Chapter Forty: Insolence

Li Zhonglin’s insolence finally wore through Madam Yang’s patience. After all, she too was an elder seated here, yet he shamelessly flirted with the second girl as if she were invisible. Though her family’s business did rely on Li Zhonglin’s father for certain favors, they had always paid him handsomely in return. In the end, theirs was the Registrar’s household, not a place for Li Zhonglin to act so wantonly.

With a couple of soft coughs, Madam Yang refrained from speaking herself, instead casting a look at Xu Zilin.

The eldest son caught his mother’s meaning at once. He stood and dragged Li Zhonglin back. “Come, drink with us! What’s a man doing huddling with the women? Sit down and have a drink!”

Li Zhonglin was no match for Xu Zilin’s strength. Pulled off balance, he landed heavily in his seat. Though his heart still simmered with frustration, there was nothing for it; he couldn’t return to the other table.

Xu Zimo narrowed his eyes and, seizing the wine pot, filled Li Zhonglin’s cup, eager to get him drunk and out of the way.

Madam Yang let out a long breath. But her gaze fell on another table, and the sight grated on her nerves. Looking at Li Qiuping, any remnant of patience vanished.

“Men and women should not share a table—that is the rule. Why is there no screen set up between them? You are heavily pregnant, and the second girl is still unmarried. Should either of you be showing your faces so freely before outsiders? Does the Xu family care nothing for its reputation?”

Having chastised Li Qiuping, Madam Yang turned to Xu Ruojin, her tone no warmer. “It’s only a meal for your cousin-in-law’s nephew. Why are you dressed so gaudily? Worried no one will notice that fox face of yours?”

Xu Ruojin replied softly but firmly, “Apart from this outfit, I only have the two dresses Madam Bi made last time. The rest are coarse linens. Would you have me greet guests in rags, Mother?”

Her answer left Madam Yang at a loss for words. Seeing Li Qiuping silent and sullen, Madam Yang grew even more annoyed. “Why are you just sitting there? Have someone set up a screen!”

Li Qiuping, bewildered by the scolding and eager to avoid more, swallowed her retort and quickly sent the maids to prepare.

A four-panel screen was drawn, separating the two tables. No matter how much Li Zhonglin craned his neck, he could no longer see Xu Ruojin. His enthusiasm for the wine waned; the small talk faded, and he resorted to drinking in silence.

Not long after the meal had begun, Madam Yang excused herself and left.

Xu Ruojin, head down, tucked into the dishes with quiet determination. Across from her, Li Qiuping rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“You’re a young lady, at least have some manners. It’s as though you’ve never eaten before.”

Li Qiuping dared not speak too loudly. Even with the screen, the other table might overhear.

Xu Ruojin was unfazed. “Didn’t you say I come from a ruined family, sister-in-law? Of course I’ve never tasted such delicacies. I should thank you for the feast—it’s a rare treat.”

“You—” Li Qiuping glanced nervously to the side. “You certainly are thick-skinned.”

“What’s the matter? Do you mean to throw me out?” Xu Ruojin stuffed a strip of tender fried pork into her mouth, then set down her chopsticks. “Third brother—”

Xu Zimo responded at once, “Second sister, what is it?”

Li Qiuping interjected quickly, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Third brother, sit and eat at your leisure. I’ll look after your second sister; no need to trouble yourself.”

Xu Zimo, hearing no further word from Xu Ruojin, simply sat and continued eating.

Xu Ruojin smirked. “Weren’t you going to stop me from eating? Or am I not allowed to leave either?”

“The other table isn’t finished yet. You’re not to go.”

Li Qiuping had no intention of letting the gathering end so soon; she needed to keep things together for a while longer so her brother could save face.

Her mother-in-law had eaten barely two bites before leaving. If the women’s table dispersed now, her eldest brother would surely blame her for poor hosting.

“In that case, I’ll keep eating,” Xu Ruojin said, picking up her chopsticks and tucking in once more.

This was the first time since arriving in this era that she ate her fill. Li Qiuping had spared no expense; the table was set with twenty-five dishes, every one exquisitely prepared—even sea cucumber was served.

Used to plain fare, Xu Ruojin had no intention of missing out on such delicacies and ate to her heart’s content, unconcerned about overindulgence.

Li Qiuping couldn’t bear to watch and turned away, ignoring her.

A little later, Qi Er returned from outside, carrying two bundles, which he presented to Xu Zimo along with a list and the price.

Xu Zimo took a handful of silver coins from his purse and tossed them over before turning to Xu Ruojin. “Second sister, the items you wanted have been bought.”

“All of them? That’s wonderful.”

Xu Ruojin immediately set down her chopsticks and sent Chun Cao to fetch the items.

Li Qiuping frowned, understanding the situation. “You’re bold indeed, having your third brother spend silver on your behalf. If mother-in-law finds out, you’ll be in trouble!”

“The tutor is teaching me winemaking. Mother already knows about it—what have I to fear?” Xu Ruojin opened the medical book, her face lighting up with excitement. “Besides, whatever wine I make will be for my brothers to enjoy. We’re family—why split hairs over whose silver it is? Didn’t you use our eldest brother’s money for this feast, sister-in-law? If you truly spent your own, I’d be impressed!”

Li Qiuping, exposed, snapped, “You’re sharp-tongued—one day you’ll pay for it!”

“Winemaking?”

From the other side of the screen, Li Zhonglin’s sharp ears picked up the word. He called out, “May I have the honor of tasting a cup of your wine, Ruojin?”

“It’s not ready yet—the girl’s inexperienced. Wouldn’t want you to fall ill, brother-in-law. Better stick to this vintage wine!” Xu Zilin quickly filled Li Zhonglin’s cup, silencing him.

A little drunk, Li Zhonglin let the matter drop.

Xu Ruojin, having eaten her fill, gathered her bundles and medical book, preparing to leave.

Seeing her own brother already well on his way to inebriation, Li Qiuping allowed Xu Ruojin to depart—she had no wish to see the girl lingering before her any longer.

Once, she had been so meek and silent. When had she become so sharp-tongued? Now she answered every word without missing a beat—had a few lessons with the tutor really turned her into such a clever creature?

Xu Ruojin, indifferent to Li Qiuping’s silent grievances, hurried back to her small courtyard with Chun Cao.

She opened the bundles of medicinal ingredients, cross-checking each one against the prescription, carefully identifying each herb. Once satisfied, she began preparing the small scale for weighing.

A chopstick was hung with thick paper at one end, a string tied to a copper coin as a weight—each coin roughly equaled one qian. Adding coins increased the weight, and each increment was marked on the chopstick.

“Mulberry twig…”

“Kudzu root…”

“Licorice.” Xu Ruojin found the licorice, measuring it carefully on her makeshift scale.

Chun Cao watched in amazement. With copper coins and chopsticks, Second Miss had somehow fashioned a tiny balance. When she drew marks on it, she even muttered about “units of measurement”—words Chun Cao could hardly understand.

Once all the herbs were weighed, Xu Ruojin took the wine and jar she and Madam Fang had prepared that morning, adding the herbs one by one.

She sealed the jar tightly, wrapping it in several layers and finishing with wax, before placing it carefully in a corner.

Patting her chest, Xu Ruojin beamed with anticipation. “In a few days—just ten days—it’ll be ready to drink!”