Chapter 2: Second Aunt Wei Hong

In these times, eating meat was a luxury. Even having broth with a hint of meat was better than what most wealthy households could afford.

"The radish stew with pork is almost ready. Wei Ge'er, come taste it and see if it's seasoned well."

The fire under the stove blazed hotly. Wei Tu shifted on the small wooden stool beneath him, scooting back a little and stopping his task of adding more firewood.

At that moment, the cook, Xinghua, smiled warmly at him, scooping out a small portion with a wooden ladle and handing it over.

As the saying goes—

A cook who doesn't steal a taste won't make good food.

A kitchen maid who never stole a bite? Impossible. Xinghua did it, and the mistress of the Li family simply turned a blind eye.

It wasn't as if she could steal much anyway.

"Alright."

Looking at the few pieces of pork floating at the bottom of the bowl, Wei Tu swallowed hard. He quickly glanced out the window to make sure no one was watching, then gulped it down in big mouthfuls.

In just a few moments—

The radish and meat were gone, the bowl licked clean.

"What's the occasion today? Why are we having radish stew with pork?" Wei Tu placed the empty bowl back on the table, curiously asking Xinghua.

Even the Li family's main household didn't eat meat often—twice every ten days, which meant once every five days.

But it had only been two days since the last time Xinghua cooked meat.

It wasn't that the Li family couldn't afford to eat meat daily, but to wealthy households, such indulgence was seen as a wasteful act that would bring the wrath of their ancestors upon them.

The Li family had only been wealthy for about a century. Their fortune was built gradually by an ancestor who had been a traveling merchant.

"The young master just returned from his studies in the prefectural city. The madam was overjoyed and sent me to buy two catties of pork yesterday."

Xinghua answered casually.

"The young master?"

Wei Tu's heart stirred as he thought of his childhood playmate.

Unfortunately—

Times had changed.

The difference between master and servant had become clearer with age.

Even if there was once friendship, now, when facing the young master, he still had to address him properly—as Young Master.

"I need you to help me tell the madam that I'm taking a leave. I have something to do outside."

Wei Tu tossed another handful of firewood into the stove before standing up, dusting the ash off his clothes.

The madam of the Li family ran the household with strict discipline, but as long as one finished their assigned tasks, sneaking some free time wasn't a big deal.

Wei Tu calling it a leave request was just a formality—more like giving notice.

"No problem…" Xinghua agreed easily, turning back to stir the next dish with an iron ladle.

But just as she spoke, she let out an "Ah yo!", her cheeks flushing red as she shot an annoyed glance at Wei Tu, who was already stepping out of the kitchen.

A moment ago, Wei Tu had pinched her backside.

In the countryside, concepts like propriety and modesty weren't as strict. She and Wei Tu had been exchanging flirtatious glances for years. They were just waiting for the madam's approval to marry and start a family.

Leaving the Li Manor, Wei Tu didn't head straight to the Huang household. Instead, he went to retrieve the wages he had saved over the years and made his way toward the cosmetic shop.

In the first few years after Second Aunt Wei Hong married into the Huang family, she remained close with his family, visiting regularly.

But in the past ten years, her visits had grown fewer and fewer. Four years ago, when their grandparents passed away, she had only returned to the Wei family twice.

And one of those visits was for the funeral.

Since he was going to ask Wei Hong for a favor this time, Wei Tu didn't want to show up empty-handed and be met with cold indifference. Bringing a gift was always better.

Grain and cloth? The Huang family wouldn't lack those.

The only thing he could afford to give was cosmetics and powders for women.

"Shopkeeper, what's the price for the cheaper rouge and face powder?"

After hesitating for a moment, Wei Tu clenched his teeth and stepped into the shop, inquiring about the cost.

Cosmetics had never been cheap.

With the money he had, he didn't even dare glance at the high-end ones.

"The cheap ones?"

The shopkeeper gave Wei Tu a once-over.

His eyes swept over Wei Tu's patched gray cotton robe, and in an instant, he understood the situation.

The shopkeeper took a brocade box from the storage shelf and said, "This is Golden Swallow Rouge. One box costs five qian, enough to last two months."

"If young master is planning to give a gift, this would be the appropriate choice."

After a slight pause, the shopkeeper added, "Of course, we also have cheaper options, such as Purple Cloud Rouge, which costs only three qian per box. But if it's meant as a gift, that might not be entirely appropriate..."

"I'll take the Golden Swallow Rouge."

After thinking for a moment, Wei Tu nodded and placed five large copper coins, each worth a thousand wen, on the counter.

His second aunt, Wei Hong, was a noblewoman in the Huang household and had certainly been to cosmetic shops more times than he had. If he gifted her Purple Cloud Rouge, even if she didn't say anything outright, she would undoubtedly feel displeased.

The weight of a gift reflects the weight of one's sincerity.

Besides, since Purple Cloud Rouge was the cheapest rouge available in the shop, with Wei Hong's status, the chances of her actually using it were very slim.

It would most likely end up forgotten, sitting unused on a shelf.

As for bargaining—

They were all from the same region. If the cosmetic shop cheated customers, they wouldn't stay in business for long.

Since arriving in this world, one of the few things Wei Tu appreciated was the strong culture of trust in business.

Except for a few dishonest outsiders, the locals rarely engaged in fraud.

Shops like this one rarely entertained haggling, as their prices were clearly marked.

Wei Tu was short on money, but he wouldn't waste time bargaining over a few copper coins.

"I'll pack it for you now," the shopkeeper said with a cheerful smile.

A short while later, Wei Tu left the shop with the gift box in hand and made his way to a street lined with official residences.

Compared to Li Manor, Master Huang had greater wealth and influence. His estate was in Shengye Ward, where the elites of Qingmu County resided.

Arriving at a mansion with a plaque bearing the Huang surname, Wei Tu knocked on the side door and explained his purpose to the gatekeeper.

"You're from Second Madam's family? Wait in the carriage hall, I'll inform the inner court maids."

The gatekeeper stepped aside, letting Wei Tu into the carriage hall, then turned and walked toward the inner courtyard of Huang Manor.

The carriage hall was a place where wealthy families kept their sedan chairs and carriages. It was always located in the front courtyard.

After waiting for a while, a maid named Qing He led him to a side room in the front courtyard to wait for Second Aunt Wei Hong.

In grand households, rules were strict. Outsiders—especially men—were not allowed into the inner courtyard.

About fifteen minutes later, the wooden door of the side room opened.

A beautiful woman stepped inside. Her features were delicate, and her skin was as smooth as white jade.

Two maids followed behind her—one of them was Qing He, the maid who had led Wei Tu earlier.

"Wei Tu, what brings you here? Did something happen at home?"

Wei Hong sat gracefully on a stool beside the square wooden table, taking a sip of tea poured by a maid, her tone light and teasing.

"There's nothing wrong at home."

Wei Tu stood up, no longer sitting. He gave a slight bow and said, "I came to see Second Aunt because I have something to ask of you."

Although Wei Bao had sold him to Li Manor, he had never been completely cut off from his family.

Selling him had been a last resort.

Six years ago, during the Chiron Uprising, Qingfeng Prefecture suffered a severe drought, leaving the harvest nearly nonexistent.

Being sold to Li Manor meant at least having food to eat, which was better than starving at home.

Wei Hong's smile faded. She placed her tea cup down on the table and looked at Wei Tu with a sharp gaze.

She didn't say anything harsh, but her attitude made everything clear.

If Wei Bao had asked for help, as his younger sister, she might have considered it out of familial duty.

But for a nephew…

"This is a gift I bought for Second Aunt—please accept it."

Wei Tu placed the gift box on the Eight Immortals Table and pushed it toward Wei Hong.

Seeing the present, Wei Hong's expression softened slightly.

She now understood that Wei Tu wasn't someone ignorant of manners and propriety.

After years of marriage, she was a woman of the Huang family—not a member of the Wei family anymore.

"What is it that you need?"

"If I can help, I will. But if I can't…"

Wei Hong shook her head, leaving the sentence unfinished.