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Rong Xi smiled. "The honor is mine."

If he could use this opportunity to let more people enjoy good food, Rong Xi would naturally give it his all.

After dinner, Hu Yulin had a carriage prepared to send Rong Xi and his servant back to Rong Residence.

Rong Xi did not wish to delay. Once in the study, he had Zishi light the lamps and grind the ink. He sat before the desk, carefully sorting through his thoughts. Once he had a draft in mind, he picked up his brush and began to write.

He did not stop until midnight.

The next day, at the hour of the Dragon, Jiang Weiping brought his younger sister to Rong Residence.

Whenever Miss Jiang went about the city wards, she often heard rumors, and Rong Xi's name came up many times. Yet the Rong Dalang Jiang Weiping described was of an entirely different character.

Naturally, she trusted her elder brother more than others.

Liu Zishi came to greet them, smiling shyly. "Young Master Jiang, Miss Jiang, the young master is in the study."

He led them to the study, where Rong Xi was bent over his desk, writing.

His wide sleeve had slipped to the crook of his arm, leaving a section of jade-white arm fully exposed. It was soft and plump, rather adorable.

When he saw them approach, Rong Xi immediately rose to welcome them. "Brother Shouyuan and Miss Jiang are both decisive people. Xi admires you!"

Lady Jiang was poised and generous. Seeing that Rong Xi truly was as her brother had said—elegant as jade, open and gentle—she smiled and said, "This young woman greets Young Master Rong. You are willing to teach me the arts of the kitchen; such generosity is truly admirable!"

She stood tall and graceful, plain yet elegant. She possessed neither the frailty fashionable among women of the day nor any bashful timidity, displaying instead the fine qualities of self-reliance and independence.

At the sight of her, Rong Xi immediately took a liking to her.

After they sat down for tea and rested briefly, Rong Xi brought the two of them to the kitchen.

Seeing the Thin Cauldron on the stove, Miss Jiang's delicate brows stirred. "When my elder brother forged this cauldron some days ago, I asked about it in surprise. Today, I finally get to witness its power."

Rong Xi smiled and asked her about the basics of cooking. Her answers were fluent and brisk, showing that her foundation was quite solid. Learning techniques such as stir-frying should not be difficult for her.

The art of cooking involved great learning in knife skills, seasoning, heat control, and many other techniques.

Rong Xi watched from the side. Seeing that Miss Jiang's knife work was quite good and that she had washed the utensils thoroughly, he grew even more satisfied.

Once the ingredients had been prepared and the fire was burning strongly, Rong Xi began instructing her on how to stir-fry.

Lady Jiang was quite gifted. After only one attempt, she grasped the essence of it. She merely lacked experience; given enough time, she would surely achieve something.

Still, even so, it would be enough if she first mastered a few dishes.

Half a month later, Liu Zishi returned home at the hour of the Monkey, having hired a cart to haul back several custom-made wooden items.

"Young Master, what are these?"

Rong Xi did not answer. He merely picked out a square wooden board with a base beneath it, resembling a memorial tablet from an ancestral hall.

There was an ancestral hall in the residence. It had originally held the memorial tablets of Minister Rong's branch of the family, but after the Rong Clan moved to Shengjing, Minister Rong deliberated for a long time before moving them all to Shengjing as well.

The ancestral hall was cramped and simple, once thick with cobwebs and dust. Yet Rong Xi had personally cleaned it thoroughly several days ago.

An unnamed memorial tablet was placed in the seat of honor. Rong Xi burned incense in the burner, and thin smoke curled upward.

"Young Master, whom are you worshipping?" Liu Zishi asked curiously.

Rong Xi answered with a faint smile, "My lifesaver."

Before the young Liu could ask another question, Rong Xi had already bowed and knelt.

Rong Xi had died and returned to life only because the young master of the Rong Clan had generously given him this body, allowing him to walk the world through it. Yet no one else knew that the true son of the Rong Clan had already scattered beyond the heavens.

The memorial tablet bore no name. He could only pray sincerely, wishing him peace and a smooth life in his next incarnation.

After the worship, Rong Xi personally prepared offerings and placed them before the memorial tablet.

Liu Zishi also lit incense and prayed.

As his young master's lifesaver, that person deserved his sincere respect.

After dinner, Rong Xi finally began arranging those wooden items. Liu Zishi had already been curious, so he helped carry them.

"Young Master, what is this for?"

The two carried a long wooden object together. It resembled a boat and could fit only one person inside.

"It is for bathing." Rong Xi moved the long bathtub into the side room adjoining his bedroom and answered casually.

The tub he had used before was old. Besides, he was accustomed to bathing while lying down, and the old bathtub was far too cramped for him.

Liu Zishi only half understood, but it did not lessen his admiration for Rong Xi.

"What is this, then?"

It resembled a table, with four legs, but its surface was only as large as someone's backside. One side also had a tall backrest, making it very peculiar.

Rong Xi taught him how to sit on it and try it out.

"Young Master, this is so comfortable!" Liu Zishi beamed with delight.

Of course it was comfortable.

Rong Xi smiled broadly. Great Wei customs regarded kneeling as proper posture, but kneeling for too long harmed the legs and was extremely uncomfortable.

Thus, he had ordered a high-legged chair and placed it in his room. He would sit in it alone and not let others see it, so it could not be considered improper.

The remaining wooden items were even stranger.

Liu Zishi picked one up. "Young Master, this truly puzzles me."

Rong Xi answered with a smile, "You will know tomorrow."

He had already instructed Liu He to set up a horizontal pole in the courtyard. It stood somewhat taller than a person and was meant for drying clothes.

Although the people of Wei wore deep robes and long garments, they could still use clothes hangers to dry them.

When ordinary households dried clothes, they spread them out and draped them over thick ropes. If there were too many garments, the courtyard would be full of fluttering clothes, not only blocking one's view but also obstructing the path.

Clothes hangers would spare them such trouble.

The next day, Liu Zishi saw how open the courtyard looked and how unusual the clothes-drying method was. He then understood the use of the hangers, and his admiration for Rong Xi grew even stronger.

With Rong Xi's permission, after arriving at Feng Carpentry, he told Feng Shan and his son all the uses of the wooden items, apart from the memorial tablet and the high-legged chair.

Feng Shan and his son were astonished again and again. "Young Master Rong is truly talented!"

"The young master said Master may promote these items and provide convenience to the common people." Liu Zishi shared in the honor.

Feng Shan teaching Liu Zishi martial arts was a true kindness. Rong Xi did not wish to repay it with money or silk, so he used this method instead, which greatly pleased Feng Shan.

"Thank Young Master Rong for me, then," Feng Shan replied with a hearty smile.

Thus, Rong Xi taught Liu Zishi to read in the mornings and taught Miss Jiang the art of stir-frying in the afternoons. His days became quite leisurely and pleasant.

Author's note: