Du Ke had two sons and two daughters. His eldest son was already living outside, while his youngest son, a concubine’s child, had just gotten married.

His two daughters, one legitimate and one illegitimate, were both already married.

The Du family was known in the capital for their peaceful and respectable demeanor, but as a prestigious family, they lacked the harmonious atmosphere of the Qin family.

After listening to their conversation for a while, they shifted to discussing the apprenticeship.

Grandpa Qin took the opportunity to ask, “Lord, A Fang is fortunate to have your favor and be accepted as your disciple. How about we hold the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow morning with the four bows?”

The four bows were the highest form of ceremony in Qiguo, reserved for paying respects to heaven and earth, the ruler, parents, and teachers.

Generally, the four bows were mostly used among scholars, like when students pay respect to their teachers.

The practice of using the four bows for apprenticeships was thus adopted.

Grandpa Qin mentioned it here primarily to show respect for Du Ke and the importance of the occasion.

Du Ke replied, “That’s perfectly fine.”

Although he worked in the Ministry of War, he was also a civil servant and supported the idea of using the four bows.

As they discussed the four bows, Yang Haiyan arrived.

Upon seeing Yang Haiyan, Grandma Qin and Mother Qin greeted her with great warmth, saying, “Yanyan has come!”

However, their warmth was not just politeness; it was also a feeling of relief, as even if Lord Du was courteous, they still felt uncomfortable.

Yang Haiyan smiled and said, “Grandma, Mother.”

She then greeted Du Ke, Grandpa Qin, and Father Qin, finally looking at Qin Fang and saying, “Husband, dinner is ready. Shall we start the meal early? After dinner, we can let the teacher and Lord Shen rest earlier.”

Qin Fang nodded and turned to Du Ke, “Teacher, how about we have dinner first? You haven’t rested this afternoon, so it would be good for you to rest early tonight.”

He had learned from the servants that Du Ke hadn’t taken a break in the afternoon when they visited the teacher’s courtyard.

Du Ke indeed felt tired.

After thinking about various matters all afternoon and then chatting with the Qin family elders for a while, he also wanted to rest early.

After the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow morning, he planned to visit the Beast Mountain Road.

In modern terms, Du Ke was a workaholic and a public servant.

Dinner was a simple family meal, with each dish prepared by Yang Haiyan featuring familiar flavors, differing from the meals usually prepared by the Kun Zhang family.

For example, the cold dishes included shredded potato salad, smashed cucumbers, roasted vegetables, and pickled radish.

The hot dishes featured braised fish, sweet and sour ribs, egg and tofu soup, stir-fried cured meat with broccoli, spiced potato cakes, shredded chicken breast, and scrambled eggs with cucumber, as well as shrimp and egg custard.

Even though it was a family dinner, the men and women sat at separate tables, with a screen in between.

At one table sat Du Ke, Grandpa Qin, Father Qin, Shen Lixian, Qin Fang, and Qin Shouye.

At the other table were Grandma Qin, Mother Qin, Yang Haiyan, Qin Shoucheng, and Niu Dan.

Qin Siya and San Ya did not come out to meet the guests.

At thirteen and ten, respectively, they had reached the age where boys and girls should sit separately, so they stayed in their own courtyard for dinner.

Although it was a home-cooked meal, Yang Haiyan paid attention to the presentation, making the dishes look appealing, which certainly whetted the appetite.

In addition to the dishes, Yang Haiyan also prepared sweet rice wine.

The rice wine was cooked, then chilled, maintaining a slight coolness, making it taste delightful.

Qin Fang really liked this sweet rice wine. Even when there were no guests, he would drink a bowl during meals.

Seeing that his wife had prepared it, he proudly introduced it to Du Ke and Shen Lixian, saying, “Teacher, Lord Shen, please try this sweet rice wine made by my wife; it’s very delicious.”

As he spoke, he poured a bowl for both Du Ke and Shen Lixian.

As soon as the sweet rice wine was poured out, a fragrant smell wafted through the air.

Shen Lixian remarked, “Is this alcohol?”

In fact, Qiguo didn’t have sweet rice wine, though some common households would occasionally make it, albeit rarely.

Sweet rice wine required glutinous rice, which was more expensive than regular rice, and common folks rarely had the means to make it. “It smells wonderful; is it made from rice?” Only a nobleman’s son would think to ask such a question.

Qin Fang replied, “There are many types of alcohol; most people usually drink yellow wine, which is brewed from grains. Even the wine bought outside is generally yellow wine brewed from grains. There are fancier ones made from fruits. For us common folk…” Qin Fang paused, realizing he was no longer a commoner, “Usually, common folks brew their own from glutinous rice, but it’s still rare since people are reluctant to do so.”

So, for commoners, they would only drink alcohol on special occasions or when important guests visited.

“However, this type of wine is different from my wife’s sweet rice wine. Although it’s called wine, it’s actually not true alcohol; it has a low alcohol content, is slightly sweet, and is more favored by women. My wife says it’s similar to syrup. Lord Shen, you might as well give it a try.”

When Shen Lixian smelled the wine, he wanted to taste it.

After Qin Fang made a brief introduction, he took a small sip.

The reason for his cautious approach was his concern about the alcohol content.

However, it was indeed as Qin Fang described: it had a slight sweetness and a refreshing coolness.

He felt he could drink a whole bowl in one breath.

Seeing Shen Lixian like this, Du Ke naturally did not hold back and drank it all at once.

He thought that winning a person’s heart often starts with winning a man’s stomach.

Du Ke believed that Qin Fang was quite fortunate—lucky in life to marry such a perceptive wife.

Qin Fang’s wife really knew how to manage a household.

When Du Ke referred to her as someone who knew how to manage life, he didn’t mean it in a thrifty way but rather as someone who understood how to live well. “This rice wine tastes quite good. Is it difficult to make?” he asked.

Qin Fang replied, “Well… I’m not sure. I’ll ask my wife.”

Only a screen separated the two tables, and Yang Haiyan naturally heard Du Ke’s question.

She said, “Teacher, making rice wine isn’t complicated. Moreover, drinking a bit every day is good for the body and can promote blood circulation. If you add goji berries and red dates, it can replenish qi and blood. Furthermore, it has certain medicinal values for women.”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “If there are elderly people at your home, they can eat it as well. My grandparents and parents also consume it.”

Du Ke was a filial person, and he asked because he thought of his old father.

Old Master Du liked sweets and wine, but he had been ill a couple of years ago due to his anger towards Du Ke and couldn’t indulge in sweets or drink wine anymore.

Now, as Du Ke tasted the rice wine, he wanted to know if his father could drink it.

However, upon hearing it was also beneficial for women, Du Ke became even more interested.

He didn’t doubt Yang Haiyan’s words; in fact, he had a good impression of her, appreciating her capabilities.

He believed that a remarkable girl like Yang Haiyan, who mentioned the benefits of rice wine, wouldn’t just speak for no reason.

However, in front of everyone, Du Ke didn’t say much more, “I see.”

This dinner was enjoyable for both hosts and guests.

After the meal, Qin Fang had Qin Shouye escort Shen Lixian back to the courtyard and personally sent Du Ke back as well.

Generally speaking, it was common for a younger brother to receive distinguished guests on behalf of the elder brother.

Since Qin Fang’s parents were of a slightly higher generation, it was inappropriate for them to send Shen Lixian off, making Qin Shouye the most suitable choice.

As for Du Ke, he was Qin Fang’s teacher, so it was natural for Qin Fang to see him off.

Arriving at the courtyard, Qin Fang said, “Teacher, I’ll have my wife make some rice wine and then send the recipe to your wife. What do you think?”

Du Ke nodded, “Hmm, it’s kind of your wife to think of this.”

Since Du Ke was Qin Fang’s teacher, he never held back with his own people.

Qin Fang felt happy about Du Ke’s casualness; he preferred it that way. “Then I won’t keep you any longer, Teacher. I’ll head back now.”

Du Ke replied, “I won’t keep you. I am indeed quite tired today.”

When Qin Fang returned to his courtyard, he saw Yang Haiyan standing against the wall.

He walked over with a smile and stood beside her, “Wife, you worked hard today.”

Yang Haiyan laughed at his serious tone, “So how will my husband compensate me?”

Upon hearing this, Qin Fang immediately looked at her with a face full of suspicion, as if Yang Haiyan had said something scandalous.

Yang Haiyan couldn’t help but laugh.

Qin Fang chuckled, “I just told the teacher that I’d send some rice wine to your mother-in-law in the capital later.”

Yang Haiyan replied, “Great.”

What she had said during dinner was precisely this, “I’ll include the recipe and some precautions. If the elderly at your teacher’s home want to eat it, please have a doctor check their health first. Generally speaking, it should be fine, but it’s better to be cautious just in case.”

Qin Fang said, “You’re so thoughtful, wife.”

Hearing him call her ‘wife’ made Yang Haiyan want to laugh, “How about we wait until August to send it? By then, the watermelons will be ripe, and we can also send some cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes. It’s only a three-day horseback ride from Yunxiang County to the capital. If we prepare ice and store the items, they won’t spoil.”

Actually, watermelons wouldn’t spoil without ice, but due to the hot weather, cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes could go bad.

Qin Fang thought, “Why not prepare more and send some to the emperor?”

Yang Haiyan was speechless.

Was he addicted to giving gifts?

Qin Fang smiled mysteriously, “The emperor must have never eaten watermelon. As a loyal subject, it’s my duty to offer good things to the emperor. Besides, since Lord Shen tasted it today, it wouldn’t be right not to send some to the emperor.”

Yang Haiyan understood Qin Fang’s intention.

To put it in modern terms, he wanted to cultivate a humble persona.

The next day, the people of the general’s residence woke up particularly early because Qin Fang was formally going to apprentice under Du Ke.

Even Shen Lixian got up early; as the only spectator, he acted as a witness.

After getting up, Qin Fang bathed and cleansed himself, needing to be pure from head to toe.

The four bows of respect were the most solemn and highest etiquette, and those performing the ritual needed to cleanse themselves to show their seriousness.

The author has something to say: Note: The four bows of respect are based on the apprenticeship rituals of the Ming Dynasty, which I have slightly modified.

Actually, the more formal ritual now should be the three bows and nine kowtows, which started in the Qing Dynasty.

Personally, I prefer the Ming Dynasty; their clothing and makeup are more beautiful!