Chapter 199: The Fragrance of Plants (First Update)

Chapter 199: The Fragrance of Plants (First Update)

All banquets, in the end, turn into mutual boasting.

Even a banquet with ladies as the main guests ends up in boasting, albeit in a more subtle manner—through poetry and songs expressing how empty life is when one has nothing to do all day. No matter how much rouge they buy, how many afternoon naps they take, or how many tunes they listen to, it makes no difference.

It’s pure *V*.

It’s... hard to evaluate.

Xianjin, who couldn't drink, rolled her eyes several times, deeply regretting her high level of education that allowed her to understand these pretentious words.

When everyone had had enough to drink, they asked for invitations under Xiong Yoyo's name— "Sister Yoyo, will you have any companions when you go to see the floating white tomorrow? I have nothing to do tomorrow and can keep you company."

After saying this, two pairs of eager eyes stared at Xianjin.

Xianjin tactfully presented an entry token with both hands.

By the end of the gathering, Xianjin had handed out nearly twenty tokens, almost every lady present received one. Only Heng Wuniang from Heng Kee stood aloof, remaining sober while everyone else was drunk.

Xianjin held the last entry token she had brought today and nodded politely at her.

As the guests gradually dispersed, Xianjin said goodbye to Xiong Yoyo and left the mansion with little Baozhu, yawning, intending to walk back leisurely for digestion.

Just as they turned the corner, a haughty voice stopped them.

"Manager He."

Xianjin looked over, and a petite figure emerged from the darkness.

Xianjin smiled, "Miss Heng Wuniang."

"You can call me Xi Xi," Heng Wuniang smiled, her small round face looking quite amiable at this moment, "Since paper relies on water, I chose the name Hengxi."

Xianjin nodded, "Do you have a sister named Heng Kiwi?"

To make pulp, one needs paper medicine, which is the juice of kiwi vines.

Heng Wuniang was taken aback, "No, I only have a younger brother named Heng Zhu."

Oh, bamboo screens for papermaking. Kiwi would be better than bamboo; kiwi vine juice plays a more important role in papermaking.

Xianjin let her thoughts wander as she walked forward with a relaxed pace.

Heng Wuniang stood still for a moment, trying to create an atmosphere, but when she lifted her head gracefully, she saw Xianjin already walking far ahead with her hands behind her back.

Heng Wuniang: ?? Why didn’t she wait?

Heng Wuniang took a deep breath and hurried after her.

"Manager He, will you welcome Heng Kee to visit and learn when 'Floating White' opens tomorrow?"

Heng Wuniang spoke confidently, as before, "In business, we should not look down on our peers. We are all prestigious paper merchants in Xuancheng, and even in Southern Zhili, we are top-notch. If we don’t support each other, we’ll only hinder each other..."

Xianjin nodded calmly, "I fully agree with your point about not looking down on peers."

Heng Wuniang smiled, about to continue, but Xianjin interrupted her—

"Why didn't you ask me for an entry token during the gathering?"

Xianjin smiled casually, still walking slowly as if strolling leisurely.

Heng Wuniang froze in place.

Xianjin continued walking away.

The evening breeze woke Heng Wuniang up, and she quickly caught up, "There were too many people at the gathering, and everyone was asking for tokens. I thought I'd wait until you were free to talk privately..."

Xianjin stopped.

Heng Wuniang almost bumped into Xianjin's back.

"No."

Xianjin shook her head calmly, "You felt it would be beneath you to approach Chen's openly, so you waited until now, hiding behind the wall, to find me alone. If you think it's embarrassing, why should I embarrass myself by chasing after you? You’re proud, but Chen's isn’t humble to the bone. Your advice about not looking down on peers applies to you as well."

Xianjin spoke bluntly.

Heng Wuniang's face turned red and then pale, wanting to explain but unsure where to start.

Xianjin suddenly asked again, "Miss Wuniang, haven't you taken over the family business yet?"

Otherwise, how could she be so naive as to offend someone without accomplishing anything?

Heng Wuniang glanced quickly at Xianjin, then lowered her head and whispered, "My elders are still in their prime, so I only help with accounts and inventory. I haven't taken over."

After a pause, her voice dropped lower, almost like a whisper, "With the family transitioning, my younger brother will eventually take over, so someone has to pave the way."

Pave the way?

Sacrifice herself to pave the way for her brother?

"It sounds like Miss Wuniang is educated and not just a frivolous young lady," Xianjin said softly.

Heng Wuniang nodded lightly, "Although my family is in commerce, we give girls the chance to study. I've read the Four Books and Five Classics with my teacher..."

Xianjin stopped completely, turned around, crossed her arms, and looked at Heng Wuniang for a moment, then raised her chin, speaking in a questioning tone but with certainty, "Do you want to run the family business?"

Heng Wuniang was startled and reflexively denied, "No, no! How could a girl like me run the family?"

She did not answer whether she wanted to or not.

Xianjin nodded in understanding and suddenly changed the subject, "Why hasn't Baiji come today? Could it be that they don't have any eligible young ladies?"

Since the Chen family and Heng Kee have come, why hasn't Baiji, one of the three major paper-making families in Xuancheng Prefecture, shown up?

Heng Wuniang smiled, "The girls from Heng Kee can still study with their brothers, but the girls from Baiji excel at embroidery and often become second wives or concubines in the households of high-ranking officials in Southern Zhili. The unmarried girls are also strictly chaperoned and rarely seen in public."

The Chen family, under the management of Old Lady Qu, still provides opportunities for unrelated girls and daughters-in-law to showcase their talents;

Heng family is relatively lenient with their daughters, allowing them to study but not to touch the family assets;

But the Bai family tightly controls their daughters, even using them as resources by marrying them off as second wives or concubines to gain political support.

Xianjin sighed softly.

The early winter evening breeze was slightly chilly.

Xianjin was dressed warmly in a thick, mustard-yellow coat that enveloped her shoulders and waist, making her look like a stout, image-unconscious mustard-yellow tree.

Heng Wuniang, however, had dressed carefully; though she wore a coat, it was surprisingly thin, designed to show off her graceful figure.

As the cold wind blew, Heng Wuniang's fingertips turned purple.

Xianjin lowered her head, took off her mustard-yellow cloak, and calmly draped it around Heng Wuniang's neck.

"No matter how cold it gets, you must keep yourself warm."

Xianjin whispered, then extended her hand to pass over the last wooden stick from her sleeve, "You can come; no one else from Heng Kee can."

In the dimly lit alley, the unique gray eaves and upturned corners of Huizhou architecture resembled a complex and serene mountain landscape.

Heng Wuniang was slightly stunned, her gaze fixed on the wooden stick.

The evening wind carried the fermented scent of fruit wine from the banquet, reaching their noses.

Heng Wuniang felt dizzy.

Xianjin extended the thin wooden stick further, "Do you want it, or not?"

Heng Wuniang tentatively took it.

Xianjin did not linger, taking Fat Huahua with her and turning to leave.

Heng Wuniang stood there, sniffing.

Though the color of the cloak had an unfortunate connotation, it carried a heavy, warm scent of grass and wood.