Chapter 720: Sanlang’s New Job
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“What’s wrong?” Liu Shi had just called out to a few people who came to ask when she turned around and saw two guards pulling in someone.
Ah Yu followed behind and rubbed her head. “Mother, I accidentally b.u.mped into this person. We have to call a doctor over to take a look in case he’s hurt.”
Just as Tang Yuan was about to go out to invite a doctor, a few people walked in from the door. They were holding a gift box in their hands and asked with a smile, “It’s a festive season and you’re looking for a doctor? That’s not a good omen. Let me take a look.”
Ah Yu focused her gaze and saw that it was Grandma Wen and the others.
Grandma Wen originally lived in Nanhe Town, which was adjacent to the w.a.n.g Family’s courtyard. She brought her granddaughter to Wanning City this year for the Mid-Autumn Festival and reunited with her son and daughter-in-law.
The person who spoke was Grandma Wen’s son, Doctor Wen.
“Doctor Wen, how come you have time to come by? I a.s.sume you must be busy at the Benevolent Healing Hall too,” Liu Shi hurriedly approached and personally took the gift box, then went to greet them.
“Today is the opening day of your nursery. We have to come no matter what.” Doctor Wen exchanged a few simple pleasantries and followed Liu Shi to see the drunkard who had been helped in.
Ah Yu saw the person following behind Doctor Wen. It was a girl about 15 years old. She was wearing a lotus-colored dress and there were occasional pearls on her head. Her eyes were gentle, and she had the unique delicateness of a young girl.
“Big Sister Wenwen!” When Ah Yu saw the girl, she forgot to follow her to look at the drunkard. Instead, she pulled Wenwen aside and could not hide the excitement in her tone. “You’re also here in Wanning City? Why didn’t you write me a letter so that I could pick you up?”
Wenwen covered her mouth with a handkerchief and revealed a shy smile. Her voice was also gentle. “It’s my fault. I came in a hurry and didn’t inform anybody. Please forgive me.”
Hearing this tone, Ah Yu looked at Wenwen a few times, causing Wenwen to cover her eyes awkwardly with the handkerchief, avoiding Ah Yu’s curious gaze.
“All Yu, you don’t have to worry about anything here. Bring Wenwen back to Three Thoughts Street first and play with her.” Liu Shi came out of the house and said to the other children, “You too. There’s nothing else to do in the nursery. Go home first. Doctor Wen’s family will be having dinner at our house tonight.”
Everyone nodded and turned to leave the nursery.
Ah Yu was worried about the drunkard, but thinking that her mother and Doctor Wen were both here, she did not need to worry anymore. She pulled Wenwen with one hand and called out to Qin Huai and her Big Brothers and Sisters-in-law as she slowly walked back.
When they walked onto the street, the lively crowd around them surrounded them. Only then did Ah Yu feel Wenwen clearly heave a sigh of relief.
“My mother was there just now, so I didn’t dare to be presumptuous. Did I scare you?” Wenwen stuffed the handkerchief into her sleeve and patted her chest. She said helplessly, “This time, my mother called me and my grandmother over. She said that she wanted to bring me to see a potential marriage partner and forced me to learn proper etiquette for days. She mentioned that the family we’re going to see is quite particular, and since I didn’t have much etiquette back when I was in town, it won’t do.”
Ah Yu came to a realization. “No wonder you spoke to me like that just now. But you’re only looking for a husband, not to convert to any religion. Why are you suddenly talking about rules and etiquette? If you can’t accept the idea, you can skip the blind date.”
Wenwen said helplessly, “How can we get to make decisions about marriage? Moreover, it’s already not bad for a girl from town like me to marry into a family in Wanning City. If I continue to be picky, I’ll really be looked down upon.”
“Big Sister Wenwen, you’re such a good person. There will definitely be many good people who like you. Why undervalue yourself? Why don’t I get Big Brother All You and the other Big Brothers at home to search for you? There are many young men from good families and studies in places like the Hanlin Academy, Imperial College, and Wanning Academy. All of them are good.”
Her Big Brothers’ marriages were considered smooth-sailing. At most, Eldest Brother had seen many twists and turns back then, but the Eldest Sister-in-law he found in the end was also not bad. There was no need to mention herself. An engagement she’d made as a joke when she was young had decided her marriage. She felt that it was actually not bad.
It was precisely because of this that All Yu felt that if one wanted to find a partner, it had to be someone they liked and was satisfied with. Otherwise, she could not understand why two people would choose to get married.
“Forget it, let’s not talk about me. Tell me what’s new in Wanning City. I heard from my father that you’re already on duty in the Imperial City. Ah Yu, you’re only ten years old, right? You’re actually able to compare to so many adults. I’m afraid there’s no one like you in the entire Great Chang. You’re too powerful.” Wenwen looked at All Yu enviously and sighed. “When 1 came, Liu’er even told me that if I felt uncomfortable in Wanning City, I had to look for you because you’re a person who can live comfortably wherever you go.”
“Hehe, Liu’er understands me.” When Ah Yu heard her say this, she was so happy that her mouth was about to curve to the back of her head.
Qin Huai and the others followed behind. When they heard the two girls chattering, especially Ah Yu’s giggling voice, they could not help but smile and shake their heads.
This sister of theirs was good at everything, but she could not withstand praise. If anyone praised her, they would see her tail flying into the sky on the spot.
The group did not return to the w.a.n.g Family’s courtyard directly. Instead, they walked around the streets a few times.
There were many stalls on the street. Ah Yu looked around all the way and bought everything she liked. In the end, everyone was carrying a few wrapped square boxes. They were all gifts Ah Yu had bought for everyone, and Wenwen was no exception.
Of course, everyone could not bear to only take advantage of Ah Yu. They also bought gifts for her. Originally, today was her birthday, so everyone had prepared a birthday gift. Now that they had bought a lot more, Ah Yu would accept them all.
From this street back to Three Thoughts Street, there were fewer vendors selling regular wares. There were many more poetry stalls, or places selling lamps, calligraphy, paintings, or all kinds of paper cut sculptures. Most of them did not cost money. One only needed to guess the answers to the riddles.
The riddles and couplets on Three Thoughts Street were usually much more difficult than those on other streets. Many students around were thinking hard. Ah Yu also became interested. She pulled Qin Huai and her Big Brothers to look for good poetry everywhere.
Wenwen was very embarra.s.sed. She was not cultured to begin with, let alone understand these riddles. She did not recognize many words. Even if All Yu helped read them out, she felt that they were very difficult to p.r.o.nounce and could not understand at all, let alone guess the correct answer.
Ah Yu was in high spirits and guessed seven to eight in a row. When she realized that Wenwen was uncomfortable, she retracted her hand and pretended to be disinterested. “Alright, this is meaningless. Sister Wenwen, let’s go back and eat mooncakes. The mooncakes Big Brother Ah You brought must be especially delicious.”
Wenwen forced a smile. “Alright.”
When everyone returned to the w.a.n.g Family, they were busy hanging the lanterns they had won everywhere. The originally festive w.a.n.g Family courtyard now looked even warmer.
The chef had long prepared all kinds of Mid-Autumn pastries and placed them on the tables in the courtyard. The servants had also been arranged to stay in other courtyards. Other than those who took turns to stand guard, the others were all celebrating.
Occasionally, when the servants pa.s.sed by and saw their masters, they would also smile and say, “Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.” All Yu and the others also smiled and greeted them back.
After midnight, everyone gathered for dinner. Jiang Wujing called over a few of the new maidservants at home and asked them to distribute the mooncakes and mid-autumn rewards to the people in the residence. For a moment, the w.a.n.g Family was filled with all kinds of laughter.
Wenwen’s eyes were filled with envy. “Ah Yu, your family is so good.”
Unlike their family, because her parents couldn’t be by her side all year round, every time they met, they would teach her many principles. Wenwen had more respect than love for them.
Ah Yu said, “Are you going to stay in Wanning City often in the future? When the time comes, you can come to our house often.”
“Then don’t find me annoying.”
“How can that be? I can’t be happier!” Ah Yu said deliberately in distress. “You don’t know this, but I know someone here. She mocked me for not having a handkerchief confidante. Follow me out tomorrow and I’ll bring you out to show her.. She’ll die of envy!”