Chapter 41: Emerald Cabbage Soup, Ninety-Nine a Vat

"Emerald White Jade Soup?"

Ye Xiuxiu stared at Ye Ruyan with a face full of suspicion, her tone brimming with puzzlement as she pressed:

"What's the next line?"

She saw Ye Ruyan studying Ye Xiuxiu's eyes with rapt attention,

attempting to find even the slightest trace of feigned ignorance in those deep eyes.

However, no matter how she scrutinized, Ye Xiuxiu's gaze remained unchanged,

calm as water, without the slightest sign of deliberate concealment.

Left with no choice, Ye Ruyan could only softly and slowly voice the second half:

"Emerald cabbage soup, ninety-nine a vat."

This line was widely circulated and universally beloved in her past life — how could Ye Xiuxiu possibly know nothing of it?

Yet the facts were right before her eyes: upon hearing this line, Ye Xiuxiu

first froze slightly, then clapped her hands as though waking from a dream,

"Nice!"

She couldn't help but marvel in her heart:

"This phrase is practically on par with 'Palace jade liquid wine, one hundred eighty a cup'!"

Seeing Ye Xiuxiu's reaction, Ye Ruyan grew all the more curious.

So, without hesitation, she tossed out a second equally classic question:

"Golden thread bird's nest porridge?"

Having said that, she stared unblinking into Ye Xiuxiu's eyes,

unwilling to let any subtle change of expression on her face slip by.

But disappointingly, Ye Xiuxiu was still utterly blank-faced this time,

those once clear and captivating eyes now filled entirely with confusion,

clearly having never heard this phrase before.

She subconsciously blinked those large, dewy eyes a few times and asked back in bewilderment:

"What's the next line?"

Seeing this, Ye Ruyan asked again in disbelief, "You really don't know?"

Ye Xiuxiu gently shook her head, a hint of bewilderment appearing on her face,

and said softly:

"I don't know — what exactly is the next line?"

Those large, dewy eyes of hers were filled with curiosity and puzzlement,

staring fixedly at Ye Ruyan, expecting the other to give an answer.

At this point, Ye Ruyan smiled faintly and slowly spoke the next line:

"Golden thread bird's nest porridge, two hundred fifty a bag."

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, as melodious as an oriole emerging from a valley.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xiuxiu nodded repeatedly, a flash of pleasant surprise crossing her eyes,

and said with endless praise:

"Not bad, not bad — this phrase is truly brilliant!"

She seemed quite satisfied with this line, her face brimming with an excited smile.

However, Ye Ruyan did not stop there, but pressed again:

"Do you really not know?"

She stared intently at Ye Xiuxiu, trying to catch some trace from her expression and gaze.

Ye Xiuxiu answered without hesitation, "I don't know."

Her tone was firm and candid, without the slightest hesitation or concealment.

Hearing Ye Xiuxiu's so crisp and direct answer,

Ye Ruyan couldn't help frowning, pondering to herself.

Why would Ye Xiuxiu not know?

After all, these two lines were widely circulated and considered classics in her past life!

By all reason, it was impossible for Ye Xiuxiu never to have heard of them.

Could it be that the Ye Xiuxiu of her past life had never come into contact with these things at all?

But that was nearly impossible,

for these two lines were simply too famous.

Then, could Ye Xiuxiu be deliberately pretending not to know?

But upon careful observation,

Ye Xiuxiu's behavior seemed perfectly natural, with no trace of pretense whatsoever.

For a moment, Ye Ruyan fell into deep thought,

unable to make sense of the reason no matter how she tried.

Or could it be that Ye Xiuxiu was not a reborn person,

but then how could that whistle have ended up in Ye Xiuxiu's hands?

Ye Qingping looked toward Ye Ruyan,

"Ruyan,"

"What are you mumbling about with your sister?"

Ye Ruyan shook her head,

"Nothing, I was just matching couplets with Sister,"

"but Sister couldn't come up with a match."

"Sister is very accomplished in the Confucian Way, but falls a bit short in other areas."

Ye Xiuxiu was taken aback upon hearing this,

Hold on, it's one thing for you to praise yourself,

but why do you have to step on me?

"Sister Ruyan, I actually have a couplet here. I wonder if you can match it,"

"Orioles and swallows, kingfishers and reds, everywhere harmonious and merry,"

"You match the next line."

Ye Ruyan was instantly dumbfounded upon hearing this,

You really know this stuff?

She forced herself to say,

"One one two two three three four four five five six six seven seven?"

Ye Xiuxiu said nothing,

and simply gave a thumbs up.

But everyone around had smiles plastered across their faces.

Ye Ruyan's face instantly burned.

After the luncheon ended,

sunlight streamed through the windows into the spacious, bright living room.

Ye Xiuxiu's grandmother, Li Dongxia, wore a smile,

gently picked up Ye Xiuxiu,

her eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation as she began asking about the Confucian Way.

After all, being able to use the Confucian Way's Magnanimous Righteous Qi to launch attacks,

that was an unprecedented marvel!

Held in her grandmother's arms, Ye Xiuxiu

felt that warmth and affection,

and gave a playful little laugh, saying:

"Grandma, actually, my discovering this ability was purely a lucky coincidence."

"Everyone thought my interpretations of the sages' words were twisted reasoning,"

"then I didn't listen to their advice, and discovered that mine were actually the correct ones."

Hearing her granddaughter explain it this way, Li Dongxia couldn't help but nod, silently marveling at the wondrous arrangements of fate.

Then, she gently stroked Ye Xiuxiu's head and said softly:

"Xiuxiu, Grandma would actually like you to try our Ye Family's ancestral cultivation art."

"Look at your father, Ye Qingping — he studied this very art, and has achieved no small success."

"If our Xiuxiu can learn it too, not only would it save you a lot of time exploring on your own and learning from mistakes,"

"it would also spare you quite a bit of unnecessary trouble!"

"Try whether your Magnanimous Righteous Qi has any effect on it."

As for her grandmother's suggestion, Ye Xiuxiu didn't hesitate for a moment,

and readily nodded, replying, "Sure, Grandma, I'm willing to give it a try!"

At this point, Li Dongxia turned to look at Ye Songzhi sitting to the side, and saw him give a slight nod, indicating his agreement.

After receiving her husband's approval,

Li Dongxia took out a book with a blue cover from her storage bag,

and solemnly handed it to Ye Xiuxiu.

Ye Xiuxiu took the book and couldn't wait to open the cover.

Ever since gaining the gifts of photographic memory and drawing inferences from one instance,

Ye Xiuxiu had become very fond of reading,

truly, within books lie golden houses, and within books lie beauties.

In an instant, a faint scent of ink wafted to her nose.

Her gaze swiftly swept across the pages, her reading speed extremely fast, truly reading ten lines at a glance.

Yet astonishingly, despite reading so hastily,

every line of text and every illustration in the book was clearly imprinted in her mind,

as if she would never forget them.

(End of this chapter)