Fierce “Husband”

Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing did not go to send Jiang Kangning off. There was also no one from Old Lady Wang’s family who came to Shao Yunan, to make friends with Elder Cen, while Wang Qing, Zhao Congbo, and Wang Yan studied at Shao Yunan’s house every morning and went to Elder Cen’s house for tutoring every afternoon. 

Sometimes they were at Elder Cen’s residence, sometimes at the county school, sometimes at White Moon Academy. On the other hand, Nizi went to Elder Cen’s residence once every two days to learn the zither from Madam Cen.  Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing also did not need to send them there, as Wang Wang Shuping and Zhao Yuande took turns to pick them up and drop them off. Wang Shijing only lent them his family carriage to use. 

Zhao Lizheng’s family’s reputation rapidly increased after Zhao Congbo was able to enter White Moon Academy, while Patriarch Wang Wenhe’s prestige also improved due to the same reason. If one could enter White Moon Academy, they could also be admitted as a child student and still had a good chance to go to the Imperial College in the capital. Afterwards, you could also get to take the imperial examination! 

The attitude of the Wang clan, who originally did not support Wang Shiping’s succession as Patriarch because of his young age, has changed significantly. Now that Wang Wenhe was in power, he would hold on to his position for another year or two. While his grandson gained a foothold in White Moon Academy, he would also push his son Wang Shuping to succeed his position as Patriarch. 

Wang Wenhe was also no longer dissatisfied with Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan, but only grateful. However, he also had one more thing on his mind… that was Wang Qing and Wang Nizi. No she couldn’t be called Wang Nizi anymore, but Wang Jingyan. Wang Shijing had never mentioned anything about letting his two children and Shao Yunan enter the clan genealogy, making Wang Wenhe very heartbroken. 

In fact, there were many more people in the village who were very upset by the two of them but Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing didn’t concern themselves with that. At the kang table, Wang Shijing’s group of six sat around eating hot pot. The dipping sauces included sesame oil with garlic, sesame oil, chili oil, and sesame oil with chili. 

At first, Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu did not know how to  use chopsticks, but as they were eating, they quickly let go of their worries. Since the most talkative Shao Yunan was there, they were no longer as formal as when they first arrived. Guo Ziyu would call them ‘Shijing’ and ‘Yunan,’ while Guo Zimu would call them ‘Wang’ and ‘Yunan.’

Guo Ziyu, with a red face said, “Yunan, this hot pot can be used to open a restaurant in the county town. This sesame sauce can also be sold for big money. I’m afraid that even Yizhang Xuan restaurant doesn’t even have it.”

Guo Ziyu actually wondered where the two husbands’ money came from. After staying here for ten days, although Guo Zimu didn’t go out much, Guo Ziyu would go out, and from time to time they saw people come to see Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan.  Guo Ziyu then learned about some of the situations surrounding Wang Shijing’s family. He also heard rumors in the county town about chrysanthemum tea, jam, some unusual meat sandwich buns, and skewers that were recently sold. It was because they knew them, that they wondered why the two men were giving others such lucrative businesses. 

Shao Yunan shook his head. “No, opening a shop is very tiring. If you want to open one, you can. I can make this hot pot and sesame sauce at home by myself.” Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu shook their heads together, they did not want to leave Xiushui Village. Shao Yunan then said, “If I did every idea I had for making money, I would absolutely die of exhaustion. Selling a few unimportant recipes to others, cannot only gain favors, but also earn some money.”

“I asked you for information that time and just with the sale of three stones to Butterfly Jewelry Pavilion earned hundreds of taels of silver. I also earned hundreds of taels from the sale of the chrysanthemum tea and jam recipes. While my handmade chrysanthemum tea which was sold to Yizhang Xuan restaurant also earned a lot, so don’t look at me like I don’t want to do business. Our family is actually not short of money, otherwise how could I build such a large house and buy land on the west side of the village for my family?”

“Hiss–” 

“So there is no need to  be involved in opening a restaurant.” Shao Yunan pointed to the hot pot. “I often tell Qing and Nizi to not be slaves to money. Money is a good thing, but it can also bring death. If you have the ability, just earn enough money to spend. There is no need to work hard just for the sake of money. Money is endless and you can always earn more, so it’s better to enjoy life. Sitting together as a family and eating hot pot on a cold day is more enjoyable.”

Wang Nizi nodded on the side. “Just like Little Father said, don’t become a slave to money.”

“Oh! Nizi is so good. We need to have a marketable heart and a state of mind of  ‘picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing the southern mountains at ease’.”

Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu were dumbfounded.

“’Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing the southern mountains at ease’.” Guo Ziyu murmured and slammed the table: “Good! What a good statement!” Shao Yunan became so startled that he hurried to say, “Don’t worship me, this is not what I said.”

At least I’ve never heard it from anyone else’s mouth!” Guo Ziyu only felt a clear stream of water slide through his heart. “’Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing the southern mountains at ease,’ don’t be a slave to money. With only these two sentences, I am sure that I am not as good as you. Brother Guo will toast you and Shijing with a glass of water instead of wine.”

Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing picked up their cups and the two children also picked up their cups. After drinking the water, Shao Yunan said, “Eat quickly, eat quickly, there are still dishes in the kitchen.” Guo Ziyu smiled widely and reached out with his chopsticks to pick up a piece of chicken and put it in his brother’s bowl. Guo Zimu looked at the long-lost deep smile on his brother’s face and couldn’t help but smile as well.

After the hot pot meal was over, the two brothers, Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu, became more relaxed. Every morning, Shao Yunan ‘told stories’ to the four children and talked about arithmetic, slept at noon, and in the afternoon, he would sometimes use the available ingredients to make snacks or go to his new residence for a stroll. Guo Ziyu would occasionally follow him there. It is no secret that there are two more people living in Shao Yunan’s house, but the village people only thought they were Wang Shijing’s friends who came to join him. Fourth Aunt Wang actually never said to the public that these two were actually beggars. 

Wang Shijing went to the mountains every morning and watered the tea trees, goat’s milk fruit forest, and wild chrysanthemum with spiritual spring water. Then in the afternoon, he went to see his new house. Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing unanimously decided not to add spiritual spring water to their fields. If things grow too well in their fields, it would certainly attract attention. If their crops become better than other crops, it would also only cause trouble. 

Anyway, there was also food planted in the space and along with the food in the fields they will pay taxes every year. The rest will be covered with the grain from the space.  The four children’s curriculum was also on the right track, as the three boys studied diligently. While Nizi when she didn’t have anything to do at home would practice zither. 

Guo Ziyu dutifully taught Wang Qing and Wang Nizi while Guo Zimu took the initiative to learn cooking from Shao Yunan. Shao Yunan also did not hide and taught Guo Zimu about the few dishes he gave Yizhang Xuan restaurant, so that there would be no trouble later. Guo Zimu learned to cook because he was interested In it and also because he wanted to do more. He doesn’t panic when he has something to do and also has no desire to open the shop. He would only like to hide himself a little deeper. 

Shao Yunan asked Wang Shijing to go to the county town to make two gauze hats and a wooden mask for him, but Guo Zimu seldom went out, even when there were few people around in the early morning or when It was already dark in the evening. 

It has been more than half a month since Jiang Kangning went to the capital. From Yongxiu County to the capital, it took four days by ship. Since Jiang Kangning has not come back yet, Shao Yunan started to wonder if there was some problem with great gods. Their new house was also already build and the auspicious day was scheduled for the sixth day of December. There has been no news from Jiang Kangnin and Shao Yunan only thought if they were unable to pull two great gods into cooperation they could just do business with Jiang Kangnin on their own. At most they would only need to be more careful and maybe even let the bog owner behind Yizhang Xuan restaurant a piece of the pie. 

Since their new house was almost ready to move in, Shao Yunan packed the things that were not needed at  their current house for the time being. The new house must have elders warming up the house the night before the move, which was auspicious. Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing would never consider Old Lady Wang and Wang Dali and it was not appropriate to find the Patriarch Wang Wenhe. After thinking about it, they finally asked the old father Wang. Although old father Wang and Wang Shijing did not share the same branch for the five generations, he was still part of the Wang clan. Old father Wang also had certain prestige in the clan so it would be most  appropriate for him to step forward.