Chapter 10 (2/2)

Just like this one in front of her.......

She is not looking for a husband who is unrivaled.  She is just looking for a more suitable man for herself, is it so difficult?

Just like that scholar who came yesterday.  His mouth was full of the theories of the world and when she asked about his family's condition, she found that he idled his time away at home.  He depended on the little money that people gave to help his mother and Hua Ming Zi felt so angry that she nearly picked up the teacup to fling it at him.

And today, there is also this man by the name of Wen s.h.i.+ Xian who is doing a small business of selling calligraphy and paintings.  He is raising three younger siblings and supporting his old mother.  But as soon as she raised her voice, he was scared like a bird startled by the mere tw.a.n.g of a bow*.  Can she marry this type of man?  If she is to scare her husband to death, she will then have to recruit again.  That would be so troublesome, ah.......

(A bird startled by the tw.a.n.g of a bow means someone who is scared easily.)

”Dangjia, tea is being served.”  Hua Ming Zi's personal maids, Cui Yu and Cui Xuan, entered through the door, each carrying a white jade teacup on a tray and they held it up to both Hua Ming Zi and Wen s.h.i.+ Xian.

When Wen s.h.i.+ Xian saw the strangers, his body started to tremble again.

*Pa!*  The white jade teacup beside Wen s.h.i.+ Xian's hand suddenly fell to the ground and emitted a fragrant scent of ginseng.

He was so frightened that he jumped up from his chair.

”Wen Gongzi, it doesn't matter.”  Hua Ming Zi continued to drink her tea otherwise she will not have the strength to cope with these two people.

”It's her who did not place the teacup properly, it wasn't me!  I can't afford to compensate......”  He kept waving his hands and said anxiously.

Excellent!  She does not have to consider this person.  Hua Ming Zi put down the white jade teacup and let out a sigh of relief.

That white jaded teacup had fallen because she had instructed Cui Xuan to purposely break it so that she could a.s.sess the reaction of the recruits and so far, none of the recruits were normal.

They reacted so nervously over the small matter of a broken teacup, so how can they be expected to take care of the family?  Even if she did not harbor the thought of having her husband manage her affairs, but at least she would not look for a husband whom she had to constantly worry about or be over-stepped by the servants.

”It's not me!  I didn't do it on purpose......”

When Hua Ming Zi saw that Wen s.h.i.+ Xian was still apologizing continuously, she waved her hand and said.  ”It's just a teacup.  Wen Gongzi, it doesn't matter.  Steward Wu, send Wen Gongzi back to his residence.”

Steward Wu led Wen s.h.i.+ Xian out of the hall and Wen s.h.i.+ Xian was given a valuable gift to take back with him when he got into the carriage.  Of course, just like the rest of the recruits, he would be monitored for his reaction to the valuable gift when he reaches home.

After she had experienced her Stepmother's betrayal, Hua Ming Zi no longer believed in people so easily.

”Dangjia, there is someone outside who seeks a meeting but he did not announce his name.”  Cui Yu came forward to report to her after listening to the maidservant standing at the door.

”Where is his Visiting Note?”  Hua Ming Zi frowned.  Then she remembered there was still one more recruit that she had not met - the son of a w.a.n.g-ye, borne by a concubine.  Rumors said that this son is a literary talent but a bit reclusive.

She rubbed her head, forced herself to stay alert and finished her tea.

”Let him come in.”  Hua Ming Zi instructed.

Cui Yu nodded.  With quick steps, she hurried out of the door in preparation to monitor the visitor's every movement.

These few days, when the men entered the door, there would be more than a dozen servants ready in line to welcome them.  Hua Dangjia wanted Cui Yu to observe the men the moment they walk in.  After these few days' observation, almost all kinds of reactions were displayed.  Some men were afraid, some men were thrilled by it, some men were afraid they would be looked down, so they put on an arrogant face and some men were overly humble, so humble that they could not even walk with their backs straight.

”Serve up a pot of strong tea again.”

After she had instructed Cui Xuan, she leaned back on her seat and closed her eyes to take a rest.

Last night she had looked through the account books until the third geng*.  Early in the morning, she had rushed out to visit the restaurants that were the farthest away and then continued to discuss the new dishes with the merchants who were responsible for supplying the raw ingredients.  When she reached home at noon, she had a talk with her father for a while then she was due to meet the recruits who were supposed to pay her a visit one by one........

(Geng is the ancient measurement of time.  In ancient times, people divided 24 hours into 2 hourly intervals and every 2 hours is a sector.  The third geng is the period between 2300 hours to 0100 hours of the day.  So the third geng is considered as midnight.)

Meeting them made her feel so tired.

Why is this matter of getting married........so boring?

”Here is your tea.”  When Cui Xuan served the strong tea to Hua Ming Zi, she lowered her voice and said.  ”Chui Yu wants me to let you know that this time, the recruit is extraordinary.”

”Thank G.o.d!  Finally, a person of substance has come.  Being the son of a w.a.n.g-ye is really someone with a little difference.”

Hua Ming Zi reluctantly opened her eyes a little and drank several mouthfuls of tea.  However, she was still leaning her body against the chair with a hand propping up her cheek while she continued resting with her eyes closed.

She has this character of doing as she pleases, so it would be best if her future husband is mentally prepared.

”This way, please.”  Cui Yu greeted the person coming in and unconsciously lowered her eyes.

The person wore a two-colored embroidery ice silk black robe.  He has a slender body and his outstanding facial features are beyond words.  The most commendable is that he exuded a strong momentum just like his pair of black eyes that made people dare not meet his eyes.

And those black eyes were staring at the person who was sitting on the main chair wearing a veil moving in a sluggish manner......Hua Dangjia.

Ying Yan Long stared at the Hua Dangjia who did not even lift her head and without any change to his expression, he walked up to her.

Is this att.i.tude her way of showing him her strength?  Is this to make him accept her marriage refusal to Xue Wen or is she showing her dissatisfaction with his earlier rejection of her proposal?

”Hua Dangjia.”  Ying Yan Long called her.

”Please take a seat.”  Hua Ming Zi did not look up and only thought that this voice sounded rather majestic.  It should be worthy of her to heighten her alertness to deal with it.

When Ying Yan Long heard her voice, he felt it was a little familiar.  The other person had displayed an att.i.tude of not even getting up to extend a welcome which made his heart flashed with a feeling of displeasure.

This Hua Ming Zi is really deliberately giving him a cold shoulder!

”I heard the Hua Ji Restaurants have always been known for their hospitality and I came specifically for advice.”  Ying Yan Long said.

When Hua Ming Zi heard him, instantly her eyes flew open.........

Ying Yan Long is standing in front of her! ! !

<script>