Chapter 193: Spoiled Vinegar

Cui Rong took a sip of the ’water’ in his cup and choked.

"Cough, cough..."

"What’s wrong?" Su Yaoguang turned back upon hearing the sound and handed him a handkerchief. "Wipe it off. Why are you so careless?"

Cui Rong’s cheeks burned as he took the handkerchief to wipe the water off his mouth, saying with a flushed face: "Why is it wine?"

"Is it wine?" Su Yaoguang was surprised and took a sip. "It really is wine."

She waved to the attendant not far away and pointed at the wine in the glass: "I didn’t order wine."

The attendant smiled and said: "This is the owner’s idea. The owner said Boss Su is our honored guest, so this is a gift."

Su Yaoguang: "...Help me thank your owner."

She looked at Cui Rong across from her, apologetically saying: "The owner meant well, just didn’t expect Young Master Cui doesn’t drink."

"I do drink, just wasn’t prepared." Cui Rong said, "Does Boss Su have a good alcohol tolerance?"

Su Yaoguang said: "It’s okay... Hey, Young Master Zizhan’s music today sounds odd, why does it feel murderous?"

Chen Buyu and Zhong Chushan moved aside, moving further and further away, almost reaching the door.

"Is this his attitude towards his sister?" Chen Buyu and Zhong Chushan complained. "I asked him a while ago, he said that outwardly they are husband and wife, but actually they are siblings. He has other things to do and will leave sooner or later. When he’s gone, he asked us brothers to look after the Su Family."

"He told the same thing to me." Zhong Chushan said.

"Siblings?" The two spoke in unison, even their disdainful expressions were identical.

Zhou Wangshu’s gaze lingered on Su Yaoguang and Cui Rong.

Cui Rong was choked by the wine, and Su Yaoguang even offered her handkerchief for him to wipe.

That brat actually accepted it and actually wiped it?!

"Young Master Zizhan’s music today is like the clash of swords and horses on a battlefield. Magnificent and wonderful!"

"Young Master Zizhan is really versatile. A while ago, one piece had the tenderness of a hero, the one before was full of sunshine, as if the world was filled with warmth, and today it’s so magnificent again. Young Master Zizhan must have been through a lot like a grown man, probably around forty years old."

Cui Rong took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Su Yaoguang.

Upon hearing his words, Su Yaoguang accepted it.

Thump! The music stopped.

Zhou Wangshu stood up.

Zhong Chushan and Chen Buyu saw this, leaned toward the window, and witnessed the scene of Su Yaoguang receiving the ’token’.

"Did you hear it?" Zhong Chushan asked.

Chen Buyu was puzzled: "What?"

"The sound." Zhong Chushan pointed at Zhou Wangshu, "The sound of our Young Master Zhou’s heartbreak."

Chen Buyu burst into laughter.

When Zhou Wangshu looked over, he immediately closed his mouth.

At this time, Su Yaoguang was settling the bill and then left together with Cui Rong.

"Young Master Cui isn’t doing well; he actually let a girl pay for his meal."

"This also shows that today’s meal was an invitation from Boss Su. Whoever issued the invitation should naturally pick up the tab."

"How old is our Wang Shu?"

"Fourteen? I remember he had a birthday not long ago."

"Too young." Zhong Chushan shook his head and clicked his tongue, "Don’t be fooled by Young Master Cui’s youthful appearance, he’s already fifteen, probably younger than Boss Su by a year!"

"Being a year younger is nothing, after all they can get married."

"Are you two very idle?" Zhou Wangshu adjusted his sleeve. "I happen to want to meet Boss Zhong and Boss Chen to discuss the arrangements for your upcoming academic work."

Zhong Chushan and Chen Buyu’s faces changed.

"I say Wang Shu, are you possessed lately? Why suddenly so stressed about our studies?"

"Boss Zhong and Boss Chen made a pact with me: if I can guide you to become scholars, they’ll each give me five thousand taels of silver. If I can help you pass as advanced scholars and enter court as officials, they’ll each give me fifty thousand taels."

Zhong Chushan and Chen Buyu exchanged a glance.

"Five thousand?"

"Fifty thousand?"

Both of them said in unison: "He’s never going to earn that money."

"How would you know if you don’t try? You two young masters are my cash cows; I have to take good care of you. Rest assured, I’ll write out your academic plans tonight and start strict training tomorrow."

"Wang Shu, let’s negotiate, if we inherit our family fortunes, we’ll also give you fifty thousand taels." Chen Buyu thought of the upcoming endless grind and wanted to cry.

"Based on the physical condition of both big bosses, they’ll survive at least another thirty years. By the time you inherit family fortunes, I’ll have become an old man, what use is money then? It’s better to make money now for livelihood and carefree life."

Zhou Wangshu smiled: "I’ll let you relax for half a day today, see you tomorrow."

Zhong Chushan and Chen Buyu exchanged a glance and both wailed.

"Brother, why did we have to know him?"

"No, why do we have to listen to him?"

The two were silent for a moment, eventually admitting defeat.

They could only listen to him.

Beneath Zhou Wangshu’s harmless exterior hides eight hundred clever thoughts, they can’t outmaneuver him, only accede to his orders.

The workshop handed over the first batch of goods, lightening the burden on Su Yaoguang’s shoulders. She was in a very good mood. Today she rarely relaxed and personally cooked her family’s favorite pastries.

When Zhou Wangshu returned, Su Yaoguang offered a piece of pastry to his mouth: "Ah, is it sweet?"

Zhou Wangshu held the pastry, glanced at the design on it, and was shocked inside.

"What’s this pastry called?"

"I made it randomly, didn’t expect it to taste good, I named it Ruyi Cake."

Zhou Wangshu had seen it in that dream; it was a pastry Su Yaoguang researched to win Xiao Yanci’s favor after she became the Champion Scholar’s wife.

Why does she know how to make it now?

He dreamed it in the temple, does it mean she’ll also dream it? Has she experienced all those things in her dream?

If she holds those memories, does it mean she really becomes Xiao Yanci’s wife?

"What are you daydreaming about?" Su Yaoguang looked at him, "If you don’t like it, I’ll make a savory one next time."

Zhou Wangshu’s gaze landed on her waist: "Where did this jade pendant come from?"

Su Yaoguang picked up the jade and stroked it, saying: "It was given by someone else. This jade is important and is a symbol of identity."

Zhou Wangshu: "..."

Su Yaoguang wanted to say something more, but when she turned around, she saw Zhou Wangshu had already left without saying a word.

"What’s with this kid today?" Su Yaoguang murmured to herself, "Did he get wronged in the academy? That shouldn’t be! Now there’s no one in the academy making things difficult for him. He saved so many plague-stricken people before, everyone likes him, he should be getting along well now."

No matter. A child’s thoughts are hard to guess. Later I’ll take him out for a walk at the night market, see if I can cheer him up.