Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter Thirteen: A Dead End

After studying medical books at home for several days, Ji Meiqing was vaguely showing signs of qi deviation. Lu Yu did not interfere and simply took over all the household affairs silently.

The carriage from the Liu family stopped outside the courtyard, and servants from the Liu family got off. Lu Yu saw them and opened the gate. "Young Master Liu, has something happened?"

"Our young master would like to invite you two to the Liu residence to meet a distinguished guest." Although Lu Yu had some doubts, he didn't ask further and went back to his room to call Ji Meiqing. Upon hearing Liu Yu's invitation, Ji Meiqing immediately closed her book and became excited.

The two boarded the carriage together and went to the Liu residence.

This time, the two went straight in through the main entrance. Ji Meiqing happily followed Lu Yu into the hall. There were quite a few people in the hall, and she unconsciously slowed down her pace as soon as she entered.

Liu Yu walked over quickly, a smile on his face. When he saw Ji Meiqing, he said, "The prefect has come to ask for some liniment. It just so happens that the batch you sent last time is no longer available."

"I'm sorry, Young Master Liu, we didn't bring any," Lu Yu said, stepping forward and raising an eyebrow. He was more thoughtful than Ji Meiqing, naturally believing that some things were permissible while others were not.

Liu Yu was taken aback, then casually replied, "I know. How about this, I'll send someone to fetch it."

Ji Meiqing glanced at Lu Yu beside her, then at Liu Yu, and felt that this matter was somewhat unreliable.

"No need for all that trouble, the liniment can be made right now. Just bring over the medicinal herbs and pure white wine." Lu Yu answered Liu Yu's question by standing directly in front of her.

Liu Yu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and had someone take them to the medicinal herb warehouse to retrieve their items.

"Liu Yu is no simple man, we should be careful," Lu Yu said with a smile, his expression unchanged from before.

Ji Meiqing couldn't quite see through it, let alone understand it. But there was no time to think about it. The two of them prepared all the medicine and quickly began brewing.

Liu Yu held off the prefectural officials ahead. As it grew dark, Ji Meiqing took the medicinal wine and went to find Liu Yu.

Just then, Lu Yu arrived as well. They placed the wine in front of the prefect, saying, "This hastily made medicine is probably not as effective as the aged kind."

Prefect Wen opened it, smelled it, and then put it aside.

"Your medicinal wine is quite good," Prefect Wen said with a kind smile. "I've heard that your medicinal wine is selling well, so I'd like to cooperate with you."

Upon hearing the word "cooperation," Ji Meiqing's eyes lit up immediately. Cooperating with the government was undoubtedly a guarantee for making money.

Lu Yu frowned. "The medicinal wine takes time to prepare. If we need to provide a large quantity at once, it might be difficult."

"I can send people to provide what you need. As for the medicinal herbs, just let me know. As for the price, what do you think of the market rate?"

The road was completely blocked. Ji Meiqing thought about it and didn't feel there was anything wrong with it, so she looked at Lu Yu. He also deserved some credit for this.

“However… this medicinal wine must not be allowed to reappear on the market,” Prefect Wen suddenly made a request.

Ji Meiqing instinctively refused. Once she left the market, she would have much less money, which would be tantamount to cutting off her own source of income.

She certainly wouldn't do that. Market demand is more stable. If she only supplies the medicinal wine to the government, then her livelihood will be controlled by others, and her life or death will depend on them.

"Miss Ji, are you really not going to reconsider?"

“Unless you offer three times the market price,” Ji Meiqing said, fully prepared that he would not accept it.

As expected, after saying this, Prefect Wen's face turned ashen. "Miss Ji, please don't take it too far."

“I’m sorry, as a businessman, I naturally seek profit. We are not satisfied with the price offered by Lord Wen,” Ji Meiqing said leisurely, while Lu Yu beside her paid no attention to these matters.

Prefect Wen glanced at the man, then slammed his hand on the table: "Don't go too far!"

"If Lord Wen is unwilling to agree, then forget it." She got up and left. Anyway, there was no point in discussing this business, so she might as well go home and read.

Her nonchalant attitude naturally angered Prefect Wen, who shouted, "Do you believe I'll make sure you can't stay here any longer!"

"Are you threatening us?" She turned around and glanced at Lu Yu, who was busy unpacking his wine gourd to get more wine outside, completely unconcerned about these matters.

If that's the case, then what is there to worry about?

"Lord Wen, please make yourself at home."

The two left the room, and the table behind them was slammed shut with a loud bang, seemingly accompanied by the sound of porcelain shattering.

It turns out that it's not just women who break things; men do too.

He chuckled softly twice, and Lu Yu, puzzled, asked, "Why are you laughing?"

"It's nothing, I just found it funny," Ji Meiqing said.

The negotiations ended without result, and Lu Yu bought some wine and went home.

"What are we having for dinner?" Ji Meiqing broke the silence, looking at the person beside her, feeling safe and secure.

"Alright, to repay your life-saving grace, I'll treat you to dinner." A slight smile played on her lips, revealing two dimples on her face, making her incredibly cute. "What would you like to eat?"

"Please make plain noodles."

The two went to a noodle stall and ordered two bowls of noodles.

"How much money do we have left?" Lu Yu asked.

She did the math, "It's not much, but it should be enough for us to live on for a while."

"We've offended Prefect Wen, so these days might not be easy for us." The last part was said in a somewhat euphemistic way, and Ji Meiqing understood.

They had neither money nor power, and no way to fight against the officials. Officials protected each other; who could control whom?

"How is Xiao Cui?" Ji Meiqing changed the subject. "I heard she's getting married soon. I don't know when I'll see her again."

"Yes, we'll see each other again when we have time." Lu Yu said dismissively; going home was her own decision. But it was for the best. Cuiwei didn't have that kind of heart and couldn't be with them. It was better for her to go home and live a normal life.

The atmosphere was too somber and oppressive. Ji Meiqing chuckled dryly, "Don't be so somber... it's not like you."

Lu Yu put down his bowl; the noodles had all been eaten.

"The most important thing in life is to live."

"I know." Ji Meiqing nodded, casually crossing her legs on another bench. "Being carefree is the most comfortable thing!"

If it weren't for the fact that there's no wine available, the two of them would have been drinking and singing together long ago, contemplating how short life is.

A few more uneventful days passed, and business plummeted. Ji Meiqing stopped making medicinal wine, and the wine she put in the pharmacy went unsold.

Left with no other choice, Doctor Li had to return the wine. She looked at her purse, which contained a silver ingot, a few loose silver coins, and a handful of copper coins.

Whether we can get through this period depends on luck.

"Brother Lu, can you take me up the mountain tomorrow?" Ji Meiqing walked up to him, feeling a little guilty. After all, it was she who had caused them to end up like this.

Lu Yu scoffed, "What made you suddenly decide to go up the mountain?"

"I'm going to gather some herbs to buy; I'm almost out of money." She gave a bitter laugh.