The Lucky Heiress

“Then I’ll go ask our young master right now.”

Xiaobei hurriedly turned around to go back, heading back to Garden of

Welcoming Bamboo to find Wei Jinyi.

After hearing Xiaobei’s special request, Wei Jinyi said, “You can invite her to eat the prepared mountain chicken and wild rabbit, as a compensation for her

snack.”

So, Xiaobei ran back to Tingsong Garden to report.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll go with you.” Xiumei agreed readily.

She grabbed a bag of items and started walking towards the Garden of Welcoming Bamboo.

Xiaobei wondered, “Lady Xiumei, don’t you need to ask your mistress again?

What if your mistress doesn’t like wild food?”

Xiumei glanced at the clueless Xiaobei and smiled, “Don’t worry, my mistress absolutely loves it.”

Xiumei went to the small kitchen in the Garden of Welcoming Bamboo and began to get busy.

The rabbit meat was braised, and to cater to Wei Jinyi’s taste, no spicy ingredients were added. Otherwise, according to her mistress’s taste, it would have to be made with a spicy flavor.

The mountain chicken was made into a soup, with some nourishing astragalus and goji berries added.

Also, she quickly stir-fried a dish of sweet potato leaves and pumpkin tips. The sweet potato leaves were brought by the wet nurse, while the pumpkin tips were freshly picked from Wei Ruo’s yard.

Four dishes—two with meat and two vegetarian, and one soup-were prepared.

Xiaobei served the dishes on the table, while Xiumei went next door to invite

Wei Ruo.

After Xiaobei placed the four dishes on the table, he remarked to Wei Jinyi, “The mistress is so kind. We asked for their help in cooking the wild food, and they provided us with vegetables and ingredients, creating four well-rounded dishes.”

“Yes.” Wei Jinyi responded.

“It would be great if the mistress could eat with us more often in the future.”

Xiaobei muttered to himself.

He knew this was impossible. The Master and Madam would certainly require the Mistress to eat with everyone in the dining hall.

As they were talking, Wei Ruo entered the pavilion, beaming with joy.

Wei Jinyi had already prepared a seat for her. Wei Ruo sat down and glanced at the three dishes and one soup on the table, a smile creeping up the corners of her mouth.

Her beloved rabbit meat, it had been so long since she last had it!

Wei Jinyi noticed Wei Ruo’s excited expressions and couldn’t help but smile. He took the initiative to pick up a piece of rabbit leg and put it in Wei Ruo’s bowl.

“It’s my fault that you didn’t get to enjoy your snack. Consider this rabbit a way of making amends.” Wei Jinyi said.

“Then I won’t be polite.” Wei Ruo laughed at Wei Jinyi with her head tilted back, then proceeded to use her chopsticks without standing on ceremony.

In reality, both of them were well aware. One wanted to invite the other for mountain chicken and wild rabbit and took special care to make the food. The other wanted to use the excuse of missed tea cake as compensation.

Only Xiaobei wasn’t aware of it.

After having a hearty meal, Wei Ruo rested on the rattan chair by the side.

“Brother, since when has there been a rattan chair here? I didn’t notice it before.” Wei Ruo asked.

“I got it recently. I found it pretty good, so I bought it.” Wei Jinyi answered. “It’S great. You can lie down and rest when you’re tired from reading.” “Yes.” Wei Jinyi agreed. Seeing Wei Ruo swaying idly on the rattan chair, he knew it was a good purchase.

■’How’s it going with your studies at Xie’s house?” Wei Jinyi asked.

“It’s going well. The female teacher you found is truly remarkable. I originally thought I wouldn’t be able to bear studying, but her teaching style is quite interesting. She taught me some basics about incense making, which is similar to my medicinal crafting.”

“That’s good.” Wei Jinyi responded, his face expressionless as always.

“How about you? Has your health improved a bit over recent days?” Wei Ruo asked casually.

“Yes, your medicine has been very helpful. I feel much better.” Wei Jinyi replied. “That’s good.” Wei Ruo repeated Wei Jinyi’s words in a mimicking tone. Then she lounged on the rattan chair, enjoying herself.

Most of the time, the two of them spent their time together in silence. Wei Jinyi wasn’t a big talker. Sometimes Wei Ruo would chat with him, sometimes she wouldn’t. She would just sit there peacefully and relax.

###

After a few days of hard work, Wei Ruo successfully delegated most of the current stage work on the wasteland in the south of the city.

Being free today, Wei Ruo planned to organize the loofah, pumpkin, and gourd in her courtyard. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have much time once she resumed her classes at Xie’s house.

While she was busy in the courtyard, Xiumei rushed in in a hurry.

“Miss, Miss…”

“What’s wrong, Meimei?”

“That… that…” Once Xiumei confirmed there was no one else in Tingsong Garden, she told Wei Ruo, “Miss, Brother Xiaoyong had a fight with Uncle Xu and Grandma. It was fierce!”

“What happened?”

“It seems that Xiaoyong wants to become a soldier! Didn’t the county post many conscription notices recently? And due to special circumstances, the conscription age has been lowered from fifteen to fourteen. Xiaoyong meets the requirements, so he said he also wants to go fight the Japanese Pirates!” “Where is he now?” Wei Ruo asked eagerly.

■■Uncle Xu tied him up at home! Uncle Xu doesn’t mind, but Grandma disagreed. When she cried, Uncle Xu tied Xiaoyong up!

■■Let’s go. Go call Grandma Zhang.” Wei Ruo decided to go out immediately. Now that she has an excuse in the form of the south city, she can leave almost anytime she wants, but she needs to bring Grandma Zhang with her. Although Grandma Zhang initially did not approve of Wei Ruo, thinking she was a bit vulgar, her attitude towards Wei Ruo changed significantly after living together for a period. Once she acknowledged Wei Ruo’s ability, she truly obeyed Wei Ruo’s commands.

Wei Ruo suddenly came looking for her. Without saying a word, Grandma Zhang prepared the carriage and took Wei Ruo out.

Not long after the carriage left home, Wei Ruo asked the coachman to drive it to the street, and after parking at the intersection, Wei Ruo told Grandma Zhang she was going to Four Treasure House to buy some stationery.

Now that Wei Ruo had started studying, buying stationery was a normal thing to do. Neither Grandma Zhang nor the coachman found anything strange.

Wei Ruo put her veil on and got off the carriage. She bypassed the items in the store and directly headed to the backyard from a door in the store.

In the yard, Zhengyong was sitting on the ground, completely bound with his hands behind his back.

He said defiantly, “Dad, a good man should be ambitious. Now that we are invaded by foreign enemies and people are suffering, I as a male, should fight on the front lines!”

Xu Zhushan retorted, “I don’t care about all that! You upset your mother. That’s unacceptable!”

Xu Zhushan didn’t necessarily object to his son joining the army, but he couldn’t accept his wife’s sadness.

“Dad, my mother is a woman, and that’s her way of thinking. You are a man, and you should understand me!” Zhengyong hit back.

“No use! If you want to go, first figure out a way to keep your mother from worrying about you!” Xu Zhushan was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

The father and son were debating when Wei Ruo walked in.

Seeing Wei Ruo, Zhengyong’s eyes lit up, like he saw a lifesaver, “Ruo Ruo!”