Wang Youbao had also opened the wooden box, which contained four delicate porcelain jars arranged neatly inside. The jars were separated by wooden dividers, and a considerable amount of cotton padding was interspersed to prevent them from colliding and breaking.
If Wang Youbao hadn’t mentioned it was honey, neither An Jing nor Xiao Changyi would have been able to tell that the four lidded porcelain jars contained honey.
An Jing smiled with a significant look, "You’re really generous with your gifts, giving away four jars just like that."
Unlike modern times, honey here was especially expensive, simply because there were no beekeepers. The source of honey was entirely from harvesting wild beehives, an activity fraught with danger. Some people even died from bee stings, and since beehives weren’t available everywhere, this led to the high price of honey.
It could rival bird’s nest soup.
Wang Youbao gave a forced chuckle before saying, "The lady asked for it, so it would’ve been embarrassing for me not to give."
An Jing was taken aback, "Did Li Wuyu ask you for it?"
Wang Youbao said, "In her letter, she mentioned you gave her a jar of honey, then said some things... that suggested she wanted me to buy honey for her." He paused. "I didn’t know how to give her the honey, so I could only come to you for help, to pass it on to her."
An Jing: "..." You idiot! I’d bet fifty cents you definitely like my apprentice!
Otherwise, would you be this generous? It’s almost like you give her anything she asks for! And so much of it!
An Jing didn’t burst the obvious bubble but instead said, "It just so happens I know someone who’s going to the Capital the day after tomorrow. I’ll have that person take the honey to Wuyu for you."
"Are you only sending honey, nothing else?" An Jing suddenly asked.
Wang Youbao pondered and replied, "It seems she only asked me for honey; that should be enough to bring. Nothing else is needed."
An Jing: "..." What a blockhead! Would it kill you to write a reply to my apprentice?!
Wang Youbao stayed for lunch before leaving.
The next day, Meng Zhuqing arrived, and An Jing had Meng Zhuqing’s people take the honey to the Imperial Capital for Li Wuyu. At the same time, she wrote a letter to Li Wuyu.
Thanks to the help of people from An Village and the fine weather with no rain or snow, the road repairs took only a short seven days to complete, directly connecting to the main road.
The road was made exceptionally smooth.
Wooden stakes were also hammered in on both sides of the road to serve as guardrails, making this road look even more like a main thoroughfare.
The day after the road was completed, it started raining, lasting for four straight days. The rain was neither heavy nor light, but the grey and gloomy skies created a depressing atmosphere. Fortunately for An Jing, who was pregnant, Xiao Changyi was by her side, and the sweetness and love shared between them kept her spirits high, even making her feel quite joyful.
Once the weather cleared up again, and after staying home for three more days until the road was no longer slippery, An Jing and Xiao Changyi returned to town to buy the New Year goods they hadn’t purchased before.
With the new road, An Jing and Xiao Changyi no longer had to pass through Jiuping Village.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month.
On this day, An Jing and Xiao Changyi were cleaning their house, as tomorrow would be New Year’s Eve. The new year called for a thorough cleaning of the house inside and out.
It was a tradition to sweep out the old and welcome the new.
Just as An Jing was using a rag to wipe the table, she suddenly heard a ruckus outside the door: "An Jing, you ungrateful wretch, come out here!"
An Jing listened carefully to distinguish the voice and finally concluded that it must be that of Pan Shuangquan’s new wife, Lady Pan Fan.