“I’ll seriously consider it once you’re a bit wealthier,” he added.
Later, the Grand Secretary, who had been too busy in his daily life and hadn't gone shopping in half his life, took her to buy a lot of things, all of which he paid for.
Qingchen has learned his lesson. Instead of fighting, he'd rather wait until his family celebrates the New Year and then secretly slip them some silver.
When they had bought almost everything and were about to head home, he noticed her staring at a lamb. Without a word, he untied the rope that was tethering it and led it to the shopkeeper. "I'll buy this lamb," he said. His aloof and imposing demeanor was just as serious as when he was lecturing in the classroom.
Shen Qingchen: "..."
As a result, the accompanying carriages were loaded with all sorts of pork, beef, mutton, pastries, fruits, peanuts, melon seeds, and more than a dozen live chickens and ducks, as well as fireworks and firecrackers. The driver also led a lamb, which bleated all the way.
Just before getting into the carriage, Qingchen said, "Teacher, wait for me."
"Where to?" He sat in the car, lifting the curtain for her.
"Wait a moment," she said, then turned and left.
After a while, Qingchen returned carrying two paper packages.
Once they were in the carriage, she presented one of the packets to him, opened the paper package, and looked at him, saying, "Please eat this."
This is a snack she usually likes to eat, called stir-fried hawthorn berries. It's sweet and sour and very refreshing. He spent money and effort today, so he deserves a reward.
Song Yue took a look. The food inside was reddish and very translucent, decorated with osmanthus and honey, and had a faint fragrance.
He looked at her and said very seriously, "Qingchen, I haven't thought about the sugar daddy thing yet."
...
The carriage first returned to Qingchen's house.
Song Yue had the driver move most of the things she bought to her home, including some cooked food, melons and vegetables, beef and mutton, live chickens and ducks... and the little lamb.
She said she didn't need so much, but he pretended not to hear and didn't say anything. He only watched as the driver put everything away before saying, "I'm leaving."
After he left, Qingchen looked at the chickens, ducks, geese, and lamb in the yard and suddenly felt a little worried.
She was going to Song Yue's house for a few days during the New Year holiday. These animals couldn't be left in the yard; she had to find a cage to put them in and keep them inside, otherwise they would freeze to death.
Thinking this, she went inside to get a few planks of wood to make a large cage, when Mingxiang came over.
Mingxiang was dressed in a coarse cloth dress, with a basket slung over her arm and covered with a blue floral cloth. Seeing that there were about a dozen poultry in the yard, she asked curiously, "Brother Qingchen, are these the New Year's goods you bought?"
While thinking about how to make the cage, Qingchen shook his head and replied, "My teacher bought it."
Mingxiang went over and touched the lamb tied to the doorway; its first wool was soft and fine. So many poultry must have cost a lot of money.
She had heard Qingchen mention that his teacher was a high-ranking official, so these things must be nothing to him. After petting the lamb, she lifted the floral cloth covering the basket she was carrying and peeked inside. It contained some New Year's goods she had prepared for Qingchen.
Qingchen's family wasn't well-off, and he had a sick father to take care of. He usually lived frugally, and even during the New Year, he couldn't bear to buy anything for himself. She couldn't bear to see him suffer like this even during the New Year, so she used her savings to buy him some things, including some homemade items.
There wasn't much stuff; compared to the poultry in the yard, she only had a small basket, and it wasn't heavy. Inside were just some frozen pork, a small bottle of liquor, a pair of socks she had sewn for Qingchen, and some paper-cut window decorations she had made herself. She had been making those window decorations for many days, with all sorts of patterns. She didn't know which kind Qingchen liked, so she made many, and ruined many of them.
Mingxiang stood in the courtyard for a while, and seeing Qingchen busy making cages, she said, "Brother Qingchen, I'll go inside and check on the old man."
Qingchen found some rattan and was tying up the wooden planks when he agreed.
Mingxiang pushed open the door and entered the room, only to be stunned by the dazzling array of items on the table.
All sorts of items, big and small, mostly wrapped in red paper, looked abundant and festive. It turned out that the Grand Secretary's New Year's gifts for Brother Qingchen included not only the living creatures in the yard, but also these.
Among these things she saw pastries, peanuts, melon seeds, rice, oil, tea, firecrackers, lanterns, as well as frozen pork, mutton, ribbonfish, several jars of wine, and many paper-cut window decorations...
The pork was top-quality pork belly, with evenly spaced layers of fat and lean meat. The jars of wine were aged Shaoxing wine, their rich aroma wafting even through the lids. The paper-cut window decorations were far superior to anything I could make myself—delicate, intricate, and flawless.
Mingxiang's eyes immediately dimmed.
She opened her basket and glanced at what was inside.
Lean, thin strips of pork, a small bottle of ordinary wine, and simple, somewhat rough paper-cut window decorations... nothing can compare to what's on the table.
If she were to give these to Qingchen, they would seem like a joke in comparison.
Mingxiang looked at her basket with some dejection. All the things she had painstakingly prepared over the past few days were now pointless to give away. Qingchen's teacher had been so good to him, preparing everything for him, covering every aspect of his life, down to the smallest detail.
Mingxiang lowered her head, sighed listlessly, and slowly took out the socks she had sewn herself from the basket. There was only this one; no other socks in the pile were the same.
She hesitated for a moment, then neatly folded the pair of pure white socks and placed them among the pile of exquisite items on the table.
This is the only one left. It looks rather shabby and can't compare to the exquisite items on the table. I wonder if Brother Qingchen will find it unappealing.
After carefully arranging the socks, Mingxiang turned to leave, but stopped at the door, turned back, grabbed the socks, quickly stuffed them back into the basket, lowered her head, and hurriedly went out the door.
That's too shabby, Brother Qingchen will laugh at us!
Qingchen was sitting in the courtyard, the cage was half finished, when he suddenly saw Mingxiang come out of the house with her head down and a somewhat unnatural expression, so he asked, "What's wrong? Did my father frighten you again?"
Mingxiang just shook her head, clutching the cloth on the basket tightly. "No, I just... remembered I have some things to take care of at home. Brother Qingchen, I'm going home now."
Qingchen didn't think much of it and nodded: "Walk slowly, be careful of the slippery snow."
Mingxiang's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she hurried past her with her head down.
The warm winter sun shone on her, illuminating her embarrassed and ashamed face, and the shadow of her not-so-flowing ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) was stretched long.
Meanwhile, at the Xu residence.
Xu Silin was hunched over his desk in the study, looking at a book called "Yingzao Fashi" (Building Standards).
The candlelight illuminated his young face, outlining the handsome lines from his brow bone to the bridge of his nose.
He and Shen Qingchen entered the Hanlin Academy together to study, and then went to the Ministry of Works to observe government affairs together. Now Qingchen is already a sixth-rank official, but he is still a junior scholar without a rank.
If you don't move forward, you fall behind. He didn't like this feeling of standing still, like a pitiful, immobile stake, only able to watch others drift further and further away from him.
Although having Xu Yan's connection would make it easy for him to climb the ranks, he had no intention of using that connection. He believed he was quite talented, not much inferior to that person, and that with a little more effort, he could definitely catch up.
Xu Yan has arrived.
Seeing his father enter, Xu Silin put down his pen, looked up, and called out, "Dad."
"Reading again?" Xu Yan glanced at what he was writing. "Lin Mo and the others haven't come to see you lately. What's wrong? Did you have a falling out with them?"
He shook his head. "No. My son just thought some of the games weren't very interesting, so he didn't let them come."
Xu Yan nodded, "Studying hard is good, but don't ruin your health. You should also go out and get some fresh air."
"Does Father have something to say to His Son?"
"It's about your marriage," Xu Yan said, one hand behind his back. "I told you last time that at your age, it's time to get engaged..."
"Father." Xu Silin interrupted him upon hearing this, a hint of resistance appearing on his usually indifferent handsome face. "I am still young, and I am currently striving in my career. I do not want to consider marriage yet. Father, you don't need to worry about me." Besides, he already has someone he loves, and no one else can catch his eye.
"Let your father finish speaking first." Xu Yan patted his son's shoulder. "The marriage I've arranged for you is a good one. The bride is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Yingguo. In the Ming Dynasty today, there are only two most powerful families: the Duke of Dingguo and the Duke of Yingguo. The Duke of Yingguo is a noble family with a lineage that can be traced back several generations. His family has held official positions for generations, and he has served on the battlefield and made military achievements. He has a high reputation in the army. In addition, his nephew is the commander of the Five Armies Commandery, which holds real power... You understand without me having to say more. A marriage alliance with the Duke of Yingguo's family will be very beneficial to your future."
"Besides, the Duke of England's youngest daughter is quite beautiful, and her age is just right for you. You should have met her before; her name is Su Miaoyi."
“Su Miaoyi?” Xu Silin frowned. “Wasn’t she betrothed to Gu Shaoheng since childhood? I saw them together at the Gu residence a few days ago.”
“The betrothal we made when we were children has been going on for so many years. Since we haven’t gotten married yet, let’s just break it off,” Xu Yan said. “Now the Gu family is declining and there are no relatives in important positions. You are more valuable than Gu Shaoheng. The Duke of Ying is a smart man.”
“Father, Gu Shaoheng is my classmate, and we are together every day. Wouldn’t it be like stealing someone else’s love if I did this?!” Xu Silin said coldly, his thin lips slightly pursed. “I think this is inappropriate. Father, you should abandon this idea as soon as possible.”
Xu Yan smiled confidently, "Don't worry, I've thought it all out for you. I'll make sure the Gu family takes the initiative to break off the engagement, and I certainly won't let you suffer any bad reputation. Son, anything that brings benefits will inevitably come with some hidden dangers, but you have your father, and I will minimize those dangers for you."
"I disagree!" Xu Silin suddenly stood up. "No matter what Father says, I will not go through with this marriage!"
After saying that, he stomped on the chair and walked straight out of the house.
His tall figure quickly stepped into the cold wind.
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