Chapter 39 (This last part is a fragment and doesn't translate directly. It seems to be a separate, unrelated sentence about someone having designs on their younger sister.)
Is this a question of whether or not I'll blame her?
These words left Jiang Ru speechless. Pei Wu's trust in her was almost outrageous. Jiang Ru was at a loss for words: "If I took all your money, you wouldn't be angry?"
There's probably no need to ask this question; Jiang Ru already knew that Pei Wu was definitely not one to back down. Previously, when Jiang Ru took the land, grain, and other benefits distributed by the imperial court, Pei Wu didn't utter a single word.
Sure enough, although Pei Wu didn't say whether he was angry or not, he pushed the money towards Jiang Ru and said, "Take it."
Jiang Ru couldn't help but ask him, "You knew I rented out the land before, right?"
Pei Wu: "I know."
“So much land, all the money went into my pocket, and now you’re going to give me your salary too,” Jiang Ru asked again.
Pei Wu didn't seem to care: "Hmm."
"Good, good, she's met a bodhisattva." Jiang Ru said the most common phrase used by East Asian parents: "Then I'll keep it for you first, and I'll give it to you later if you need it."
Pei Wu said, "Okay."
Having taken so much money from Pei Wu, Jiang Ru wasn't going to take it for nothing. She went into the room, took some copper coins from her secret stash, and gave them to Pei Wu. Pei Wu initially didn't want to accept them, but she said, "You need money every day, you can't go out penniless, right? Take them."
Anyway, the money belonged to Pei Wu, and Jiang Ru was generous with it. After Pei Wu accepted it, she told him, "If you need more, just ask me for more."
Pei Wu grunted in agreement, carefully put the copper coins into the tassel Jiang Ru had made for him. Although he had changed his clothes, he hadn't taken off the tassel yet; it was still wrapped around his waist, making it very convenient to put the money in.
Jiang Ru stared at his hand. His fingers were long. He gently picked up the bag with the tassel and put the money inside as if it were a precious treasure.
Jiang Ru stared at his hand, and only blinked after Pei Wu lowered it. Summer had arrived and the weather was getting warmer, the evening breeze muggy. Jiang Ru casually asked, "When is your next day off?"
Pei Wu calculated: "Three days later."
Three days later, it was getting late, and Jiang Ru had been so busy getting her clothes that she forgot to take some ingredients home; all the ingredients for the drink were still at the shop.
Tomorrow's opening will likely be busy, and Jiang Ru won't have time to keep her promise to make drinks for Pei Wu, but she can still make it today.
Jiang Ru suddenly looked up, her clear eyes fixed on Pei Wu: "You ate too much for dinner tonight, wouldn't you like to go for a walk?"
Pei Wu asked in confusion, "I didn't..."
He was halfway through his sentence when he met Jiang Ru's intense gaze, and he understood, so he nodded: "I ate too much."
Jiang Ru smiled knowingly: "Then let's go out for a stroll."
Pei Wu wanted to go back to change his clothes, but Jiang Ru didn't give him the chance. She ran happily towards the door, saying, "Hurry up!"
Pei Wu had to turn back from walking into the house and follow Jiang Ru out the door.
Jiang Ru's shop was not far from where they lived, only a 15-minute walk away. After nightfall, it was the busiest time at the Zhouqiao Night Market. The night market in Daxia was already very developed, closing at midnight and opening again at dawn, so you could basically have a hot meal whenever you came.
Jiang Ru's shop was not yet open, and the door was locked. Jiang Ru took out her key, opened the door, and went to the counter to fiddle with things. Before long, she brought out a cup of white drink and placed it in front of Pei Wu.
"White drink" is a beverage with added yogurt. Normally, Pei Wu wouldn't try it, but since it was made by Jiang Ru, he confidently took a sip.
With its sweet and sour taste and a hint of fruity aroma, Pei Wu sincerely praised, "It's delicious."
"Really?" Jiang Ru said, half-believing. "Don't try to fool me."
Pei Wu said earnestly, "I don't lie."
Jiang Ru has already tried this drink. She even did a tasting at the shop entrance, and most of the locals gave it positive reviews. Jiang Ru is relieved for now. If the locals say it's good, it must really be effective.
Moreover, Jiang Ru also trusted Xia's cooking skills.
The night market lasted all night long, with lanterns and candles illuminating the Bian River. Although each shop only lit one candle, the lanterns along the long street were enough to light their way.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowd, the two found a moment of peace in this noisy little space.
Pei Wu lowered his head and drank the beverage in his bowl. He drank it seriously, truly regarding the beverage that Jiang Ru had made for him as a delicacy. His movements were slow and elegant, and his eyelashes formed a small fan on his face. Jiang Ru rested her chin on her hand, feeling very accomplished, and her gaze towards Pei Wu was filled with affection.
After finishing the bowl of drink, Pei Wu's stomach, which was originally seven-tenths full, was now completely full.
Jiang Ru wanted to make him more, but Pei Wu really couldn't drink it and regretfully declined.
Seeing that Jiang Ru was still feeling regretful, he comforted her, "There's plenty of time in the future."
Neither of them touched anything in the shop. They tidied up the bowls, blew out the candles, and the shop was back to normal.
The next morning, Jiang Ru and the others arrived at the shop. Thanks to the promotions and opening benefits over the past few days, the shop was packed with customers. Jiang Ru was so busy that she didn't even have time to eat lunch.
By the afternoon, Jiang Ru was finally able to catch her breath and fill her stomach.
Although there were fewer people now, the shop was still full. Jiang Ru was in charge of collecting money at the counter, Xia and Zhu were making drinks, and Fang and Chen were in charge of attracting customers and serving.
As Xiao Fang ran, he suddenly stopped in front of the counter and subtly beckoned to Jiang Ru. Jiang Ru looked at him suspiciously, and Xiao Fang lowered his voice and said, "Young lady, Lord Pei is here."
Jiang Ru looked up in surprise and saw several people in official robes walking in from outside the door.
Pei Wu, Ji Chaoying, and Ning Yiheng are all from the Hanlin Academy, so it's normal for them to come together. Besides them, there are two other officials that Jiang Ru doesn't recognize, who should also be from the Hanlin Academy.
There was also Zheng Qiuhong, whom we hadn't seen in a long time. Ever since he was assigned to the position of Assistant Director of the Arsenal, he had been living a miserable life, almost like he had been exiled.
I had promised to visit but hadn't come yet; I was surprised to find time to come today.
Xiao Fang warmly invited them to sit down. Just then, the previous table left, so they tidied up and sat down.
Jiang Ru took the menu and went to order for them. After all, Pei Wu had brought them here specifically to support the business, so Jiang Ru recommended a few dishes to them.
When it was Pei Wu's turn, he acted very well, pretending to be a normal customer, and ordered the drink that Jiang Ru had just said was delicious.
Zheng Qiuhong's acting skills were inferior to his; as soon as he saw Jiang Ru, he grinned and winked at her.
This time it was Jiang Ru's turn to show off her acting skills. She pretended not to know him and did not respond to Zheng Qiuhong's "flirting".
Everyone ordered drinks, the kitchen started preparing them, and Jiang Ru returned to the counter.
Several familiar officials started chatting, and the trend of complaining about leaders will never disappear. For example, now these officials began to complain without restraint, and Zheng Qiuhong even burst into tears. He was nothing like the well-behaved scholar that Jiang Ru had first met.
No one is treated unfairly at work, and the same was true in ancient times.
Jiang Ru served them drinks without looking to the side, then went back to the counter to continue eating her melon.
Pei Wu never complains to her about anyone. Whenever Jiang Ru asks, he always says that his colleagues are all very nice and that the adults take good care of him. He never mentions the exciting gossip he has to share.
When Jiang Ru heard that a certain minister and a certain prime minister were fighting and throwing their shoes at each other, she chuckled.
At her smile, all the men turned to look at her. Jiang Ru instantly calmed down and smiled, "What would you gentlemen like to order?"
One of the officials hesitated: "Did she laugh?"
Another person chimed in, "Yes, he laughed."
While the two hesitated, Zheng Qiuhong looked around: "Who laughed? I didn't hear it."
Ning Yiheng also pretended to be clueless: "What was that sound?"
Ji Chaoying buried her head in her water.
The two officials, doubting themselves and unable to reach a conclusion, turned to Pei Wu: "Lord Pei, you are always reliable. Did you hear laughter just now?"
Pei Wu said calmly, "I was so focused on drinking this beverage that I didn't notice."
The two officials, doubting themselves, exchanged a glance: We must have misheard.
Pei Wu then said, "Why don't you two gentlemen try this drink? You must be thirsty after talking for so long."
The two adults heeded the advice and took a sip, then looked at each other again.
"Delicious!"
The two focused on their drinks and stopped gossiping, so Jiang Ru could only regretfully shut her ears.
Pei Wu and his colleagues only came to have a bowl of sweet water at noon, and were supposed to go back to their duties afterward. Under Pei Wu's strong insistence, the officials could not refuse him and accepted Pei Wu's invitation.
Pei Wu stood in front of the counter, untied the knot, and took out a handful of copper coins.
Jiang Ru: "...No need to give it to me."
Pei Wu: "Yes, it should be given."
Jiang Ru: "Take it back, don't give it to me anymore."
Pei Wu didn't bother with any more words to her, and casually placed the copper coins on the counter: "I still have to go back to the Hanlin Academy. I wish my cousin a prosperous business."
Only after that blushing figure disappeared did Jiang Ru mutter to herself in bewilderment, "Is this right? They used the money I gave them to treat others, and then used the money I gave them to pay me back. In the end, didn't all that money end up back with me?"
Not only that, but they also spent several bowls of drinks.
Is Pei Wu out of his mind?
The ailing Pei Wu caught up with several colleagues outside the shop. After leaving the beverage shop, the officials became even more unrestrained in their gossip.
An official said, "We all saw Lord Zheng exchanging glances with the shopkeeper just now."
Another official said, "Yes, yes, I have never seen Lord Zheng so happy."
Ji Chaoying, who knew a little about the inside story: "So that's how it is."
Ning Yiheng glanced at Pei Wu, then at Zheng Qiuhong, and frowned in deep thought.
Ji Chaoying and Ning Yiheng also stayed at the guild hall during the imperial examination, so they naturally knew about the relationship between Jiang Ru and Pei Wu, but they didn't know that it would involve Zheng Qiuhong.
If Jiang Ru were here, she would definitely say that Zheng Qiuhong has never been good at managing his expressions. When they first met, he looked like a wolf in sheep's clothing with a forced smile, which almost scared Jiang Ru half to death.
What is now considered a polite greeting is perceived by others as flirting.
Only these two colleagues, kept in the dark, knew nothing and even teased Zheng Qiuhong. Zheng Qiuhong, caught off guard, quickly shook her head and said, "I didn't, I didn't."
The two officials were lost in their own thoughts: "We told you long ago that Lord Zheng was so busy he didn't even have time to sleep, yet he volunteered to come with us. So that's the reason. Lord Zheng, you're not being fair; you kept it from us."
Zheng Qiuhong protested, "No, I just know the shopkeeper, that's why..."
An adult interrupted him, giving him a knowing smile: "We know, we all know."
Zheng Qiuhong: "..."
Just as everything was getting more and more chaotic, Pei Wu suddenly spoke up: "That shopkeeper is my cousin."
Both officials were dumbfounded, while Ji Chaoying and Ning Yiheng fell into deep thought.
Pei Wu thought that these words would make his two colleagues realize that they had misunderstood, but to his surprise, after he said these words, both of his colleagues suddenly realized.
Pei Wu had just successfully refuted the rumors and was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the two men said in unison, "Lord Pei, I was wondering why you suddenly wanted to drink something today, now I understand!"
Pei Wu did indeed come because of Jiang Ru, he didn't deny it, so he nodded: "Yes."
The two officials smiled knowingly, then continued in unison, "Do you know that Lord Zheng has feelings for your younger sister?"
Pei Wu: "..."
Zheng Qiuhong frantically waved her hands: "I didn't, I didn't, Brother Pei, I'm innocent!"
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