Chapter 83 Chive Boxes

Zhao Zhongcheng had a lot to say to Lu Zhao. He was a neighbor of the Lu family and also from the same hometown as Lu Zhao's mother, so the two families had always kept in touch.

“Nephew Lu, you’ve gotten quite tanned. You’re here…” Zhao Zhongcheng wanted to ask if he hadn’t eaten well, but seeing the round, green wine bottle across from him, the words caught in his throat. “Your old lady also asked me to check on you. You know, even if you’re angry with your father, you still have to go back and see your old lady. She misses you terribly, don’t you know that?”

When Zhao Zhongcheng went to the Lu family, he heard Lu Zhao's father scolding Lu Zhao for half an hour, calling him an unfilial son and saying all sorts of things.

He thought to himself, "He's already scolded him like that, but he didn't use filial piety to pressure Lu Zhao, so he didn't make things too ugly." But when he met Old Madam Lu, he learned that if Lu Zhao's father dared to say Lu Zhao was unfilial, Old Madam Lu would say the same thing.

With one person suppressing another, and with Old Madam Lu around, no one else in the Lu family could do anything to Lu Zhao.

"How is Grandmother's health?" Lu Zhao asked.

"The old lady is still in good health, just like before, but she misses you terribly." Zhao Zhongcheng sighed. "What, are you planning to stay in Lin'an for the rest of your life and never return to Bianjing?"

He came for another reason. Lu Zhao had repeatedly distinguished himself in Lin'an, and the prefect of Lin'an had submitted two memorials to the emperor, who had already taken note of Lu Zhao's name. If Lu Zhao wished, he could be transferred back to Bianjing in the future, where he would have a very promising future.

"Lin'an's environment is good for people, so I don't need to go back and have an unpleasant experience." As Lu Zhao spoke, Qiao Jiawang brought over braised pork and Mapo tofu, and he invited Zhao Zhongcheng to eat.

"It smells really good, and it looks very tempting. I didn't expect that there would be such a place in this kind of street tavern." Zhao Zhongcheng didn't have high expectations, but after taking a bite of the braised pork, he was instantly amazed. "Delicious! The pork belly is stewed just right, with a rich texture, but not greasy, and a faint sweetness at the end."

Lu Zhao served food to Zhao Zhongcheng, saying, "Then please eat more."

Zhao Zhongcheng, feeling hungry from the enticement, ate two bowls of rice. He eventually returned to the previous topic, saying, "You're still young, it's normal to have a temper. But you have to think about the future. Haven't you considered how you'll make your mother proud after you achieve success?"

"In this life, health and comfort are the most important things. I have enough to eat and wear now, and my mother won't worry about me." Lu Zhao still spoke in a Buddhist-like tone. "If I really went back to Bianjing, I wouldn't be able to accept my father's new wife, and they wouldn't be able to accept me either. Why should I go back and join in that mess? If we don't have any contact, the Lu family will pressure me with their filial piety. If I'm unhappy, will they be better off?"

Lu Zhao was no pushover. Before leaving Bianjing, he burned down his own courtyard and the place where his mother had lived. He didn't care at all when it came to destroying the Lu family's belongings.

Zhao Zhongcheng knew what kind of person Lu Zhao was, but he refused to give up. "Isn't there anyone else in Bianjing you care about? Your grandmother thinks about you every day, and my Yingying... sigh!"

His own daughter was thinking of Lu Zhao and had always refused to be married. If it weren't for this, why would he have painstakingly persuaded Lu Zhao to return to Bianjing? He wanted a capable son-in-law, not a minor official who was content to stay in one place.

“Grandmother knows my temperament; she truly loves me and will surely understand me.” Since Lu Zhao came to Lin’an, Grandmother has sent him things, but she has never written a letter urging him to return to Bianjing. This shows that Grandmother understands him.

As for Zhao Yingying, there was no romantic relationship between them, nor any agreement between them, and he had no responsibility towards Zhao Yingying.

"Grandma Lu kept all her longing in her heart."

Zhao Zhongcheng looked back and saw that the innkeeper's family had also sat down to eat. He said in a low voice, "It's getting late. Why don't we go back and talk about it later?"

"I'll take you to the inn. If you need anything, come find me tomorrow. But if you're still going back to Bianjing, don't mention it again. I don't want to get involved in those troublesome matters." Lu Zhao's tone turned cold.

Zhao Zhongcheng originally wanted to go back with Lu Zhao, but after hearing what Lu Zhao said, he had no choice but to give up for the time being.

However, upon reaching the inn's entrance, he still needed to get to the bottom of things. "Nephew, we're old acquaintances. I have another matter to clarify for me, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself when I return. You and Yingying are childhood sweethearts, you grew up together and share a deep bond. Now she insists on marrying you. What are your thoughts on this?"

“I am merely a neighbor of Miss Zhao. Now that I am in Lin’an, I am not a suitable match for her. I would like to ask Uncle Zhao to find her another suitable husband.” Lu Zhao refused directly.

Qingjiu stood to the side, barely daring to breathe. He knew Zhao Yingying; she was quite cute, but a bit willful, and used to always interrupt her master. He never expected her to be the one who admired her master.

Zhao Zhongcheng frowned deeply. "What's wrong with my Yingying? Didn't you even pause to think about it?"

“It’s not that Miss Zhao is bad, it’s just that we’re not meant to be.” Lu Zhao didn’t want to dwell on it any longer and said more bluntly, “Besides, you need an ambitious son-in-law, and I can never be that kind of person. I’m grateful that you came all this way to see me, but I won’t agree to anything else. It’s getting late, you should get some rest, I’ll probably be very busy tomorrow.”

Lu Zhao bowed and turned to leave.

Qingjiu was stunned for a moment before jogging to catch up. "My lord, why did you refuse Lord Zhao? Actually, Miss Zhao is alright, though she is a bit willful. But Lord Zhao is currently favored by the emperor. Are you really not going to return to Bianjing for the rest of your life?"

"You want to go back?"

Hearing his master's questioning tone, Qingjiu instantly got goosebumps. "No, no, I was just asking what you think. Wherever you go, I'll go. I'll definitely follow you! I was just curious to ask what it would take for you to return to Bianjing?"

“When it’s time to attend the funeral,” Lu Zhao said.

"Attending a funeral?"

Qingjiu's first thought was of the old lady, but since the old lady doted on her master, the master certainly didn't mean it that way. It wasn't until he got home that he realized the master was referring to the lord.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that his master really couldn't go back. Oh well, Lin'an was fine too. Miss Qiao's cooking was so delicious, and they could afford to eat out now. He was quite content.

Just as Qingjiu was thinking this, Qiao Mianmian came knocking on the door with a plate in her hand. He hurriedly ran over, "Fifth Miss Qiao, what brings you here?"

"I made chive dumplings. I wanted to give them to you two, but you left too quickly and I didn't have time." Qiao Mianmian handed over the plate. "Who are you having dinner today?"

“We were neighbors back in Bianjing.” Qingjiu’s mouth watered as he looked at the chive boxes. Even though he had already eaten dinner, he was still tempted and grabbed one to eat.

The chive boxes had gone cold, and the crust had become chewy, but the filling tasted delicious. "Miss Qiao, you even added fresh shrimp?"

"Yeah, it's delicious, isn't it?"

"Mmm, it's delicious!" Qingjiu was so engrossed in eating that he forgot to call his master out to eat. When asked if Miss Qiao Yingying was his master's sweetheart, he shook his head and said without any guile, "My master and Miss Zhao have no personal relationship. My master spends his days either at the government office or at your restaurant. A rigid and boring person like him would never have a sweetheart."

He didn't mention that Miss Zhao San had feelings for her master, as it concerned the young lady's reputation. He only spoke of his master's attitude: "Although my master is incredibly brave and one of the most handsome men, he's a bit of a quiet person. You see, it's just the two of us at home most of the time, but he doesn't talk much. I'm usually the one doing all the talking. He's like a silent gourd. Hey, Miss Qiao Wu, what are you looking at?"

"I...I'm going back now. Give me the plate tomorrow." Qiao Mianmian turned and ran.

"Hey, why are you running?" Qingjiu turned around in confusion, only to see his master glaring at him. He was so startled that he took a half step back. He shouldn't have said anything just now.

It seems they're saying the master is a taciturn person.

Oh no!

"Miss Qiao, I... I'll give you the plate right now..."

Lu Zhao closed the door, blocking Qingjiu's way. "What nonsense were you talking about with them?"

"No... I didn't make things up. Miss Qiao asked Miss Zhao if she was your sweetheart, and I said no. That's all." Qingjiu shrank his neck, afraid that his master would beat him. Miss Qiao was so disloyal; why didn't she warn him when she saw his master coming?

Lu Zhao's brows relaxed. "She asked me if I had someone I liked?"

"Mmm." Qingjiu nodded first, then shook her head. "To be precise, she asked if Miss Zhao San was your sweetheart, not whether you have a sweetheart. Sir, these are chive dumplings sent by Miss Qiao Wu. They're delicious. Would you like to try some?"

He tried to change the subject and make his master forget what he had just said.

Lu Zhao looked down but wasn't hungry. "Then what did you say to her?" Even though she wasn't hungry, she took the plate and took a bite. It tasted good even when it was cold.

"I told you it wasn't true. You rejected Lord Zhao, so you definitely don't have feelings for Miss Zhao. But don't worry, I didn't say that Miss Zhao has a one-sided crush on you. I still have a brain; I won't say everything I want to say." Qingjiu said with a hint of pride.

"Heh." Lu Zhao snorted.

"You've finished eating. I'll return the plates before it gets dark." Qingjiu just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"No need, I'll go myself." Lu Zhao took the plate and went to the Qiao family's house.

Madam Lin was doing accounts in the hall when she saw Lu Zhao enter. She looked up and smiled, "Oh, it's Lord Lu. Please feel free to put the plates down. Do you like what you're eating?"

"It's quite delicious." Lu Zhao looked around and only saw Lin Shi. "Thank you for the chive boxes. It's getting late, so I'll head back now."

After Lu Zhao left, Qiao Mianmian came out from behind the door.

"You were just delivering a leek pancake, why did you run away as soon as you saw Lord Lu?" Madam Lin looked at her daughter in confusion.

Qiao Mianmian felt guilty. She chuckled and said, "Didn't I say that when Qingjiu and I were talking about Lord Lu, Lord Lu saw us? It really scared me to death. Lord Lu walks so quietly, I didn't even know he appeared."

Lin laughed, "Who told you to gossip about others?"

"I asked casually, and I didn't expect Qingjiu to say so much. Since Qingjiu was willing to talk, I listened. Who would have thought that Qingjiu would be so bold as to say that Lord Lu was a taciturn person? I was so scared that I ran away!" Now, she feels a little guilty towards Qingjiu.

"You, if people didn't know better, they would think you were interested in Lord Lu. Otherwise, why would you ask this? Wait, you wouldn't really..." Madam Lin's eyes widened instantly.

"No!"

Qiao Mianmian emphasized again, "Mother, what are you thinking? I'm just gossiping, what's going on? You really have a lot of ideas!"

Lu Zhao is handsome, has a good figure, and is quite polite... It seems like he has all the advantages?

“That’s good. Although Lord Lu is an official, it’s too dangerous for him. He was injured twice not long after he moved here and is now unable to travel.” Madam Lin shook her head. She thought Lu Zhao was a good person in every way, but this was the one thing she disagreed with.

Qiao Mianmian pursed her lips. She felt that Lu Zhao probably didn't have such thoughts, otherwise he would be in his twenties and no matchmakers would come to his door.

Perhaps there are some hidden reasons that they are unaware of?

Lin paid the household staff today, and after settling the accounts, she only had ten taels of silver left. "Tomorrow, Jinshan and his men are coming to deliver chickens and ducks, and I'll have to pay them to buy more. My whole life, I've been worried about not having enough money!"

After she told her family that they could raise chickens to sell to her, her older brother's son, Jinshan, who was more business-minded, said that they couldn't raise chickens and ducks themselves that quickly, so he could help collect them from the village and then deliver them to the Qiao family in the city. The price would still be the market price in the city, but Lin Jinshan and his family would negotiate with the villagers and earn the difference.

"Don't worry, in a while your little tin box will be full of silver," Qiao Mianmian teased with a smile.

How do you even know where I keep my money?

"That's because you trust me and never hide the money from me." Qiao Mianmian received her wages today and planned how to use them. Tomorrow, she would go to see her fourth sister, take her out for dessert, and ask her to help her choose a piece of fabric to make a new dress.

Madam Lin put away the silver. "Yes, I love you the most."

The mother and daughter were very affectionate. When Cao Yuan came out, she saw Qiao Mianmian and Lin sitting side by side. When she returned to the room, she sighed to Qiao Jiaxing, "Fifth Sister and Mother have such a good relationship."

"Fifth Sister gets along well with everyone. She has a sweet tongue and knows how to read people's expressions. She knows who is happy or unhappy. Since you married into the family, hasn't she often talked to you? Every day when you come home, she sticks to you and walks with you."

Speaking of his younger sister, Qiao Jiaxing was both happy and proud. "Actually, she wanted to introduce you to the neighbors, help you get familiar with this area, and make you feel at home."

Cao Yuan sensed her sister-in-law's unusual closeness. They had received their wages that day, and she wanted to buy her sister-in-law something. "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fifth Sister will come of age, which is a big event for a young lady. What do you think we should give her?"

Qiao Jiaxing thought for a moment, but couldn't think of anything right away. "There's still some time. Let's think about it carefully."

In another room, Hu Qianqian was also discussing this matter with Qiao Jiawang. Qiao Jiawang's idea was, "Why don't we just ask Mianmian what she wants and buy it for her?"

Hu Qianqian looked at the clueless man speechlessly, "Then what other sentiments do I have? Forget it, it's pointless to ask you for suggestions, I'll think of something myself."