Chapter 240: Wedding Banquet
The next morning, Su Yaoguang sat in front of the mirror, looking at the red marks on her neck, and turned back to glare fiercely at the bastard lying there with a satisfied look on his face.
“How am I supposed to face people today?”
“Our family’s cosmetics are so good, just apply some and it will cover them up.” Zhou Wangshu got out of bed and walked over, hugging her from behind, “Didn’t you like it very much last night?”
“I didn’t.” Su Yaoguang felt a bit lacking in confidence.
“Didn’t you? Who was the one clinging to me all the time…”
“No filter on your mouth?” Su Yaoguang glared at him. “If you dare say any more nonsense, see how I deal with you.”
“Before, you called me younger brother and treated me decently. Now it’s great, I’ve become your man, and you nag me all day without any pity.”
“As for me, I found a man so he can dote on me. If you want to be a man, you just have to be obedient. As for a younger brother, of course he’s meant to be doted on. If you want to go back to being a younger brother, since we haven’t held the banquet yet, you still have one chance to back out.”
“In your dreams. You’ve already taken all my cheap advantages, and now you want to abandon me after starting something.”
Su Yaoguang: “…”
What a drama queen.
How had she not noticed before how dramatic he was?
Zhou Wangshu took the eyebrow pencil from her hand: “Let me draw it for you.”
“Can you even do it?” Su Yaoguang’s eyes were full of doubt.
“I’ve watched for so many years, I’ve learned how.”
Su Yaoguang decided to trust him once for now.
After a while, her neck was sore from tilting it back, and this guy still wasn’t done.
“Let me see how you did…”
Su Yaoguang wanted to take the mirror, but before she could turn her head to look, Zhou Wangshu held her cheeks and said very seriously: “It looks great, trust my skills.”
“Really?” Su Yaoguang turned around and picked up the bronze mirror.
When she saw herself in the bronze mirror, her face turned ugly: “Zhou Wangshu!!!”
Zhou Wangshu had already run off without a trace.
“I’m going back to the room to change clothes.”
At this time, in another room, Zhang Zhaodi was pinching Su Rende’s neck, glaring at him with eyes full of anger.
Su Rende’s face turned red from holding his breath, his tone carrying some exasperation: “You woman really don’t make sense. You were the one who dragged me and wouldn’t let me leave yesterday, and now you’re saying I trespassed into a private home.”
“How did you get into my house?”
“You were running around outside, and I happened to finish my errand and come home, saw you drunk and staggering, worried you might get into trouble, so I sent you home. Who knew you would hug me and not let go, not letting me leave?”
“You didn’t do anything to me yesterday…”
“You’re a woman who has given birth to a daughter, don’t you know if I did anything to you?”
“You…”
“Enough, this general is not that kind of person.”
Zhang Zhaodi got off him.
She didn’t know if he was that kind of person, but she knew with his identity and status, if he just said he wanted a woman, plenty of unmarried noblewomen would come knocking.
“Hurry up and leave, don’t let others see you, or even jumping into the Yellow River won’t clear it up.” Zhang Zhaodi urged, “Don’t come to our house anymore.”
Su Rende: “…”
After Su Rende left, Zhang Zhaodi tidied up a bit and went out. She took several sisters to do procurement for the wedding banquet three days later.
“Big sister, after the provincial exam there’s still the palace exam, why not wait until after the palace exam ends to hold the banquet for them?” Zhang Pandi said, “If Wangshu works hard and gets into the top three scholars, won’t our Yaoguang marry even more gloriously?”
“I’m afraid precisely of him getting into the top three scholars.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “The top three scholars are hot cakes in the eyes of noblewomen, every year there are noblewomen eyeing them. Our Wangshu is good-looking and talented, it’s easy for him to be targeted. Only by making it grand first and letting everyone know the top scholar already has a wife can we prevent others from coveting him.”
“What you say makes sense.”
“Big sister thinks so thoroughly. Our Yaoguang finally made it to today, we can’t let others snatch her happiness.”
The Zhang sisters led the shop assistants to prepare for the wedding banquet. Three days later, the news that the owner of Peach Blossom Workshop was getting married was known to everyone, and for the next three days Peach Blossom Workshop’s goods would be at seven-fold discount, with an event giving a full set of skincare products for distinguished guest cards.
Zhou Wangshu was marrying in as a son-in-law, he just needed to put on wedding clothes, ride a tall horse, lead the wedding sedan chair and the bride inside around the street once, then send it back to Peach Blossom Workshop, and complete the worship ceremony and wedding banquet at Peach Blossom Workshop.
Jiang Jing and Jia Chunni scattered copper coins.
People from all around rushed forward, saying auspicious words.
Su Yaoguang secretly looked outside and saw so many onlookers, she who wasn’t nervous before started to get nervous.
Zhou Wangshu saw Su Yaoguang peeking and threw something into the sedan.
Su Yaoguang looked and saw it was actually a pastry.
“Eat something, dinner will be late.”
Su Yaoguang smiled and ate it in small bites.
Her cosmetics today looked great, especially this lip balm, using a new color she had just formulated that wasn’t on the market yet, others didn’t have it.
All the way with gongs and drums, very lively.
In the crowd, Xiao Yanci clenched his fist, looking at Zhou Wangshu with jealousy.
In his previous life he married Su Yaoguang and everything went smoothly for him. In this life Zhou Wangshu married Su Yaoguang and sailed through the imperial examination unimpeded.
Su Yaoguang was a lucky star, whoever married her would have the good fortune, it was hateful that he only understood this reason now.
After the wedding sedan was carried back to Peach Blossom Workshop, the next ceremonies began.
Zhang Zhaodi sat in the seat of honor, waiting for her daughter and son-in-law to kowtow.
Her eyes reddened as she looked at the perfect couple in front of her, all the grievances and hardships of these years flashed through her mind like a pageant.
“The rites are complete, escort to the bridal chamber.”
The matchmaker and others sent Su Yaoguang into the bridal chamber.
Zhou Wangshu used the wedding rod to lift the veil, looking at the beautiful bride in front of him.
Today’s Su Yaoguang was exceptionally charming.
She slightly raised her head, smiling at Zhou Wangshu, a bit uncomfortable on her face.
Zhou Wangshu drank the cross-cup wine with her, let Jiang Jing and Jia Chunni stay to chat with her, and he went out to drink with the guests.
Today’s guests were all neighbors and regular customers, of course there were also many merchants wanting to build relations with the new top scholar, they received them all warmly.
In the bridal chamber, Jia Chunni said to Su Yaoguang: “Sister, it’s so lively today, you look so pretty, brother-in-law is also handsome, everyone says you have such good fortune!”
“Wrong, it’s brother-in-law who has good fortune, to marry such a great sister.” Jiang Jing said, “Sister, if he bullies you, we’ll deal with him for you.”
“You two, don’t even see who could bully whom.” Su Yaoguang said, “With his skinny build, one punch from me per person.”
“True.” Jia Chunni tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Su Yaoguang, “Eat more, nourish yourself well, or else you won’t have strength later.”
Su Yaoguang: “…What no strength?”
“Brother-in-law went drinking, he’ll definitely get drunk later, if you don’t eat your fill, you won’t have strength to carry him later.”
Su Yaoguang patted her chest: “You scared me.”
Su Yaoguang chatted idly with the two sisters, time passed quickly, and she vaguely heard someone coming.
Two male shop assistants helped Zhou Wangshu in.
“Brother-in-law is drunk?” Jia Chunni asked.
“Yeah, drank a lot, only troubling the owner to take care of him.”
Jiang Jing took Zhou Wangshu’s pulse, glanced at him, and said to Su Yaoguang: “Sister, brother-in-law is drunk, take good care of him, we’re heading back first.”
“Okay.”
The others left, leaving only the newlywed couple in the room.
To call them newlyweds wasn’t entirely accurate, after all the marriage certificate was signed years ago, and they had already consummated, today was just making up the wedding banquet.
Su Yaoguang helped Zhou Wangshu onto the bed, took off his shoes for him, then started unfastening his clothes.
When she undid his belt, Zhou Wangshu grabbed her clothes and pulled, hugging her slim waist and not letting go: “Wife, give me a kiss.”
Su Yaoguang said irritably: “If you’re not drunk, undress yourself.”
Zhou Wangshu had poor tolerance for alcohol, earlier she smelled the alcohol on him and worried excessively, thinking he was really drunk. Now it seemed this boy was sly, he must have poured alcohol on himself.
Zhou Wangshu hugged her, rubbed against her neck, and wheedled: “My head hurts, wife, massage it for me.”
Seeing him uncomfortable, Su Yaoguang reached out to massage his head: “Like this!”
She had learned some massage techniques from Jiang Jing, and often massaged Zhang Zhaodi’s head.
Zhou Wangshu closed his eyes and enjoyed it.
Su Yaoguang saw him slowly close his eyes with even breathing, thinking he had fallen asleep.
She let go of her hand, covered him with the quilt, and was about to get up to drink water when Zhou Wangshu grabbed her wrist.
“Wife, where are you going?”
“You’re not asleep?”
“Today is our wedding night, we haven’t done the main thing yet, how could I sleep?” Zhou Wangshu suddenly sat up and kissed her lips.
Su Yaoguang grabbed his clothes, propping herself up.
Zhou Wangshu rolled with her in his arms, kissing her even deeper.
The night was quiet, deep, and long. The birds outside the window trilled sweetly all night, as if recounting the beauty of the night.
The newlyweds were thin-skinned, and by the time they appeared in the front yard, it was already noon.
“There’s breakfast prepared for you in the pot, still eating it?” Zhang Pandi asked, “If you don’t want it, skip it, lunch is soon, eat lunch with us.”
“Where’s my mom?” Su Yaoguang asked, “She’s not in the shop today?”
“Seems like someone specifically asked her to come for a house call, she went to discuss business?” Zhang Yingdi said, “By the time, it should be about done.”
Zhang Zhaodi came back from outside with a smile on her face: “What are you all looking at me for? The person who invited me today said they wanted to borrow some of our family’s wedding joy, insisted I come to do the project for them. I did it, the wages were three times the usual. I didn’t want it, but they insisted, saying someone as fortunate as me doing the project for them, their son could pass the exam next year too.”
The others laughed nonstop.
They were treating Zhang Zhaodi as a good luck charm.
But this was also a good thing.
As long as no one caused trouble for them, this kind of everyone happy thing, everyone was willing to do.
After Peach Blossom Workshop’s wedding banquet ended, everyone’s focus was still on business.
However, their business was getting better and better.
On one hand, Peach Blossom Workshop’s goods were indeed top quality. On the other, with a top scholar in the family, who wouldn’t want to build relations for the future?
A few days later, the palace exam date arrived, Zhou Wangshu, Wang Huanzhi, and Zhong Chushan had the qualification to attend the palace exam, Chen Buyu’s ranking was too low, he lost the opportunity.
This time the people from Peach Blossom Workshop didn’t send Zhou Wangshu to the palace gate, after all that wasn’t a place ordinary people like them could step into.
Zhang Zhaodi stood at the doorway, watching Zhou Wangshu head to the palace gate.
The others had already gone back, but Zhang Zhaodi hadn’t. As she was about to go back, she saw Su Rende passing by in front and trotted over to block the horse.
Su Rende pulled tight on the horse rope.
“You woman, rushing out like that, not afraid of scaring the horse and hurting yourself.” The attendant beside said.
Su Rende looked at Zhang Zhaodi in front of him: “What is it again?”
“My son-in-law went into the palace for the palace exam. You have experience, how long do you think it will take him, when will the top three scholars results be announced?”
“Not certain. The length of time depends on the emperor’s mood, if he’s in high spirits today and wants to discuss national policy more with the scholars, it might drag on a bit. Are you worried your son-in-law won’t get a good score? Isn’t he the top scholar? Since he’s the top scholar, his strength is there, as long as he performs normally this time, the top three scholars will have his name no matter what. Otherwise, if even a top scholar can’t make top three, what face would future top scholars have?”
Zhang Zhaodi didn’t understand these things, but after hearing Su Rende, she seemed to get it somewhat.
His meaning was that Zhou Wangshu’s ranking wouldn’t be too bad.
“If you’re so nervous, find something else to do, don’t keep thinking about this.”
“Hey…” Zhang Zhaodi stroked his horse, “Can you help me inquire about the situation inside? If I wait for the news to come out, I’m afraid the whole capital city will know, no need to specially inquire. Help me ask how the emperor evaluates my son-in-law. My heart is pounding, so nervous.”
“Fine, wait for the news!”
Su Rende whipped the horse and left.
The attendant looked back at Zhang Zhaodi and said to Su Rende: “General, are you really going to help her inquire about the top three scholars?”
“Just a casual thing, she wants to know the result early, just tell her, anyway we’re going into the palace too.”
The attendant muttered: “You have unusual patience with this village woman. If it were another woman making such a request, would you agree?”
Su Rende thought of Zhang Zhaodi’s drunken sobbing, feeling a bit pained in his heart.
At that moment, he wished he were the man she spoke of.
A woman raising a daughter alone without thinking of remarrying, one could see how fortunate that man was. If he had such good fortune, he’d treasure her forever.
“General, General, what are you thinking?” The attendant called Su Rende several times. “I called you several times, you didn’t hear.”
“No result on what I told you to investigate? Then directly renovate the entire general’s mansion for me, I don’t believe my old belongings can fly to the sky.”
