Chapter 248 The Drinking Party

Chapter 248 The Drinking Party

Mencius' parents arrived, and the feast was prepared. Everyone, young and old, took their seats.

“In-laws, our children’s weddings have been a bit rushed. We haven’t had a chance to sit down and have a good drink together yet. Let’s make up for it tonight.” Father Meng poured a drink. “Come on, let’s have a drink first.”

Wang Bushang raised his glass to clink glasses with Wang Bushang's and drank it all in one gulp.

"Have some food," Du Li said.

"Uncle Wang, try this stewed chicken. It's a free-range chicken that eats insects, fruit, and fruit flies attracted by fallen fruit trees. The meat is tender yet chewy, and the chicken soup is sweet and delicious," Meng Qing said.

"The chickens were sent from Xiuwu County. These chickens roam in the peach orchards during the spring and summer. After the peach season ends, the chickens run off to the pear orchards and wisteria orchards to find food. The messenger who delivered the chickens said that the free-range chickens have never been fed wheat bran or bean dregs or similar grains," Yin Caiwei added.

Wang Bushang took the soup bowl handed to him by the maid. He took a sip of the soup and tasted it, then ate a bite of meat. After swallowing the meat, he said a few words, smacked his lips, and nodded, saying, "It's good meat. It leaves a fragrant taste in your mouth without any fishy smell."

"Uncle Wang really knows how to appreciate food." Meng Qing had never thought of this method of tasting wine. She touched the wine glass and asked, "Uncle Wang, you've traveled all over the country and eaten plenty of good food, haven't you?"

Wang Bushang nodded with a smile, "Running ships and escorting goods is a bit hard work, but it also has its advantages. I've tasted all the delicious food from all over the country."

"You've lived a wonderful life. In your youth, you traveled all over the country, accumulating a considerable fortune. In your old age, you've achieved your goals, paving the way for your descendants to change their fortunes. Don't be envious of other people's auspicious ancestral graves. If you ask me, you are the one whose good fortune is best for your Wang family." Meng Qing raised his glass. "I'm young and a junior, so I'll toast you. I'm fortunate to have witnessed half of your remarkable life."

Wang Bushang smiled broadly at the flattery. He raised his cup and drank one, then picked up the wine pot and poured himself another. He stood up and said, "Madam, I am not as eloquent as you. If I may borrow your words, you are the good fortune that brings prosperity to the Meng and Du families. In terms of who I admire most, you are the one I admire most. I toast you."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Uncle Wang." Meng Qing also stood up and drank a toast.

"Father-in-law and mother-in-law, do you agree with what I said?" Wang Bushang looked at Meng's father and mother.

Both of Mencius's parents nodded.

“You should also show respect to your daughter and not act like you’re her elders,” Wang Bushang suggested.

"We'll listen to our father-in-law." Mr. Meng raised his glass. "Qingniang, your father and mother toast you."

Mencius' mother also raised her wine cup in a distant toast.

Meng Qing happily drank another glass of wine.

Du Li placed the bowl of chicken soup beside her, looked up and asked, "Uncle Wang, shouldn't I be the one to toast the Lady next?"

“That’s what I meant,” Wang Bushang nodded.

"Let me have a drink with you first, and let the Lady of the County have some food to calm down." Du Li picked up his wine cup and said, "The capable are always busy. Your family is wealthy and your business is large. You have a heavy burden and responsibility. Now you are also in charge of the local products business in the five counties of Huaizhou. I thank you on behalf of my third brother and say thank you for your hard work."

Upon hearing this, Wang Bushang raised his wine cup without hesitation and drank it all in one gulp.

Du Li also drank it all in one gulp, and as soon as he put down the glass, he immediately picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Xi Mei leaned close to Wang Chuan's ear and giggled, "My second uncle is afraid of spicy food."

Wang Chuan nodded, his eyes intently watching every move on the table.

Yin Caiwei was also observing. She hesitated for a while, and after Wang Bushang had eaten a few bites of food and put down his chopsticks, she picked up the wine glass in front of her and said, "Uncle Wang, this is the first time we have sat down to eat and drink together. As a daughter-in-law of Wu County, and you as a guest of Huaizhou, we should have a drink together."

"Thank you for giving me face, Madam." Wang Bushang had a good time drinking today, and he drank another cup heartily. He thought that with this kind of treatment tonight, even if his business in Huaizhou didn't make money, it would be worth it.

Yin Caiwei finished her cup of wine and gestured to her maid to pour another one. "This cup of wine is a toast to you in my capacity as the president of the charity, to thank you for your generous gift."

The two of them drank another one.

When the wine cups were empty, the maids behind the two immediately picked up the wine pots and refilled them.

"My second brother thanked you on behalf of my husband, so I won't mention him. I want to thank you on behalf of the poor people of Huaizhou." Yin Caiwei raised her glass again.

Wang Bushang chuckled, "There won't be a fourth cup of wine, will there? Don't get me drunk, I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself if I'm drunk, this isn't a place where I can act crazy when I'm drunk."

Yin Caiwei understood his meaning; she figured that drinking three cups in a row would lose its appeal.

Wang Chuan also noticed this, and he said, "I want to have a fourth drink with Grandpa Wang, and my sister can have the third drink. My third uncle isn't home, so she can best represent her father."

"Under what pretext did you drink the fourth glass of wine?" Meng Qing asked.

“On behalf of my uncle, I’m paying my respects to his father-in-law…” Wang Chuan’s eyes darted around as he looked for an excuse: “Mother, my uncle has an official position but no real job. How about you give him some work to do? His father-in-law has taken over the local produce business in Huaizhou. How about letting him handle the sales?”

Meng Qing couldn't hide her joy and appreciation, and she nodded in agreement: "Whatever you say."

"Madam, congratulations! You have a worthy successor." Wang Bushang was extremely envious; he wished this child were his grandson.

Wang Chuan picked up the plum water, took Xi Mei's hand, and walked to Wang Bushang's side. "Sister, please offer a toast to Grandpa Wang on behalf of your father."

Xi Mei took the plum water and said, "I am the youngest today and do not know what the adults are saying. I only know that you are both a guest and a relative, and I am the host. I offer you this on behalf of my father."

Wang, the cloth merchant, lowered his wine cup by an inch, tapping the rim against the bowl. "It is my honor to be valued by my master."

Seeing that he had drunk it, Ximei picked up the bowl and gulped down a few mouthfuls herself.

Wang Chuan pressed her hand, stopping her from finishing her drink. He took the bowl from her and said, "Grandpa Wang, quickly pour me some wine and clink glasses with me. I've been craving it for so long."

Wang Bushang laughed heartily, took the wine cup handed to him by the maid, and clinked glasses with Wang Chuan.

"Madam, I, Du, offer you my respects." Du Li smiled broadly, glanced at Wang Chuan, and said, "You have made great contributions to the birth of your son."

Meng Qing raised his glass, "Let's return the favor, you deserve credit too."

The husband and wife shared a drink.

Wang Chuan pulled Xi Mei back to his seat. After letting go, he rubbed his legs and wiped the sweat from his palms.

"Second Brother," Xi Mei called out.

"What's wrong?" Wang Chuan asked, looking down.

"You're so smart."

"Is my older brother smarter or am I smarter?"

Xi Mei: "...They're all smart, but in different ways."

"Tch!" Wang Chuan said dismissively.

They started drinking a second round at the table. Upon hearing this, Ximei immediately stopped talking and focused on watching.

"They're making sure Grandpa Wang drinks," Wang Chuan whispered to Xi Mei. "Grandpa Wang is my uncle's father-in-law, a distinguished guest. We're all family members, so we have to treat him well. He's also a distinguished guest of Huaizhou. From now on, the price of Huaizhou's local products will be determined by his whim. Whether it's higher or lower, it's up to him. So we have to make sure he drinks to his heart's content at the dinner table."

Xi Mei understood, "I've got it."

After several rounds of drinks, Wang Bushang became drunk. He retained his last shred of sanity and had his servants help him back to his room to rest.

Du Li got up to see them off, and Meng's father followed. Once the three of them left, only three women and two children remained at the table.

"I need to wash my face; I drank too much tonight," said Mother Meng, getting up.

The maidservant rushed forward to help him up.

Seeing that she didn't need to do anything, Meng Qing remained seated and continued sipping the remaining wine in her glass.

"Second sister-in-law, the banquet is about to end. Only the two of us sisters-in-law still have wine left in our cups. Let me toast you. After you finish this drink, we won't drink anymore." Yin Caiwei moved over, holding onto the table. Her cheeks were flushed from drinking, and her eyes were bright and watery.

Meng Qing reached out to help her up, "Caiwei, are you drunk?"

"My body's drunk, but my brain isn't." Yin Caiwei sat down next to Meng Qing with a "whoosh," leaning against her and saying, "Second sister-in-law, life is so wonderful!"

“I think so too.” Meng Qing turned her hand away, and Yin Caiwei, seeing this, raised her wine glass and clinked it with hers.

With a clink, the wine glass was emptied.

Yin Caiwei tossed her wine glass to Ximei and asked, "Ximei, how about letting your father stay away for a few more years?"

Xi Mei shook her head.

Yin Caiwei ignored her and said, "Second sister-in-law, let Du Min stay outside for a few more years, so we can have more fun."

Meng Qing laughed heartily, "That's not up to me."

"How so..." Before she could finish speaking, Yin Caiwei nudged Meng Qing, gesturing for her to look under the table. Wang Chuan and Xi Mei were squatting under the table, wiping wine stains from their glasses with their fingers.

The brother and sister were unaware that they had been discovered. They put their fingers, which were covered in alcohol, into their mouths and sucked on them, only to spit out their saliva in pain from the spiciness.

Meng Qing and Yin Caiwei burst out laughing.

Wangchuan and Ximei turned around and realized they had been caught red-handed; their faces turned bright red.

"Wow, this alcohol is pretty strong. You've already turned red in the face with just a little bit of it," Meng Qing teased.

Wang Chuan chuckled, stood up, put the wine glass back on the table, and muttered, "It doesn't taste good... I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep."

When Ximei saw him run away, she hurriedly followed.

"Why are you running? It's dark, don't run around." Du Li was about to enter the room when she bumped into two people inside and almost tripped.

Having caused trouble again, the brother and sister left dejectedly.

"They're not drinking anymore, are they?" Du Li lifted the curtain and went inside. "It's getting late, let's call it a night. Parents have already gone back to their rooms to rest."

"Dismissed." Meng Qing beckoned to the maids. "Help your mistresses back and take good care of them. Caiwei, you have a good capacity for alcohol. Let's have another contest at the dinner table next time."

“Okay, I also want to test how much I can drink.” Yin Caiwei stood up. “Second sister-in-law, second brother, goodbye.”

After watching the maid help Yin Caiwei away, Meng Qing and Du Li followed her out.

"Are you enjoying your drink?" Du Li asked.

Meng Qing nodded, "They drank to their hearts' content."

"I knew you wanted to drink, so I warmed up your favorite pear blossom white wine. I was right," Du Li said, taking credit for herself.

Meng Qing wrapped her arms around his waist, moved her hand down, and slipped it inside his clothes, grabbing his waist through his undergarments.

That's not what I meant...

"Don't bother."

"I didn't say I didn't want it."

Meng Qing laughed out loud and started running.

The cold night here was filled with the aroma of wine and laughter, while a thousand miles away in Youzhou, Du Min picked up his pen to reply in the biting cold. The pen tip hovered in the air as his gaze fell on the scattered letters on the table. Among the twenty-odd official letters was a short letter with only one sentence: "My sister-in-law asked someone to convey that she wishes to leave a letter at my side to fulfill her filial duty."

He had received the stack of letters half a day ago and had been pondering them for a long time, but he still couldn't figure out his second brother and sister-in-law's attitude from those words, which put him in a dilemma once again.

*

At the end of the year, Meng Qing received a reply from Du Min, which she then showed to Du Li.

"Second Aunt." The fat man who was playing with the dog in the courtyard stood up when he heard footsteps.

“Your mother and your third uncle have both written to you. One wants you to go back, and the other wants you to go to Youzhou to find him.” Meng Qing handed over the letter in his hand. “You decide for yourself. Youzhou is 1,500 to 1,600 li away from Huaizhou. You will have to take a boat and then change to a carriage along the way. It will not be easy to get there smoothly.”

Jinshu quickly read the letter.

Hearing the noise, Du Li came over and asked, "What's wrong?"

“My third brother wrote a letter. In it, he said he intended to train Jinshu to be the clan leader, but he didn’t know his character and ability. So he set up a test. If Jinshu could travel from Wu County to Youzhou, he would keep Jinshu by his side to work.” Meng Qing recounted, “The letter said that if my sister-in-law did not agree, he would not force her. He would find my uncle’s grandson or someone’s descendant in the village.”

Du Li looked puzzled. Could it be that he and she had both misunderstood? Did Du Laosan not mean it that way?

Meng Qing was unsure for a moment.

"I'll go." Jinshu looked at the magnificent mansion. Life here was completely different from life in the village. After coming here, he didn't want to go back to the dilapidated Dujiawan.

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Author's note: See you tomorrow night.