My Lady Says She Wants to Marry Me - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“Miss, are you really going to cook dinner for the Master?” Liu Qing watched worriedly as Su Wanrou stood fully “armored” in an apron with a cloth wrapped around her head. At a glance, she truly looked like a kitchen maid.

“Mmhmm,” Su Wanrou replied without looking up, kneading dough. According to the cook, this was the simplest dish—hand-pulled noodles.

Su Wanrou had been bored at home. After managing the shops and household affairs each day, she had little left to do. Usually, she would spend her time reading, but today she had a sudden whim to cook a meal to thank Lu Youming for coming home every day to cook for her.

Suddenly, a crack of thunder shook the sky. Su Wanrou’s hand slipped, nearly sending the porcelain basin of dough crashing to the floor. The booming thunder rumbled incessantly, and the sun that had been hanging in the sky just moments ago was instantly swallowed by dark clouds.

“It was clear for ten thousand miles just a second ago. How did it start raining so suddenly?” Liu Qing’s face turned pale from the shock of the thunder, and she patted her chest to calm herself.

“That’s how summer thunderstorms are in July and August—they come fast and leave just as quickly,” Su Wanrou remarked casually. Exhausted from the kneading, she sat on a stool, unwilling to move. Seeing the Mistress resting, the cook quickly stepped in to sprinkle water on the dough to keep it from drying out.

At the yamen, Lu Youming and a group of constables were taking shelter under a corridor. “Today’s training ends here. Rest until the rain stops, then return to your posts.”

“Yes, sir!” the men shouted in unison, standing tall and imposing. The Vice-Magistrate stroked his beard and exchanged a look with the Magistrate. Both smiled and said, “We’re getting old, truly old.”

The black clouds stacked layer upon layer, and white lightning nearly split the sky in two. The downpour lasted all day, and by the time the workday ended, the rain showed no signs of letting up. The Magistrate’s brow furrowed heavily. “If this rain keeps up, I fear it will affect the grain harvest.”

“Tomorrow, we shall go out together to inspect the farming situation,” the Magistrate decided. As the local “parent official,” it was his duty to encourage agriculture; this was his core responsibility. “Everyone go home for today. Leave only the clerks on duty. If anything happens, the yamen will send word.”

Lu Youming looked at the curtain of rain. “…Excellency, perhaps you should look at that rain again. If Zijin goes back in this, I’ll be requesting sick leave tomorrow.”

“Ah, I’ve grown muddled!” The Magistrate slapped his forehead, and the group burst into laughter. They sat by the gate, drinking tea and listening to the rain. Even the busy Master Secretary shuffled over. “Excellency, you’re drinking tea without me? And after I brought pastries, too!” He waved a package wrapped in yellow paper.

Lu Youming’s nose twitched; she recognized the scent of Lotus Crisps from the shop at the east end of town. As the junior official, she rose to pour tea for the Master Secretary. He sat down, satisfied, and they all shared the snacks.

It was nearly 5:00 PM when the rain finally eased. Outside the yamen, Su Wanrou had sent a carriage to pick up Lu Youming. Lu Youming took the opportunity to drop off the Secretary and the Vice-Magistrate at their homes along the way.

When she arrived home, a servant led her straight to the flower hall. Lu Youming had wanted to change her damp clothes first, but the servant claimed the Mistress was “impatient to see her.” Lu Youming was baffled—the little lady is impatient to see me? That sounds suspicious.

In the flower hall, Su Wanrou watched Liu Qing run in excitedly. “Miss, the Master is home! You can start pulling the noodles!”

Lu Youming arrived and noticed a heavy, dark sky. A sense of unease filled her. Persistent torrential rain didn’t just mean a bad harvest; it meant floods. Qinghe County was built along a large river, hence its name. It hadn’t flooded in years, but she hoped she was just being paranoid.

Entering the hall, she didn’t see Su Wanrou immediately. She took off her official hat and sat down. “I thought you said the Mistress was waiting for me? Where is she?”

The servant, a steady sixteen-year-old named Xiao Wu, grinned. “The Mistress is preparing a surprise for you! Master, just wait here.”

Lu Youming raised an eyebrow, curious. Had Su Wanrou bought her a gift to reward her for cooking every day? She waited expectantly, her good mood outweighing the discomfort of her sticky robes.

Su Wanrou imitated the cook’s movements, stretching a strip of dough. She dropped it into boiling water, but the oil-slicked dough snapped. She didn’t mind; she comforted herself with the thought that it was the sentiment that mattered.

A moment later, Lu Youming heard calm, unhurried footsteps. Su Wanrou appeared, looking every bit the “virtuous wife.” Her gentle face was framed by a floral headscarf, and her black apron was dusted with flour. Seeing Lu Youming staring blankly at her, Su Wanrou felt a sudden wave of shyness.

She cleared her throat and asked softly, “Husband is back. Was today tiring?”

“Not at all. There wasn’t much business, and it rained all afternoon, so I just drank tea with the other officials.” Lu Youming looked at her, thinking she looked even more beautiful today. Usually, Su Wanrou had the dignified, scholarly air of a noble lady; today, she felt “grounded” and warm.

“Master, you’re in luck today!” Liu Qing set two bowls of fragrant Dalu noodles (noodles with thick gravy) on the table.

Lu Youming realized what the surprise was. “You made these?” She was moved. Su Wanrou, whose ten fingers usually “never touched spring water,” had actually cooked a meal for her.

“Try them quickly,” Su Wanrou urged, pushing a large bowl toward Lu Youming while she took a smaller one.

“Thank you. I won’t be polite then.” Lu Youming’s eyes crinkled with a smile. She took a large bite. The gravy was savory, and though the wide noodles weren’t perfectly springy, they tasted wonderful to her. She finished the entire bowl in minutes.

Su Wanrou watched in amazement; she was already full after half a small bowl. Lu Youming gave her several “thumbs up” and praised her with a beaming smile: “Madam’s skill is superb!”

“Thank you,” Su Wanrou stammered, looking at Lu Youming rubbing her satisfied belly. “Are you not… too full?”

“It’s just right. I’ll walk around in a bit to help digestion.”

Later that night, the rain continued to lash against the house. Lu Youming sat on a couch, flipping through a detailed commentary on the Great Sheng laws.

“If this rain continues, there will be a disaster,” Su Wanrou said worriedly, dressed in a thin white silk gown.

“Tomorrow, I’ll go out with the Magistrate to inspect the county. We’ll do our best to minimize the losses for the people. The harvest is coming up, and the summer taxes are due in September.”

“Tell me if you need help,” Su Wanrou said, sitting on a stool.

“Of course. You are my teacher and my strategist. Without you, I’d be lost in the yamen,” Lu Youming said sincerely, her eyes full of gratitude.

Su Wanrou instinctively avoided that burning, sincere gaze, feeling a bit restless as she sipped her water. “As long as you don’t find my advice meddlesome.”

“How could I? You understand the yamen’s documents so well; you can even analyze the official gazettes perfectly. Don’t belittle yourself.” Lu Youming stood up and looked at her seriously. She truly believed Su Wanrou was incredibly talented—it was just that the world they lived in often stifled such brilliance.

Su Wanrou looked at Lu Youming. In her eyes, there wasn’t a trace of the typical male contempt for a woman’s intellect, nor any disapproval. She didn’t feel threatened or jealous. She was unlike almost any man Su Wanrou had ever known.

Seeing Lu Youming continue to drone on about how she was “doing half the work of the official post,” Su Wanrou burst into a laugh. Her eyes, like autumn pools, shimmered with light.

As Lu Youming fell asleep moments later, Su Wanrou watched her steady breathing and thought to herself: Mother, perhaps there really are different kinds of people in this world.