Chapter 66: Wanting to Eat Wontons

Chapter 66: Wanting Wonton

Although drawing two people would take longer, Yin Hongxue still did not keep them waiting.

The old man and old woman's eyes were fixed on his hand, watching the figures on the slightly yellowed paper become clear and lifelike.

Yin Hongxue checked to make sure there were no mistakes before setting down his brush.

The old man and old woman could tell he was done, but they held their tongues until Yin Hongxue turned the painting around.

"Wonderful, wonderful, truly beautiful."

The old man's eyes grew more misty. Yin Hongxue was puzzled, but given his place, he didn't ask.

The old man paid Yin Hongxue for both his and the old woman's portraits.

Seeing that the couple clearly had things to say to each other, Yin Hongxue didn't linger. He took the money and left with Gu Chaoning and Gu Muan.

Gu Chaoning looked back and happened to catch the old man embracing the old woman.

Putting their words and actions together, he guessed one of them was seriously ill, which was why they'd hired a painter for portraits.

And since the old woman had come to Yin Hongxue first for her portrait, the sick one was probably her.

He sighed to himself and turned away.

Gu Muan, however, didn't think that deeply about it.

Seeing Yin Hongxue put the money in his pouch, he grabbed his arm and said happily, "Brother Xue is amazing! We just came out once and you earned so much money!"

"I'll get you some candy with it later."

Gu Muan had been waiting for exactly that. He let out a delighted yelp and clung to Yin Hongxue, acting all spoiled.

The portrait had taken up some time, and with noon approaching, the three decided to head back to the carpentry shop instead of wandering around.

"Gu Muan!?"

The three turned to see Zhao Yunxin.

Zhao Yunxin was with a maidservant carrying meal boxes. Obvious surprise flashed in her eyes when she saw Gu Muan.

She quickly stepped forward and stopped a couple of steps away from them.

Since they'd all met because of Gu Chaoning's illness, Zhao Yunxin first exchanged brief greetings with Gu Chaoning and Yin Hongxue, then turned to Gu Muan.

"Didn't Doctor Ding say your family had things to do? Well, I've caught you out wandering around!"

Gu Muan smiled sheepishly. "Sister Yunxin, we really do have things to do. I'm not wandering around."

As for what exactly, it wasn't easy to explain in a few words, and Gu Muan didn't want to get into it.

Zhao Yunxin wasn't the type to pry, so she didn't ask.

She just laughed and said, "It's fine, I'm just teasing. You don't know—since you didn't come today, Wang Chengyin couldn't remember the medicinal properties, and Doctor Ding gave him a bunch of dirty looks."

"I don't know what Wang Chengyin did to Doctor Ding, but this morning alone, eight or nine out of ten questions were aimed at him!"

Yikes!

Even though he hadn't seen Doctor Ding, Gu Muan still felt a chill.

"Ah, enough, enough, let's not talk about that. Sister Yunxin, my dad and papa are still waiting for us, so we should get going."

Zhao Yunxin clearly wasn't done talking and wanted to keep him longer, but seeing how eager he was to leave, she held back.

Watching the three leave, Zhao Yunxin stomped her foot.

"It's rare to get to hear gossip about that arrogant Wang Chengyin—what's Gu Muan in such a hurry for!"

The maidservant stepped forward to soothe her, her gaze also following the three as they left.

"Are those three brothers?"

Zhao Yunxin took the meal box to see what was inside and nodded casually.

The maidservant's gaze finally settled on Gu Chaoning, who was on the far side.

"That young man among the three looks pretty good—refined and polite, like a proper gentleman. I'd say he's no worse than those young men the madam has been considering for Miss Qin."

The maidservant's voice carried a note of admiration. She only looked away once the three had disappeared from sight.

Zhao Yunxin was pleased to see her favorite braised tofu among today's dishes. Hearing the maidservant's words, she replied casually, "Well, that's just going by looks. Gu Muan's family lives in the village, and his older brother Gu Chaoning is only a minor scholar who passed the county exam. This year he got sick during the exam and stayed at our medicine hall for a while. I'd say his results this time won't be good."

"Oh..."

The maidservant hadn't expected that the three who looked so refined were actually from a farming family. They studied, but they were only minor scholars.

Indeed—she'd heard the county exam results were already out. If someone had passed, they wouldn't be out wandering around; they'd be at home studying hard for the prefectural exam.

Even their Miss Yun, who was just a concubine's daughter of the Zhao family, wouldn't settle for a farmer's son who was only a minor scholar.

The maidservant felt a pang of regret but could only put the thought aside.

If he were a scholar from a town family, then he might be a good match.

...

Gu Chaoning looked thoughtfully at Gu Muan. "From what that young lady just said, does Doctor Ding often pay special attention to that apprentice Wang Chengyin?"

Gu Muan nodded, a rare hint of schadenfreude on his face. "Yeah, Doctor Ding loves asking him questions, but Wang Chengyin often can't answer, and it ends up making things awkward for all of us too."

"Are you guys..."

"Ah, bro, let's not talk about Wang Chengyin and the others! Are we going out to eat with Dad and Master later?"

Gu Chaoning paused and had no choice but to drop it and nod to Yin Hongxue instead.

The adults were all busy with the cabinet and probably didn't have time to cook.

Gu Muan brightened up. "Then I want wontons! The ones Brother Xue and Grandma took me to!"

This was from Gu Muan's first day at Huichun Hall, and it was impressive he still remembered it after all this time.

Yin Hongxue remembered that on that first day, Gu Muan had said he wanted to eat them again, and later when they went home, he'd mentioned it to his dad.

At the time, there was no meat in the house, so they hadn't made wontons, but the next day Grandma bought meat and made them.

Although they weren't as good as the wonton stall's, there was plenty of meat and wontons at home, so everyone ate their fill.

Come to think of it, that day they made wontons, Gu Muan even ran into the kitchen, saying he wanted to help, but Chen Youyan ended up shooing him out.

Gu Muan smacked his lips, "I'm going to eat two big bowls today!"

Yin Hongxue couldn't help but laugh, "I thought you were going to say, 'If only we could eat wontons every day.'"

Gu Muan giggled, mimicking Wang Xiuxiu's tone from the other day, he said wistfully, "Twelve wen a person—how could we ever afford to eat them every day~"

The two little boys laughed together, wobbling and swaying as they walked, nearly falling over from laughing so hard.

Gu Chaoning watched the two of them fooling around, occasionally pulling or tugging at one or the other, just making sure they didn't bump into anything.

By the time they got to the carpenter's shop, most people had already gone.

Carpenter Wang was all smiles, and upon seeing Gu Chaoning and the others return, he announced he was treating everyone to a meal at a restaurant.

Just from the looks on Carpenter Wang's and the others' faces, Gu Chaoning could tell the cabinets had sold well.

Gu Muan wasn't all that familiar with Carpenter Wang yet, so he scurried over to Gu Wen and tugged at his clothes. When his father bent down, he cupped his hand over his mouth and whispered, "Dad, I want to eat wontons."

Gu Wen was just as thrilled.

Just that morning alone, not only had all sixty-six cabinets they'd made ahead of time sold out, but they'd also taken orders for another hundred and three.

Carpenter Wang had set the price at eight taels of silver per cabinet. Sixty-six plus a hundred and three is a hundred and sixty-nine cabinets, so that comes to...

Thirteen hundred and fifty-two taels!

Over a thousand taels—can you believe it!

Even after factoring in costs and Carpenter Wang's cut, Gu Wen couldn't contain his excitement.

Especially since Carpenter Wang had said from the get-go that he'd cover the costs!

This... how could he not be thrilled, how could he not be pumped!

Gu Wen scooped Gu Muan up in one go, lifting him and spinning him around in the air, while cheerfully promising, "Eat! However many bowls you want, that's how many we'll get!"

"Ah—! Dad!"

The little boy first let out a startled shriek, but once he realized what was happening, it turned into happy laughter.

Then he patted Gu Wen's hand, reminding him not to forget to give Xue Age and his brother a turn too.

But Yin Hongxue was fine; Gu Chaoning's frame was already showing the tallness of a young man, and Gu Wen worried he couldn't spin him without looking foolish, so he pretended not to hear.

He first set Gu Muan down, then lifted Yin Hongxue and spun him around a couple of times as well, before turning to Carpenter Wang and saying, "Master, let's go eat!"

"Dad, you forgot..."

"An Geer said he wants wontons. You all go ahead; I'll take An Geer to buy a bowl and then come over."

"Dad, you..."

"An Geer, which wonton shop is it?"

"On Changping Street!"