northernbook Chapter 233: Evenly Matched Strength
Chapter 233: Evenly Matched Strength
Chapter 233: Evenly Matched Strength
The henchmen swarmed forward, and Ji Meiqing didn't want to get involved, as she wasn't the type to stand up for the weak. However, she became interested when she saw the wine in the young master's bowl and went over to taste it.
Ji Meiqing narrowed her eyes and said to Lu Yu, "Brother Lu, save him. This man's brewing skills are very high, probably on par with yours."
Upon hearing Ji Meiqing's words, Lu Yu immediately stepped forward to deal with those people. The wealthy and arrogant man said, "Who are you? You'd better not meddle in other people's business."
Lu Yu seized the opportunity to show affection again, saying, "It's my wife's order, so I have no choice but to obey." After saying that, he gave Ji Meiqing a doting look. Ji Meiqing had long since gotten used to his sweet words that popped out from time to time, and had become so used to it that she didn't blush or skip a beat.
She calmly said, "Brother, it's just some wine. Don't make a big fuss over such a small matter. I have some wine that's even better than his. Take it and drink it; I won't charge you a penny."
Upon hearing about this good deal, the man glanced at his brother, who was no match for the man before him, and said, "Oh? Is that so? Then I'll have to try it. If it's really good wine, I'll let this kid go."
Ji Meiqing took out Lu Yu's latest brewed wine, "I didn't bring much with me when I was out. If you like it, you can go to Yuanyang Tower in Rongcheng."
The man tasted the wine and left satisfied, clutching it.
Then the young man behind Lu Yu slowly stepped forward and thanked them, "Thank you, young lady and young master. My name is Zhang Yang!"
Ji Meiqing burst out laughing. Zhang Yang looked at her, puzzled. Ji Meiqing said, "Sorry, sorry, I just think your parents are very interesting. They are so good-looking, yet they gave you such an arrogant-sounding name as Zhang Yang!"
Zhang Yang stopped talking, and Ji Meiqing got to the point, "I didn't save you for nothing. After all, I'm not one to meddle in other people's business. I want to ask, did you brew this wine?"
"Yes, miss," Zhang Yang replied truthfully.
"Hmm, your cooking is really good, almost as good as my husband's." Ji Meiqing walked to Lu Yu's side and told him to go cook. Lu Yu looked at her with concern. He seemed a little jealous, so Ji Meiqing coaxed him softly, "I just wanted to ask for some advice, after all, we can't stay stagnant forever." Only then did Lu Yu obediently go to cook.
Ji Meiqing walked up to Zhang Yang and said, "My name is Ji Meiqing. It's nice to meet you. Judging from your attire, you must be from a wealthy family. Why are you here alone and being bullied by so many people?"
Zhang Yang inexplicably trusted the woman in front of him and answered truthfully, "I am indeed the son of a wealthy family. My family is in the West Lake area and has been in the wine business for generations. However, we have declined this year and are no longer well-known. The main reason is that since my great-grandfather, there has not been anyone who can brew wine particularly well."
Ji Meiqing interrupted him, "But I just tasted your wine, and it's delicious. It should be ranked among the best."
Zhang Yang, unperturbed by the interruption, continued, "This is precisely why I'm all alone here now. My mother bled to death giving birth to me. My father, still young, naturally remarried, taking my current stepmother as his wife. She brought a son with her, though not my father's biological son, we all treat him as our own. However, this year, some of the elders in the family have passed away one after another, and my father has to go out for social engagements every day. My stepmother seized the opportunity to take control of the family, intending for her son to inherit the family fortune. But my brewed wine has always been praised, surpassing her son's, which displeased her. She plotted to send me out to gain experience and learn about famous wines from all over the world. My father thought this might be the hope for reviving the family, so he agreed. I haven't been home for almost three years, and I have indeed humbly sought their advice, as they wished. But during this time, my stepmother has sent assassins to kill me countless times. She even intercepted the letters I wrote to my father. Now that I've succeeded, I naturally want to go home, but I never expected to encounter this." Zhang Yang finished introducing himself in one breath.
Ji Meiqing listened and thought to herself that this was practically a palace drama. Why wasn't this naive and innocent male lead fighting back? But she said aloud, "I advise you to hurry home and settle things with your stepmother. Otherwise, the family fortune left by your ancestors will be ruined by her sooner or later. Alright, I won't talk any longer, or my husband will get angry. When you have truly achieved something, you are welcome to come find me at Yuanyang Tower in Rongcheng." After saying that, she went into the cabin.
Zhang Yang watched her retreating figure. "Mandarin Duck Tower, huh? A nice name. But this girl is too naive. Does she really think she's without guile? She's got personality. I must visit her sometime."
When Ji Meiqing entered the cabin, Lu Yu, having already set out the food, asked, "Why did it take so long? What were you all talking about?"
Ji Meiqing sat down, picked up her chopsticks, tasted the food, and said, "It's nothing. He's just another pitiful person. I originally wanted to use him because of his excellent brewing skills, but he's not a free man. Oh well."
Seeing this, Lu Yu didn't ask any more questions.
After three days and three nights, they finally arrived in Suzhou. Ji Meiqing vomited as soon as she got off the boat. "I thought the boat would be better, but I didn't expect that sitting for so long would be so uncomfortable."
Knowing she didn't like taking medicine, Lu Yu pulled her to sit down at a roadside stall and ordered some porridge, saying, "Here, it's good for your stomach."
Ji Meiqing was probably hungry, and she finished drinking it in no time. "Hmm, it really makes me feel much better. My stomach feels warm."
Seeing that she was drinking so quickly, Lu Yu knew she was hungry, so he ordered some steamed buns to eat with her.
As Ji Meiqing ate, she puffed out her cheeks and said, "My husband understands me best."
Lu Yu smiled. Ever since Ji Meiqing started calling him "husband," it made him very happy.
After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, they went to find an inn, since they couldn't sleep on the streets. They entered an inn called Caiwei, and the waiter came forward and asked, "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?"
Ji Meiqing said, "Two top-tier rooms." Lu Yu immediately said to the waiter, "One will do." Ji Meiqing reacted and said, "Uh, right, listen to him." The waiter immediately led them to the room.
Ji Meiqing immediately lay down on the bed, not wanting to move. "The bed on land is still the most comfortable!"
Lu Yu sat at the round table and smiled helplessly. "It's not noon yet, we still have time. Why don't we go out for a stroll?"
Ji Meiqing didn't want to stay cooped up in the room, so she reluctantly got out of bed and said with a righteous air, "Let's go."
The two ran into the waiter again as they went downstairs. Ji Meiqing stepped forward, grabbed the waiter's arm, and asked, "Waiter, we'd like to go out for a walk. Do you have any recommendations?"
The waiter thought for a moment and replied, "You can go to the Suzhou gardens; they are very popular." The two thanked him and set off.
The two spent the afternoon sightseeing. When they returned, Ji Meiqing exclaimed, "Everyone says that the gardens of Jiangnan are the best in the world, and the gardens of Suzhou are the best in Jiangnan. Seeing them today, I can confirm that they truly live up to their reputation. It's no exaggeration to say that they are like phantoms with every step, a world recreated."