Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Old Acquaintances
Elder Tong wanted to have an heir for his craft. When he was on good terms with his adopted son, he had thought about it, but he wasn’t the right material.
Xu Ancheng, on the other hand, was smart, but his ambitions lay elsewhere. He would occasionally accompany Elder Tong and make something by hand, but expecting him to take over was impossible. Xu Ancheng clearly refused in the past, and now seeing Professor Tian’s skill, Elder Tong’s interest was piqued again.
Professor Tian didn’t expect to receive an invitation from Elder Tong, "I have many classes usually. Even if I want to learn, I might only have time on weekends, but not every weekend."
"As long as there is the intention, time can be made," Elder Tong said.
"Then I might have to trouble Elder Tong in the future," Professor Tian said with a smile. He was alone and knew Elder Tong was as well, which made him feel a bit sympathetic. Compared to Elder Tong, Professor Tian felt he still had beautiful memories, while Elder Tong was even lonelier than himself.
"Knock, knock—"
"Eh, someone’s knocking. Who else is invited?" Ding Anmin, upon hearing the knocking, felt a bit curious.
Yi Roujing was also somewhat puzzled and went to open the door.
"Guihong, Guixian, Guiwei." Yi Roujing didn’t expect it to be the three siblings from the Mu Family.
"It seems we came at a bad time." Mu Guihong could hear the laughter from the yard, and there were quite a few people, "We came today to invite the whole family to my mom’s seventieth birthday in a few days."
Mu Guihong handed over the invitation.
"Guihong, please come in. It’s lively today, and the timing is just right. It’s almost lunchtime, stay and eat with us before heading back." Yi Roujing directly linked arms with Mu Guihong and led the group inside.
Seeing that the yard was filled with the younger generation, Mu Guihong was a bit embarrassed, "You young folks enjoy yourselves, we..."
"We’re young too," Elder Tong refused to admit that he was old, "Roujing, who are these guests?"
Professor Tian turned around, and Mu Guihong, who was initially smiling brightly, suddenly froze, looking at Professor Tian for a long moment before shyly averting her gaze.
Professor Tian’s expression was obviously stunned too, but he looked at Mu Guihong for a longer while.
"Do you know each other?" Elder Tong was straightforward and asked directly.
"Yes." Professor Tian nodded first in agreement.
Mu Guihong’s smile deepened upon hearing this.
Someone who was usually very outspoken seemed somewhat bashful today; someone known to be gentlemanly and gentle appeared awkward. Observing Mu Guihong and Tian Shuowang, everyone around understood silently.
But the only one with a sour face was Mu Guiwei. He would occasionally glare at Tian Shuowang, huffing in dissatisfaction, until Mu Guixian pinched her younger brother to make him stop.
Li Hongying added a few more dishes and eventually arranged two tables, each with twelve dishes.
It was Elder Tong’s first time tasting Li Hongying’s cooking. With one bite, his eyes lit up, "Hongying, your cooking skill surpasses that of imperial chefs."
Li Hongying was flattered by the compliment, "If Elder Tong enjoys it, please come often. We have a guest room that can be tidied for you to stay."
Elder Tong, upon hearing this, for once didn’t refuse immediately, and Xu Ancheng caught onto it.
"Then it’s settled." Xu Ancheng decided decisively.
"Such a big decision," Elder Tong stubbornly retorted, but it wasn’t in opposition.
After lunch, the three siblings from the Mu Family were about to leave. Tian Shuowang hurriedly got up, "You’re leaving, let me, let me see you off."
"We have..."
"Thank you, Professor Tian." Mu Guixian swiftly interrupted her brother, "Elder sister, we are heading back first."
Mu Guixian dragged Mu Guiwei ahead.
"Second sister, why are you pulling me?" Mu Guiwei protested outside the Ding Family’s door.
"Can’t you see elder sister’s feelings?" Mu Guixian glared at her brother, "Do you not know why she hasn’t married all these years, and you’re blocking them? Are you an idiot?"
"That Tian Shuowang is indecisive, wanting to remain chaste for his late wife and son. Elder sister likes him for so many years, yet he has taken no action. Someone like that isn’t a good match." Mu Guiwei scoffed.
"It’s not just that." Mu Guixian sighed, "Tian Shuowang is a divorcee, and he doesn’t come from a prestigious family. Back then, Dad didn’t agree, yet on his deathbed, the person he worried about most was elder sister for not getting married. Dad regretted it."
Mu Guiwei fell silent after listening.
"Elder sister had no intention of marrying anyone; after turning twenty, she was pressured into blind dates, but never agreed. At thirty-five, she met Tian Shuowang, and back then, he was focused on work. Elder sister took the initiative for the first time; she fell deeply for someone at first sight, but it was thwarted by Dad. Up till now, Mom still brings it up." Mu Guixian sighed again, "I just hope they can be together till old age."
On the other side, Tian Shuowang and Mu Guihong walked out of the Ding Family house, wandering aimlessly, with Tian Shuowang leading the way.
Walking along, Mu Guihong spotted someone discreetly selling candied haw. This season, hawthorn wasn’t ripe, so the candied haws were made with strawberries wrapped in a sugar shell, then coated in batter.
"I’ll go buy two sticks." Tian Shuowang said and went off to buy two sticks, handing both to Mu Guihong when he returned, "I remember your favorite was strawberry candied haws."
Mu Guihong felt a bit complicated inside, "You, you still remember?"
"Guihong, I’m sorry," Tian Shuowang apologized, "Back then, most of the mistakes were mine. I didn’t persevere, and I wasn’t confident enough to give you the life you wanted."
Tian Shuowang gave a self-deprecating smile, "Now, this all just sounds like excuses."
"So what are you trying to say?" Mu Guihong asked directly.
Tian Shuowang turned to look over, "I-I heard that you’ve never, never married."
"Who did you hear it from?" Mu Guihong felt somewhat hurt, "Why have you never directly asked me what I thought?"
"Back then, my father came to you, and you internalized that, completely cutting off our relationship and contact. You couldn’t even say goodbye in person. Tian Shuowang, I never knew you lacked so much confidence." Mu Guihong felt a bit disappointed.
"I was scared," Tian Shuowang said with a bitter smile, "My first marriage failed; my family died, leaving only me to survive. I had no plans to remarry and didn’t expect to develop feelings for you. But you were too wonderful; you deserved someone better. I was just a widower, and your family was prestigious, while I was just an ordinary person, unworthy of you."
"I feared hearing you say it was impossible, but later I realized I was wrong, and I was cowardly." Tian Shuowang, earnest, looked at Mu Guihong, "Yet, I didn’t dare seek you out again, for fear that someone like me is truly unworthy of you."
"Who says that?" Mu Guihong’s eyes reddened, "I’ve never said anything like that. You’ve taken all the words, what more can I say?"
Feeling frustrated, Mu Guihong hurried past Tian Shuowang. Watching her figure, he was stunned for a moment before quickly chasing after her.
