Chapter 71: Punishment
Zhong Chushan climbed over the wall first, stealthily looked around, and seeing no one appear, then made meowing sounds.
Zhou Wangshu climbed over, then jumped down.
Zhong Chushan supported him, leading him along the familiar path. After just two steps, the originally dark backyard became brightly lit, with several scholars holding lanterns standing in front of them.
Xiao Yanci held a booklet, noted down their names, and said, “The academy has rules: except on rest days, you are not allowed to go out at other times. If there is something at home, you can ask the teacher for leave in advance, but you two did not ask the teacher for leave and sneaked out to play on your own, so you must be punished by cleaning the outhouse for a month.”
“What?” Zhong Chushan said angrily, “I’ve sneaked out before too, and was only punished with standing for one hour. What gives you the right to make us clean the outhouse for a month?”
“It’s precisely because the previous punishments weren’t severe enough that you keep breaking the rules again and again. Now the teacher has given me the booklet to discipline your behavior, so we must follow my rules. If you’re not convinced, you can go find the teacher and see if he approves of my decision or blames me for being too strict. By the way, I just checked the outhouse—it’s extremely dirty and messy. Since you two can’t sleep, go clean it now. You can sleep once it’s clean.”
Zhong Chushan was unconvinced and wanted to go find the teacher, but was stopped by Zhou Wangshu.
“You really have to clean the outhouse for a month?”
Zhou Wangshu said calmly, “Are there many people who usually sneak out?”
“Lots, and if they aren’t caught, everyone turns a blind eye. How did we run into this guy wielding a chicken feather as an arrow today?” Zhong Chushan snorted coldly.
“Endure it for a couple of days for now.” Zhou Wangshu said, “In a few days, he’ll lift a stone only to drop it on his own foot.”
“You have a way?” Zhong Chushan asked curiously.
Zhou Wangshu said mysteriously, “I’ll tell you in a few days.”
“No, brothers, we still have to clean the outhouse!” Zhong Chushan said with a bitter face. “Sure enough, Xiao Ci and I are not fated to get along.”
“Achoo!” Su Yaoguang sneezed several times in a row.
Jiang Jing took her pulse and said, “Your pulse is steady, no signs of a common cold. Could someone be talking about you?”
Su Yaoguang wiped her nose with a handkerchief and muttered to herself, “These days I’ve been busy rushing the goods and haven’t gone to the city. I wonder how Wangshu is doing.”
“You’re really raising him like a younger brother?” Jiang Jing asked. “Actually, you already have the marital name. You’ve spent so much money letting him study. Once he’s a bit older, you can become a real husband and wife.”
“I’m not interested in romance between men and women.” Su Yaoguang said, “In this lifetime, I only want to earn money.”
“This lifetime?” Jiang Jing asked, puzzled.
“Yeah, this lifetime…” Su Yaoguang tapped her nose. “You love playing matchmaker so much, why not stop being a female doctor and become a matchmaker instead!”
Jiang Jing felt embarrassed: “If you don’t like it, then don’t. Why tease me? By the way, we’ve finished half the batch now. Should we go find that boss to inspect the goods first?”
“Wait until the whole batch is done, then take it to him.” Su Yaoguang said, “Don’t go find him for now.”
After rushing goods for several days, Zhang Pandi and her daughter, along with Zhang Yingdi and her husband, showed no tired look; they seemed even more spirited.
Zhang Pandi and her daughter lay on the bed talking, just like Su Yaoguang and Jiang Jing. Jia Chunni smelled the fragrance on the quilt and leaned on Zhang Pandi’s shoulder.
“Mom, I don’t want to go back to the Jia family. Can we stay here forever?”
These past few days they ate white rice with meat at every meal, and after dinner they could make themselves smell nice. In just these few days, her cheeks had become much fairer and tenderer. Not just her—her mom and maternal aunt were the same. They were full of energy every day, radiant.
“Your eldest aunt here only needs our help for twenty days. These twenty days of good life are already stolen. Don’t ask for more.”
“I know one shouldn’t be greedy, but I can’t help wanting this wonderful life to continue. Mom, this is what human life should be.”
“Chunni, your eldest aunt and cousin have helped us so much—you must remember their kindness. If your cousin has any difficulties in the future, we must help however we can, got it?”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got it all in my heart.”
On the other side, Zhang Yingdi brought in the medicine and said to Wang Huanzhi, who was sitting there reading a book, “Stop reading. It’s so late—you should rest. Come, drink the medicine.”
“This medicine is very effective.” Wang Huanzhi said, “Look, I haven’t coughed much these past few days. That young lady is so young, yet her medical skill is so impressive.”
“I heard from Yaoguang that the young lady comes from a family of medical experts and has been exposed to all sorts of medical theory since childhood. I don’t know what’s so great about those noble families, but her knowledge must be broader than ordinary people’s, and such families surely have many rare medical books. Even if she’s not the best from exposure to those, she can’t be too bad. This time, we really owe it to big sister and Yaoguang for your body to recover its vitality. Before, forget reading—you slept all day, and I didn’t dare leave your side for a moment.”
“These years have been hard on you, wife.” Wang Huanzhi finished the medicine and ate the preserved plum fed by Zhang Yingdi. “This is from Yaoguang too?”
“That girl Yaoguang is thoughtful. She said the medicine is bitter, so eat something sweet after.” Zhang Yingdi said, “Husband, as long as you’re well, I’m not tired.”
“You’ve been married to me for so many years, and my health has always been poor. We have only the marital name but not the reality. You could have married into a better family—I’ve delayed you.”
“What do you mean by that?” Zhang Yingdi’s face changed drastically. She stood up abruptly, her eyes full of shock and grievance. “Now that your health is improving, you’re starting to dislike me? I’ve long heard you had a childhood sweetheart you were supposed to marry, but after you fell ill, you didn’t want to wrong her, so you called off the wedding and married me instead.”
“Wife, that’s not what I meant…” Seeing her angry, Wang Huanzhi quickly apologized. “Sorry, I was just feeling sorry for you and said the wrong thing. Don’t cry.”
“You sleep. I want to make something for Yaoguang—I’ll sleep later.” Zhang Yingdi turned her back to him and started embroidery with the cloth from the basket.
Wang Huanzhi looked at Zhang Yingdi’s back, full of guilt.
Zhang Yingdi had married him at sixteen, and now ten years had passed. She had withered somewhat over the years, but she was still a beautiful woman. If she wished, plenty of men outside would want to marry her. In these ten years, she had countless chances to abandon him, but she never did—not even when he was on the brink of death.
How could he have said such foolish words just now?
“Hiss, leg cramp.”
Zhang Yingdi quickly put down her needlework and came over: “Don’t move. I’ll massage it for you.”
