Chapter 476 - 180: Rotten Peach Blossom (3)
Chapter 476: Chapter 180: Rotten Peach Blossom (3)
Zhao Jing and Chen Wanqing were silent for a moment before they realized Mrs. Zhao had misunderstood. They exchanged a look, but neither of them offered an explanation, simply leaving the house.
They went to the clinic to see a doctor and paid a hefty sum for him to prepare medicine with aged herbs. After that, the two wandered the streets for a while before heading back.
On the way, they saw horse-drawn carriages passing by from time to time.
The voices of the occupants drifted from one of the carriages.
"The Vice Magistrate celebrates his birthday twice a year. His family throws a banquet for his grandson’s third-day bath, another for his first-birthday ceremony, and another for his 100-day celebration. They throw a banquet when his son passes the imperial exams, when the family obtains an auspicious stone, when his daughter is accepted into the government school... All year round, his household has at least one banquet a month. Just sending gifts to the Vice Magistrate each year... I can hardly afford it anymore."
"Tell me about it. Nowadays, my head starts to ache the moment I hear about any ’good news’ from the Vice Magistrate’s family. If the gift is too cheap, we’ll suffer the consequences. But if it’s too expensive, it’s not like our family has a mountain of gold and silver. At the rate we’re shelling out money, we’ll be completely broke sooner or later."
The carriage rumbled over the bluestone pavers, clattering away into the distance.
Not until the carriage had turned the corner and vanished completely from sight did Chen Wanqing pull Zhao Jing along to continue their walk home.
"I heard from De’an that the Vice Magistrate’s daughter from Yueli Hall sent you an invitation for a banquet at the Vice Magistrate Mansion today..."
Chen Wanqing wanted to ask, ’Did you not go to the Vice Magistrate’s birthday banquet because you were worried about how much an expensive gift would cost, or was there another reason?’
But before she could finish, Zhao Jing asked her curiously, "Is that so? How come I don’t remember that?"
"De’an said he gave the invitation to you..."
"Did he? I don’t remember. Maybe something like that did happen, but it was unimportant, so I put it out of my mind."
Chen Wanqing: "..."
Chatting idly, the two soon arrived home.
Mrs. Zhao was taking a walk in the front courtyard.
She called it "taking a walk," but in reality, her eyes were fixed on the main gate, obviously waiting for them to return.
When she saw the two of them appear together, Mrs. Zhao’s eyes immediately darted over them.
Their expressions were no different than before, showing no sign of either joy or 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 the right time yet? There’s... there’s nothing wrong with either of your bodies, is there?"
Just as Chen Wanqing was about to speak, Zhao Jing cut in, "Wanqing’s health is excellent. It’s me, actually. I’ve been overthinking things, and I’m afraid I won’t be fated to have children for the time being."
"What? How could that be!"
Mrs. Zhao looked as if she had been struck by lightning. She never would have imagined that the reason for their childlessness lay with her own son.
But her son’s overthinking was also because of the imperial examinations.
If he had no ambition and just muddled through life, or if he had a father or older brothers above him to plan things, make arrangements, and pave the way for him, he absolutely wouldn’t have to struggle so much.
In the end, it was because she and Jing’s father weren’t capable enough; they had burdened their son.
Mrs. Zhao forced a smile. "You’re both still young, there’s no rush to have children. Being without a child now doesn’t mean you’ll be without one forever. Just relax and don’t take this to heart. If you two don’t worry about it, a child might just come along when you least expect it."
"That’s what I think too. I was just afraid that Mother was too eager to hold a grandchild, and that we would disappoint you."
"I’m not disappointed, and I’m not in a rush. I have Jinbao frolicking at my feet every day, so my days are quite interesting."
As if on cue, Jinbao came running from a distance just then, wiggling his chubby little bottom and yapping.
His chubby little body was incredibly cute, and his barks were high-pitched and puppy-like. Mrs. Zhao’s heart completely melted.
The smile on her face became a little more genuine. She turned back to comfort the young couple, "This sort of thing depends on fate. We’re really in no hurry. Alright, you two go on and do what you need to. I’ll take Jinbao to get something to eat."
They watched Mrs. Zhao lead Jinbao toward the kitchen. Only then did the corners of Chen Wanqing’s lips, which she had been struggling to keep straight, gradually begin to curl upward.
"Jing, you’re so wicked. You tricked Mother so easily... have you tricked me like that before too?"
Zhao Jing never expected that just after he had helped Wanqing out of a tight spot, she would turn around and bite him for it.
He chuckled and said, "Wanqing, you’re truly heartless."
"A conscience? What’s that good for? Can you spend it like silver, or eat it for dinner?"
"Neither. Since a conscience is so useless, then I suppose I don’t have to be a gentleman anymore..."
A light pinch landed on his waist, and a smile spread across Zhao Jing’s handsome face.
"Wanqing, don’t get handsy. People are watching."
"Then you shouldn’t make empty threats to scare me. I don’t scare easily."
The two went into the courtyard, acting all lovey-dovey, leaving only De’an behind. He had been standing in a nearby pavilion, witnessing the entire exchange, and now let out a long, slow "tsk."
’Ah, Jing... such a smooth talker!’