Chapter 174 - Trivia
After Zuo Shaoqing returned home, he first went to his own warehouse. There was more than one storehouse in the Wu Steel Manor. The madame and Master Lu both had their own personal storage. Of course, Lu Zheng's belonged to him now.
The last time Zuo Shaoqing entered the warehouse was on the second day after his wedding. He was too busy registering and writing to have a good look at his warehouse.
As soon as he entered, he saw crates of gold and silver jades neatly arranged on the floor. They were dazzling and shiny. Zuo Shaoqing licked his lips as he stared at them without moving.
“What does Lord Third want?” the woman beside him asked respectfully.
Although Lu Zheng had said that all the things inside were his, Zuo Shaoqing couldn't help but ask: “Is there anything that Master Lu likes?”
The old woman bowed slightly and replied, “This old servant doesn't know.”
“Never mind, you go out first. I'll choose a few random items.” Zuo Shaoqing took the book from her hand and started to casually flip through it.
“Yes, San Ye can pick them to register for this old servant. Master Lu said that you can take anything you want from the mansion.”
Zuo Shaoqing's mouth curved into a smile as he waved her away. Then, he walked around the warehouse a few times. However, after he walked, he realized that there was nothing suitable for a woman here.
There were no jewelry, only a few exquisite jade crowns, silk and satin, only a few pieces of cloth of indeterminable material, the rest were mostly gold and silver ingots, and then there were calligraphy, paintings, antiques, jade, and some other objects that he did not know about.
Following Qu Changqing's preference for calligraphy and paintings, Zuo Shaoqing walked around once more, picked out a pot of luxurious jade ornaments and a Pi Xiu hanging piece, shook his head and walked out.
After asking his wife to register the items, Zuo Shaoqing went to the old mistress' Warm Fragrance Pavilion.
“Yo, what kind of wind brought our busy people here?” The madame was reading some random books on her beautiful bed by the window. One of the two beautiful maidservants fanned her, while the other beat her thighs. On the other side of the room, Maid Zhong was teaching the two little girls how to write large characters.
Zuo Shaoqing took the fan from the maid's hand and fanned the madame himself. “From what you said, I obviously came by this morning.” It was just that the madame was still sleeping and he had not disturbed his.
“Hmph, which family's madam can be like you, busier than men, not even able to live at home all day.”
Zuo Shaoqing muttered, “That's because no one's wife is a man.”
The madame glanced at him and threw down the book in her hands. “Tell me, when do you plan on taking over the housekeeper's affairs? I've been in charge of this family for more than twenty years, it's time for me to rest.”
Zuo Shaoqing half squatted, he hit her leg and flattered her, “Mom is still so young, even the housekeeper can manage this well. It won't be a problem for us to wait another twenty years.”
“Move aside!” The old lady waved his hand away and raised her chin. “I'm not that stupid. I'll be your housekeeper for free. I've decided that I'll pack up and go out in a few days. I'll look around while I can still run.”
“Ah …” Zuo Shaoqing exclaimed and blinked his eyes. “Master Lu has agreed?”
“What does this old woman want to do that requires his consent?” The old lady slapped Zuo Shaoqing's head and scolded him, “Do you know what filial piety is? “Then you have to do whatever your parents say!”
“Aren't you concerned about your safety? “If we encounter danger along the way, we won't be able to save the fire from a distance. What do you want Master Lu and I to do?”
The old mistress sighed, “I've lived for more than half my life. The old ladies of other families have grandchildren at this age, and I don't have anything. How can I take a stroll and relax my mind?”
Zuo Shaoqing rested his head on the madame's stomach, not knowing how to reply.
This was the first time he came into contact with the madame so intimately. The madame was obviously stunned for a moment before her gaze softened. She stroked his long hair and said, “Alright, I'm actually lazy. I don't want to help the housekeeper anymore.”
Zuo Shaoqing's nose was sour, and his eyes were red as he said: “Without you here, how lonely would this house be?”
“This home… When will it not be cold? ” The old mistress gazed out the window as though lost in her memories.
She and her husband could be considered to be in love, but the two of them had only met for a short time, and their only son was not by their side. In those years, her family had only one master, so it could be imagined how lonely she was.
Now that her son was married, no matter how nice Zuo Shaoqing was, he wasn't a woman after all. It was impossible for him to spend all his time guarding in front of her.
“Oh right, are you busy coming over at this time?” the madame asked, recovering from her stupor.
Zuo Shaoqing looked up and almost forgot his business. He smiled obsequiously: “Actually, I came to ask you for something.”
The madame was both angry and amused. “What do you want? “If you don't have any, you can go out and buy them. Is the Duke Zhen Manor even short of your silver taels?”
Zuo Shaoqing rubbed his nose, “My elder cousin is getting married soon. He just wants to ask you for a few pieces of jewelry. I don't know how to choose this one.”
“Yo, it's the one that we were talking about earlier?” The old mistress sat up straight and asked with great interest, “What day is it set to be?”
After Zuo Shaoqing answered, he also said that he was doing wedding wine at home, so he rushed to find something to add on his makeup.
“Isn't that simple?” The madame gave some instructions to Maid Zhong, who soon walked in with a sandalwood box in her arms.
The old lady opened the box and selected a set of head made of pure gold and a set of sapphire. She took off an emerald bracelet from her wrist and handed it over to Zuo Shaoqing.
“Hey, I'm here to give you two sets of gifts. Treat this bracelet as a congratulatory gift from an old woman.”
“You can't accept this. How can you give a congratulatory present to my elder cousin?” Zuo Shaoqing accepted the two sets of jewelry and returned the bracelet to the madame.
“It's not for you!” The old mistress reprimanded him and told him to wrap the items properly before sighing, “Originally, these items would all be passed on to my daughter-in-law's granddaughter in the future. What a pity … If you can send a few now, that's fine too. ” She glanced at Zuo Shaoqing and shook her head in disappointment.
Zuo Shaoqing smiled in embarrassment. He didn't know what to say. Who told him to be a man?
Just as he was about to leave, Lu Zheng came back with a head full of sweat. He drank two cups of tea the moment he entered the door and asked: “What are you talking about?”
The madame let Maid Zhong take the things away and teased, “Your wife is asking me for jewelry. You don't care about her. How can you ask your elders for things?”
Zuo Shaoqing threw the fan to Lu Zheng, went to the side and gave him a wet handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, “Mom said that she has a lot of treasures, but unfortunately, she doesn't have any heirs.”
Lu Zheng lowered his head and allowed Zuo Shaoqing to wipe his face. He then sat beside the old lady, “Anyway, it's a gift. Who else can it be?”
The old mistress scoffed. “Let's not talk about this yet, when are you planning to adopt a child?”
“There must be some sort of opportunity behind this. I can't force it.” Lu Zheng replied expressionlessly.
Zuo Shaoqing knew things would get worse when he heard this. As expected, when he heard the madame's sneer, he said, “Do you think women have children? You still need to rely on luck? “Next day, let the leaders from the other families come over to take a look. We'll just choose one that suits our wishes.”
“I don't think so.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
“No rush, we'll talk about it in the future.”
“You …” The old man was so angry that smoke was rising from his head and he remained silent with a dark expression on his face.
Zuo Shaoqing sat down and comforted him, “Calm down, Liu Tie means that taking over the position is a big matter and needs to be considered carefully. You don't want the reputation of the Wu Steel Manor to be sullied by an unskilled hedonistic son, do you?”
“He dares? The old woman broke his legs! ” The old mistress roared menacingly.
“Yes, yes, yes, so, ah, this inspection is very important, time is too short and I can't see it clearly.” Yes, yes, so, this investigation is very important, time is too short, and I can't see it clearly.
The old mistress raised an eyebrow. “Anyway, this is your problem. So what if you want to? If you don't have a child soon, I won't be coming back.”
Zuo Shaoqing looked at Lu Zheng with a wry smile. He then asked, “Where are you going?”
The madame replied excitedly, “When I was young, I made an agreement with your father that we would have a chance to travel the world together in the future. It's a pity that he couldn't wait until this day, then I will fulfill this wish myself.”
Lu Zheng frowned. Just when Zuo Shaoqing thought that he would object, he actually nodded and agreed, “Ok, let me arrange the itinerary.”
The madame had not expected her son to be so easy to talk to. She said amiably, “Thank you.”
After they left the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, Zuo Shaoqing anxiously pulled Lu Zheng and asked: “You really want the madame to go on a long journey? What if we meet with danger? “
Lu Zheng hugged his waist, and kissed him on the side when no one was looking. “Don't worry, I didn't promise to let her go tomorrow. Just take her with me when we head south another day.”
Zuo Shaoqing thought: How can going out on public business and going out for sightseeing be the same speed? However, he knew that there was nothing safer than this. It was just that the madame would not be happy about it.
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