Chapter 85: Fine Wine

Yuan Huiling took the list of items prepared by Xu Ruojin, throwing the county magistrate’s residence into utter chaos.

The servants, who had been busy preparing for today’s banquet, were now suddenly tasked with this new demand from the Fifth Miss. Whether there were enough hands was another matter entirely, but the items needed were all trivial and scattered, and gathering them quickly would take far more than a moment’s effort.

Amidst a barrage of scolding and rebuke, Yuan Huiling’s face had long since wilted like a withered eggplant from anger.

The men sat in small groups, sipping tea and chatting at leisure: Zhang Zhongheng played chess with his companions, while Liang Xiao and Jiang Biwu merely sat in silence.

Seated in the pavilion, Xu Ruojin watched the commotion with an air of ease, utterly untroubled.

She had already warned them that the items required were many and varied, difficult to prepare, and time-consuming to collect.

But it was Yuan Huiling herself who had boasted that the county magistrate’s residence was prepared for anything—so who could she blame now?

Xu Ruojin, in fact, half-hoped that several of the items would prove impossible to find.

If the formal banquet began and the matter remained unresolved, she would not be the one at fault; Yuan Huiling would have to swallow her own pride.

Yet Yuan Huiling could not bear to see Xu Ruojin so comfortable.

She ordered someone to fetch a jar of wine from the county magistrate’s wife and said, “This I begged from Mother herself. Since it is wine you brewed with your own hands, why not let the sisters have a taste while the other items are being gathered?”

The men paused their diversions and looked over. “Indeed, though we can’t have a drink ourselves, at least let us enjoy its fragrance.”

Xu Ruojin inwardly rolled her eyes, but with everyone watching, she could only rise and beckon for her maid, Chuncao, to help.

Jasmine flowers, bamboo leaves, rock sugar, and a small jar of rice wine were already arranged on the table.

Xu Ruojin brought out her own jar of wine, removed the wax seal, and lifted the lid.

A rich, mellow fragrance drifted out, causing those nearby to freeze in surprise and stare with curiosity.

Taking a small wine bowl, Xu Ruojin poured in the wine—the clear liquid glimmered like amber. She scattered in bamboo leaves and stirred gently with a bamboo skewer.

Chuncao lit a small stove, and Xu Ruojin placed a pot of water atop it, balancing a bowl upside down as a base before setting the wine bowl above the steam.

As the water boiled, the aroma of the wine grew clearer, now tinged with the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.

Xu Ruojin added a little rice wine bit by bit, finally dropping in a few pieces of rock sugar before instructing Chuncao to extinguish the fire.

Her movements were graceful, effortless, more like the ritual of burning incense than preparing wine.

The men watched with fascination, and before they had seen enough, Xu Ruojin had already removed the bowl.

There were five young ladies in total, so Xu Ruojin poured five cups of wine—each only a shallow mouthful.

The maids took the cups and placed them in front of the five young ladies.

“Please, have a taste.”

Xu Ruojin lifted her own cup to her nose but did not drink, motioning that the others should help themselves. Yet they glanced at each other, none making a move.

The young men grew impatient. “Give it a try! Why just sit there?”

Zhang Zhongheng glanced at Xu Ruojin and, seeing her utterly unruffled, her confidence undimmed, said nothing.

Jiang Mingshuang was the first to lift her cup and take a sip, her eyes lighting up. “Delicate and gentle! Soft and sweet on the tongue, and there’s a lovely sweetness to it.” She exhaled and sniffed her hand. “There’s no trace of strong alcohol at all—just the scent of bamboo leaves!”

Her praise for Xu Ruojin displeased Yuan Huiling, who knocked back her own cup in one gulp. Zhao Cuiling and Mo Rong followed suit.

The three exchanged glances, speechless, for this wine was better than any they had tasted before.

Mo Rong kept silent, while Zhao Cuiling complained, “There’s barely any taste of wine left—can it even be called wine?”

Yuan Huiling shot her a glare, inwardly regretting her own misjudgment.

Who would have thought that this impoverished girl had picked up such a clever trick?

When she saw Xu Ruojin looking at her, Yuan Huiling quickly moved on, accusing Xu Ruojin of being secretive:

“You gave my mother three jars of wine, but never shared this method of preparing it. What, are you still keeping secrets from her?”

“This wine can be drunk as it is, but I worried the young ladies might not tolerate its strength. I only diluted it to spare you from arriving at the banquet flushed and tipsy, and risking the ladies’ displeasure for unseemly conduct,” Xu Ruojin replied, having anticipated Yuan Huiling’s pettiness. “Not every young lady has your tolerance, Miss Yuan.”

Mo Rong interjected, “Then why don’t you drink your own wine?”

Xu Ruojin countered, “If I were to become intoxicated, would you brew wine for the gentlemen later?”

Mo Rong fell silent, saying no more.

“Miss Xu truly lives up to her reputation. I look forward even more to your wine-brewing later.”

“This wine smells wonderful, and the method is so novel. I’ve never seen it before.”

“We’re in for a treat today! By the way, where’s Brother Yuan? He’d better tell the servants to hurry, or the banquet will begin before the wine is ready.”

“It’s my first time watching a woman brew wine with my own eyes…”

Zhang Zhongheng studied Xu Ruojin for a long moment, and a strange feeling stirred within him.

Suddenly, he found himself unwilling for those around him to keep watching Xu Ruojin.

The thought startled even himself.

He glanced instinctively at Liang Xiao, but Liang Xiao and Jiang Biwu were watching the wine stove, not Xu Ruojin.

Meanwhile, the young servants dashed about, drenched in sweat, repeatedly bringing the implements and medicinal herbs listed by Xu Ruojin.

Having agreed to undertake this task, Xu Ruojin saw no need to wait for Yuan Huiling’s pointed prodding. She simply set to work.

Her hands flew as she sorted through the various herbs, her movements deft and practiced—clearly the work of someone neither ignorant nor pretending at skill.

Her slender, jade-like fingers moved with precision as she directed Chuncao to tend the fire and boil water.

Jiang Mingshuang, curious, stepped forward. “Can I help in any way?”

Xu Ruojin hesitated. Though she preferred to work alone, Jiang Mingshuang’s goodwill was clear, and to refuse might be taken amiss.

“Pound the herbs,” Xu Ruojin suggested, selecting a task that required no expertise, only strength. “Is that all right?”

“I can do it,” Jiang Mingshuang replied briskly, rolling up her sleeves and ready to begin.

A servant approached Yuan Huiling, embarrassed. “Fifth Miss, I simply can’t find the small scales for weighing the ingredients…”

“Useless!” Yuan Huiling had not expected the problem to arise on her end. “What about the scales for weighing silver and gold? Bring those!”

“They’re all… all in use in the accounting room,” the servant stammered, shrinking back.

With gifts from every household being tallied, the group couldn’t help but laugh.

Yuan Huiling’s face darkened to ink; Xu Ruojin covered her mouth, barely hiding her delight.

“No matter. I’ll make a simple set for my own use,” Xu Ruojin said, taking some sticks, silk thread, and wrapping paper. Following the method she had used at home, she soon fashioned a makeshift scale.

The onlookers stared, wide-eyed, having never seen such a thing.

Xu Ruojin finished everything, needing only a standard weight.

Before she could speak, Liang Xiao tossed her a coin. “That’s exactly one qian.”

Xu Ruojin accepted it with a smile and a word of thanks.

Zhang Zhongheng, watching the two of them, clenched his teeth in frustration.