Chapter 288: Arriving a Step Late
Magistrate Chen arriving together with Wen Xiuyi didn’t surprise anyone in the least. Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu even teased Magistrate Chen as he entered.
“Yo, Lord Chen looks quite a bit darker!”
Magistrate Chen was already lifting his robes, preparing to pay his respects to Li Yi, when their teasing cut him short. He stood there awkwardly—knowing not whether he should bow or refrain.
Feeling he ought to reply to them first, Magistrate Chen kept his hands raised in greeting as he responded, “Ah, isn’t it all because I’ve been following Old Wen down to the countryside every single day lately? Never mind looking darker—I’ve even lost weight! You two hold on a moment, we’ll talk in a bit.”
Saying this, Magistrate Chen walked up to Li Yi and bowed: “This lower official greets the Heir of Prince Fu.”
Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu exchanged a glance, breaking into subtle smiles.
Li Yi raised his hand slightly. “Lord Chen has worked hard during this period as well. Once I return to the capital, I shall truthfully report the situation here to Imperial Uncle.”
The corners of Magistrate Chen’s mouth split wide open in an instant. He didn’t want to smile like that, but he truly couldn’t control himself!
“It’s all as this lower official should do, as I should do.” Preferably say a few extra good words!
Li Yi offered a faint smile. Had he not seen Magistrate Chen’s grin practically stretching behind his ears, he might actually have believed his humble modesty.
“Lord Chen need not be so formal. Today is Manager Qiu’s banquet, so please take a seat wherever you like.”
“Yes, many thanks, Heir of Prince Fu.” Magistrate Chen stood up and surveyed his surroundings.
Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu sat together, with Wen Jun beside Doctor Jin. There was an empty seat next to Manager Qiu, followed by Li Yi. Next to Li Yi was another empty seat—but did he dare sit there?
He didn’t dare.
Magistrate Chen stole a quiet glance at Wen Xiuyi, waiting to see where he would sit so he could sit right beside him.
Who knew that Wen Xiuyi walked straight over to the other seat beside Li Yi and sat right down in a completely casual manner?
“Old Chen, come sit!”
“Ah, coming, coming!” Magistrate Chen jogged over in high spirits and sat down on Wen Xiuyi’s other side. That way, only Wen Xiuyi stood between him and Li Yi.
Looking around the room, he didn’t catch sight of Wen Yao.
Magistrate Chen couldn’t help asking, “Where’s my eldest niece?”
Only then did Wen Xiuyi realize he hadn’t seen Wen Yao either. “Right, where’s Yao Yao?”
“In the back kitchen with Manager Qiu, saying she wanted to prepare today’s feast herself,” Doctor Jin replied.
“Alright then.” Wen Xiuyi turned his head to ask Li Yi, “Are your discussions finished?”
Li Yi nodded. “Mm, all finished. The contracts have been signed. We originally planned to return to the medical clinic to wait for Uncle Wen, but Manager Qiu insisted on keeping us for dinner.”
Wen Xiuyi asked no further details, merely nodding. “Mm, the wine at Zui Xian Tower is quite good.”
At this point, Doctor Jin spoke up: “By the way, Little Jun’s father, I need to take Wen Jun to the capital for a trip, so I’m giving you word.”
“Ah?” Wen Xiuyi was thoroughly confused. Why were they going to the capital all of a sudden? He looked at his son, and seeing his son offer a subtle nod, he finally confirmed it, asking, “Going to the capital for what?”
With Magistrate Chen present, certain words weren’t convenient to say openly, so Doctor Jin explained simply: “There’s nothing much going on here during this period, and it just so happens that a few old friends in the capital sent invitations, so I’m taking Wen Jun along to broaden his horizons.”
Realization struck Wen Xiuyi: “That’s a good thing! Jun, when you follow your master to the capital, take good care of him along the way. Be obedient and don’t go running around on your own, understand?”
Wen Jun: “…” He wasn’t a three-year-old child anymore, yet he still complied obediently, “Understood, Dad.”
Magistrate Chen, however, picked up on a subtle implication from their conversation, stealing a quiet look at Wen Jun.
With Imperial Physician Jin paving the road ahead of him, this lad from the Wen family had an immeasurable future before him! It seemed he had made the right choice not to make things difficult for the Wen family, but instead cultivate a good relationship with Wen Xiuyi.
Aside from Magistrate Chen, everyone else was quite relaxed, chatting casually. Before long, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the door—sounding like more than just one person had arrived.
Soon, the door to the private room was pushed open, and several young boys dressed in uniform scholar robes squeezed inside.
The youngsters, who had been laughing and messing around just moments before, instantly fell into line upon seeing the people sitting inside, offering proper, well-mannered greetings.
“Greetings to Master, Grandpa Jin, Uncle / Uncle Wen, and Lord Chen.”
“Greetings to Godfather, Dad, Grandpa Jin, and Lord Chen.”
Manager Qiu nodded with deep satisfaction, speaking up: “I’m giving you boys a day off today—no testing your knowledge.”
Hearing this, the boys’ eyes lit up instantly. Letting out a cheer, they scattered to find seats for themselves.
Datou threw himself straight into Wen Xiuyi’s arms, calling out “Dad” in a sweet voice.
Wen Xiuyi patted his head. “Go on over—your godfather saved a spot for you.”
Manager Qiu took the cue to beckon toward Datou.
Datou ran over with pitter-patter steps, taking a seat right between Manager Qiu and Li Yi.
Magistrate Chen had seen all these boys from the Wen family before, and Jin Xiuyi and Xie Anyi were frequent guests as well. But why was there an extra child here today?
“Whose child is that?” Magistrate Chen asked Wen Xiuyi in a low voice.
Wen Xiuyi took a glance and lowered his voice: “Brought by Li Yi—the young master from Third Princess’s household.”
Magistrate Chen nearly failed to sit steady, almost tumbling off his chair. Just as he hesitated over whether to stand up and pay his respects, he saw the children who had sat down earlier whisper something to one another, then swarm like a flock of bees over to the daybed by the window, peering outside to watch the lively street below.
“…” Magistrate Chen simply stopped agonizing over it. Since no one brought up his status, he would just pretend he didn’t know.
By the time Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong led the staff in serving a table full of food and wine, Magistrate Chen’s sense of astonishment was shattered once again after everyone took their seats.
So today’s banquet was held specifically to celebrate Wen Yao and Qiu Rongrong reaching a partnership with Li Yi!
The eldest son was following Imperial Physician Jin, the younger son was following the world-renowned Master Qiu, and even the daughter had started a business with the Heir of Prince Fu!
Looking at it this way, out of their whole family, only Wen Xiuyi—this minor seventh-rank official—was completely useless.
Yet he was their father!
Magistrate Chen suddenly felt that he hadn’t boarded a thief’s ship, but a grand vessel sailing toward a bright and boundless future.
Magistrate Chen raised his glass directly toward Wen Xiuyi: “Brother Wen, I toast to you!” How this little brother fares in the future will depend entirely on you!
Because Wen Yao had taken charge of the cooking herself with Chef Chen from the back kitchen assisting her, today’s banquet was prepared with exquisite perfection and mouthwatering flavor. Everyone ate until they were stuffed and drank to their heart’s content. Had Doctor Jin not been taking Wen Jun to the capital early tomorrow morning, several people would surely have been drunk under the table today.
Just as the banquet was nearing its end, an uninvited guest accelerated its conclusion.
Xie Yushan had originally been out enjoying himself with his worthless cronies. After all, Qiu Rongrong genuinely couldn’t be bothered to pay him any mind now; aside from giving him a bit of pocket money, he couldn’t see her from morning till night, so Xie Yushan could only seek entertainment on his own.
Only when he returned home and saw no sign of Qiu Rongrong during dinner did he learn that she was hosting a banquet at Zui Xian Tower today to entertain honored guests. Arriving at Zui Xian Tower, he learned from Manager Lu’s mouth that the honored guest was none other than the Heir of Prince Fu.
Without a second thought, Xie Yushan had rushed straight upstairs, only to find a table of leftover food—the banquet had long concluded.
Just as Xie Yushan was wondering which one was the Heir of Prince Fu and preparing to step forward to curry favor, he heard Manager Qiu say, “Everyone has had enough to drink, so let’s call it a day. Old Jin still has a long journey tomorrow.”
Shrewd as a spirit, Lord Chen quickly picked up the cue: “Doctor Jin, Manager Qiu, allow me to see you out!”
The three brushed past Xie Yushan with merely a subtle nod of acknowledgment, walking straight out the door.
Wen Xiuyi called out to his children and nephews: “Kids, let’s head home as well. Your grandmother will be scolding us in a moment!” With that, he scooped up Datou in one arm and walked out, even tossing a greeting as he passed Xie Yushan: “Master Xie, we’ll be taking our leave now!”
Li Yi blended right in among this group of nephews, departing directly.
Inside the room, only Qiu Rongrong, the restaurant workers who came in to clear the mess, and Xie Yushan—who still hadn’t reacted as he stood by the door—were left behind.
