novelraw Chapter 683: Aren’t You Ashamed?
Chapter 683: Aren’t You Ashamed?
Luo Wu remembered what Gu Jinxiu had said and had spent money purchasing a young elm money tree. Now, two years have passed, and the tree has grown enough for its seeds to be eaten.
But Sister Xiu is to marry someone else. She won’t need to rely on elm seeds to stave off hunger anymore.
In the future, she will dress in silk, dine on delicacies, be surrounded by servants, be cherished by her husband, and have successful children. She will be the happiest person.
Luo Wu cried. Looking at the elm money tree that had lost all its leaves, he wept aloud in this small home where he had once painstakingly made arrangements.
He wasn’t good enough for her. No matter how hard he tried, he was still a poor boy.
His family was able to live well thanks to Xiao Yu, and with his salary of just a few taels of silver a month, he could never afford to give her the life of a wealthy lady even if he worked himself to death.
Lady Xia was right. If he truly cared for Sister Xiu, he should let her go and allow her to marry into a great clan to have a good life.
He let go, painfully relinquishing the girl he had yearned for, for so many years... He felt terribly sad. With no one to turn to, he could only hide here and cry.
This was the house he bought; no one would come here, so he could weep without worry of being discovered by others.
In Qingfu Town, at Yanfu Building, as soon as the hour of Si passed, the waiters began to distribute crystal cakes.
"Line up, line up! Each person is limited to receiving three crystal cakes. Anyone who jumps the queue or gets into fights or abuses others will have their eligibility canceled and won’t get crystal cakes for free," a waiter shouted at the crowd lining up at the entrance of Yanfu Building.
Aunt Cai, who was first in line, wiped her face and complained, "Lu family’s boy, would you stop shouting? Your spit is getting all over my face. We’ve been doing this for three years. Everyone knows the rules. Just hurry up and hand them out."
And then she added, "Hey, I want five slices of ham, remember that."
Following Aunt Cai, Aunt Hong also said, "Right, remember the ham. We all want to try what it tastes like. Little Boss Gu said that the first hundred people can get slices of ham for free, so don’t be stingy and hide it. Don’t just look after the family of your future father-in-law."
Even though the waiter had been dealing with these elder ladies for three years, he could not outtalk them and hurriedly responded, "Rest assured, all the aunts. The ham slices are being cut right now and will be brought over shortly."
"What do you mean shortly? Bring them now, I’m about to get my crystal cakes," Aunt Cai was eager to see the ham and urged the waiter.
The waiter replied, "Please wait a little longer, they’ll be here soon. You can get your crystal cakes first."
Aunt Cai said, "Alright then, give me my crystal cakes, and also, one dish of Fried Crispy Pork and one of braised pork, the braised pork you make here at Yanfu Building has such a rich flavor. Buy a portion, add two pounds of tofu, and it’s enough to make a huge pot for a lot of people to eat."
The waiter laughed and said, "Alright, I will have somebody prepare it for you."
Every year when crystal cakes were given out, those who came for cakes would also buy a few dishes, ensuring the restaurant wouldn’t suffer losses but actually make a profit instead.
Fearing that the crystal cakes would run out by the time their turn came, the people queuing behind hurriedly shouted, "You folks at the front, what are you doing? Hurrying up, don’t delay our chance to get the crystal cakes!"
"Pah! You complain about others being slow, why didn’t you come earlier yourselves? Complain, complain, complain, even though you’re getting free stuff to eat. What, you think the free crystal cake isn’t tasty enough for you? Fine then, no more for anyone, take it all back to the restaurant." Mrs. Chen, dressed in a peach-red jacket and with her hair in a high bun adorned with a gaudy golden hairpin, stood with her hands on her hips and neck outstretched as she scolded those lined up behind: "Look at how spoiled you’ve all become, have you forgotten what it was like to eat dried wild vegetables and stewed soybeans last night? If it weren’t for Yanfu Building, could you be eating crystal cakes without paying?!"
Over the past three years, Mrs. Chen’s life had been getting better and better, not only saving more and more silver but also gaining more face in town. People in Qingfu Town would flatter her whenever they saw her.
Especially in the past two years, those families with daughters were particularly zealous in flattering her, all of them hoping to marry their girls to her Brother Xing, but she hadn’t agreed to any of them.
If they were from a family that had fallen on hard times, they would even get a verbal lashing from her.
Brother Xing’s scholarship was making steady progress and he was planning to take the exam this spring with Good Brother An. Although Brother Xing said his chances of passing were slim, Mrs. Chen believed that he was just being modest and that he definitely would pass.
In a few months’ time, she would become the aunt of a scholar, a close aunt at that. By then, not just the people of Qingfu Town, but even people from the county would be sucking up to her.
Mrs. Chen, known for scolding the entire town without equal, gave such a tirade, and everyone quietened down, quickly apologizing: "Sister-in-law Da Gui, don’t be like that, we’re not ungrateful. We keep in mind the goodness of the Gu Family, it’s just that today’s a festive occasion, we wanted to get the cakes early to celebrate at home, to delight the elderly and children."
Mrs. Chen snorted coldly: "If you wanted the cakes early, why didn’t you come earlier? Lazing in bed and ending up at the back of the line – who can you blame? Behave yourselves, it’s the festive season, don’t invite trouble. Today we have a distinguished guest coming, and if you ruin the business of the restaurant, Xiao Yu won’t let you off."
After finishing her words, she twisted her plump body and entered the main hall with a small handkerchief in hand.
Indeed, Mrs. Chen’s life was good; she ate meat every day, and she had put on weight, but she was not worried about it. On the contrary, she thought being fat was a sign of fortune, and Gu Dagui also liked her this way, an old couple always stickily affectionate, sickening to onlookers.
"Xiao Yu, Aunt Da Gui gave those outside a good scolding for you, be at ease, they won’t dare to pick on you." Mrs. Chen said, twisting her body and asking Gu Jinli: "How about this jacket Auntie is wearing today? It’s newly made in the county, cost five hundred copper coins."
Gu Jinli looked at Mrs. Chen with an indescribable expression: "Like a matchmaker."
That was putting it nicely. In such a bright red color at her age and with that twisting and twirling, flicking her handkerchief around, she was exactly like the old madams in a brothel.
Mrs. Chen glared at her: "Oh, you girl truly don’t know beauty from ugliness. This clothing is bought from the biggest cloth shop in the county and made by the best embroidery lady; all the ladies from the county love it."
Gu Jinli: "..."
Who’s the one that can’t distinguish beauty from ugliness?
Gu Jinli had no time to waste words with Mrs. Chen and perfunctorily praised: "Hmm, Aunt Da Gui is right; wearing that outfit makes you look much younger, you seem like an eighteen-year-old girl."
Mrs. Chen laughed heartily: "Xiao Yu, now you’re exaggerating. I’m of such an age, how could I still look like an eighteen-year-old girl; at most, I look in my early twenties."
Gu Jinli: "..."
You’re the boss, whatever you say goes.
Gu Dafu couldn’t stand it anymore and came over to pull Mrs. Chen away: "Stop blabbering here, woman, go help in the kitchen, the distinguished guests will be here soon."
He muttered softly: "Didn’t I tell you to wear it only at home? Why did you also wear this jacket out? You’re of age now, your facial wrinkles could trap mosquitoes, yet you still wear peach-red – aren’t you embarrassed?"