"This country girl is really something."
Wei Rongchang sat to Wang Shicheng's right, tasting the jackfruit, but his mind was entirely on Sun Miao'er.
Wang Shicheng glanced in that direction and teased, "Brother Wei, that girl looks a few years younger than Jingnian. You wouldn't believe it?"
"Stop your filthy thoughts!" Wei Rongchang cursed, then took another sip of wine. "Shicheng, you don't know this, but this girl is from the same village as my sister. When my sister went back to her parents' home before, she wore a dress that was incredibly beautiful. They said it was made by this girl. Can you believe it? A girl who's only half a year old, the fabric she dyes is so beautiful that you can't find anything like it anywhere in Pingnan City."
Wang Shicheng nodded. "I've heard Jing Nian mention this before, but is it really that miraculous?"
"If I didn't come up with some new tricks, would I have asked Jing Nian to come and ask for advice?" Wei Rongchang sighed softly. "You know, business has been tough these past few years. The situation is unstable, and everyone outside is trying to protect themselves and sticking to the old ways passed down from their ancestors. If I don't come up with some new tricks, I'm afraid that soon, my Wei family will be out of business in Pingnan City."
Wei Rongchang added, “This girl is very shrewd. Don’t treat her like an ordinary country girl. Jingnian’s letters to me reveal that she is unwilling to sell her weaving and dyeing skills to me.”
"Unwilling? Does she expect to make a living by showing her face in public with this skill?" Wang Shicheng didn't take it seriously. In the end, women can only do chores in the bedroom. Even if she has a special skill, she still won't have a place to use it after she gets married.
Wei Rongchang poured wine. Because the Wang family was in the grain business and his Wei family was in the cloth business, the two families had never quarreled, so they chatted a lot. "What do you think? From her saying she wanted to speak up for the people to opening this jackfruit, do you think she is an ordinary woman?"
"He's probably even braver than Xue Ru!"
Wang Shicheng was speechless after Wei Rongchang's words. Xue Ru had traveled all over the country with him and Wang Sushi when she was young. Later, she returned to her hometown to settle down after she made some progress outside. She was knowledgeable and experienced from a young age. She was not a pampered young lady. Her personality and courage were different from those of ordinary young ladies.
But seeing Sun Miao'er's behavior today, Wang Shicheng felt that his daughter should restrain herself a bit.
Sun Miao'er sat at the table, whispering and joking with Wang Xueru, not caring about the opinions of others.
Aunt Qin's carefully laid plans all fell through. In order to save face for herself, she even went out of her way to inquire about the fruit called jackfruit and did her homework on how to eat it. Unfortunately, she didn't get a chance to show off and was overshadowed by Sun Miao'er.
"Sisters, I'm not feeling well today, so I'll go back and rest first. You all have a good time."
At this time of year, Aunt Qin would always stage a dramatic retirement due to illness.
Seeing this opportunity, Madam Wang covered her face and laughed, "Sister, next time you're choosing something, you'd better be more careful. Don't let those shady merchants fool you and make you a laughingstock!"
"Sister is right!"
Aunt Qin said this through gritted teeth, and before leaving, she didn't forget to glare fiercely at Sun Miao'er.
After she left her seat, Wang Xueru wanted to clap and cheer, but she held back and said with a smile, "Miao'er, look at how angry Aunt Qin is, it's really satisfying. My mother is meticulous, but she has a good temper. Usually, we can only put up with her. Today, she has finally learned her lesson!"
Sun Miao'er ate jackfruit, which satisfied her cravings. However, this dynasty was still too impoverished, and if she wanted to eat something she liked, she had to make it herself.
As the two were talking, a steady woman's voice suddenly rang out from behind them, "Miss."
Sun Miao'er turned around and saw it was Madam Zhang.
Madam Zhang's expression was gentle. She had come from Magistrate Zhang's place and had seen everything that had just happened. When she was identifying the agate, she felt that this girl was not simple and that she must have some extraordinary abilities.
"Mrs. Zhang."
Sun Miao'er knew that she had been too flamboyant tonight and had attracted a lot of attention, but she didn't want to tone it down.
But being flamboyant is good; what she wants is for everyone in Pingnan City to recognize her and remember her.
She never wanted to be a nobody.
When the women sitting nearby saw that it was Madam Zhang coming over, they quickly stood up to offer her a seat.
Madam Zhang looked her up and down. She was quite pleasing to the eye. Her tone softened slightly. "I heard that you prepared some of the dishes at the banquet? They don't quite suit my husband's taste. He said he hasn't tasted such hometown flavors in many years."
"Madam, Miao'er was just interested in food, and with an elder from northern Shandong in the family, she just happened to get it right."
Sun Miao'er's answer was vague. If she thought it was just a compliment, that would be too simplistic. Madam Zhang's initiative to come to her probably had other intentions.
Mrs. Zhang laughed and said, "That's because you're skillful. I've studied it for so many years, but I still can't figure out the cuisine of northern Shandong. I'm not as good as you!"
After this round of flattery, the women around were stunned. You see, Magistrate Zhang's wife came from the capital and had extremely high standards. Nothing in Pingnan City could meet her standards.
Why has he suddenly taken a fancy to a girl from the countryside? What's wrong with Magistrate Zhang? He's old enough to be this girl's father, he wouldn't possibly have any romantic thoughts about her.
Sun Miao'er felt that such praise was excessive, and humbly replied, "Madam, you flatter me. How could Miao'er compare to you? It was truly just a coincidence."
"If you ever need any help in the future, just go to the Zhang residence on East Street to find me. I may not be able to help with big things, but I can certainly help with small things."
Madam Zhang spoke as if her good intentions were a great blessing to Sun Miao'er.
Sun Miao'er listened respectfully with her head down, and only after Madam Zhang finished speaking did she slowly say, "Thank you, Madam Zhang."
The wine cups were clinked and toasts were exchanged several times.
The banquet ended close to midnight, and the male guests were all drunk and talking nonsense.
"Go to the kitchen and ask if Doctor Fu's hangover soup is ready."
Wang Su looked at the group of men who were completely drunk, and thankfully he had come prepared.
Before long, Fu Yuchi followed the servant into the front yard and came to Wang Sushi's side.
Sun Miao'er was all too familiar with that voice.
"Madam, the hangover soup is easy for drunk people to choke and vomit. I have prepared hangover pills for you gentlemen to take."
Sun Miao'er walked around to Fu Yuchi's side and whispered, "Master."
Fu Yuchi nodded to her, took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and handed it to the maid. Wang Su was busy finishing up the banquet, so she took the hangover medicine and left without hearing what they were saying.
Madam Zhang stood at a distance, and when she saw the young man coming out of the back hall, she casually called over a maid from the Wang family beside her, "Who is that man?"
The maid replied, "Reporting to Madam, that was the new physician who arrived in the manor. It was he who cured the strange poison from the lantern-lighting ceremony."
Madam Zhang stood there, her gaze lingering on the man. She seemed to have seen such a handsome man in the capital many years ago.
She then dismissed her thought, reasoning that perhaps all strikingly handsome men resembled each other.
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