Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  "Grape wine? What kind of wine is that?" As soon as Li Hong Qing heard it was wine, she immediately became interested.

  Li Xue Qing was only just twenty this year and looked very similar to her full-blooded older sister, Li Xue Mei. This Li family was the Zhou county's wealthiest family, because their family had the largest winery in Zhou county. The entire Zhou county and the surrounding towns' wine nearly all came from their family's winery.

  Li Xue Qing's father, Li Chi, although was quite successful in business, he only had two daughters at his knee, and no son. This eldest daughter Li Xue Mei became the second wife for Sun Zheng after his first wife died, becoming the county magistrate's madam. And this second daughter, he didn't marry out, but rather found a man to marry into their family. Right now, this winery was precisely being managed by his daughter and son-in-law together.

  That's why, as soon as she heard grape wine, this Li Xue Qing immediately became interested.

  "Xiao Li said it's a type of fruit wine made using grapes, saying the alcohol content is low, so even if madam is pregnant, can also drink a bit." Hong Jie replied.

  "Fruit wine?" Li Xue Mei said, "This rather is unheard of before."

  "Elder sister, how about we open it and try some?" Li Xue Qing said.

  "You ah, gets greedy as soon as you see wine." Li Xue Mei said with a smile, "Someone, fetch the wine cups over."

  Very soon, someone came with two wine cups. Li Xue Qing impatiently had the seal removed, and a burst of faint wine aroma assaulted the nostrils. There was also the scent of grapes mix in it. She carefully had the wine poured out, and seeing the red color wine, doubt exposed in her eyes.

  "Why is this wine's color red?" Li Xue Mei looked at the wine in the cup and said.

  "Really is red!" Compared to Li Xue Mei's skepticism, Li Xue Qing's expression was much more excited.

  "You know this kind of wine?" Li Xue Mei, seeing how excited her younger sister was, asked.

  "Last time, when husband and I went to the capital, we once heard that in the western regions, there's a type of red color wine. But that is tribute wine, and only people of the imperial household can enjoy it." Li Xue Qing said. "That boss Qian that was together with us at the time had somehow gotten ahold of a jar from somewhere, so we also got to taste some. If this is that kind of wine, then our winery will soar!"

  "Just look at that shining eyes of yours." Li Xue Mei said with a laugh, "First let the servants drink, what if by chance this wine can't be drunk? After all, it's made by a little child."

  "No need, no need." Li Xue Qing waved her hand and said, "This kind of thing I only need to smell once and will know whether or not I can be drunk, don't worry, it's fine."

  With that said, she lifted her own cup and slowly drank a sip.

  "How is it? Is it that type of wine?" Li Xue Mei asked.

  Li Xue Qing carefully tasted it and said, "Not the same. This wine isn't as strong as that one, and the texture is also not the same. Drinking this, there's a faint fruity aroma. Presumably that's the so-called grape's taste. Elder sister, the taste's quite good, you can try some."

  "I better not." Li Xue Mei said as she stroked her own stomach. This kind of unclear thing, it's best if she doesn't eat. If by chance something were to happen, it would be too late to regret.

  "En, you're right." Li Xue Qing also thought of something, and then smilingly squeezed next to Li Xue Mei's side, saying: "Elder sister, can you give me half of this wine?"

  "This girl, this old and still the same as when you were little." Li Xue Mei patted her hand and said, "If you like it, then just take it. This wine I can't drink anyways. The flavor this weak, your brother-in-law won't like either. He just likes stronger ones."

  "Thank you elder sister, I just know you love me, hehe." Li Xue Qing said with a smile.

  "You ah!" Li Xue Mei helplessly looked to Li Xue Qing. Right now, sisters that were intimate like them were indeed very rare. To be able to maintain this kind of relationship, for her, was also a good thing. She said to Hong Jie, "Go and give a case of the mooncakes they sent over to that girl. Afterwards, tell her I've accepted her kind intentions."

  "Yes, madam." Hong Jie bowed, and then went to the side room to get a case of mooncakes out.

  T/N: So I did some light research, aka googling, on alcohol content and homemade grape wines, and I think most grape wines in general, usually are around the 10% range, while rice wines, like baijiu from previous chapter, seems to average around 30-40% range, with highest I saw around 55% in certain regions.

  Ch. 049 – Accepting Her Money Pouch

  Accepting Her Money Pouch

  T/N: Chapter (1/8) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you so much for continuously sponsoring so many chapter!

  Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi waited outside the courtyard. A long while later, Hong Jie finally came out holding something. Seeing Du Xiao Li, she said, "Madam said she's received your kindly intentions. However, right now, madam is currently meeting with her younger sister, so she isn't able to meet you. This is the mooncake madam says to give to you."

  Du Xiao Li accepted the mooncakes and said, "Thank you madam."

  "Let's go, I'll send you out." Hong Jie said.

  "En en." Du Xiao Li followed Hong Jie out of the main courtyard. She originally didn't think madam would see her anyways, so she didn't think much of it. This was the people of the governmental class of this feudal society!

  Leaving the county magistrate's residence, Du Xiao Li and the others then headed for the marketplace, buying some chicken feet, duck tongue, and whatnot, and also some other vegetables, filling a full basket.

  Leng Er saw how Du Xiao Li had gotten strange pots made, and also bought a bunch of vegetables, but the amount of every kind wasn't much. He puzzlingly asked, "Just what are you making with this?"

  "You'll know by tomorrow night." Du Xiao Li mysteriously said. "If I tell you now, what fun would there still be?"

  Eh----

  These words weren't wrong, but he still felt itchy inside and want to know, what to do?!

  Returning back to the village, Du Xiao Li had the ingredients moved into Niu Jing's house. Everyone's reactions were all more or less the same as Leng Er's. Ji Liu Feng asked the same question as Leng Er, and received Du Xiao Li's same answer. Seeing this, the others also gave up.

  "Big brother Yi, this is the remaining money." Du Xiao Li, who had the remaining money put into a small pouch, handed the pouch to Han Ming Yi. This pouch she'd sewn together herself with some pieces of cloth. Because there was the first two as practice, this little money pouch's quality could be considered passing.

  Han Ming Yi stared at the simple money pouch, reached out and took it, directly placing it into his chest.

  Du Xiao Li watched as her little money pouch was so expressionlessly confiscated by Han Ming Yi. Recalling that there were some silver fragments inside and was indeed not easy to hold, she thus let him have his way. Seeing Niu Jing come out, she said, "Grandpa Niu, these things all need to be placed somewhere shady, don't let the sun shine on them. Else, when we eat tomorrow, it won't be fresh anymore. If you have time, just sprinkle some water on top."

  "Alright, I understand. I will have those guys take care of it." Niu Jing said.

  "Then we'll go back first! Will come over again tomorrow morning." Du Xiao Li said and then left with Luo Qi.

  The morning of the next day, Du Xiao Li, like usual, did her exercises in the courtyard, practicing some punches Luo Qi recently taught her. After that, she headed to Niu Jing's house along with Silver and Luo Qi.

  "Grandpa Niu, I've come!" Upon entering the courtyard, Du Xiao Li loudly shouted towards the house.

  Today was so strange, Han Ming Yi wasn't lying at his usual spot, and the others were all nowhere to be found in the courtyard too. Hearing Han Ming Yi's movements inside, she and Luo Qi directly walked in.

  "You're here!" Seeing Du Xiao Li, Leng Yi greeted her.

  "What happened?" Du Xiao Li saw Han Ming Yi lying on the
bed with Niu Jing at his side taking his pulse. The others were all in a circle around the room.

  "Just now young master's twitching disease acted up again." Leng Yi replied.

  Du Xiao Li listened as she stood to the side watching with Luo Qi.

  After a while, Niu Jing stood up and said, "Young master is fine, everyone can all go out."

  Leng Yi and the others walked out in succession, leaving only Niu Jing, Ji Liu Feng, and also Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi in the room.

  "Grandpa Niu, is it that big brother Yi's disease hasn't acted up in a very long time?" Du Xiao Li asked.

  "That's right!" Niu Jing replied, "Ever since last time, it hasn't acted up again until now. That's why today, everyone all got frightened."

  "I'm fine now, you all can go out." Han Ming Yi spoke out.

  "Fine, we'll also go out then, let young master rest for a while." Niu Jing finished saying and then went out.

  Du Xiao Li also turned around, but before she could step out, she heard Han Ming Yi call her name, and thus she stayed behind.

  "What's wrong big brother Yi?" Du Xiao Li sat down on the stool that Niu Jing had sat on just now, and looked to Han Ming Yi asking.

  Han Ming Yi had called Du Xiao Li over, yet he didn't talk, only blankly staring at the top of the mosquito net. After a long while, he finally opened his mouth and said, "Girl, my disease isn't going to get better, right?"

  "Why do you ask that?" Du Xiao Li looked to his slightly perplexed gaze, thinking to herself, perhaps because today's mid-autumn, and his disease had acted up again at this time, that's why on an emotional level, he would appear rather weak.

  "My co--.....mother, precisely died from this disease that year." Han Ming Yi said, "She collapsed in front of me just like that, passing out after twitching for a while, never waking up ever again. By the time grandpa Niu rushed over, she'd already stopped breathing. Although grandpa Niu has already studied this disease for this many years, my situation is still the same as before. Will there be a day where just like mother I....."

  Sweat. This is a sick child easily letting his imagination run wild? Du Xiao Li couldn't help thinking. Her two hands grasped Han Ming Yi's hand, and she said, "Big brother Yi, you're thinking too much. Your mother that year, if my guess is correct, should have died from poison."

  "Poison?" Han Ming Yi turned his head and stared at Du Xiao Li's little face, and said somewhat confused.

  "That's right. At the time, weren't you also poisoned? If that time, I hadn't forced out the poison in your body, you probably would've long gone to see King Enma too. That's why I'm guessing your mother must have also been poisoned, it's just that it wasn't discovered only." Du Xiao Li patted Han Ming Yi's hand and said, "But don't you already not have poison in your body anymore, therefore you won't die that easily! This twitching disease is due to the damages the nerves received, so it's not easy to cure, but it's also not incurable."

  Han Ming Yi stared at Du Xiao Li holding his hand, slightly restraining his gaze.

  "When people get sick, they are more likely to think too much. How about this. I'll sing a song for you, let you ease your feelings, how about it?" Du Xiao Li said when she saw Han Ming Yi's look. Thinking of a twelve year old from her past life, they were still at the age where they acted spoiled in their loved one's embrace. But he instead have to face this serious illness alone.

  "Okay." Han Ming Yi nodded.

  Du Xiao Li coughed twice and began sining 'A Little Farmer Girl'.

  (T/N: Please excuse my poor attempt in translating this song. Also if you want to hear to song---click here. It's from 1996 so vid quality is super low.)

  Bamboo fences, white-edged morning glories.

  The shallow pond has wild ducks.

  The curvy brook coils below the mountain.

  At the waist of the mountain there's a small farming family.

  Wearing a conical bamboo hat, baring one's feet.

  Playing as much as one likes by the brook.

  Rolling mud, catching fish.

  The farming life happy to no end.

  Oh wind, oh wind, bashfully

  walking down the mountain slope.

  One moment in the east, one moment in the west.

  One moment hiding under the gourd trellis.

  Under the gourd trellis, the reddened face reflects the flying red clouds.

  That is mother's calling,

  Soft and gentle,

  Just like smoke from a chimney, endlessly rising in spirals.

  Walking all the way, singing all the way.

  Pick some wild chrysanthemum to weave into a garland in passing.

  I lift the corners of my dripping wet skirt,

  Spilling behind in full circle my singing voice as I return home....

  The crisp voice and cheerful lyrics made Han Ming Yi lose his thoughts, and he immediately felt quite a bit better. Seeing Du Xiao Li earnestly singing, he suddenly felt that he indeed did think too much today.

  Du Xiao Li felt that these lyrics were really quite close to her current lifestyle. After she finished singing, still wishing to continue, she sung the song again once more. Han Ming Yi listened to her singing voice, seemingly able to see her playing in the mud and playing in the waters. The corner of his mouth unconsciously rosed up.

  The people outside all had quite good hearing abilities, and upon hearing Du Xiao Li's singing voice, the gloomy atmosphere that had persisted all morning was suddenly shattered.

  "This girl, always makes one feel life is full of joy." Ji Liu Feng said with a smile.

  Luo Qi stood in the courtyard, suddenly thinking that if he can't recover his memories, this kind of life was also not bad. As he thought about it, he began smiling to himself.

  T/N: I'm having childhood flashbacks from that song cuz I definitely heard before it when I was a kid. And now it's stuck in my head cuz I'd listened to it while I was translating. Also I have strong cravings for tangerine, what has this novel done to me....

  Ch. 050 – Celebrating Mid-Autumn

  Celebrating Mid-Autumn

  T/N: Chapter (2/8) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!

  Du Xiao Li stayed in the room for a while, before a coming out. And after she came out, Leng Yi entered the house.

  "Girl, what kind of great feast are you planning on preparing for us today? You can finally tell me now, right?" Leng Shi and the others were currently washing the vegetables they'd bought yesterday. They didn't expect that one day, they would end up washing vegetables.

  "Telling you is also fine, tonight we're eating hotpot." Du Xiao Li said.

  "hotpot, what dish is that?" Leng San asked.

  "The dish we're going to eat tonight." Du Xiao Li said.

  Eh, wasn't this just the same as not saying?!

  Just then, the sound of the horse carriage suddenly came through, and a moment later, Leng Er and Du Xiu Heng arrived back together. Turns out, early in the morning, Han Ming Yi had sent Leng Er to the county seat to go pick up Du Xiu Heng. No wonder when Du Xiao Li came, she didn't see him.

  "Big brother!" Seeing Du Xiu Heng, Du Xiao Li was very happy and waved at him.

  "Little sister." Du Xiu Heng saw Du Xiao Li and quickly came to her side, saying: "Why did you come bother grandpa Niu again?"

  "Haha, it's us that's gluttonous and wanted to let Li girl make something good for us." Niu Jing replied with a hearty laugh.

  "Today, we're celebrating the holiday at grandpa Niu's house." Du Xiao Li said, "Don't just stand around, come help wash the vegetables."

  "Alright." Du Xiu Heng had his backpack placed inside the house, came to Du Xiao Li's side, and began helping her.

  By the time the vegetables were all washed and cut, it was already noon. Everyone casually made a bit of something to eat, then watched Du Xiao Li prepare the base ingredients for the hotpot while they waited.

  As for the other side's clear soup, Du Xiao Li used broth boiled from bones to make it, in addition to the mushrooms picked in the mount
ains to add flavor. Even if it wasn't as alluring as the red soup, it was still enough to let Leng Er and the others drool.

  Afterwards, Du Xiao Li had the garlic minced, the green onions chopped, and also had the soy sauce and whatnot prepared and placed on the chopping board.

  "Done!" Du Xiao Li patted her own little hands and said.

  "It's done just like this?" Leng Er leaned forward to ask.

  "En, later, just have everyone gathered, and then we can begin eating." Du Xiao Li said.

  A moment later, the ones that went to buy wine returned. Du Xiao Li then had someone add heated charcoals below the two pots, and afterwards, carried out. Then, she had the vegetables all carried out too.

  "Everyone can come and eat now." Du Xiao Li loudly shouted.

  Hearing her voice, Han Ming Yi came out from inside. And after he sat down, the others all finally sat down too.

  Leng Yi and crew, all seven of them, sat together at one table, while Han Ming Yi, Ji Liu Feng, Niu Jing, Du Xiao Li, Du Xiu Heng, and Luo Qi sat together at another table. Du Xiao Li first took her bowl to the place where the condiments were placed and made herself a sauce bowl. The others also imitated in succession, carrying their bowl to go make a sauce.

  Du Xiao Li placed the sauce she just made in front of Han Ming Yi and said, "Big brother Yi, too spicy things aren't good for your body, so just eat the pot with the clear soup. Also not too much hot pepper, ginger, and garlic were placed in this (sauce)."

  After she finished explaining, Du Xiao Li finally went go to mix for herself a bowl of spicy dipping sauce.

  "Okay, you can start putting the things in now." After the charcoal below begin kicking it up, Du Xiao Li said to the other table. Afterwards, she let them have the already cooked chicken feet and such placed in first.

  "These meat slices are cut really thin, and can be eaten by just dipping it in like this." Du Xiao Li had the near transparent meat slice placed into the boiling soup for a little while, then placed it into Du Xiu Heng's bowl, saying: "Big brother, try it."

  Du Xiu Heng had the meat slice Du Xiao Li prepared for him placed into his mouth. Facing Du Xiao Li's expectant gaze, he reached out and stroked her head, saying: "Really delicious! Little sister, you're really incredible!"