Chapter 59: Celebration
Chun E saw such a large bottle of scar removal cream—that was two taels of silver—she dared not accept it even more.
The two pushed back and forth there, but Zhaodi stuffed the scar removal cream into Chun E’s arms, said with a stern face: “We sincerely want to befriend you, are you looking down on us?”
Chun E was both amused and exasperated: “Auntie, you really hit the snake at its vital point. I’m afraid of what, and you strike there. Since Auntie and Younger Sister are so enthusiastic, I’ll thicken my face and accept it.”
Su Yaoguang also taught Chun E several outfit combinations, taught her some matching tips, and seeing that time was almost up—if they didn’t leave now, they’d have to stay for lunch—so she bid farewell.
The mother and daughters had just left the ready-to-wear clothing shop when they saw a young man wearing the academy’s uniform clothing walking over. When that young man approached, Zhaodi spotted him first.
“Daughter, it’s Wangshu.”
Su Yaoguang looked up and sure enough saw Zhou Wangshu.
“Why are you here?” Su Yaoguang asked.
Zhou Wangshu said mildly: “Market day today, I came specially to see if you’d entered the city. It’s lunch break now, I asked the teacher for leave, and I’ll go back for afternoon classes.”
Su Yaoguang sized up Zhou Wangshu’s new outfit: “This looks quite spirited on you. How’s the academy? Are the people there easy to get along with?”
“Daughter, it’s lunchtime now, let’s find a place to sit and talk!” Zhaodi reminded.
“Right, we made a lot of money today, no need to save. Perfect timing, everyone’s here today, let’s go to the large restaurant for a good meal.” Su Yaoguang pointed at the tallest house.
“No need to spend so much?” Zhaodi was reluctant, “I heard their steamed buns are ten copper coins each, and a plate of stir-fried vegetables is twenty wen.”
“Mom, just tell me, are you happy today?” Su Yaoguang asked, hugging Zhaodi’s arm.
“Need you ask, of course I’m happy!” Zhaodi beamed with joy. “I’ve never been this happy before.”
“Since it’s such a happy day, shouldn’t we celebrate properly?” Su Yaoguang said, “If Wangshu weren’t here, we could wait, but now Wangshu is here too, our family is all together.”
“Good, we’ll do as you say. You’re in charge of our family now.” Zhaodi stroked Su Yaoguang’s hair, her eyes full of pride.
Zhong Lanhua bragged all day about her son who studies, and when arguing with her, always cursed that her family line was cut off, with no one to rely on. She really wanted to smash open her head with the silver in the box, make her open her eyes and see clearly. Her daughter wasn’t a hundred times better than that useless son of hers? And her daughter, so what if she was pretty, always mincing about, as if she’d stop breathing any moment, just looking at her made one angry.
Su Yaoguang held hands with Jiang Jing, saying she’d order a roast duck that Jiang Jing loved to try later.
Zhou Wangshu’s gaze lingered on Jiang Jing.
Su Yaoguang then remembered she hadn’t introduced Jiang Jing yet. Another purpose of coming to the city today was to bring Jiang Jing for Zhou Wangshu to see, to let him know the family had one more member.
“Wangshu, this is my younger sister Jiang Jing. Jiang Jing, this is my… husband Zhou Wangshu.” Su Yaoguang glanced at Zhaodi beside her and swallowed the words “younger brother.”
Although Su Yaoguang introduced it this way, Jiang Jing already knew the past experiences of the Su family mother and daughters, and had heard from Su Yaoguang’s mouth about her agreement with Zhou Wangshu.
When Jiang Jing heard about the matters between Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu, she increasingly felt this older sister was too kind, too naive, too easily trusting of people. Just look at what she’d done, bringing home one stranger after another of unknown origins, feeding and housing them well, practically a living Bodhisattva.
Zhou Wangshu sized up Jiang Jing, showing a harmless smile: “While I was away, the family gained yet another mouth—how lively.”
“Before it was just Mom and me depending on each other, now with you two more family members, home is getting livelier.” Su Yaoguang hugged Jiang Jing’s arm and said, “Wangshu, Jiang Jing is my good sister, you two get along well from now on.”
Zhou Wangshu pursed his lips.
They’d only known each other a few days, how was she already a good sister? Did she know the other’s background? Did she understand the other’s temperament?
Idiot.
“Yaoguang’s sisters are my sisters, of course we’ll get along well.” Zhou Wangshu smiled at Jiang Jing.
Jiang Jing: “…”
For some reason, she felt chills all over.
Although this Zhou Wangshu was smiling, she had the urge to stay far away from him.
The group entered the large restaurant. As soon as they sat down, the shop assistant came over with the order to take their dishes.
Su Yaoguang looked at the menu, which had not only words but also pictures, convenient for even the illiterate to quickly order their favorite dishes.
Su Yaoguang handed the menu to Zhaodi to order.
Zhaodi looked at the pictures above and pointed at the lotus root porridge.
“Mom, we’re here to eat good food, lotus root porridge is easy to make, I can do it for you when we get home,” Su Yaoguang said. “How about I order?”
Zhaodi also knew her daughter wanted everyone to have a good time today; she was used to saving, reluctant to spend too much, so ordering dishes was torture for her.
She couldn’t dampen everyone’s mood anymore, so the best way was to say nothing and eat whatever her daughter ordered.
Su Yaoguang ordered two that Zhaodi loved, ordered the roast duck that Jiang Jing liked, then handed the menu to Zhou Wangshu to order one too.
Zhou Wangshu took it and ordered beggar’s chicken.
“Last time Yaoguang said she wanted to eat beggar’s chicken, so of course we have to arrange it today.”
Su Yaoguang felt a little touched inside.
She’d only mentioned it casually last time, yet Zhou Wangshu remembered it. This feeling of being cared for and valued was so good, wrapping her whole body and mind in happiness, warm and cozy.
“Brother Xiao, this birthday star painting you did this time is truly excellent, Steward Zhang praises your painting skills highly, says he wants to pay a high price to have you paint another pine crane painting.”
Several scholars walked in, among them the one Su Yaoguang least wanted to see, Xiao Yanci.
Xiao Yanci was surrounded by them, seeing their fawning attitude, one could imagine how glamorous his recent days had been.
Xiao Yanci also saw Su Yaoguang’s family.
His gaze stopped on Zhou Wangshu, mockery flashing in his eyes.
“Brother Xiao, with your style, how did you end up in this remote countryside?” one of the scholars said. “Did something happen in your family?”
Xiao Yanci certainly didn’t dare say he was a descendant of a criminal. With his identity, he should be slaving away in the icy cold lands now. Though he was still a slave here, at least these villagers were easy to fool. If he really became a slave to the armored ones, he’d live in daily fear of death, and those people weren’t so easily fooled.
