Jiangnan Gaiden - Capítulo 26
Shi Wuhen pulled his sister to sit next to him, with Leng Gang sitting between them.
"With your abilities, how could Wuxia possibly be a match for you, sister-in-law?"
"Yes! We should be thankful that our sister-in-law doesn't bully us." Wu Jie chimed in, joining in the commotion.
Huan'er rolled her eyes at the two brothers and sneered.
"Wouldn't it lower my standards and make me conform to your ways if I lowered myself to your level?" She was never one to be outdone in a verbal battle.
"Let's eat." Shi Wuji led his wife to her seat, then instructed the servants to serve the dishes, indicating that the verbal sparring was over.
A bowl of fragrant noodles was placed between her and Wuji. No one else had this dish. She looked curiously at the steward, Li Qing.
"Why?"
Li Qing respectfully said:
"This is what every newlywed couple on the ranch has to eat. It's called 'Eternal Love,' made with the finest noodles, simmered with aged plum wine and fruit wine. It's a secret recipe, and if the couple eats it together, they'll stay together forever and never be apart. It's for good luck."
“Yes, we should eat together,” Wu Jie chimed in.
Huan'er frowned. "This name isn't good."
"What's wrong with it?" Wuhen didn't understand. Neither did anyone else.
Huan'er shook her head in suspense, and after a long while, she finally said:
“The full phrase ‘forever’ is: ‘Forever and ever may end, but this sorrow will never cease!’ How can this be good? Let’s change our names. Wuji and I want to live a happy life together, not become a bitter couple.”
Everyone burst out laughing; it was truly unbelievable that she could say such a jarring thing.
"You don't like it, huh? You're just making up an excuse." Shi Wuji really knew her.
“It’s not that I don’t like to eat, it’s just that I don’t want to make a spectacle of it for them, and I don’t get paid for it.” She glanced at Wu Jie, then whispered in her husband’s ear, “Let’s go back to our room to eat.” Shi Wuji nodded and chuckled.
No matter how hard everyone strained their ears, they couldn't hear clearly. Wu Jie shouted out:
"If you have something to say, you should say it openly and honestly so that everyone can listen."
Huan'er smugly glanced at Shi Wujie.
"I told you to read more books, but you wouldn't listen. Didn't Confucius say, 'Do not listen to what is contrary to propriety'? You have no knowledge. This is called whispering, or private conversation. It means it shouldn't be publicized. I thought only gossipy old women had this habit of prying into other people's privacy. I say, Wu Jie, are you sure you haven't mistaken your gender?" After saying that, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Apart from Shi Wujie, who had a look of bewilderment between laughter and tears, everyone else was laughing so hard that even Leng Gang, who was usually unmoved by emotions, was laughing!
"Sister-in-law, what have I done to offend you? Even if I have, it's not a crime deserving of death, is it?" Wu Jie said with a wry smile.
Huan'er even had something to say: "It's not that serious! On the contrary, I think you're great."