Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 624

Chapter 624: Grand Slam

After buying breakfast from the Yu family twice, Chunlan inquired about all the neighbors.

She placed the steamed buns and congee she had bought on the table, telling them what she had learned: “To the west of our main gate lives a family of scholars. Scholar Zhang is a teacher at a private school in Ding’an. Madam of Yu said their skills are average, but they are very arrogant and told us to avoid them in the future.”

Binglu placed her stir-fried pickled vegetables and shredded meat on the table. “No wonder I often heard someone studying next door; it must be the scholar’s son.”

“That’s him,” Chunlan smiled. “Scholar Zhang has tried the imperial examinations his whole life without success, so he pins all his hopes on his son, putting immense pressure on him. Next is the Butcher Hao’s family to the east. Madam of Yu said Butcher Hao is an honest man who never cheats people in business and told us to buy meat from the Hao family from now on.”

“And then… It’s the Cheng family right across the street. They are said to be in the shipping business, and the Cheng family is the most prestigious in this alley. However, Madam of Cheng is not in good health, so she doesn’t go out often. She frequently sends people to the Yu family to buy food, so the two families have a good relationship.”

After An Zhi sat down, she helped set the table. “From what I’ve heard, our neighbors do all sorts of things; it’s quite a diverse group.”

Chunlan nodded in agreement, but she was a little worried. “But Madam, having so many people is not good for us.”

“Everything has its pros and cons.” An Zhi gestured for everyone to sit down, then picked up her chopsticks and served Pei Que some food. “Do not forget, in their eyes, we are just another member of the mixed crowd.”

After breakfast, An Zhi and the others were going to check out the shop.

The shop was on the street at the alley’s exit, not far away.

An Zhi simply tied her hair up, wearing only a silver hairpin, and wore a plain blue dress. Because of the past month of travel, her fair skin was not as white as it used to be, so she did not stand out too much in a crowd. However, her naturally beautiful features still attracted a lot of attention.

As they walked out of the alley, Madam of Yu happened to see them and invited Chunlan to come over for some snacks.

Chunlan smiled and said she could not, and Madam of Yu did not insist.

The new shop was not large, quite ordinary for the street. The signboard was still under construction, but the shop itself was already clean.

Yesterday, An Zhi and Binglu bought a lot of flowers and raw materials, which were stored in the storeroom behind the shop.

An Zhi called Binglu over. “Take Fusheng and wait at the door. Someone will be delivering fabric later. Have Chunlan go to the storeroom.”

“What about me?” Pei Que asked expectantly.

Ever since learning the truth about Pei Que’s right hand, An Zhi had subconsciously tried to make things easier for him, but sometimes, when she was too deliberate, she noticed a hint of disappointment in Pei Que’s eyes.

“Chunlan and I are weak. You go fetch water. Before making rouge, the petals need to be washed very clean, and Chunlan and I don’t have that much strength,” An Zhi said after thinking for a moment.

Hearing there was work to do, Pei Que was happy.

Everyone worked together, and there was no time to cook. At noon, they went to the Yu family’s shop for lunch.

During this time, Madam of Yu kept talking to Chunlan, even having her son pour tea for An Zhi and the others, being very attentive.

Back at her shop, Binglu pulled Chunlan aside and asked, “Has that Madam of Yu taken a liking to you? I noticed the way she looked at you, so eager. Maybe she wants you as her daughter-in-law?”

Chunlan’s face flushed red. “What are you saying? Madam of Yu’s just a bit enthusiastic. Besides, we’ve only moved here a few days ago. What does she see in me?”

“Enthusiastic? Then why isn’t she enthusiastic towards me?” Binglu spoke with an air of experience, recalling Madam of Yu’s eldest son, a dark-skinned, strong young man who always avoided looking at them. “You really didn’t notice?”

“No!” Chunlan shook her head vigorously. “Why would I think that much? We’ve only been here a few days, just getting to know each other a little.”

An Zhi had noticed this too.

She walked over. “So what do you think? The Yu family’s a bit small, but I’ve noticed these past few days that Madam of Yu is indeed very warm and welcoming. If you’re interested in the eldest son of the Yu family, I think it’s fine.”

Having experienced so much, An Zhi understood a principle: great wealth and status did not necessarily equate to a more stable life than ordinary families.

“Madam, how can you say that!” Chunlan puffed out her cheeks. “This servant has absolutely no intention of getting married, and we are not even acquainted.” She looked at Binglu. “From now on, Sister Binglu or Fusheng can buy breakfast.”

Hearing Chunlan’s reluctance, An Zhi did not say anything more and did not take the matter to heart.

For the next five days, An Zhi was busy with the new shop.

On the sixth day, the signboard arrived, and the shop could open for business.

Business on the first day was mostly with neighbors; it was not great, but she sold a few things, so she had something to do.

However, before the shop had even been open for a few days, someone came to propose marriage.

It was not Madam of Yu who came, but a local gentry from Ding’an named Zhong Manguan, who wanted to marry Binglu as his fifth concubine.

“I saw Young Lady Binglu in Lan Gui House the other day and fell in love at first sight. Here are twenty taels of silver as my betrothal gifts,” Zhong Manguan said, holding a fan and speaking in a refined manner, his narrow eyes occasionally glancing at Binglu.

An Zhi had not expected that someone would come to propose marriage to Binglu so soon after she arrived in Ding’an.

Not wanting to make an enemy, An Zhi said amicably, “I’m sorry, Master Zhong, my Binglu’s already engaged to a Qian Hu commander, and they are just waiting for him to return from the battlefield to get married.”

Hearing this, Zhong Manguan frowned. When he accompanied his third concubine to Lan Gui House to buy rouge, he noticed that the two maids there were very beautiful, even more beautiful than his third concubine. He had learned that the Pei family was just an ordinary family, and thinking that twenty taels of silver was a good amount, he was full of confidence. But he had not expected that Binglu was already engaged.

“And what about Young Lady Chunlan?” Zhong Manguan asked again.

An Zhi was somewhat surprised by this question. “Didn’t Master Zhong want to marry Binglu?”

“But Binglu’s already engaged. I’m not one to steal someone else’s love, and Young Lady Chunlan suits my taste quite well.” Zhong Manguan had been thinking about this day and night for several days, and today he brought a matchmaker to propose marriage; he did not want to leave empty-handed.

The matchmaker chimed in, “Madam of Pei, Master Zhong’s family owns a hundred acres of fertile land, and his sister is the wife of the county magistrate of De’an. Even Master Zhong himself is quite educated. Once Young Lady Chunlan marries into the Zhong family, she will never have to show her face in public again.”

Hearing Zhong Manguan change his proposal to Chunlan, An Zhi knew that Zhong Manguan was a lecherous and unreliable man.

Moreover, the fact that Zhong Manguan had a relationship with De’an made him even more untrustworthy.

“I’m sorry; my Chunlan had her fortune told, and it’s said that this year’s not auspicious for marriage. We will have to wait until after the year,” An Zhi said.

Zhong Manguan, still harboring ulterior motives, said, “Then we can agree on a date next year. Or I can buy a courtyard outside and settle Chunlan there first, so she will not be wronged. What does Madam of Pei think?”

T/N: Eww to these types of historical novel men who treat women like livestock.