Chapter 5 (1/2)
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When Matchmaker Liu looked at the serious expression on the square face of Steward Zhu and she knew she could not do anything more. She let out a deep sigh and in her heart, she consoled herself that what she loves the most is to be a matchmaker. Her achievements had accounted for hundreds of marriages and her enthusiasm in her profession is boundless.
”When once I mentioned that your Dangjia wanted to choose a wife, every lady in the capital city who is waiting for marriage proposals showed sparkling eyes! At the Flower Appreciation Banquet, the first lady that I invited is the Daughter of Qian Cloth Merchant of Qian Cloth Shop, Qian Ying Ying. She is 18 years of age and her appearance is the best among the ladies I had picked. She is talented in embroidery and her skills are unmatched.......”
Carefully, Steward Zhu recorded everything that she said but when he came to the fifth lady, he realized that Matchmaker Liu's description of every lady was the same and all of them were her 'best of the selection'. He could not help but sigh.
In the capital city, how can there be so many best selections?! He wondered when he could go back to his account books.......
The task of recording details of the ladies' family backgrounds should actually be handed over to Second Young Master for him to take charge. He believed that Second Young Master would be more than happy to do it and at the same time, he would do it with gloating smiles. In the midst of Matchmaker Liu's incessant talking, dispirited he carried on writing down her words of 'best of the selection' for the fifth time.........
Two days later, when Hua Ming Zi returned from her trip, she told her Father about the happenings during the ancestral wors.h.i.+pping and after that, she enquired from the doctor about her Father's illness. Then the various matters concerning the Hua Ji Restaurants kept her in her study for a very long time. Just as she was about to send someone with a message to inform the Ying Family about her visit tomorrow, Steward Wu who was in charge of Hua Mansion reported that someone was here with a request to see her.
Once Hua Ming Zi heard the name of the person, she instructed Steward Wu to invite the person to come in.
With a smile on her face, she quickly walked to the small hall and told Cui Xuan to send up some food. She wanted to make use of the mealtime to have a talk with the person who came.
”Sister Hua!” Qian Ying Ying pulled down her veil once she entered the small hall. She rushed to the front of Hua Ming Zi and hugged her. ”Have you heard anything about the Flower Appreciation Banquet?”
Hua Ming Zi who usually did not wear a veil if there were no other people around, said. ”I would like to hear the details.”
”This matter actually doesn't concern Sister and you look like you just want to watch a good show!” Qian Ying Ying stomped her foot and after angrily telling Hua Ming Zi about Ying Yan Long's Flower Appreciation Banquet scheduled for tomorrow, she repeatedly shook her head and said.
”I don't want to partic.i.p.ate in that Banquet at all. I don't want to marry him! I heard he is very strict and does things without any feelings for others. The whole day he would have his head buried under piles of money. How can I spend the rest of my life with this kind of man?”
Hua Ming Zi gently pinched the pinkish face of Qian Ying Ying and said with a laugh. ”Do you think you want to marry him and he will have you? That time, when I sent someone to him to propose marriage, he had immediately rejected me.”
”The person who rejected Sister Hua must have a problem with his brains! I will definitely not marry an old man who has a problem with his brains!” Qian Ying Ying said with indignation while clutching the arm of Hua Ming Zi.
She smiled and stroked Qian Ying Ying's head. Then she picked up a pine nut rose candy to put into Qian Ying Ying's mouth.
She met Qian Ying Ying a year ago when she was in the Qian Family's Cloth Shop picking out cloth for the Hua Ji Restaurant workers. She was planning to make a batch of clothes that she had personally designed for the workers of Hua Ji Restaurants to correspond with the different seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
That time she was discussing with the Shopkeeper on the quality of material and design of the short coats when Qian Ying Ying entered the shop. When Qian Ying Ying heard that the coat must be sewn with many pockets to make work easier for the workers, she had joined them out of curiosity. When she found out that the person was Hua Ming Zi, she often expressed her intention to be acquainted with her.
In the end, Qian Ying Ying sent Hua Ming Zi several rolls of cloth for free. The cloth was not suitable to be made into clothes as it was too rough but if the cloth was made into short coats, it was practical and could withstand dirt. But the advantages of having Qian Ying Ying as a friend did not stop there. Qian Ying Ying may not be well-informed of worldly matters, but she has a good heart without harboring evil schemes and when told to keep a secret, she would guard it well. Hua Ming Zi would like to have such a sister and finally, both of them became good friends. Following that, when they met each other outside, they would greet each other as cousins. Hua Ming Zi would occasionally in her presence, take down her veil to take a breather - therefore no one had actually seen Hua Ming Zi's face.
”Sister Hua, why are you not talking? Can it be, you also feel that I should marry that old medicine merchant who only knows how to make money?” Qian Ying Ying pouted and said.
”Ying Yan Long is regarded as a young talent among the people, so why do you say he is old? Moreover, it is rumored that although he is imposing, his face is very outstanding.” Hua Ming Zi pinched the puffed cheeks of Qian Ying Ying and said. ”The reason why you don't want to be married to Ying Yan Long is just that he is 12 years old than you, isn't that right?”
”Aiya.......Sister, you understand me the most.......12 years is really a big difference!” Qian Ying Ying swayed her body and at the same time swung Hua Ming Zi's arm like a spoilt child. ”Anyway, I have always like young men who are tender and beautiful just like the singers in the opera. Their hands and faces are even more beautiful than women's. Those are the type of good-looking husbands that I can look at all day long and never get tired of. Or else, they can also partic.i.p.ate in that Flower Appreciation Banquet in Qingcheng Mountain Villa. Their facial features are so beautiful like fairies........”
Hua Ming Zi looked at Qian Ying Ying's face that has an intoxicated look and could not help but curiously think........will Ying Dangjia really like to marry a wife who is so innocent and so romantic as Qian Ying Ying? As for Ying Ying who likes a husband with good looks......can looks be consumed as food?
”In any case, I don't want to marry Ying Yan Long! But my Mother had already prepared the clothes and chosen the jewelry I have to wear to the Banquet. My Mother said that at this Banquet, a person must look elegant and her jewelry must also be elegant. She also said that she will give me a set of sheep-fat white jade* hairpin which I wanted for a long time. Now I am in a position of - going is not right, and not going is also not right. Sister, what should I do?.......”
(Sheep-fat white jade is a type of opaque jade that is totally white in color.)
”Where is the Banquet to be held?” Hua Ming Zi was really more interested in the food that would be served at the feast.
”It's held in Qingcheng Mountain Villa. Didn't I mention it to you just now?” Qian Ying Ying said with a pout.
”Qingcheng Mountain Villa!” Hua Ming Zi's pair of eyes widened and wondered whether she should travel together with Ying Ying to see her Brother Mei and at the same time, she gulped.
”Whenever Sister Hua hears anything about food, your eyes instantly light up!” Qian Ying Ying smiled and gave her a playful shove.
”Brother Mei's skills are excellent and his dish of 'Ice Plum in Snow' is the most famous dis.h.!.+ The red and white contrast in that dish, the tenderness of the fresh mushrooms, the method of drawing out the fragrance from the flowers.........” When she thought of that taste, Hua Ming Zi involuntarily swallowed her saliva a few more times. Very quickly, she regained her natural business-like manner. ”The fruits and vegetables kept in the 'Snow Room' of Qingcheng Mountain Villa, taste sweet and fresh which is different from what we normally get to eat here. If the cost of building a 'Snow Room' is not so high that is beyond what I can afford, I would have built one here to store food.”
”Since Sister likes food so much, why didn't you come for such a long time to look for me so we can have a meal in Qingcheng Mountain Villa and enjoy Mei Gongzi's 'One Month One Dish?'”
”Brother Mei's health is not good and it's not nice to always disturb him.” Hua Ming Zi put on an expressionless face and did not divulge the real reason to her.
One and a half months ago, taking the opportunity when Ying Ying had walked away from them, Brother Mei had proposed to her. After she refused him, she could not bear to see the hurt in her Brother Mei again and at that time, she had a feeling he was about to break down in tears.
”What is so inconvenient?! Doesn't he always have that fragile beautiful look? Moreover, that time, it was Mei Gongzi who invited us over to his place to try his 'One Month One Dish', isn't that correct?” Qian Ying Ying looked suspiciously at Hua Ming Zi as she spoke.
Hua Ming Zi pretended she did not notice Qian Ying Ying's look and just then, her personal maids Cui Yu and Cui Xuan brought in the food. They sat down at the table and did not continue with their conversation.
After Cui Yu and Cui Xuan had served their meal and retreated, Qian Ying Ying leaned over the table and stared at Hua Ming Zi.
”What happened between Sister and Mei Gongzi?”
”Nothing.” Hua Ming Zi quickly ate some rice and drank some soup.
”I don't believe you. I am very sure Mei Gongzi likes you and you had rejected him.” Qian Ying Ying suddenly grabbed Hua Ming Zi's hand and said in a loud voice.
”Look at how you are behaving!” Hua Ming Zi held tightly to the chopsticks that were nearly knocked off her hands. Frowning, she reproached. ”You are the city's legend......speak without showing teeth, sit without moving your knees, stand without swinging your skirt, show happiness without loud laughter, show anger without raising your voice......”