The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!

Chapter 520 - 515: Don’t Pity Men, It Brings Misfortune

The sunset’s afterglow stained half the sky red.

The incident happened after returning to Huilan Garden.

The kitchen steward led the servants over from afar. Upon seeing Yu Tingwan, she quickened her pace to greet her.

Before Yu Tingwan could ask, she chuckled, "The weather has been hot these days, and I’m worried the Young Madam might lose her appetite. So, I’ve been thinking of preparing something fresh. We went over to the Lotus Pond to pick some lotus pods, leaves, and roots... to prepare a lotus-themed feast."

Yu Tingwan showed a bit of interest.

"Are you making Lotus Leaf Chicken?"

"If the Young Madam wishes to eat it, naturally there will be some."

The steward was attentive and knew the tastes of each master well, so how could she not know Yu Tingwan loved meat?

"Has the Young Madam ever tried Lotus Fragrant Fish? Fresh fish stuffed with ginger and scallions, wrapped in lotus leaves, and slowly grilled over coals. The fish meat carries a natural fragrance."

"Lotus petals can also be eaten, dipped in a thin batter, and fried until crispy."

"Lotus-Flavored Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Lotus Leaf Rice, Lotus Seed Paste Pastries... even lotus wine can be made."

Yu Tingwan: ...

She felt tempted to eat.

She heard her own voice.

"I’ll go with you to take a look."

"Yes, Madam, please go ahead."

The Lotus Pond inside the Lan Garden was quite large.

The gentle waves rippled, and the lotus leaves stood upright like green umbrellas.

The lotus pods hung low, with seeds faintly visible.

Everyone had their duties; those picking lotus pods did so by boat, while others gathered lotus flowers.

Yu Tingwan observed from the pond, peeling lotus seeds with her hands.

She tossed one into her mouth, and the taste was clean and sweet.

After eating a few, she took a few steps forward.

"Young Madam."

Tan Jiang stopped her.

"Be careful, don’t step wrong. This pond is very deep."

"How deep?"

This... Tan Jiang wasn’t sure.

However, she could tell Yu Tingwan,

"I reckon if three or four large Fu Mengs fell in, they’d be completely submerged."

Yu Tingwan looked at the pond surface, her eyes flickering, and suddenly asked,

"Have you and Rong Di set the date?"

Tan Jiang: "Set for next spring."

Tan Jiang thought for a moment and informed, "Shunzi is quite happy."

Yu Tingwan: ??

Why is he happy about you two getting married?

Yu Tingwan thought of something: "Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him these past few days. Has he been sent somewhere on business?"

"No."

Tan Jiang informed, "He’s helping Rong Di prepare the betrothal gifts."

???

Yu Tingwan: "He..."

"He’s quite the worrier."

Yu Tingwan: "Is it because he can’t find a wife himself, so he enjoys living vicariously?"

Tan Jiang: "Usually, the elders from the groom’s side handle the betrothal gifts. He might want to take advantage and play the role of Rong Di’s father."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Not many people in the Wei Family Army are normal.

Seeing her gaze still on the pond, Tan Jiang casually remarked.

"They say Mr. Shu at the Imperial College in the Capital loves tending to flowers and plants. The lotus pond at his place carries an air of literary grace, more sentient than anywhere else. Many scholars and poets are eager to visit this summer."

Tan Jiang: "But I feel the ones in our courtyard are better than those at Mr. Shu’s place."

"Madam."

Tan Jiang pointed towards a pavilion in the right front.

"The view from there is the best, would you like to go up and sit?"

Yu Tingwan looked over.

A house past the Bibo Water Pavilion.

The first floor had windows that could be opened to feed the fish.

She looked up, seeing the winding stone stairs, the flying eaves of the pavilion, the copper bells at the eaves shimmering with dusky gold in the remaining sunlight. The stairs wound up from the water surface.

Yu Tingwan heard her own voice: "Sure."

She ascended the steps one by one.

Hmm.

The steps were stable, no incidents occurred.

She didn’t slip while walking.

The servants behind her, busy with harvesting, couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

"Why did Wang Gui’s wife fall ill? The steward allowed her to rest for three days. But I saw her fine as ever yesterday."

Someone pouted, eyes showing disdain, replying: "What else could it be, Wang Gui has a mistress outside."

"A mistress?"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

This exclamation caught Yu Tingwan’s attention and made her turn to look over.

Unfortunately, they feared disturbing her and getting punished by the steward, so they quickly covered their mouths, lowering their voices significantly.

"Wang Gui seems so honest usually, maybe there’s a misunderstanding."

"What misunderstanding? Men fooling around is common. Their child is already three. It all happened right under her nose; staying sane is already good."

Someone shook their head, sighing: "Wang Gui’s wife may lack in looks, but she’s been devoted to him all these years. The masters are generous, and our monthly wages are decent. Yet, she rarely spends a dime on herself, saving everything for Wang Gui to build their family. Such a good woman, giving him children too, Wang Gui marrying her should have been a blessing, yet he dares to betray her. Scoundrel."

"She’s foolish too. How could she entrust money to a man? I always keep a close hold on my monthly wages, only giving my man money to drink. I advised her to be wise and keep some on her, but she wouldn’t listen."

"Only now she realizes, the money saved all these years was given by Wang Gui to that mistress. You probably don’t know, that mistress dresses so well, adorned in gold and silver. Anyone unaware would assume she belongs to some noble family."

These words, Yu Tingwan could not hear.

"What are they saying down there?"

Tan Jiang succinctly explained: "The water-carrying woman in the kitchen, the one with a scar on her face, I wonder if you recall. She was deceived by a man who made her support a mistress and a son they had together."

Yu Tingwan did recall.

Once, feeling hungry, she went to the kitchen for food and saw the woman squatting in a corner, eating freshly boiled brown sugar longan egg soup.

The aroma was pleasant.

Yu Tingwan even asked her to make another bowl.

She felt particularly sad while eating it.

Because the taste was so reminiscent of what Hui Niang used to make.

When her period was about to start, Hui Niang always prepared it for her.

Tan Jiang continued: "I’ve seen that man. Some years back, he offended someone and lost half a leg."

"The water-carrying woman, with the scar on her face and a solitary nature, couldn’t find a husband. She didn’t mind his leg issues either."

"His parents died early, and after his disability, he was driven out by his brother and sister-in-law with nowhere to go. She took pity on him, willing to support him. She thought they could accept each other’s flaws and live a good life, but little did she know..."

Tan Jiang expressed disdain.

"The woman couldn’t bear the blow, ran over to make a scene, pulling that mistress’s hair and getting into a fight. The crippled man got angry, feeling embarrassed with so many people watching, and hit her on the back with a crutch a few times."

"I don’t understand why she didn’t fight Wang Gui. Such issues require two parties. What good could Wang Gui be?"

Yu Tingwan: ...

Don’t pity men, or misfortune will follow.

Tan Jiang: "If Rong Di ever dares to mess around outside, I would definitely..."

She suddenly stopped speaking.

Tan Jiang seemed a bit disheartened.

"I... can’t beat him."

Yu Tingwan laughed: "If not for your requests, would he endure the embarrassment of sparring with you time and again? And yet you’re still not satisfied."

Can’t beat him, isn’t it your own doing?