Chapter 38
Little Ginseng indeed loved learning, this was true, but it also depended on what she was learning.
This book "Six Wonders of the Flower Formation" sounded quite interesting by name, but flipping through page by page, most of it was pictures, and these pictures seemed utterly boring to her.
The title was "Six Wonders of the Flower Formation," but there were hardly any proper flowers, and even when flowers were drawn, there were no annotations about what kind of flowers they were, their characteristics, or whether they had medicinal value. Instead, it was always drawings of simply dressed people.
Over and over again, it was just pictures that two people could fill. After looking at two pages, Ye Jiao tossed it aside.
Just as she was about to change to another book, Ye Jiao suddenly remembered what the little fox had said before.
When someone gives you a gift, you should look at it and use it, otherwise you'll hurt the gift-giver's feelings.
Just like when Liu Shi gave her a cloak, she naturally had to wear it well to show her appreciation, both to consider Liu Shi's feelings and to express her respect.
Now Spring Orchid had given her a book as a gift, and given it so solemnly, even wrapping it in blue cloth as if afraid of damaging it.
And here she was, not only failing to read it all this time, but finally remembering to flip through it only to toss it aside after two glances...
Little Ginseng suddenly felt somewhat guilty and obediently sat back down, moving the candlestick closer to herself, and began seriously opening the book to study it carefully.
Her expression was serious, her focus intense. When Qi Yun entered, what he saw was his wife diligently reading by candlelight.
Usually Ye Jiao would spend an hour every day reading and practicing calligraphy, both to practice her writing and to read more medical classics and pharmaceutical texts.
When Qi Yun had time, he would accompany her. Jiao Niang would read while he looked at account books. When Ye Jiao encountered something she didn't understand, she would come over with her book and ask him softly, which was quite a pleasure.
Now Qi Yun wanted to go over and ask what she was reading, but then he thought that he had been busy in the front courtyard all day today, and Jiao Niang finally had some free time to read. He shouldn't go over and disturb her.
So Qi Yun quietly set down the food box he was carrying and went to the inner room to change clothes.
When he came out of the inner room, he met Ye Jiao's direct stare.
Qi Yun was startled by her gaze, then smiled and asked: "What's wrong? Is there something you don't understand?"
Ye Jiao shook her head. The pictures in there were quite clear, nothing she couldn't understand.
What interested her was something else.
Closing the book and putting it back on the bookshelf, Ye Jiao got up and walked to Qi Yun's side, but her eyes moved from the man to the food box: "What's in here?"
Usually this food box was used to carry meals, and occasionally Ye Jiao would pack some delicious pastries from Liu Shi's place to bring back and share with her husband.
But what was inside today wasn't just sweets. Qi Yun opened the lid, first taking out a plate of straw raincoat cakes, then bringing out a wine pot and two white porcelain wine cups to place on the table.
Ye Jiao didn't pay attention to the wine pot, just smelling the aroma of the straw raincoat cakes, her lips curved up: "This looks very delicious."
Qi Yun pulled her to sit down, saying gently: "These straw raincoat cakes have layers of lard and white sugar inside, rolled into thin cakes and fried until golden in the pan. I was afraid you'd get hungry staying up late tonight, so I brought them as a midnight snack."
If Qi Yun hadn't mentioned it, Ye Jiao wouldn't have thought about being hungry, but now that Qi Yun brought it up, Ye Jiao felt her stomach was empty.
Especially since Qi Yun always told her how things were made, the more she listened, the hungrier she got.
Ye Jiao reached out to grab a cake, but halfway there her wrist was gently grasped by Qi Yun.
She looked at the man with some confusion, then saw Qi Yun pour wine into the two cups, placing one in Ye Jiao's hand, saying softly: "First drink some pepper and cypress wine. Drinking some during New Year can ward off miasma and prevent plague in the new year."
Little Ginseng had never heard this wine name before, but since Qi Yun said drinking it had benefits, she accepted the cup.
But Qi Yun still hadn't let go of her hand, his eyes looking at her.
In the flickering candlelight, the man's normally somewhat cold and stern features became much gentler, and his voice seemed somewhat light: "Jiao Niang, do you know how married people should drink wine?"
Ye Jiao honestly shook her head.
Qi Yun loosened his grip on her wrist and picked up the other wine cup. His eyes weren't looking at Ye Jiao but at the cup in his hand as he said: "Let's drink nuptial wine."
Their marriage had come too suddenly and hastily.
One had gotten on the sedan chair in confusion, the other had carried divorce papers in his chest.
Their first meeting was peaceful and interesting. Perhaps Qi Yun had begun to like his wife from that moment, but at the time he was still thinking of finding a day to give Ye Jiao the divorce papers and grant her freedom, thinking that would be best for her.
So at that time, Qi Yun had never thought of drinking the nuptial wine, even though the wine cups and pot were placed in the most conspicuous spot on the table, he hadn't touched them once.
But today, because of New Year with its festive atmosphere everywhere, even the lanterns outside had been changed to red ones.
In all this warmth, Qi Yun suddenly remembered their wedding night.
He would never let Ye Jiao go again. The divorce papers had long been burned to ash by him.
But all of this had been too simple for his wife. Qi Yun felt he should make it up to her.
Holding up his wine cup, Qi Yun asked very sincerely, and Ye Jiao also answered very earnestly: "Husband, what kind of cups are nuptial cups?"
Qi Yun's lips curved in a smile as he used his other hand to pull Ye Jiao's arm, gently drawing her closer.
Their arms interlocked and intertwined. Qi Yun leaned over, his lips touching the wine cup, and with a slight turn of his head he could see his wife's soft earlobe.
The man's voice was soft: "This is called nuptial cups."
Ye Jiao blinked and also leaned her face over like Qi Yun.
In their close intimacy, breathing each other's breath, both drank their wine completely.
The pepper and cypress wine had a clear, fragrant aroma, but when it entered the mouth, there was an unmistakable spicy taste.
Ye Jiao coughed twice and muttered: "The wine doesn't taste good."
But Qi Yun's lips curved up. Taking advantage of Ye Jiao's inattention, he kissed the corner of her mouth: "But I think this wine is sweet."
Little Ginseng was puzzled: "Where's the sweetness?" As she spoke, she thought she had tasted wrong just now and licked the rim of the cup with her tongue tip, then wrinkled her nose again from the spiciness.
Qi Yun didn't answer, just thinking in his heart: sweet, very sweet.
Ye Jiao didn't press the question and just reached for a straw raincoat cake. Taking a bite, the sweet, rich aroma dispelled the taste in her mouth, and Ye Jiao's face showed a smile.
But probably because she had never drunk alcohol before, even though the pepper and cypress wine wasn't strong, after one cup Ye Jiao couldn't resist drowsiness and soon fell deeply asleep.
Qi Yun didn't wake her but let her pillow on his leg, covering the woman with a robe. Qi Yun himself looked down, gazing at his wife's sleeping face.
He watched with exceptional focus, more seriously than when looking at account books.
And while Ye Jiao slept, sometimes her eyelashes would flutter, sometimes her mouth would murmur, as if every detail was endlessly fascinating to watch.
He stared at Ye Jiao like this until nearly midnight. When it became lively outside, Qi Yun finally reached out and gently patted Ye Jiao: "Jiao Niang, wake up."
Ye Jiao rubbed her eyes and sat up, yawning softly. Just as she was about to ask why he was calling her when it wasn't dawn yet, she was interrupted by a series of firecracker sounds outside.
Qi Yun saw her looking confused, as if she wasn't fully awake yet, so he crouched down to put shoes on Ye Jiao's feet, then brought over a fur coat to wrap around both of them before half-carrying Ye Jiao outside.
They didn't go into the courtyard. The night wind was still cold. The two stood under the corridor outside the door, listening to the crackling firecrackers and watching the brilliant fireworks. Qi Yun held Ye Jiao, suddenly feeling that this moment was the happiest of his entire life.
And Ye Jiao grabbed onto Qi Yun's chest clothing, looking up at the fireworks, suddenly breaking into a smile.
Qi Yun asked quietly: "What are you smiling about?"
Ye Jiao buried her face in the man's chest, her voice soft: "Husband, this is really beautiful. Can we watch it every day?"
Qi Yun smiled and said: "It's not really possible to watch every day. After all, at night people need to sleep. If these were set off all the time, we couldn't sleep well." Seeing Ye Jiao look somewhat disappointed, Qi Yun continued: "But in a few days it will be the lantern festival, and there will definitely be fireworks on the streets then. We can go watch then."
Ye Jiao smiled with curved eyebrows, tightly clasping the man's waist.
And this New Year's Eve, the Qi family celebrated grandly.
Firecrackers and fireworks all cost money to buy. The Qi family had purchased many this year, setting off fireworks for a full hour, bringing the surrounding people together for a proper celebration.
By New Year's Day, more and more people came to the Qi family's door to pay respects and give gifts.
Qi Yun also had to receive visits from various managers. During New Year, coming to see the master was part of their duties. Qi Yun didn't refuse, and he also took this opportunity to discuss future plans with the shop managers.
After a busy day, when Qi Yun returned to the room that evening, he again saw Ye Jiao staring intently at a book.
Still with that focused appearance, just with some confusion on her face.
Qi Yun thought she had encountered some problem. Closing the door, he asked with a smile: "I'm free now. Does Jiao Niang have anything to ask me?"
Hearing this, Ye Jiao immediately looked at him and nodded repeatedly.
Holding the book, she went to Qi Yun and openly showed him one of the pages, pointing at an illustration: "Husband, please explain what kind of flower this is? I've never seen it before."
She had been working hard recently to identify what flowers and plants were in each illustration. In Ye Jiao's view, Dong Shi must have had a purpose in giving her this.
Was it for those two little figures inside?
Little Ginseng didn't believe it. After all, the people in there were too simple, and she couldn't understand what they were doing. They looked quite boring anyway.
She felt Dong Shi wanted her to appreciate the flowers together.
But many of the flowers inside, Ye Jiao couldn't tell what they were, so she thought of asking her husband for help, rather than being stumped by Dong Shi next time.
But Qi Yun's focus was clearly different from Ye Jiao's.
He stared dumbfounded at the spring palace illustration that had been boldly thrust in front of him. This time, Second Young Master Qi wasn't just red in the ears, but his entire face was burning quite intensely.
For a moment Qi Yun didn't know what to say. After holding back for a long while, he finally asked in a hoarse voice: "Where did this come from?"
Ye Jiao answered honestly: "Spring Orchid gave it to me. It's printed clearly, but the drawing is just too careless. Usually clothes should be the hardest to draw, but this person was clever enough to omit the clothes entirely, really knows how to take shortcuts."