Chapter 74 - 74: Wei Jinyi couldn’t hold his
Translator: 549690339
It had become a fact that she and Wei Qingwan did not get along, even though she still did not want to compete with her for affection or for the male lead.
Since they were unavoidably enemies, she decided to do something else-stir
up the whole situation.
Diverting everything off course was a form of self-protection in some way.
Of course, her actions also had some benefits for the Four Treasure House, by creating a fictitious figure-Attendant Heyou, who supposedly had a strong connection with the Tibetan layman – which could lead people’s imagination astray, causing them to doubt that behind the Four Treasure House was a person of some status and background.
This would make people apprehensive. As long as they didn’t encounter a person with very strong status and background who specifically came to investigate, they wouldn’t be found out. But if they stumbled across someone with such strength who wanted to make trouble for the Four Treasure House, Wei Ruo wouldn’t be able to handle them with the circumstances she was in now.
###
That afternoon, Xiaobei came to Tingsong Garden to invite Wei Ruo to eat at Yingzhu Garden together in the evening.
“Missy, my young master would like to thank you for helping him win this opportunity to learn from the Tibetan layman. He specially had me prepare some fresh meat and seafood, and would like to invite Missy for a little celebration. Of course, it would be even better if Lady Xiumei would be willing to help cook.” Xiaobei grinned from ear to ear.
“No problem, I’ll have Xiumei go right now.” Wei Ruo immediately agreed.
As long as there were good ingredients, she and Xiumei were both very eager.
After Xiaobei left, Wei Ruo went to her private small storehouse.
She had brought many jars from the Mo Jiazha, which contained soy sauce and also alcohol.
Wei Ruo did not particularly enjoy drinking, but she had brewed quite a bit, partly as an experiment, since she liked to try anything that could make money. It was also a gift, a respectable offering to give someone. If there was a happy occasion, they could also take a small sip to add to the joy.
Weiruo chose a jar of plum wine and took it to Yingzhu Garden.
While Xiaobei and Xiumei were busy in the kitchen, Wei Jinyi was sitting in the pavilion, not reading or writing as usual but airing out his books.
Seeing Wei Ruo and the jar she was holding, Wei Jinyi said, “We haven’t finished the soy sauce from last time.”
Wei Ruo replied, “Even though the jars look similar, this one is not soy sauce, it’s wine. Brother, look, I sealed the lid with putty; the soy sauce’s isn’t sealed.”
Wei Jinyi asked, “You know how to make wine?
Wei Ruo: “I’m not particularly good at it; actually, I make soy sauce better. I originally wanted to make vinegar, but I’ve been too busy. When winter comes and there’s less farm work, I’ll try making vinegar.”
Wei Jinyi responded, “You have a wide range of skills.
Wei Ruo smiled and said, “I always want to learn more and make myself more capable. If no one is willing to love me, at least I should love myself and make myself have a good life.”
Wei Ruo didn’t know if she was talking about herself from a previous life or this one, or perhaps both.
Wei Jinyi’s brow furrowed slightly as if he wanted to say something.
After a short while, Xiaobei and Xiumei returned from the kitchen with an assortment of delicious dishes.
Braised wild boar, rib and yam soup, green onion prawns, stir-fried octopus with snow vegetables, and stir-fried pumpkin tennels-every corner of the table was filled.
Wei Ruo poured wine into Wei Jinyi’s cup but he stopped her.
“I can’t hold my liquor.” Wei Jinyi explained.
“It’s okay, brother. This wine is not strong. It’s plum wine and it’s mildly sweet, more like juice.” Wei Ruo explained.
Seeing the earnest look in Wei Ruo’s eyes, Wei Jinyi withdrew his hand and allowed Wei Ruo to pour him wine.
Wei Ruo had a sip first, then looked at Wei Jinyi.
Under Wei Ruo’s watchful eyes, Wei Jinyi took a small sip of the wine.
Indeed, as Wei Ruo had described, the plum wine was mildly sweet, like savoring a ripe plum.
Wei Jinyi couldn’t help but take a few more sips.
“See, brother, wasn’t 1 right? This wine is not strong at all, right?” Wei Ruo said with a smile, then raised her glass to Wei Jinyi, “Here, brother, I toast to you. May your future path in learning be smooth and continuously move upwards.” Wei Jinyi nodded slightly and drank the remaining plum wine in his cup.
“Brother, once the recommendation letter got responded, when do you plan to go to Huzhou Prefecture?”
After asking the question, she found that Wei Jinyi only stared blankly at her, without saying a word.
“Brother?”
Wei Ruo looked at Wei Jinyi uncertainly, and seeing that he still had not responded, she waved her hand in front of his face.
“Ruoruo, don’t move, I’ll see a lot of hands.”
Wei Jinyi finally spoke, but the tone of his voice was completely different from his usual cool and calm demeanor.
“Brother, are you okay?” Wei Ruo asked, instinctively placing the back of her hand on his forehead.
“Ruoruo, I’m fine, I’m perfect.” Wei Jinyi answered with a very innocent and cute expression.
This expression, reaction, and word choice didn’t match up with the Wei Jinyi she knew!
“Are you…drunk?” Wei Ruo asked.
Wei Jinyi didn’t answer Wei Ruo’s question, he just looked at her blankly, his eyes unblinking.
When he was clearheaded, he would never dare look at Wei Ruo like this, it wasn’t proper for a person who understood politeness, even if the other person was his sister.
But now, he gazed at her this way with an intensely focused expression.
And his fair, overly handsome face had turned a little red, spreading all the way to behind his ears.
Wei Ruo could now confirm that Wei Jinyi was indeed drunk.
Earlier Wei Jinyi had said he didn’t hold his liquor well, she thought this was just a common excuse, under the impression that someone with low alcohol tolerance wouldn’t be unable to handle a small cup of plum wine.
But now it seems she was wrong, when he said he didn’t hold his liquor well, it meant he really couldn’t.
Looking at the dazed Wei Jinyi, Wei Ruo considered what to do.
“Brother, eat some food and drink some soup to sober up.
Wei Ruo served food to Wei Jinyi, and filled his soup bowl with rib and yam soup, hoping that eating more could help to clear his head.
Wei Jinyi obediently opened his mouth, waiting for Wei Ruo to feed him.
Wei Ruo was stunned.
Is this the same as her cold and aloof brother?
Xiaobei also widened his eyes, and for a long time couldn’t find his words.
As the attendant who had taken care of the young master since he was a child, Xiaobei knew about Wei Jinyi’s poor tolerance of liquor.
But the last time this happened was when the young master had just turned ten, he drank a small cup of “tee girl red” and then became obedient and somewhat talkative. But he was only ten then, and not yet as cold and aloof as he is now, so such a situation was not that hard to accept.
Since then, the young master never touched alcohol again, and Xiaobei never had the chance to see his young master’s drunken antics again.
“Could you eat by yourself?” Wei Ruo asked..