Chapter 338.2: Having Waited for a Long time

The difference in social class was this obvious. Jing Wan inwardly sighed, having this bit of moodiness tossed aside, pulling along Li Hong Yuan as she excitedly strolled around. From the start of this street to the end of that street, seemingly carrying pure curiosity towards these things that she’s never seen before, looking at this and looking at that. Even the little stall’s owner had a pleasant expression. Jing Wan actually was relatively warm and approachable. Then, carrying a bit of deliberateness, the originally nervous stall owner also gradually relaxed. “………How much is this?” Jing Wan had a little doll in hand.

“No need, no need, for your Highness wangfei to be able to take fancy to this bit of thing, that is this commoner’s honor, how can one accept wangfei’s money.” The stall owner’s wife hurriedly opened her mouth.

Jing Wan joked, “We naturally don’t lack this bit of money. When encountering relatively wealthy looking people, owner should vigorously make one’s move. Even if increasing by ten-fold or a hundred-fold, perhaps the other party all won’t feel it’s expensive. If you don’t accept the money, the other party might even think you’re looking down on them.” Jing Wan very much had the awareness of becoming a foolish spendthrift.

The stall owner was somewhat in fear and trepidation, “Your Highness wangfei, this commoner’s wife completely doesn’t have the intention of looking down on your Highness, this commoner………..”

The stall owner’s wife also had a fretful look, wanting to explain.

Jing Wan shook her hand, “Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous, I know you two didn’t mean this, and I also didn’t have this kind of thought. I was indicating that this kind of person might exist, so when encountering, should just make some more money.”

The stall owner couple hesitantly stuttered, unable to speak for half a day, “That, isn’t that cheating people?”

Jing Wan laughed. This pair of husband and wife were rather honest people. If encountering the astute kind, they definitely wouldn’t be lenient in cheating customers. Jing Wan picked a few more dolls, casually shoving two dolls in Li Hong Yuan’s hand.

Li Hong Yuan didn’t refuse either, picking up with two fingers for a look. He really couldn’t tell what was good about this thing, the craftsmanship rough, the material poor. If his wife really likes it, just let the people below make some, guaranteed to be a hundred times better than this.

Seeing Li Hong Yuan obviously disdaining, Jing Wan shot a glare at him.

Li Hong Yuan’s words stopped by his mouth, “As long as wangfei likes.”

Jing Wan finally smiled again, giving him a ‘it’s good that you’re perceptive’ look, “Mu An, pay the money.” She moved on to the next place.

Li Hong Yuan carried a bit of doting as he shook his head, following after her.

Mu An smilingly handed out one tael of silver, “Is this enough?”

“Too much, too much, twenty copper coins is enough.” That’s why, these two really were honest people.

(T/N: I believe the conversion is 1000 copper coin = 1 tael of silver.)

“Just keep it, no need to give change. A bunch of corrupt officials got sorted out, so wangye is in a good mood, and wangfei is also in a good mood. We, these servants, all feel relaxed along with.” Eunuch Mu’s words were simple and blunt, yet also having a deeper meaning. Wangfei’s wishes, they naturally needed to meticulously help achieve.

As such, after a few more times, some things more or less can gradually spread.

Turning around, Jing Wan looked to Mu An. En, really is a good lackey. “Good job, mama, later remember to give our Eunuch Mu a big bonus.”

“Yes, this servant will remember.” Gong mama replied, upright and proper as usual.

“Thanking wangfei for the bestowment.” Eunuch Mu very flatteringly accepted. Compared to Gong mama, he was practically just shameless.

The servant girls all couldn’t help but cover their mouths and laugh.

As for An Yi and them, not a single one wasn’t inwardly cursing his craftiness, just knowing to curry favor with wangfei. Alright, although they silently cursed, inherently they didn’t have any objection.

With Li Hong Yuan and them heading out like this, those that want to meet them or want to have a chance encounter, naturally all set out successively.

That being said, Li Hong Yuan wasn’t in the mood to deal with the. As soon as they see someone deliberately approaching, the black clad guards that were being ordered around as bodyguards would immediately go forward, blocking in front of that person, drawing an inch of the blade. That meaning couldn’t be more obvious, immediately withdraw, or else definitely won’t be polite with you. As such, after two three times, there naturally won’t be anyone insensitively approaching anymore.

At the moment, Jing Wan was pulling Li Hong Yuan to stand in front of the dough figurine stall, letting someone make two dough figurine based on them.

(T/N: Dough figurines are made from flour dough mix with coloring, it’s one of the traditional chinese crafts passed down from ancient times. They are not edible due to some of the coloring used being toxic.)

Such a boring matter, Li Hong Yuan also very patiently accompanied, turning his head from time to time, slightly lowering his head to whisper a few words by her ear.

The smile on Jing Wan’s face was exceptionally bright, joy overflowing from within, infecting the people by her side.

“Wangye and wangfei’s relationship really is good.” The elderly man making the dough figurine all couldn’t help but sigh.

Li Hong Yuan softly smiled, and Jing Wan slightly blushed.

That scene dazzled many people’s eyes, but the atmosphere between the two of them was harmonious. No one was able to squeeze in.

In the teahouse to the side, the Pei clan leader madam as well as the Pei clan young ladies had this scene all taken in.

The Pei clan leader madam couldn’t help but use her handkerchief to press against the corners of her eyes, continuously saying, “Really alike, really alike.”

Pei Xiu Ying’s focus naturally was different from hers. The relationship between the two was too good. As such, her plans in the future certainly will become even more difficult. As a result, she subconsciously tightened her fist, all the way until a distinct stab of pain came from her palm did she slowly let go, inwardly telling herself, no worries, no matter how good the relationship, it’s still unable to withstand misunderstandings, unable to withstand the sowing of discord. She needed to slowly plan, taking it step by step. She will eventually be able to achieve her goal.

And the other young ladies all couldn’t help but blush, clearly the appearance of a young girl in love. They probably never thought that Jin Qinwang would be this handsome. One has to know, large influential families were usually all a concentration of handsome men and beautiful women, especially the current Pei clan. Even randomly picking one out, there all won’t be one that isn’t good-looking. As one can well imagine, just how picky these girls’ eyesights were. Yet, they all unanimously believed that they’ve never seen any man more handsome than Jin Qinwang.

Just that face made the originally just seventy percent desire rapidly shoot up to a hundred and twenty percent.

Pei Xiu Ying glanced at them, really are a bunch of toads wanting to eat swan meat. She simply didn’t have them taken seriously. Her gaze landed on the Pei clan leader madam, “Great-grandmother, why don’t you relax. No matter what, you’ve finally met after all, so you should be happy.”

“Xiu Ying, you’re right, finally met, finally met.” It was also thirty years, her daughter, almost thirty years!

The others returned to their senses, completely confused. How come this feeling was a bit off, seemingly as if there was something they were unaware of.

Jing Wan held the dough figurines. Hers was more alike. As expected, it was still because a certain someone was too good-looking, and the bearing too outstanding, that’s why unable to be alike. “The craftsmanship not bad.”

“Wangfei overpraises. This commoner truly is ashamed, unable to knead out one-tenth of wangye and wangfei’s charm.”

“Already not bad. Old shifu[1] probably has studied books before, right?” Jing Wan smilingly asked.

“When one was young, studied for a few years. Just, this one is relatively stupid, unable to even obtain a ‘distinguished scholar[2]‘ title.”

“Studying doesn’t necessarily need to be for passing the imperial exam and obtaining scholarly honor. If everyone can all recognize words, I believe it will completely be a different sight.” Jing Wan’s voice slowed somewhat.

Not just the dough figurine shifu, even Li Hong Yuan all blanked. Reasonably speaking, Jing Wan’s any wish, he will all do everything he can to help her realize. However, for everyone to become literate, this kind of thing, he had to admit, he was unable to achieve. It was impossible even if using his entire life. This wasn’t his personal problem, but rather, the environment didn’t allow for it. “Sorry.”

Jing Wan was astonished, lifting her head to look at him, and immediately after, came to realization, “What’s there to apologize about? I know this isn’t something that can be accomplished alone. We just need to work hard little by little. Some day in the future, perhaps it will be realized.” Even in her past life, weren’t there similarly still people that have never once learned to read and write?

“Right.”

“Let’s go then. ———-Mu An, pay the money.”

Eunuch Mu very much wanted to say, wangfei, you don’t need to say this every time. This servant will know to pay on one’s own. You saying this every time makes this servant feel very useless.

Even the afternoon meal was all eaten outside. An entire day’s time was just whittled away like that. Although it may seem that they didn’t do anything meaningful, but Jing Wan felt very happy.

And the Jing Wan who was in a very good mood finally magnanimously replied to the Pei clan, letting them scale the gates tomorrow morning.

Receiving the reply, the young and old of the Pei clan finally relaxed a breath.

The next day, after nicely preparing, they headed to the villa.

While getting led in, towards the fact that they will soon meet Jin Qinwang, each harbored their own thoughts. However, when they saw Jing Wan holding a pair of scissors, trimming a spray of flower, they all couldn’t help but blank. What was going on?

Reasonably speaking, the visiting card for the male and female masters would all be separate, separately delivering into their respective hands, each having nothing to do with the other. For the sake of avoiding Jin Wangfei, they had specially used the Pei clan leader’s name card.

“You’re here, someone come, serve up the tea.” Jing Wan brightly smiled, as if having waited a long time.

[1] Shifu although is normally used to address one’s teacher, like an apprentice addressing their master, but it’s also the common address for artisans and chefs.

[2] 秀才 – Xiucai, or ‘distinguished scholar’, title given to those who pass the entry-level imperial exam