Chapter 145: Chen Xiao Mai's Engagement Banquet

Ji Yun An sat in the restaurant with one of his close classmates Wei Qiyu.

"Yun An, Sha County is much more lively than I imagined! How great!"really good!" Wei Qiyu was rejoicing.

Wei Qiyu originally thought that he would be starving once he arrived at Sha County, but to his surprise, he had tried so many unique delicacies without ever needing to worry about his nect meal. His face had even become plump.

What made Wei Qiyu even happier was that the food of Sha County was not expensive in his standard.

It would cost more than three times if he wanted to try different delicacies every single meal.

"Qiyu, all jokes aside, I'm really surprised a young master like you who revels in a high position and indulges in comfort has actually come all the way from the capital city to this remote county," said Ji Yun.

Wei Qiyu shook his fan and said listlessly, "It's not like I have an option! I didn't pass the exam, my father kept enumerating my wrongdoings due to that, and I've had enough, so I decided to do some travelling and use Sha County as a place of refuge. But to be honest, I wasn't the only one who didn't pass the exam, I really don't know why father was so angry. It's your fault in a way. Not only have you passed the exam, but you decide to retake it for a better ranking, that makes me look even more incapable!"

Ji Yun An smiled, "I'm really sorry."

Wei Qiyu looked at Ji Yun An's cheeky smile and pouted. "All right, I forgive you, my friend. It is really torturous along the way. I'm afraid I couldn't make it if not for all the delicious food you have described."

Ji Yun An glanced at Wei Qiyu and said: "I thought you came here because you have heard the news that the imperial court was keen to establish relations with the Liao Dynasty."

Wei Qiyu scratched his head with a fan and said, "Of course I need to make a high-sounding excuse in front of my parents, otherwise how could they let me go!"

Ji Yun An glanced at Wei Qiyu and said, "How cheeky!"

Wei Qiyu crossed his arms and said, "It's not just me who has fooled his parents. Have you seen all the young masters wandering on the street right now? From what I have seen, these guys look like good-for-nothings."

Ji Yun An said, "You just find everyone suspicious because you are guilty."

Wei Qiyu waved his hand and said, "Enough about me. I heard that you are about to get engaged with Magistrate Lu's brother-in-law?"

Ji Yun An nodded and said happily, "Yeah!"

Wei Qiyu frowned and said, "Your father won't agree! Have you told him about this engagement?"

Ji Yun An's face darkened, "I don't need his approval, I already have my uncle's support."

Wei Qiyu held his chin and said with a snigger, "I think your father must be stamping his foot in anger right now."

"Not my concern. There will always be people who are happy to comfort him," there was a hint of sarcasm in Ji Yun An's tone.

There were many considerate and beautiful women around Zhao Heng.

Wei Qiyu said curiously, "You are something else, my friend! There are so many beautiful ladies in the capital who are eager to betroth you. But you, you are chasing after a Bio boy! Wait, the drumstick sketch hidden in your book, was it drawn by him?"

Ji Yun An nodded and said, "Yeah, his name is Chen Xiao Mai, and I think the sketch is very cute!"

Wei Qiyu rolled his eyes and thought, 'I knew it! No wonder he got so snappy when I laughed at that sketch, turns out it was from his sweetheart! Aww, Yun An, madly in love, cannot even tell it's a lousy sketch.'

"It seems like you and this Chen Xiao Mai are in love, do I have the honor to meet him?" a smile flashed across Wei Qiyu's face.

Ji Yun An glanced at Wei Qiyu and said lightly, "If you really have this much free time, you might as well go meet all the ladies your mother has introduced to you."

Wei Qiyu made a face and changed the subject.

"The longer I stay in this Sha County, the more I understand why you love this place so much, "Wei Qi said.

Ji Yun An nodded, "Soon there will a Hot Springs Resort. You can go and check it out when it's done." Ji Yun An thought to himself, Wei has a much wider network of contacts than me, with his promotion, those young masters will be happy to pay a visit to the resort.'

"Hot springs? Yeah, I heard that Magistrate Lu's second brother-in-law is building a resort, it's still under construction, isn't it?"

Ji Yun An nodded and said, "It's a big project, but it's partially done. I think there will be a soft opening in a few days."

Wei Qiyu touched his chin and said, "I'm looking forward to that, I can't even find a brothel in this damn place, I'm so bored."

Ji Yun An shook his head and said, "Wei, why do you always want to visit the brothels?"

Wei Qiyu looked at Ji Yun An and said, "I think you are jealous of me, because I get to do whatever I want to do. Your fiancée wife seems to have a ferocious reputation, I think you are marrying a shrew."

Ji Yun An helplessly said, "I am not interested in going to brothels in the first place."

......

In Zhao family.

"How stupid!" Zhao Heng slammed the table angrily.

"Heng, what happened? Why are you so mad?!" Liu Qingmei quickly walked to Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng's face darkened, "It's that Ji Cheng Kang! Can you believe he approves Yun An's engagement with a Bio boy in Sha County, and I heard that Bio boy is retarded! I said earlier that Ji Cheng Kang was up to no good, now he finally is showing his true colors. He is deliberately trying to ruin Yun An's future."

Zhao Heng was so furious that his face went pale. Neither Ji Cheng Kang nor Ji Yun An had informed him about this engagement, he heard it from someone else. Zhao Heng found that very humiliating.

Zhao Heng was the biggest supporter of patriarchy, he liked women who obeyed him. Ji Yun An's late mother Ji Xue was born into a martial general's family and had a strong personality. In fact, Zhao Heng didn't like her. However, for the sake of his future career, Zhao Heng he cajoled Ji Xue into marrying him.

They had some happy days when they first got married, but things went south after Zhao Heng heard people talking about him behind his back, calling him hen-pecked and relying on his wife.

Liu Qingmei frowned and asked, "A retarded Bio boy?"

Liu Qingmei was wild with joy when she heard that, she was so jealous of Ji Yun An who had passed the exam at such a young age, but now she felt so relieved that Ji Yun An is engaged to a retarded Bio boy with no background.

"I've introduced a lot of young ladies to him, but he... he picked a fool." Zhao Heng looked so sullen.

Liu Qingmei was confused. "Why would Ji Cheng Kang find a fool for Yun An? Ji Cheng Kang has always loved Ji Yun An the most! He raised Ji Cheng Kang's as his own kid!"

Zhao Heng snorted and said, "Yun An is not his biological child after all."

"This retarded Bio boy, what exactly is his background?" Liu Qingmei asked suspiciously.

Zhao Heng was unhappily, "His brother-in-law is the magistrate of Sha County, that's all. This magistrate is the one who has invented Curved Iron Plough with Ji Cheng Kang. Humph, I say they have reached a deal between the two of them, Ji Cheng Kang is using my son to please Lu Lin."

Liu Qingmei was confused. "But what did Yun An say, he just accepts the fact that his wife is a retarded Bio?"

Zhao Heng gnashed his teeth and said, "That silly boy listens to whatever Ji Cheng Kang says, and he sees me as his enemy."

Liu Qingmei remained silent, but she was very happy.

Liu Qingmei knew very well that Ji Yun An hated her. She hated to see Ji Yun An fully spread his wings and fulfill his potential, so she was thrilled to find out that Ji Yun An chose to get engaged with someone who cannot help him in his future official career.

Liu Qingmei hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard that Yun An is going to retake the exam. Is that true?"

Zhao Heng nodded and said, "Yeah! This child gets carried away with success, he was lucky this time, so he thought he could be lucky again and again. He is so full of himself."

Zhao Heng was born in a family of scholar, but he was in his thirties when he passed that exam.

Although Zhao Heng always urged Ji Yun An to study hard and bring glory to the family. However, Zhao Heng could not help but feel jealous when his son surpassed him so much.

The Emperor was impressed by Ji Yun An due to the book Journey to the West. This time, Ji Yun An was an outstanding talent in the exam, the Emperor appreciated this young man very much.

Although Zhao Heng felt indignant, he sighed with inward relief in secret. For the time being, Zhao Heng did not want to be outshined by his own son.

......

No matter what Zhao Heng thought, Ji Yun An and Chen Xiao Mai's engagement was settled.

The people in the camp supported Ji Yun An and Chen Xiao Mai's engagement.

"Mr. Liu, Young Master Ji and Little Master Chen are now engaged. Do we enjoy a discount when we go to the winery?"

Liu Yun glanced at the soldiers who asked him the question, "Is this what you have been thinking?"

A soldier scratched his head and said with embarrassment, "I just... I want to support their business, but our salary is just so pathetic."

"Young Master Chen has already given us a discount, don't you know that?" Liu Yun said angrily.

"Mr. Liu, you are right, yes, I shouldn't be so greedy, I was just being cheeky. And we are so happy for Young Master Ji, they make a beautiful couple! Little Master Chen is such a great cook, Young Master Ji is so lucky."

Liu Yun glanced at the soldier and nodded with a smile.

Lu Lin and Ji Cheng Kang discussed about the engagement banquet and they decided to throw it in the camp.

On the day of the engagement banquet, Lu Lin arranged a few chefs to cook. They had prepared more than 20 pigs, both the guests and the hosts had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The soldiers who were pigging out said, " Young Master Ji is so lucky!"

"This sausage is so delicious."

"Exactly, the best I have ever had, I heard Magistrate Lu and Little Master Chen came up with the recipe together."

"The taste of this chicken soup is really amazing, what ingredients have they used, the flavor is so rich."

"Boss Chen closed all his restaurants today and asked all the chefs to work for the banquet!"

"Imagine all the money he has lost though!"

"Boss Chen doesn't care, this is his little brother's engagement banquet, of course he wants it to be the best."

......

The whole Sha County heard about the engagement banquet, and the people were so happy for the couple.

Lu Lin and Ji Cheng Kang felt closer after the engagement banquet as well, they had been good friends for a long time, and now they started to see each other as family.