Li Yun came over to greet him. As the host today, being the legitimate young master who loved making friends, he was naturally very busy. He had to socialize and entertain everywhere and was also being taken around by his father, the Commissioner, to meet people. Even if he wanted to chat more with Fang Yu, he couldn't spare the time.
Fang Yu didn't want to be a bother either. After exchanging a few simple words with Li Yun and offering some auspicious greetings to the Commissioner, he excused himself to find some amusement on his own. The Commissioner still wore a smiling expression when he saw him, but his eyes clearly showed he didn't recognize who he was.
He took a seat in a less crowded spot, noticing many fruits and pastries nearby. He casually picked up two to taste and tossed one to Xuezhu: "The taste is not bad."
Xuezhu smiled, catching it, and also took a bite: "This humble one thinks it's still not as good as the watermelon seeds made by Master and Zhengfu."
Fang Yu smiled.
"What is it that's not as good as watermelon seeds?"
Hearing the voice, Xuezhu quickly stood properly to the side. Fang Yu looked up. "Brother Ji is here too?"
"I was just idly chatting with my servant, saying pumpkin seeds aren't as fragrant and crisp as watermelon seeds."
"You master and servant are quite at leisure," Ji Yunlu said. "Why did you come alone, Brother Fang? I don't see your fulang."
Fang Yu knew this was polite conversation: "His health is not good; he doesn't go out often. Today is cold, so I didn't let him come out."
Ji Yunlu said: "After the New Year, it's actually colder than the end of the year. But I suppose after this cold spell passes, it should warm up."
The two chatted idly, quite comfortably, but Fang Yu found it strange. Ji Yunlu was the young master of the Assistant Prefect's household. In principle, he should be acquainted with many of the young masters and ladies here, but not many people came over to greet him.
Before he could guess the reason, someone delivered the answer.
"Fourth Brother, I thought you didn't come today. So you're sitting in this corner chatting happily with someone."
Hearing this, Ji Yunlu stood up first and bowed. "Second Brother."
Fang Yu didn't recognize this person, but hearing Ji Yunlu's address, he knew his status. He also cupped his hands in salute.
However, the man, whose fierce demeanor contrasted sharply with Ji Yunlu's gentle face, spoke unkindly: "Well, isn't this the one who married the only son of the tea merchant Qiao family... Fang... what was it... Fang Yu, right?"
"Birds of a feather flock together. I suppose Fourth Brother has inherited the tradition of Concubine Sun's family."
"If Fourth Brother is not good at socializing and feels timid in social situations at grand events, perhaps you should spend more time studying at home. If you manage to earn the title of Juren, you'll probably please Father more. Spending all day associating with unsavory characters, displeasing Father, wouldn't that waste all the effort Concubine Sun expended clinging to Father?"
"Second Brother!"
Even though Ji Yunlu had an excellent temper, he couldn't endure such insults towards his mother and friend. Seeing the situation turning bad, Fang Yu quickly pulled Ji Yunlu back. If they caused a scene here, it would be embarrassing for both families.
The man seemed to have satisfied his momentary urge to show off and, thinking himself imposing, went to another area. When Fang Yu looked back, Ji Yunlu's eyes were already red with anger.
"Brother Ji, why take such words to heart? It only adds unnecessary trouble for yourself."
"Having family ugliness exposed for Brother Fang to see is embarrassing. Second Brother and I have never gotten along; we often bicker at home. I never thought he would disregard face outside as well, letting Brother Fang hear such unpleasantness. Please, Brother Fang, don't take it to heart."
Fang Yu waved his hand dismissively. He had heard such remarks, both overt and covert, countless times and naturally wouldn't take them to heart. He just hadn't expected that Ji Yunlu's mother's maiden family was also of merchant background.
The Assistant Prefect was quite old, around forty or fifty when he married Madam Sun as a concubine. At that time, Concubine Sun was in her prime and quickly won the the Assistant Prefect's favor, giving birth to a son, Ji Yunlu. Ji Yunlu was quite competitive, passing the imperial examinations before the sons of the principal wife. Naturally, there was discord between the principal wife's line and the concubine's line.
Fang Yu could imagine that usually, they mocked Concubine Sun's background, leading to the entire circle of principal wives and their children ostracizing Ji Yunlu. What seemed a glamorous background to outsiders was actually a mess internally.
Even a family like the Fang family, mere scholar household, dared to look down on the Qiao family, let alone a household like the Assistant Prefect's. Fang Yu sighed quietly. Fang Yu sighed quietly. Fortunately, their own household was simple, otherwise there would surely be drama.
A perfectly good banquet was disrupted by the second Ji son. Ji Yunlu's mood was visibly worse. Fang Yu, however, ate and drank as usual, and in the end thought the dishes at the Commissioner's residence today was quite sumptuous, much more comfortable than the vegetarian feast at the Lingxuan Cave Mountain.
Those who didn't know him thought he was a poor, shabby scholar, not worth associating with. Those who knew him knew he had married into a merchant family and looked down on associating with him. Throughout the meal, no one came to flatter him, nor did he need to flatter anyone. He ate peacefully and attentively, which was better than any poetry gathering.
Seeing his excellent appetite, Ji Yunlu realized Fang Yu hadn't taken his second brother's words to heart. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly at Fang Yu's genuine broad-mindedness. Both had inseparable connections to merchant families, yet Fang Yu was so open and unashamed, which only made him seem more narrow-minded and closed-off in comparison.
Seeing Ji Yunlu hardly touch his chopsticks during the banquet, Fang Yu thought about it. Although he usually addressed him as "Brother Ji," it was merely a polite term among classmates. In fact, Ji Yunlu was two years younger than him. He felt some sympathy for Ji Yunlu's situation: "Have you ever heard a saying?"
Ji Yunlu was puzzled. "What saying does Brother Fang refer to?"
Fang Yu picked up a piece of meat and put it in Ji Yunlu's bowl. "Those who can eat while crying are the ones who can truly go on living."
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