Did Chapter 40 cause you any trouble?
Zheng Qiuhong was indeed wronged. He had only exchanged glances with Jiang Ru, yet rumors spread that he had feelings for her, which was completely fabricated.
Pei Wu valued this cousin highly; even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't lay a hand on his friend's sister!
Unfortunately, the two officials were so engrossed in their own worlds that they were completely deaf to anything anyone was saying.
Pei Wu couldn't help but regret it. These two were usually very gossipy. Even when they were busy with official duties, they would always find a moment to chat, which resulted in their salaries being deducted several times.
Later, one of them was reassigned, but not long after, the other insisted on coming back. The two of them spent all their time whispering to each other, and no one could control them.
Perhaps this is why, despite their "diligent and conscientious" work in the court for so many years, they are still only seventh-rank Hanlin Academy reviewers and have been unable to be promoted for so long.
After gossiping about Zheng Qiuhong, they turned to Pei Wu: "Lord Pei, your sister is truly beautiful and intelligent, an outstanding person. Your Pei family is truly blessed to have you and your cousin."
Pei Wu paused for a moment, then said, "My cousin's surname is Jiang."
The two adults: "..."
It's common for cousins to have different surnames, and the two officials quickly changed their tune: "Lord Pei and your sister are truly young and promising, one in literature and the other in business, both are thriving."
The two smiled politely at Pei Wu, then stepped forward and began to discuss the love triangle between Pei Wu, Zheng Qiuhong, and his cousin. They spoke without restraint, even forcibly dragging Ji Chaoying and Ning Yiheng into gossiping with them.
Pei Wu: "..."
After a long while, he sighed and said, "Fine, although they love gossip, it's only between the two of them. Ji Chaoying and Ning Yiheng aren't the type to talk nonsense. Let them say what they want."
As he was thinking this, Zheng Qiuhong grabbed him and said sincerely, "Brother Pei, you know that I would never have such thoughts about your sister. Heaven and earth can bear witness to my heart!"
Pei Wu: "I understand."
Zheng Qiuhong breathed a sigh of relief, and then he caught up with the others and gave them a weak and feeble explanation.
However, it didn't work.
The officials skillfully deflected the question: "Lord Zheng, we know you're telling the truth. You can put your mind at ease. We would never speak carelessly."
Zheng Qiuhong nodded in satisfaction, giving Pei Wu a reassuring look. Halfway through the look, the other officials huddled together and whispered, "Lord Zheng is shy..."
Zheng Qiuhong: "..."
Having exhausted all other options, Zheng Qiuhong spread his hands and shook his head at Pei Wu, indicating that he had no other choice.
Pei Wu could only step forward and stop the officials. He said, "My sister has no relationship with Lord Zheng. Saying this will not be good for their reputation. You officials should not make wild guesses."
He was, after all, Jiang Ru's brother, and Pei Wu was displeased. They had no choice but to put aside their gossipy thoughts and agree in unison.
Pei Wu's words had an effect, and Zheng Qiuhong was finally relieved. He bid farewell to the others and returned to the military equipment station where he was on duty.
The remaining few returned to the Hanlin Academy.
As night fell, the number of people in the Zhouqiao area increased, and the number of customers in the shop also increased. Jiang Ru realized that she was short-handed and immediately posted a recruitment notice outside the shop.
The next day, several people came to apply for the job. Jiang Ru picked a few to stay and gradually get them started, so that they would be able to have some free time later.
The state bridge and the Hanlin Academy are in opposite directions. It's quite a distance for Pei Wu to come from the Hanlin Academy, but Pei Wu comes every afternoon without fail. Sometimes, when there are too many guests, he even wants to come in and help, but he is still wearing his official robes, so Jiang Ru doesn't dare to use him.
Although the Great Xia Dynasty did not explicitly prohibit officials from engaging in business, it was simply inappropriate for him to come and help while wearing official robes.
Pei Wu was quite famous in the capital, and many people knew him. After he came here a few times, someone spread the word that the "Ru Yin" shop was a "top scholar's drink" and that drinking it would make you a top scholar in the imperial examination.
Upon hearing this, the people of the capital seemed to have gone mad. Scholars who came to the shop to share in Pei Wu's good fortune, commoners who believed in metaphysics, and many young women crowded the shop to the point of being impassable.
If he had a cell phone, the flash would probably blind him.
Pei Wu was surrounded by a group of people who stared at him like a monkey. He remained calm and composed on the surface, but his hands had already crumpled the tassel at his waist into a ball. He lowered his gaze and did not say anything, but those who knew him well knew that he was resisting.
His official hat was too conspicuous when he traveled. He didn't wear an official hat, but his scarlet official robe was too eye-catching. It would take him a long time to come from the Hanlin Academy, so how could he have time to change his clothes?
He was probably filled with regret at that moment, regretting that he should have changed his clothes, but there was no time for him to think about it anymore.
Fortunately, although the people were enthusiastic about him, they didn't go so far as to physically assault him; they simply surrounded Pei Wu in a circle.
Jiang Ru tried to squeeze in and rescue Pei Wu, but she couldn't get through the crowd of tall, strong people.
Pei Wu, standing in the crowd, had lost all interest in drinking his beverage. He stirred it with a spoon, appearing calm but weak and helpless in Jiang Ru's eyes.
His lunch break wasn't very long, and he was worried he'd be late for the afternoon if he didn't leave soon. Jiang Ru had no choice but to apologize to Ji Chaoying and Ning Yiheng in her heart. Then she took a deep breath, stood outside the door, and shouted, "The second and third place scholars are here too!"
The common people could tell the difference between seeing only one or three. They scattered from Pei Wu's side and excitedly crowded to the door, shouting, "Where is he? Where is he?"
Just as their attention shifted elsewhere, the people in the shop very tactfully blocked Jiang Ru and Pei Wu, escorting them away.
Pei Wu was still out of the loop and somewhat bewildered when Jiang Ru grabbed his wrist.
Jiang Ru's hands were warm. She grabbed Pei Wu's wrist and practically dragged him off the chair. Pei Wu hurriedly stood up and followed Jiang Ru, running out through the side door with his back to the crowd.
Jiang Ru's hand slipped, and she reached up and grabbed Pei Wu's sleeve.
After pulling Pei Wu away from the beverage shop, the two cautiously ran for a while before stopping. Jiang Ru scouted the surroundings and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was safe: "Finally, we're out."
Pei Wu straightened his sleeves, then stretched out his hand to show Jiang Ru his wrist, which she had pinched red.
Fearing that Pei Wu wouldn't cooperate, Jiang Ru used a lot of force, and accidentally pinched Pei Wu's hand until it turned red.
Seeing his hand turn red, Jiang Ru forced apologetic: "I'm sorry, the situation was urgent just now, I didn't mean to."
Pei Wu rubbed his wrist and said magnanimously, "It's nothing."
His wrists were rarely exposed to sunlight, so the skin there was very white. But Pei Wu didn't seem to be rubbing his hand that was being pinched; instead, it was as if he was deliberately pinching himself, and soon his wrists were red and white from being pinched.
If Jiang Ru pinched him accidentally, Pei Wu's action seemed more like it was intentional.
Jiang Ru looked at him with a complicated expression: "What are you doing?"
Pei Wu then showed Jiang Ru his hands: "You pinched them until they were red."
Jiang Ru: "..."
She frowned: "I only made such a small piece just now, didn't I? Didn't you make the rest yourself?"
Pei Wu lowered his eyes and remained silent, hiding his hands inside his robe, as if to say, "If you don't acknowledge it, then I'll hide it."
It was as if Jiang Ru had bullied him. Jiang Ru stared at him for a while, then leaned forward impatiently: "Fine, fine, I made it. Show me your hand."
Pei Wu replied, "It's nothing."
If he had just stretched it out openly, it would have been fine, but since he was hiding it like this, Jiang Ru immediately lost her temper. She was silent for a moment: "Stretch it out, hurry up."
Pei Wu then reached out his hand from his sleeve.
He had fair skin, and the redness from rubbing hadn't faded, especially around his wrist.
Jiang Ru was momentarily speechless, puzzled: "How did you become so famous in such a short time?"
Pei Wu remained silent.
Jiang Ru remained silent for a long time. Just as Pei Wu was about to tell her that she was alright, Jiang Ru bent down and looked down at something by the roadside.
Pei Wu: "What are you looking for?"
Jiang Ru did not answer him, but continued searching.
Finally, Jiang Ru bent down and picked a blade of grass from the ground.
This grass was unremarkable, the most common roadside weed. Jiang Ru handed the grass to Pei Wu: "Crush it up and apply it."
Pei Wu held the grass and examined it for a while before finally asking, "What kind of grass is this? I didn't know it had the effect of healing wounds."
Jiang Ru shrugged: "Of course not, because I just picked it randomly."
Pei Wu remained silent, Pei Wu became angry, and Pei Wu turned away.
"Hey, don't go yet." Jiang Ru grabbed his sleeve again.
He didn't know when it started, but Pei Wu had gotten used to touching Jiang Ru inappropriately from time to time. He had told Jiang Ru off many times, but she would always forget and then grab his sleeve or hand again.
Pei Wu lowered his gaze and asked Jiang Ru, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Ru picked a bunch of grass leaves from the ground and placed them in Pei Wu's palm: "Don't be angry, do you think I lied to you? I really am looking for herbs for you."
Jiang Ru picked a bunch of purslane, a common roadside herb that can relieve skin redness and swelling.
Pei Wu gripped the herbs tightly and looked away from Jiang Ru.
Jiang Ru continued, "After you get back, wash this herb before applying it to your hands, understand?"
Pei Wu agreed.
Jiang Ru thought for a moment and then said, "Remember not to come tomorrow. If you come, the crowd of onlookers will be so large that it's impossible to move."
Pei Wu pursed his lips and reluctantly said "Oh".
Jiang Ru patted his arm: "If you want to drink, just tell me later and I'll make it for you. Don't come over here anymore."
Pei Wu: "Did I cause you any trouble?"
"Are you kidding me?" Jiang Ru pointed at him with her fingers. "The store's revenue has increased several times today, all because of you."
When the people came to wait for Pei Wu to appear, they would usually order a bowl of drink. After the initial excitement of the opening, the number of people in the shop had decreased significantly, but now it has increased again.
Pei Wu frowned: "Then you..."
Jiang Ru continued, "Isn't this because they're afraid it won't be good for you? Besides, you're going to be late soon, and they're blocking your way like this, you'll get annoyed, won't you?"
Before Pei Wu could say anything more, Jiang Ru nudged him and urged, "Hurry up, you're really going to be late."
The imperial court was very strict about their arrival time. Although in practice they were more lenient, it was still best to be on time whenever possible.
Seeing that time was indeed running out, Pei Wu didn't say anything more. He responded and took a few steps forward. Jiang Ru watched his back and muttered unconsciously, "Besides, you didn't have to pay in the first place. I gave you the money, and you gave me the money back. Is this child's play?"
Because of those words, Pei Wu abruptly stopped in his tracks. He turned around and said earnestly to Jiang Ru, "I didn't use your money."
Jiang Ru asked, puzzled, "What?"
Pei Wu turned around again, untied his net, and put all the money Jiang Ru had given him inside.
Pei Wu repeated, "I didn't use yours."
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Author's note: Little Pei, hurry up and leave, or your hand will stop turning red! [Pity]
A second update depends on the situation. If I can write it, I will; if there's no update tomorrow morning, then there's no update at all.
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