Chapter 115: Watching The Show
Qian Yongqiang held Jiang Yihuan’s hand: “Huan’er, you know how much I like you. As long as you marry me, I won’t let you suffer. You’ll have good food and drink every day, and servants to serve you.”
“No.” Jiang Yihuan let go of Qian Yongqiang. “Young Master Qian, I can’t marry you right now.”
“Why?” Qian Yongqiang looked at her sadly.
“Because the one she is marrying is me.” Xiao Yanci walked over, stood in front of Jiang Yihuan, and looked at Qian Yongqiang displeased. “Once I pass the exam and get an official position, I will marry her as my wife. She will become an official’s wife. I will win her an imperial lady title. That’s something you can’t give her. What makes you think you can compete with me?”
Zhong Lanhua’s eyes flickered.
She had been tempted when she saw so many betrothal gifts. But Xiao Ci’s words made her start to waver.
If Xiao Ci really could pass the exam and get an official position, her daughter would be an official family madam. Wouldn’t that be much more noble than Zhang Zhaodi and her daughter?
Her daughter would be an imperial lady, and she could be an old madam.
Thinking this way, these betrothal gifts really weren’t much. For long-term plans, she should still marry her daughter to Xiao Ci.
“Huan’er, are you going to marry him?” Qian Yongqiang pointed at Xiao Yanci and questioned Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan covered her mouth, tears dropping down: “Don’t force me… Waaah…”
“Huan’er, how is this forcing you? Do you like him or do you like me? Do you want to marry him or marry me?” Qian Yongqiang’s eyes were red, anxiously looking at her.
Jiang Yihuan looked at Qian Yongqiang, then at Xiao Yanci, and said troubled, “You are both very good and important friends to me. I’m still young right now and really haven’t thought about those things. Can’t we wait a little longer?”
“Young Master Qian, you heard it too. My daughter doesn’t want to marry yet. How about this: wait another two years, and in two years we’ll see if there’s this fate.” Zhong Lanhua smoothed things over.
Su Yaoguang reached out to the side: “Any melon seeds?”
A handful of melon seeds fell into her palm.
She turned to thank, discovering it was Zhou Wangshu who had returned from outside.
“Wangshu, why are you back so early today?”
“I skipped the chess class at the academy.” Zhou Wangshu said.
Zhang Zhaodi said irritably, “You have to pay so much tuition fees every year. Skipping one class is a big loss, isn’t it? No skipping classes from now on. Whether you listen or not, you have to go. Staying inside, at least you can learn something.”
“Mom, would you be willing if I asked you to go to class?” Su Yaoguang spoke up for Zhou Wangshu.
“I’m different from him. I’m a woman, and at this age…” Zhang Zhaodi said guiltily.
“Did you forget how those people from the Su family were fooled by us before because they were illiterate? If you can’t read, you wouldn’t even know if someone tricked you into signing a deed of sale. Didn’t you promise me you’d learn to read?” Su Yaoguang said. “Maternal aunt has learned quite a few characters, right, maternal aunt?”
Zhang Yingdi said embarrassedly, “Your maternal uncle has taught me a few from time to time over the years, and I’ve learned some of the simple ones.”
“Maternal aunt is too modest.” Su Yaoguang said, “Yesterday when I went to find maternal aunt, she was practicing writing, and the characters were written very well. If maternal aunt wants to work as an accountant someday, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Got it, I’ll learn.” Zhang Zhaodi said with a headache.
“Godmother, I’ll teach you.” Jiang Jing spoke up, “Believe me, learning to read really has benefits.”
Zhou Wangshu reminded Su Yaoguang: “The play opposite is about to end.”
Su Yaoguang then remembered they were here to watch the play.
Jiang Yihuan cried and whimpered, said a few words to stall Qian Yongqiang, and the latter left disappointedly with his people.
“Xiao Gege, am I very bad? Am I a bad woman?” Jiang Yihuan cried, her body went limp, and she slid to the ground.
Xiao Yanci hugged her and carried her into the shop: “Huan’er, you’re not. You’re the kindest young lady.”
Su Yaoguang: “…”
She really didn’t lose unjustly to Jiang Yihuan.
Zhou Wangshu noticed her expression was off and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“If Jiang Yihuan had been the one who bought you back then, would you like her?”
Zhou Wangshu: “…What a vicious curse.”
Su Yaoguang was amused by his strange expression.
“I’m asking seriously, give me a serious answer.”
“She kept that Qian Yongqiang hanging, saying ambiguous words. She didn’t dare to respond directly to Xiao Ci, afraid that he wouldn’t pass the exam and get an official position, leaving her with nothing. Once Xiao Ci really passes and gets an official position, she’ll of course clearly express her feelings. For a fickle woman like that, if I fell into her hands, I’d rather be a servant for life than have any other involvement with her.”
“So there are still people with eyes.”
“Yaoguang, Chen Buyu asked me to pass on a message today, saying the young ladies at the dance hall want you to deliver a batch of goods.”
“Sure, is there a list?”
“Yes.” Zhou Wangshu handed her the list, “You prepare the things, I’ll deliver them.”
“Are you convenient?”
“I’ll go straight to Chen Buyu and hand it to him. What’s inconvenient about that?”
“Alright then!”
The weather had been clear for a few days, then dark clouds gathered again. Su Yaoguang gave Master Tang more money, asking him to find more people to ensure completion within three days.
She was just adding a few new rooms. With sufficient materials and manpower, a few days were enough.
Su Yaoguang came out from the backyard and saw Zhang Zhaodi dressed in new clothes with exquisite makeup, going out. Alarm bells rang in her heart.
“Mom, where are you going?”
“Today is my friend’s birthday. We agreed to go listen to a play.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “Daughter, mom will take a day off today. You all work hard, I’ll do more work tomorrow.”
“Mom, just rest. We can manage. But a few days ago, didn’t you say to invite that friend over to meet? How about inviting her today?”
“Sure, I’ll ask her later.”
Su Yaoguang saw Zhang Zhaodi’s eyes were clear and her response straightforward, so the suspicion in her heart dissipated.
Maybe she was overthinking it!
Her mom was probably just really going to see a friend.
Su Yaoguang had three appointments today: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.
So, she would be very busy.
However, just after finishing a full-body skincare package for an important customer in the morning, she saw Zhou Wangshu waiting outside. When he saw her, he strode over.
“Why are you here?”
“I just saw mom.” Zhou Wangshu said, “She was listening to a play in the theater, with a woman about her age beside her.”
“That person should be mom’s friend.” Su Yaoguang said, “Mom said she recently made a friend she gets along very well with, and their relationship is quite good.”
“Chen Buyu and I were listening to a play next door. I wanted to go greet mom but worried she’d feel awkward, so I didn’t. Mom left first, but that woman didn’t leave in a hurry. Later, someone else entered that dormitory room.”
