Chapter 46: Celebration
"Hahaha..."
Zhang Zhaodi laughed uncontrollably, slapping her leg.
"Did you see their expressions? What’s that saying again? Like water in a bamboo basket, ending up empty-handed. Their faces were like they had eaten shit. Haha..."
Su Yaoguang brought water for Zhang Zhaodi to drink, calming her down.
"Mom, we were crying and making a fuss just now, and now we’re laughing. If someone hears us, they’ll think we’ve gone crazy."
Zhang Zhaodi took a sip of water, slowly stopping her laughter.
"Crazy or not, there’s nothing wrong with being a little mad. If they dare bully us mother and daughter again, watch how I tear them apart," Zhang Zhaodi said, looking affectionately at Zhou Wangshu. "Now the whole village knows you’re our family’s son-in-law. Wang Shu, you should live well with Yaoguang and support each other, understand?"
Zhou Wangshu smiled, "Don’t worry, Mom."
"Mom, I’ll make something delicious for us to celebrate," Su Yaoguang said. "From now on, we’re rid of those blood-sucking mosquitoes and completely free."
Zhang Zhaodi rolled up her sleeves, "I’ll dig out your dad’s treasured wine; let’s have a little drink today."
Su Yaoguang took Zhou Wangshu to the kitchen to get busy.
Though Zhou Wangshu didn’t know how to start a fire, he could learn. He couldn’t cook but could assist her. To Su Yaoguang, he was obedient, like a gentle puppy.
When Zhang Zhaodi wasn’t around, Su Yaoguang lowered her voice and said, "Thank you for today. Don’t worry, my previous promise to you remains unchanged. You and I are just pretending, only to deal with those troublesome relatives. Whenever you want to leave, we can divorce anytime."
"Don’t say that again, be careful Mom hears. You saved me, yet used me as a shield; I’ve benefitted instead," Zhou Wangshu pressed his lips. "I know my background is uncertain, having been sold by human traffickers, my status is low, only suitable to be a slave. How can I dare hope Yaoguang truly takes a liking to me?"
Su Yaoguang: "..."
She was considering his feelings, not wanting to force him, but how did it turn into her disliking him when spoken from his mouth?
Seeing his pitiful appearance made her feel a pang of guilt deep within.
Tsk tsk, no wonder the madam set her eyes on him, this look and expression is indeed quite alluring.
After the meal was served, Zhang Zhaodi poured the wine.
Zhang Zhaodi smiled at the two, "Today is your first day of marriage, let’s have a drink for your wedding. When Wang Shu gets older, we’ll invite guests and set up a few tables."
"This is Dad’s cherished wine; Mom never wanted to drink it; it’s the first time opening it," Su Yaoguang said to Zhou Wangshu.
"Daughter is married; this wine should be opened," Zhang Zhaodi raised it high, saying loudly, "To your dad, have a taste of the wedding wine for your daughter."
Zhang Zhaodi drank too much.
Su Yaoguang carried Zhang Zhaodi back to her room.
When she came out, Zhou Wangshu was cleaning up the mess on the table.
Su Yaoguang stood at the door, looking at Zhou Wangshu’s slender and thin figure.
In this lifetime, she finally wasn’t alone in her efforts.
Zhou Wangshu turned around, seeing her looking dazedly at him, asked, "Are you drunk too?"
Earlier her gaze was scattered, seemingly looking at him yet through him as if at someone else.
"I’m a bit drunk, but I can still manage. You go rest, I’ll handle the cleanup," Su Yaoguang stepped over, rolled up her sleeves, ready to work.
"Let me do it," Zhou Wangshu said, "If you’ve had too much to drink, go sleep."
"You’re a man, shouldn’t you not be doing kitchen work."
"Don’t men wash dishes? In your eyes, are all men that stupid?" Zhou Wangshu frowned, "Or are the men in your village especially foolish?"
"Aren’t scholars supposed to avoid kitchen work?" Su Yaoguang said, "I thought all men disliked household chores."
"That’s just an excuse for laziness. If kitchen chores are small matters, then they should neither eat nor drink. If they’re flesh and blood, needing to eat and drink, they should do it themselves. Even if they come from a good family, with maid servants attending them, they should pay them. If not, they need to work themselves."
Su Yaoguang no longer argued with Zhou Wangshu about doing chores. She stood aside, watching Zhou Wangshu clumsily wash dishes.
It was evident he hadn’t done such things before.
"Wang Shu, do you have any family?" Su Yaoguang leaned against the wall, casually asked.
Washing dishes slowed down, Zhou Wangshu spoke in a low tone, "My mom’s gone, my dad remarried and abandoned me."
"How did you end up with human traffickers?" Su Yaoguang looked at him sympathetically.
"I was kicked out of my home, had to make a living, went looking for work but got drugged, woke up as merchandise of the traffickers."
"From now on, Mom and I are your family; you’re my little brother," Su Yaoguang patted his shoulder, comforting him.
"Mm."
Su Yaoguang fetched a basin of clear water, rewashed the dishes Zhou Wangshu had cleaned.
"Let’s finish quickly, so we can rest. Today being my first time drinking, the wine’s quite strong; my head’s a bit dizzy."
The next day, Su Yaoguang, her mother, and Zhou Wangshu continued going up the mountain to gather materials, just to make more rouge and powder.
"Yaoguang, look..." Zhou Wangshu shook a bamboo rat in front of her.
Su Yaoguang gave a thumbs-up, "Nice. We’ll have meat again today."
Looking at Zhou Wangshu’s figure, Zhang Zhaodi said, "Daughter, it’s not right for Wang Shu to always follow us. Perhaps we should send him to study!"
Su Yaoguang paused, looked up at Zhou Wangshu.
Studying again?
In the previous life, she raised a ingrate, working herself to death, not to mention the outcome.
However, Zhou Wangshu isn’t Xiao Yanci. She can’t cling onto Zhou Wangshu tightly because of the loss she experienced with Xiao Yanci, depriving him of a chance to soar.
Moreover, she has no romantic feelings for Zhou Wangshu. She treats him as a brother and clarified their relationship from the start, with Zhou Wangshu having no grievances, naturally not forgetting kindness like Xiao Yanci.
Perhaps this time, the boy she raises can become a strong and upright man.
"Wang Shu..." Su Yaoguang walked over with the shovel, "Why don’t you go study?"
Zhou Wangshu was surprised, "Why?"
"I noticed you’re articulate, surely you’ve studied before. Our small business at home can be handled by Mom and me, you should have your own life," Su Yaoguang said. "If you think it’s good, we’ll go to the academy tomorrow to discuss tuition with the teacher."
Zhou Wangshu lowered his eyes, slowly digging up the flower in front of him.
The flower grew well; he planned to transplant it to the courtyard, cultivating more like it.
The words Su Yaoguang said brought many dark memories to his mind.
He bore a deep grudge, needing power. Since he was staying here, perhaps the imperial exam was a shortcut to power.
Anyway, he’d already changed his name, added to the Su Family’s household registration, could legitimately enter the academy and embark on the imperial examination path.