Chapter 70 A Fateful Encounter with Wine

"father!"

Cui Mingcan looked at the middle-aged man she hadn't seen in a long time, her eyes slightly warm. He looked even darker and thinner than before he left.

"Hey! Hey, you're back!" Cui Shiyuan looked at his son, who was as dark as charcoal, next to his wife, paused, and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you back?"

Cui Mingcan scratched his head and chuckled, "That's a long story."

Cui Shiyuan still remembered the person behind him and said to his wife, "Do you remember the child from the Zhu family?"

"The Zhu family?" Madam Cui frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Is that the kind family I met when I gave birth to Yuanyuan?!"

When Cui Mingcan's eldest sister was about to be born, Madam Cui got into trouble while managing a shop in Linzhou for her husband who was away on a long trip. She was six months pregnant and on her way back, something went wrong, and the baby was born prematurely. There was no village or shop in sight, but fortunately, she met the Zhu family who were heading south to take up their posts. Madam Zhu was also pregnant and had a midwife with her, which saved both the baby and the mother.

Thus, the two families became acquainted. However, because the Zhu family members took up their posts in the south, they had not seen each other for many years. So far, the two families have only communicated with each other. During the New Year and other holidays, the Cui family would send a lot of New Year's gifts to them. In fact, they had not seen each other even once since that meeting.

Thinking of this, Madam Cui looked at the boy who was about the same age as her son, her eyes filled with tears, and she was very excited. She asked many questions about the Zhu family.

Zhu He responded to each of them.

While they were chatting enthusiastically on one side, the other side was equally lively.

Looking at his son's much stronger and more composed appearance, Cui Shiyuan felt that his decision to send this person out for experience was correct.

Cui Shiyuan also noticed the people next to him and asked them their names. When he learned that they were his son's friends or disciples of the sect, he became even more eager and asked them a lot of questions.

Cui Mingcan pouted and said, "Dad, why don't you ever ask me how I'm doing?"

Cui Shiyuan glanced at him and said irritably, "Your father has eyes. You've gotten much darker and stronger. I'm relieved."

"Pfft—" Cen Ying couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

"..." Cui Mingcan stared at the two of them, trying not to laugh, and was furious. "Dad! I'm not that dark-skinned!!"

Cui Mingcan rolled up his sleeves to look at his arms; they were fair and smooth, where was the tan?

In this dynasty, men were considered beautiful if they had fair skin and no beard. Cui Mingcan still admired this mainstream aesthetic. When he heard his father teasing him like this, he couldn't help but refute and prove himself.

Cui Shiyuan saw that he was still so childish. He had just praised him for being more mature, but now he was proven wrong. He was a little angry, but he didn't know what to say to him.

After the two groups finished catching up and getting to know each other, they dispersed and followed the maid to the back courtyard of the Cui residence.

Cui Mingcan walked ahead and introduced his home to them. Zhu He, who was lagging behind, pushed past the young man blocking the way and walked to Bai Yuheng's side, saying with a grin, "What a coincidence!"

Bai Yuheng looked over when she heard the voice and met a smiling face. The young man was full of vigor, but perhaps because of the heat, his cheeks were flushed, and the blush spread to behind his ears. Bai Yuheng then subconsciously glanced at Pei Yuan, who was originally standing next to her, and met his dark eyes.

After only a brief exchange, Pei Yuan lowered his eyes and followed behind them without saying a word.

Bai Yuheng found it particularly pitiful, with Cen Ying and Cui Mingcan arguing noisily in front of her and Zhu He making casual remarks beside her.

He alone lagged behind the crowd, unable to join in the merriment, appearing exceptionally lonely.

Bai Yuheng couldn't help but glance at him again before looking away.

Zhu He, standing beside her, was still chattering on and on, asking, "I never expected we'd have such a coincidence! To actually meet at Uncle Cui's house!"

The Zhu family servant who was at the back twitched his lips when he heard this, thinking to himself, "Isn't this something my young master deliberately followed here?"

However, I really didn't expect that I was an old friend of that young master Cui.

Bai Yuheng laughed twice and slowed her pace, seemingly unintentionally.

After waiting for a long time without seeing the person behind her come over, even Zhu He, who had been chattering with her the whole time, noticed that something was wrong with her and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Yuheng turned around and met the intense gaze of the person behind her. She smiled and waved to him, "Master! Come on!"

"..." Pei Yuan paused, the darkness in his eyes receding, and the subtle light in his eyes shining brighter. "They've arrived."

With a long stride, he reached her in two or three steps and silently pushed Zhu He aside.

His long eyebrows were raised high, and even his dark eyes seemed to be smiling.

Zhu He was pushed aside, his dark eyebrows raised in surprise, "This is your master!?"

Bai Yuheng nodded.

Zhu He was clearly surprised that her master was so young. She couldn't help but take a few more glances. Then, as if remembering how he had been so resistant to her probing into her affairs that day, she suddenly understood the reason.

A teacher for a day is a father for life. If he were in his shoes, he would definitely be even more ruthless. Thinking about it this way, it seems understandable.

Zhu He's mind raced, and then, as if struck by a sudden thought, his eyes lit up, and he immediately made way for him.

"So you're Miss Bai's master! Please come this way..."

Pei Yuan glanced at him indifferently, then stood next to Bai Yuheng as if it were the most natural thing in the world, keeping a distance between them.

Zhu He chuckled sheepishly and occasionally struck up a conversation with them.

Bai Yuheng was not familiar with him, so she could only respond to him politely and simply.

The backyard of the Cui residence was quite large, and after walking for a while, they finally arrived at the side room that had been arranged for them.

After a long and tiring journey, they took a bath as arranged by the Cui family and then rested in their rooms.

As the sun set, the Cui family prepared a welcoming banquet for them.

"Come on, let's celebrate this rare opportunity to gather together! Let's drink to that!" Cui Mingcan raised his glass and stood up first.

Their table was full of young people, but after saying a few words to them, the Cui couple went to another table to eat, so that they wouldn't have to worry about the elders and wouldn't feel like they could drink to their heart's content.

Zhu He wasn't familiar with them, but he was very good at making friends on his own, so he sat down next to Bai Yuheng... next to her.

Cen Ying, with her sharp eyes, pushed him aside and sat down next to him.

She had disliked this guy since she was in Yueqing Town, and the two of them had grown to hate each other along the way. After taking his seat, Cen Ying raised her chin and looked at him with a provocative smile.

Zhu He was in a bad mood. She was pushed so hard by the girl that he was unsteady on his feet. After regaining his balance, he met the girl's unfriendly gaze. He gritted his teeth and was about to go around to sit on the other side.

Before I could even step over, a man as large as a small mountain sat down comfortably.

Zhu He: "..."

Helpless, Zhu He could only sit next to Pei Yuan, thinking that trying to please her master would be a good way to get closer to her.

Thinking it over, his slight anger dissipated, and he cheerfully struck up a conversation with Pei Yuan. However, the latter was already annoyed that he lacked the tact to approach him, so he ignored him. Zhu He, knowing his temperament, spoke with great enthusiasm.

Bai Yuheng, who was at the center of the competition, was completely unaware of the undercurrent of competition between them. When she saw Cui Mingcan stand up to offer a toast, she poured herself a full glass.

She had just smelled it; the wine was mellow and rich, a rare and excellent wine. A hundred years after her death, what she missed most and couldn't let go of was this sip of wine.

"I'm definitely going to drink my fill later!" Bai Yuheng thought happily, holding her wine glass.

After Cui Mingcan finished speaking, Zhu He also raised a glass of wine and said loudly, "Gentlemen, this glass is to toast our friendship that started with a fight!"

After finishing his drink, he said, "Miss Cen, this cup of wine is for you. I was rude to you the other day, so I'll drink this cup as punishment. I hope we can turn hostility into friendship!"

Cen Ying also raised her hand. Even though she hadn't given him a friendly look, she was willing to give him a friendly face at this moment. One doesn't hit a smiling face.

“Fine, I’ll drink this glass of wine, but—” Cen Ying’s tone changed, her bright almond-shaped eyes darting around, “One glass of wine won’t make me feel better.”

"What does Miss Cen wish to do?"

"Three cups! You have to drink at least three cups before I'll let bygones be bygones for that night!"

Zhu He smiled and drank one cup after another. Cen Ying clapped and said, "How bold!"

After saying that, he drank the wine in his hand.

After drinking this glass of wine, even if we're not very familiar with each other, we're practically acquainted.

Zhu He then toasted each person at the table, expressing his gratitude for the life-saving grace he received on the ship that day.

"Miss Bai..."

Zhu He poured himself a glass of wine, his grip on the glass tightening, a lump forming in his throat, his nervousness barely concealed under her gaze.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuheng stood up, smiling as she held her wine glass and stared intently at him.

"Young Master Zhu."

“Miss Bai,” Zhu He lowered his head and smiled, “this cup of wine is for you…”

Bai Yuheng stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace back then. If you hadn't risked your life to save me, I, Zhu He, wouldn't be standing here unharmed today. You are my savior." Zhu He spoke with heartfelt sincerity. "I don't have any special skills, but my family does have some resources. If you encounter any trouble, you can come to the Zhu family residence in Nanling to find me. If you need my help, I will definitely do my best to assist you!"

Bai Yuheng saved him not for personal gain, but solely for his benefit. Therefore, she said, "I appreciate Young Master Zhu's kindness, but saving people is what we cultivators should do. There's no need to take it to heart. If you insist on repaying me, all you need to do is lend a helping hand when you see injustice, and that will be enough."

Zhu He sighed inwardly, thinking to himself that she was indeed the woman he had chosen, with a broad mind and a heart for the world.

Bai Yuheng didn't want to know what he was thinking. Seeing that he had finished speaking, she drank the wine in her cup in one gulp.

After a few rounds, the group got into a good drinking mood and started talking more.

We drank until the moon hung high in the willow branches.

The group of people staggered and were helped back.

"We must have a good drink another day!" Cui Mingcan shouted at them, swaying so badly that even his personal servant couldn't support him.

"Alright! Next time, for sure! We'll drink until we're completely drunk!" Zhu He was also a heavy drinker, his cheeks were flushed, and his steps were unsteady, causing his servant to sway along with him.

The night was slightly cool, and the group of people scattered around in twos and threes. Bai Yuheng was better than the others, at least she didn't show her face and her steps were steady, but she walked much slower than the others.

They quickly fell behind.

Pei Yuan didn't like getting close to people, so he could only walk slowly by himself. When he saw the person walking ahead stop and stand in front of him, his heart warmed.

My previously blurry vision has cleared up.