Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 280: Warm Jade Comb

Outside the General Mansion, a carriage is parked.

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, surely it must be lively outside. I’ve heard there’s a dragon boat race on Jinming Lake, it should be fascinating to watch, and Long Yue wants to check it out.

In the past, when she was in the Capital City, her mother always accompanied her to have fun. But after a few years, her mother fell gravely ill and passed away, leaving her to feel bored alone, so she went with her sister Pang Shuangyue. Each time, she was fooled terribly by her, but she never realized it herself, such a foolishness!

Now that she’s going with Li Qingmu, there is a different kind of charm.

"Hey, wait for me, wait for us!"

Xiang Yin and Chai Qiao’er also arrived, rushing to catch up. They didn’t bring the little bean sprout, fearing he’d be snatched by bad people in the crowd, so they left him at the General Mansion to stay put.

"Little Sister Yue’er, Little Sister Qiao’er!"

From a distance, Yang Zhuoya’s carriage also arrived.

She had come yesterday to invite Long Yue to watch the dragon boat race today, and everyone agreed to gather at the gate of the General Mansion. As they were heading to Jinming Lake, it was on the way.

Yang Zhuoya has been coming frequently these days, gradually becoming familiar with Chai Qiao’er. Chai Qiao’er is gentle and graceful, knows how to behave, and has become friends with Yang Zhuoya.

"It’s terrible, I almost couldn’t accompany Little Ya during the festival."

Meeting Li Qingmu, Su Shi’s first words were a litany of complaints. The Dragon Boat Festival is a folk holiday, but Changchao still needs to be held, and an Imperial Censor wanted to swap shifts with Su Shi today.

Being madly devoted to his wife, he could not fail to keep his promise to accompany her for fun. The two had a fierce argument, faces flushed from the heat, but Su Shi’s eloquence slightly prevailed, and he came out victorious, happy as he pleased.

Li Qingmu shook his head and chuckled, "If it were me, I’d smash him with a ceremonial tablet, see if he dares to babble further!"

"A Mu, you hit too hard with that tablet, Lord Zhao still has a lump on his forehead, hahaha..."

Su Shi pointed at Li Qingmu and laughed scoldingly, Xiang Yin, watching from the side, felt envious, truly envied their days at the government office. If only he could pass the provincial exams, he’d be happy... sigh...

Last year, Xiang Yin took the provincial exams, initially full of confidence, but ended up failing miserably, leaving him internally despondent.

Being a son from a merchant family like his, wanting to enter the government and become an official requires either taking the imperial examination, which is the legitimate route, or seeking recommendations from important ministers, which is a shortcut.

But whether it’s the right path or a shortcut, neither is easy.

In the hierarchy of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, officials always rank first, while the merchant’s status is not high.

Even though Dazhou is open and the Emperor is enlightened, imposing fewer restraints on merchants, everyone aims for higher aspirations. Who would willingly remain a commoner all their lives?

For generations, the Xiang Family has been in business, accumulating considerable wealth, just wishing to obtain a position. This way, the ancestors of the Xiang Family could bask in glory.

Father Xiang wholeheartedly nurtured him, but Xiang Yin failed, feeling a bit ashamed, believing he has let down his father and the ancestors of the Xiang Family.

"Hey, Brother Xiang, why so despondent?"

Li Qingmu, with his back to Xiang Yin, did not see his gloomy mood, but Su Shi noticed.

"Nothing..."

"A Yin, how did you do in last year’s exams?"

Li Qingmu hit the crucial point with his question, causing Xiang Yin to feel silently distressed, "Didn’t pass."

Li Qingmu paused for a moment of silence and said, "That’s alright. Although you have to wait for two more years, during these two years, you can stay in the Capital City. Once the household registration is sorted out, you can participate in Shengjing City’s imperial examinations. There are far more admission slots than in Jiangling County, and you have a chance!"

"Really?" Xiang Yin’s eyes lit up.

"Of course, then Su Shi and I can even coach you together, it will surely be twice the results with half the effort!"

Xiang Yin glanced at Su Shi, saw him nodding, and happily said, "Then I thank both of you!"

"You’re welcome, it’s rare that everyone gets along, haha!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, Madam, we’re almost at Jinming Lake, lots of people there, do you want to get off here?"

Wang Xiaoliu stopped the carriage with a very respectful demeanor.

"Let’s get off here, a walk would be good!"

"Alright!"

The three young couples each got off the carriage.

All of them were there to accompany their own young ladies, and with others around, they served as candles, quite obstructive. So, the three young couples understood and chose to enjoy themselves separately.

"A Mu, we came early. The dragon boat race hasn’t started yet, should we go over there and take a look?"

Long Yue pointed ahead; there were many small vendors in that area, selling all sorts of things, food, items, toys, a dazzling array.

"Madam, would you like a sugar figurine? My craftsmanship is excellent; whatever style you want, I’ll make it for you!"

In front of a small stall, the sugar figurine artisan placed a large chunk of brown sugar into a hot pot, letting it melt slowly. With a ladle, he scooped a spoonful of syrup on the side and moved it back and forth on an iron plate. Not long after, a phoenix with outstretched wings appeared on the plate.

At the end, he inserted a bamboo skewer into the center of the phoenix, gently lifting it off the plate with a spatula.

Nearby, a young girl in a pink dress immediately took a liking to the phoenix, handed over five copper coins, and took it away.

"Madam, would you like one? Many adults play with them too, hehe!"

The artisan chuckled.

"Alright, make me a pair, based on the appearance of me and my husband, can you do that?"

"Certainly, Madam, just wait a moment."

Li Qingmu watched as the artisan quickly crafted on the iron plate, moved closer to his little wife, and whispered, "Why make us? Sugar figurines are ugly; they lack vitality!"

"I want you to look a bit ugly, what’s wrong with that?"

Long Yue shot Li Qingmu an annoyed glance. This man was born so handsome and skilled, might he be lured away by some other woman one day?

Without a child, there’s one less bonding thread between them, making Long Yue feel insecure.

Li Qingmu had already turned his attention to the two sugar figurines, unaware of the trace of anxiety in Long Yue’s eyes.

"Alright, Sir, here you go. The figurines cost a bit more, totaling twenty copper coins."

"Okay!"

After paying, the couple each took a sugar figurine and walked into the crowd.

Behind them, a masked woman slowly emerged from an alleyway.

The woman had an elegant figure and a graceful manner. Just from her back silhouette, one would think she’s an alluring beauty, but upon closer inspection, her forehead and cheeks bore faint marks, making it difficult to completely hide even with the finest makeup.

Her eyes, staring intently at the couple, held a venomous look, "Harpy, you’ve harmed me so, today I shall send you a special gift!"

Her voice was icy cold, and the corner of her mouth curled into a sinister, cruel smile.

Long Yue held the sugar figurine, occasionally licking it with pleasure. It was sweet and tasted delightful.

The couple had already visited many shops, mostly food sellers. Li Qingmu carried several large bags, all snacks bought by Long Yue.

"Combs for sale, fine combs!"

Not far away, a voice called out; it was a stall selling combs. An old man with a long beard shouted occasionally, and perhaps tired from shouting, he took a break.

"Would anyone like a fine warm jade comb? Madam, you’re so beautiful; would you like to see my combs, they are made from the finest materials, polished so smoothly. If you don’t believe, why not give them a try?"

Seeing Long Yue approach, the old man asked with a hoarse voice.

Long Yue intended to leave, but upon hearing "warm jade comb," she paused.

She turned to look at several jade combs on the stall, curious, "Is this... made of warm jade?"