The Evil Man’s Lazy Lady Chapter 17 (Part 2)
Chapter 17: Three Cousins (2) Original translation is from tenderflower's blog.
Qin Ruhai sat on the main seat, watched silently for a while, then coughed suddenly: “Okay, since everyone is here, let’s eat.”
The house suddenly became quiet. Everyone ate politely. Although they were not as rigorous as the official family, they were elegant and beautiful. After all, the Qin family was also a well-known rich family in the town. Qin Ruhai was old but vigorous, and his two sons could be regarded as his left and right-hand men. They managed the cloth shop and the pen and ink store, becoming more prosperous with each passing day. Even the three of his grandchildren were giants among men. Qin Feng and Qin Ming were gentle and calm, and the other was smart and clever. They were obviously trained as successors. The youngest Qin Han liked to read and was already a tóngshēng. He was going to take the yuà nshì entrance examination in July this year. The eldest branch was in business and the second branch was attacking the imperial examination. The whole family was harmonious and happy. No one knew how many people were envious.
(T/N: tóngshēng: candidate who has not yet passed the county level imperial exam. Yuà nshì: the last of the three entry-level exams in the imperial examination system of Ming and Qing dynasties.)
Zhu-shi had a round face and looked very friendly. She clipped food for Shu Lan several times.
Qin Han’s mother Liu-shi was very outstanding. She had curved willow eyebrows, a standard oval face, and fair skin. She looked like a young lady in Jiangnan. She had a straightforward temper and usually liked the two sisters of Shu Wan very much. Just didn’t know why, Shu Lan always felt like the second aunt looked at her strangely today, and her smile didn’t seem to be as natural as before.
After eating, Qin Ruhai led the men to the shops.
The old madam laughed and chatted with her daughters-in-law and daughter about family affairs. Shu Wan stood behind her and kneaded her back.
When the adults were not paying attention, Shu Zhan dragged Shu Lan and ran out with Qin Han following closely behind.
When Liu-shi noticed the sneaky figures of the three of them, her drawn black eyebrows wrinkled deeper. In the past, she only thought her son treated Shu Lan as doting on his younger sister, but today she noticed that her son’s blushing and shy appearance was clearly aroused by the love between men and women. Could this not make her worry? That girl, Shu Lan, couldn’t do anything except eat and sleep. It was nothing as a niece, but if she was a daughter-in-law, that wouldn’t do. Her son was going to be an official in the future. If he married a daughter-in-law, she must be able to support the family.
She wanted to explore her young sister-in-law’s intentions, but she was afraid that the other didn’t have that thought at all. If her mother-in-law knew, she would blame her for her high vision. The more Liu-shi thought about it, the more headaches she had. She secretly made up her mind to reduce her son’s chance of being alone with her niece in the future. Alas, if her son was a few years older, Shu Wan was still quite rare. She was sensible and could take care of others.
Outside the house, Shu Zhan took Shu Lan’s hand and whispered: “Younger sister, if my mother goes home in a while, you must stay here. Your older brother hasn’t seen you for a while and wants to be with you longer. Hmm, if you agree, when I come back from school, I will bring you pastries from Wufang Tower!”
Qin Han didn’t speak but looked at Shu Lan nervously for fear that she would not agree. It was rare for the little cousin to come here once and he really couldn’t bear to let her go.
Wufang Tower’s pastries?
Shu Lan thought for a while, then nodded: “Older brother, don’t worry. I won’t go home this time. I will stay at my grandmother’s house.” She would be bullied by the evil wolf if she went home, so she wouldn’t go back!
Shu Zhan didn’t expect her to agree so happily because every time she came to her grandfather’s house, Shu Lan would urge her mother to go back quickly. What happened this time? Could his younger sister’s illness not be better?
Just as he was about to ask, a figure flashed by the side. When he looked up, he saw the second aunt staring at them displeasedly.
“Ah Zhan, Xiao Han, what are you still dawdling here? Hurry up and go to school!” Liu-shi said sternly.
“Oh, we’re going now!” Shu Zhan smiled flatteringly at her. Seeing the second aunt couldn’t help smiling, he pulled Qin Han and ran towards the door.
Liu-shi looked at their backs, shaking her head gently. She lowered her head and asked Shu Lan in a low voice: “Ah Lan, what did your older brother whisper to you? Can you tell your aunt?” Her eyes were soft, just like when she coaxed Shu Lan before.
Shu Lan didn’t think much and said crisply: “My older brother asked me to stay at my grandmother’s house. He also said he will buy me pastries from Wufang Tower!”
Liu-shi smiled and touched her head, but a haze flashed in her eyes. Could it be that her son wanted Shu Lan to stay and was embarrassed to speak, so he asked Shu Zhan to coax her with pastries?
******
Shu Lan still didn’t leave.
One was that she was determined not to leave, and the other was that the old madam was reluctant to let her granddaughter leave, so no matter what Qin-shi said, the grandmother and granddaughter would not let go. Qin-shi really had no other choice. She stared and warned her daughter that she must stay at her grandmother’s house honestly, and was not allowed to go anywhere, then she took Shu Wan home.
After sending off her mother, the two aunts were busy with their own affairs. Shu Lan accompanied the old madam to chat for a while and then yawned little by little.
“This girl, you can’t always sleep. Chun Xing, accompany the young lady to swing in the backyard and look at flowers.” The old madam pinched her granddaughter’s fleshy cheek and ordered the maid next to her.
Chun Xing responded with a smile and dragged the reluctant Shu Lan to the backyard.
Honestly I'm surprised her human body can sleep that much. How's she gonna take care of her kids in the future when she sleeps 18 hours a day????? Thx for updating
ReplyDelete