Perhaps large families all value the ambiance of a secluded life amidst the city. Like the Luo family's garden mansion, Yingluo Manor is also an elegant estate surrounded by flowers and plants. However, perhaps due to Aunt Yingji's personality, in addition to traditional facilities such as gardens and swimming pools, there are also hot spring saunas and a tropical beach pool in a four-season glass-enclosed room…
But beyond that, Yingluo Manor is even more antique than the Luo family's. Many of the houses are built according to ancient styles, and the combination of modern and ancient architecture creates a truly picturesque scene.
The butler of Yingluo Manor was clearly surprised to see me arrive the next day, but still respectfully led me inside, along a flower-lined path directly to Aunt Yingji's residence.
Compared to the other antique buildings in Yingluo Manor, Aunt Yingji's residence was a two-story villa, which only shows that Aunt Yingji was quite unique…
As soon as I reached the door, I saw Aunt Yingji in a red cheongsam, her long, slender legs encased in a pair of gleaming black stockings that subtly revealed a hint of pinkish-white skin, and bright red stockings on her feet. She looked graceful and elegant, exuding a captivating charm.
When she saw me, a joyful smile appeared on her face. Just as she was about to take a step, her beautiful eyes faltered at the butler beside me, then quickly turned cold and aloof like the moon…
The butler, for some reason, felt a tremor in his heart and hurriedly bowed and retreated.
He walked back, and Aunt Yingji quickly came over, taking my hand and leading me inside. I could smell her delicate fragrance, like plum blossoms in winter, like fragrant buds, but more than anything, it reminded me of a secluded orchid in a valley.
Aunt Yingji seemed quite aloof towards others, just like with the housekeeper from before—hence her title of "Queen of Shanghai." But for some reason, from the first time she met me, she treated me like her own son, filling a void in my maternal instincts.
Once inside the villa, after chatting with Aunt Yingji for a while, my stomach started growling uncontrollably.
Remembering how Yutang had flirted with me this morning, and how I'd barely had time to eat a few bites of breakfast before rushing out, I felt a sudden burning sensation on my face.
Aunt Yingji, however, looked at me with concern and offered to cook for me.
After Aunt Yingji tied the apron around her slender waist, my expression hadn't quite recovered…
Aunt Yingji is still unmarried, and I can guarantee that no man in the entire city has ever eaten a meal cooked by her!
Today, she actually cooked for me herself… While my heart was pounding, my gaze was involuntarily drawn to Aunt Yingji's back.
Aunt Yingji's slender waist was truly reminiscent of a willow branch—not literally that thin, but possessing the same suppleness, slenderness, strength, and delicate beauty. The way she moved and twisted her waist perfectly showcased the beauty of a woman's waist!
While her back wasn't as broad as a man's, it was unique among women, and her rounded shoulders weren't at all masculine.
Then I looked at her round, pert buttocks, almost bursting out of her fiery red cheongsam. The curves were wide at both ends and sharply narrowed in the middle, a wasp waist and pert bottom, shaped like a gourd or a vase, paired with those stunningly long, black-stockinged legs…
What does it mean to be irresistibly alluring?
I shook my head, extinguishing that fleeting, enchanting fantasy.
No matter what, I shouldn't have any thoughts about Aunt Yingji, especially that inexplicable sense of restraint in my heart, which made me feel inexplicably guilty whenever I fantasized about her.
But when I forced myself to focus on Aunt Yingji's actions, I noticed that although her chopping and cooking movements were slightly clumsy, every step was flawless, as if she had practiced it many times. I couldn't help but admire how incredibly clever Aunt Yingji was.
If only… I had a mother like her.
This thought, once it appeared, sprouted like wildfire, making my eyes slightly red and my breathing quicken.
Aunt Yingji, without asking anyone for help, worked non-stop for over an hour, finally bringing out three dishes and a soup, but at the last minute—she forgot to cook rice.
I stared at Aunt Yingji's stunningly beautiful face, momentarily stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter for some reason. A moment later, I wiped away a tear and said to Aunt Yingji, whose face was now flushed with embarrassment, "This must be... the most delicious meal I've ever eaten."
Yes, the most delicious meal ever—one where the salt was slightly too much or too little, and the amount of soy sauce wasn't quite right...
After finally putting down my chopsticks and putting the last piece of green vegetable into my mouth, I asked Aunt Yingji, "Is Grandpa Jiang here?"
Aunt Yingji's pretty face froze slightly, realizing what that name meant, but she quickly composed herself and said, "Yes, he lives in the back courtyard."
Then, her eyes flashed, and she asked casually: "Dong'er, why did you ask him?"
I explained the whole story. Aunt Yingji seemed relieved, but this time a strange expression appeared on her face. She said, "If it's Xiaoyu's request, he should carve one for you."
Hearing Aunt Yingji say this, I also breathed a slight sigh of relief. Just as I was about to say something more, a pale-faced, extremely thin old man walked in and said to Aunt Yingji, "Miss, the municipal party secretary's invitation shouldn't be delayed any longer."
Aunt Yingji turned to look at the man, a hint of anger flashing across her pretty face, but it quickly disappeared. She only told me how to get to Old Master Jiang's residence before leaving apologetically.
Since Aunt Yingji had left, I was naturally bored and wouldn't stay there any longer.
I quickly walked out, following Aunt Yingji's directions, and soon saw a building that resembled a Taoist temple. There was a young girl dressed as a Taoist priest at the entrance, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with rosy lips and white teeth, extremely pretty. After I explained my purpose to her, I quickly met Grandpa Jiang.
I roughly estimated that Grandpa Jiang was over eighty years old, but what was astonishing was that not only did his face have few wrinkles and look very rosy, but even his hair was still a mix of black and white, with black being the majority, and his back was not hunched or shrunk at all.
It seems that Grandpa Jiang must pay great attention to health preservation… Only then can he maintain an appearance far younger than his age?
After I explained my purpose again, Grandpa Jiang's eyes sized me for a moment, then he suddenly said, "Li Dong...you're Xue Tang's fiancé?"
I immediately nodded. Grandpa Jiang stroked his beard and smiled, "A master of internal energy at such a young age, Shao Liang's judgment is quite good."
I was slightly surprised that Grandpa Jiang could see through my internal energy cultivation, but then I thought, at this age, to still have such a youthful appearance and black hair, it would be strange if I didn't rely on internal martial arts. So I readily admitted it.
"Since Xiao Yu sent you, I will carve it for you, but my hands are a bit tired lately, I can't make a new one."
Hearing this, I was a little disappointed, but Grandpa Jiang smiled again.
"However, I can't let this junior come for nothing. I have another carving here, one that Xiaoyu asked me for. Now I'll give it to you."
A short while later, Old Master Jiang had the little girl dressed as a Taoist nun bring out a beautiful sandalwood carving, about the size of a palm. It depicted a fairy draped in clouds, exquisitely carved and lifelike.
And perhaps it was just my imagination, but I felt that the fairy's face seemed somewhat like Xue Tang…