Qin San Lang smiled, took the spoon, scooped a spoonful of yuzu flesh, and ate it, nodding towards Gu Jinli: "Hmm, it’s really sweet."

Very sweet.

Like her smile, just like the mood he has when he sees her, sweet enough to dissolve all weariness.

And her act of adding sweetness to the bitter yuzu, forcing it to become sweet, is very much like how he forcefully bound her to his life. Although both were intentional, the outcome was unexpectedly sweet.

"Of course, it took me a whole jar of sugar. If it weren’t sweet, it’d be a big loss." Gu Jinli also scooped a spoonful of yuzu flesh and ate it, but it wasn’t very sweet; rather, it was sweet and sour, with a bit of the yuzu’s unique bitterness, but still edible.

Qin San Lang looked at her, his eyes full of deep affection: "I won’t let Xiao Yu suffer a loss."

Her catchphrase, never do anything that results in a loss!

Gu Jinli listened to his meaningful words, snorted, and said: "It doesn’t matter now, we’re engaged, I’ll accept the loss."

Qin San Lang felt warm inside upon hearing this... These ordinary words represented her deepest affection for him. Being with him, she wasn’t concerned with gains and losses; even if it meant a loss, she was willing.

"Xiao Yu." He called out softly, wrapped her in his long arms, pulled her in and kissed her lips, greedily yet gently.

His heavy breathing sounded in Gu Jinli’s ear, bringing her back to reality, angrily punching him: You’re such a brat, are you even a man from ancient times? You’re so bold, I’m not as thick-skinned as you!

Qin San Lang’s face wasn’t really thick-skinned. When he kissed her, his heart beat wildly, a tingling sensation spreading from his heart to his entire body, making him a little stiff.

His face turned bright red like he was drunk, but he just wanted to be close to her. It was an uncontrollable impulse, an instinct.

"Don’t worry, no one will come." He said, almost pressing his body against hers, yet restraining, afraid to frighten her, not daring to lean in completely.

Bang, thump!

Two sounds rang out as something fell from the tree, forcing Qin San Lang to release her and look towards the noise, and it was yet another yuzu.

He gritted his teeth, fuming; did this yuzu have a grudge against him? Having dropped one already, and now another!

Haha, Gu Jinli laughed unreservedly, pointing at the yuzu: "It might be attracting bugs, I’ll make some medicine another day to rid the tree of pests."

Actually, she knew the yuzu tree had bugs; she just thought the fruit was about to ripen, and spraying anti-parasitic medicine might not be good, planning to wait until after the fruit was picked for thorough pest control. Unexpectedly, this yuzu was so determined, it fell at such a time to ruin things.

Look at Brother Qin’s face, it turned dark.

Qin San Lang looked at her helplessly, seeing her laugh cheerfully, he resignedly picked up the yuzu and inspecting the fruit peduncle: "This fruit peduncle is indeed spoiled, it probably really attracted pests."

He looked up at the twenty or so yuzus hanging from the tree: "It’s the first year of bearing fruit, so there are few. With pests, I’m afraid not many will be harvested."

Gu Jinli saw he truly cared about the yuzus and said: "Don’t worry, this yuzu, its fruit hangs late. Tomorrow I’ll mix up medicine to remove pests, and after half a month, once the medicine’s effect passes, we can pick the fruit then, when it will be completely ripe and much sweeter and tastier than now."

Qin San Lang, hearing this, smiled brightly, showing the dimple on his cheek again, nodded: "Alright, let’s follow Xiao Yu’s plan."

Speaking, he approached her again, scaring Gu Jinli who asked sincerely: "Do you want to continue?"

Qin San Lang burst out laughing, hugging her gently instead of kissing her, and whispered, "Just a hug."

He liked kissing her and liked hugging her, just holding her without words, feeling the passage of time, he felt very happy.

Hmm, the main thing was, it was getting dark, and someone would soon come calling them for dinner.

Gu Jinli laughed, lifted her head from his embrace, hugged his waist with both arms, and said: "Alright, then let’s hug."

...

Brother Cheng found it troublesome; at times like these, should he go out to protect Bai Cai, or go out to protect Bai Cai?

Thinking of Second Bai Cai’s fierce nature, he silently crouched down again, continuing to hide until he counted over three hundred, hearing Brother San Lang say: "I’ll finish the yuzu, then we’ll go over for dinner."

Only then did Brother Cheng rise, leap out: "Second Sister, Brother San Lang, dinner’s ready, Third Grandma told me to call you to eat."

Grandpa Qin had returned earlier, spending the day working and chatting with Third Grandpa and Grandpa Wu.

Gu Jinli greeted Brother Cheng warmly, waving him over: "Come quickly, Second Sister will give you a yuzu to eat."

Once Brother Cheng ran over, she grabbed the yuzu from the stone table and handed it to him: "It’s Mid-Autumn Festival, you should eat yuzu, take it, the whole thing is yours to enjoy."

No need to thank me.

Brother Cheng was initially delighted, but seeing his Second Sister’s eyes curved with laughter, he couldn’t sustain his happiness, and asked: "Second Sister, this yuzu looks a bit green, is it not ripe?"

Gu Jinli waved her hand: "Hey, yuzu can be eaten in August, you can safely eat it. If it doesn’t taste right, just dip it in sugar."

"Dip yuzu in sugar?" Brother Cheng’s face turned bitter: "Second Sister, just hearing you say that, I feel like you’re tricking me."

Qin San Lang laughed, helping Gu Jinli trick Brother Cheng: "Go ahead and eat, it tastes good."

Speaking, he scooped another spoonful of yuzu flesh, quickly finishing the large bowl of yuzu, and then held the spoon and bowl in one hand, holding Gu Jinli’s hand with the other, heading towards the Gu Family.

On the way, he said: "After dinner, I have to return to the Military Office. The people from the Meng Family might take the risk to raid the Military Office and rescue people."

Meng Wu and his group of Meng Family assassins were still imprisoned in the Military Office’s prison. After Mid-Autumn Festival, Dou Ke would escort them to the Capital. The Meng Family would surely use the holiday to send people to silence Meng Wu and his entourage.

Therefore, he must hurry back to the Military Office tonight to help fend off enemies. If they could catch a few more live ones, it would be advantageous for Dou Ke.

Though Manager Dou thinks Dou Ke is good, Manager Dou rather wants to change the Dou Family’s status. If Meng’s son inherits the Dou Family, it won’t be just any Imperial Merchant but a scholarly family’s Imperial Merchant.

It’s heard that after suffering this loss, Meng appealed to the Meng Imperial Censor, seeking to marry Second Son Dou and Third Son Dou to official’s legitimate daughters. If these marriages succeed, it would be detrimental to Dou Ke.

Dou Ke is good in every way except that his maternal family is not prominent, and he has no elders to arrange an official marriage for him.

Qin San Lang explained these matters to Gu Jinli.

Gu Jinli said: "Then, be careful. Once the issue is resolved, send someone back to update me so I feel at ease."

She thought for a moment, then added: "You don’t need to worry about Young Master Dou’s marriage. As he consistently clings to Master Ouyang, it definitely implies a desire for Master Ouyang to help arrange a noble marriage. Additionally, having made contributions this time, if Master Ouyang intercedes, it’s possible for the Emperor to grant him a good marriage."