Chapter 122 The Lu Family of Bianjing
Now that the marriage is arranged, Lu Zhao can openly come to the Qiao family. Naturally, if the future son-in-law comes to eat, they can eat together without having to spend extra money.
However, Old Mrs. Lu explained, "These days, we've been eating at home. No one's been going to my future in-laws' house for meals every day. No matter what, Cuizhi and the others cook better than you and Qingjiu."
Lu Zhao was already very satisfied with the marriage arrangements made by his grandmother, and he listened to his grandmother's advice on all these matters.
You can skip meals, but you still have to go.
Qiao Mianmian was not good at needlework and could not embroider her wedding dress herself, so her fourth sister and others helped her embroider it.
Madam Xu also helped embroider the vest, while Madam Chen embroidered the other parts.
Lin's idea was that Qiao Mianmian should stay at home for a few more days and not go to the food stalls anymore.
Qiao Mianmian agreed, so when she finished the last day and took off her apron to go to the lobby, the old customers first congratulated her and then asked about their concerns.
"Chef Qiao, after you got married, are you no longer coming to the restaurant?"
"What will we do if you don't come? I've gotten used to your cooking!"
"Yes, Miss Qiao, are you coming or not?"
"Coming, coming," Qiao Mianmian said. "I can't come every day anymore, but I'll come every other day, so everyone can still enjoy my cooking. Besides, my brothers' cooking skills are just as good as mine. This Mapo Tofu and the braised fish were both made by my second brother. How about it? They're no different from mine, right?"
Qiao Mianmian casually ordered a few dishes made by her second brother, and everyone then realized that they had been eating Qiao Jiaxing's cooking for a long time.
My initial worries have eased considerably now. I think Qiao Jiaxing's cooking is quite good, so I can come back again in the future.
Lin stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Don't worry, everyone, the taste of my restaurant will not change, you can still continue to patronize us."
"Alright, then I'll congratulate Miss Qiao in advance."
The others followed suit and offered their congratulations.
It was afternoon, and the sun was quite strong. Qiao Mianmian told Lin Shi what she was doing and then went out.
She had arranged to meet Lu Zhao at a dessert shop. When she arrived, Lu Zhao had already ordered four bowls of plum-flavored glutinous rice balls.
Qingjiu couldn't wait any longer. "My lord, shall we eat now?"
Lu Zhao looked at Qiao Mianmian.
Qiao Mianmian said to wait a little longer.
"Is there anyone else? Isn't everyone here?" Qingjiu looked at the glutinous rice balls, drooling and unable to look away.
"We're here." Qiao Mianmian waved to Zheng Sanhua. "Is the shop busy?"
Zheng Sanhua sat down, panting heavily. She had run all the way here. "Yes, someone suddenly came to deliver firewood, so I had to make the trip."
Qiao Mianmian asked, "Didn't you hire someone?"
“When things get busy, those two aren’t enough; when things are slow, they’re incredibly idle. Buying firewood isn’t like running a food stall, where you have fixed mealtimes. They can come anytime they want to buy it.” Zheng Sanhua finished half a bowl of bayberry soup in one gulp. “That’s so refreshing! You guys eat, why are you all staring at me?”
Now Qingjiu was drinking heartily from his bowl.
Lu Zhao then added two more glutinous rice balls for Qiao Mianmian, but Qiao Mianmian quickly said that was enough, "I can't eat that many."
"Tsk tsk, getting engaged really makes a difference. They're so affectionate, it's truly enviable." As she said this, Zheng Sanhua glanced at Qingjiu, and seeing that Qingjiu was only focused on eating, she snorted.
Qingjiu then looked over and said, "What, you're not full either? Shopkeeper, bring two more bowls!"
"Who's not full?" Zheng Sanhua glared at Qingjiu, making it seem like she was a big eater.
"I'll eat both bowls myself." Qingjiu was even happier. He said he wanted one osmanthus-flavored bowl and the other peach-flavored bowl. "This dessert shop is getting better and better. In the summer, you should eat something icy cold, it's so refreshing. Isn't that right, sir?"
Lu Zhao said, "Then you sit down and eat slowly. Miss Qiao and I will go and look around somewhere else."
"No, I'll finish eating soon!" Qingjiu tried to get up, but her master pressed her shoulder down.
Zheng Sanhua said with a smile, "Why can't you see that your master wants to be alone with Sister Mianmian, but you insist on going over to join in the fun? Qingjiu, Qingjiu, you still don't understand."
"How could I not understand? They can do what they want, I'm not interfering with them." These days, Qingjiu felt that his master didn't need him as much.
In the past, his master would always take him with him when he went out. Now, except when going to the government office, his master doesn't take him with him six out of ten times.
Not having to follow his master should theoretically mean a more leisurely and comfortable life, allowing him to do what he wants. But after much thought, Qingjiu realized he had no other desires but to follow his master.
Feeling empty again, Qingjiu looked at the glutinous rice balls that were served again, but she didn't have much of an appetite.
"What's wrong? Are you sad?" Zheng Sanhua ate a peach-flavored glutinous rice ball. It was sweet and sour with a peachy aroma, and quite delicious.
Qingjiu said no.
"Tch, do you really think others can't tell?"
Zheng Sanhua put down her spoon. "Everyone has their own life. Apart from your wife, no one will revolve around you. Lord Lu will have children in the future, and possibly more than one. Qingjiu, you are also a good person. You should revolve around yourself."
After Zheng Sanhua finished speaking, Qingjiu fell silent and even stopped eating the glutinous rice balls.
On the other side, Qiao Mianmian and Lu Zhao were strolling around. The two were engaged, but they weren't that close.
Lu Zhao has become better at taking care of people, but he's not very good at talking.
Qiao Mianmian came up with a topic herself: "Lu Zhao, have you always been so taciturn since you were little?"
“Grandmother said, ‘The more you talk, the more mistakes you make. A man’s success in the world isn’t just about his words,’” Lu Zhao said.
“But when you’re with me, you don’t have to follow any of those rules. It’s just the two of us. Shouldn’t you be more relaxed and do whatever you want?” Qiao Mianmian walked up to Lu Zhao and looked up at him. “Smile. You look so beautiful when you smile.”
She tiptoed closer and closer to Lu Zhao, then suddenly reached out and poked Lu Zhao's cheek. "God is so good to you, giving you a face that everyone envies."
Lu Zhao felt teased after his face was poked. "Mianmian, you..."
"Can't I touch it?" Qiao Mianmian asked with a smile.
"Not really, it's just... there are too many people," Lu Zhao said softly.
"I didn't do anything else, I just poked your cheek, why are you acting like this is a major threat?" Qiao Mianmian found Lu Zhao even more adorable. The ancients were right, teasing the most innocent person is the most fun. "Alright, alright, I won't poke you anymore. Then smile at me?"
Lu Zhao looked around before curling his thin lips into a smile.
"You're so handsome." Qiao Mianmian praised without reservation, "You're the most handsome man I've ever seen."
"So, did you agree to marry me because I'm good-looking, or...?"
"That's one reason, but there are others too," Qiao Mianmian quickly changed the subject.
Lu Zhao wanted to continue asking, "What if even more handsome people appear in the future?"
"So what if he shows up? I'll just take a look. We're already engaged. I won't run away, but do you think you will?" Qiao Mianmian smiled coquettishly at Lu Zhao. She loved handsome men, but she had her bottom line; she wouldn't do anything like having an affair.
Lu Zhao said in a serious tone, "Don't look at anyone else, just look at me."
"Okay, okay, it's up to you." Qiao Mianmian was drawn to the handkerchiefs by the roadside. "Lu Zhao, come here. These handkerchiefs are so exquisite. I want to buy some for my family."
She had her own money and didn't need Lu Zhao's.
Lu Zhao was very satisfied with the marriage and was looking forward to the time passing quickly. However, there was also some dissatisfaction. In Bianjing, his father received a letter from the old lady, in which she cursed Lu Zhao's ancestors. Only after cursing did she realize that Lu Zhao's ancestors were also his ancestors.
In the study, Lu Shen looked at the letter on the table, his face dark.
Standing opposite Lu Shen was Lu Xingzhou. Although he entered and left the Lu family home every day, he could not live there and his name was not on the Lu family genealogy.
“Father, it’s a good thing that my elder brother is getting married, but how could Grandmother arrange for him to marry a daughter from a commoner family?” Lu Xingzhou sighed softly, as if he were indignant on behalf of Lu Zhao. “My elder brother is so talented, he shouldn’t be wasting his life in Lin’an. To make him marry a commoner is an insult to him.”
"This is all Lu Zhao's own doing. If he were half as sensible and considerate as you, I wouldn't be a laughingstock in Bianjing!"
Lu Shen was furious that his mother had arranged a marriage for her eldest son in secret, and even more furious that his mother had instructed him not to go to Lin'an to attend the ceremony, and that he should also record Lu Zhao's wife's name in the Lu family genealogy.
Over the years, Lu Shen had tried several times to get Lu Xingzhou and his mother to return to the Lu family, but Old Madam Lu refused to agree.
The old lady said that since her eldest grandson, whom she had raised with great care, was not going to take the imperial examination, if Lu Shen dared to disobey her wishes, she would go to the yamen to sue Lu Shen for being unfilial.
If a mother accuses her son of being unfilial, he will not only be barred from becoming an official but also exiled. Lu Shen knew that the old lady was capable of such a thing, which is why he had never dared to do so all these years.
In the old lady's letter, she also wrote that she only asked Lu Shen to add Lu Zhao's wife's name, and as for Lu Xingzhou, she told Lu Shen to think carefully about the consequences.
There are very few mothers and sons who have a relationship like the Lu family's.
“My brother is still young, and there are some things he can’t understand. He’ll definitely figure them out one day.” Lu Xingzhou’s background has always been criticized.
He originally had a bright future, but because of Lu Zhao, his reputation was damaged, he could not participate in the imperial examinations, and his academic achievements were limited to Xiucai (a lower-level scholar).
The imperial examinations also depended on reputation. When Lu Zhao's mother passed away, Lu Shen wanted to take Lu Xingzhou and his mother back to their ancestral home, but Lu Zhao forced him to stop.
Lu Zhao, who originally had a bright future, would rather not participate in the imperial examination himself than let Lu Xingzhou down with him. Because of this, Lu Shen's official career was also hindered, and he has not been promoted in recent years.
Lu Xingzhou now most wants to be recognized as a member of the Lu family. If he is recorded in the Lu family genealogy, he will no longer be an unregistered illegitimate son and can participate in the imperial examinations again.
But as long as Lu Zhao is alive, Lu Xingzhou has no future.
Lu Xingzhou wasn't much younger than Lu Zhao. If things continued like this, his marriage and his future would be hopeless.
After all, his father didn't only have two sons. Lu Shen was a womanizer, with many concubines and children at home, but none of them were prominent at the moment, which didn't mean there wouldn't be in the future.
“Father, in my opinion, my elder brother is, after all, the eldest son of the Lu family, and the only legitimate son. If word gets out that he married a common woman, our Lu family will lose all face.” Lu Xingzhou paused. “Father, why don’t you go to Lin’an?”
"Your grandmother said I can't go." Lu Shen's face darkened. He was already this old, and he still had to be lectured by his mother. He felt aggrieved. "Besides, I have to work. How can I go to Lin'an?"
This was something Lu Xingzhou had thought of beforehand. He continued his father's words, "Since Father is busy, I, as his younger brother, should go and visit him. I should also convey Father's message to stop this marriage. Grandmother is getting old and may be easily misled. She needs someone to guide her. We can't let them do foolish things."
Lu Shen was indeed dissatisfied with the marriage. Given his current feelings for Lu Zhao, he didn't care who Lu Zhao married. His dissatisfaction and resentment towards Lu Zhao were more intense.
How could a father be happy to be manipulated by his son at every turn?
“If you go to Lin’an, I’m afraid you won’t be able to persuade your grandmother and Lu Zhao.” Lu Shen looked at his son. He knew that Lu Xingzhou had some schemes, but if they really fought, Lu Xingzhou would not be able to beat Lu Zhao.
"Father, rest assured, there are some things I don't need to say in person. I'll only say what needs to be said, mainly to stop this marriage. I think my elder brother is blinded and confused for a moment. If I can persuade him to let go of the past, I'm willing to stay away from him," Lu Xingzhou said.
Lu Shen looked at Lu Xingzhou, paused, and said, "Alright, then you go and make a trip to the Qiao family that your grandmother mentioned. If all else fails, it doesn't matter if you can't persuade Lu Zhao to come back; the most important thing is to ruin this marriage."
In her letter, her mother wrote that Lu Zhao had taken the initiative to propose the marriage. Since Lu Zhao was so satisfied with the Qiao family, she didn't want to see Lu Zhao get along.
Lu Xingzhou said "okay" with satisfaction.
However, Lu Xingzhou and his son were unaware that the moment Lu Xingzhou led his men out of Bianjing, someone had sent a messenger on horseback to inform Lu Zhao.
Lu Zhaoren is not in Bianjing, and he doesn't want to return to Bianjing, but as long as Lu Xingzhou is alive, he will arrange for people to keep an eye on Lu Xingzhou and will never allow Lu Xingzhou to be included in the Lu family genealogy.
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