Chapter 188: Partiality

“The other day when your uncle and I went to the county town, we visited home and found out that Qiu’s shop had a lot of work, so he will be delayed in returning. Initially, we planned for your sister-in-law and the children to come back first. However, Wenrui had a slight fever a few days ago due to indigestion, so she decided to stay in the county town a bit longer to let the doctor take a look before returning,” Yang shi explained.

Fang Shi had given birth to a healthy baby boy named Jiang Wenrui, weighing six pounds and six ounces.

At over four months old now, Jiang Wenrui had a hearty appetite. Being at the stage of starting to eat complementary foods, he found the taste of foods other than breast milk intriguing and couldn’t get enough.

“Children are young, so we have to be extra careful,” Jiang Mixia chuckled.

“Indeed,” Yang shi nodded with a smile. “Originally, I thought, since Wenrui wasn’t feeling well, and with the eldest daughter-in-law having to look after both children, it was tiring. I thought of bringing Maihua back, but she refused.”

“She said she couldn’t leave her brother and mother alone at home. She’s the older sister and Mom’s little protector. She insists on helping Mom with chores. Listen to her, this little one acts like a grown-up,” Yang Shi added, amused.

Truly heartwarming.

When Yang Shi spoke of her granddaughter, her face was filled with love and indulgence, almost overflowing with affection.

Jiang Mixia and Jiang Xiaoxing couldn’t help but smile.

As they enjoyed their conversation, they suddenly heard commotion from outside the room.

First came a thud, followed by a clattering sound.

This commotion… Could it be the sound of someone falling?

Was it possible that their son-in-law had had a bit too much to drink again?

After all, Song Jingyun had a history of getting tipsy quickly, as evidenced by his previous incident of passing out after a single drink. Having had some alcohol at home during lunch and not having had a chance to relax with Jiang Youfu and Zhu Yongwu for a while, he was likely in a cheerful mood.

And in such high spirits, it was easy to become intoxicated.

Jiang Mixia had already prepared herself to carry her tipsy husband back home.

However, when she, along with Yang Shi and Jiang Xiaoxing, entered the main hall, they saw Zhu Yongwu lying under the table, clearly inebriated, while Jiang Youfu was completely drunk, slouched over the table, with dishes, utensils, and cups scattered all around him, muttering, “Drink, more drink…”

Meanwhile, Song Jingyun sat upright at the table, watching Jiang Youfu and Zhu Yongwu in their intoxicated states, feeling somewhat helpless as he rubbed his ear, “How did both of you end up this drunk?”

“How much did you give Uncle and Brother-in-law to drink?” Jiang Mixia asked Song Jingyun as they helped Yang Shi and Jiang Xiaoxing lift the two men and carry them to the inner room to rest.

“I… didn’t give them much,” Song Jingyun looked puzzled. “We were just playing a drinking game, and we had agreed that regardless of who lost among the three of us, I would drink with them.”

In other words, based on this arrangement, the amount of alcohol consumed by Song Jingyun was roughly equivalent to the combined total of Yang Shi and Zhu Yongwu.

Jiang Mixia looked at Song Jingyun with a puzzled expression, “When did your alcohol tolerance become so good?”

“I have no idea,” Song Jingyun replied, looking increasingly perplexed.

Truth be told, because he hadn’t consumed much at lunch, Song Jingyun felt regretful and decided to make up for it during the evening meal by drinking more. However, after the drinking session, Jiang Youcheng and Zhu Yongwu ended up heavily intoxicated, while he remained completely sober, without a hint of drunkenness.

It was indeed strange.

Jiang Mixia couldn’t help but scratch her head, pondering for a while, “Perhaps during your initial bout of drunkenness, it was just because it was your first time drinking, so you weren’t used to it. In reality, your alcohol tolerance is quite good?”

“Could be?”

Besides this reason, Song Jingyun couldn’t come up with any other explanation.

Yang Shi and Jiang Xiaoxing were also surprised to see Song Jingyun effortlessly outdrink Jiang Youfu and Zhu Yongwu this time, especially after having witnessed him being carried back by Jiang Mixia when he was drunk before. However, they marveled at how nonchalant Song Jingyun appeared.

They speculated that perhaps Song Jingyun, through frequent socializing with scholars and artists in the county town, had unintentionally built up his alcohol tolerance over time, considering the many gatherings and feasts among literati. They suggested to Jiang Mixia to prepare some strong tea and honey water for Song Jingyun when they returned home to help alleviate any effects of the alcohol.

Observing that Song Jingyun, despite not being intoxicated, might experience headaches or stomach discomfort the next day from the amount of alcohol consumed, Jiang Mixia instructed Zhucui to prepare honey water and mung bean hangover soup.

Although Song Jingyun felt full and not in the least tipsy, he followed Jiang Mixia’s instructions and drank the honey water and mung bean hangover soup before heading to bed.

Whether it was due to the hangover soup and honey water taking effect or because of Song Jingyun’s high alcohol tolerance, the next morning, Song Jingyun was as lively and unaffected as ever, while Jiang Youfu and Zhu Yongwu, the two in-laws, reportedly slept for most of the morning to recover from their hangovers.

As a result, Song Jingyun’s reputation for handling alcohol well quickly spread throughout the Jiang family village.

Those who had initially planned to have a good drink with Song Jingyun during the Lunar New Year period reconsidered their approach, opting for a more moderate approach rather than attempting to get him drunk.

Due to this shift in attitude, the festivities in the Jiang family village during the New Year celebrations saw a reduction in drunken revelry compared to previous years.

This eased Jiang Zhengxin’s mind greatly, attributing it to Song Jingyun’s influence. Consequently, during the New Year visits, the gifts presented to Song Jingyun were more substantial and grand compared to those given to others.

“Uncle Zhengxin is truly biased, giving us such modest gifts,” remarked someone in jest.

“Look at the gift for Jingyun, it’s thicker than all of ours combined.”

“Could it be because we’re not as obedient, sensible, and well-behaved?”

“I think Uncle Zhengxin is just biased for no reason…”

“You little rascals, what are you talking about? Instead of chatting aimlessly, why don’t you go and clear the manure at the village entrance?” Jiang Zhengxin shouted, “Accusing me of favoritism, what favoritism? It’s because Jingyun is always helping me solve problems, saving me from growing a head full of white hair. Unlike you lot, each one causing me worries!”

Song Jingyun, “…”

What problems had he been solving for Uncle Zhengxin?

Why was he unaware of this?

Jiang Mixia was equally puzzled.

Their confusion deepened as Jiang Chunhe arrived at their house early in the morning.

Upon arriving, Jiang Chunhe didn’t say much, just chuckled and headed into the courtyard to place a bamboo basket containing half a basket of eggs, a fish, a wild chicken, and a rabbit.

The wild game appeared quite fresh, as if they had just been hunted.

Jiang Mixia looked at Jiang Chunhe with suspicion, but before she could speak, Jiang Chunhe said, “It’s the New Year, didn’t have any gifts for Xiaoxia and Jingyun. This fish is from the river, and the rabbit and wild chicken were hunted in the mountains. Nothing special, just fresh food to enjoy.”