Chapter 19: Su Runhe's Timid Behavior
【Um? Does this mean that if you want to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach? Very good, I am in for a treat. 】
Su Qianqian's face was slightly surprised: "Su Geng, why haven't I heard you say before that you can cook hometown dishes? Isn't your hometown Hui'an Prefecture? I heard that the arsenic produced there is very famous?"
Qin Hanzhang: Do you want to say that she is the most vicious woman?
Su Geng's expression froze for a moment, then she smiled and replied, "Young Madam, you remembered it wrongly. My hometown is Hu'an Prefecture, where the lake fish are very famous. I can make fish sashimi soup."
"Fish sashimi soup..." Su Qianqian's eyes lit up.
"I hate fishy food the most. From now on, this thing is not allowed to appear on the dining table of Tinglan Courtyard. I will eat dinner in my mother's yard."
At this point, Qin Hanzhang again instructed Su Qianqian with a cold face:
"Don't eat anything made by anyone. Check your diet more often in the future. The cooks in the small kitchen, ask the housekeeper to remind them that outsiders are not allowed to enter the kitchen. Dishes must be served by designated people and no one else is allowed."
[Hey, is this the implementation of military control over Tinglanyuan? It’s not as stupid as I thought. Has the hot weather dried up the water in my brain? 】
Su Qianqian complained in her heart, but she agreed submissively: "Yes, Lord, I understand."
Qin Hanzhang said "hmm", without even looking at Su Geng's pale face, turned and walked out of the flower hall. The two little ones hiding outside the door hurriedly followed.
"Third brother, your market value has increased. You used to be hated by everyone in Xijing City, but now there are endless women throwing themselves at you. No wonder Third Sister-in-law was on guard before, it turned out to be for nothing."
Qin Yuzhuo commented excitedly, earning a cold look from Qin Hanzhang, who then shrank his neck and kept silent.
Du gave birth to four brothers and only had this daughter. She was doted on by Qin Hanzhang's father since she was a child, and Qin Hanzhang also favored this younger sister. Therefore, Qin Yuzhuo was more spoiled, and she was the only one who dared to speak to Qin Hanzhang like this.
"Speaking of the Su family, I remember that my third sister-in-law's younger brother Su Runhe is also studying in the Imperial College. Because of my third sister-in-law... I don't get close to him. He usually keeps to himself. He is young but very mature, but his behavior is reserved and petty..."
Qin Hanjue thought of Su Qianqian's thoughts and felt sympathy for the two siblings. He recalled that Su Runhe was indeed a little timid and he had even ridiculed him with others. It turned out that it was because of his stepmother.
"But his grades are outstanding, and he gets bonus money for top grades every year."
Qin Hanzhang remained silent. This was the first time he heard these things. He had been back in Xijing for a few months, and not only was he very busy, he might not have had the time to care about the Su family even if he had the time.
Moreover, he has never returned to the Su Mansion with Su Qianqian. He has no impression of any other members of the Su family except Su Taifu.
"Tian Geng is on vacation for a month, and classes at the Imperial College will start soon, right?" Qin Hanzhang asked casually.
"There are still more than ten days left. Today is the sixth day, and classes will resume on the twentieth." Qin Hanjue secretly glanced at Qin Hanzhang. He remembered that Su Qianqian's birthday was the Zhongyuan Festival, which was nine days later. The family would worship their ancestors on that day.
"Tomorrow is the day for the Qiqiao Festival, and the girls in the mansion will also have some fun. I wonder if Third Sister-in-law will join in. In previous years, she always prepared for everyone and never played along."
"Begging for skill? Which girl in our house is outstanding in needlework?" Qin Hanjue curled her lips in disdain.
"Just because I'm not good at sewing doesn't mean I can't thread a nine-hole needle. I practice every year to get first place! And my spider is ready. Let's see if I can make the biggest spider web tomorrow!"
The girls in the back house always find some fun, otherwise life would be too difficult.
The people of Da Qi were relatively open-minded. Women could engage in business, practice medicine, and even become female officials. Old Lady Qin had followed her husband to the battlefield.
Young men and women can drink, play games, compose poetry and shoot arrows in public, and women are also allowed to enter restaurants and teahouses.
Despite this, there are many restrictions on women in the backyards of aristocratic families. Meetings between men and women in private will still be criticized, and private transactions are not allowed.
Therefore, every year there are several women’s festivals, and young girls and wives look forward to them.
"Are those interesting? Prepare them for her as well. I'll give you as much silver as you need."
Qin Hanzhang didn't understand any of this. He remembered that Su Qianqian was sixteen years old when she got married, one year younger than Qin Yuzhuo is now, but she had never played these games. He felt that he owed her.
"Hey, is Third Brother thinking about Third Sister-in-law?" Qin Yuzhuo teased with a smile.
"Don't talk nonsense. Aren't those things from Zhou Jingnan? Don't think I don't know. I met him a few days ago and he was asking those soldiers who were married what kind of Happy Spider Box girls like."
Qin Yuzhuo's face immediately turned red: "What's this? He buys a lot every year and gives them to his sisters at home. He also brought one for me. Yuping, Yuqi and Youjieer all have one!"
"Isn't it for you that I brought one for each of them?" Qin Hanjue added.
"Sixth brother! If you say anything more, I will tell mother and my sisters at home about how you fainted from being scared by the third sister-in-law!"
"How dare you! Then I will let Third Sister-in-law know that you sewed the sleeves and the lapels together..."
The brothers and sisters were bickering as they headed towards the Qingcang Courtyard of the Du family. On that July afternoon at the Wuning Marquis' Mansion, the sky was clear and there was a peaceful and prosperous scene.
After dinner, Qin Hanzhang deliberately returned to Tinglan Courtyard early. As expected, Su Qianqian had not slept yet. She had found a storybook from somewhere and was reading it with great interest.
[My lady, this story is full of those young men cheating on their husbands and young ladies disguising themselves as men. It is so ridiculous that it can’t be more ridiculous. What’s the point? 】
[It's a long night and I can't sleep alone. What should I do if I don't find some entertainment? 】
[Why don't we eat melons? We have melons in our yard too. The little girl Chuntao has fallen in love with the Sixth Young Master's servant Fumo, but Fumo has his eyes on the Third Young Master's eldest maid Qingyu. Qingyu, however, has a crush on the Fifth Young Master's servant Qingfeng. Qingfeng is interested in Chuntao. How can this love triangle be resolved? 】
Qin Hanzhang frowned: What a mess, the servants in the Marquis' Mansion should be rectified.
【ah? This is interesting, please explain in detail...] Su Qianqian became interested and put down the notebook, but saw Qin Hanzhang coming in.
[Have all the girls in this yard been fed mute drugs?] Don’t you know how to report it? 】
While feeling angry in her heart, she stood up and bowed meekly: "My Lord, you are busy with official duties, why do you come back so early to rest?"
Qin Hanzhang: You went to bed when you came back late, and you didn’t even have time to talk.
He took out an exquisitely designed box from his sleeve, along with an exquisite brocade bag.
"Tomorrow we will celebrate the Qiqiao Festival. Take this and play with the sisters-in-law in the mansion." Qin Hanzhang stretched out his hand and handed the thing over.
Su Qianqian took it, and Su Ye, who was fanning herself beside her, looked at it in surprise: "This is the first time I've seen such a delicate spider box."
"Happy spider?" Su Qianqian opened it curiously. Inside was a net woven with some thin bamboo strips and attached to the wall of the box. It was very delicately made.
"Madam, if you don't know how, I will teach you. This is very easy. You have never used needlework before, so naturally you have never done this. If you can't make a spider web tomorrow, I'm afraid you will be laughed at by the young ladies."
Su Geng came out from inside, his eyes swept across Qin Hanzhang and fell on the spider box.
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