Chapter 501 - Chapter 501: Chapter 501 Encounter on the Return Journey_1 (1/2)

Chapter 501: Chapter 501 Encounter on the Return Journey_1

They chatted while eating; half an hour passed by, Xiumei brought out a jar of wine.

“Almost forgot about this! A new brew of sweet rice wine from these past few days. Dearest lady, when you and the prince went down the mountain, I with nothing to do stayed on the mountain top, made some of this. As it’s warm these past few days, it’s ripe and fragrant after two or three days, come and taste.”

Xiumei purposefully put the wine in a jar for the convenience of bringing it down the mountain.

“No need.”

“I’m not having any.”

Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo both simultaneously voiced their refusals.

Drinking spells trouble! Both have made fools of themselves because of alcohol; they dare not drink again.

“What’s wrong, my lady? Is your body not feeling well? You usually have sweet rice wine during summers.” Xiumei asked.

She could understand why the prince would refuse, but why would her lady refuse, too?

“I am already full today.” Wei Ruo excused herself.

Normally she would drink it. The sweet rice wine has a low alcohol level and is sweet. Even if you finish the jar, you wouldn’t get drunk, unless you drink like her second brother does.

However, she mysteriously felt a bit apprehensive in the presence of her second brother.

She couldn’t afford taking risks. She didn’t mind making a fool of herself in front of Meimei, but in front of her second brother…

For some unknown reason, Wei Ruo was somewhat anxious about making a spectacle of herself in her drunken state in front of him, even though she had made a fool of herself in his presence before.

“Oh, okay, then I… .” After glancing at Wei Jinyi, Xiumei promptly decided to give her sweet rice wine to Xiaobei.

As for the prince, because of his low alcohol tolerance, a cup of sweet rice wine could knock him out, so she should not give him any. It is quite a hassle whenever he gets drunk.

Xiaobei happily accepted the sweet rice wine Xiumei handed him, “Thank you, Lady Xiumei.”

As Xiaobei and Xiumei delightedly sipped on their sweet rice wine, Wei Ruo took the opportunity to drink tea with Wei Jinyi.

After they were well-fed and quenched, each of them retired to their rooms for rest and ablutions.

In the dead of night, Wei Ruo woke up, took out Xiumei’s jar of sweet rice wine. Since only Xiaobei and Xiumei had been drinking, there was plenty left in the jar.

She dared not drink in front of her second brother. Yet, when left alone, she could not resist relaxing a bit, especially with just some harmless sweet rice wine.

Wei Ruo opened the window by her bed, sat in front of it and clearly saw the bright moon outside the window.

Shadows of trees wavered, insects chirped.

The beauty of the night was undeniable, and the nighttime wind in the mountains was cool and refreshing, bringing a sense of comfort and pleasure to one’s mind and body.

Wei Ruo poured herself a bowl and leisurely savoured it, looking very satisfied.

Away in the distance, leaning against a tree trunk on the wall, Wei Jinyi stared in the direction where Wei Ruo was.

He simply watched her without interrupting or letting Wei Ruo discover his presence.

###

Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi stayed in Hejian Prefecture for more than half a month, not only did they finish all the things as planned but also took some time out for sightseeing and enjoying the nature.

Before leaving, Wei Ruo handed over all the necessary matters related to the estate and the nearby cotton fields to Shi Dayou to handle.

He is already the village chief of Stone Village, good at farming and managing villagers, with experience in management. He is also clear about the basic knowledge of farming; he can solve some minor problems on his own.

So, Wei Ruo felt he would be more suited as a manager on the estate rather than working in a shop.”

Most of the villagers from Stone Village who had followed them were working in the factory, leaving behind only a couple of them by Shi Dayou’s side to work, so Dayou would have to hire long-term and short-term workers for farming tasks.