Chapter 5 The Candied Hawthorns on the Inkstand
“He could never let go.”
Today, Mu Jiaojiao wore a pale pink gauze dress; the gradient pink hem swayed with her steps, like a lotus fairy.
In Qin Feng Hang’s eyes, the beauty was mesmerizing; he almost dropped the jade ring in his hand.
Qin Feng Hang himself was tall and handsome, but his early indulgence had left him with dark circles under his eyes.
He considered himself a charmer, his eyes leering at his beautiful cousin, while showering her with sweet words.
“Cousin Jiaojiao, I missed you so much.”
The words stopped Zhan Qiyu in his tracks. He put down his book, approached the wall, and listened more intently.
“Cousin” and “Cousin.”
Meeting him, the reborn Mu Jiaojiao had no desire for pleasantries, but seeing the jade ring, she realized it was probably valuable.
“Mm, Cousin, long time no see.”
Her tone was perfunctory, but she snatched the ring. “This is for me, right? Thank you, Cousin.”
Her tone was devoid of warmth, filled with impatience.
Seeing his cousin’s drastic change, Qin Feng Hang dismissed it as childishness; his words became sweeter.
“Cousin, are you angry with me for not visiting you these days?”
“I’ve been working hard for our future, striving for an official position to grandly marry you.”
In her past life, Mu Jiaojiao might have wept with emotion, but her reborn self knew his efforts.
He pursued the magistrate’s daughter and entertained officials in brothels to advance his career.
Thinking of the foolish things she had done for him, she wanted to slap herself.
What a waste!
Mu Jiaojiao stepped back, creating distance. “Cousin, you’re overthinking. We are close relatives, just brother and sister.”
Qin Feng Hang’s smile froze, not quite understanding her meaning.
However, Mu Jiaojiao didn’t care; she had the ring and could leave.
Expenses would be high; she needed to seize every opportunity to make money.
Just as Qin Feng Hang reached for her wrist, Mu Zhou’s voice arrived. She had come to check on her daughter, fearing her nephew would visit her, and found them together.
“Feng Hang, why are you here, Jiaojiao?”
Mu’s mother was relieved not to find her daughter in the yard.
Qin Feng Hang couldn’t admit to a secret meeting, so he feigned ignorance. “This is Cousin’s yard? I’m sorry for the mistake, Aunt.”
He then left, feeling uneasy.
No matter how beautiful a woman, once obtained, she is less precious. Mu Jiaojiao’s reluctance made her the most important to Qin Feng Hang.
Leaving, he left a servant nearby to watch, wondering what was wrong with his cousin.
If a cooked duck could fly away, he would be a failure.
He hadn’t failed at charming women before.
After they left, Zhan Qiyu stopped eavesdropping; he bit his lip, his face pale.
He envied Mu Jiaojiao’s cousin; regardless of their relationship, the thought of their meeting drove him mad with jealousy.
He didn’t dare to talk to his “goddess” even in his dreams, only gazing from afar.
When would he finally have the right to talk to her, even discuss marriage? His jealousy was consuming him.
After calming down, Zhan Qiyu picked up his book and continued reading.
He had to become the most outstanding person.
As he turned to return to his room, a soft, seductive “heh heh da” sound came – Mu Jiaojiao’s signal.
Shan Cha hadn’t arrived yet; she was anxious to give instructions.
The pale, handsome man’s face involuntarily flushed, like a slap followed by a sweet date; his unpleasantness vanished.
He moved the stone from the dog hole; a radiant face appeared. Mu Jiaojiao poked her head out, smiling sweetly. “Brother Zhan, we may not come over these few days, but if you need anything, write it down, and I’ll find a way.”
Bewitched by her face, Zhan Qiyu forgot his aloofness, instinctively replying, “Mm.”
Only later did he regain his senses.
He wondered if she called him “Brother Zhan” because she only saw him as a brother.
But this didn’t trouble him long; he quickly returned to his studies.
Because, if they were married, hearing her call him “Brother” during intimacy wouldn’t be unbearable.
Mu Jiaojiao was his motivation.
When A Liu returned in the afternoon, he bought many seedlings. To eat fresh vegetables soon, he and Zhan’s mother planned to plant them tonight.
“Madam, I’ll cook for the young master first.”
A Liu feared the young master would be hungry and quickly boiled water and cooked. He could go hungry, but not the young master.
Zhan’s mother, tired after the afternoon, was persuaded by A Liu to rest in her room.
After everything was arranged, A Liu started cutting meat and cooking; the aroma spread far.
A fat old man in a tattered short jacket passed by, fanning himself, his few strands of hair damp with sweat.
He smelled the meat and stopped.
The strong aroma indicated a young cook.
The old man wiped his sweat, wanting to stay a few days.
But it wasn’t dark yet; he would sleep at the wall.
A Liu finished cooking, served the madam and young master, and happily ate his own bowl by the well.
He wanted to eat quickly and water the plants.
Just as he finished, “heh heh da” – Shan Cha arrived.
She carried a small bag of hawthorns to make candied hawthorns.
The young lady didn’t eat much; it would be better to give some to their household.
“A Liu, why are you alone?”
Shan Cha jumped over, discovering the flower path.
“Did you make this?”
She looked at A Liu with shining eyes.
A Liu decided to let the young master explain, so he vaguely evaded the question.
Shan Cha didn’t push it and happily made candied hawthorns with A Liu.
A Liu had only seen candied hawthorns sold, never eaten them; he helped in the kitchen, fearing he wouldn’t get any.
The sugar was bought by Shan Cha; she skillfully boiled the syrup.
Seeing the bubbling syrup, A Liu felt Shan Cha was also sweet.
That sweetness was even sweeter than real sugar.
The hawthorns were already washed and dried; only stringing and coating with syrup was needed.
A Liu strung them; at first, he was clumsy, but later, perfect.
Ten strings were made. Two of the best were meant for the young master and young lady.
But the two gourmands ate one each before they cooled.
Shan Cha took the best one away.
A Liu took the shiny candied hawthorn to the young master. He thought for a moment, then said, “Young master, this is from next door.”
He placed it on Zhan Qiyu’s inkstand and left.
Though Zhan Qiyu didn’t look, he smelled the sweet aroma.
Later, when he became a high-ranking official, his inkstand always held a candied hawthorn.
It was more than a childhood memory; it was the start of his youthful longing.
From today, he would never give her up.
A Liu vowed to finish planting tonight, working hard in the yard.
After watering, he started planting.
His shirt was wet and dry, wet and dry; he rested by drinking well water, or pouring it over himself.
He had to finish tonight.
Zhan’s mother told him to do it tomorrow, but A Liu said he wasn’t tired.
He worked until the middle of the night.
As he prepared to wash and rest, he heard a knock.
Late at night, they had few acquaintances. A Liu grabbed a club and softly asked, “Who’s there?”
An old man’s voice: “Young man, I’m hungry; I want a bowl of meat.”
A Liu found it strange; he’d never met someone demanding meat.
He wanted to refuse, but the old man said, “I won’t let you lose out, young man.”
Curiosity killed the cat. A Liu opened the door and saw a fat old man.
A large belly, few hairs, and mud on his clothes – he didn’t seem evil, but not exactly good either.
The old man entered and went straight to the kitchen.
A Liu sighed, locked the door, and followed.
There was a bowl of meat, two buns, and a candied hawthorn.
“I’ll warm it up for you.”
Cold meat is greasy; A Liu added firewood.
The old man sized up A Liu, nodding; the young man suited him.
He looked at the candied hawthorn, his mouth watering. He touched his bald head, and took the candied hawthorn.
A Liu was alarmed, “Hey, don’t eat that.”
But he couldn’t move; his mind worked, but his body wouldn’t.
He’d made a mistake; he’d brought home someone he shouldn’t have.
The old man spat out a hawthorn seed and smiled. “Don’t worry, eat your candied hawthorn; I’m just interfering in someone else’s affairs.”