Chapter 500: Chapter 500 Four People Eating Barbecue Together_1

“There’s no need to thank me, I didn’t do anything.” Wei Jinyi replied.

“How can you say you did nothing, second brother? You’ve been doing quite a lot for me. Not only was acquiring the coal mines with your help but you’ve also silently supported me in doing many things other women couldn’t do. And whenever there is trouble, you always try your best to shield me from it.” Wei Ruo detailed the things Wei Jinyi had done for her.

Wei Jinyi silently gazed at Wei Ruo’s face, lit up with a bright smile, without responding.

Looking at Wei Jinyi, Wei Ruo continued: “There aren’t many people in this world who indulge me as you do. There’s my nursemaid, Meimei, and now, you.”

“Yes, we are all your family,” Wei Jinyi said.

Hearing these words, the corners of Wei Ruo’s mouth lifted into an uncontrollable smile.

Family, what a beautiful word.

Even though the nursemaid, Meimei, and her second brother were not related to her by blood, they all gave her warmth that surpassed family bonds.

She was content.

###

Afterward, Wei Ruo, accompanied by Wei Jinyi, purchased an estate in Hejian Prefecture, near the cotton fields she had recently bought.

Since the estate was located in the suburbs, its price was not steep, especially when compared to shops in Capital City.

With 1600 taels of silver, she purchased the estate, which covered more than twenty acres of land. This included a large bamboo grove behind the estate—everything was now Wei Ruo’s property.

She particularly liked the two massive storage houses within the estate, where she could store the cotton she would collect in the future.

She could also store goods transported from Jiangnan here and conveniently transport them to the Capital City as needed.

She also planned to make use of the large bamboo grove behind the estate. Bamboo is very versatile, not only providing shoots all year round but also serving as material for making various bamboo products.

Besides, as long as it was properly protected, many useful herbs such as ginseng and Trillium could be planted within the bamboo grove, which thrives in shady areas.

On the night they purchased the property, Wei Ruo didn’t rush back to Tongshan Temple, and Wei Jinyi stayed with her.

There were people on the mountain who could look after things. As long as Eunuch Gao was kept in the dark, there wouldn’t be any issues if they were absent for a night or two.

In the large courtyard of the estate, Wei Ruo and Xiumei set up a grill.

Xiaobei helped with starting the fire and adding charcoal.

Wei Jinyi had had someone gather lots of fresh ingredients. After being prepared, they were skewered onto newly cleaved bamboo sticks.

The familiarity of this scene made her heart flutter. Although the courtyard they were in was much larger than the Wei family’s and more tranquil.

Before long, the scent of roasted meat wafted through the courtyard, stimulating everyone’s appetites.

Wei Ruo sprinkled each skewer with her secret barbecue seasoning.

Xiaobei was thoroughly enjoying the grilled meat skewers, saying, “Miss, your cooking is exceptional. Initially, I wasn’t used to it, but now, I find all other food mundane after tasting yours.”

Xiumei replied,”Your words make it sound as if our Miss only cooks using condiments. Haven’t we also cooked plain dishes?”

Xiaobei hurriedly explained, “I misspoke. Both the dishes Miss and you cook are delicious! I was ignorant and mistook a pearl for fish eyes in the past.”

Xiumei was amused by Xiaobei’s frantic apology, “I see you’re willing to go all out just for a few bites of Miss’s cooking. You’ve even referred to yourself as a wild pig!”

Compared to Miss and Xiumei, I really am a wild pig, coarse and unrefined!” Xiaobei said with a silly grin.

“You should stop addressing me as Meimei. That’s what our Miss calls me,” Xiumei corrected him.

Initially, he had respectfully addressed her as “Lady Xiumei.” Recently though, he had taken to copying Miss by calling her “Meimei,” which sounded rather odd to her!

“I apologize, Lady Xiumei.” Realizing that Xiumei was taken aback, Xiaobei hastily corrected himself.

“It’s not that I don’t allow you to call me that; it’s just that we aren’t close enough for that.” Xiumei added an explanation.

“I understand, Lady Xiumei. I wasn’t considerate enough.” Xiaobei scratched his head sheepishly, looking as bashful as a young maiden.

While they ate and chatted, Wei Ruo, when the conversation had reached its peak, mentioned what she had discussed with Wei Jinyi a few days prior.

“I’m thinking of arranging a marriage for Meimei.”

Once they heard this, both Xiumei and Xiaobei choked on their food.

“What happened to you two?” asked Wei Ruo. She had no idea why they both choked simultaneously.

“Miss… Miss, what are you talking about? Marriage? Didn’t you agree that I would stay unmarried? You can’t drag me down because you were forced into marriage!” Xiumei gasped, looking shocked.

Xiaobei looked at Wei Ruo and Xiumei with wide eyes, appearing like he wanted to say something, but held back.

“Don’t worry, if you do not wish to marry, I will not force you to. I just want to introduce someone to you. If you like him, great, if not, we will forget about it. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on potential happiness because of me.” Wei Ruo reassured.

“No! I would not consider marriage. I want to stay with Miss for the rest of my life.” Xiumei declared vehemently, and then hastily added, “Besides, Miss, you haven’t really married yet, have you? How can I get married when you’re not married?”

As she spoke, Xiumei glanced at Wei Jinyi, “Your marriage with the prince, it doesn’t really count as a marriage. In the future, when the prince takes another wife, you can get married as well!”

At Xiumei’s words, Xiaobei looked anxiously at Wei Jinyi.

The moonlight and the light from the lantern hanging nearby illuminated his face, revealing his usual aloof countenance. Yet his eyes betrayed a hint of the emotions he kept hidden deep within him.

Xiumei momentarily paused, realizing that the atmosphere was somewhat odd, especially with Xiaobei. He seemed rather strange.

Did she say something wrong? Surely, she hadn’t. It was clear that the prince and Miss were not really married.

Wei Ruo handed Xiumei a skewer of meat, “Meimei, eat.”

Xiumei nodded with a slightly vacant expression, then took the skewer and began to eat.

Wei Ruo continued, “Rest assured, Meimei, I won’t let you marry if you do not want to. I will allow you to stay with me and become a lifelong wealthy landlord’s wife. I just thought of introducing you to someone. If you’re not even willing to meet him, then consider it as if I’ve never mentioned it.”

Xiumei finally relaxed, “With Miss saying that, I’m relieved. I’m determined to accompany Miss for a lifetime and become a wealthy landlady. How could I casually marry someone?”

Wei Ruo sighed internally, unsure whether her lasting influence on Xiumei—that as a woman, she must rely on herself, not on a man—was a good or bad thing.