Chapter 115: Watching the Show
Qian Yongqiang held Jiang Yihuan’s hand: "Huan’er, you know how much I like you. If you marry me, I promise you won’t suffer; you’ll have good food and a comfortable life, with servants attending to you every day."
"I can’t." Jiang Yihuan let go of Qian Yongqiang’s hand. "Brother Qian, I can’t marry you yet."
"Why?" Qian Yongqiang looked at her in sorrow.
"Because she’s going to marry me." Xiao Yanci walked over, standing in front of Jiang Yihuan, looking at Qian Yongqiang with displeasure. "When I earn my title, I’ll take her as my wife, and she’ll become an official’s wife. I’ll earn a commendation for her, something you can’t give her. What makes you think you can compete with me?"
Zhong Lanhua’s eyes flickered.
At first, seeing so many betrothal gifts, she had been tempted. But now, Xiao Ci’s words made her waver.
If Xiao Ci really earned a title, her daughter would become an official wife. Wouldn’t that make them more distinguished than Zhang Zhaodi and her daughter?
Her daughter would be a lady with an official title, and she could become the matriarch.
Thinking this way, these betrothal gifts really didn’t amount to much. For long-term planning, it was better to marry her daughter to Xiao Ci.
"Huan’er, do you want to marry him?" Qian Yongqiang pointed at Xiao Yanci, questioning Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face: "Don’t force me...sob..."
"Huan’er, how is this forcing you? Do you like him or me? Do you want to marry him or me?" Qian Yongqiang, his eyes red, looked at her anxiously.
Jiang Yihuan looked at Qian Yongqiang, then at Xiao Yanci, and said with difficulty: "You are both very good and important friends to me. I’m still young, I really haven’t thought about these things. Can’t we wait a little longer?"
"Mr. Qian, you heard it, my daughter doesn’t want to marry yet. How about this, wait for two years, and then we’ll see if fate has a role to play." Zhong Lanhua smoothed things over.
Su Yaoguang extended her hand to the side: "Do you have any sunflower seeds?"
A handful of sunflower seeds fell into her palm.
She turned back to thank the person and found it was Zhou Wangshu who had returned from outside.
"Wang Shu, why are you back so early today?"
"The academy’s chess class, I skipped it," Zhou Wangshu replied.
Zhang Yingdi spoke crossly: "We pay so much gift money every year, isn’t it a big loss to skip a class? No more skipping classes, even if you don’t listen, you have to. At least you can learn something while you’re in there."
"Mom, if you were asked to attend the class, would you?" Su Yaoguang sided with Zhou Wangshu.
"I’m different from him, I’m a woman, and at this age..." Zhang Yingdi was evasive.
"Did you forget when those few in the Su Family managed to be fooled by us because they couldn’t read? If you can’t read, you wouldn’t even know if someone tricked you into signing a contract of servitude. Didn’t you promise me to learn to read?" Su Yaoguang said, "Aunt has learned quite a bit, right Aunt?"
Zhang Zhaodi blushed and said: "Your uncle taught me a few characters over the years, I’ve learned some of the simple ones."
"Aunt is too modest." Su Yaoguang said, "When I visited Aunt yesterday, she was practicing her writing, and her handwriting looked pretty good. If Aunt ever wants to be a bookkeeper, there’s no problem."
"Okay, okay, I’ll learn." Zhang Yingdi said, feeling a headache.
"Godmother, I’ll teach you," Jiang Jing offered, "Believe me, it’s really useful to be literate."
Zhou Wangshu reminded Su Yaoguang: "The play across the street is about to end."
Su Yaoguang then remembered that they were here watching a play.
Jiang Yihuan, still sobbing, said some delaying words to Qian Yongqiang, who then left disappointedly with his people.
"Brother Xiao, am I very bad, am I a bad woman?" Jiang Yihuan cried as her body went limp, sliding toward the ground.
Xiao Yanci caught her, pulling her into the shop: "Huan’er, you’re not; you are the kindest girl."
Su Yaoguang: "..."
It really wasn’t unfair that she lost to Jiang Yihuan.
Zhou Wangshu noticed her strange expression and asked: "What’s wrong?"
"If Jiang Yihuan had bought you back then, would you have liked her?"
Zhou Wangshu: "...What a vicious curse."
Su Yaoguang was amused by his odd expression.
"I’m asking seriously, you need to answer seriously."
"She leads Qian Yongqiang on, speaking ambiguously. She’s afraid to respond directly to Xiao Ci, fearing that if he doesn’t earn a title, she’ll get nothing. Once Xiao Ci really earns a title, she will definitely make her feelings clear. If I were to end up in her hands, I’d rather stay a servant for life than get entangled with her."
"There are still some discerning people."
"Yaoguang, Chen Buyu asked me to relay a message today. The girls from the dance house want you to deliver a batch of goods."
"Sure, do you have the list?"
"Yes." Zhou Wangshu handed the list to her, "Once you have everything ready, I’ll go deliver it."
"Is it convenient for you?"
"I’ll just go directly to find Chen Buyu and hand it to him; why wouldn’t it be convenient?"
"Alright then!"
The weather had been clear for several days, and then dark clouds gathered again. Su Yaoguang gave Master Tang more money, asking him to find more workers to ensure the work was completed within three days.
She was just adding a few new rooms. As long as the materials and manpower were sufficient, a few days would be enough.
Su Yaoguang came out from the backyard and saw Zhang Yingdi in a new set of clothes, with meticulous makeup, heading out. A warning bell rang in her heart.
"Mom, where are you going?"
"Today’s a friend’s birthday, and we’ve planned to watch a play together," Zhang Yingdi said. "Daughter, I’d like to take a day’s leave today, you all work hard, and I’ll make it up tomorrow."
"Mom, just rest, we can manage. But didn’t you say a few days ago you’d introduce your friend to us? Why not invite her over today?"
"Alright, I’ll ask her later."
Seeing Zhang Zhaodi’s clear gaze and straightforward response, Su Yaoguang’s suspicion faded.
Perhaps she was just overthinking!
Her mom probably was just going to meet a friend.
Su Yaoguang had three appointments today, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and another at night.
Thus, she would be very busy.
However, just after finishing a full-body skincare package for an important morning client, she saw Zhou Wangshu waiting for her outside. As she appeared, he came over quickly.
"What are you doing here?"
"I just saw mom." Zhou Wangshu said, "She was at the theatre, with a woman around her age."
"That should be my mom’s friend," Su Yaoguang said, "Didn’t mom say she recently befriended someone, and they enjoy talking and have a good relationship?"
"I happened to be with Chen Buyu at the theatre next door, initially wanted to say hi to mom, but didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable, so I didn’t. Mom left first, and the woman didn’t leave in a hurry. Later, someone else entered that private room."