by N/A
"That's right, I plan on inviting everyone for a gathering on that day off. Are you all willing to come?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Really? Xiao Li, you've finally thought of inviting us for a meal. Hearing my older brother mention it every day, my saliva has already drooled all over the floor!" Ji Liu Xia happily said.
"Liu Xia's so moved!" Meng Jiang Zhuo and the others saw Ji Liu Xia's appearance and began laughing.
"It's not that I want to be moved, but rather I'm finally going to get to eat Xiao Li's cooking after waiting for so long." Ji Liu Xia said, "You all don't know, my older brother once ate Xiao Li's cooking before, and told me how good it was, how such and such was made, and also how this and that tasted, really making me craved to death. Last time, she already said she was going to invite us to eat, but never thought we actually had to wait for this long. How can I not be moved?"
"Haha, we all didn't know that Xiao Li even knew how to cook!" Meng Jiang Zhuo said with a laugh.
"I also have never eaten it before, but even someone as picky of an eater as my brother say it's good, then it must be very good." Ji Liu Xia confidently said.
"Really? I'm starting to look forward to it." Fu Ya Lan also became interest, "But if this many of us all go to the Prime Minister Manor, won't it be too inconvenient?"
"We won't be gathering at the Prime Minister Manor." Du Xiao Li replied.
"Then where are we going?"
Du Xiao Li originally wanted to say the wolf park, but recalling Ji Liu Xia's appearance just now, she instead said, "Right now, there's two places, one in the city, and one outside the city. If it's outside the city, it'll probably take about an hour by horse carriage. If we go there, then we won't be able to have dinner at night."
"Then let's just stay in the city." Ji Liu Xia said.
"En, right now, with the weather this hot, riding the horse carriage will also be rather tiring. Then let's just have it in the city." Du Xiao Li said.
"But if not in the Prime Minister Manor, where can we go?" Meng Jiang Zhuo asked.
Du Xiao Li smiled and said, "When the time comes, you'll know."
When night fell, Du Xiao Li rode in Fu Ya Lan's carriage back to the Prime Minister Manor, and in passing, had the grapes from that morning given to her to take back.
T/N: I'm so excited for more food porn chapters, I can't wait to look up pictures of food.
Ch. 067.5 – Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (5)
Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (5)
T/N: Chapter (9/12) sponsored by Madam Daim!
Returning from school the next day, Du Xiao Li recalled the previous night having promised Du Xue Qi to let her see Silver and them, thus she let Ying Ge have Silver and Gold brought back to the courtyard. Afterwards, she had Xia Yuan go to third yiniang's courtyard to invite them over.
This was third yiniang and Du Xue Qi's first time coming to Du Xiao Li's courtyard, and seeing how small Jade Bamboo Courtyard was, the two were somewhat surprised.
"Third sister, why are you living in such a small courtyard?" Du Xue Qi asked.
"At the time, when I came, there was only this courtyard. Originally, I intended to just live here temporarily, but I ended up liking this place very much, so I just stayed here." Du Xiao Li answered.
"Where are those two wolves?" Du Xue Qi glanced around and didn't see Silver's shadow.
Du Xiao Li shouted towards the house for Ying Ge, then see her have Silver brought into the courtyard.
When Silver came out from the house, and upon seeing Du Xiao Li, he ran over and rubbed against her.
"Ah."
Although she wanted to the wolf, when she saw Silver charing over, Du Xue Qi still screamed and hid into her mother's embrace.
"Don't be scared, don't be scared." Xie Yu patted Du Xue Qi's back, forcing herself to be calm, while also consoling her daughter.
"Hehe, you all don't need to be scared. Silver won't randomly bite people." Du Xiao Li said with a laugh.
"Really?" Du Xue Qi stuck her head out from Xie Yu's embrace. Seeing Silver quietly standing next to Du Xiao Li, seemingly looking very gently, her courage grew a little and turned around entirely.
"Of course, Silver is very obedient." Du Xiao Li stroked Silver's neck, "Right, Silver?"
"Awooo."
Silver called out toward Du Xiao Li.
"Obediently stand there and let Xue Qi pet you, alright?" Du Xiao Li crouched down, both hands wrapped around Silver's neck. Silver rubbed his head against Du Xiao Li's face.
"Awoo." Hearing Du Xiao Li's words, Silver called out again.
"Mother, I'm going to go pet Silver then." Du Xue Qi lifted her head and said to Xie Yu. Her age was still small after all, and towards these ferocious wild animals like wolves, her understanding wasn't deep. Seeing Silver this docile, the fear in her heart lessened a little.
Xie Yu looked to Du Xue Qi, then looked to Silver. After struggling for a moment, she let go of Du Xue Qi and said, "Just pet once, then come back."
"Okay." Du Xue Qi slowly walked towards Silver, and under Du Xiao Li's encouragement, slowly reached out and stroked Silver's back. Seeing that Silver really didn't bite her, she excitedly turned to Xie Yu and said, "Mother, I really pet the wolf!"
"En, en, good, quickly come back." When Xie Yu saw Du Xue Qi's hand touch the wolf, she was so scared she even forgot to breathe. Seeing Silver not bite her, she finally let out a heavy breath of relief.
Du Xue Qi reluctantly left Silver and returned to Xie Yu's side. Du Xiao Li then let Ying Ge take Silver back again.
"Third yiniang, since you all have come all this way, come in for a sit and drink some tea." Du Xiao Li stood up and said.
"Alright." Xie Yu seemingly wasn't that distant with Du Xiao Li either, and nodded in agreement.
Du Xiao Li lead them into the reception hall, and very soon, Xia Yuan brought tea and also some fruits for the three of them.
Seeing the grapes, Xie Yu said, "The day before yesterday, you had someone send over this fruit for us, we still haven't properly thanked you yet!"
"Third sister, what fruit is this?" Du Xue Qi asked.
"This is a grape."
"Grape? The grape that's used to make grape wine?" Xie Yu said in surprise.
"Yes. I brought this back from outside the city. If you all like it, when time comes, I'll let someone send you some everyday." Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
"No need. How can we trouble third miss." Xie Yu shook her head to refuse.
Du Xue Qi although very much wanted to eat it, but seeing her mother refuse, she also just remained silent.
"It's fine, I need to eat it everyday anyways, sharing some with you is also just in passing." Du Xiao Li looked Du Xue Qi, seeing her unlike other children, throwing a tantrum for something they want, made her once again praise Xie Yu's upbringing in her heart.
After sitting for awhile, the sky was already somewhat late. Xie Yu got up and bid Du Xiao Li farewell. Du Xiao Li urged them to stay for dinner, but Xie Yu said the servant girls in her courtyard have already prepared, thus Du Xiao Li could only send them to the door.
"Bye bye third sister." Du Xue Qi walked a little farther, and then turned around to wave at Du Xiao Li again. Afterwards, she finally left with Xie Yu.
Du Xiao Li watched their figures, increasingly feeling that this third yiniang was a little strange, like she was not the least bit interested in the matters of the Du Manor, and carried a kind of alienation towards everyone, but it wasn't at all deliberate. Furthermore, the way she looked at Du Yun Han wasn't of admiration, or of benefit like the other concubines, but rather it was gratefulness, gratefulness from the bottom of her heart.
However, this all can't conceal that comfortable feeling she gave off.
And although Du Xue Qi grew up in the Prime Minister Manor, she didn't have the domineering and haughty temperament of an ordinary official family's miss. Rather, she was very much like the lovable younger sister from next door. This was also the reason why s
he was willing to interact with them.
"Really a strange pair." Du Xiao Li faintly said, before turning around and returning to her courtyard.
Looks like their matters, she'll just have to wait until Xia Yuan and them finish investigating, before she can resolve the doubt in her heart. However, her guess was probably not too far off.
In a flash, it was already the day off from school. Du Xiao Li agreed with Meng Jiang Zhuo and a few others to gather in front of Feng Xue Lou in the morning. Ji Liu Feng and them thus directly headed to the wolf park.
"Xiao Li, are we having the gathering here today?" Recalling back when Du Xiao Li first arrived, they'd gathered here, Fu Ya Lan thus asked.
At the time, this was where she'd met Du Xiao Li.
"No." Du Xiao Li smiled.
"Then why did you call us all here?" Ji Liu Xia asked, "I thought you were going to invite us for a feast here!"
"That's right, what are we doing here then?" Meng Jiang Zhuo was also confused.
"Getting some things." Du Xiao Li said, and then stepped through the door.
"Yo, Du third miss has come!" Fu Wan San, who was currently at the front desk calculating the accounts, quickly smiled and greeted, "Miss Du, came for a meal?"
"No." Du Xiao Li came before the front desk and said, "I wanted to come here to buy some things."
"What does Miss Du want?" Fu Wan San asked, "How about we go inside to discuss?"
"Okay." Du Xiao Li nodded, beckoning Ji Liu Xia and them to come in.
Seeing Du Xiao Li and Fu Wan San appear familiar with one another, Ji Liu Xia caught up to her and asked, "Xiao Li, are you very close with Shopkeeper Fu? Heard he was very cold towards others, so why is he this friendly with you? This restaurant isn't open by you, is it?"
Ch. 068.1 – Ji Liu Xia's Engagement (1)
Ji Liu Xia's Engagement (1)
T/N: Chapter (10/12) sponsored by Madam Daim!
She never thought that Ji Liu Xia would've guessed it immediately, however she didn't plan on admitting. "Uncle Fu works for a friend of mine."
Du Xiao Li's explanation made Ji Liu Xia and the others subconsciously assume that Du Xiao Li's friend was the owner of the restaurant. However, since it's the subordinate of someone she's familiar with, then Fu Wan San's friendly attitude towards her was also normal.
"Miss Du, what do you want? I'll let them go prepare." Arriving in the room in back, Fu Wan San spoke.
"Today, I invited some people for a gathering and wanted to move some wine over from this place." Du Xiao Li said.
"Alright, what kind of wine?" Fu Wan San very straightforwardly agreed, "A few days ago, just imported some grape wine over, how about have some grape wine?"
"Okay, how many do you have here?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Haha, imported ten jars the other say, don't know if five jars will be enough for Miss Du?" Fu Wan San asked.
"Shh---"
Ji Liu Xia and the others, upon hearing Fu Wan San's words, all sucked in a cold breath from shock. Isn't this too generous?! Normal people coming here wanting grape wine could only get it little pot by little pot, not because they couldn't afford it, but rather because this place only sold it like so. It can be seen just how precious and valuable this grape wine was. Yet unexpectedly, when it came to Du Xiao Li, they were this generous. Looks like it really was convenient to have connections!
However, recalling that this grape wine was for today's gathering, everyone also felt very happy inside.
"Then just five jars then." Du Xiao Li figured five jars should be enough, thus nodded in agreement, following which she also asked, "Why is the stock so little this time?"
"Originally, we ordered thirty jars, but Fuzhou city's grape wine this year was set as the mid-autumn tribute wine, so the grape wine were all offered as tribute to the palace. For us to be able to obtain ten jars was already very difficult." Fu Wan San said, "After a period of time, we can then import more."
"En, then will just have to trouble Shopkeeper Fu to let someone load five jars of grape wine into our horse carriage. En, also bring some baiju, want the lower alcohol level five crop wine." Du Xiao Li said. Today, Ji Liu Feng and them were going to be there, so they might compete in drinking again. This grape wine, can't just let them waste like this.
(T/N: Five crops referring to millet, soybean, sesame, barley, and rice.)
"Alright." Shopkeeper Fu nodded and called a waiter over to move the wine for Du Xiao Li.
"Then we'll be troubling you." Du Xiao Li thanked.
"Haha, for Miss Du to be able to come to our place to get wine is also our honor." Fu Wan San said with a smile.
As they were heading out, Ji Liu Xia and them all walked in front, while Du Xiao Li slightly fell back a little and softly whispered to Fu Wan San, "The estate outside the city will be fermenting grape wine during these days. Once your stock runs out, you can go over there to fetch."
"Yes, Miss. I understand." Fu Wan San also quietly replied.
Du Xiao Li nodded and quickly walked out. By the time they got on their horse carriages, the jars of wine were already loaded on. Du Xiao Li bid Fu Wan San farewell, and then let the carriage driver drive the carriage away. As soon as her horse carriage moved, the other three horse carriages also all followed after.
Du Xiao Li then brought Ji Liu Xia and them to Niu Jing's home. Seeing Du Xiao Li already have someone move the wine down, they all got down from their horse carriage, "Xiao Li, are we going to be gathering in Imperial Physician Niu's home today?"
(T/N: DXL invites friends for dinner but drags them around on her errand that she could've done beforehand-----I want to smash my head against the nearest wall.)
"No, just changing stations here." Du Xiao Li said.
"Changing stations?"
"Meaning changing horse carriages here, and not use your horse carriages." Du Xiao Li explained.
"Shishu, shifu already waited for you for so long. Afterwards, seeing that you still haven't come, just went to the wolf park on his own first." Tong Tong came to the courtyard and said.
"Did senior brother get up very early?" Du Xiao Li asked with a laugh.
"Yes, ever since learning about today's gathering yesterday, shifu just began mentioning it nonstop." Tong Tong replied.
"I just knew it. Alright, you take us over then." Du Xiao Li said.
Ji Liu Xia, Meng Jiang Zhuo and also Fu Ya Lan walked over and looked to Du Xiao Li, asking: "You and Imperial Physician Niu are senior brother and sister?"
Du Xiao Li nodded, although she still haven't seen that shifu of theirs yet, they were still considered senior brother and sister.
"No wonder your medical skills are that good!" Meng Jiang Zhuo exclaimed in admiration.
This Imperial Physician Niu's medical skills were of the best in Feng Ming. Since Du Xiao Li and him were from the same master's lineage, then it can also somewhat explain Du Xiao Li's medical skills.
Tong Tong brought Du Xiao Li and them to the rear courtyard. They saw by that river in the back a boat prepared, and on there a boatsman waiting for them. Tong Tong lead them onto the boat, and then rowed towards the opposite bank. After passing the river, a horse carriage was waiting for them on the other side.
"Xiao Li, where are you taking us?" Meng Jiang Zhuo was confused by all of this.
"Wolf Park." Du Xiao Li said.
"Wolf Park? Are there wolves? Ah, I remember now, heard you have two wolves." Meng Jiang Zhuo called out.
Just as her voice landed, Silver's cries came through.
"There really is a wolf. Xiao Li, will we be able to see your wolves today?" Fu Ya Lan asked.
"If you want to see them, you can." Du Xiao Li said. She had someone lock Silver and Gold inside the fenced area. If they want to go, they can just go over to the fenced area.
"I've seen Silver before, and even pet him too!" Ji Liu Xia proudly said.
"Really? Weren't you scared?" Meng Jiang Zhuo recalled what wolves looked like and felt somewhat scared.
"Then later, I also want to pet too. Xiao Li, is that okay?" Fu Ya Lan said with her two eyes lit up.
"Okay." Du Xiao Li lightly smiled and nodded.
"That's right, how is princess going to come?" Meng Jiang Zhuo asked
"She'll be coming over together with Ding Wang."
"Ah, so excited for this gathering!" Ji Liu Xia exclaimed, "Seems to be my first time being this excited!"
"Me too." Meng Jiang Zhuo echoed, "Although I've participated in quite a few gatherings before, very rarely would I feel this excited."
Fu Ya Lan also nodded in agreement. Perhaps, it was all because Ji Liu Xia had been talking about it nonstop, making everyone unknowingly all began feeling excited.
"We're here."
The horse carriage, after traveling for about a quarter of an hour, arrived at the wolf park. After coming down from the horse carriage, Ji Liu Xia looked in all four directions and called out in surprise, "Isn't this just the back of the Prime Minister Manor?"
"Yes." Du Xiao Li lead everyone into the wolf park and into the courtyard inside the perimeter wall, seeing Xia Yuan and them all busily running about inside.
"Last time when we came, this place was completely bare. Never thought that you would actually build a fence and courtyard here." Ji Liu Xia said clicking her tongue.
"En, the courtyard I live in is rather small and isn't suited for Silver and them. So I thus let my father buy this place to build a small fenced area, letting them be able to have a place to freely run around in. The back in connected to the mountains, so even if they want to in the mountains, it's possible as well." Du Xiao Li contently looked to her own territory. "I even plan to have someone fix up a grape vineyard here. When the time comes, it'll also be more convenient to eat grapes."
"You're so good to your wolves." Fu Ya Lan said.
T/N: Tbh I feel like the whole scene in the beginning half was really unnecessary, the author always likes to do these, discreetly showing off but not really scenes. And technically they don't really serve much purpose either---idk how I feel about still liking this novel more than majority of transmig novels I've read. This novel actually isn't that popular on xxsy but the top ranking novels on there I can't sit through--logic so broken sometimes I question my own existence.