Chapter 119: CH 119

Seeing that she brought so many lanterns, Ms. Zhao said, “I’ll send some to your sworn brothers to try after preparing them.”

Mo Yan went back to the shop first. There were more customers today than in the past, and more people were travelling on the road.

They were busy when they saw a carriage stop by the side of the road, driven by Daqiang, the long-term employee of the Cao family. Mrs. Cao and Cao Zhang got off the carriage. Mrs. Cao went to the clinic, while Cao Zhang came to Mo Yan’s shop.

“Are you leaving?” Before Cao Zhang could speak, Mo Yan asked.

He nodded, “There’ll be a major exam at the beginning of next month.”

Mo Yan thought of something and put an uncut string bean on the chopping board with two salted duck eggs beside it. She said to Cao Zhang with a smile, “Look, 100 points!”

Cao Zhang asked with a smile, “What does that mean?”

“One hundred points is a perfect score, I’m wishing you success in the exam.”

“Thank you, I accept this blessing.”

Mo Yan wrapped beans dipped in sauce and a few salted duck eggs with oil paper, then handed them to him, “Take it with you to eat on the road.”

Then, Mr. Tian came over carrying his backpack, and when he saw Cao Zhang, he cupped his hands and called him “Young Master”. He was no longer Cao Zhang’s teacher, but his companion, no different from a servant.

Cao Zhang nodded slightly at him, and still greeted him respectfully. Elevating the people around you would also make you seem more dignified.

Mr. Tian walked to the storefront and said to Mo Ling, “Ling’er, I’ll definitely save up twenty silver taels this year.”

She smiled at him and said, “There’s no need, I’m already engaged.”

“Are you in such a hurry to get married?”

Mo Ling raised her head and replied coldly, “I’m seventeen this year. If I don’t marry by now, I won’t be able to marry into a good family.”

“Then what about me?”

“You’ll be extremely prestigious in the future. A village girl like me can’t spend the rest of my life with you, I know my place.”

“Just for twenty silver taels, in the future I’ll definitely have much more than twenty silver taels!” Mr. Tian said that angrily before quickly getting into the carriage.

Cao Zhang said, “He still has your sister in his heart.”

Mo Ling shook her head and said, “No need to bother him anymore, I can’t stand him.”

Mrs. Cao came out of the hospital with an ugly face. To calm herself, she kept wiping at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, and walked quickly to the carriage. After getting on the carriage, she called Cao Zhang, “Hurry up, or we won’t reach shelter by dark.”

Cao Zhang bid farewell to Mo Yan in a hurry, went to the clinic, and said goodbye to his father solemnly, “Father, your son is leaving now. You must take good care of yourself, so I won’t have to worry about you.”

Mr. Cao waved his hand at him, “Go! After the exam, remember to write me a letter.”

He had no lectures, no expectations, just hopes that his son would be safe and sound. Leaving the clinic and walking to the carriage, Cao Zhang turned back to look at Mo Yan. Just then, Lu Junming came over with a small basket, “Yan’er, let’s see how the lanterns taste.”

He put the basket on the storefront. Mo Yan lifted the white cloth covering it, and said happily, “They’re so elegantly cut, and sprinkled with candied fruit. They’re much more delicate than my mother’s.”

Mo Ling also came over to take a look, “You can’t say this in front of mother.” She saw that Mo Yan wasn’t just being flattering, and the food in this basket was exquisite.

The flat and thin lanterns had also been fried until they were browned on both sides, and then cut into small diamond-shaped pieces, sprinkled with icing sugar and candied fruit, making it look even more delicate than the food sold in dim sum shops.

The two of them picked up a piece to taste, and they repeatedly praised it. Cao Zhang wanted to taste it with them, but his mother urged him to go.

Their carriage drove away along the road, and no one watched them. Mr. Cao never left the hospital, while the sisters were talking to Lu Junming.

Mo Yan put some in a small bowl and covered it, “This is for Zhao’er. You can send the rest to Zhou Liangsheng, but it’s getting late and I don’t know if he has gone to school.”

“If he’s not at home, I’ll just leave it there for him.”

“I’ll check the accounts with you in the afternoon, then we can plan this year’s business.”

“Okay!” Lu Junming agreed and left.

Mo Yan went to the clinic with a small bowl. There weren’t any patients, and Mr. Cao and Zhao’er were reading. She softly called for Mr. Cao, and Zhao’er immediately turned around with happily and said, “Sister!”

Mr. Cao also raised his head and smiled at her, but coughed before saying anything.

“Is your illness still not cured? You’ve cured so many people, what’s going on?”

Zhao’er got up and said, “He’s suffering from heart disease, medicine can’t cure that.”

He must be reluctant to part with his wife and son! Except for the people involved, no one has a cure for this.

“Sir, Zhao’er, these are the lanterns my mother made yesterday. Ms. Zhao has cooked them, and they’re delicious. I want you to try them.”

Mr. Cao waved his hand, “I don’t eat sweets, give it to Zhao’er!”

He immediately ran over to take the bowl and pick up a piece. He stuffed it into his mouth, and said it was delicious as he chewed.

Mr. Cao’s face fell slightly, “You can’t talk about food.”

Zhao’er immediately stopped talking, closed his mouth and chewed slowly.

“If you’d like to eat anything, let Zhao’er go and ask us to make you some.”

Just after Mo Yan left the hospital, she heard someone calling for her on the road, “Mo Yan, Mo Yan.” She saw a silver carriage parked by the side of the road. The small window was opened, and a smiling face poked out.

“Chi Jie!”

The person who called out was Chi Jie, who Mo Yan thought was also a transmigrator.

He got out of the carriage and stood on the side of the road with his hands behind his back, his face full of pride, saying, I can come here by myself even if you don’t pick me up.

The clothes he was wearing were bright orange, with anchor patterns embroidered on his robes. This pattern on clothes was never embroidered in this time period.

Mo Yan hurried over, lowered her voice and asked, “Tell me, where are you from?”

Chi Jie was puzzled and said, “The Upper Valley! Where else could it be.”

“Of course I know you’re from the Upper Valley. I’m asking if you’re from another world.”

He was still shocked when he heard Lu Junming’s voice, “I told you to wait for two more days! With your fragile body, what happens if you fall ill on the road?”

Chi Jie raised his head and turned to Lu Junming with his hands behind his back, “I waited for you so long the flowers have already wilted!” [1]

This sentence was so familiar!

“What did you just say?” Mo Yan stared at Chi Jie closely, feeling more and more like he was a transmigrator.

Lu Junming went over to pull Mo Yan away from Chi Jie, “Yan’er, he’s gone all this way and must be thirsty and hungry. Let’s go to Dengyun Restaurant to welcome him.”

“Okay,” Mo Yan immediately agreed.

It was the first time Mo Yan went to Dengyun Tower. The private rooms inside were very spacious, but the decorations were a bit old. In a small rural town, it wasn’t bad.

When the food came, Chi Jie talked endlessly about his loneliness, making Mo Yan feel sympathetic.

“Chi Jie, you came in a hurry, and Lu Junming doesn’t have enough accommodation, how about you stay in a hotel by now!”

Lu Junming replied, “There’s no need, I’ve already found a place to start a workshop, and there is a lot of room there.”

Post-translation notes: Poor Cao Zhang getting put on a bus (metaphorically) again…as always, thank you for reading!

[1] That’s a popular song in China, I think.