I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 45 I’ll give it to you below

Chapter 45 I'll give you something to eat below

Wang Wenzhou was still a little dizzy after having drinks with Geng San and his friends last night. This morning, despite the dizziness, he went for his usual run; he couldn't slack off on his weight loss. If he didn't run for a day, he'd become lazy, and it would be hard to keep going.

"Huff, huff..." Wang Wenzhou panted heavily. After persisting for more than ten days, although he hadn't lost much weight, his physical strength had improved significantly. At the beginning, it would take him two hours to run two laps around the county town, but now, although he wasn't running very fast, he could complete two laps in about an hour.

"Greetings, Lord Wang!"

"Lord Wang, are you going for a run again?"

Every now and then, passersby would greet Wang Wenzhou. These people were Hanshan residents who took advantage of their free time in the morning to enter and exit the city through each gate, pay the city entry tax, and collect tax receipts.

These days, everyone in Hanshan County, even the disabled lame, goes through each city gate once a day with the help of their families. Each round earns them sixteen coins, a considerable sum for ordinary people.

When the people saw Wang Wenzhou, they would chat for a few minutes, greet him, and say hello. The people of Hanshan County truly loved and respected Lord Wang; he was practically a money-giving boy.

Sheng Lan looked at Wang Wenzhou with affection in her eyes, gently wiped the sweat from his face, and said, "When we get back, I'll cook noodles for you."

"Lazy Blue, you know I'm on a diet, so I don't eat breakfast." Wang Wenzhou shook his head.

Sheng Lan frowned, pouted, and said plaintively, "Today is my birthday!"

Wow, so it's the goddess's birthday today. Wang Wenzhou quickly stopped, took Sheng Lan's hand, and started walking back, saying as they went, "We've already run a lap today, let's stop now. I'll go cook noodles for you. How can I let you cook on your birthday?"

"Waaah..." Sheng Lan sobbed softly, moved. A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen, and the lord is the head of a county, yet he actually cooked noodles for her. How could she not be moved?

"What's wrong?" Wang Wenzhou quickly wiped away the goddess's tears with his hand.

"Wang Wenzhou...you're so good!" Sheng Lan threw herself into Wang Wenzhou's arms, resting her head tightly on his broad shoulders.

Not far away, several commoners watched Wang Wenzhou and his companion with smiles on their faces. They were long accustomed to this scene. Lord Wang would take Miss Sheng for a run every day, and he would often hug and embrace her in public. If it were anyone else, the commoners would surely curse him for being shameless! But when the beloved Lord Wang did this, the commoners simply watched with smiles. They thought it was Lord Wang's lack of concern for propriety.

"Okay, come on, I'll go back and cook you some noodles." Wang Wenzhou patted the goddess's shoulder to comfort her.

"Wang Wenzhou, could you please not be so nice to me? What if one day you stop letting me serve you?" Sheng Lan said coquettishly.

"How could I! My Lanlan is so wonderful! How could I bear to leave her?" Wang Wenzhou wiped away Sheng Lan's tears and said, "Don't cry, or you won't be pretty anymore! Be good, I'll make you some noodles!"

"Mm!" Sheng Lan nodded, her tears turning into a smile, and looked at Wang Wenzhou with gentle eyes.

"Lazy Blue, don't try to cheat! You said you'd cook noodles first, then I'll make you some more!" Wang Wenzhou teased.

"Why are you eating noodles again after you've already finished the noodles?" Sheng Lan didn't understand Wang Wenzhou's joke.

“The noodles are noodles, and the bottom is the bottom, they’re not the same!” Wang Wenzhou pointed to the middle of his thigh and grinned mischievously.

Sheng Lan's face immediately turned red. So that's how it is!

"Okay!" Sheng Lan said softly, her pearly teeth slightly parted.

"My Lanlan is so wonderful! I love you so much!" Wang Wenzhou happily hugged Sheng Lan.

Back at Zuihualou, Wang Wenzhou went into the kitchen to cook noodles.

Sheng Lan quickly pulled Wang Wenzhou aside and said, "Wang Wenzhou, don't go. I can cook noodles myself."

In ancient times, it was believed that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen, and men were not allowed to cook. Scholars, in particular, adhered to the teachings of the sages and would never cook, even unto death. Wang Wenzhou wasn't much of a cook in his previous life either, but he could still manage something as simple as boiling noodles.

"No way!" Wang Wenzhou shook his head and quickly said, "Lazy Lan, it's your birthday today, how can I let you cook? Be good, wait here for me, I'll make the noodles and bring them over for you."

Sheng Lan wanted to object, but Wang Wenzhou deliberately put on a long face, and Sheng Lan obediently sat down.

Sheng Lan stared blankly at Wang Wenzhou's broad back, her heart filled with sweetness. The master was so kind to her! Meeting him must be a blessing from her past life.

Wang Wenzhou was dumbfounded when he entered the kitchen. Damn it! There was no gas stove! No gas cylinder! There was only a large pot on the stove!

"Damn it!" Wang Wenzhou cursed inwardly. "How could I have forgotten about this? This is the Ming Dynasty; there are no modern kitchen facilities here!"

Wang Wenzhou wanted to find someone to help, but after secretly going out for a walk, he found that apart from Sheng Lan, there was no one else in Zuihualou. The girls had all become policewomen and had gone to the yamen for training. The madam had gone back to her hometown to visit relatives a few days ago. Zuihualou used to have a few servants, cooks, and other odd jobs.

The madam felt it was too expensive to keep them around, so she sent them all away before leaving.

Damn it, what am I going to do? Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment, he had already promised his goddess it was her birthday, he couldn't go back on his word!

You don't know until you try it, and once you do, you're shocked. Starting a fire is so troublesome! Wang Wenzhou stuffed firewood into the bottom of the pot and tried to light it for a long time, but he still couldn't get it to ignite.

Sheng Lan waited for a long time but Wang Wenzhou didn't come out. She went to the kitchen to see what Wang Wenzhou was doing.

Wang Wenzhou, his face covered in grime from soot, was kneeling in front of the stove, his large buttocks sticking out, blowing air into the pot. But instead of blowing, the newly lit sparks went out.

"Hehe..." Sheng Lan smiled slightly and said, "Let me do it!"

"No!" Wang Wenzhou quickly waved his hand and said, "Lazy Blue, go back! I'll do it myself! I don't believe I can't even light a fire!"

"How can you possibly light such a small amount of firewood?" Sheng Lan took out a handkerchief and wiped the soot off Wang Wenzhou's face.

"Then how should we order?" Wang Wenzhou asked.

"First, find some firewood, light the firewood, and use the firewood to ignite the firewood. That's it!" Sheng Lan said as she picked up a handful of firewood and put it in.

After Sheng Lan lit the fire, Wang Wenzhou hugged her and praised, "Lazy Lan, you're amazing!"

"Alright, you can go out now!" Wang Wenzhou gently nudged Sheng Lan and said.

"I want to watch you do it from the sidelines," Sheng Lan said tenderly.

“Okay!” Wang Wenzhou nodded.

Sheng Lan stood to the side, looking at Wang Wenzhou with gentle, watery eyes.

The adult's movements were clumsy, clearly indicating it was their first time in the kitchen; they didn't even know how to light a fire.

Watching Wang Wenzhou frantically stuff a pile of firewood into the bottom of the pot, Sheng Lan covered her mouth and chuckled. The adults were just too adorable!

"My lord, I must marry you!" Sheng Lan murmured to herself. She was determined to hold onto this happiness no matter what!