Chapter 47 : When you think of Cao Cao, he appears

When Wen Jun asked this question, the left and right bodyguards standing beside him tacitly stepped aside, dodging the inkstone that Yue Shaozhi threw.

Wen Jun caught the inkstone steadily, but unfortunately, the ink not only stained his hands but also splashed onto his chin and lapel.

Wen Jun sighed, “Why do you get angry every time I mention Song Ying? You’re making me think you really have feelings for her.”

Yue Shaozhi threw something again, and a gust of wind passed by Wen Jun’s ear. He turned his head and saw a hidden dart embedded in the bookshelf support.

Wen Jun smiled, walked over, removed the hidden dart, and handed it back to Yue Shaozhi. “Alright, I was wrong. I won’t bring it up again. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Yue Shaozhi said coldly, “Get lost.”

Yu Liang escorted Wen Jun and his two servants to the front yard.

As Wen Jun stepped onto the stairs, he paused, turned around, and asked Yu Liang, “Do you think your master likes Song Ruoer more, or Song Ying more? Or does he like them both equally?”

Yu Liang replied expressionlessly, “Young Marquis, if you want to die, please don’t drag me down with you.”

“Hahaha.” Wen Jun winked mischievously. “I like Song Ying more. Alright, no need to see me off.”

Wen Jun got into the carriage, looked down at the ink on his clothes, and muttered to himself, “This is all Song Ying’s fault. She should compensate me with a new outfit.”

—

Song Ying was eating meat spring rolls fried by Aunt Dong when she bit into a bone.

She picked out the tiny bone fragments and kept eating.

Faer rushed in from outside. “Miss! Something big just happened, the Young Marquis Wen is back!”

Song Ying was stunned. She glanced at the broken bone on the table and said, “If he wants to come back, let him.”

Faer looked both angry and anxious. “The Young Marquis is petty! What if he comes to our house tomorrow? What should we do?”

Song Ying remained calm. “If the enemy comes, we use soldiers to stop him; if water floods in, we block it with earth. If mice show up, we release the cat; if people come, we close the door and beat the dog.”

Faer patted her ears. “Got it! I’ll go grab some weapons.”

Song Ying said, “Wen Jun isn’t Song Shihe. Beating him takes strategy.”

Faer thought hard for a moment. “I can’t think of any strategies.”

Song Ying said, “Forget it. There are two spring rolls left. Do you want them?”

Faer swallowed and nodded eagerly. “Yes!”

Song Ying pushed the plate toward her. “Here, eat.”

Without hesitation, Faer grabbed the spring rolls with her hands and started eating happily. “Aunt Dong’s cooking is always the best, hehe.”

Song Ying went to the inner room and picked up a medical book to read.

She had no time to waste thinking about how to deal with Wen Jun. Right now, she needed to help Liu Lingyan figure out how to obtain medicinal herbs.

The wintergrass from Yue State grows in the north, where ice and snow never melt.

However, Song Ying still hadn’t found a suitable replacement for Dayin’s scarce herbs.

She had a few options: secretly travel to Yue State to purchase them, conquer Yue State, buy from the black market, or… ask other colleagues?

Dayin has a Chamber of Commerce, but Song Ying only ran a small business and had never liked joining such guilds.

Just as she was hesitating, Xiaomi entered with the pharmacy’s manager.

The shopkeeper placed a gold-embossed invitation on the table and said, “Miss, someone from the Chamber of Commerce invited you to the Jialing Banquet in two days.”

The invitation simply said: “From the owner of Ping Letang.”

Song Ying carefully examined it. The handwriting was neat and sincere.

She thought to herself: ‘It’d be great if Cao Cao appeared’ (implying: speak of the devil).

Song Ying asked, “I’ve never had any dealings with the Chamber of Commerce. Why are they inviting me now?”

The shopkeeper speculated, “Maybe it’s because we’ve been selling new medicinal herbs recently?”

Song Ying had developed new medicinal substitutes for rare herbs. This innovation had earned her a fortune and eased the shortage of medicine in Dayin.

Naturally, this attracted attention within the industry.

It seemed the Chamber of Commerce was trying to win her over.

Faer asked curiously, “What’s the benefit of attending the Chamber of Commerce banquet?”

The shopkeeper explained in simple terms: “Make friends, find resources, and make big money together.”

Faer made an O shape with his mouth. “That sounds great, Miss. Shall we go?”

Song Ying looked at the medicine shopkeeper and said, “How about you go in my place?”

The medicine shopkeeper quickly waved his hands. “Everyone knows I’m just a small shopkeeper. They want to see you.”

Outsiders didn’t know that the real owner of Pingletang was actually Song Ying.

And whenever she went out, she always used a pseudonym.

Faer asked the shopkeeper, “Will there be food at that banquet?”

Song Ying laughed out loud. “You just ate spring rolls, and you’re hungry again?”

Faer said, “I was just asking casually.”

The medicine shopkeeper looked at Faer fondly. “Of course there’ll be food. They’ve invited famous chefs from all over the country to cook.”

Faer’s eyes instantly lit up with images of delicious dishes.

Song Ying said with affection, “Do you want to go? If you want to, then let’s go.”

Faer nodded eagerly. “Yes, I want to!”

Song Ying: “Alright then, let’s go. Let’s go see the world.”

To avoid causing trouble, Song Ying and Faer changed into men’s clothing. She also wore a mask to cover half her face, then called Xiaomi to come along to Juya Pavilion with them.

The last time she’d gone there was with Liu Lingyan to meet Wen Jun, so this time was naturally different.

She heard that the organizer of this Jialing Banquet was the owner of Juya Pavilion.

Song Ying was quite curious herself and wanted to see what kind of talented people were in the Chamber of Commerce.

After presenting their invitation, they were led from the front yard, to the middle yard, then to the back yard, and finally to the inner yard.

Faer whispered to Song Ying, “This place is huge. It feels even bigger than the Regent’s Palace.”

In fact, the former identity of Juya Pavilion was an entertainment venue for the royal family of the previous dynasty, so of course it was enormous.

After the dynasty fell, it somehow ended up becoming a private dining venue for the upper class.

The owner of Juya Pavilion must be really impressive.

Song Ying and the others were amazed by the grand two-story building in front of them, which spanned nearly two acres.

Faer couldn’t help exclaiming, “What a magnificent place. So extravagant! It’s even more luxurious than a royal palace!”

Indeed, this was the first time Song Ying had seen doors and windows decorated with gold-painted designs.

“Boss, please come in.”

As the doors opened, the rich aroma of wine wafted into the air.

Song Ying said, “That’s Zuilihong.”

It was the same wine she’d served when she hosted Wen Jun before, it was incredibly expensive.

It’s said that only five jars are produced each year, and any extra must have been reserved for special events like this banquet.

Song Ying stepped over the threshold, walked around the gauzy curtains, and finally arrived at the central hall.

At the moment, guests were chatting in small groups, voices lively and overlapping.

Faer said, “Miss, let’s find a place to sit.”

Song Ying replied, “Alright.”

Soon, food and drinks were brought over.

Song Ying didn’t dare drink the precious Zuilihong, so she handed it to Xiaomi to try instead.

Xiaomi only took a small sip, then immediately praised it.

Song Ying said, “You have only one mission tonight, eat and drink well. But remember, don’t drink too much.”

Faer already had a chicken leg in her mouth and responded with a muffled voice, “We understand, Miss.”

Just then, someone approached holding a wine cup and asked, “This young man looks unfamiliar, what’s your name?”

Song Ying had no choice but to stand and respond, lowering her voice slightly. “Hello, my name is  Fang Xiawen.”