Chapter 368: Chapter 364: Damage to the Spleen and Stomach _1
 

Wen Shu smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter who he marries.”

She then nudged Yingbao with her arm, “Oh! Tell me about what happened in Jingzhou. How did you manage to drive away the barbarians?”

Yingbao scratched her head, “It wasn’t us who drove them away. It was Chuyan and my master. Then there was also Xiao Mo. Do you know Chuyan? He’s Chuchu’s younger brother.”

Wen Shu shook her head, “I don’t recall clearly.”

Looking at Wen Shu sewing, Yingbao suddenly asked, “Do you have any preference for a husband, Wen Shu?”

Wen Shu’s face turned red. “What are you talking about? You’re too young to talk nonsense.”

Yingbao responded seriously, “I’m being sincere. You’re already sixteen this year, and I am sure that your master should be searching for suitable choices. How about you let me know, so I can help you consider them?”

She’d lived in Luzhou Prefecture and Qinchuan County for many years and knew quite a lot about the backgrounds of big families there.”

Some families might seem very strict, but none of their children turned out well. They were either spending all their time in brothels or addicted to gambling. Some had terrible tempers, there would often be sickly maids and concubines carried out of their houses.”

If Wen Shu ended up with such a family, it would be like falling into hell.”

On top of that, she would feel guilty.”

This was because she had single-handedly destroyed Wen Shu’s marriage with Xiao Chengjun. Honestly speaking, Xiao Chengjun seemed a little better than those scoundrels. At least he held a high position, didn’t beat his wife, and never let his concubine overstep the main wife.”

In the short term, Xiao Chengjun indeed appeared to be an admirable young talent.”

Wen Shu bashfully listed a few families. All of them were of similar social standing to her own.”

As soon as Yingbao heard the names and where these families were located, she realized that she knew all but one of them. The rest were all no-goods.”

So, she told the truth and pointed out the issues within these families.”

The matriarch of one family was very strict. Her daughters-in-law either went mad from her constant nagging or committed suicide. One of them even secretly ran back to her parental home and never returned.”

Her three sons were incredibly obedient, choosing to remain single rather than disobey their mother.”

Of the two remaining families, one man was homosexual and showed interest in pretty boys, while the other was lascivious and had affairs with any halfway decent-looking maid in his house.”

Wen Shu didn’t pay much attention, saying, “These families were suggested by the matchmaker, but my mother didn’t agree. Now that I hear what you are saying, I’m even less likely to consider them.”

Yingbao felt relieved and just when she had relaxed, Wen Shu curiously asked, “Yingbao, how did you find out about all these things?”

Yingbao was caught off guard, quickly replying, “I’m now an onmyoji (a master of Yin and Yang). I deduced it all.”

Wen Shu didn’t believe her and teased, “Why don’t you predict your own marriage fortunes?”

Yingbao shook her head, “I’ve checked my fortunes and according to them, I will remain unmarried in this life.”

Wen Shu burst into laughter, “Nonsense. I think you will get married someday.”

“No way!” I might not even survive until I am twenty-one, so why waste time on this? Instead, I’d rather spend more time with my parents.”

“What are you two talking about that’s so joyful?” Wen Hengyin entered the room. He went straight to Yingbao and bowed, “Yingbao.”

Yingbao quickly stood up and returned the bow, “Wen.”

Wen Hengyin, now thirteen, was only a little taller than ten-year-old Yingbao. He looked a lot more reliable and steady compared to when he was younger. “Mother said you’re to stay for dinner. Our nanny is making your favorite—deep-fried prawns.”

“Oh,” Yingbao nodded.

After saying these words, Wen Hengyin went outside again, without inquiring about the earlier conversation.”

Wen Shu laughed and said, “My little brother works much harder now. He said he wants to become a scholar.” Even though for a family like theirs, it would be easier to study medicine, her younger brother was set on becoming a scholar. If possible, he also hoped to become an imperial scholar and eventually a county magistrate.”

“Becoming a scholar is indeed a good thing. With that distinction, nobody would dare bully him outside.” Even bandits usually left scholars alone.”

The two chatted for a while until the nanny finished preparing dinner.

There was soy sauce marinated fish, deep-fried prawns, sweet soup stewed with Gleditsia rice and golden ear mushroom, sautéed spinach with pork liver, stir-fried spinach, grilled lamb chops, a plate of chilled dessert cake, a plate of stir-fried ziziphus fruit with sour green beans, eight dishes in total on the table.

The fish and prawns came from the marketplace outside the village, where the refugee children would sell what they manage to catch from the river every day in order to earn some pocket money.

Yingbao noticed during the meal that there were two separate tables, one for men and one for women.

Master Zhou Wuchang, Mr. Wu, Li Xu, her own grandpa Jiang Old Man, the Chen Family Clan Leader Chen Fu and Chen Sanyou were all present, as well as her two senior brothers.

The woman’s table didn’t only consist of women, but also housed Wen Hengyin, Jiang Jie, Jiang Wu, Yuanbao, Huzi and Wei Zhan to name a few. Accompanied by Mrs. Wen and Aunt An, and including Yingbao and Wen Shu, a total of ten people were present.

Mrs. Wen also brought out her homemade rice wine to entertain the guests.

Throughout the meal, Wei Zhan sat right beside Yingbao, peeling the shrimp for her without stop.

Mrs. Wen took a look, then shifted her gaze to her own son.

The boy just continued eating earnestly, as if he had seen nothing.

Seeing Wei Zhan steadily peel shrimp for Yingbao to the extent of forgetting his own meal, Huzi couldn’t help but to say, “You can eat the shrimp with the shell, like this…” He picked up a shrimp and chomped down on it hard.

Wei Zhan didn’t even look up, as he continued peeling and replied, “Eating the shell can hurt the spleen and stomach.”

Huzi: ······

Yingbao ate the already peeled shrimp in peace without saying anything.

She thought of it as Wei Zhan making up for his past life debts, the humiliation she had to suffer due to him then, it was time she made a comeback.

After they finished their meal, Yingbao and her younger brother said their goodbyes to Mrs. Wen and went home.

Chunniang and her husband had finished their meal and were waiting for the children to return.

Jiang Sanlang sat in his chair holding his chin, gazing intently at Jiang Wu, “Come here!”

Jiang Wu wanted to flee instinctively but forcefully stopped himself.

Jiang Sanlang picked up a bamboo cane, pulled his son over and gave him a firm beating on his backside.

Jiang Wu, who was well aware of his misdeeds, didn’t make a sound and allowed his father to beat him.

Yingbao quickly pulled her father back, “Dad, a couple of hits will do.”

Only then did Jiang Sanlang throw down the bamboo cane and asked in an annoyed tone, “Know where you’ve gone wrong?”

Jiang Wu remained silent.

He didn’t believe he was in the wrong.

But considering his elder sister had taken part in the risk with him, he had to admit, “I should not have brought my sister along.”

Jiang Sanlang was so upset that he nearly burst out laughing.

“I ask you, have you ever thought about your parents and siblings when you left? Your dad isn’t heartless, but you are still young, and you should plan ahead and act within your capabilities.”

“Yes dad, I’ll think carefully before I act next time.” said Jiang Wu, lowering his head.

Chunniang pulled her son over, stroking his head she said, “Your father only hit you out of worry. He was afraid that you might not succeed in saving the people and instead risked your own lives. Think about it, you and Huzi are still very young – what help could you have provided in such a place? You would even have to be protected by others. Isn’t that burdensome?”

Jiang Wu wanted to object that he, his sister and Huzi were not burdens at all.

They had actually been a big help. His sister had saved many critically wounded people – later on, a lot of people even started calling her Little Onmyoji.

But seeing the bamboo cane on the ground, he stopped himself and remained silent.

Noticing her son’s stubborn look, Chunniang sighed and continued, “If it weren’t for your father pleading Master Zhou for help, how could you and Huzi have been able to return?”