Chapter 102: Encounter with Chu Lan and Others in the Capital City

On the tenth day of the ninth month, Madam Yun set out for the prefectural city accompanied by Wei Ruo and Wei Qingwan. Alongside the coachman and guards, their attendants—Cuiping, Cuihe, Xiumei, and Nurse Zhang—also accompanied them.

The invitation from the magistrate’s wife was for the fifteenth day of the ninth month, but since the journey would take one or two days and Madam Yun feared unforeseen circumstances, they departed four days early.

Xingshan County was remote; they set off at dawn and only reached the prefectural city at dusk.

Normally, the streets of the prefectural city would have quieted down by evening, shops closing and people returning home. However, halfway through their journey, the Wei family’s carriage came upon a crowd engaged in a fierce fight—flashes of blades and swords, quite terrifying.

The coachman wanted to turn back immediately, but the narrow road made turning around impossible, leaving them stranded at the roadside, uncertain what to do.

Inside the carriage, Madam Yun and Wei Qingwan were tense.

Wei Ruo was also startled. Who could be so reckless as to brawl openly on an important street in the prefectural city?

Cautiously, Wei Ruo parted the curtain slightly.

Through the slit, she recognized a familiar figure amidst the fighting—Lu Yuhong.

If Lu Yuhong was here, then Chu Lan must be involved as well.

Sure enough, as Wei Ruo scanned the street, she spotted Chu Lan in a nearby corner, flanked by several guards.

Chu Lan did not intervene; the petty foot soldiers before him were not worth his personal involvement.

Wei Ruo’s gaze met Wei Qingwan’s across the carriage. Wei Qingwan’s face showed a mixture of shock at the chaotic scene and a faint, barely concealed delight.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the commotion outside subsided.

Shortly after, Lu Yuhong approached the Wei family’s carriage.

“Apologies for disturbing your journey. The matter has been settled; you may proceed.”

To avoid suspicion, Madam Yun did not draw back the curtain but replied through it, “No worries, it’s good to hear it’s resolved. Thank you, young sir.”

Madam Yun had already recognized Chu Lan and Lu Yuhong, aware of their identities, and naturally dared not utter a word of reproach.

After a brief exchange, Lu Yuhong was about to let the carriage continue on its way when suddenly, unsure if he recognized the Wei family’s carriage or their attendants, he asked, “Is the eldest Miss Wei aboard?”

Madam Yun and Wei Qingwan both glanced at Wei Ruo, eyes wide with surprise.

Wei Ruo considered before replying, “What does young sir require?”

Lu Yuhong said, “Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you still have that sauce you gave Miss Xie?”

Sauce? Mushroom sauce?

Wei Ruo recalled she had gifted Xie Ying two jars of mushroom sauce; at the time, Xie Ying had said she would share one with her brother.

Wei Ruo knew that recently Xie Jue was also in Taizhou prefectural city, likely with Chu Lan and the others.

Judging by Lu Yuhong’s words, he must have tasted the mushroom sauce at Xie Jue’s place.

After pondering briefly, Wei Ruo responded, “Apologies, Young Master Lu, I did not bring it along on this trip.”

In truth, Wei Ruo was reluctant to give it to Lu Yuhong. Although it was nothing valuable, she harbored no fondness for Chu Lan, and by extension, held no favorable impression of Lu Yuhong either.

Yet she dared not refuse outright, nor lie that she had none left, but indeed she had not brought any with her.

Usually, a courteous young gentleman would take this as a polite refusal and let the matter drop—no one would chase after a jar of mushroom sauce.

Yet Lu Yuhong was evidently not a conventional noble son; he straightforwardly said, “When you return to Xingshan County in a few days, Miss Wei, could you kindly send me a jar?”

Wei Ruo had never encountered someone so bluntly asking for something, especially one she barely knew.

Just as she was considering how to respond, Chu Lan’s voice came from outside.

“Yuhong, your words are a bit too forward.”

Lu Yuhong scratched his head sheepishly. “Sorry, Brother Chu. My mind was only on getting some mushroom sauce. That stingy Xie Jue said it was his sister’s gift and only gave me a spoonful to mix with noodles. He refused to give me more no matter what. This sauce isn’t found elsewhere. Since I’ve finally met the source, my craving made me forget manners and etiquette!”

Lu Yuhong was rather carefree, often acting without much decorum.

With Chu Lan’s reminder, Lu Yuhong realized that demanding mushroom sauce from an unfamiliar noble lady in public was quite inappropriate.

He apologized, “Sorry, Miss Wei, I was foolish. I won’t bother you further.”

With that, Lu Yuhong stepped aside.

Madam Yun ordered the coachman to proceed. As they passed Chu Lan and Lu Yuhong, Wei Qingwan cautiously lifted the bamboo curtain of the carriage window and glanced back at the two men.

Madam Yun asked Wei Ruo, “Ruo’er, what’s this about the sauce just now?”

Wei Ruo answered calmly, “It is a sauce I made with minced meat and mushrooms in my spare time and gifted two jars to Xie Ying. Apparently, Xie Ying gave one to her brother. Since Xie Jue is now in the prefectural city, and seems acquainted with the young sir we saw earlier, they likely shared it.”

Since the sauce was originally a gift to Xie Ying, this explanation was reasonable, so there was no concern about Madam Yun questioning her.

“I see,” Madam Yun nodded, then said, “If it’s just some sauce, and that young sir asks again next time, just have a servant give him some. Give it openly and without concealment.”

As long as it was not a private item belonging to a lady, sharing food was acceptable.

Wei Ruo said nothing; Wei Qingwan, curious, asked, “Sister, do you know how to make sauce?”

Leaning against the carriage wall, Wei Ruo replied lazily and casually, “Many rural women make their own food. I learned a few recipes from them.”

“Could you teach me next time? I want to learn too,” Wei Qingwan expressed her eagerness.

“You should learn how to be a proper lady and future mistress of the household first. Skills like sauce-making can come later. But if you’re truly curious, you can ask the household cook; she surely knows,” Wei Ruo responded.

Suggesting this in front of Madam Yun would leave her no choice but to teach her sauce-making? What was she thinking?

“The cook in the household surely isn’t as skilled as you. That young sir is from the capital and has tasted many fine dishes. For him to praise your sauce so highly, it must truly be exceptional,” Wei Qingwan said.

Wei Ruo replied leisurely, “Please forgive me, sister. I’ve been busy with many things lately and don’t have the time to teach. In truth, sauce-making methods are mostly similar. Whoever you learn from is the same. That young sir probably found my rustic sauce novel because he’s used to delicate cuisine.”

The carriage continued on its way into the evening city, the unexpected encounter leaving impressions that would linger.