readsfreenovel Chapter 429 Steamed Buns
Chapter 429 Steamed Buns
Su Wuming picked up a ladle to scoop water from the water vat, intending to wash the rice. When he looked down, he saw a face covered in tears reflected on the calm water.
Who is crying?
Su Wuming subconsciously reached up to touch the corner of his eye, and saw the person in the water also reaching up to touch the corner of their eye.
It's him! So it was him who cried!
Why is he crying? Nobody said anything to him or forced him to cry. Why is he crying for no reason?
Su Wuming slowly pressed the ladle down, and the water spread out in circles. He scooped up a full ladle of water, poured it into the basin, washed his face with his hands, and stared blankly at the basin.
It wasn't until he heard the sound of metal clanging behind him that Su Wuming turned around in a daze and saw Qi Fei wearing an apron and cooking.
Qi Fei quickly prepared two home-style dishes. She then asked Su Wuming to bring the dishes and took out some steamed buns, saying, "This will have to do tonight."
Shrimp and tofu, stir-fried cabbage, meatball soup, and a plate of steamed buns were placed in front of Su Wuming. Su Wuming picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, but found no taste.
Qi Fei kept staring at Su Wuming. At the age of nineteen or not yet twenty, his delicate face lacked any vitality, and his eyes were devoid of any sparkle.
Neither of her two sons resembled her; they were similar to their father in both appearance and talent, especially Su Wuming.
Although Su Wuming is the youngest in the family, he is actually like the eldest.
Su Wuming is like the pillar of the Su family. If the Su family has any problems, they can just turn to Su Wuming. There is nothing that Su Wuming cannot handle.
In other families, people address each other by age, such as eldest son, second son, third daughter, and fourth daughter. Only in the Su family are they addressed as eldest son and young master. This shows Su Wuming's importance.
Qi Fei also believed that as long as Su Wuming was around, she didn't need to worry about anything. This long-held belief made Qi Fei overlook the fact that Su Wuming was just the youngest child in the family.
Most youngest sons don't do any productive work; how could a youngest son like Su Wuming shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the head of the family?
Qi Fei didn't consider herself a good mother, but she had never realized her dereliction of duty as she did at this moment: her resilient son was crying so sadly, and she hadn't noticed anything unusual before.
Su Wuming sighed, holding the steamed bun in his hand. When he looked up, he found Qi Fei staring at him blankly, her expression somewhat sad. Although her eyes were complicated, Su Wuming could clearly see the heartache in them.
He cried, so did his mother feel sorry for him?
There's really no need for this. Nothing special has happened. It's just a silly thing to be crying. It could just be willow catkins flying into your eyes in spring.
Su Wuming noticed that there were no bowls or chopsticks in front of Qi Fei. He put down his steamed bun and picked up his chopsticks: "Mother, aren't you going to eat?"
Qi Fei said, "I've already eaten. I ran into Madam Zong, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, at Xiangguo Temple, and she insisted on taking me to her home as a guest."
Su Wuming picked up a piece of tofu and put it in his mouth, listening attentively. Since he could remember, Qi Fei had never chatted with him about any gossip.
Qi Fei said, "The Zong family has two daughters, the elder named Zong Qinglu and the younger named Zong Shutong. Last year, the elder daughter married the son of Magistrate Peng, who is Peng Hengqian, the Assistant Magistrate of Taoyuan County. Not long ago, she gave birth to a grandson. You serve in the same court as Magistrate Peng, so you should know about this, right?"
Su Wuming swallowed the tofu: "I know."
Qi Fei continued, "Taoyuan County is far from Qinzhou. Even if Peng Hengqian rises step by step, it will take him many years to be transferred to Qinzhou."
Su Wuming understood: "Madam Zong wants my help? The transfer of officials has always been a matter for the Ministry of Personnel, and has nothing to do with our Hanlin Academy."
The scholar position I was appointed to before the New Year was obtained through the Prince's intervention, which he requested from the Emperor. Now that both the Emperor and the Prince are absent, it's unlikely anyone can resolve the situation.
Su Wuming picked up a piece of cabbage and stuffed it into his mouth. His own official rank was not high, so how could he plead for someone else to be transferred to a higher position?
Qi Fei shook her head: "That's not it. Madam Zong felt that since her eldest daughter had married and moved away, her younger daughter planned to stay in Qinzhou. Zong Shutong is sixteen years old this year, and her looks are no less than Le Xi's. Her age is also quite suitable for you..."
Su Wuming couldn't even swallow the cabbage in his mouth. He was truly possessed today; not only did he fail to understand something so obvious, but he also misunderstood it.
Qi Fei said, "Madam Zong means that if you are willing, the two families can set a time to arrange a marriage. Zong Shutong is well-educated and polite, and I am quite satisfied with him. But I have never dared to make decisions about your affairs on my own."
Su Wuming slowly put down his chopsticks, and after a long while, he said, "I'm still young..."
Qi Fei said, "People don't all get married when they're young; they can't wait until they're seventy or eighty. Lord Peng's son got married at nineteen, and you're almost twenty."
Su Wuming fell silent, and Qi Fei dared not try to persuade him any further. The room was eerily quiet.
Unable to bear the silence, Qi Fei got up and left, saying, "Eat slowly, and remember to eat your fill."
Su Wuming picked up the steamed bun and continued eating, chewing mechanically, still unable to taste anything.
Qi Fei walked out the door and then turned back. She gripped the door frame and looked at Su Wuming. After struggling for a long time, she finally spoke: "Wuming."
Su Wuming was lost in thought and didn't notice Qi Fei staring at him. He only looked over when he heard his name called: "Mother?"
Qi Fei said, "If you are interested in the Xue family's youngest daughter, I will ask a matchmaker to propose marriage..."
Su Wuming looked at Qi Fei, as if he didn't understand what she was saying.
Qi Fei added, "I only said I was going to propose marriage; whether it will work out or not is up to fate."
Su Wuming slightly shifted his gaze to Qi Fei's hands. She was gripping the door frame so tightly that her knuckles were clearly white: it must have taken a lot of effort for her to say that.
Su Wuming stood up and laughed, "Mother, what are you saying? We don't have any daughters in our family. My brother and I have always treated Yun Yao as our own sister."
Qi Fei seemed disbelieving, yet visibly relieved. She lowered her hand and shook it twice, her voice much calmer:
"Your mother dares not make the decision for you; your marriage is something you must decide for yourself. Miss Zong is truly excellent, and the Zong family also favors you. Please consider it."
Qi Fei left before Su Wuming could reply, and Su Wuming happened to be at a loss for words.
He was just thinking that no one was worrying about his marriage, but here it is! But now that it's here, he's also thinking that it's good that no one is worrying about him.
Humans are truly contradictory creatures. Su Wuming tossed the steamed bun back onto the plate and let out a long sigh.
Su Wuming sat in his study, gazing at the letter in front of him. It was time to write to Qi Yang again.
There are so many things to write about this month: a bird built a nest under the eaves, Sister Su Ye was buried by Ming Sheng Lake, Luo An returned to Nan Yue to become the Crown Prince, my sister-in-law is in good health so there's no need to worry, the clan invited my mother to dinner...
Su Wuming picked up his pen several times and put it down again, until the ink was almost dry and the paper was still blank.
A maid knocked on the door: "Young master, it's already past midnight. Madam wants you to rest early."
Is it past midnight? He's been sitting in the study for so long! Is Mother still awake so late? Is she worried about him?
Su Wuming ground ink again and wrote a letter. He told himself that if Qi Yang did not reply to him, this would be the last letter he would write to Qi Yang.