Qu Xiaojue suddenly sighed, looking at his determined expression for a moment before standing and walking to the door. Finally, she suppressed her anger: “Take care not to catch a chill. Don’t be like a child kicking off the blankets.”
Xu Wanzhi stared at the empty doorway, his face turning a deep red in the night, burning with emotion.
Early Meal Turbulence
I originally didn’t want to get up early, but yesterday, Shen Kuang actually came directly to his courtyard. Although this gentleman was quite different from the men he usually saw in the village, he helped him without hesitation. It seems that men’s hearts are all equally kind, and he should thank him properly.
Xu Wanzhi was still carrying a bit of morning grumpiness. Seeing Shen Kuang standing at the door with almost boyish innocence, smiling happily at him, he slowly raised his eyebrows and asked, “How are you going to thank me?”
Indeed, how would he thank him? The silver notes were lost, and he was alone. Besides a verbal empty promise, he actually had nothing! Shen Kuang was stumped by the question. His posture of wanting to enter the “boudoir” stopped, and he scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: “I don’t know, I just wanted to come and thank you.”
Xu Wanzhi silently ignored his foolishness, sat down, and pushed out a portion of the breakfast brought by Qi’er: “As a guest, are you going to stand at my door all day?”
“Ah? Oh, thank you!” Shen Kuang understood he was subtly inviting him to eat. He walked a few steps and sat across from him, waiting until Xu Wanzhi slowly took a sip before picking up his chopsticks to eat slowly.
Although it was just plain congee and small dishes, it was far superior to his master’s cooking. While eating, he had some questions. The person opposite was like the gentleman his master described, silent during meals. He held back for a long time before tentatively speaking: “Sir, I don’t know your name—”
“Hmm?”
He was thinking the morning congee seemed to have a bit of sugar added. He didn’t pay attention and reflexively responded, then replayed the words and was suddenly stunned. He was the first person in this era to ask his name.
Xu Wanzhi looked up and glanced at him, not speaking. Shen Kuang felt uncomfortable, thinking he had been too forward, and awkwardly said, “It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me—”
“Xu Wanzhi.”
“Ah?” He was startled by the sudden response.
“Xu Wanzhi. Don’t call me sir, call me by my full name. Wanzhi, A-wan, A-zhi are all fine.” He raised his eyebrows and smiled. Shen Kuang was somewhat dazed, feeling that the person opposite looked unreal and beautiful in the fresh morning light streaming through the window.
His dumbfounded look amused Xu Wanzhi, who tapped the table: “Come back to your senses, eat.” Shen Kuang suddenly awoke, blushing apologetically, and softly called: “A-zhi.”
“Mm.” Xu Wanzhi paused, smiled slightly, and continued eating.
The atmosphere between them was harmonious. But Qu Xiaojue suddenly appeared at the door. She looked at the two sharing breakfast, and a surge of anger rose. Her husband wouldn’t even drink a cup of tea at her place, yet now he was hosting someone and sharing his breakfast early in the morning!
She spoke coldly: “Husband.” Shen Kuang was ignored. Xu Wanzhi looked towards the person blocking the doorway, his brow furrowing, and asked, “Why are you here so early?”
Qu Xiaojue was burned by these words, her chest rising and falling. She spoke grimly: “Not at all, today I’m earlier than my husband.” She entered the room and sat at the table.
Looking at his benefactor, Shen Kuang quickly stood up to greet her: “Miss, good morning.” He received a neither warm nor cold “Mm” from Qu Xiaojue, who only looked at Xu Wanzhi.
“You may continue.” Xu Wanzhi put down his chopsticks and left the room.
“Husband!”
“A-zhi—” Two voices rang out simultaneously. The person at the door shook his head, feet not stopping. This cold attitude made even Shen Kuang understand he was angry. He looked apologetically towards the door.
Qu Xiaojue suddenly sat down, a breath stuck in her throat, tapping the table edge to relieve her anger.
Shen Kuang had seen village disputes before, but they were not like this—one disdainful, one indifferent, cold as strangers. He hurriedly left, even forgetting to express his gratitude and repayment.
Qu Xiaojue clearly understood that he despised her. She suddenly stood up and left.
Xu Wanzhi casually found a place to sit. He had hosted Shen Kuang because he was a guest who came early to thank him. This person was pure-hearted and always able to make him happy. But what was Qu Xiaojue? Arriving uninvited and being sarcastic—he preferred to come out and breathe the fresh morning air.
After a while, Qu Xiaojue saw Xu Wanzhi sitting in the pavilion, staring blankly into space. Qu Yao silently appeared and reported: “The Li Miss from yesterday is already waiting.” Today everyone was early. She frowned, glanced at the pavilion, then turned and walked in another direction.
For a moment, nothing would happen.
Xu Wanzhi was probably the most idle person in this world. When alone, he couldn’t help but generate endless unreal illusions about his sense of existence.
“Master Qu, I’m ashamed to disturb you so early,” Li Xianlan stood up and cupped her hands in apology. Her face always carried a slight smile, which didn’t sound very sincere, yet didn’t feel fake either.
She did not deliberately intrude; it was strange that the inn where she stayed caught fire in the middle of the night, causing such a commotion that breakfast time had already passed. She came directly to the Qu family to discuss business.
“What is the matter?” Qu Xiaojue gestured for her to sit down and asked in a calm voice.
“I heard that the Qu family is planning to expand their network of subordinates in the city?” Having already seated herself, Li Xianlan went straight to the point.
“Yes,” putting down the teacup and glancing at her, “This matter does not affect the Li family.”
Does it not affect them? Li Xianlan raised her head to look at her. The person in the main seat had a calm expression.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “How does the Qu family head plan to handle us old families?”
“Everything remains unchanged, with each family’s base price reduced by half a layer.”
Would that really compensate for the benefits taken by their new competitors? Li Xianlan slightly raised an eyebrow. “Qu family head, this makes it difficult for us old customers!”
Qu Xiaojue glanced at her. “The Qu family’s expansion was predetermined. We informed everyone before the year, and the prices and commissions follow the old rules. Miss Li, what are you concerned about now?”
Li Xianlan replied, “Although the Qu family has not broken the rules, we have been trading with the Qu family for years, maintaining a stable situation. The Qu family’s sudden expansion puts us old hands in a difficult position.”
It wasn’t that they were afraid the Qu family would strongly support other forces, but rather that each family was like this – habits were hard to change, and facing new pressures, they always wanted to intervene at the source.
Qu Xiaojue glanced at the light dancing on the tea cup and said calmly, “Miss Li, the Qu family is not solely dependent on the Li family.”
“You—” Li Xianlan looked at her cold face and suddenly stopped. She had forgotten this person’s usual demeanor.
Yesterday, she had been surprisingly tolerant towards one of her men and had easily agreed to meet her. Her thoughts shifting, she stood up and bowed apologetically. “Qu family head, it is understandable that the Qu family is expanding to this extent. However, we have always traded with the Qu family and are reluctant to turn elsewhere. You should at least tell us whether we, as old servants of the Qu family, can maintain our basic interests.”
