Chapter 45: Reading Club

The main gate of the Duke of Zheng’s residence remained wide open today. From time to time, ornately decorated carriages bearing the crests of various noble families rolled up to the entrance. Graceful guests alighted from the carriages, surrounded by their attendants, and entered the estate.

Zheng Sanniang had long been waiting at the gate for the guests’ arrival. Today, she was taking the lead, having invited her close circle of female friends to gather for a reading session—the final volume of “Wealth and Prosperity.”

Since discovering the treasured storybook, she had wholeheartedly recommended it to her friends. Initially, they were quite reluctant, growing impatient with her persistence. Only after begrudgingly glancing at a page or two did they become utterly captivated.

Usually, Zheng Sanniang preferred to read alone, sitting quietly in her study. Whether she twisted her face in anger or laughed so heartily as to lose all decorum, none of it was seen by others.

But this solitude had its drawbacks: the joy of excitement had no one to share it with, the frustration of anger had no outlet, and by the time she wanted to discuss the book with her father, her enthusiasm had already waned considerably.

Coincidentally, the final volume of the second book was about to be released. She thought it best to gather everyone together to read it collectively, so they could express their thoughts and insights together.

Zheng Sanniang’s circle of friends was not large—only seven or eight in total. They assembled in her courtyard, chatting animatedly.

“Is everyone here? Once we're all here, we’ll begin,” Zheng Sanniang announced. It was her first time hosting such a literary gathering.

Usually, their entertainments consisted of games, dancing, playing the zither, or engaging in traditional pastimes like pitch-pot or dominoes.

Thus, instead of preparing fruits and snacks, they each had a bowl of clear tea to complement the reading atmosphere.

“They’re all here,” someone confirmed.

The group settled around the table, heads bowed over the book.

—After Wang Lanhui’s mother, Madam Qin, separated from Wang Erlang, she indeed lived a joyful life. No longer burdened with household affairs, she was free to roam about the neighborhood, visit friends, stroll through the streets, and enjoy leisurely tea breaks.

“I’m so engrossed that I don’t even want to marry—having a child like Lanhui would be perfect.”

“Exactly. And Madam Qin doesn’t have to return to her natal home to care for her parents anymore.”

“But Wang Lanhui is probably going to marry soon. What will become of her mother then? Won’t having a divorced mother delay her marriage prospects?”

—Shortly after the divorce, Wang Erlang remarried and finally had a son. Yet he promised Wang Lanhui that this son would never diminish her place in his heart; she remained his cherished daughter.

Whether Wang Lanhui believed this was another matter.

“That’s just empty words. He divorced his longtime wife just to have a son; who would believe he still cares for Lanhui?”

“He only values her because of her talents and her small fortune.”

“Wait, he’s Lanhui’s father. Would he shamelessly demand that she hand over the prized culinary hall to his son’s inheritance?”

“Doesn’t it strike you as odd that Wang Erlang had no sons for so many years, but right after the divorce and remarriage, he suddenly has one?”

“You’re overthinking it. Let’s keep reading.”

—Fortunately, Wang Erlang was self-aware. He realized that his insistence on taking a concubine had estranged him from his daughter. Though he longed to do more, he dared not make excessive demands, fearing to push Lanhui further away.

Having matured into a graceful young woman, Wang Lanhui no longer resembled the sickly, pale child she once was. Years of managing the culinary hall while traveling about had endowed her with a remarkable poise and confidence uncommon among women of her standing; she showed no weakness before anyone.

Han Family’s eldest son, Han Dalang, had crossed paths with Wang Lanhui many times and, having heard much about her from his mother, grew fond of this strong, independent, and unblemished woman.

“Is Han Dalang Lanhui’s destined match? He’s quite impressive—both scholarly and martial, respectful regardless of family background. They’d suit each other.”

“Wahhh, I’ve watched Lanhui grow up; she’s practically like a daughter to me. How could I bear to see her marry off?” A delicate and beautiful woman cupped her heart in mock distress.

“Why don’t you, as her mother, prepare a dowry for her wedding?” teased a lively companion, winking mischievously.

The two playfully bantered.

“Their family backgrounds are worlds apart; I doubt they can be together,” the woman who earlier questioned about the son’s matter frowned thoughtfully.

She wasn’t opposed to Lanhui’s happiness, but if families weren’t well matched, many obstacles would arise, with family opposition being the foremost.

“That sounds reasonable.”

—During the Lantern Festival, the Han family went out to enjoy the festival, admiring lanterns and solving riddles. Mrs. Han also invited Wang Lanhui and her mother.

But due to the massive crowd, even with guards escorting them, the group was separated.

Han Dalang constantly kept an eye on Wang Lanhui, moving closer to her. When the crowd dispersed, he found himself beside her.

He intended to comfort her but saw that she showed no fear and calmly continued enjoying the lanterns and riddles. Seeing his hesitation, she even reassured him.

Rows of lanterns hung along the streets, illuminating the night brightly. A full moon cast a gentle glow from above, yet the beauty standing among them outshone both lanterns and moonlight.

Han Dalang gazed at her, entranced. The mood was just right—Lantern Festival, family separated, only the two of them together.

He could no longer suppress his admiration and confessed his feelings, hoping for a response.

“I’m so nervous! I wonder if Lanhui will accept?”

“Oh, let me see! Your face is flushed—are you reminiscing about your own secret rendezvous with your lover during a Lantern Festival?” the lively young woman teased the delicate one.

They had all grown up together, knowing each other inside out, and spared no mercy teasing one another.

“You’re talking nonsense!” The delicate woman’s face blushed even deeper.

—Han Dalang thought victory was assured but was stunned when Wang Lanhui rejected him.

“Why?” he asked in disbelief.

Wang Lanhui answered calmly, “Han, our social statuses are worlds apart. I am of common birth and a merchant’s daughter; I cannot be the lady of the Han family.”

She often visited Mrs. Han and understood what was expected of a noble family’s matron. She neither could nor wished to fulfill those duties.

Han Dalang pleaded, “I don’t care about that, and my mother likes you very much.”

“She admires my culinary skills and perhaps appreciates me a little, but she judges a daughter-in-law by different standards. Besides, if I married into the Han family, I would no longer run the culinary hall or cook for patrons. My skills would have no outlet and lose their value. I don’t want that.”

She didn’t know why her master had chosen her, but she knew it was not to marry into a noble family just to cook only for her in-laws and husband.

Wang Lanhui believed this firmly.

Han Dalang felt his noble pride deeply wounded, anger surging. “Am I inferior even to a restaurant?”

Wang Lanhui nodded firmly, without hesitation.

“Ha ha ha! This is hilarious! Why are all these men so arrogant? Such terrifying confidence! A Yun, don’t you agree?”

The woman called A Yun was the same one who had remained clear-headed among their laughter and always raised questions.

Now the teased person was her. Her playful expression turned cold.

Hearing that there was a story behind it, everyone eagerly pressed, “What happened? Tell us!”

“Ha ha, last time when we went hiking, A Yun and I were picking flowers, and then Xu Liulang came over and asked if he could talk to A Yun privately. Being kind-hearted, I stepped aside for them.”

“You had the nerve to say that while abandoning me and hiding behind a tree peeking? So unfaithful!” A Yun scolded angrily.

“Don’t be mad, A Yun. You refused him outright. Xu Liulang was stunned and tried hard to hold back his anger, just like Han Dalang in this story,” she said, laughing uncontrollably.

Everyone couldn’t help but chuckle.

—The fledgling romance was abruptly ended by Wang Lanhui herself, and afterward, both parties agreed not to mention it again.

Later, once the culinary hall was running smoothly, Wang Lanhui took on several apprentices to teach her cooking. When their skills were perfected, she entrusted the hall to them and set off to roam the world.

Many years after her departure, Wang Erlang discovered that the son he raised bore little resemblance to him but looked more like a neighbor’s child. The truth eventually surfaced—he had been raising someone else’s son all along!

“A Yun is amazing! She guessed it right!”

“Ah, I just said it casually,” A Yun waved her hand modestly.

—Wang Lanhui traveled extensively, experiencing the customs and flavors of various regions. Her culinary skills evolved to blend the diverse tastes of the great land. From strictly following her master’s teachings, she began inventing new dishes, establishing her own distinctive style.

Along the way, she discovered many local crops discarded by villagers but which, with different cooking methods, were treasures.

Her deeds were praised by future generations and turned into stories sung far and wide.

She never kept secrets, generously sharing her recipes, earning her the title of the founding ancestor of a culinary art.

Thus, the book concluded.

“That’s it? I’m so reluctant to finish,” she said, flipping the last page, hoping to find more words.

Having finished the entire book, the group felt satisfied yet tinged with a sense of loss, as if bidding farewell to a cherished companion.

From now on, separated by mountains and rivers, reunions would be uncertain and distant.

“I really want to travel the vast land. Staying in the backyard all the time is too dull,” someone sighed regretfully.

“So what? When we start our own families, let’s promise to travel together. No one will be able to stop us then!”

An enthusiastic voice broke the melancholic mood instantly.

Everyone eagerly discussed and fantasized about the hopeful future.

“What? Opening a branch in Chang’an?” Xu Chengyue asked in surprise.

Lü Hongzhuo nodded. “Yes, Lady Xu, you heard correctly. My father has long planned this, but the Tianxiang Pavilion got there first. Now we must accelerate. To be honest, my father is quite ambitious—he wants to open Shanhai Bookstores all across the Tang Empire.”