mtlumby2d Chapter 13 Rejection of Acquisition
Chapter 13 Rejection of Acquisition
It felt like only a blink of an eye, and the next morning had arrived. The morning light filtered through thin clouds, gently bathing the earth in a soft golden veil. A gentle breeze carried a refreshing scent, invigorating the senses. A new day had quietly begun, full of endless possibilities and unknown challenges.
The best time to plan for the year is in spring, and the best time to plan for the day is in the morning. Mornings should be a time of vitality, but the restaurant owner, Zhao Shouyi, and the Zhou siblings all had dark circles under their eyes, clearly indicating that they had stayed up all night.
“Miss Zhou, Zhou Dong and I have been searching for your bracelet for most of the night, and we are really sorry. Since the bracelet was lost in my shop, I certainly won't just stand by and do nothing. How about I compensate you with a few taels of silver so you can go to the street and buy a new one?” Young Master Zhao offered a reasonable suggestion.
However, Zhou Xi hesitated and refused, "Um, never mind, it's not necessary."
"Why? Didn't you say your jade bracelet was a family heirloom left to you by your mother?" Zhao Shouyi asked, puzzled.
Zhou Xi gave an awkward smile and then replied, "I remember now, the bracelet was left at home, it wasn't lost."
Young Master Zhao and Zhou Dong exchanged a glance, then breathed a sigh of relief and replied in unison, "That's good, that's good!"
Afterwards, Young Master Zhao treated them to a light breakfast of porridge and pickled vegetables at the shop, and then arranged for a carriage to take them home. As they were leaving, Zhou Xi said with reluctance,
"Young Master Zhao, you are so kind to me, I'm almost reluctant to leave here."
Young Master Zhao didn't understand what she was talking about, so he could only smile awkwardly and then say to them,
"Don't come again next time. I will refuse to buy any of the ingredients you send."
Zhou Xi thought she had misheard, so she quickly jumped down from the carriage and went to his side to ask.
"Young Master Zhao, what do you mean by that? I don't understand what you're saying."
Zhao Shouyi frankly stated, "The person I like is Su Yuning, and I only accept ingredients from her. If the person who comes next time is not Miss Su, then I will have to have my staff refuse to buy from her."
"In that case, I will tell her the truth. Farewell!" Although Zhou Xi was very unhappy, she still bid farewell to Young Master Zhao in a tactful way. Then, Zhou Xi jumped into the carriage and urged the coachman to drive away.
Young Master Zhao stood there quietly watching the group's departing figures, feeling a little lost. Perhaps in his heart, he had already considered Zhou Xi and Zhou Dong as friends.
Afterwards, Young Master Zhao went to the teahouse to find Su Muyang because of his sister's situation.
"Brother, may we speak in private for a moment?" Young Master Zhao asked politely.
Su Muyang wasn't busy at the time, so he readily agreed and went with him to the Furong Tower in the city.
Furonglou is a restaurant specializing in floral cuisine. Its signature dishes include floral cakes, floral steamed buns, and floral rolled pancakes.
As a prince and restaurant owner, he wouldn't just serve vegetarian food when entertaining guests. So, the table not only had flower meatball soup, but also coconut chicken, stone pot fish, osmanthus cake, flower pancakes, and osmanthus wine.
Su Muyang asked curiously, "Why did Young Master Zhao call me here?"
Young Master Zhao was a man of noble birth, so he naturally wouldn't easily reveal his true feelings. He simply said to him in a calm tone, "Let's drink and eat first, and we'll talk about it later."
Su Muyang was speechless, but since he couldn't compare to the other person's background, he had no choice but to comply.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xi, who had returned to the village, found Su Yuning by the pond. Su Yuning asked if the delivery went smoothly, but Zhou Xi only told her half the story.
"Su Xiaomei, there's something troubling me. That young master Zhao is unreasonable. We delivered the goods, and he told us not to go again. He refused to accept the goods."
"What?" Su Yuning's face was full of disbelief, as if she had seen something beyond reason and incomprehensible.
"It's absolutely true, we're closer than sisters, and I'm telling you the truth! If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!" Zhou Xi made a vow gesture and solemnly guaranteed.
Since things had come to this point, Su Yuning had no choice but to believe it. She squatted down and sighed helplessly, then picked up a stalk of grass and started scribbling on the ground. Although Zhou Xi was an expert hunter, he knew nothing about writing or numbers, so he couldn't understand what Su Yuning was doing at all.
"Su Xiaomei, what are you doing? Don't be sad. If this business doesn't work out, we can just find another one. Life is full of disappointments, so please don't be upset," Zhou Xi kindly advised her.
Su Yuning responded coldly, "I'm calculating the losses this time, don't interrupt me!" Zhou Xi didn't dare to say a word.
Just then, Zhou Dong arrived and handed Su Yuning a heavy money bag.
"Sister, all the money I earned this time is here. Please accept it!"
Su Yuning stood up, took the money bag, weighed it in her hand and felt that the weight was about right, then stuffed the money bag into the pocket at the waist of her ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) without even glancing at it.
"Zhou Dong, why are you so late?" Su Yuning asked him, puzzled.
Zhou Dong quickly explained, "Sister Su, I delivered the errand fee home first, and then came to find you."
At this moment, Su Yuning asked Zhou Dong, "Little brother, did Young Master Zhao really refuse to accept our goods?"
"Not entirely," Zhou Dong replied, seemingly understanding but not quite.
At this moment, Zhou Xi, who was standing next to him, quickly gave him a stern look, "What do you know, you're just a kid? Don't talk nonsense! Can't you see Su Yuning is doing the accounts?"
Zhou Dong was so aggrieved he was almost in tears, but remembering his father's teachings—that a real man doesn't easily shed tears—he held back his tears.
"What do you mean by 'not entirely'?" Su Yuning asked warily.
At this moment, Zhou Xi felt guilty and quickly pulled Zhou Dong to go home, saying, "It's lunchtime, my brother and I should eat. We can talk again later!"
Su Yuning quickly sped up and ran to stop them, shouting sternly.
"Tell me the truth! Are we still friends?"
At this moment, Zhou Xi felt too ashamed to face anyone and quickly covered her face and ran away, leaving Zhou Dong standing there timidly looking at Su Yuning, not knowing how to organize his thoughts.
At this moment, Su Yuning realized she had been too serious and quickly lowered her voice to ask,
“Brother Zhou, tell me, what did Young Master Zhao say? Why did he suddenly refuse to buy it? Is it because the lotus fish aren’t fresh?”
Zhou Dong responded cautiously.
“Young Master Zhao didn’t say the lotus fish was bad, but he just told me and Zhou Xi to stop delivering goods. He said he likes you and will only accept goods delivered by you personally, and will refuse to buy any goods delivered by others.”
Su Yuning then asked, "Then why did your sister lie?"
Zhou Dong was also unsure, so she could only stand there and tug at the corner of her clothes.
Seeing that she couldn't get anything useful out of him, Su Yuning said to him, "Don't be afraid, little brother. It's great that you were able to tell the truth. I'll take you home so that Zhou Xi won't blame you."
"Okay then, thank you, sister." Zhou Dong said as she followed Su Yuning toward home.
In the VIP room of Furong Tower, both Su Muyang and Young Master Zhao were quite drunk.
Taking the opportunity, Su Muyang asked, "What exactly is it? Young Master Zhao, please speak frankly."
After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Shouyi finally told the truth, "Wan'er broke up with you!"
These words were like a bolt of lightning that ripped through the sky, instantly tearing the world in two; or like a deafening clap of thunder that exploded in one's ears, catching one off guard and leaving one utterly astonished! It was like an incomparably sharp blade that ruthlessly severed the last glimmer of hope and illusion in the heart of the second son of the Su family; it was more like a sudden storm that violently assaulted Su Muyang's mental defenses, plunging him into endless panic and despair.
"No, shouldn't she have explained this to me in person? Why do you have to relay it?" Su Muyang couldn't believe it was all real, and thought the other party was joking with him. "Young Master Zhao, your joke is not funny at all. Can you please stop being so boring and childish?"
Fearing that Su Muyang would be upset, Young Master Zhao immediately stood up to leave the table, but Su Muyang grabbed his sleeve. The two were locked in a stalemate, and Young Master Zhao could only pause for a moment, replying with a solemn expression.
"This is not a joke, but an announcement. Wan'er is about to embark on a journey of marriage alliance and become the wife of the leader of the grassland alliance."
Just as Su Muyang was about to speak, Young Master Zhao spoke first, "I know what you want to ask. Just listen, and I'll answer your questions. Wan'er married the leader of the grassland alliance willingly because she felt that your status was different from hers, and she wanted to live a life free from worries about food and clothing."
As soon as he finished speaking, tears streamed down Su Muyang's face. He couldn't help but clench his fists, wanting to beat the man up. After all, he had given his heart and soul to this relationship and spent a lot of money, but in the end, it was all for nothing.
At this moment, Young Master Zhao comforted him, "Don't cry, a man doesn't easily shed tears."
Su Muyang retorted, "It's just that I haven't reached the point of heartbreak yet."
Young Master Zhao was both amused and exasperated, and could only earnestly promise him, "Although Wan'er cannot give you a bright future, she will give you gold and silver treasures, as well as a noble title."
Su Muyang turned his face away and instinctively refused, "I am a dignified man, with hands and feet to earn money, I don't need a woman's charity."
At this moment, Young Master Zhao said to him, "There is no medicine for regret in this world. Once this village is gone, this shop will not be available again. I advise you to be a little more pragmatic and try your best to fight for what you should fight for."
Su Muyang fell silent. He thought about how he had been working odd jobs in the city since he was thirteen. If five years had passed and he was still working odd jobs, he would definitely need some things, such as shops, farmland, houses, and carriages.
"Then please ask Young Master Zhao to convey my request: I, Su Muyang, need a house with a courtyard in the city, a carriage, two shops, and ten acres of land."
"You're being a bit too greedy." Young Master Zhao was a little stunned by Su Muyang's wish.
"This won't work, that won't work, it's so annoying!" Su Muyang said angrily. "If all else fails, go back and persuade Wan'er to give up the marriage alliance and marry me instead!"
"Hmm." Young Master Zhao responded, then flicked his sleeves to break free from his restraints and left without looking back.
In reality, Young Master Zhao agreed to the former, giving him the house deed and land deed, but Su Muyang understood it to mean something else entirely: that Wan'er should be with him.
So, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Su Muyang secretly slipped into the palace! Moreover, by eavesdropping on the palace maids' conversations while hiding in the bushes, he even learned the location of Princess Wan'er's bedroom. Therefore, without further ado, he went directly to the bedroom to see Wan'er!
When Princess Wan'er saw her beloved again, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings of sorrow and joy.
"Mu Yang, how did you get in?"
"That's not important. I just want to ask you, can you refuse the arranged marriage and be with me?"
Princess Wan'er shook her head and refused him, "No. The date for the marriage alliance has been set. We will depart from the palace tomorrow at noon, passing through Xinghua Village and other villages of all sizes, before finally arriving at the grasslands."
Su Muyang asked her sullenly, "You explained the route so clearly, are you implying that I should steal the bride?"
Princess Wan'er waved her hands repeatedly in fright, "No, no, you should leave quickly, this place is not safe to stay!"
"What's the big deal? This is your palace. As your boyfriend, it's only right that I stay here!" Su Muyang replied nonchalantly. However, the next second, the Empress walked in with a group of palace maids!
"How dare you! In broad daylight, a strange man has broken into the princess's palace! Guards! Seize him!" The Empress commanded angrily, and Su Muyang was immediately bound hand and foot and brought before the Emperor.
When the Emperor heard that the man before him had dared to trespass into the Princess's palace, he was so angry he wanted to draw his imperial sword and kill him. However, Princess Wan'er pleaded with him tearfully, and the Empress also intervened, saying, "Tomorrow is Wan'er's wedding day. We cannot let this joyous occasion be disrupted. Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!" In the end, the Emperor could not bring himself to do it.
"Who goes there? State your name!" the Emperor demanded angrily.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Su Muyang, and I have come to persuade the princess to abandon the marriage alliance and marry me instead," Su Muyang replied with a bow.
The Emperor was furious, his beard bristling and eyes wide with rage. "How dare you! The princess is of noble birth; how can you marry her as you please? You truly don't know what's good for you!"
"Father! Wan'er is willing to marry him! Please spare him!" Wan'er knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.
"Get up quickly, the ground is cold!" The emperor felt sorry for his daughter and finally agreed to let him leave the palace.
No sooner had Su Muyang left than Zhao Shouyi arrived at the main hall. The emperor asked him what he had come for, and Zhao Shouyi said that he was there to fight for Su Muyang's house and land deeds, since Su Muyang was willing to give up the person he loved.
This was incredibly bad timing; the Emperor was furious, and he was yelling at Zhao Shouyi.
"Is this never going to end? One minute he wants the princess, the next he wants a house and land. This Su Muyang is really unreliable! Go back and tell him he has nothing! He won't get anything!"
Seeing his father's unusual expression, Zhao Shouyi replied, "Understood!" and hurriedly left.