Chapter 37

During lunch, Xia Qingqing joined her adoptive parents and family for a meal at Xinglin Hall.

In the dining room, there were five people in total: Grandpa Sun, her adoptive father, adoptive mother, Sister Feifei, and herself. The lively chatter filled the air.

“Grandpa Sun, we’re here to join the fun!”

Just as they were about to start eating, Xie Xiaogongye and Liu Gongye walked in.

“Come, come! Sit down and eat! It’s been ages since this old man had such a lively meal!”

Grandpa Sun waved them over. A servant quickly set up two extra sets of dishes and moved two chairs over.

“Great! I’m sitting next to my sister!”

Liu Gongye dragged his chair to sit on Xia Qingqing’s left.

Not to be outdone, Xie Xiaogongye also pulled his chair over, taking the spot to her right.

“She’s my dear friend. I need to sit close to her so she can admire my handsome face and hear the rhythm of my pounding heart!”

Hiss

Everyone shivered involuntarily. This Xie Xiaogongye was oily no matter where he went!

Liu Gongye, unamused, stomped hard on Xie Xiaogongye’s foot under the table.

“Ow, ow, ow!”

Xie Xiaogongye jumped up suddenly.

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

“Hehe! I just remembered I brought some wine from the Western Regions! Let me have my guard, Yan Bei, bring it in for everyone to taste. Life is like a fine wine; you can’t help but get drunk!”

He limped out of the room, one foot dragging behind him.

Xia Qingqing stared at his foot in confusion. It seemed fine earlier—why was he limping now? Hmm… Maybe I can sell him my medicinal safflower oil for treating sprains. At a hundred taels a bottle, it’s not even expensive!

Hehe!

Xia Qingqing giggled behind her hand.

“Sister, eat! This pork knuckle is amazing! It’s one of Grandpa Sun’s signature dishes. I always eat tons of it when I visit with my great-grandfather!”

Liu Gongye enthusiastically picked up a piece of pork knuckle and placed it in Xia Qingqing’s bowl.

“Xiao Liu, we should wait for Xie Xiaogongye before we start eating,” Xia Qingqing reminded him.

“Hmph! I know my sister likes that peacock. But I won’t wait! If Sister doesn’t eat, then Xiao Liu will feed her!”

Ignoring her words, Liu Gongye picked up the meat and brought it directly to her mouth.

“Mmph!”

Knowing his princely status, Xia Qingqing dared not disobey. Helplessly, she opened her mouth and ate the meat.

Xie Xiaogongye soon returned, carrying two bottles of wine. Behind him, his guard Yan Bei carried additional bottles and glasses.

“Everyone, try some authentic wine from the Western Regions!”

Xie Xiaogongye had his guard arrange the glasses, uncorked the bottles, and poured everyone a taste.

The red liquid in the glass caught everyone’s attention.

“This was a gift from a girl I met in the Western Regions. She said their wine is made by young maidens stomping grapes barefoot, giving the wine a unique feminine aroma!”

Ugh!

Liu Gongye retched dramatically, covering his mouth even though he hadn’t eaten anything.

Everyone wanted to react the same way but couldn’t—after all, this was Xie Xiaogongye. Liu Gongye’s reaction, however, spoke for them all.

“Alright, alright! I’m always polite, refined, and well-learned. Cheers to me!”

Xie Xiaogongye sat down, took a small sip of the wine, and savored the aroma with a smug expression.

“Eat, everyone! Drinking on an empty stomach isn’t good for you. Let’s eat!” Xia Qingqing encouraged.

“Sister, eat more meat! You’ll grow taller and plumper that way!”

Liu Gongye diligently placed a chicken leg in Xia Qingqing’s bowl.

“Actually, I think…”

Xie Xiaogongye started to speak again, but when he saw Liu Gongye glaring at him, he wisely closed his mouth and focused on his food.

Finally, the meal ended, and everyone went their separate ways.

Xia Qingqing left Xinglin Hall with her bag, which contained the Nine-turn Silver Needles Grandpa Sun had given her, along with some red packets and loose silver.

“Qingqing, do you need a ride?”

Xie Xiaogongye’s luxurious carriage pulled up beside her, and he stuck his smug face out of the window.

“No need! I’m heading to the market to shop,” Xia Qingqing waved him off.

“Alright then! If you need anything, feel free to use this VIP card at my family’s shops!”

Xie Xiaogongye handed her a card through his guard.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly…” Xia Qingqing said politely, even as her hand quickly took the card.

The VIP card was made of black iron, with a bright red gemstone embedded in it—likely a high-grade pigeon blood ruby.

“My shops are marked with a golden ‘Xie’ sign. We have cosmetics, jewelry, silks… even the famous Brocade Pavilion is mine! Just show this card, and the shopkeepers will charge it to my account.”

With that, Xie Xiaogongye waved his gold-painted fan and bid her farewell.

“Take care, Young Master!” Xia Qingqing curtsied respectfully.

Looking at the VIP card in her hand, she tried to pry out the gemstone, but it was firmly embedded. Giving up, she sighed.

“Let’s go shopping! I promised the gatekeeper I’d bring him a roast chicken. And I need some essentials too.”

Taking out her notebook, Xia Qingqing reviewed her shopping list as she strolled toward the bustling Vermillion Bird Street.

“I should also check the jewelry shops to see how much I can get for the trinkets from those scumbags. Cash in hand is always the safest!”

She stepped into the largest jewelry shop in the area, oblivious to the golden ‘Xie’ sign above the entrance.

The shop had two floors. The first was filled with relatively common pieces. Seeing that she still had time, Xia Qingqing decided to browse leisurely.

Outside, two luxurious carriages pulled up. A group of elegantly dressed ladies stepped out, among them Xia Jinlan.

She had arranged to meet her friends for a shopping trip.

As she entered the shop, her eyes caught a familiar figure.

“Ladies, please proceed to the VIP room upstairs!”

The shopkeeper greeted them warmly, accompanied by assistants.

“Wait, I see someone I know!”

Xia Jinlan sashayed over to Xia Qingqing.

“Well, well! Qingqing, what are you doing here? Planning to buy jewelry? Do you even have the money?”

Xia Qingqing turned around and grabbed her sister’s sleeve with an excited expression. “Second Sister! I don’t, but you do! We’re family, aren’t we? What’s yours is mine!”

Xia Jinlan nearly choked on the spot.