Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Zhi Wan Defends Her Cousin

"Aunt, I don’t blame my cousin. He must have been delayed by something important," Zhi Wan said.

She didn’t blame her cousin.

Because she knew what he had gone off to do.

But he had been gone for so long, and she couldn’t help but worry.

Unfortunately, Jiang Shi had gone with him, so no matter how worried she was, there was no one she could ask.

Hearing this, Lady Wei smiled and teased, "Starting to defend him already?"

Zhi Wan’s face grew warm. "I’m not defending my cousin..." She thought for a moment, then told her the truth. "My cousin told me before he left, but I didn’t expect him to be gone for so long. Perhaps he didn’t expect it either."

Her cousin had always been thorough, but this time, he had even missed a day as important as the betrothal gift ceremony. She was afraid... something had happened to him.

At this realization, she grabbed her aunt’s hand. "Aunt, I’m afraid something happened to my cousin on the road. Could you ask Uncle to send some men to meet up with him?"

Lady Wei hadn’t thought much of it at first, but now she grew a little tense as well. "Which direction should they go?"

"It should be in the direction of Yangzhou," Zhi Wan said after some thought.

Last time, her uncle had been captured by her cousin in Yangzhou. To escort him back to the Capital City, they would be traveling by land. To meet up with her cousin, they would definitely need to head toward Yangzhou.

"I understand. I’ll go speak to him right now. You shouldn’t worry too much. Your cousin isn’t a reckless person." Lady Wei offered a comforting word and then hurried away.

Not long after Lady Wei left, Shuang’er came over, holding a register and a gift list.

"Miss, Brother Daniu and the others have registered all the betrothal gifts from the Lu Family. Please take a look. If there are no issues, we’ll move them into the storehouse."

Zhi Wan saw that her face was still a little pale and frowned. "Your injury hasn’t fully healed. Why aren’t you resting more in your room?"

"I’m perfectly all right now, Miss. Besides, after lying in bed for so many days, I feel like my bones are about to fall apart. It’s better to get up and move around. Taking inventory of the gifts isn’t tiring work, and Nanny Chen and the others are helping," Shuang’er said with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan said, "Well, be careful then. Don’t overdo it."

"I know, Miss. You should hurry and look at the register. There were so many betrothal gifts from the Lu Family that the front courtyard could barely hold them all." Shuang’er handed her the register and the gift list.

"Alright." Zhi Wan took both, carefully comparing the register Daniu had made with the gift list from the Lu Family. Seeing that everything matched up, she felt reassured.

Both Daniu and Erniu had studied for a few years, so they knew how to do things like accounting and logging items.

The register was recorded clearly and concisely, with no ambiguity whatsoever.

"If nothing is missing, then I’ll go tell Brother Daniu and the others to move the betrothal gifts to the storehouse," Shuang’er said.

"Go on." Zhi Wan nodded.

Shuang’er left with a beaming smile.

These betrothal gifts would eventually become part of the miss’s dowry and be carried to the Lu Family, so there could not be the slightest mistake.

Seeing that there was nothing else to attend to, Zhi Wan returned to her room to paint.

In the evening, Shuang’er hurried in, holding an invitation card.

"Miss, the Wei Family sent a messenger with an invitation."

"The Wei Family?" Zhi Wan was a little surprised.

"It’s Madam Lu’s natal family," Shuang’er explained.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan’s brow furrowed slightly as she reached out and took the invitation.

It was for Mr. Wei’s sixtieth birthday.

Her aunt had mentioned this to her a few days ago, saying she would take her along for Mr. Wei’s birthday. She had already agreed, but she hadn’t expected the Wei Family to send her a separate invitation at a time like this.

This was too sudden, because Mr. Wei’s birthday was tomorrow.

Furthermore, this meant she would have to prepare a separate birthday gift for Mr. Wei.

This was her first time attending a birthday banquet of this kind, and she didn’t know what sort of gift would be appropriate for an elder.

For a family like the Wei Family, giving tonics would seem insincere, especially since this was her first official visit.

After some thought, she sent someone to invite Ouyang Zhenzhu to her residence.

Hearing that the Wei Family had sent a special invitation, Ouyang Zhenzhu stroked her chin and said, "Somehow, I get the feeling the Wei Family is up to no good."

"What do you mean?" Zhi Wan asked.

"Last time we went to the teahouse, didn’t Mrs. Wei invite you over just to give you a hard time? Besides, for a birthday celebration, etiquette dictates that invitations be sent at least three days in advance so guests have time to prepare a gift. But the Wei Family sent yours the day before the banquet. It’s clear to me the Wei Family means you no good. Your engagement to Mr. Lu’s son was just finalized, and the Wei Family immediately sends you an invitation to this banquet. They’re clearly trying to make things difficult for you.

If they wanted to see you, they could have just told Madam Lu to bring you along. There was absolutely no need to send you a separate invitation.

And since you received a separate invitation, you’ll have to prepare a separate gift.

If you give something they like, that’s one thing. But if it’s something they don’t, they’ll definitely use it as an excuse to make a scene and embarrass you."

"Your analysis makes sense." Zhi Wan nodded. She had also thought of the things Zhenzhu mentioned.

She didn’t want to assume malicious intent, but the Wei Family’s hostility towards her was undeniable, as the incident at the teahouse had shown.

But the Wei Family was her aunt’s natal family. Even if they meant her ill, she couldn’t easily refuse the invitation. She didn’t want to make things difficult for her aunt.

That was why she had asked Ouyang Zhenzhu to come over—to help her think of a gift that wouldn’t give the Wei Family an opportunity to cause trouble.

"So what do you think I should give?" Zhi Wan asked.

"I’m not very familiar with Mr. Wei, so I don’t know his preferences. Why don’t you ask Wei Jinxiu? Didn’t you say last time that girl isn’t like the rest of the Wei Family?" Ouyang Zhenzhu said.

Zhi Wan said helplessly, "The banquet is tomorrow, and it’s already getting dark. It’s too late to find her now."

She had thought about asking Wei Jinxiu, too.

But she wasn’t very familiar with Wei Jinxiu.

Although the other girl had shown her kindness at the teahouse, she didn’t truly know Wei Jinxiu’s character. Asking her would be a bit of a risk.

She could ask her aunt.

But her aunt would surely just prepare the birthday gift for her directly.

"Then what should we do?" Ouyang Zhenzhu started to get anxious. "If all else fails, just give some tonics. It’s a bit common, but it’s conventional. You can’t go too wrong with it."

At her words, Zhi Wan began to seriously consider it.

Earlier that afternoon, she had seen on the gift list from Shuang’er that the betrothal gifts included many precious tonics and medicinal herbs. If it came to it, she would have no choice but to take something from there.

Ouyang Zhenzhu’s gaze fell upon the brush and paper on the table, and an idea suddenly sparked in her mind. "Wanwan, I actually think you could paint a picture for Mr. Wei as a birthday gift. Painting is your specialty, after all. Even if the birthday is tomorrow, I’m sure you have the ability to create a stunning piece of art."

Zhi Wan’s lip twitched. "I’m not some famous contemporary master. Mr. Wei wouldn’t think much of my painting."

"So what if you’re not a famous master? It’s the thought that counts," Ouyang Zhenzhu said dismissively. "This is far more meaningful than giving tonics. Come on, I’ll grind the ink for you. I’m not going home tonight; I’ll stay here and keep you company while you paint." With that, she went right ahead and started grinding the ink.

Zhi Wan: "..."