CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 203: THE FRAGRANCE OF WINE (1)

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes darted around.

The Second Princess said, "Ah, Sister-in-law, you came back just after we finished lunch. Have you eaten?"

Li Yuzhu, with her keen sense of smell, detected the faint scent of alcohol on Xue Family.

"Sister-in-law had some wine, so you must have had lunch, right?" She looked at Xue Family’s face, "Look, your face is still red, Sister-in-law. You drank quite a bit, didn’t you?"

Xue Family hurriedly covered her face with her hand, "I... I, I, I’m not drinking. You girls, don’t talk nonsense."

She only had one glass of wine, but as for why her face was red...

It was all Yu Wen Zan’s fault earlier.

Thinking about the scene at the small residence just now...

She dared not think any further.

Her heart was beating wildly.

Afraid that the younger sisters-in-law would notice her unusual expression, Xue Family quickly turned her head away.

"But I smell the alcohol on you." Li Yuzhu sniffed, "It’s locally made Osmanthus Rice Brew."

Xue Family was even more alarmed, internally cursing Li Yuzhu for having a dog’s nose!

Can you smell even one drink?

Xue Family concocted a lie, "I didn’t drink! I just passed by a liquor store where the shopkeeper’s wife was overwhelmed, and she called me to help. I helped her draw a few pounds of wine."

Thinking of this excuse, Xue Family secretly admired her own cleverness.

Once you enter a liquor store, even your hair smells of alcohol. She became more confident, "I inhaled a bit of the wine, and my head is still dizzy. The shopkeeper’s wife laughed, saying that I inhaled so little wine that it made me like this. She says she’s been inhaling for twenty years, and her tolerance has grown."

The Second Princess and Liu Si Ni were simple-minded and just responded with an "oh."

But Li Yuzhu knew that Xue Family was just making excuses.

Alright, she would see how many excuses Xue Family had to cover her lies.

"Sister-in-law, since you helped the shopkeeper’s wife, did they treat you to a meal?" Li Yuzhu asked again.

"Yes, yes, I helped her, so of course, she treated me. I had rice and beef soup." Xue Family replied with an awkward smile.

At that moment, the Second Young Master and Mu Yuanxiu returned together after delivering the bowls.

The Second Young Master saw Xue Family, slightly frowned, called out "Sister-in-law" and then ignored her, busying himself with his own tasks.

Mu Yuanxiu didn’t greet Xue Family, directly acting as if she didn’t exist, and went to help the Second Young Master.

The more indifferent he was, the more anxious and scared Xue Family became.

She always suspected that Mu Yuanxiu knew something.

To conceal her inner panic, Xue Family hurriedly looked for something to do.

Li Yuzhu, however, wouldn’t let her go, "By the way, Sister-in-law, you said you were going to check on the business of the peers Second Sister works with. Did you find them? How’s the business at other cake sellers?"

Xue Family was stunned for a moment, nearly forgetting her original purpose for going out.

In truth, she wanted to try her luck to meet Yu Wen Zan, using the excuse to check on the competitor’s business.

Unexpectedly, she ran into Yu Wen Zan as soon as she stepped out.

"I found one place, and their business is not as good as ours." Xue Family adjusted her hairpin and said awkwardly.

When she lifted her arm, there was a very noticeable red mark on her left wrist as if it had been pinched.

Li Yuzhu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Oh, where is that stall?" Li Yuzhu asked again.

"It’s not a store, just a stall. When I went, the stall owner was packing up, so it’s clear their business isn’t good. Second Sister used to keep the stall busy until the afternoon, but that shopkeeper packed up before noon," Xue Family explained.

"Hey, Sister-in-law, what happened to your wrist? Who pinched it? Such a big red mark," Li Yuzhu pointed at her left wrist, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

Xue Family was startled.

She quickly looked at her hand, "This... it was... the woman at the liquor store... I couldn’t carry the wine jar she found me useless, grabbed my hand to help, her strength was like a bull’s, and pinched me red."

"Ah, there’s also a mark on your neck. Was that also done by the shopkeeper’s wife?" Li Yuzhu asked again.

She laughed to herself, thinking of how wild Xue Family must have been playing to get these marks.

Xue Family was even more alarmed, unable to fabricate more lies.

"A bug bit me," she said randomly.

"That bug has teeth, does it? There are several teeth marks," Li Yuzhu got closer to look, blinking her eyes.

"Ah? A bug with teeth? Let me see, let me see!" The Second Princess, eager for entertainment, dropped the dough she was kneading and ran over to Xue Family to look.

The Second Young Master turned back, glanced at Xue Family, and frowned deeply.

"That was me scratching with my nails," Xue Family defended, "Where are there bugs with teeth? You’re just talking nonsense." She pushed the Second Princess aside, "Hurry and make the cakes, the freshly baked ones are selling out fast."

The Second Princess walked away in confusion.

"Oh," Li Yuzhu nodded, indicating that she understood, "By the way, eldest sister-in-law, where’s that wine shop? I want to buy some wine for Father and elder brother. Elder brother really likes the local osmanthus brew."

Xue Family became annoyed, "That shopkeeper’s wife... is really difficult to deal with. Don’t buy from her. I suspect there’s something wrong with that wine. She waters down the wine she sells, and it’s ridiculously expensive. If you say her wine is pricey, she’ll resort to violence."

Excuses just keep coming one after another!

And they’re full of holes.

Li Yuzhu looked at her panicked expression, amused in her heart.

If not for the fact that two more customers had come to buy pastries, she would have continued to tease Xue Family.

.

Today’s business was as good as yesterday’s.

At closing time, the Second Princess counted the money, totaling 1,090 coins.

She happily said, "Ten more coins than yesterday!"

Everyone was very happy.

Because this was a collective business, everyone got a share of the profits.

The Second Princess would take the money back to Princess Consort Luling, and then Princess Consort Luling would record each person’s merits, and distribute the money at the end of the month.

Xue Family’s gaze swept over the Second Princess’s money pouch briefly before shifting away.

After the afternoon faded, there weren’t many people walking on the street, and most of the shops had closed.

Only the shopkeepers who either lived in the shop or nearby kept their shop doors open.

The Second Young Master called out to everyone to pack up and go home.

There wasn’t much to tidy up. The cart only had some food to be brought back.

Mu Yuanxiu sent Li Yuzhu a pheasant, and the Second Young Master bought some flour and rice, as well as salt.

As they passed by a winery, Li Yuzhu bought five pounds of osmanthus brew.

She smelled the wine jar and asked Xue Family with a light smile, "Eldest sister-in-law, how does this wine compare to the wine from the winery you visited today?"

Xue Family was so angry she gritted her teeth, would it ever end?

"This wine’s aroma is somewhat better," she responded perfunctorily.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "That’s good. I hope elder brother likes it. Otherwise, elder brother might dismiss the wine I bought after smelling the wine scent on you."

Wine scent? Xue Family was very flustered inside, she decided that when she got home, she’d bathe immediately to get rid of the wine smell.

On the way back, except for the Second Princess and Liu Si Ni who kept chatting and laughing, talking about today’s earnings and the interesting people they met while selling pastries, the others didn’t talk much.

Xue Family wished she could fly back home.

When approaching Niu Tou Mountain area, Mu Yuanxiu headed back first.

Li Family’s siblings returned to the house one by one, and Xue Family ran home as if flying.

Li Yuzhu didn’t rush into the house.

She stood on the road, calling out to the Princely Heir, "Elder brother, we brought wine home, it’s the osmanthus brew you like, come and taste it!"

The Princely Heir was transplanting bean seedlings, hearing Li Yuzhu’s call, he straightened up and smiled, "I’ll come drink later, elder brother is busy!"

Li Xing’an was also helping with the transplanting,

He urged the Princely Heir, "Come on, elder brother, let’s go!"

Li Yuzhu called out again, "Third brother, come and taste too, if you don’t come, Second brother will finish it all."

Mentioning the second brother, Li Xing’an wouldn’t have it, he urged the Princely Heir again, "Let’s go, elder brother, that scoundrel second brother doesn’t think of others when he encounters good wine."

The Princely Heir knew, Li Xing’an was craving the wine.

"Alright, alright, let’s have a drink before resuming," the Princely Heir placed the unplanted seedlings in the shade, grabbed a spade, and walked towards the road.

Li Xing’an followed behind him.

He saw Li Yuzhu and immediately asked joyfully, "Third sister, how much wine did you buy?"

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Bought five pounds, is that enough for you all?"

Li Xing’an was so pleased he rubbed his hands, "Enough, enough, enough."

The three siblings entered the house.

Li Yuzhu urged Li Xin’an, telling him to quickly check out the wine in the kitchen.

Then she pulled the Princely Heir aside and said, "Elder brother, I need to tell you something."

The Princely Heir affectionately ruffled her hair, smiled and said, "What’s up? Go ahead and tell, third sister."

Li Yuzhu frowned, "Eldest sister-in-law went to help at a winery, only for an hour, but came back with a strong wine scent on her.

That wine scent was very nice, definitely good wine. I asked her where the winery was, wanting to buy some for Dad and the brothers to drink, but she refused to tell.

Elder brother, could you help me ask eldest sister-in-law where that winery is? Tomorrow I can bring some of that wine back for you."

She didn’t directly point out Xue Family’s possible affair, wanting to give the Princely Heir some face.