Translator: Flying Lines

  “How can we know?” said Xiao Tieshu. He was still afraid of even passing by the restaurant out of the fear of being chased by Li Hongmei for the money he owed.

  “Don’t you want to inquire about it?” asked Xun Wenda.

  Xiao Tongshu said, “My brother and I really don’t want to get involved with their business now. If they happen to be asked to pay more taxes then they deserve it but if not they’re just lucky. We’re not bothered.”


  “And you’re alright with just letting them lead such an easy life?” Xun Wenda asked again.

  “So what? What else can we do?”


  Xiao Tieshu did not wish to get involved with Li Hongmei’s business either. He would certainly like to see the second household go broke but if they just focused on the business of the second household all the time it would not benefit them……

  Scholar Wong also went there to eat that day, only he came rather late when the restaurant was about to close.

  Ye Xiaoxian was already preparing dinner for her family when Li Hongmei told her that Scholar Wong had arrived and was asking for a portion of sweet and sour ribs and fish fillets in hot chili oil as usual.

  Ye Xiaoxian looked at the remaining ingredients which were sufficient for half a portion of ribs and fish, so she cooked them all for Scholar Wong as he could not eat much anyway.

  After she had made Scholar Wong’s food Ye Xiaoxian asked Xian to cook the food for their family.

  Xian had been assisting Ye Xiaoxian in the kitchen for quite a long time already and sometimes, when there were fewer customers, Ye Xiaoxian also let Xian learn to make one or two stir-frys. This way when she was occupied Xian could fill in, otherwise she would die from all the hard work.

  Ye Xiaoxian carried the cooked dishes and went to find Scholar Wong. Scholar Wong had visited so many times and his favorite table was the booth on the second floor.

  Ye Xiaoxian mainly wanted to thank Scholar Wong for his help the last time. He had been hit by that Young Master Zhang and she wondered how bad it was. Ye Xiaoxian did not feel like going to his house and visiting him because she could tell that Lord Wong looked at her in a rather scornful way. She would only embarrass herself if she went to visit him.

  When she got to the booth Ye Xiaoxian saw that Xiao Baozhu, who was ahead of her, had already sat beside Scholar Wong. She didn’t know what they were talking about. Baozhu was laughing but Scholar Wong was just wearing a plain look.

  Baozhu was wearing a new cotton jacket made from the fabric brought by Xiao Baoshan.

  Ye Xiaoxian did not expect that Baozhu still had not given up on Scholar Wong. She thought that Baozhu had already understood from what they talked about last time.

  “Sister-in-law, let me help you!” Xiao Baozhu saw Ye Xiaoxian carrying the food upstairs and went to help her right away.

  “Thanks!” said Ye Xiaoxian.

  Scholar Wong saw Ye Xiaoxian coming with food so he also got up and helped her. He did not treat Ye Xiaoxian as a waitress but felt that everyone was equal.

  Ye Xiaoxian then smiled. “Mr. Wong, please just sit down. We can manage to serve food and so on. Don’t get your hands dirty.”


  “Oh don’t worry, don’t worry.” Scholar Wong was always a bit nervous seeing Ye Xiaoxian.

  Xiao Baozhu suddenly thought: Is it possible that Mr. Wong had some feelings for sister-in-law? He had helped Baofeng so kindly. Is it also that he did a favor for sister-in-law?

  “Mr. Wong, it’s all thanks to you that we resolved the matter with Young Master Zhang last time. How was your wound afterwards? Were you hurt somewhere important?” asked Ye Xiaoxian with great concern.

  “Little Ye, don’t worry. I wasn’t hurt badly. They were just some scratches. They healed after applying medicine,” Scholar Wong replied politely.

  He always called Ye Xiaoxian, “Miss Ye”, which made Ye Xiaoxian feel odd, so last time when they went to the private school together she had asked him to call her Little Ye instead.

  “That’s great. I’ve been worried about your wound, but you did not come over after that and I also couldn’t be so bold as to visit your house. I feel relieved now seeing that you’re fine,” said Ye Xiaoxian with some regret.

  Scholar Wong hurriedly comforted her. “Thank you for thinking of me, Little Ye. I’m alright, truly.”


  “Well, Mr. Wong, please enjoy your food then. We won’t disturb you any longer!” said Ye Xiaoxian. She then said to Xiao Baozhu beside her, “Baozhu, let’s go downstairs. Don’t disturb Mr. Wong anymore.”


  Xiao Baozhu was not willing to leave. She had not seen Scholar Wong for such a long time that wanted to stay at his side to have a good chat.

  Ye Xiaoxian was about to push Baozhu again but Scholar Wong said, “You haven’t eaten either? Do you want to sit down and have dinner together?”


  “That’s alright. My ma has made dinner downstairs,” said Ye Xiaoxian politely.

  She was about to drag Xiao Baozhu away with her when Scholar Wong suddenly said nervously, “Little Ye, can I……have a word with you?”


  “.……” Ye Xiaoxian found Scholar Wong rather odd today, as if he was going to unburden his mind on her.

  Could it be some household annoyance? Or matters between men and women?

  If it was about men and women’s relationships Ye Xiaoxian would find it inappropriate. She was married after all and Xiao Baozhu was also here watching them.

  “Baozhu may also stay,” he added as he saw Ye Xiaoxian hesitate. Scholar Wong did not want her to misunderstand anything.

  Xiao Baozhu was not willing to leave in the first place and as Scholar Wong looked a bit under the weather and had something to discuss with Ye Xiaoxian, Xiao Baozhu then said to her quickly, “Sister-in-law, why don’t we just listen what Mr. Wong wants to say? Hurry up and sit down!”


  Seeing that Xiao Baozhu did not have to leave, Ye Xiaoxian then felt more at ease so she sat back.

  “Mr. Wong, what do you want to talk with me about?”


  “About my family issue.” Scholar Wong poured a cup of tea each for Xiao Baozhu and Ye Xiaoxian. He ate the dishes while Ye Xiaoxian and Xiao Baozhu drank the tea, which made it seem like Scholar Wong was not enjoying the food alone.

  “I know, maybe it’s not appropriate for me to chat with you about this, but I truly can’t find anyone else to turn to. My family has been pushing me to get married against my will.” Scholar Wong had already ignored Xiao Baozhu and only looked at Ye Xiaoxian.

  Xiao Baozhu felt tremendously disappointed.

  Getting pressured by parents to get married? It surely was a headache whether one was in the modern or ancient era. Luckily she was an orphan in the modern era, while when she had come to the ancient era she was already XS’s wife, so she had never experienced such difficulties.

  “So what’s your plan?” Ye Xiaoxian sipped the tea and asked calmly.

  “I planned to go to the capital city to take the examination and then go back home to build a family, but my father did not agree. He insists that I should get married before establishing my career.”


  Ye Xiaoxian did not know what to say since it was his own problem after all.

  Xiao Baozhu then asked, “The main point is, will you marry the one you really love?”


  Scholar Wong sneered. “My future wife was all predetermined by my parents and the matchmaker. It’s not important whether I love her or not. It’s all about the family background.”


  Ye Xiaoxian then asked, “So why doesn’t your father wait for you to pass the imperial exam and get a promising grade, then set you up with someone? And by then won’t you be able to marry someone of even higher status?”


  “My dad doesn’t think I can get a promising grade.” Scholar Wong smiled bitterly. “Neither do I actually.”


  “Right, but it’s your family issue, I’m not quite sure. I can only see that you’re really struggling. No matter what decision you make you have to think it through. You have to choose the way you live your own life. No matter how you will live in the future, don’t regret the decision you make now.”