Chapter 37: Chance Encounter, Advice

Jing Wan nodded. In her eyes, this micro pot landscape was still comparatively crude. After going back, she can properly make another one. She then asked the stall owner some things, “Next time you bring them, send some to the Luo Manor. Besides that, you can also find some others....” Jing Wan described to him the cactus type succulent plants, “If you see them, bring them back along with the others, I want them all. If there’s a lot of them, you can also sell them yourself. This small pot landscape is very simple, can figure out with a glance right?” Jing Wan smiled.

Having his intentions seen through by a young lady, the stall owner felt somewhat awkward. What the stall owner didn’t know was that this unremarkable little thing very quickly will rise in popularity among the capital’s back manor. He was only able to monopolize the market two or three times, before the big shots in the field came knocking. Luckily, he’d also earned quite a bit from it already. And these unremarkable little succulents went from not worth a cent, to its value repeatedly raising, until it reached a considerable amount.

Towards these things, Jing Was rather didn’t mind too much. Using the cold water, she washed her hands clean. Normally, at any time, warm water was always used to wash hands. This made Gong mama rather concerned, and Qing Zhu also nagged a few words. Jing Wan felt helpless.

“Luo Old Man, you having such a granddaughter, how come I never heard you mentioning before.” For people like them, when they were at home, their children and grandchildren naturally all wanted to by all means be ‘filial’ to them, inevitably adapting to one’s liking. And if they really encounter a younger generation that was clever in this aspect, no matter what the initial motive was, they would definitely still be very happy. Then, occasionally bringing it out in front of others to brag about was also very normal. And the Luo family’s girl wasn’t just as simple as being clever, but he’d never heard Luo old man mention her before.

Seeing her own grandfather seemingly planning to stay ‘aloof’ till the end, Jing Wan spoke, “This one before had been residing in Qi’an Fu with grandmother the whole time. Just entered the capital a few days ago along with grandmother.”

“No wonder.” Head Magistrate Diwu stroked his beard and nodded, his thoughts turning, “Little girl ah, those flowers that your grandfather spoke of, do you know them?”

Jing Wan looked to Luo Pei Shan, finding the matter rather funny, “They’re the ones that this one raised while in Qi’an Fu. This time also brought them along coming to the capital.”

Head Magistrate Diwu’s beard once again broke off quite a few strands in a row. If it keeps continuing like this, his beard will sooner or later go bald. Even he himself felt very heartbroken looking at it, but he still continued stroking it. And his beard strands still continued to fall from time to time. His gaze ‘begrudgingly’ looked to Luo Pei Shan, “Seems Sir Luo’s confidence is full now.”

Luo Pei Shan stuck out his chest. That’s right, his confidence right now was especially full. “Our family’s third girl also has a pot of three colored peony that’s unparalleled in the world.” Seeing Head Magistrate Diwu’s beard continuing to break off, he felt especially satisfied.

Jing Wan really wanted to say, dear grandfather, take it a bit easy. Unparalleled in the world and whatnot, if known how it’s done, it really isn’t that rare. However, after seeing that childish side of Luo Pei Shan’s, Jing Wan still silently chose to close her mouth.

“Greetings to the two sirs, this student boldly interrupts.” Sun Yi Lin, who’d heard them speaking and turned around, paused for a moment, but still went forward in the end. Towards the nearby Jing Wan, he cupped his hands in greeting. Jing Wan also curtsied to return the formalities.

“Sun family’s boy, you’re not at his Majesty’s side working today?” Luo Pei Shan asked. It was just a simple inquiry with no other intentions. Have to say, among the younger generations, Sun Yi Lin was the most liked by them, but also the most hated as well. The reason for the two naturally was all because of flowers. With the Ding Duke Manor’s power overflowing to the skies, he was always able to obtain some name breeds that they couldn’t get, but this darn brat was ‘stingy’. Those true rare and valuable breeds, he was not willing to trade with them no matter what.

“This student is just a mere ‘foot soldier’, not enough to be significant. His Majesty is magnanimous, no need for me to accompany daily.”

As expected, even if he’s highly regarded, he still needed to climb step by step. His starting point was already much higher than others, so there was no need to be in a rush.

“Came by yourself?” Head Magistrate Diwu said it like he was teasing. Who in the capital didn’t know that the fifth young master of the Ding Duke Manor practically loves flowers to the point of obsession, and thus, liked to occasionally stroll through the flower market. And those young ladies that admire him naturally all flock over, attempting to have a chance encounter. Perhaps, might even be able to chat about their ‘shared hobbies’. And if they can form ties because of this, then there was nothing better.

It’s no wonder when they were at the Ding Duke Manor, after hearing Sun Yi Lin talked to Jing Wan because of flowers, Li Ru Yu’s reaction was that big. Because they all knew, the possibility of Sun Yi Lin fancying a girl because of flowers was very high. Even though there were already countless young ladies that have sent him flowers through other people before, and the results all end up with nothing definite, Li Ru Yu was still on guard at all times.

Sun Yi Lin knew his own situation, but he was long used to it. “Today, I’m mainly just out accompanying my younger sister.”

Sun Yi Jia’s marriage has been made into quite a ruckus. In addition, her marriage will also affect the current political state of affairs, so it’s completely normal for people like Luo Pei Shan to also know about the situation.

Because they just happened to be standing at the corner of two streets, the Sun family siblings were actually coming from another street. It was clear that at the moment, Sun Yi Jia had most likely gone to change clothes. Just as expected, not long after, Sun Yi Jia came out from a nearby building.

After Sun Yi Jia greeted the two elders, she mutually bowed to Jing Wan and didn’t say anything, but her gaze slightly paused on Jing Wan’s face. Jing Wan returned a smile. However, what Jing Wan probably didn’t know was that Sun Yi Jia actually still had an impression towards her. This impression was even quite deep. This impression didn’t come from being the target of Li Ru Yu’s bullying, but from later when she was leaving. At the time, the circumstances were rather special. Even if it was just a quick glance, it was still rather easy for one to remember.

This party strolling through the flower market together, naturally increased just like that.

Sun Yi Lin’s heart was itching to learn about that three colored peony, but at the moment, it wasn’t the time to ask. He had no choice but to press back his thoughts and chat with the two old gentlemen about their shared love.

Jing Wan and Sun Yi Jia were walking together. They didn’t have much to say. Mainly it was still because Sun Yi Jia’s mood wasn’t very good. Then again, her marriage was already such a mess, and what her family cares about was just how much benefit she can bring the Ding Duke Manor, the Empress, and Kang Qinwang. No one has ever considered whether or not she will be happy. Even if she’d long accepted this fate, she will still feel heartbroken and sad.

Compared to that street from before, this street was a lot more orderly. It appeared to also look even more imposing. Individual stalls turned into storefronts, with even two-story to three-story buildings being seen everywhere.

“Miss Sun, look at those flowers, aren’t they very pretty? Then, look at those plants, aren’t they very verdant?” Jing Wan and the others had followed the two elders into a flower shop that had all kinds of breeds on display. Jing Wan then suddenly spoke to Sun Yi Jia.

Sun Yi Jia didn’t understand her intention, but still followed where she pointed and looked over. There didn’t seem to be anything different from what she usually saw.

historical

“Do you know, in the very beginning, they all grew out in the wilderness. When they were being dug out by humans, no one knows whether or not they themselves were willing. And they themselves don’t know what they will be facing either. If they are able to think like humans, then perhaps their first reaction would be panic, worrying that they’ll be treated like firewood and get burned. But, in actuality, this wasn’t the case. Instead, they received even better and even more meticulous care. They would grow increasingly more beautiful, receiving everyone’s love. But this process of going from wild to being domesticated, actually isn’t that beautiful either. The most painful is still the change in environment. These before us are all those that strived to change and adapt. And those that weren’t able to adapt have long withered away.” Jing Wan’s soft voice patiently and gently sounded.

How could Sun Yi Jia still not understand Jing Wan’s meaning. When your fate is being controlled by others, why worry from the start about walking down a death road to despair? It’s not like you completely don’t have the room to chose either. Strive to adapt and strive to let yourself live better, or despairingly let yourself give in? If it’s the former, then perhaps she may discover that she herself will become better than before. Even if she can’t, she was still the Ding Duke Manor’s young lady, it’s not like she can’t just find amusement in her own way. If it’s the latter, even if others have the heart, they would still, because of her indifference, give up in the end, and then, dimly decay, and wordlessly disappear.

Sun Yi Jia’s tears, like a broken pearl necklace, all of sudden rolled down. At home, no one had ever said these kinds of things to her before. Aside from her most intimate older brother, no one else could even see her thoughts, but her older brother could only just helplessly comfort her. She’d always thought that she didn’t need anything, and just like that, counted her days as they passed. But, no. She’d been endlessly wondering in the dark the whole time. She needed someone to give her directions. Just, this person appeared so abruptly and beyond her expectations.

Sun Yi Lin was just the same deeply moved. Seeing his own younger sister crying, he unconsciously wanted to go forward. Luo Pei Shan stopped him, “The girls are having a talk, what’s a brat like you joining in for.” He pulled him to the side, continuing to look at flowers. But in fact, they all slyly had their ears perked up.