Chapter 6: My Returning Husband, Our Names Are Unlucky...
Zeng Zhengqing hurried in, walked up to Mingjing, stared at her, and cupped his hands, saying, "Mother!"
Qingduo noticed that his hand was trembling slightly and wondered to herself, "When this man was about to consummate his marriage, his hand holding her shoulder was very steady. Why is he so excited to see his own mother now?"
Mingjing avoided eye contact and said, "My Buddhist name is Mingjing."
“…Mingjing…Master.”
What's going on? What's going on? The son is calling his own mother "Master"? Qingduo looked at Zeng Zhengqing with amusement, then at Zeng's mother. One looked wistful, the other solemn. She wished she had some melon seeds in front of her so she could grab a handful and eat them to her heart's content, leisurely watching other people's good show.
Oh, given her status, this is her own family's drama now.
Mingjing still didn't look at her son, and said, "I called you here to talk to you about Azhao."
“Ah Zhao?” Zeng Zhengqing frowned in thought.
“Oh, it’s me.” Qingduo, who was watching the commotion from the side, chimed in when her mother-in-law mentioned her. When she saw Zeng Zhengqing’s gaze fall on her, she explained, “My nickname is Xiao.”
Mingjing said, “Azhao has married you, and from now on you are husband and wife. You should take good care of her and not let her suffer any grievances. Household matters are complicated, and you should take on as much as you can. As for managing the household, teach her slowly and don’t be impatient. Cherish and respect her, and accompany her, and you will last a long time.”
"As the old saying goes, 'A harmonious marriage leads to a prosperous family.' If you treat her with sincerity, A-Zhao will naturally treat you with sincerity in return. Only in this way can the family prosper and everything go smoothly."
"Yes, I will follow Mother's teachings," Zeng Zhengqing replied respectfully.
She held Qingduo's hand, her heart aching, and said, "If I were by your side, I could take care of you all the time. But now... sigh, you lost your mother at such a young age, it must have been so hard for you!"
Qingduo asked blankly, "Bitter? I've always felt that I'm quite blessed!"
Two surprised glances came from the left and right. Qingduo blinked and said, "Except for a few illnesses when I was a child, I have always been very healthy. When I travel with my father, I can walk long distances and climb mountains without any problem. When we eat at quiet little stalls, other customers always come in, and the table is full in no time. Although I sometimes encounter difficulties, I solve them without even realizing it. So, I am not suffering!"
Mingjing stared at her blankly for a long time, then smiled with relief. She held Qingduo's hand in one hand and Zeng Zhengqing's hand in the other, put their hands together, and said, "Yes, Azhao is very lucky. We are the ones who have brought good fortune into our family."
*
The cart tracks left their mark on the dirt road, and on the carriage back to the city, Qingduo's words still echoed in Zeng Zhengqing's mind.
Although he had long sensed the energy emanating from her, he was still shocked when he heard those words. People like Qingduo, who weren't resigned to their passing and were content with what they had, were few and far between. Even in the entire world, they were extremely rare. Most people grieve for their losses and lament what they haven't gained; in their view, possession is a given, and he himself was one of them.
He began to wonder if she was truly heartless or genuinely optimistic and open-minded.
He was extremely curious about her.
There was something that was puzzling him, and he had to ask about it.
"Do you really have to be in this position?" Zeng Zhengqing asked.
Qingduo knelt upright in the carriage, dejectedly saying, "I can't help it! My buttocks hurt as soon as I sit down. It must be from bruising!"
Zeng Zhengqing sighed inwardly and said, "It just so happens that I used ointment for bruises this morning. I'll have Fangqing apply it for you when we get back."
Qingduo asked curiously, "Where are you hurt?" Suddenly remembering something, she said guiltily, "Could it be that I kicked you yesterday?"
Zeng Zhengqing glanced at her, pursed his lips, and did not answer.
"Sigh!" Qingduo sighed heavily, dejectedly, "My husband,"
Having only recently become a "husband," Zeng Zhengqing was still getting used to it. He paused for a moment before realizing that Qingduo was calling him, and responded with a soft "Hmm?"
"Don't you think our names are unlucky?"
"Um??"
“You have ‘Qing’ and I have ‘Qing’, which is why we both got hurt. This is why, when Qing and Qing meet, they bring countless bruises.”
What kind of twisted logic is this!
Zeng Zhengqing raised an eyebrow and teased, "Then I'll help Madam change her name to 'Hongduo,' how about that?"
"No, no," Qingduo refused outright. "If it were 'Red Flower,' I'm afraid I'd spit out blood on the spot! 'Green' is much better!"
Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but chuckle. His eyes held amusement as he said, "Kneeling hurts your knees, lie down on your side!"
Qingduo lay down on her side as instructed, facing Zeng Zhengqing, and asked, "Husband, why didn't you come in with me when we met Mother?"
A fleeting sadness crossed Zeng Zhengqing's face as he calmly said, "Ever since my mother became a nun, she has refused to see me and Zhengji again."
"Huh?" Qingduo asked, puzzled. "Why?"
“My mother said that monks should sever worldly ties and focus on their own spiritual cultivation. Thanks to you, this is the first time in five years that I have had a close conversation with my mother.”
Severing all worldly ties? With her mother-in-law?
Even his newlywed daughter-in-law is not at ease, so how could he possibly let go of his own sons?
She clearly longed for worldly affairs, as if she had entered a "fake" home. Couldn't Zeng Zhengqing see that?
Qingduo was extremely puzzled. The more she thought about it, the more dizzy she felt. As the carriage swayed, she slowly fell asleep. Midway through the journey, the carriage hit something and suddenly jolted. She groaned impatiently a few times, and in her hazy state, she found a warm and soft cushion under her head, so she drifted off to sleep again.
"Madam, wake up, we've arrived." Someone whispered softly. Qingduo woke up from her deep sleep, rubbing her eyes and glancing over casually, only to find that the warm cushion was Zeng Zhengqing's hand.
She sat up abruptly and saw him subtly withdraw his hand, tuck it into his sleeve, and place it in front of him, as if he had done nothing.
Qingduo grabbed his hand, her eyes wide open: "I thought it was some kind of cushion! It's your hand! I've been using it as a pillow the whole way, doesn't it hurt?"
Zeng Zhengqing was about to say "it doesn't hurt" against his will, but somehow the words turned out to be: "It hurts."
Qingduo held his hand and gently massaged it, her movements as careful as if she were pleating a dumpling. Zeng Zhengqing's hand had been pressed down for a long time and was already numb and itchy. When she pressed it, it felt like countless fine needles were piercing him, and the stinging sensation spread upwards from his fingertips.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked.
Zeng Zhengqing gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes!"
Her voice brightened: "Hey, aren't I thoughtful?"
Zeng Zhengqing looked up, her eyes filled with anticipation.
No one can let those eyes down.
He lowered his gaze, afraid that if he looked into her eyes, he would burst out laughing, but a smile still involuntarily appeared on his lips: "Yes, you are the most considerate."
*
On the day of her return visit, as soon as she got out of the car, Qingduo rushed into the house, shouting, "Dad! I'm back!"
Tang Li ran out of the kitchen, holding a spatula in his hand, overjoyed: "Ah Zhao! Daddy's precious daughter!"
He stepped forward, grabbed Qingduo, and looked her up and down. Seeing that she was dressed elegantly and had a bright and pretty face, he knew she had been doing well these past few days. He exclaimed, "Good! Good!"
"father in law."
Upon hearing the sound, Tang Li looked up and saw Zeng Zhengqing following behind, bowing respectfully. Zeng Zhengqing held Qingduo's hand with one hand and waved a spatula with the other, saying cheerfully, "Good! My dear son-in-law, there's no need for such formalities. Just relax at home! Oh dear, I need to check my shrimp; they'll be ruined if they burn!"
"Shrimp? Where did they come from?" Qingduo asked.
A faint smell of burning wafted from the kitchen. Tang Li rushed to the kitchen, saying, "I had to come back this morning, so I went to Chenghu Lake to catch some shrimp. Oh dear, my shrimp!"
Qingduo stomped her foot and complained, "Such an interesting thing, and you didn't even wait for me to come back to do it together? Really!" She lifted her skirt and walked into the kitchen as she spoke, "Only shrimp? Didn't you catch a fish?"
"I'd like to!" Tang Li's voice was loud. "All we caught were small fish and shrimp, so we can only fry them all in one pot. But look what this is?"
"Stewed goby with eggs!" Qingduo's joyful voice rang out, followed by Tang Li's smug reply: "Hey! Dad knows your tastes best! Girl, chop the bamboo shoots, there's some water spinach on the side, perfect for a jade belt soup, plus broad beans with toon sprouts, today's soup is going to be so delicious it'll make your teeth fall out!"
Hearing the cheerful laughter coming from inside, Zeng Zhengqing stood there stunned, not even noticing that the steward, Uncle He, behind him had reported that the gifts for the homecoming had been brought in and placed.
This wasn't the father-son relationship he was familiar with. His father-in-law and Qingduo were like friends; she could say whatever she wanted without any reservations. But when his own father was alive, he and his father... had never had this kind of intimacy. Every time he was in front of his father, he would bow and keep his hands at his sides, cautious in his words and actions. His father often had a stern face, only showing approval when he did something right.
He was confused. Which way of interacting is right? Which is wrong?
He couldn't understand it. The only thing he was certain of was that envy was like ivy, climbing up from the deepest part of his heart.
Qingduo rolled up her sleeves and came out from inside. Seeing Zeng Zhengqing staring blankly, she said, "Husband, what are you standing there for? Look," she pouted towards the wall, "set up the table."
"Oh." Zeng Zhengqing was startled from his thoughts. He took a step forward, but was stopped by the butler, Uncle He.
"Young master, let me do it."
Zeng Zhengqing blocked him with his hand: "I'll do it."
Qingduo watched the two of them arguing and fighting, completely bewildered. It was just setting up a table; anyone who didn't know better would think it was some big deal!
The Zeng family members are all very strange!
She shook her head in disbelief, went back to the kitchen, brought out the dishes, and placed them on the table Zeng Zhengqing had set out. The food was all on the table, but Tang Li still hadn't come out. Qingduo, while setting out chopsticks, called out, "Dad, dinner's ready!"
"Ahem, um, Ah Zhao, come here for a second." As if afraid Zeng Zhengqing would become suspicious, Tang Li added, "Do me a favor!"
Qingduo walked over casually and asked, "What is it?"
Tang Li pulled her aside, glanced at Zeng Zhengqing standing in the courtyard, and quietly asked, "Azhao, didn't you say you were going to act like a dignified young lady from a respectable family? You don't need to do that anymore?"
Qingduo was shocked to hear this: "I've been playing the part of elegance all along, didn't you notice?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com