were up early and chirping noisily.
He cracked the eggs into a bowl, whisked them with chopsticks, and hesitated for a moment when adding salt—he remembered that the girl seemed to prefer sweet flavors.
Okay, then add less salt and a pinch more sugar.
He himself is usually reluctant to use much of this candy, but since the child likes it, he lets her have it.
After about half an hour of work, the food was ready and kept warm in the pot.
He wiped his hands and was just thinking of going out to the fields when the gate of the courtyard rang.
It wasn't a gentle knock.
It was a loud "bang"—like someone had pushed it away forcefully from the outside.
"Pot, pot, beautiful pot!"
The way the rhinoceros ran in was just like a pebble shot from a slingshot.
She wore a pale yellow short dress, the hem billowing slightly in the wind, and the two little buns on her head bobbed as she ran. Her radiant smile was even more dazzling than the morning sun.
"Beautiful guy! Sizi's here again! This time, Sizi brought her older sister along!"
She rushed to Wang Zhihuan, hugged his leg, and looked up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
"Where did you go, my pretty buddy?!"
Sizi knocked on the door for a very, very long time!
"My brother is cooking in the kitchen," Wang Zhihuan said, looking down at her.
"The kitchen!" Sizi's eyes lit up instantly. "Is the pretty cook making something delicious?!"
"You little glutton, you have a really good nose! You smelled it as soon as you came in?"
"Of course, Sizi smelled it!" She sniffed hard, a blissful expression on her face, then turned around and shouted loudly to the person still standing at the gate, "Big sister!"
Come in quickly!
The beautiful pot is making delicious food!
It smells so good!
A person was standing at the entrance of the courtyard.
She wore a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was neatly combed, not a single strand out of place.
She stood very upright with her back straight, but her shoulders were not tense; it was a natural relaxation.
She stood outside the threshold, the morning sunlight filtering through the gaps in the jujube tree branches and leaves, bathing her in its glow. She seemed to have stepped out of a tranquil ancient painting, her posture upright and her demeanor serene.
Sizi ran over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forcefully into the yard: "Big sister, come in quickly!"
"My beautiful potty's house is so clean, not dirty at all!"
Li Zhi was pulled into the courtyard by her, his steps still steady, showing no sign of panic.
Wang Zhihuan's gaze naturally fell on her.
Her eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to those of a rhinoceros, but her features are more defined and distinct.
He looked young, but his demeanor was unusually calm and composed—not a pretense of maturity, but rather an innate ease.
She was tall for a woman, and standing under the jujube tree, a gentle breeze blew, causing her skirt to flutter lightly, making her appear graceful and elegant.
This reminded Wang Zhi of a line from Cao Zhi's "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River".
As graceful as a frightened bird, as graceful as a dragon swimming.
While Wang Zhi was still observing her, she was also subtly sizing him up.
Although the young man was dressed in plain, coarse cloth, his handsome and elegant figure could not be concealed.
He stood amidst the morning light and cooking smoke, his handsome figure as upright as a pine tree in the courtyard.
He had a handsome face and a relaxed air about him. He was neither weak nor rough like a warrior. He was a rare combination of handsome and gentle.
Especially his eyes, when he looks at people, his gaze is clear and open, like a still pond in autumn, calm and not cold.
With such looks and bearing, he truly deserves the title of "handsome man," but it's a mystery why he lives in this rural village and dresses so casually.
Their eyes met briefly in the air before they naturally looked away.
"Pretty guy!" Sizi tilted her little head, looked at Wang Zhihuan, then at her older sister, and enthusiastically introduced, "This is Sizi's older sister!"
Isn't she as pretty as that handsome guy?
Li Zhi bowed slightly forward, performing a proper and respectful greeting. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but clear and pleasant: "My surname is Li, and my given name is Zhi."
Yesterday, my younger sister got lost, but fortunately, my husband took her in and took care of her. My parents are very grateful.
"I have specially sent this concubine here today to personally thank you, my lord."
Wang Zhihuan was wiping his hands at the time.
Upon hearing the name Li Zhi, his hands continued their usual movements, but a slight thought stirred within him.
This girl's overall demeanor clearly indicates that she couldn't have been raised in a humble or lowly family.
The composure and grace in his words and actions were not something that could be taught by ordinary wealthy families.
Then, recalling Commander Chen's anxious appearance yesterday, the exceptionally fine warhorse he rode, and the style of the sword at his waist...
This Lady Li is probably of very high birth, most likely the legitimate daughter of a powerful family in Chang'an, and may even be related to the royal family.
But these thoughts only flashed through his mind before he suppressed them.
Regardless of whose daughter she was, since she had come as an ordinary visitor, he would treat her with the courtesy due to an ordinary host.
Don't ask what you shouldn't inquire about; don't speculate about what you shouldn't speculate about.
Wang Zhi gently placed the cloth on the stone table beside him and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.
Her facial expression remained unchanged, and her tone was still as if she were greeting an ordinary guest: "So it's Madam Li."
Anyone would help a lost child; it's such a small thing, not worth the formality of a formal visit to express gratitude.
He spoke casually, and kept his suspicions to himself—since the other party was unwilling to reveal their true identity, he naturally wouldn't expose it either; it was best for them to remain silent.
Sizi had already climbed onto the stone bench on her own, knelt on it, and placed her two little hands on the table, waiting expectantly: "Food!"
Sizi wants seven scrambled eggs with tomatoes!
I want the sweet kind!
"How did you know it was sweet today?" Wang Zhihuan asked casually as he walked into the kitchen.
"The rhinoceros smelled it!" the little girl answered confidently.
Wang Zhihuan turned around and went into the kitchen, bringing out the food.
The dishes were simple: a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a dish of homemade pickled vegetables, and a few freshly cooked, plump white steamed buns.
It's as ordinary as it gets.
Sizi had already gripped the chopsticks, and although her posture wasn't quite perfect yet, she was much more skilled than she had been yesterday.
"Eat up, don't be shy," Wang Zhihuan said.
Sizi picked up a piece of tomato covered in broth, carefully brought it to her mouth, and took a bite.
The sweet and sour juice burst in her mouth instantly, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Good! Good!"
The beautiful pot added even more sugar today!
It's even sweeter now!
"You have quite the silver tongue."
"Biyu—" Sizi suddenly seemed to have her voice cut off, and her chopsticks stopped in mid-air.
She quickly glanced at her sister, then at Wang Zhihuan, silently pulled her chopsticks back, and lowered her head to start eating.
After taking a couple of bites, he couldn't help but secretly lift his eyelids to observe his sister's expression.