Jiangnan Gaiden - Capítulo 27
"How so?" Wu Jie didn't believe it.
“You offer yourself as our appetizer! Don’t you understand? In the past, Lao Laizi, even in his seventies and eighties, still dressed in colorful clothes to entertain his parents, and was listed in the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars; you are even greater, following in Lao Laizi’s footsteps, not hesitating to sacrifice your image to benefit your family. To be as famous as Lao Laizi, how can you not be great? When you die, I will write the Twenty-Fifth Filial Exemplar to sing your praises.” After saying this, he put his hands together in prayer.
"Pah! Pah! That's bad luck. I want to live to be a hundred."
"Then take good care of yourself. And please remember to protect yourself," she kindly reminded him. Wu Jie dared not say anything more and ate his meal in silence.
The meal passed peacefully without any trouble.
After dinner, the men moved to the study. Wuxia took her medicine and went to her room to rest early! Huan'er had no choice but to go back to her room as well.
She soaked in the bath for a while before getting up and putting on a silk nightgown. Since she wasn't planning on going out anyway, no one would see her disheveled state. She left her half-dry long hair to dry in the small flower room, waiting for Wuji to return. She didn't know how much time had passed before she drifted off to sleep.
When Shi Wuji returned to his room, he saw Huan'er curled up on the recliner, her face sleeping innocently like a child. The dim light revealed her long, shapely legs, a sight that could captivate and mesmerize! He smiled and picked her up. Huan'er seemed to sense his presence, rubbed her face, and nestled in his warm embrace.
"Why did it take so long!"
"I didn't know you would wait for me." He kissed her, carried her back to the inner room, gently placed her on the soft bed, and lay down beside her. Huan'er regained some of her composure.
"How about Wuxia marrying Leng Gang?"
“That’s not appropriate.” He pulled the thin blanket over them both and then pulled her into his arms.
"Why?"
"It's not a matter of social standing; it's that Leng Gang and Uncle Leng are unwilling. I understand Wuxia's thoughts. But Leng Gang is unpredictable and has no fixed abode. If I force him to marry Wuxia, he certainly won't refuse, but how will he settle her down? Uncle Leng would rather die than accept a single penny from the Shi family. I mentioned this when he returned three years ago, and I've already considered his future. I can't let Wuxia marry into a family that suffers, and Leng Gang wouldn't be willing either. But his inner conflict runs too deep, and Uncle Leng opposes it. Leng Gang left on the third day. We exchange letters occasionally, but he never shows up. Perhaps Leng Gang has no interest in Wuxia at all."
Huan'er retorted:
"It wasn't unintentional! They were mutually in love but troubled by societal norms. It's despicable that you knew but did nothing. If you won't do it, I will! They are a match made in heaven."
Wuji's situation is indeed not a problem; things will be much easier from here on out… Huan'er grasped the restless hand under the bedsheet and said breathlessly:
"Can't you just behave yourself? I'm trying to figure out how to help Wuxia!"
Shi Wuji rolled over and pinned her down, a wicked smile on his face.
"Think about how to help your husband first! You don't think I've forgotten our appointment this afternoon, do you?"
Having said that, he pressed his lips against Huan'er's, giving her no chance to speak, and the two were caught up in a passionate lovemaking, needing no words...
Chapter Five
The next day, on the carriage, Huan'er taught Wuxia a few simple characters, and the morning was spent practicing calligraphy. In the afternoon, Huan'er rode a horse with Wuji. Due to her persistent pestering, Shi Wuji had no choice but to agree. A long list of suitors from the north over the past three years was compiled. Huan'er discovered that most of the sons of wealthy families were dissolute and good-for-nothings! The sons of merchants were especially dissolute. She had to be careful; the Shi family was wealthy and powerful, and she hoped their offspring wouldn't become like that! Education was absolutely essential, she murmured, leaning against her husband's chest.
"Gao Daping is skilled at harassing maids and frequenting brothels. Fang Tianen is addicted to gambling and extravagant. Is that all? Is there a super spendthrift who embodies all the vices of wine, women, wealth, and power?"
"Ma Shengwen, I suppose! But it wouldn't be easy to make him squander his family fortune; it would take three generations to finish it. Aside from indulging in drinking, gambling, whoring, keeping wicked servants, and self-proclaiming himself a womanizer, he wouldn't dare to commit any major crimes. At most, he'd just run rampant in the village. I've been eyeing him for a long time, but I'm quite wary of him and dare not act recklessly."
"Let's go with Ma Shengwen!" she said firmly, burying her face in her husband's arms and giggling, eager to see Leng Gang's reaction!