USWHC -Chapter 177 Flirting Lessons (Part 7)

Seeing the situation unfold, Zhu Jie felt a flicker of caution in her heart. This wasn’t just about lunch or afternoon tea—this was a full-blown formal banquet! But why was it being arranged like this?

There were many people, and the food and drink quickly made its way to the table. Three maidservants, each dressed in red with green sashes, carried a spring-themed bowl on trays.

The bowl was slightly larger, and from the outside, it was decorated with the “Three Friends of Winter” motif in a precise, traditional style. The porcelain craftsmanship was delicate, and Zhu Jie couldn’t help but pause, her gaze lingering on the rim of the spring bowl.

Inside, however, was a branch of red plum blossoms. The magical part was that as the soup moved, the red plum seemed to sway gently in the wind. White plum petals floated atop the soup, creating an ethereal effect—like petals drifting in the wind, or like snowflakes falling on the red plum, a perfect “Red Plum Surpasses Snow” scene.

Yet, despite the bowl’s beauty, Zhu Jie’s heart sank. She glanced at Sun Shaohui at the head of the table. What was her intention?

Sun Shaohui, however, remained calm, leisurely observing her with a smile, seemingly waiting for Zhu Jie to drink the soup.

No! Zhu Jie hurriedly looked at Ji Yi. Don’t drink it! Whatever you do, don’t drink it!

But no matter how much she silently shouted, Ji Yi had already picked up the bowl and gulped it down. Between sips, he wiped his mouth and said, “Good soup. A bit bland, though.”

As expected, Sun Shaohui let out a soft, restrained laugh, trying to suppress it so that only half a note escaped.

Zhu Jie felt a surge of irritation but smiled politely, reaching toward the bowl—not to drink, but to gently stir the soup with her slender, graceful fingers.

The maid carrying the bowl froze in surprise, clearly not expecting this. Only after seeing Zhu Jie’s delicate hands tremble slightly did she remember to hand over a towel.

Zhu Jie accepted the towel politely, saying nothing, but her anger simmered. Sun Shaohui’s actions were intentional—definitely intentional!

At that moment, Zhu Jie suddenly thought of Dream of the Red Chamber, remembering Lin Daiyu’s first entry into the Jia household and Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden. Scenes from the TV adaptations played in her mind, frame by frame. What was Sun Shaohui’s goal? To test her and Ji Yi? Or simply to see them embarrassed?

“That’s such good soup—why are you washing your hands?” Ji Yi asked innocently, puzzled, looking at Zhu Jie.

Zhu Jie almost killed him with her gaze! She couldn’t believe it. If she had known this would happen, she would have taught Ji Yi basic etiquette yesterday!

Sun Shaohui said nothing more, acting as if nothing had happened. Like Zhu Jie, she gently cleaned her hands in the bowl of soup.

“Try these shrimp, sister. It’s not crab season yet, so we can only offer shrimp. Please don’t mind,” Sun Shaohui said with a small, slightly proud smile.

Shrimp—anyone in modern times has eaten it, but in ancient times, it wasn’t common, especially in small inland villages far from the sea. Most ordinary people had never tasted it.

At that time, many delicacies were reserved for the nobility. Commoners? Want shrimp or crab? If you weren’t a fisherman, you were lucky to have sweet potatoes. Forget about anything fancy.

Sure enough, Ji Yi immediately went full “Liu Laolao mode,” his face filled with surprise. “Oh, what’s this? How do you eat it?” He grabbed a shrimp with his hand, didn’t peel it, and bit straight in. Crunch—crispy and refreshing.

Zhu Jie nearly wanted to strangle him. Miss Sun was testing you, and here you were, completely oblivious, not even watching others.

“Ugh, ugh, this is inedible, it’s hard on the teeth!” Before Zhu Jie could speak, Ji Yi spat it out, brazenly telling her, “You can’t eat this!”

Zhu Jie rudely patted his thigh in frustration, teeth gritted in anger.