Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Is Your Head a Winter Melon?

“What, what’s going on?”

Qi Zheng jumped at those words, feeling a sudden chill.

Qi Quanjin walked into the room, grabbed the old man’s arm, and pulled him out while saying, “The official from the Capital City wants you to join for a meal.”

“Me… a meal? No, no, you go. I’m not going!”

Qi Zheng nearly shook his head off.

Are you kidding? He got weak-kneed just meeting the county magistrate, and now he was being asked to dine with an official from the Capital City?

This was like asking for his life!

“Dad, it’s not up to you to say no!”

Qi Quanjin looked helpless: “The official requested it. Dad, if you don’t go, isn’t it just openly disrespecting the official?”

“I, I…”

Qi Zheng opened his mouth but still didn’t want to go, unable to find a good reason to refuse.

Mrs. Qi also looked worried: “Quanjin, your dad is just a farmer. What use could he have there? What if he upsets the official?”

“What if… let your wife go instead! She’s educated and knows a lot!”

Mrs. Qi suddenly thought of her fourth daughter-in-law.

If there’s anyone capable in the Qi Family, it’s definitely their fourth daughter-in-law!

Qi Quanjin hesitated.

He knew his wife was capable too, but… he didn’t want her to handle such a situation!

A woman dining with three men, what would that look like?

Qi Manman, sitting on the kang, looked at her grandpa, then grandma, and finally her dad, suddenly said, “Grandpa should go!”

Her sudden shout startled everyone in the room.

Qi Zheng looked at his granddaughter with a complicated expression: “Manbao, you shouldn’t speak carelessly about this!”

“Grandpa should go!”

Qi Manman earnestly repeated those three words.

Seeing his precious granddaughter’s serious expression, Qi Zheng instantly lost the will to resist, sighed, and said to Qi Quanjin, “Let’s go then!”

When the granddaughter says so, what else could he do?

Qi Quanjin blinked and couldn’t help but chuckle.

This was good; with dad going along, he wouldn’t have to drag his wife into it.

As the father and son reached the entrance of the main hall, they were stopped by the guards at the door.

Another guard went inside to relay the message, and only after getting the signal did they allow the father and son inside.

Qi Zheng wore his freshest clothes today, which were actually an old set that had just been rewashed and starched.

Upon entering, Qi Zheng felt a bit short of breath, extremely nervous.

Eunuch Wan, however, no longer maintained his superior demeanor as before and cheerfully invited him, “Old man, come and sit.”

“Th-thank you, Sir!”

Qi Zheng bowed, then sat down in the chair next to Qi Quanjin’s supporting arm.

Eunuch Wan had already started eating.

The only reason his attitude had changed was because of the deliciousness of the meal on the table.

Though not as intricately prepared as dishes from the Imperial Kitchen, the flavor was excellent.

The fresh dishes, especially, were refreshing and very flavorful.

While they did get vegetables sent to the palace year-round, the previous ones never seemed memorable.

Now, upon tasting this Qi Family meal, Eunuch Wan realized how un-fresh the palace’s wintertime vegetables were.

Even the summer vegetables weren’t quite right.

Being experienced with palatial affairs, Eunuch Wan quickly understood why.

There was a tinge of regret knowing he wouldn’t enjoy such fresh produce after returning to the Capital City, though he didn’t show it.

Throughout the meal, it was mostly County Magistrate Hu Kaicheng accompanying them, with Qi Zheng and Qi Quanjin being mere side figures.

They only moved when raising glasses for a toast, and barely touched their food otherwise.

Their reluctance to eat even a bite was due to fear of any disdain from the official.

Once the dignitaries had finished eating, Qi Quanjin quickly had hot tea served.

Although the tea leaves were ordinary, they were special because they were grown in Yi Meng’s garden space. Dried and preserved, these chrysanthemums were meant for family consumption to clear liver heat and promote eye health.

Especially in winter, when everyone stayed on the kang and heat accumulated easily, chrysanthemum tea could alleviate some issues.

The chrysanthemum tea tasted slightly sweet, a bit bitter, with a strong floral note.

“Did you add something else to this chrysanthemum tea?”

With one sip, Eunuch Wan raised an eyebrow and looked at Qi Quanjin.

Instinctively wanting to scratch his head, Qi Quanjin quickly refrained in front of the officials, awkwardly admitting, “Sir, it was my wife who prepared the tea, so I truly don’t know the details.”

“Have your wife come in.”

Eunuch Wan adapted to local customs and called her in directly.

Qi Quanjin’s heart skipped a beat, almost kicking himself.

What a thing to say! He shouldn’t have mentioned his wife.

Now he’d have to trouble her after all.

Qi Quanjin quickly went to find Yi Meng.

Yi Meng had just returned to her room, ready to change out of her clothes that were covered in cooking smells.

She only cooked, and the rest of the work didn’t involve her, so there was no need to wear that attire any longer.

Just as Yi Meng took off her outer garment, she heard a knock, so urgent it seemed something major had happened.

Startled, Yi Meng asked, “Who is it?”

“Wife, it’s me, come quick!”

Recognizing Qi Quanjin’s voice, Yi Meng quickly slipped on her outer clothing and went to open the door.

Qi Quanjin initially intended to pull his wife along, but seeing her state, he quickly slipped inside, shut the door, and said, “Why have you taken off your clothes?”

“It’s the smell of oil and smoke.”

Yi Meng replied while changing into a clean set of clothing she just took out.

Qi Quanjin urged, “Then hurry up, dear. The official from the Capital City wants to see you.”

“Wants to see me for what?”

Yi Meng paused and looked at Qi Quanjin in surprise.

Qi Quanjin scratched his head: “We just served the tea, and the official asked if anything else was added besides chrysanthemum. I didn’t know, so I said you prepared it and got you involved.”

Yi Meng’s mouth twitched: “Is your head a squash? You could have just said nothing else was added. Why bring me into it?”

Though she had lived in this era for many years, Yi Meng genuinely didn’t want to get involved with its officials.

Even concerning today’s affair.

She had already reminded the family to say the meal was a collective effort if asked who prepared it, never mentioning it was just her.

Yet, despite all precautions, she was still caught.

Knowing she couldn’t refuse now, Yi Meng resigned herself.

She had heard the old man was asked to dine, and now it was her turn.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep