Chapter 473 - 181: The Great Hoodwinker
Chapter 473: Chapter 181: The Great Hoodwinker
Zhao Jing and Chen Wanqing fell silent for a moment before they realized Mrs. Zhao had misunderstood. They exchanged a glance, but neither bothered to explain, and simply walked out the door.
They went to the clinic to see a doctor, paid a handsome sum to have him prepare medicine with well-aged herbs, and then strolled around the streets for a while before heading back.
On their way, they saw horse-drawn carriages passing by every now and then.
The voice of its owner drifted out from the carriage. "The Vice Magistrate celebrates his birthday twice a year. Then there’s a banquet when his grandson has his third-day bath, another for his first birthday, and another for his hundred-day celebration. A banquet when his son passes the imperial exams. A banquet when the family acquires some ’auspicious stone.’ A banquet when his daughter gets into the prefectural school... Throughout the entire year, his family hosts a feast at least once a month. I’m getting to the point where I can’t even afford to send him gifts anymore."
"Tell me about it. Nowadays, I get a headache just hearing about a happy occasion at the Vice Magistrate’s house. If the gift is too light, we’ll be in for it. But if it’s too heavy, it’s not like my family has mountains of gold and silver. At the rate we’re shelling out money, we’ll be broke sooner or later."
The carriage rumbled over the bluestone pavers, the sound of its wheels fading into the distance.
Only after the carriage turned a corner and disappeared from sight did Chen Wanqing pull Zhao Jing along toward home.
"I heard from De’an that the Vice Magistrate’s daughter from Yueli Hall sent you an invitation to attend the banquet at the Vice Magistrate Mansion today..."
Chen Wanqing wanted to ask, ’Did you not want to attend the Vice Magistrate’s banquet because you were worried about the expense of a gift, or for some other reason?’
But before she could finish her sentence, Zhao Jing asked her curiously, "Oh, really? How come I don’t know anything about that?"
"De’an said he gave you the invitation..."
"Did he? I don’t remember. I suppose something like that might have happened, but it was unimportant, so I completely forgot about it."
Chen Wanqing was speechless.
The two of them chatted idly and soon arrived home.
Mrs. Zhao was taking a walk in the front courtyard.
She called it a walk, but in reality, her eyes were fixed on the main gate, clearly waiting for them to return.
When she saw the two of them arrive together, Mrs. Zhao’s gaze immediately darted toward them.
Their expressions were the same as before, betraying neither joy nor sorrow. And their hands were empty...
Mrs. Zhao hurried forward and asked worriedly, "What did the doctor say? Did he say it’s just not time yet? There’s nothing wrong with your health, is there?"
Just as Chen Wanqing was about to speak, Zhao Jing jumped in. "Wanqing’s health is perfectly fine. It’s me, actually. I’ve been worrying too much, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to have children anytime soon."
"What? How can that be!"
Mrs. Zhao looked as if she’d been struck by lightning. She never would have imagined that the reason for their infertility lay with her own son.
But his excessive worrying was all for the sake of the imperial examinations.
If he weren’t so ambitious and just drifted through life aimlessly, or if he had a father or elder brother to plan things and pave the way for him, he wouldn’t have to work so hard.
’In the end, it’s because his father and I aren’t capable enough that Jing has to suffer like this.’
Mrs. Zhao forced a smile. "You two are still young, there’s no rush to have children. Just because you’re not fated for children now doesn’t mean you never will be. Just relax and don’t take it to heart. If you don’t worry about it, a child might just come along when you least expect it."
"That’s what I think as well. I was just afraid of disappointing you, Mother, since you’re so eager for a grandchild."
"I’m not disappointed, and I’m not in a rush either. I have Jinbao to dote on every day, so my days are quite interesting."
As if on cue, Jinbao came running over from a distance, wiggling his chubby little bottom and yipping.
His plump little body was adorable, and his barks were high and puppy-like. Mrs. Zhao’s heart completely melted.
The forced smile on her face suddenly became a little more genuine. She turned back to console the young couple, "These things are a matter of fate. We’re really not in a hurry. Alright, you two go on and do what you need to do. I’ll take Jinbao to get something to eat."
Chen Wanqing watched as Mrs. Zhao led Jinbao toward the kitchen. Only then did the smile she had been suppressing finally break free.
"Jing, you’re so wicked. If you can fool Mother like that, does that mean you’ve fooled me like that before, too?"
Zhao Jing never expected that after he’d just helped Wanqing out of a bind, she would turn around and bite him like that.
He chuckled. "Wanqing, you really have no conscience."
"What good is a conscience? Can you spend it like Silver, or can you eat it?"
"Neither. And since a conscience is so useless, I suppose I don’t have to be a gentleman anymore..."
He was lightly pinched on the waist, and a smile spread across Zhao Jing’s handsome face.
"Wanqing, keep your hands to yourself. People are watching."
"Then you shouldn’t try to scare me with empty threats. I don’t scare easily."
The two of them went into the courtyard, acting all lovey-dovey, leaving De’an standing alone in a nearby pavilion. Having witnessed the entire exchange, he let out a slow "tsk."
’That Jing... what a smooth talker!’