Chapter Eighty-One: Wei Mingtin Has Also Been Promoted

Wei Ruo continued speaking to Xu Zhengyong, “Don’t worry about the medicine. Whatever you need, just write to me, and I’ll have it all ready for you.”

“You’re so good to me, Sister Ruo! With you as my sister, I consider my life worth it!” Xu Zhengyong was deeply moved.

“The most important thing is to keep yourself safe,” Wei Ruo reminded him once again.

Brother Yong could sometimes act rashly without thinking of the consequences, so she had no choice but to nag him a little.

“Don’t worry, Ruo. I know what I’m doing,” Xu Zhengyong replied with a smile.

“Oh, by the way, Meimei brought you quite a few things.” As she spoke, Wei Ruo pulled Xiumei forward.

Xiumei looked a bit shy. After hesitating for a moment, she simply thrust the cloth bundle she had carried into Xu Zhengyong’s arms.

“What are you doing? Trying to take the chance to hit me?” Xu Zhengyong asked.

The force with which she handed over the bundle was almost as strong as if she’d punched him.

“I’m not hitting you! I brought you something good—those are all tonics, to help you regain your strength,” Xiumei explained.

Realizing the bundle was full of nourishing food for him, Xu Zhengyong broke into a wide grin. “Meimei, you’re so good to me! Even if you don’t want to be my junior anymore, you could always be my wife!”

“What are you saying!” Xiumei flared up, swinging her fist at him.

Xu Zhengyong hurriedly ran away, clutching the bundle tightly, unwilling to let go.

“Xu Zhengyong, you stop right there!” Xiumei shouted.

Xu Zhengyong ran even faster, calling out as he fled, “No way! If I stop, you’ll beat me to death! I came back from the battlefield unscathed—if I get crippled by you, how will I face my comrades?”

Wei Ruo and the nursemaid shook their heads helplessly. They were used to such playful squabbles between the two—nothing serious ever came of it, so they just let them be.

Wei Ruo and Xiumei stayed at the Xu household until dusk. When it grew late and they had no choice but to leave, they bid farewell to the Xu family and returned by carriage to the Commandant’s residence.

###

Two days later, good news arrived at the Wei residence as well.

Xu Zhengyong’s promotion from a mere soldier to Deputy Company Commander had been finalized.

Wei Ruo sent Xiumei to deliver the medicines she had prepared for him. She had wanted to prepare even more, but time was too tight—any further delay and Xu Zhengyong might have already returned to his unit.

At the same time, good news came from the Wei family too: Wei Mingtin had also received a promotion.

His actual post was elevated from Deputy Battalion Commander to Battalion Commander, and his honorary title advanced from Sixth-rank Loyal and Eminent Commandant to full Sixth-rank Commandant of Faithful Declarations.

For a time, the whole Commandant’s household was filled with cheers and celebration.

Wei Mingtin had been a Deputy Battalion Commander for a long time and hadn’t received a promotion in many years. Only recently, there had been fears that he might be dismissed or demoted.

Now, all the dark clouds had lifted, and joy filled the air.

“Quick, write to the Marquis’ residence in the capital and share the good news!” Lady Yun instructed her eldest son, Wei Yichen, to compose a letter to the Loyal and Righteous Marquis’ household in the capital.

Although the news would certainly reach the capital before their letter, it was still proper for the younger generation to write and report on the family’s situation.

She then ordered preparations for her husband’s banquet to celebrate his success. Of course, the banquet would just be a family meal, as Wei Mingtin had expressly forbidden any extravagance.

Recently, things had not been going well in Xing Shan County. Many families’ rice crops had not headed well, and the weather seemed colder than usual for the season. All signs pointed to a difficult year ahead.

Given such circumstances, it was hardly appropriate to be wasteful.

That evening, the Wei family gathered together.

Even Wei Jinyi, who rarely appeared in the dining hall, made an exception and showed up.

Seeing him, Lady Yun was momentarily surprised.

“Mother,” Wei Jinyi greeted her.

She acknowledged him with a nod, saying nothing more. Thinking it over, she realized that today’s special occasion made it reasonable for him to join them for the meal; she had only been startled because it had been so long since he’d dined with everyone.

Wei Yichen stepped forward to greet him. “Second Brother, how have you been lately?”

“Well enough,” Wei Jinyi replied, as reserved as ever—his expression unchanged.

“When will you be heading to Huzhou?” Wei Yichen asked again.

“It should be a few more days,” Wei Jinyi answered.

“If you need anything, just let me know,” said Wei Yichen.

Wei Jinyi nodded lightly.

Wei Qingwan’s eyes lingered on Wei Ruo. Dressed today in a pale green satin jacket and skirt, her hair styled in a simple bun, Wei Ruo looked lively and radiant.

Now that her father had been promoted, the eldest legitimate daughter of the family held even more weight. Wei Qingwan knew all too well that the higher the status of a noble household, the more it emphasized seniority and order.

When talk of marriage arose in the future, the eldest legitimate daughter would have the advantage.

The thought brought a shadow to Wei Qingwan’s expression.

Wei Ruo, however, paid no attention to the others’ moods. Standing quietly in the corner of the dining hall, her mind was elsewhere.

She had many things to worry about these days: besides the sweet potatoes at Xiaoyang Mountain in the north of town, the improvement of wastelands in the south, and the Xie family’s medicinal fields, she was also planning to use the five hundred taels she had recently saved to buy grain and coal from other regions.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Wei Mingtin enter the dining hall in plain clothes.

“Father,” Wei Yichen greeted him.

He gave a brief acknowledgment.

Wei Mingtin’s gaze then fell upon Wei Jinyi behind Wei Yichen.

“So you’re willing to come out and be sociable today?”

“Yes,” Wei Jinyi replied, as reserved as ever. It seemed he responded the same way, no matter who stood before him.

“That’s good. You should get out more, not stay cooped up in your courtyard all the time,” Wei Mingtin said warmly.

Next, his eyes fell on Wei Qingwan and Wei Ruo.

“Father,” Wei Qingwan called sweetly.

Wei Ruo, distracted by her thoughts, was slow to react. Only when she noticed her father looking at her did she greet him, “Father.”

He responded with a nod.

“Everyone, take your seats.”

At his word, the family sat down one after another.

Here in Xing Shan County, the rules were more relaxed. Had they been at the Loyal and Righteous Marquis’ residence in the capital, with the children at their current ages, men and women would have sat at separate tables.

The round table was laden with dishes of every kind.

Tonight’s fare was especially lavish: home-cooked Da Chen yellow croaker, wheat shrimp, salt-grilled pork liver, steamed swimming crabs, stuffed pancake rolls, tofu balls, poached chicken...

There was a noticeable increase in seafood.

After the recent victory, some fishermen had gone out to sea and brought back their catch. They had sent seafood to the Commandant’s residence to thank Wei Mingtin for defeating the pirates.

Wei Mingtin was overjoyed—not just because of the fine food, but because it meant the townspeople could return to fishing for their livelihoods. For Xing Shan County, a place desperately poor in agriculture, this was wonderful news.

At that moment, Wei Jinyi instructed Xiaobei to bring in a jar.

“What fine thing has Jinyi brought us today?” Wei Mingtin asked curiously.