Wang Daxia wanted to stay, but Wei Caiwei didn't want his presence to disrupt her brief reunion with Ding Wu. She couldn't bear making Ding Wu, who had traveled such a long distance, endure further discomfort or let Wang Daxia continue to crowd him out. So she found an excuse to send him away, saying:
"Having you stay for dinner isn't just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks. With your huge appetite, this whole pot of braised chicken with mushrooms and cornbread pancakes would probably only be enough for you alone. My humble home can't accommodate someone of your stature—we'd all better return to our own places."
At his core, Wang Daxia was still a mischievous teenager with an innate tendency to push boundaries when not kept in check.
Wei Caiwei had just persuaded him with gentle words, and he'd readily agreed. But his promise proved even less substantial than flatulence—at least gas leaves behind an odor. He changed his mind instantly.
Wei Caiwei, bearing the affection of their past life as husband and wife, could forgive Wang Daxia repeatedly. But who was Ding Wu to him? Given Wei Caiwei's character, she wouldn't use her own bond with Ding Wu to force him to tolerate Wang Daxia's recklessness.
Did he think everyone in the world was his wife from a previous life?!
So Wei Caiwei practically kicked him out directly. Realizing she was angry, Wang Daxia immediately behaved himself and continued fanning the stove vigorously with a palm-leaf fan. "I got hungry on the way here and ate a basket of steamed buns to tide me over. I won't eat much later—just a few pieces of mushroom. I won't compete with you all for the meat."
Wang Daxia was like an inflated frog, puffed up to his limit and thinking himself intimidating, only to be deflated instantly by Wei Caiwei's light poke.
Just as Wei Caiwei was determined to drive him away and prepared to continue her expulsion, knocking came from the front gate. Wang Daxia leaped up as if seeing reinforcements. "I'll get the door for you."
Without waiting for Wei Caiwei's refusal, Wang Daxia used his long-legged advantage to dash over like the wind and open the gate. There stood Chen Jingji and Li Jiubao, carrying a basket of zongzi, a jar of homemade rice wine, and a braised pig's head.
The two were stunned to see Wang Daxia answering the door.
Wang Daxia enthusiastically took the gifts, saying, "Since you're already here, you shouldn't have brought presents! Come in, come in, have a seat."
Having seen the notices posted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard days earlier about the resolution of the double homicide case involving Thousand Household Chen and his son—perpetrated by Zhou Xiaoqi, who had kidnapped Wei Caiwei—the pair had learned of Wei Caiwei's recovery and return from the Imperial Guard Office. They brought gifts to help calm her nerves after the fright.
Wang Daxia found Chen Jingji and Li Jiubao particularly pleasing today, like timely rainfall after a long drought. Their visit dissolved the awkwardness—after all, Wei Caiwei couldn't very well throw him out in front of guests.
Sure enough, when Wei Caiwei saw the future Empress Li visiting with personally made zongzi and brewed rice wine, how could she dare show neglect?
Not wanting to expel one guest in front of newcomers, she warmly invited them to sit on the stone stools in the courtyard. Wang Daxia, benefiting from their presence, managed to secure a seat too.
However, he was perceptive enough to know Wei Caiwei disliked having him around. Once the guests left, she'd surely kick him out again. After sitting briefly, he voluntarily stood up and returned to fanning the stove.
With a meal cooking on the stove, there was no time to boil water for tea. Instead, Wei Caiwei cut up a watermelon and served various dried fruits from Tieling's Ivory Mountain that Ding Wu had brought.
Wei Caiwei introduced Ding Wu to the two visitors: "This is my friend from back home, Ding Wu. When I was unjustly implicated in this legal trouble, he traveled a great distance to testify and prove my innocence."
Chen Jingji regarded him with deep respect. "Brother Ding is truly a man of honor."Wei Caiwei then introduced her guests, "This is Chen Jingji. He was the agent who helped me find this house and assisted with my move from the inn. He's been very helpful in daily matters."
"This is Miss Li, Chen Jingji's neighbor. Her family has been tile makers for generations. She was the one who installed the roof tiles in my house—excellent craftsmanship, not a single leak."
As it's improper to mention an unmarried woman's personal name to unrelated men, Wei Caiwei referred to her as Miss Li.
Ding Wu bowed with clasped hands, "As the saying goes, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. My friend has been fortunate to have your care."
Both quickly returned the courtesy. Chen Jingji said, "It's our pleasure. Doctor Wei even gave us heat-relief pills. My grandmother particularly liked them—more effective than mung bean soup."
Li Jiubao, uncomfortable speaking with unfamiliar men, responded with a silent smile and nod.
The four conversed around the stone table, while Wang Daxia remained separately, dutifully fanning the stove like a "kitchen maid," silently hoping for Wei Caiwei's forgiveness.
As usual, Wei Caiwei shelled hazelnuts for her guests, remembering Li Jiubao's fondness for them.
This is the future Empress Dowager Li, she thought. Must treat her well—she'll become our greatest supporter.
When the aroma of baked grains from the pan-fried flatbread filled the air, Chen Jingji and Li Jiubao tactfully rose to take their leave—their host was about to dine, and staying longer would imply mooching a meal.
Wei Caiwei made a customary effort to retain them, "Stay for dinner. The chicken is stewed, and the bread is ready."
Chen Jingji declined, "My grandmother has prepared our meal and won't eat until we return. We'll visit another day."
Seeing them off, Wei Caiwei packaged two ginseng roots each from Ding Wu's gift of Korean ginseng as return presents.
Though inexperienced in high society, both Chen Jingji and Li Jiubao recognized the value of Korean ginseng and promptly refused.
Wei Caiwei insisted, "Chen Jingji, your grandmother should fortify herself in summer to avoid winter ailments. Miss Li, your father and brothers do laborious work—ginseng will replenish their energy. Since Tieling borders Korea, it's not as expensive there as in the capital. Please take it."
Unable to decline such generosity, they accepted, repeatedly expressing, "Thank you for your kindness. We are deeply grateful."
Chen Jingji drove the mule cart back to Machang Hutong with Li Jiubao.
He asked, "Will your father and brothers return for the Dragon Boat Festival the day after tomorrow? If so, I'll fetch them from Sanlitun early."
Li Jiubao shook her head, "They originally planned to, but they just sent some wages home with a message. The client is rushing the project, offering double pay for working on the festival day, so they won't return."
"Double pay!" Chen Jingji exclaimed, "What client is so generous and urgent?"
Li Jiubao explained, "I heard it's a tomb. The client has a harsh fate that overwhelmed his wives—he married four times, each requiring reburial. Besides the main tomb for himself and his first wife, three additional chambers are needed for the subsequent wives. The complex includes an ancestral hall and caretaker's quarters—all on a tight schedule."
Her father and brothers hadn't returned home since starting work in Sanlitun.
Chen Jingji remarked, "Such haste suggests the client is gravely ill, preparing funeral arrangements in advance to ward off misfortune—hoping it might reverse his fate."Li Jiubao looked at the Korean ginseng in her hand and said, "Working continuously without rest these past few days, my father and brother must be exhausted, unable to return home for the festival. Tomorrow I'll bring them zongzi and rice wine to celebrate the holiday early, and give them this ginseng so they can find time to brew some ginseng soup when possible."
Chen Jingji replied, "Good, I'll drive you to Sanlitun tomorrow."
At Sweetwater Lane, Ding Wu deftly sliced the marinated pig's face gifted by a customer, tossing it with cucumber in a large bowl. He dressed it with garlic sauce, aromatic vinegar, crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and other seasonings—a substantial dish ready for the table.
The clay pot was brought directly from the stove. When the lid was lifted, the aroma of stewed chicken with mushrooms and cornbread buns filled the courtyard with rich, savory notes.
Wei Caiwei ladled three bowls of rice wine and set out three sets of bowls and chopsticks.
Noticing the place settings, Wang Daxia—who had been striving to behave—realized Wei Caiwei's anger had subsided and he wasn't being driven away. Delighted, he rushed over but paused before sitting. Recalling his manners, he straightened up and gestured invitingly to Ding Wu with a slight bow. "When a friend visits from afar," he said, "elder brother Ding should take the seat first."
Wei Caiwei thought: That's more like it.
Ding Wu accepted graciously and sat, followed by Wei Caiwei, with Wang Daxia taking the last seat.
As the son of a fallen high official, Ding Wu, along with Wang Daxia and Wei Caiwei—both from mid-ranking military families—observed dining etiquette, maintaining silence during the meal.
Wei Caiwei peeled a zongzi for Ding Wu and used serving chopsticks to place a chicken drumstick in his bowl.
When she picked up the second drumstick, Wang Daxia habitually extended his bowl. But Wei Caiwei placed it in her own instead.
Embarrassed yet unwilling to withdraw his empty bowl, Wang Daxia reached for the soup ladle to mask his awkwardness. Ding Wu, however, preempted him.
Taking the iron ladle from the pot, Ding Wu served Wang Daxia a generous portion of chicken broth. "That night when Banxia was held hostage by Zhou Xiaoqi," he said, "it was thanks to young master Wang understanding her plea for help and joining forces to fight the assailant. My gratitude."
Despite Wang Daxia's previous provocations, Ding Wu bore no grudge and even served him soup.
This display of gentlemanly virtue was truly... exasperating.
The more magnanimous Ding Wu appeared, the more Wang Daxia's jealousy simmered. He felt he had met his lifelong rival but restrained himself from outright sarcasm in Wei Caiwei's presence. "Doctor Wei and I share a life-and-death bond," he declared. "We understand each other implicitly—a slight hint from her, and I knew she was in danger. Besides, as neighbors, we naturally look out for one another. It was only right."
His implication: You may have been her closest friend in the past, but things are different now. I am her best friend.
Wang Daxia drank the broth Ding Wu served as his due. As he reached for a chicken wing, Ding Wu ladled more soup into his bowl—two consecutive servings. The second scoop included a large piece of chicken breast, but Ding Wu deftly shook the ladle, mimicking a canteen worker's technique, and the meat slid back into the pot.
With a warm, brotherly smile, Ding Wu poured clear broth into Wang Daxia's bowl. "Here, the broth is delicious—all the essence is in it."
Wang Daxia thought: I don't want the essence—I want the meat!
After two bowls of broth, Wang Daxia was half-full with liquid.
For the third bowl, he was determined to get some actual chicken.To prevent Ding Wu from "enthusiastically" saving him soup again, Wang Daxia had learned his lesson after two bowls. He deliberately placed his rice bowl further inward, out of Ding Wu's reach.
Wang Daxia raised the communal chopsticks and launched an assault on the chicken breast in the iron pot.
"These mushrooms were personally gathered by Brother Ding from Elephant Tusk Mountain," Wei Caiwei swung the iron ladle, scooping up a full spoonful of mushrooms. "Though the gift is light, the sentiment is profound. Would you like to try some?"
Wang Daxia couldn't refuse. Obediently, he handed over his hidden empty bowl. "Yes, of course I do."
Author's note: Daxia: I'm small, pitiful, and don't eat much. Banxia, please forgive me.
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