Hui Niang bought a lot of groceries this ti and also brought wine.
Learning that they were going next door for dinner, Lady Zhao agreed without hesitation. She brought Nannan over, placed the child beside Mr. Zhao, and then ran to the kitchen to help. She was all smiles, as if it were New Year. Once she entered the kitchen, she shouted to Hui Niang.
"Sister, let help you wash the vegetables and learn so of your skills."
"There are very few relatives who want to associate with Old Zhao and . I won’t hide it from you, those people are all snobbish. When Old Zhao was down and out, they were all afraid he would drain them dry, but after he beca a scholar and started teaching at the academy, they all ca running for benefits."
"I never expected us to have such a connection. No wonder I took a liking to Wan Niang at first sight."
Hui Niang was also pleased.
"Who wouldn’t say so."
She thought it was good for Wan Niang to have more people caring for her.
This child had indeed been through hardship, but fortunately, it had now turned sweet.
Nannan outside didn’t know why the family seed so festive, but she was the happiest about having a al at the Wei Family’s!
She was currently held in Yu Tingwan’s arms, sniffing all the good scents on Aunt Wan.
"Auntie."
"Hmm?"
"What are we eating later?"
Yu Tingwan: "How about stewed chicken?"
The discomfort and resistance in her eyes had long vanished. Old Master Sun’s casual remark about the difference between clouds and mud seed to leave no ripple on her.
After all, the master’s words were true.
Nannan licked her lips, "Good!"
Yu Tingwan picked up a walnut from the stone table and asked, "Want so first?"
Nannan shook her head.
"Then perfect, can you crack one for ?"
Nannan: ???
Yu Tingwan: "I really want to eat it."
Then her arm got jabbed.
Old Master Sun scolded, "How can you ask a little child to crack walnuts for you? Aren’t you ashad?"
Yu Tingwan thought for a mont.
"I’m not ashad."
She was thick-skinned anyway.
"If you can’t bear it, you can crack it for , too."
Yu Tingwan spoke gently and was easy to talk to: "I’m not picky."
Old Master Sun was so angry that he pointed to Wei Zhao: "Why don’t you ask him to do it?"
Yu Tingwan thought it was reasonable and was about to pass the walnut over.
The next mont.
"Wait."
Old Master Sun loudly said, "Are his hands ant to crack walnuts?"
What, were they gilded or sothing?
The walnut shell was thin; Old Master Sun tapped it lightly on the stone table and cracks appeared. He placed it in Yu Tingwan’s hand and waved her away.
"Go, go, go, seeing you annoys ."
Yu Tingwan stuffed the walnut at into her mouth, prepared to go back inside to open the window for ventilation, and then check if the dicine had been brewed.
But as soon as she stepped into the room, Wei Zhao followed her in, observing her expression, afraid she was hurt.
Clearly, he was overthinking it.
Yu Tingwan: "Not closing the door?"
Wei Zhao: "... Why close the door?"
Yu Tingwan: "In broad daylight, it could cause scandal."
Wei Zhao: ...
He chuckled in frustration.
"Did I make any improper advances towards you?"
Yu Tingwan: "Do you want to?"
Wei Zhao was silent.
He humd a laugh, "I do."
The more he wanted to do, the more there was to do.
Yu Tingwan didn’t believe his nonsense for a second.
With a creak, the window was opened.
Sunlight spilled across Yu Tingwan’s face. Already fair-skinned, she now seed like a finely carved piece of jade, glowing with radiance.
The young woman was rational and calm, never consud by inner turmoil.
She turned her head and smiled at Wei Zhao.
"It’s nothing, I don’t mind much."
"Years ago, when I first arrived in Xilin Village, a traveling Daoist passed by and left with a saying."
Wei Zhao stepped closer, "What did he say?"
"Gain and loss are like clouds, the heart lacks a fixed abode, everything in the world is the result of cause and effect."
"Grand Tutor Gu is kind to his daughter, but not to ."
"My father found , cared for with all his heart and soul."
Is bloodline really that crucial?
Didn’t she and Yu’s father have more of a father-daughter bond?
This is the cause and effect.
One must learn to let go.
Aside from everything else, she was quite well off now.
The master was good, the seamstress’ Aunt Li and the old lady were good too.
There were many who cared about her.
Now the only headache was the fire incident, and her relationship with Wei Zhao...
People should know contentnt.
Her identity was eventually going to be exposed, sooner or later.
Yu Tingwan t Wei Zhao’s dark eyes.
"I never longed to reclaim my identity."
"I’m afraid the Gu Family wouldn’t want it either."
Wei Zhao lifted a hand, using a handkerchief to gently wipe the young woman’s soft cheek.
Earlier, Nannan had co over and given Yu Tingwan a kiss.
He himself hadn’t even done that.
Apparently, the neighbors had not taught the child well.
He softly asked, "Why say that?"
Yu Tingwan: "Since young, I’ve been free-spirited, and stubborn. The Gu Family is an illustrious household with strict rules, likely placing great importance on face. Even if they felt guilt towards , I doubt they’d want a daughter from a poor place..."
She paused, not forgetting to praise herself a little.
"A daughter with only beauty."
But Wei Zhao couldn’t laugh at that.
Yu Tingwan spoke calmly, "After all, it would be a joke."
Human nature doesn’t withstand the test; she had painfully experienced it already.
"Even if they did acknowledge . Over ti, any barriers would arise in our relationship, and any guilt would fade."
"The Gu Family’s daughter is finely raised, likely proficient in poetry, song, painting, chess, calligraphy—what do I know? They couldn’t bring out in public, fear they’d have to impose rules on , find vulgar, and need to restrain more."
At this point, the young woman couldn’t help but complint herself again.
"I have a good brain, quick to learn anything yet not willing to learn just to please or flatter."
She only wanted to be Yaoyao of the Yu Family.
"The Gu Family’s daughter seems to be much cherished, pampered under the family’s care for so many years; how could they be heartless?"
"How could they bear to send the fake one away?"
She smiled slightly, her tone firm.
"Besides, I’m rather domineering."
"After all, I’ve also been pampered by my parents, once was a willful, proud, unreasonable girl."
"If they want to be nice to , it has to be comprehensive. Even a fraction less, I wouldn’t care."
Moreover...
She was no longer the young child who would run to her parents when wronged or throw a tantrum for a piece of candy.
The Gu Family, to her, was too far away.
There were now many who were good to Yu Tingwan.
That was enough.
She told Wei Zhao, "I’ve never been one for insatiable greed."
She was wise, but sotis too perceptive, leading to her weighing gains and losses, unwilling to suffer.
The young woman never had too many expectations for her biological parents. If the results weren’t good, she wouldn’t be wounded.
She had always nestled within her protective shell.
Her nape was gently kneaded by his fingertips; as she felt a tickle and was about to retreat, he pulled her over.
"You can."
Wei Zhao looked down at her, murmuring, "No matter what, with , you can do anything."
"Feel free to lose your temper if unhappy, or laugh if happy, no need to look at others’ faces or worry too much."
The young woman indeed had soone to rely upon.
"When it cos to you, I don’t find ’insatiably greedy’ a bad term."
Wei Zhao gently said, "That would only be due to my inadequacies."
Yu Tingwan was taken aback.
"Why?"
Wei Zhao: "Because it must an I, myself, have failed to give enough."
Yu Tingwan: ...
Wow, you’re so loving.
No wonder you have a wife!
User Comments
0 comments from readers