Sick Man Turns Out to be a General

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Qing Sheng woke up early in the morning and instructed the kitchen staff to make breakfast and hot dumplings.    

    

When Shen Jingli woke up, Qing Sheng had already placed red paper on the entrance gate and hung the pomegranate flowers. The hot dumplings were already packed in baskets and after finishing the breakfast, he took them to the Dragon God's Sacrifice Temple.    

    

"Sister-in-law, you woke up." Just as Qing Sheng was putting some candles into the basket, he saw Shen Jingli walking over, and greeted him.    

    

Shen Jingli took a glance inside the basket. There was a rooster that was cooked, a piece of meat that was cooked, a small bowl of white rice, a plate of fruits, a string of dumplings, as well as incense sticks and paper money.    

    

"When did you get up?" Shen Jingli looked at the rooster that was even scalding hot and still had its head held high, and wondered if he had slept too deeply to even hear the sound of the roosters being slaughtered.    

    

"He woke up before dawn." Qing Sheng packed his things, washed his hands, and then called Shen Jingli over for breakfast, "Sister-in-law, let's eat breakfast first, we'll gather at the entrance of the village in a bit, everyone should go to the Dragon God Temple to offer sacrifice to the dragon god."    

    

Shen Jingli nodded and followed him to the living room. Jin Yu and Nian Hua had already prepared a big bowl of thin meat porridge, a plate of steamed buns, a plate of roasted eggs, a pot of boiled eggs, a plate of Stir-Fried Vegetables, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a plate of rice dumplings.    

    

"Is Young Master awake?" Shen Jingli washed his hands in the washbasin and took the handkerchief that Nian Hua passed to him to wipe his hands.    

    

"Yes, the two ladies are here to play. I'll be there in a moment." Jin Yu said, she took a small knife and cut the big dumpling into small pieces.    

    

Shen Jingli sat down and took out the tableware from the water basin. Following the number of people, he scooped up a bowl of porridge for each of them.    

    

"Xun Er gets up early every day, and sometimes runs around the courtyard with the Brother Jin." Qing Sheng praised.    

    

"Mama …"    

    

After speaking, Xun Er trotted over, crossed the threshold with large strides, and threw himself onto Shen Jingli's thigh. He touched Shen Jingli's stomach, which was not very obvious yet, and giggled a few times.    

    

"You want to talk to your brothers?" Shen Jingli looked at him and asked.    

    

"Yes." Xun Er happily laughed, revealing his small white teeth. He climbed onto Shen Jingli's thigh, sat on it, and then lowered his head, pressing his ear against Shen Jingli's stomach as he muttered.    

    

He narrowed his eyes and laughed, his mouth muttering words that others could not understand. From time to time, he would reach out to touch Shen Jingli's stomach, his serious look making Shen Jingli's heart warm up.    

    

"Mama." He raised his head and smiled at Shen Jingli, "Younger brother told me that father will be back today."    

    

Hearing his words, Shen Jingli couldn't help but laugh out loud. He rubbed his head and said: "Good child Xun Er, father will be here for another ten days or so. When father comes back, father will accompany you to fly a kite."    

    

He smiled, playing games to distract the child's attention.    

    

Xun Er wasn't fooled in the slightest. He proudly lifted his chin and said with certainty: "Brother said that Daddy will be back today. Daddy will be back today."    

    

Shen Jingli did not take his words to heart. A journey of more than ten days, even if Mu Shisi did not eat or drink, it would still not be shortened to just a day, right?    

    

"Good, good, good. You're right." Shen Jingli said perfunctorily, putting on the bib for him, making him sit on a chair to the side, and giving him a spoon, "Eat breakfast first. If you want to eat something, tell Mama to clamp his mouth with hers."    

    

Xun Er held the spoon in his hand, scooped up the porridge and blew on it himself. Then, he put it near Shen Jingli's mouth and said, "Mama, give this to little brother to eat."    

    

Shen Jingli was picking up a piece of egg yolks when he suddenly felt something poking at his lips. Before he could turn his head back, he heard Xun Er's voice, and he opened his mouth and swallowed a mouthful of meat porridge. It was extremely fragrant and delicious.    

    

Seeing him eat it, Xun Er was very happy in his heart. His brother would definitely grow up very quickly after eating the porridge he fed.    

    

"Mama, I want to take my younger brother to play Tutu in the future." As Xun Er was eating, he suddenly raised his head and said to Shen Jingli.    

    

That was all he said, and continued to drink the porridge, Shen Jingli listened to his speech, and felt his expectations for his younger brother, suddenly thinking, what if he gave birth to two daughters in the future, would Xun Er be unhappy?    

    

"Does Xun Er not like her sister?" He peeled an egg, placed it on Xun Er's plate, picked up some vegetables and placed them in his bowl.    

    

"No, I want my little brother." Xun Er shook his head resolutely. "Little brother, let's play kudu and ride together."    

    

Qing Sheng, Jin Yu and the others just laughed when they heard this. They even tried to persuade him, telling him that her sister was also very cute and would play with him. However, he firmly shook her head and only wanted her brother.    

    

Everyone was amused by him, and started laughing and laughing the whole morning.    

    

After eating breakfast, the Mu Qi's Mother brought Mu Qi over to call them to gather.    

    

"Zi An's wife, Qing Sheng, are you done yet? "We're going to gather at the village entrance."    

    

Mu Qi's Mother's voice was loud, and when he shouted, his neighbors were all called out, one of them was still eating breakfast, the woman holding the bowl looked out from the wattled fencing, and when she saw him, she immediately shouted, "Wife Yi Lan, how are you doing?"    

    

"Aunt Yao, your family just had breakfast. I have some rice dumplings, do you want one?" Mu Qi's Mother immediately reached into his basket to take the dumplings.    

    

Aunt Yao quickly waved her hand. "What are you doing? A dumpling used as a sacrifice to the Dragon God, how would I dare to eat it? " That would cost him his life.    

    

"Aunt, don't worry. This isn't a rice dumpling for sacrifice, it was cooked by me to eat at my own house this morning." She wasn't stupid, how could she let someone else eat the offering dumplings? If she offended the Dragon God and the river wasn't peaceful this year, wouldn't she become a sinner in the village?    

    

"It's good that you saved up. You're really scaring me." Aunt Yao quickly took a sip of her porridge to calm herself down, "Alright, you can go with Qing Sheng and the others first. I'll go with my wife after breakfast."    

    

"Alright." The Mu Qi's Mother answered honestly, and then saw Shen Jingli and Qing Sheng walk out together with Mu Yifann with his basket on his back.    

    

"Aiyo, don't you have servants? Why is Yifann picking the basket? " Mu Qi's Mother asked doubtfully.    

    

"What logic is there to bring a servant into a sacrifice?" Qing Sheng shook his head in disapproval, "It's just a little thing, it won't crush him. Sister-in-law, don't pity him."    

    

When Mu Qi's Mother heard this, he could not help but burst out laughing, "Your husband does not even have a heart of pain, what do I have to do? Zi An's wife, are you? "    

    

"Yes, sister-in-law is right." Shen Jingli replied.    

    

Qing Sheng was embarrassed by their words, he snorted lightly and walked in front. Seeing him like that, Shen Jingli and the Mu Qi's Mother laughed.    

    

"Mother, I'm going to look for Mu Xi." Mu Qi saw Mu Xi coming out from the back, greeted Mu Qi's Mother, and then ran over.    

    

The group arrived at the village entrance in a grandiose manner. After meeting up with the villagers, they left together for the Dragon Temple halfway up the mountain.    

    

The Dragon Temple was already packed with people. Each of them picked a basket and lined up to enter the temple. After lighting incense candles, burning paper money, setting down offerings and kowtowing, they came out to find the dragon boat in the small pond by the door.    

    

After paying their respects to the Dragon Temple, the group arrived at the river outside the village. There were already dozens of boats parked on the river, and they all picked up their things to board the boat. The boatman skillfully rowed the boat to the center of the river.    

    

When they arrived at Jiang Xin, everyone placed a incense table at the head of the bed and placed the offerings on it. Then, they prostrated themselves in worship, praying for the River Deity's blessing before tossing some rice dumplings into Jiang Xin's bed.    

    

After the sacrifice, everyone returned to the village to prepare for the upcoming Dragon Boat Competition.    

    

"..."    

    

"Sister-in-law, let's go watch the Dragon Boat Competition. I heard that the Dragon Boat Competition in Jinling City is especially exciting. Many rich people in the capital even specially came over to watch." Yang Ningxin shook Shen Jingli's arm, and entangled him to watch the Dragon Boat Competition.    

    

"Fifth Miss, Madam is pregnant and cannot go to such a boisterous place. If we were to bump into her, it would be terrible." Jin Yu tidied up the house, and upon hearing Yang Ningxin's words, she replied.    

    

"Ah! Isn't that a pity? We've already come to Jinling, but we can't watch the Dragon Boat Competition." Yang Ningxin frowned.    

    

"Go with Brother Jin and Yue Er." Shen Jingli said, "Remember to bring Big Ji, Da Lee and the others, don't lose them."    

    

"Sister-in-law, I'm an adult now. Where would I lose it?" Yang Ningxin stomped her feet in dissatisfaction, then said: "Then let's go to the city together, I heard that the Zongzi Competition will be held in the city, it should be interesting."    

    

Yang Ningxin shook Shen Jingli's arm, "Furthermore, we should head there earlier. We should be able to find a room at the riverside inn and watch the Dragon Boat Competition from there, so there's no need to be afraid of getting crowded."    

    

It's rare to come to the Jinling City, but not to watch the Dragon Boat Competition …    

    

Shen Jingli was moved when he heard it. He had never seen the Dragon Boat Competition before, but he did not know if it was really that lively of a rumor.    

    

Yang Ningxin looked at him. Seeing that his expression was a little relaxed, he hurriedly tried even harder, "Sister-in-law, think about it, if you miss this chance, next time you come to Jin Ling City, who knows how many years will pass."    

    

She then turned her head towards Qing Sheng and said, "Sister-in-law Qing Sheng, help me persuade Sister-in-law. Let's take a walk around the city and enjoy ourselves. How nice is that?"    

    

Qing Sheng felt that it was pretty good just thinking about it, and he was also very interested in the Dragon Boat Competition and the Zongzi Competition.    

    

"Sister-in-law, how about …" Let's go take a look. "    

    

"Alright." Since they had already spoken up to this point, why wouldn't they go?    

    

"Alright, I'll have someone prepare the car immediately." Yang Ningxin ran out like a wisp of smoke.    

    

"Madam, you can't let Fifth Miss do as she pleases." Jin Yu kept nagging, but she was still seriously preparing something for Shen Jingli to go out.    

    

When they arrived at Jinling City in the carriage, on the stage outside of Fu Manlou Tower in the east city, there was going to be a feast for the Gastric King, but it was not about eating dumplings, but noodles.    

    

"Fellow villagers and elders, our Fortune Tower will hold the Dragon Boat Festival's Great Ginseng King Competition today. The champion of the competition will receive a rice dumpling made from pure gold, if any of you are interested, hurry up and register. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the competition will officially begin." The shopkeeper of Fu ManLou shouted loudly on the stage. When the passersby heard that the prize was a golden dumpling, they immediately surrounded it.    

    

"Sister-in-law, it's the Big Gastric King Competition." Yang Ningxin excitedly pulled Shen Jingli's hand.    

    

"You want to go?" Looking at her excited expression, those who didn't know what was going on would think that she was certain of her victory.    

    

"Nope." She shook her head, still excited, "I've never seen this kind of competition before. I'm a bit curious, how much can the Gastric King eat? Can you eat ten bowls? "