Chapter 347 : It’s Not Easy Being the Head of Household 31 (2/2)

“Why are we here?” Shi Sheng stared at the giant tree that was covered in little plaques before giving a confused look to Ling Yue.

‘He wouldn’t really believe in this stuff, would he?’

As reality proved, Ling Yue actually did believe in this.

He bought two plaques from a stall and handed one to Shi Sheng.

Shi Sheng, “…”

She stared at Ling Yue for several seconds before helplessly taking a plaque from him.

It isn’t an easy feat to carve words on wood. Fortunately, there were woodcarvers who had set up shop to the side, hoping to make some money from the festival. Since there was one who knew how to carve words, Shi Sheng pulled Ling Yue over to him.

The people in the queue recognised them, so they exclaimed and took the initiative to make way for the two.

“Is that the Prime Minister and Sir Ling Yue? They look perfect for each other!”

“Sir Ling Yue is the Prime Minister’s sole husband, and she’s simply too good to him! Will I be your only one too?”

“This…”

“Hmph!”

“H-hey… Wait up!”

Several couples ended up separating in a huff, due to hesitation on the part of the women who answered.

Shi Sheng and Ling Yue exchanged a smile.

“What do you wish to carve, Sir?” The woodcarver asked, almost fearfully. ‘This is the Prime Minister…’

“Do you have paper and a brush?” Ling Yue politely inquired.

“Y-y-yes.” The woodcarver hurriedly pointed at the stack of parchment placed to the side.

There was a saying that if two lovers wrote their vows beneath the Eternity Tree, it would come true. And after accompanying each other til both were old and greying, they would be able to come back and look at what they had once promised.

Shi Sheng expressed apathy towards this.

‘By the time we grow old, the plaques on this tree will have changed countless times already! How are we supposed to find ours?’

Ling Yue told her, “Don’t look.”

Shi Sheng pouted. ‘Fine! Who wants to look?’

When Ling Yue went over to write his words, Shi Sheng spoke to the woodcarver. “Just carve both our names.”

“Got it, Prime Minister…” The woodcarver immediately took the plaque from Shi Sheng and lowered his head to begin carving.

By the time Ling Yue came over, Shi Sheng’s plaque was already carved.

Because the plaques were bound so that the carvings were facing inwards, they couldn’t see the contents.

Once they had been carved, they were tied together with red strings. Shi Sheng and Ling Yue made their way to the startlingly large Eternity Tree.

“You toss them.” Shi Sheng handed the plaques to Ling Yue.

He took them from her and placed his hands together, bowing towards the tree before tossing the plaques up. They hooked themselves on a green stem with a leaf on the end.

As the plaques settled on the stem, they shook, letting out crisp clacking noises.

Shi Sheng lifted her head to look at the plaques.

Ling Yue took the initiative to take her hand in his and interlocked their fingers.

The two stood there for a while before leaving.

As it got later, the bustling crowd soon dispersed. The woodcarver sitting beneath the Eternity Tree was just about to pack up and leave when…

Something blocked out the light, prompting him to look up. He was nearly scared into kneeling.

“P-Prime Minister.”

Shi Sheng squatted down so she was face-to-face with him. “Help me carve two more names.”

“Eh?” The woodcarver was confused. ‘The Prime Minister returned just for this?’

“But…there aren’t any more empty wood plaques.”

Shi Sheng frowned and scanned the surroundings. The peddler who had been selling wooden plaques was gone.

She remembered where Ling Yue had tossed the plaques though. Shi Sheng retrieved their plaques and told him to just carve on one of them.

Though the woodcarver found it odd, he didn’t dare to ask and obediently carved according to her instructions.

Shi Sheng took back the freshly carved wooden plaque and copied Ling Yue’s actions from earlier—placing her hands together and bowing before tossing it up.

As the night breeze blew, it caused the wooden plaques to knock into each other, creating a sound as lovely as windchimes.

One could faintly make out four names on the spinning plaques:

Ling Yue, Liyou.

Feng Ci, Shi Sheng.

[1] When you call someone a lightbulb, you’re basically calling them a third wheel. Seeing as how there are three of them though… I couldn’t use that expression. Also, please note that 2 kilowatts is roughly 100 times more than the energy requirement of a regular lightbulb.

[2] The seventh day of the seventh month, which is the equivalent of a Chinese Valentine’s Day because it’s the one day of the year when the Weaver Girl and Cowherd can meet after a year of separation. This is according to the lunar calendar.

[3] I think this is what it looks like: