Ming Zhouqing asked upon seeing it, “What is this? You even specially brought it along.”
Ming Zhouhe opened the bag and skillfully cracked walnuts. “Walnuts.”
Hearing this, Shi Jianli lowered her head and sipped from her teacup.
“Why haven’t I seen you liking walnuts before?”
“The ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ states that walnut kernels ‘benefit the kidneys and nourish the brain.’ Didn’t my cousin get hit on the head by a fish? This is to replenish her.”
Shi Jianli thought to herself that he really didn’t need to bring this up again. Now everyone would know she’d been hit on the head by a fish.
It was somewhat embarrassing.
Ming Yuelin reached over and grabbed a handful. “Then I’ll help shell them too. I was the one who caused it, so I should atone by doing good deeds.”
Ming Zhouqing chuckled unkindly and looked at Shi Jianli. “Cousin Li, are you better now?”
“I’m fine,” Shi Jianli nodded, then turned to Ming Zhouhe. “Cousin, I don’t need brain nourishment anymore. Being hit by a fish didn’t make me stupid.”
“Since they’re already bought, just eat them for fun.”
Yuan Wan glanced at Shi Jianli, then at Ming Zhouqing, thoughtfully saying, “Third cousin is really good to Cousin Li.”
Ming Zhouhe shot her a look. “My cousin has had it rough. I’m her only brother – if I’m not good to her, few others will be.”
Ming Zhouzhi stared at Shi Jianli for a bit too long, his fingers tracing the patterns on his teacup, averting his gaze just before she looked over.
Ming Yuelin deliberately said in mock anger, “Third brother, don’t you count me as a person? I’m good to Pear Sister too.”
“‘Few others’ means there are still some people. Don’t falsely accuse me,” Ming Zhouhe glanced over. “You’re the best at pinning labels on people.”
“That’s true,” Ming Zhaohuan exposed her, “The very second day after second sister returned from Runan, she pinned one on me.”
Ming Yuelin wrinkled her nose at him. “You petty ghost, still bringing up something from so long ago.”
“Alright, I won’t mention it again,” Ming Zhaohuan went along with her.
Maids came over serving fruit wine.
Yuan Wan suggested, “Since we’re all drinking, why don’t we play a drinking game? Those who can’t continue have to drink as penalty – just for fun. Men drink one cup, women half a cup. This stuff isn’t strong anyway.”
“I have no objections,” said Ming Zhouqing.
The others agreed too.
Shi Jianli ended up drinking several penalty cups, with Yuan Wan ultimately taking first place.
Meeting Ming Yuelin’s puzzled gaze, Shi Jianli smiled at her.
Shi Jianli understood that Yuan Wan was today’s main character – she shouldn’t steal the spotlight.
Yuan Yuhe, Qiao Ruoying, and Madam Yuan stood by the window outside the garden, smiling as they watched the lively scene inside. The elderly madam also came over to watch her grandchildren’s merrymaking.
Yuan Yuhe said with a smile, “Wan’er is exceptionally brilliant in poetry and literature.”
Madam Yuan replied, “Wan’er has worked hard at her studies. She should have learned something, otherwise wouldn’t she be foolish?”
The elderly madam nodded upon hearing this, glanced at Qiao Ruoying, and added, “He’er truly dotes on his sister.”
Qiao Ruoying’s eyes flickered. “As you heard him say, if he doesn’t dote on his sister, who will? Thinking of Li’er’s wretched state when she first arrived still breaks my heart. It makes me want to cry every time I remember.”
“Three young girls actually walked all the way from Duzhou to here. Who knows how much suffering they endured? They were so thin they barely looked human.”
The elderly madam recalled Shi Jianli’s thin, pitiful appearance back then, and thought of how well-behaved and sensible she had been these past few years, feeling waves of compassion rising in her heart.
Qiao Ruoying stole a glance at the elderly madam before continuing, “When I mentioned finding a wife for He’er, he told me to find someone who would also cherish his younger sister.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yuhe remarked, “He’er is a good child. He knows how to care for his sisters at home. Having such compassion for others naturally means he’ll have compassion for the people as well. That’s truly admirable.”
Qiao Ruoying responded with praise, “Isn’t Zhaohuan and Qing’er the same? Leaving aside Zhaohuan who’s been away for years, just take Qing’er—with just one look from Lin’er, he knows exactly what she’s thinking.”
Madam Yuan, noticing the elderly madam’s delighted expression, interjected with a smile, “You two sisters-in-law just keep praising each other. The elderly madam is going to be grinning from ear to ear.”
Qiao Ruoying waved her handkerchief and smiled triumphantly at the elderly madam. “I’m only speaking the truth, Mother. Which of our children isn’t filial to their elders and kind to their siblings?”
“Yes, every one of our children is a good child,” the elderly madam nodded contentedly. “Let’s go elsewhere for a walk, so we don’t make them feel restrained when they see us.”
The three naturally agreed.
After playing seven rounds of the drinking game in the garden, Ming Yuelin suggested playing Pitch-pot.
Pitch-pot originated from archery rituals and later became a form of entertainment.
The pot has two ears and one mouth. The gameplay involves standing six feet away from the pot, with each player having ten arrows. Landing an arrow in the mouth scores two points, while entering an ear is called “Guan Er” and scores one point. Scores can be stacked and doubled.
The first arrow successfully thrown is called “You Chu,” scoring two points.
Subsequent successful throws score one point each. Consecutive arrows landing in the pot are called “Lian Zhong.”
The last arrow landing in the pot scores three points, called “You Zhong.”
If every arrow lands in the pot, it’s called “Quan Hu.”
Missing all arrows is called “Bai Hu.”
Other situations include “San Jian,” “Xiao Jian,” “Lian Zhong Guan Er,” and “Yi Gan.”
Ming Zhaohuan pointed to one of his attendants. “Tian Yu, you keep score.”
“Yes, sir.” Tian Yu, who had been leaning nearby cracking melon seeds, straightened up and adjusted his lapels.
“How could I possibly compete with any of you at Pitch-pot?” Yuan Wan scanned the people present, her gaze lingering on Ming Zhaohuan with a smiling look. “Especially Cousin, who will probably achieve Quan Hu.”
“It’s just for fun—participation is what matters,” Ming Yuelin said after drinking some tea to counter the taste of fruit wine. Then he added, “You were the champion of the floral drinking game. Shouldn’t you go easy on those of us who aren’t as good at drinking games?”
“Besides, Cousin, why compare yourself to the best player? Isn’t that just discouraging yourself?”
“You’re right, I wasn’t thinking clearly,” Yuan Wan replied with a smile, picking up her teacup for a sip.
Shi Jianli quietly picked up a cherry to eat, her gaze discreetly sweeping over Yuan Wan as she formed some thoughts in her mind.
She glanced at Ming Zhouqing and saw him engrossed in drinking and talking with Ming Zhouhe.
Then she looked at Ming Zhaohuan…
Her gaze was caught by him.
Ming Zhaohuan paused in slight surprise, then gave her a faint smile.
Shi Jianli lowered her eyes and picked up another cherry, bringing it to her lips.
Noticing her fondness for cherries, Ming Zhouhe pushed the entire basket of cherries closer to her.
Ming Zhouqing asked, “Who wants to go first?”
Yuan Qingchen smiled and pointed at Ming Yuelin. “Whoever suggested it should go first.”
“Fine, I’ll go first then. The last place has to drink three penalty cups!” Ming Yuelin stood up and went to get the arrows.
“Of course.”
The others gradually stood up and followed.
Seeing Shi Jianli remain seated, Ming Zhouhe turned to ask, “Cousin, aren’t you going?”
“I’ll go in a while. I just finished drinking and feel too lazy to move,” she said slowly, blinking.
“Alright, then you sit here.” Ming Zhouhe placed several plates of pastries and nuts she liked on the table before leaving.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shi Jianli noticed another figure diagonally across from her. She looked up, and the other person also glanced over.
After a prolonged silence during their eye contact, Shi Jianli took the initiative to ask, “Why aren’t you going, Big Cousin?”