"Oh, I get it. There's nothing between me and them." Afraid he might misunderstand, Yaelle quickly explained. Maxim bit his lip and asked, "Then why do you have so many of those?" He couldn't help but think she might have gone to that kind of place.
As those thoughts crossed his mind, his expression turned sour. "Stop, stop, stop. Don't think like that. I was just curious and bought two books." Yaelle made up an excuse, knowing that for women, looking at erotic pictures was common, especially since anything that helped with having children was now supported.
Those things were easily found on the street. Maxim blushed. So he had misunderstood Yaelle.
"Oh... Yaelle, I'll go buy two books too. I'll make sure to satisfy you next time." He figured he needed to learn as well. "What are you looking at me for? Don't bother learning that. Focus on your exams."
"Read more proper books. When I figure it out, I'll teach you slowly." Yaelle said calmly without any hesitation. Maxim's face turned bright red.
She was so bold. He liked it. He nodded and said seriously, "Okay, I'll listen to you, Yaelle."
They stayed close together in the room for a long time until lunchtime. Maxim ate lunch with Yaelle. Michael was thoughtful enough not to disturb them.
There were six dishes on the table, all made to Yaelle's liking. "Maxim, tell me what flavors you like. Next time I'll have the cook make some for you."
Yaelle felt a bit annoyed with herself. She had been too focused on being affectionate and forgot to instruct the cook. So all the food was what she liked, mostly spicy and numbing.
Back then, there were no chili peppers, but there was dogwood, which was also spicy though less intense. Sichuan peppercorns were available at medicine shops. She had asked the buyers to bring back quite a bit.
"I'm fine with anything. I'm not picky. At the academy, we eat whatever the cafeteria provides." Maxim smiled.
"Sometimes if you're late, the food is soggy and the flavors get mixed together, but you still have to eat it." He was touched that Yaelle thought about him and wanted to make food just for him. His heart felt warm.
After the meal, Maxim had to go home. He went to see Michael first to greet him. They exchanged a few words before Maxim left.
Yaelle saw him off and didn't turn back until she watched him get into the carriage. In the past few days, the people from the estate said almost all the honeysuckle had survived. Many had already started sprouting little buds.
The chili seedlings were flowering too and had produced lots of tiny pointed peppers. When she went to the back garden, she saw the watermelon vines had been growing for almost two months. They were starting to bear fruit, some already the size of a fist.
It wouldn't be long before they could be harvested. She had Helper Beau trim away the empty vines that didn't bear fruit. That way, the ones with fruit could get more nutrients.
The corn was also growing, swelling beneath the leaves. The corn babies were hidden inside. The green beans had begun to form as well.
But she hadn't told anyone to pick them yet. She planned to leave them to age so she could save the seeds. The cowpeas and chayote hadn't entered their season yet.
The vines were thriving, but not even one flower bud had shown. When the sweet potato vines grew too long, she would cut and replant them. She had already done that three or four times.
Now the sweet potato patch covered about half an acre. Since it was past the season, she couldn't replant anymore. Even the potato plants were blooming.
The garden looked full of life. Yaelle was very satisfied. She felt an especially strong sense of accomplishment.
After checking the vegetable garden, Yaelle contentedly returned to her courtyard. Sleep always came easier after physical labor. The next morning, as expected, she slept in again until the sun was high in the sky.
Life was truly comfortable now, much more relaxing than in the modern world. She would never run her own shop again in this life. It was worse than being in prison, staying in the store all day and night with nowhere to go.
She couldn't eat well or sleep well. Sometimes, when she was halfway through using the bathroom, someone would show up to buy something, and she'd have no choice but to rush out. Every time she washed her hair, it felt like a battle.
Even if she tried to hurry, someone would always come when she was only halfway done. She'd have to wrap her sudsy, dripping hair in a towel and rush out. This kind of situation happened a lot.
After breakfast, Yaelle came to the lotus pond. She stood in a small pavilion in the center of the pond, resting her hands on the railing and looking down at the sparkling water below. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a bright light across the pond.
The lotus leaves swayed gently in the breeze, and the lotus flowers danced with it, releasing a light fragrance. Yaelle tossed some fish food into the water, immediately attracting a group of small fish. They swam over quickly, fighting for the food.
These little fish came in many colors. Some had bright spots all over their bodies, and others shimmered with gold or silver. They darted around in the water, lively and adorable.
While she was feeding them, Attendant Sam came to report, "Young Doctor Xavier is here." "Why would he come?" Yaelle was a little curious.
"Miss, don't you remember? A few days ago, we picked quite a few lingzhi mushrooms in the mountains and sent them to the Xavier family's pharmacy for help with the processing. It's probably finished now.
We just didn't expect Young Doctor Xavier to personally bring them back." Attendant Sam also looked puzzled. "Then invite him here." Yaelle didn't feel like going to the reception hall.
She'd seen this Xavier guy a few times before and wasn't in the mood for formalities. This pavilion was nice enough, and she preferred to keep things casual. "Yes, Miss." Attendant Sam quickly left.
Soon, she returned with Xavier. Xavier gave her a respectful greeting and said, "Miss Yaelle, the lingzhi your household sent over has been processed. The quality is excellent.
Do you plan to keep it all? Our pharmacy is currently short on this herb. If you have any extra, would you be willing to part with some?"
His tone was very polite. Actually, he didn't have to come in person. He was the one who insisted to the shopkeeper that he should deliver it himself.
He thought he could move on since she already had a fiancé, but he kept thinking about her. So when he heard there was a chance to bring the medicine to her home, he didn't want to miss it. "We did harvest a lot this time.
If the pharmacy needs some, you can take more than half. It's more important to help those in need." Yaelle said it simply.
"I'm just keeping a bit to make soup sometimes. I don't need that much." Attendant Sam and the others didn't expect her to sell any because she was never short on money. But she was different.
She used to be a regular working woman, and money always mattered. Selling the herbs could help the pharmacy in a pinch and earn her money too. Why not?
"You're very generous, Miss. On behalf of the patients in need, I thank you. We'll pay you the best price."
"The processed lingzhi sells for fifty taels per jin. Yours weighed just over three jin, so how about I buy two jin for one hundred taels?" Xavier hadn't expected her to agree so readily and was surprised.
Since she was so straightforward, he wouldn't let her suffer any loss and would pay the highest rate. "Alright. Attendant Sean, go weigh it with Doctor Xavier."
Yaelle agreed happily. Another large sum was coming in. She was in a great mood.
It was like earning a hundred thousand yuan in a day. In her past life, it would have taken her a year or two to make that much. She decided to give bonuses to the guards.
"Yes, Miss." Attendant Sean replied and left with Xavier. Before leaving, Xavier gave Yaelle a long look.
He thought it wouldn't be easy to see her again. He was already about to leave, and who knew when they'd meet next. He really had no excuse to stay longer.