Chapter 60 If General Xiao were my own father, how wonderful that would be.
Zhang and Shen Qingshu stood under the newly erected chastity archway, their smiles so wide their eyes disappeared.
Zhang even changed into a brand-new crimson jacket and directed the servants to hang red silk on the archway, as if she were celebrating a happy occasion.
As the firecrackers crackled and popped.
Shen Qingshu spoke loudly to the surrounding neighbors, "My daughter-in-law has received this honor; it is truly due to the blessings of our ancestors..."
That expression made it seem as if he had completely forgotten that his son was actually still alive.
In the crowd, Madam Tu tugged at the sleeve of a woman selling tofu next to her and said proudly, "Look! This is an imperial chastity archway! My daughter received it!"
Without waiting for a response, she began to ramble on: "Since she was little, I have had her read 'Admonitions for Women' and taught her to get up at cockcrow every day to serve her parents-in-law, and to taste the tea before serving it... I dare not slack off in the slightest. Now that she has received an award, isn't it all thanks to my good teaching?"
The tofu-selling woman couldn't bear to listen any longer and whispered, "Aunt Tu, your son-in-law is gone, your daughter is so young and has to be a widow, and you have no children to rely on. How can you..."
Madam Tu immediately pressed a handkerchief to the corner of her eye: "My poor, unfortunate son-in-law!"
Then she added, “But going to sea to do business is a risky business! Since he sacrificed himself for the family business, isn’t it right for my daughter to uphold his integrity? If my son-in-law is watching from heaven, he will surely be pleased that Zhao Ruo has received this dignity…”
Zhou Niangzi, who sells tofu, couldn't stand it anymore and turned to leave.
Lu Bohong was patrolling the streets with his archers when he saw the blue stone archway in front of the Shen residence gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
He gripped his waist knife tightly. Luckily, he knew that Rongzhi was still alive. Otherwise, if he saw his younger sister living as a widow, he would have taken her back to the Lu family without hesitation.
"What chastity arch..."
He spat inwardly, "It's nothing but a gold-plated living coffin!"
At this moment.
He saw his mother squeezed in the crowd, excitedly talking to the person next to her.
Lu Bohong's face darkened. He waved for the archers to continue their patrol and strode forward to pull Tu Shi out of the crowd.
"mother!"
He hissed in a low voice, "What are you doing here? Your little sister is still sick, and you're just sprawled out here..."
Tu was pulled and stumbled. Just as she was about to get angry, she looked up and saw that it was her son. She immediately put on a smiling face again: "Bohong, you've come at the right time! Take a look at this archway..."
"What are you looking at!"
Lu Bohong roared, "Your younger sister is seriously ill and lying in the house, and now that your brother-in-law has passed away, you're showing off here?"
Several neighbors, trying to suppress their laughter, glanced over furtively. Tu, losing face, shook off her son's hand: "How dare you speak like that? This is a matter of great importance, bringing honor to our ancestors..."
Halfway through her sentence, she noticed her son's eyes were red with anger, so she shrank back and lowered her voice: "I'm just... happy for your little sister."
Lu Bohong retorted angrily, "Happy? Mother, do you have any conscience saying such things?"
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking: "Your son is dull-witted. I've never understood since I was a child why my mother treats my younger sister like a stranger, since we are both her flesh and blood?"
Her throat bobbed, and her voice choked with emotion, "Even if it's a matter of favoring sons over daughters, you should at least remember that she was born after you carried her for ten months... How could you be so heartless!"
Upon hearing this, Tu felt extremely guilty...
He then angrily retorted, "What an unfilial son! How dare you speak ill of your mother like this? When have I ever mistreated her? Have I deprived her of food and clothing? Or sold her to slave traders as a maid or concubine? Now that she is the mistress of the Shen family, isn't it all thanks to me!"
She became more and more agitated as she spoke: "Back then, she lost her virginity and hid in her room, threatening to kill herself. It was only after much persuasion that I managed to convince her to marry into the Shen family. Although she is now a widow, she is still a legitimate wife and has received an imperial memorial arch, so she won't have to worry about the rest of her life."
“If it weren’t for me,” Madam Tu sneered, “she would have gone to the temple to become a nun long ago!”
Lu Bohong was not good with words and was speechless. He could only clench his fists, turn around and stride away.
Madam Tu stared at her son's departing figure, stamping her feet in anger: "All you ever do is think about your sister, do you even have any regard for your own mother? All these years of pampering you have been for nothing!"
The Gu residence.
The sun was shining brightly, and under the wisteria trellis in the backyard of the Gu residence, there were two low mahogany chairs with soft satin cushions on them.
Ah Bao nestled lazily in the chair on the left, his snow-white fur contrasting against the vermilion chair surface, making him appear even more noble.
On the small table in front of it sat a gilded porcelain plate filled with freshly baked rose pastries, still steaming slightly...
On the right chair, Acong was lying sprawled out, the cushion rubbed against him and tilted to one side. He was happily gnawing on a braised pork bone, oblivious to the oil stains on the brocade cushion, but his eyes kept glancing at Abao's plate.
Taking advantage of Abao's inattention, it quietly extended its paw...
The maid quickly stopped Ah Cong, "You can't take Ah Bao's food, or the master will punish you if he finds out."
As she spoke, she poured another cup of goat milk into front of Abao, saying, "Abao, please enjoy. This was just squeezed this morning."
Abao licked his paws elegantly, his emerald eyes glancing at Acong's disheveled state. With a flick of his tail, he swept half a rose pastry onto the ground...
Ah Cong immediately pounced on it and swallowed the rose pastry in one bite.
It's so delicious...
It tastes much better than my own braised pork ribs...
This differential treatment...
Just then...
A tall and slender figure emerged from under the corridor.
Xiao Yeming strolled over, his pale skin seemingly glazed in the sunlight. His broad shoulders and narrow waist accentuated his elegant figure, which was made to look exceptionally tall and straight in an indigo silk robe. A rhinoceros horn belt cinched his slender waist, and his plain gauze jacket swayed gently with each step...
When he saw Abao, his cold and stern expression softened instantly, and he deliberately slowed his pace.
His slender fingers held a package of oiled paper, and the aroma of hot, sweet peas wafted out, strangely blending with the crisp sea breeze emanating from him.
The maids blushed immediately and shoved each other, stealing glances at each other.
This naval commander has always been the focus of their private discussions, not only because of his outstanding military achievements, but also because of his handsome appearance.
His overall demeanor was even more imposing than that of his own employer.
One of the bolder maids even secretly straightened the crooked hairpin, afraid of losing her manners in front of him.
Suddenly, Abao's nose twitched slightly, and his pair of emerald green cat eyes widened in an instant—it was the sweet smell of sugar peas!
It turned around abruptly and saw Xiao Yeming's tall figure approaching against the light...
Although this commander was usually taciturn and dull-witted, A Bao inexplicably liked him.
On the day A Bao was left at the Gu residence by Lu Zhaoruo, when this person bumped into it in the corridor, its usually sharp eyes suddenly lit up.
While Gu Xian turned around, he secretly touched its head with his calloused fingertips. When he was discovered, he immediately turned his hands away and pretended that nothing had happened.
Since then, he has come every few days, each time carrying a bag of hot candied peas.
However, she never dared to hug Abao on her own initiative.
One time, Abao jumped into his arms by itself, which startled him so much that he almost dropped it.
In the end, they still handled it as carefully as if it were a fragile piece of porcelain.
That day, it looked up and saw him smiling.
With a slight upturn at the corners of her eyes, the chill of the sea breeze that had been lingering for years vanished instantly, replaced by a brightness like the spring sunshine in March.
Abao thought that this older brother was really good-looking.
How wonderful it would be if it were my own father...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com