Chapter 148: We Might as Well Eat

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“Clang, clang.” The county magistrate beamed with ingratiating warmth. So what if they were no longer in the capital? One of them had a son serving in the Hanlin Academy as a fourth-rank official, while the other, though he had resigned and returned to the countryside, had students scattered throughout the realm. Even the capital’s influential figures came to visit him from time to time.

When that person had come the year before, the magistrate had begged repeatedly before finally securing an audience. Yet he had stayed at Qiu Zhi’s home for quite some time.

While the others exchanged pleasantries, Wen Yao secretly sized up the county magistrate. How should she put it? He certainly looked smooth and worldly, with a great round belly that suggested he had never gone hungry. Whether he was a good official, however, remained to be seen.

The original novel had never described this county magistrate, so Wen Yao could not match him to anyone she remembered.

When he noticed that Dean Wu of Clearwind Academy was also present, the magistrate courteously exchanged greetings with him. But when his gaze swept toward the Wen family, it was obvious that he had frozen.

After all, although they were all wearing new clothes, their attire clearly did not belong in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Sure enough, after looking them over for a moment, the county magistrate asked awkwardly yet courteously, “And these people are?”

Everyone from the Wen family grew tense.

Manager Qiu introduced them openly. “They are relatives of mine. These two are my uncle and aunt. Their eldest grandson is currently studying medicine under Elder Jin.”

The newly introduced Old Man Wen and Madam Luo smiled faintly at the county magistrate. They were so nervous that they even forgot to bow.

The sight made the county magistrate draw a sharp breath inwardly. So these were Qiu Zhi’s relatives. No wonder they carried themselves with such dignity.

“So you are Mr. Qiu’s elders. Please forgive this subordinate’s rudeness.” The county magistrate cupped his fists toward Old Man Wen and Madam Luo.

Old Man Wen felt as though his heart were about to leap out of his chest. The county magistrate had actually bowed to him.

Madam Luo was even more flustered. All she could do was smile—smile again and again—because her hands and feet had nearly stopped obeying her.

Manager Qiu noticed the Wen family’s discomfort and sighed inwardly. If they wanted the family to enjoy a proper meal, it seemed they would have to leave this private room today.

“Since we have happened to run into Magistrate Chen today, why not take advantage of Rongrong’s opening and have a few drinks together?” Manager Qiu suggested.

Delight spread across Magistrate Chen’s face. He could not have wished for anything better.

“That would be wonderful. There are only Lord Xie and me in our party today. If Mr. Qiu, Elder Jin, and Dean Wu would do us the honor, we would be most grateful.”

Manager Qiu exchanged a glance with Physician Jin. The latter nodded, and only then did Manager Qiu turn to Qiu Rongrong.

“Rongrong, take good care of Yao and the others. We’ll go have a few drinks with Magistrate Chen. Bring out the finest wine in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Today, Magistrate Chen and I shall drink until neither of us can stand.”

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Qiu Rongrong hurriedly bowed and answered, “Yes.”

Only Xie Yushan remained completely outside the situation. What had Qiu Zhi just called Qiu Rongrong? Rongrong? Such an intimate form of address?

Manager Qiu cast a glance at Xie Yushan. From the way his eyes were darting about, he could tell exactly what the man was plotting. He gave a cold laugh inwardly, then explained to Magistrate Chen, “My lord came today to try the Cloudmist Roast Duck, did you not?”

Magistrate Chen nodded. “Indeed. I heard long ago that a Cloudmist Roast Duck restaurant was going to open beside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and I have been curious about its flavor ever since. So I came today.”

Manager Qiu threw back his head and laughed. “Then you are in for a treat. The roast duck was created by my two good-for-nothing nieces.”

Magistrate Chen raised a brow. “Nieces?” Surely this was not what he thought.

Manager Qiu continued, “Yes. Yao, come and greet Magistrate Chen.”

Wen Yao stepped forward and bent her knees in a formal curtsy. “Wen Yao pays her respects, my lord.”

“This niece of mine is the clever one in the family. She was the one who developed the roast duck. As for my other niece, she is the owner of this Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Rongrong, come over as well.” Manager Qiu looked toward Qiu Rongrong.

Qiu Rongrong understood at once that Manager Qiu intended to lend her his support. She hurried over and bowed. “My lord.”

“Madam Xie?” Magistrate Chen exclaimed in surprise.

Manager Qiu spoke without the slightest hesitation. “The girl married far from home and has a close relationship with my niece Yao. She is also of the same clan as me, so I have taken her as my niece. In the future, I hope you will look after her, Magistrate Chen.”

Who was Magistrate Chen? He was a seasoned master of officialdom. He understood the implication immediately and smiled.

“I see. Mr. Qiu, rest assured. If anyone dares cause trouble at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the future, Manager Qiu may come directly to the county office and find me.”

Qiu Rongrong bowed once more. “Then I shall thank you in advance, my lord. I will have the servants send the finest wine to your private room shortly, along with two more ducks for you to sample.”

“Excellent, excellent. Then I shall not stand on ceremony with you, Manager Qiu. Mr. Qiu, Elder Jin, Dean Wu, this way, please.”

“Please…”

The group walked out together. Xie Yushan followed at the rear, still stunned by what Qiu Zhi had said. He stared at Qiu Rongrong in disbelief, clearly wanting to question her, but when he saw the Wen family behind them, he lowered his voice.

“Mr. Qiu has taken you as his niece? Why did you not tell me about such an important matter?”

Qiu Rongrong gave him a cold laugh and met his gaze without the slightest politeness.

“I thought it was nothing important, so I did not mention it to you, my lord. Is there a problem?”

Xie Yushan was nearly beside himself with anger. This was not important? Now that Qiu Zhi had acknowledged Qiu Rongrong as his niece, persuading him to take Xie Yushan’s son as a disciple would be a simple matter. Yet this woman had not even mentioned it, leaving him to find out only now.

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Magistrate Chen had noticed that Xie Yushan had not caught up and had already stopped to wait. Only then did Xie Yushan lower his voice and say coldly, “Hmph. We will discuss this when we return tonight.”

“Have a safe journey, my lord.” Qiu Rongrong bent her knees in a formal curtsy, neither servile nor arrogant.

As for Xie Yushan wanting to settle accounts with her? That would depend on whether he still had the standing to do so.

Once Magistrate Chen had left, the Wen family finally relaxed a little. Unfortunately, Manager Qiu, Physician Jin, and the others had left as well.

“I was scared half to death. Good heavens, the county magistrate actually bowed to me.” Old Man Wen collapsed into a chair, still shaken.

Madam Luo also let out a sigh of relief and slowly sat down, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

“Yao, that really was the county magistrate just now, wasn’t it?” Madam Luo asked, clutching Wen Yao’s hand.

Wen Yao burst out laughing and nodded. “Yes, Grandma. That was our county magistrate. He bowed to you and Grandpa just now.”

Good heavens. Old Man Wen and Madam Luo felt that life had become far too astonishing lately.

Qiu Rongrong had the private-room door closed, then sat down calmly and said, “Grandpa, Grandma, what are you afraid of? No matter how important he is as county magistrate, he still has to lower his head in the presence of Elder Jin and Mr. Qiu. Especially Mr. Qiu—he regards you as his elders. Even the county magistrate would not dare treat you lightly.”

Old Man Wen and Madam Luo exchanged a glance. They had known that Qiu Zhi’s background was extraordinary, but they had never imagined it was extraordinary enough for even the county magistrate to bow and scrape before him.

To soothe everyone after their fright, Qiu Rongrong immediately ordered the dishes to be served, along with two platters of sliced roast duck. Only when they saw the table laden with delicious food did everyone’s spirits recover somewhat.

Once Old Man Wen had regained his composure, his eyes began to gleam and dart about. Madam Luo knew exactly what he was thinking and cut him off at once.

“I’m warning you: when we return to the village, you must not tell anyone that the county magistrate bowed to us. Whatever else he may be, he is still an official. If he learns our true identities, he may well be displeased. And if you go around boasting about it and embarrass him, be careful that he does not come after us to settle the matter.”

Old Man Wen had been hoping to show off a little to his old companions once they returned to the village.

“…”

Fine. He would just eat.