Chapter 103: Checking In

Wei Ruo answered flawlessly, leaving Wei Qingwan with no way to counter, so she turned to Lady Yun. Lady Yun agreed with the eldest daughter’s words. “Wanwan, if you want to learn, just have the cook teach you once we return to the Wei residence. With your culinary skills, you should pick it up quickly.” “Alright,” Wei Qingwan had no choice but to give up since Lady Yun said so. Yet, her thoughts remained lingering on the young Master Chu, whom she had only glanced at briefly earlier.

***

After the Wei family’s carriage departed, Lu Yuhong, still thinking about his treasured mushroom sauce, turned to Chu Lan. “Brother Chu, haven’t you been frequently visiting with the Wei family’s young lady lately? Why don’t you ask her for a jar next time?” “What are you talking about? People might think I have some kind of private affair with the Miss Wei.” “No, no. I mean, didn’t you send Aunt Qin to help the Wei family’s young lady with cultivating the wasteland in the southern city? That counts as close contact. If you ask, getting a jar of mushroom sauce shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Lu Yuhong’s voice was tinged with humor. “Yuhong, when will you ever fix your gluttonous habit?” Chu Lan teased. “Probably never in this lifetime. My two great loves are fighting and good food. I can’t live without either,” Lu Yuhong replied. Chu Lan smiled involuntarily. He quite liked Lu Yuhong’s straightforward nature. Besides Lu Yuhong’s status, his personality was a big reason they got along so well—simple, direct, and easy to understand. “Brother Chu, you tasted it last time too. Don’t you think the mushroom sauce is special and delicious? I haven’t had anything like it in the capital.” “It is indeed special and tasty, but not to the extent you, Yuhong, seem to crave,” Chu Lan responded. He liked good food but wasn’t as obsessed as Lu Yuhong. If there was something to eat, he’d eat it; if not, no big deal. He wouldn’t go out of his way to ask for a sauce. “Anyway, I really like it. Next time, have your aunt get me a jar. I won’t take it for free—I’ll trade her something else,” Lu Yuhong said. “Got it. I’ll ask Aunt Qin next time,” Chu Lan agreed. “Good, I’ll be waiting!” Lu Yuhong was delighted, his smile pure and sincere.

***

In the complex circles of the capital, straightforward, single-minded people like Lu Yuhong were rare. Chu Lan, trapped in the royal mire and accustomed to scheming and intrigue, naturally preferred friends like Lu Yuhong.

***

After some time, the Wei family’s carriage arrived at a separate estate. The estate belonged to the Xie family, who had graciously offered to lend it to the Wei mother and daughters for a few days. Lady Xie had taken the initiative to propose this to Lady Yun, solving a major problem. It was improper for three women to stay at an inn, and the Wei family had yet to purchase a residence in the city, so they were troubled about where to settle. Lady Xie’s kindness was timely. The Xie family owned several shops and estates in the capital to provide lodging for their family when visiting. The estate the Wei family was to occupy was just one of these. Lady Yun felt deeply grateful. The Wei and Xie families had little contact, so Lady Xie’s proactive offer truly moved her.

The stewardess of the Xie estate came out to greet them. After politely exchanging greetings with Lady Yun, her gaze rested on Wei Ruo. Smiling, she said, “Miss Wei, my mistress has arranged for the most famous restaurant in the capital, Drunken Immortal Pavilion, to prepare food and wine for you. They even brought the pavilion’s osmanthus wine. The mistress wants you to eat well and drink well.” “Thank you, stewardess. I appreciate your efforts,” Wei Ruo replied. “Not at all. Miss Wei is a friend of my mistress and an honored guest here. It is our duty to take good care of honored guests,” the stewardess said with a beaming smile. Led by the stewardess, the weary Wei Ruo, Lady Yun, and Wei Qingwan entered the estate’s dining hall. As promised, the table was laden with a sumptuous feast, freshly packed from Drunken Immortal Pavilion. In truth, the meal was arranged not by Xie Ying but by Xie Jue. To avoid gossip, the stewardess was instructed to say it was from Xie Ying.

Lady Yun gazed at the spread and was once again deeply touched by the Xie family’s generosity. Of course, she knew this kindness stemmed from the friendship between their eldest daughters. Wei Qingwan felt uneasy, as if all the favors they received were solely because of Wei Ruo, making her feel stifled. Wei Ruo thought little of it. Since the meal was prepared by Xie Ying, she intended to enjoy it while it was hot. She also wanted to gauge the skills of the chefs at the capital’s top restaurant.

***

After tasting the food, she felt slightly disappointed. To be honest, the chefs’ skills were certainly commendable; many dishes were well made. However, some dishes were somewhat lacking—not in technique but in seasoning and spices. Certain braised dishes, without excellent seasonings and spices, inevitably tasted a little bland. This realization sparked an idea in Wei Ruo’s mind, followed by a slight smile. If time allowed and the chance arose, she would visit Drunken Immortal Pavilion herself. Wei Ruo found the taste ordinary, but Lady Yun and Wei Qingwan thought the dishes were very delicious, far surpassing the skills of the cook at their captain’s residence. Lady Yun even claimed the cuisine equaled that of the capital’s grand restaurants. Wei Qingwan agreed enthusiastically and told Wei Ruo she would take her to try the capital’s restaurants in the future. Wei Ruo only smiled; by their account, even those restaurants couldn’t compare to her own Mei Mei’s cooking, so she had little special expectation.

After dinner, Wei Ruo went to the room prepared for her to rest, needing sleep to recover her spent energy. Although Wei Qingwan appeared more delicate than Wei Ruo, after a whole day in the carriage, she did not rest immediately upon returning to her chamber. Instead, she sent her maid to inquire about the whereabouts of young Master Xie Jue. Cui He returned quickly. “Miss, young Master Xie is not at this estate. Lady Xie arranged separate estates for us and young Master Xie to facilitate our activities.” Hearing this, Wei Qingwan was somewhat disappointed. She then bathed and went to sleep.

***

The next day, Lady Yun took Wei Ruo and Wei Qingwan out. Since the garden festival was still a few days away, Lady Yun decided to show her two daughters around the city—a rare opportunity for them.