Transmigrated Farmgirl's Scheme to Get Rich - Chapter 242
Living in Obscurity
Naturally, Duan Caimei had hurriedly gone to look for Mo Yan due to her stories. In the past, her grandfather had insisted on taking her to the capital because Lu Hong had previously said that Lu Junming would also go to the capital. He wanted Official Duan to recommend Lu Junming to attend the imperial examination and become a scholar.
The reason Official Duan could re-enter the capital was largely due to the compliments of Lu Hong in front of the emperor, since he still had to treat Lu Hong with some respect. And in court, scholars had much more persuasiveness than generals. Lu Hong and Official Duan simply had a symbiotic relationship, so there was no talk of one person helping the other rise through the ranks, or one person relying on the other.
Lu Hong had helped Lu Junming pave the way for his future, but hadn’t considered that he’d be unwilling to go to the capital. Therefore, when Duan Caimei wanted to go back, her grandfather hadn’t stopped her, as he thought that she didn’t want to become a laughingstock in front of the other noblewomen and simply wanted to hide in their ancestral home for some peace and quiet.
This time, when she saw all of Mo Yan’s stories, she rushed over without thinking twice and was reading at her place day and night. She would also occasionally go to the storefront to browse for a while, and when she took an extra glance or two at Cao Zhang, no one paid her much heed.
After hearing that Mo Yan and her sister had moved, Chuzi, Chi Jie, Zhou Liangsheng and Zhao’er all wanted to come over to live with them. This time, Cao Zhang and Liang Lan had come with them, alongside Ze Wu and Jin’er.
When she heard the commotion in the east courtyard, Duan Caimei also rushed over, “Why didn’t you call me over too?”
She looked at the food on the table, including roast chicken, smoked meat and sausages, snacks such as tofu and salted eggs, and instantly knew it was a large gathering.
Duan Caimei ordered, “Huan’er, go to Dengyun Tower to order a platter of dishes!” [1]
Everyone there stopped speaking, and Mo Yan said, “There’s no need. We’re all people from the countryside and like eating these kinds of food. How about we set up the grill, and have a barbecue in the courtyard?”
All of them agreed, and even Zao’er followed along in clapping his hands and agreeing. Only Jin’er had noticed him speaking.
“Miss, Zao’er spoke.”
Everyone quieted down, and Mo Ling persuaded Zao’er to speak, “Zao’er, say good.”
Zao’er clapped his hands and repeated what he had previously said, and both Mo Ling and Zhong Cheng were so overjoyed their eyes brimmed with tears.
Mo Yan said, “Your child isn’t mute, so he’ll naturally learn to speak. Isn’t that right, Zao’er?”
Zao’er surprisingly responded with a ‘yes’. Children who just started learning how to speak had to learn word by word, and still had to be taught slowly.
Mo Ling remembered the matter of Zao’er name again. “Yan’er, where’s my son’s name! Have you thought of it yet? You have to think of one for me today, or else I won’t let you fall asleep.”
Zao’er clapped his hands and said ‘good’ again, causing everyone to burst out into laughter.
Duan Caimei said, “If she hasn’t come up with something yet, Mo Yan must want to think of a good name for your son. I have a dictionary at my place, you can go there and research thoroughly before settling on a name.”
Zhou Liangsheng and Chuzi went out to buy meat, and then went back to chop it up, leading to a round of praise for the knives Xiaowu forged. Mo Ling was responsible for the sauces, Zhong Cheng for starting the fire, while the others washed and cut up the vegetables.
The courtyard was really rowdy, causing the owner and the gardener to be unable to help themselves but to come over and have a look. Seeing that they would probably be eating until very late, the owner came over to give them two lamps for illumination.
Zao’er couldn’t eat any of this, so Mo Ling made white rice porridge to feed him with before he dozed off.
As always, Chi Jie was responsible for grilling the meat, while Ze Wu helped out by distributing the sauce. The cooked meat skewers were placed in a bowl for everyone to eat.
Duan Caimei had never eaten like this before, and found it a fresh experience. As soon as the bowl was placed on the dinner table, she immediately reached out to grab a skewer without any reservation.
Unfortunately, Cao Zhang, who sat opposite her, reached out to grab a skewer at the same time, and they had aimed for the same skewer. The two’s hands touched, before immediately recoiling. And due to the veil of twilight, their faces couldn’t be seen.
Liang Lan prodded Mo Yan with her elbow, but Mo Yan feigned ignorance and handed a skewer to her. “Sister Lan, give it a try.”
After that, neither Duan Caimei nor Cao Zhang were bold enough to reach out for another skewer, and could only watch as the entire bowl’s worth of skewers were all taken. When the bowl was replenished with freshly-grilled skewers, Cao Zhang saw that no one was reaching out for one before taking a skewer. His hand paused in mid-air for an instant before handing the skewer to Duan Caimei. “Miss Duan, this is for you.”
Duan Caimei carefully looked at everyone. Seeing them all busily eating and that no one had noticed them, she finally reached over to take the skewer.
She had no idea what that skewer tasted like, only knowing that her heart was beating as loud as a drum.
Mo Yan had Zhao’er take the wine over and pour a cup for everyone. Without waiting for anyone to toast her, Duan Caimei took her cup and drained it dry, hoping to use it to calm her emotions.
Everyone ate and drank happily all night, save for Duan Caimei, whose food was tasteless as her eyes wandered to Cao Zhang’s face from time to time.
She was a straightforward person who liked talking and laughing, so felt bored after an entire night of putting on airs. Duan Caimei stood up and said, “Yan’er, Sister Mo, I’m a bit sleepy and would like to go back and rest.”
Mo Yan said, “You said that you have a dictionary at your place, how about I go over to grab it for you!”
Liang Lan tugged on her sleeve by the side. “The manor’s courtyard is so big, and you won’t be able to recognise the paths in the dark. How about you ask Cao Zhang to get it for you instead! He can also help send Lady Duan back.”
Zhao’er had just wanted to stand up when Chuzi, quick as a flash, pressed him back down, “Zao’er, come and eat something.”
Seeing that Cao Zhang hadn’t responded, Duan Caimei left on her own. Cao Zhang got up and caught up to her, walking behind her.
After they exited via the moon-shaped door, Mo Ling spoke up, “Connections are determined by fate, and don’t overdo it by helping others too much.”
Mo Yan couldn’t continue listening to it. “Sis, do you have a heart? If I didn’t help you so much in the past, you might not have even gotten together with my brother-in-law!”
Mo Ling rolled her eyes at her. “I’m as beautiful as flowers and jades, do I really need your help to get married?”
Cao Zhang said from the side, “She’s helping me, it’s all thanks to Mo Yan that a toad like me can eat your swan meat.” [2]
Everyone present laughed heartily, but Mo Ling hurriedly shushed them. “Be quieter, don’t wake up Zao’er.”
They were cracking jokes when Cao Zhang returned. Liang Lan asked, “How did you come back so early? Duan Manor is so large, and you don’t know the way.”
Cao Zhang handed the book in his hand over to Mo Yan, “There’s only a single road to the main courtyard, so I just followed it. It’s getting late, I should go back.”
Zao’er said, “Brother Cao Zhang, it’s so dark and you have to go so far to get home. How about you stay here for the night and share a room with me!”
“Alright, then let’s go! We still have work tomorrow.”
Liang Lan yawned, “Yan’er, I’ll sleep with you tonight.”
Everyone packed up before going their separate ways.
The matter of them renting a courtyard in town quickly spread to the ears of Mo Zenian and Mo Feng’s ears. Xiuying had been clamouring to rent a courtyard in town, so they didn’t need to run back and forth every day, as well as being able to take their son there and watch after him whenever necessary.
Mo Feng had become so irritated by her he agreed casually to her demand. “Alright, fine, then go to the governing official’s office to see if there’s a suitable courtyard.”
Xiuying immediately ran to the governing official’s office, and Liu Fengchun told her about the south courtyard of the Duan family’s mansion. Xiuying immediately decided to rent it after taking a look at it, handing over a silver tael as a deposit.
P.S. I feel like family drama is imminent.
[1] I assume Huan’er is Duan Caimei’s servant.
[2] It’s an old Chinese proverb about unrealistic goals, literally ‘a toad lusting over swan meat’.