Chapter 181 He Misunderstood
On a summer afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest, it scorches the earth.
Bored while staying in the house, Meng Jinyao poured a cup of tea outside. Seeing that the tea evaporated in no time, she thought that in this scorching weather, if an iron pot were set up in the sun, eggs could probably be fried without firewood.
She suddenly had a whim and thought of having the maid bring over an iron pot to try it out, so she mentioned it to Qingqiu.
Qingqiu advised, "Madam, this will definitely fry the eggs. I think there's no need to test it. You are the lady of the Marquis's mansion; it would seem unrefined of you to fuss over this."
Meng Jinyao thought this made sense, so she gave up the idea, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly said, "My father's birthday seems to be coming soon."
Qingqiu remembered this matter. Originally, she was still hesitating whether to tell the madam, but now that the madam mentioned it, she asked, "The Earl's birthday is in three days. Are you going to celebrate the Earl's birthday?"
Meng Jinyao gave a meaningful smile: "It's my father's birthday. As his daughter, and I'm not married far away, how can I not go back to celebrate? Although I don't get along with my family, we haven't completely severed ties. If I don't go, people will have something to say about me."
Seeing her mischievous smile, Qingqiu asked, "Madam, you're not simply celebrating the Earl's birthday, are you?"
Meng Jinyao's smile remained unchanged: "Besides celebrating his birthday, I also need to see my dear stepmother. Wasn't she supposed to be seeing ghosts? I wonder how she is now."
Upon hearing this, Qingqiu understood her intention: she wanted to see how badly Sun Shi would be treated.
Meng Jinyao said gently, "Qingqiu, go and pick out a birthday gift for him."
Qingqiu inquired, "Madam, what kind of birthday gift would you like?"
Meng Jinyao waved her hand dismissively: "Whatever, no need to choose carefully, just something presentable is fine."
A father like that doesn't deserve her to prepare a birthday gift with care; giving him any decent gift is already a favor.
-
The next day.
Qingqiu lived up to her master's expectations and went to a clothing store outside to buy a set of clothes for middle-aged men.
This is a dark green outfit embroidered with auspicious clouds, made of Shu brocade. It doesn't look cheap, but in the eyes of high-ranking officials and nobles, it's just an ordinary outfit.
When Meng Jinyao saw the clothes she was handed over, she was instantly stunned. She didn't understand why she was giving herself a set of men's clothes, which made her look a bit old-fashioned and wouldn't even suit Gu Jingxi. She asked blankly, "Qingqiu, what does this mean?"
Qingqiu smiled and said, "Madam, the Earl's birthday is in two days. You have always been filial, so you sent him clothes that you made yourself as a birthday gift. I think the Earl will be very happy."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao immediately understood, and then nodded with a smile: "Yes, it's Father's birthday, so there's nothing wrong with a daughter giving him clothes she made herself. But is the size correct?"
Qingqiu replied, "Don't worry about that. I asked Granny Qiao. Granny Qiao works for Madam Sun, and Madam Sun prepares all of the Lord's clothes. Granny Qiao must know the size."
"That's good. This birthday gift is nice. Qingqiu, you did a great job." Meng Jinyao's smile deepened as she looked at the outfit, becoming more and more satisfied. "Hmm, not bad. My embroidery skills are quite good. This outfit is very well made."
Qingqiu smiled and agreed, "Madam worked on it for many days before it was finished; her filial piety is evident."
"That's right."
Meng Jinyao nodded repeatedly, without the slightest bit of guilt. She felt that her father, that scumbag, didn't deserve such an expensive birthday gift. A set of clothes would be perfect, with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on it. Auspicious clouds have a good meaning and would be impeccable as a birthday gift for an elder.
At this moment, Gu Jingxi returned from his shift.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Qingqiu turned around and saw Gu Jingxi. She quickly curtsied and said, "Greetings, Your Excellency."
Gu Jingxi nodded and saw that the little girl was holding a set of clothes. He could tell without looking closely that it was a set of men's clothing. The clothes looked brand new. In his memory, he did not have such a set of clothes. He guessed that the set of men's clothing in the little girl's hand was for him.
Thinking this, Gu Jingxi was slightly stunned. This was the first time he had received clothes personally prepared by his wife. Looking at the clothes, a subtle feeling suddenly rose in his heart.
He stepped forward, took the clothes from the girl's hand, and looked at them. He was taken aback by the color and style. The girl's taste didn't quite match his own. Although it was a bit old-fashioned, it was the girl's good intention, so he didn't mind.
Meng Jinyao asked with a smile, "Husband, what do you think of this outfit?"
Gu Jingxi looked at her and saw the little girl smiling brightly, her bright almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she stared at him expectantly, her gaze as bright as a child seeking praise from an elder. He coughed lightly and gently reminded her, "Very good, but these clothes will make you look too mature."
Although he is twenty-nine years old this year, he has never worn such old-fashioned clothes before. In his mind, this kind of clothes should be worn by people in their forties, and would be too mature for someone in their thirties. If a person looks older than their age, then it would not look out of place at all.
Meng Jinyao shook her head dismissively: "At your age, you should dress like this. Otherwise, you'll look like a young man, trying to appear younger."
At such an old age?
When Gu Jingxi heard these four words, he was struck dumb. His usually calm and composed expression cracked little by little, and he suddenly began to doubt his life, thinking: Is he really getting old?
Looking at the girl's tender, slightly childish face, he instantly felt depressed. Compared to a girl in her teens, he was indeed old. Everyone in the know said that they were an old man and a young woman.
Even though he was nearing thirty, he shouldn't have dressed like someone in their forties or fifties. You know, Qi Yunwen, who was a year older than him, didn't dress like that.
It was the young girl's kind intention, and he didn't want to disappoint her, but he still had to say what he should say: "Madam, actually, dressing younger makes you look younger, don't you think?"
After listening, Meng Jinyao seemed to understand, and nodded slightly in agreement. She added, "It seems a bit too old for someone who is almost thirty-five to wear this. But if we round it up to forty, it should be wearable."
Gu Jingxi was taken aback: "Thirty-five years old?"
Meng Jinyao nodded and smiled, "Yes, my father, your father-in-law, will be turning thirty-five in a couple of days. I don't get along with him, so I'll just give him a casual gift to appease him. No need to put any thought into it." As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Jingxi and teased, "Who told you to be so much older than me? My father is only five or six years older than you."
Gu Jingxi's face stiffened: "Is this outfit a birthday gift for your father-in-law?"
"Otherwise what?"
Meng Jinyao glanced at Gu Jingxi with a strange look. Seeing the man's odd expression, she thought of a possibility and asked hesitantly, "Husband, you don't actually think this outfit is a gift for you, do you?"
Gu Jingxi: "..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com