Chapter 118 Leaving the Capital (Part 2) So you do care about this kind of joke...
After Youjun left, the sky darkened. Yuqing reheated the food and lit two lamps on the table. While eating, Jiuli and Duzhong told Yuqi what they had seen and heard at the Xu family.
Yu Qi listened quietly until the meal was finished, then put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and chuckled, "Guan Youjun is just using the excuse of standing up for us; in reality, she's after the Xu family's shop."
Jiuli nodded in agreement, “The Xu family’s shop is really big, equivalent to four of other people’s shops. Besides, who doesn’t know that Xinghe Street is bustling and prosperous, and there are many wealthy families living nearby?”
“That shop is the ancestral property of the Xu family. I heard that Xinghe Street was not very lively before, and it only became prosperous in recent years. She probably had her eye on that shop a few years ago, but she just didn’t have a suitable opportunity to make a move. Hearing that I was imprisoned by Xu Qing, she took advantage of this opportunity. In this way, if the Xu family wants to hold a grudge, it will naturally hold a grudge against our Yu family.”
Du Zhong, holding his bowl, clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I was just sincerely trying to thank her, but it turns out that's what she was planning. She's so cunning, truly impressive."
However, judging from this, it's clear that Youjun's exceptionally good treatment of the Yu family couldn't be solely due to her admiration for Yu Qi. Could there be some additional benefit in dealing with the Yu family?
After thinking it over, Du Zhong turned his attention to Jiu Li. If there was any other connection between the Yu family and Jiu Li, it was only through her. She was most likely of royal blood. Could it be that Guan Youjun wanted to use this connection? Indeed, business people have a long-term vision.
He sighed inwardly as he put down his bowl. A moment later, Yuqing brought over three bowls of tea and cleared the table.
Yu Qi picked up his teacup, glanced at Du Zhong, and suddenly said, "Zhong'er should be getting engaged. I've taken a liking to a family. I mentioned this family to the old lady when she was in Nanjing, and she liked it very much. I'm sure she won't object to the marriage negotiations, so there's no need to write to her. We can tell her after it's settled."
Du Zhongxian, upon hearing the first sentence, wanted to delay by saying he would write a letter to ask the old lady's opinion first, but he didn't expect there to be more to come. He could only swallow his words, lower his head, and remain silent, pondering other options.
But Jiuli asked, "Whose family is Uncle referring to?"
"It's in the home of Doctor Bao, Bao Xianwei."
"Uncle Bao has two daughters, one of whom is already engaged, and the other is only twelve or thirteen years old. Isn't that too young? How can they be talking about marriage?"
Du Zhong nodded emphatically, and Yu Qi took a sip of tea and said, "She is Doctor Bao's niece. She just turned seventeen this month, a year younger than Zhong'er, which is the perfect age. Although I have never seen her, Doctor Bao said she is very beautiful. Doctor Bao is not one to make empty boasts."
Jiuli had nothing to say, so she could only sip her tea while stealing glances at Du Zhong. But Du Zhong couldn't hold back and put down his teacup, saying, "Master, I'm not even twenty yet, there's no rush to get engaged."
Yu Qi gave him a cold look. "It's not like we're engaged and getting married right away. The girl is still young. We can get engaged first and then get married in a year or two."
"I haven't even finished my medical training yet!" Du Zhong said anxiously. "I want to learn medicine from you without any distractions. I'll think about this again when I can stand on my own and open my own pharmacy."
Yu Qi sneered, "I don't expect you to become a famous doctor. Even if you never become one in your life, it won't matter. At least you understand pharmacology. When I die, the business will be passed down to you. You can run it like a business. If your medical skills are not good, you can hire good doctors to practice. In any case, it's your good fortune if you can carry on this family business. If not, that's your fate."
"So you're saying I have no share in this inheritance?" Jiu Li quickly swallowed his tea and retorted, "Why should I?! I won't accept this!"
“We’re not talking about you right now.” Yu Qi glanced at her, then said to Du Zhong, “These things are not important. Most men establish a family before building a career. Once you have a responsibility on your shoulders, you will naturally become more ambitious.”
Du Zhong's mind raced through a flurry of thoughts, but then he realized that speaking out wouldn't change anything. Yu Qi simply didn't want him to get entangled with Xiu Zhi, so it was better to be upfront. After a moment's hesitation, he resolutely declared, "Master, actually, I already have someone I love, she—"
Before he could finish speaking, Yu Qi calmly stood up and interrupted, "It's settled then. Let's meet Miss Bao first. Whether we like her or not after meeting her is another matter."
Before Du Zhong could object, he had already turned and left, leaving Du Zhong speechless at the table. On second thought, since he said whether the agreement could be reached was another matter, it meant there was still room for maneuver. It would be better to just say he didn't like him after meeting him; he couldn't force him to get married.
Having made up his mind, he picked up his teacup with a relaxed demeanor. Jiuli watched him silently for a moment, then put down the tea and went out, heading straight for Yu Qi's room. Seeing that Yu Qi was lighting lamps, she quickly helped to light the silver lamps in various places, and then slowly walked to the desk with a lamp in hand.
"Are you really going to arrange a marriage for Du Zhong?"
Yu Qi slowly sat down behind the desk, burying himself in a book of prescriptions that had been bound together in the past. "He asked you to come and act as his intermediary?"
"No, that's not it. It's just my own opinion. He's still young and there's no rush to arrange a marriage. Besides, even if the Miss Bao is beautiful, it doesn't necessarily mean she'll be kind. If I don't like her, wouldn't that make me look bad? I've already offended the Qi and Wei families because of my marriage proposal. Do I have to offend the Bao family too? You and Uncle Bao have always had a good relationship. It's not worth ruining it over this."
“This is between Bao Xianwei and me, it’s none of your business, young people.”
Seeing his cold and unyielding attitude, and that he wouldn't even look at her, Jiuli put the lamp on the table, went around behind the desk, and plopped down in his lap, saying sullenly, "What junior? I'm your senior now!"
Squeezed in by her, Yu Qi had no choice but to put down the booklet and lean against the back of the chair. "That's none of your business. I won't hold you accountable for helping Zhong'er hide things from me before, but now you want to speak up for him?"
She smiled slyly, "Then let's settle the score. I'm not afraid."
Yu Qi chuckled and pinched her nose. "Dream on."
She immediately straightened her face, "I told you long ago that you should take some tonics! But you insisted on being stubborn and wouldn't listen to me!"
"Nonsense!" Yu Qi slapped her on the waist, then pinched her chin, bit her lip, and grinned crookedly, "Are you here to plead for Zhong'er, or do you have some other purpose?"
Jiuli chuckled and tilted her head against his shoulder, whispering, "You said you'd give me a 'good treat' tonight, so I'll obediently accept my punishment."
Yu Qi looked around; the doors and windows were all locked. It was already dark and quiet, so Yu Qing and the others must have gone back to their rooms to rest. Reassured, he carried Jiu Li to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.
Jiuli lay on her pillow watching him. She saw him lowering the curtains on the moon hook while looking down at her, his eyes filled with suppressed eagerness. Suddenly, she became shy and quickly covered her face with her hands, giggling sounds escaping from her palms.
"You're laughing again. How can you not laugh enough?"
His voice was so close to her ear. As soon as Jiuli pulled her hand away, he kissed her. The dim light in the tent caused her previously clear mind to quickly become confused. He pulled her up, and she felt the cold wind creeping up her skin inch by inch. She could only huddle in his arms.
He burst in shortly after, put his arm around her, and chuckled, "Should I take some tonics?"
Jiuli felt a tearing pain, and she dug her hands into his back, but said in a charming tone, "It's too early to say that now."
"You're still being stubborn!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he began to thrust violently. Jiu Li felt as if she were riding a horse, galloping down a mountain road in the night, with no end in sight. She could only grab his shoulder in a panic, not daring to shout, and finally began to sob helplessly.
Yu Qi sneered in her ear, "If I really listened to you and gave you some more pointers, I'm afraid you'd cry your throat out. You have no other skills, all you do is show off."
Jiuli wanted to force herself on him, but as soon as she opened her mouth, her throat felt like it was covered in tears, and she couldn't speak at all. She could only sob and sip water. After half an hour, she felt very thirsty and pitifully blinked her eyes on the pillow, begging him for water.
Yu Qi hung up half of the curtain, put on his outer cloak, tied it haphazardly, and went to the table to pour water. "Let's see if you dare to talk nonsense again next time."
She got up and drank half a cup of tea, looked him up and down, and then laughed, "So you can't escape the common practice either, and you also care about these kinds of jokes?"
"Why should I be exempt from the rules?" Yu Qi took the empty glass and walked to the table, glancing at her sideways. "You can't make jokes like that, or you'll be in for a world of hurt next time."
Jiuli felt a ticklish sensation in her bones after being intimidated by his glare. When she saw him coming over, she quickly pulled the blanket up to her neck and lowered her eyes to peek at him without daring to look directly at him.
"Want some more?"
Her face flushed, and she remained silent.
Yu Qi couldn't help but chuckle, "I was asking if you still want tea."
"Ah?" Jiu Li was so embarrassed that she couldn't lift her head, and hurriedly said, "No, no, no more."
He reached his hand under the covers, and Jiuli quickly pulled her legs back. He suddenly chuckled in a low voice, "I think you still want more."
Although she was exhausted, her body seemed to be out of her control, as if he had taken it over.
She stayed up late that night, and Jiuli didn't wake up until after breakfast the next morning. She got up weakly, picked up the teapot, and gulped down half a pot of tea. She slowly walked over and opened the door. Soon after, Du Zhong came into her room, specifically asking her about Yu Qi's intentions.
Jiuli sat on the bed, pulling the blanket around herself, still a little confused. "What...what does that mean?"
"It's about my marriage proposal to the Bao family's daughter!" Du Zhong sat on the edge of the bed, glancing at her sideways. "What's wrong with your voice? It sounds a little hoarse."
"I caught a slight cold last night, it's nothing serious." She quickly waved her hand with a smile, "Don't tell anyone, or they'll think I'm sick and make a fuss."
Du Zhong looked at her for a while, not daring to think too deeply, and therefore dared not look at her anymore. He quickly looked away and focused his gaze on the foot pedal. "Master, have you really made up your mind about the Bao family's matter?"
“I went to his room last night and spoke up for you quite a bit, but it seems he really has already made arrangements with Uncle Bao.” Seeing the displeasure on his face, Jiu Li nudged him. “But didn’t Uncle say that it’s not necessarily a done deal?”
Du Zhong nodded dejectedly, "Then I'll just have to meet him first and then tell him I don't like him. I'm afraid that if I don't like one family, I'll meet another. If I meet too many families, Xiuzhi won't feel at ease."
"Then you should tell Aunt Guo first. As long as you don't hide it from her, she won't suspect anything, right?"
He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Shall we go to Xiuzhi's house today? Winter is coming, and I'd like to send them some winter supplies. Will you come with me to the market to buy some?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Yu Qi coughed outside the window, then walked to the door and said, "You are not allowed to go out today. While the sun is out, help dry the medicine that needs to be dried."
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Author's note: Thank you for reading.
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