Chapter 49: Status
Coming out of the ready-to-wear clothing shop, Su Yaoguang noticed that Zhang Zhaodi had not spoken at all. She turned back to look at her: “Mom, are you hungry? Let’s find a place to eat something first.”
Zhang Zhaodi came back to her senses: “Not hungry. We still need to buy things for Wangshu. Let’s buy them for him first and send them over, so he won’t lack anything at the academy and be looked down upon by others.”
“It’s not like it’ll make much difference in this short time.” Su Yaoguang pulled Zhang Zhaodi to sit down in front of the wonton stall. “Boss, two bowls of mutton wonton.”
“One bowl of mutton wonton, one bowl of vegetarian wonton.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “I don’t like eating mutton, I just like eating vegetarian ones.”
“Mom, you’re lying. You’ve never eaten mutton wonton, so how do you know mutton wonton isn’t good? If you won’t eat it with me, then I’ll eat vegetarian wonton too.” Su Yaoguang said as she was about to call the boss.
Zhang Zhaodi had no choice but to compromise: “Fine, fine, mutton wonton.”
While waiting for the wonton to be served, Su Yaoguang looked around curiously, her eyes full of curiosity. Only at this moment did she seem like a fifteen-year-old young lady, interested in everything.
“Daughter, these years Mom has been traveling outside, sometimes gone for several days, even one or two months without coming home. With Mom not at home, you’ve had it hard, haven’t you?”
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Mom just saw you skillfully altering clothes and suddenly realized that in places Mom can’t see, you’ve already learned so many things. Mom isn’t a good mom, making you suffer.”
“Oh, Mom, you were silent the whole time just now, I thought I did something wrong that made you angry! Mom, I’m grown up now, I can protect you. When I was little, you were my sky, my support. Now you can try relying on your daughter. You raised me, I’ll support you in your old age, isn’t that only right? You can’t treat me like a child anymore.”
The boss brought the wonton and said with a smile: “You two have such a good relationship. We outsiders watching are really envious! Dear guests, enjoy your meal.”
Zhang Zhaodi’s nose felt sour. She had never liked sappy sentimentality and wasn’t used to saying nice words. At this moment, she felt extremely awkward and embarrassed.
“Tasty.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “Thanks to my daughter, Mom gets to eat mutton wonton too.”
After eating the wonton, Su Yaoguang continued buying things for Zhou Wangshu.
First clothes and shoes and socks, then writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, then daily necessities.
Because there were too many things, Su Yaoguang specially asked the shop assistant to help deliver them. She gave three copper coins for travel expenses, and the shop assistant was happy to oblige without extra cost, very willing to make the trip for them.
“Mom will wait for you at the doorway.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “Send the things and come out.”
Su Yaoguang took the shop assistant inside.
The old gatekeeper servant went in first to report, and only let them in after getting the teacher’s permission.
It was noon now, right after lunch and rest time. The teacher had just arranged Zhou Wangshu’s room, so Zhou Wangshu was in his bedroom packing things.
“Zhou Wangshu, your family is looking for you.”
Chen Buyu poked his head out and looked outside: “Wangshu, who’s here? Come take a look?”
Zhou Wangshu guessed who it was. He walked out and saw Su Yaoguang coming over with the shop assistant. She was carrying a large bundle on her back, while the shop assistant was shouldering a heavy load on a shoulder pole.
“Wangshu, Mom and I bought you some clothes and daily items. Is this your room? Then I’ll have little brother here carry them right in.”
Chen Buyu sized up Su Yaoguang.
The young lady was small and too thin, feeling like she could be picked up with one hand. Her hair was somewhat dry and yellow, her complexion a bit sallow, but her features were nice, petite and Linglong-like, though only considered pretty at best. He was used to beauties; even the girls in his family were better looking than her. However, her eyes were very spirited, like they glowed, making one feel energetic just looking at them. When she smiled, she was bright and sunny, evoking a good impression.
“Hello, I’m Wangshu’s classmate and also the friend rooming with him. My name is Chen Buyu.” Chen Buyu greeted proactively.
Su Yaoguang smiled and said: “Hello, my name is Su Yaoguang, I’m Wangshu’s older sister. Please take good care of my younger brother from now on.”
“Older sister?” Chen Buyu was surprised, glanced at Zhou Wangshu, scratched his head and said, “I have a question I’m very curious about, can I ask?”
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” Zhou Wangshu looked displeased at Chen Buyu.
“Hey, what could there be to do in the middle of the day? This is the first time Su younger sister and I meet, but it feels like we’re old friends. Let me chat with her a bit.” Chen Buyu was very familiar, climbed out the window, and asked curiously, “Someone said Wangshu was bought for ten copper coins as a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family. That person isn’t you, right?”
Su Yaoguang frowned: “Who said that?”
“That person wasn’t wrong.” Zhou Wangshu said, “Nothing to mind.”
“Where wasn’t it wrong? You’re my younger brother, you’re a free man.” Su Yaoguang said displeased, “How are the scholars at this academy just like gossips in the marketplace, not focusing on their own studies all day but staring at other people’s family matters? Wangshu, you must stay away from such people, and absolutely don’t do anything for fame or reputation.”
“I will.”
Chen Buyu chuckled: “Su younger sister, I was just curious, I didn’t say those words. Don’t worry, Wangshu is my brother, I’ll definitely take good care of him.”
“Our family’s Wangshu is an honest person, soft-hearted, timid, and has suffered a lot. Chen scholar, please take care of him.” Su Yaoguang said.
Su Yaoguang laid out the newly bought bedding for Zhou Wangshu, then took out the new clothes, shoes and socks, and Four Treasures of the Study. She carefully instructed him, nagging on and on like a little old lady.
“Mom and I will often come to the city to sell cosmetics. You know the place, it’s still there. We sold even better than last time today. But older sister Chun E asked about you, saying how come such a stunning beauty younger sister isn’t brought over to attract business.” Su Yaoguang laughed, “After setting up the stall properly, sure enough many people asked about you. Luckily you didn’t go, otherwise in just a few days, there might be matchmakers coming to propose marriage. Where would I find a stunning beauty younger sister for them then?”
Su Yaoguang placed the steaming roast duck on the table and said: “Share it with your friends! Oh, and take this with you. Buy whatever you want to eat, don’t starve yourself.”
Su Yaoguang first gave a money bag, which contained three hundred copper coins. She looked at Zhou Wangshu’s frail and weak appearance and added one hundred copper coins.
Zhou Wangshu held the money bag, his eyes surging with shock.
Why was she so good to him?
If buying him initially for ten copper coins was to resolve her own crisis, now her crisis was resolved, and this chess piece of his was no longer very useful. They were willing to send him here to study, and he was already deeply grateful, no need to be so good to him. He knew how poor this family was and what this bag of money meant to them. Precisely because he knew, he felt this mother and daughter were especially foolish.
“Mom is waiting for me at the doorway, I’m going.” Su Yaoguang smiled, “Wangshu, study hard, no slacking off!”
