" Ah~ I feel alive now! "
" Gege, is this the plan you spoke of this afternoon?"
" What?"
" We have been going from shops to shops, restaurants to restaurants, doing what?"
' C'mon, this peacock is sure a joy killer. '
A while ago, after eating their lunch, Shen Zhufu sat the two down, to discuss the plan he had in mind.
Of course, he was serious about it but when he had a whiff of baked buns, he couldn't resist. Thus, he was carried away— going from one shop to another, one restaurant to another, trying out their menus.
Was he to blame?
" What's wrong with it?"
"...."
Cao Chang left his side, taking long strides, and stood right in front of him, with his arms crossed over his chest. With a blaise voice. Cao Chang, " Look at the sky..... It is dark already."
Shen Zhufu's eyes unconsciously followed the finger pointing to the darkened sky ' Fuck! It got dark so soon? ' he cursed under his breath.
he took a glance at the peacock staring at him with a lifted eyebrow, waiting for his response.
Tired of the chills he felt running down his spine, Shen Zhufu drew in a long slow breath, " Ok! Ok!! Stop looking at me like that." he gave a dismissive wave of his hand before walking out on him. " Let's go back to the inn," he said across his shoulders.
Shen Zhufu promised himself, it won't happen again.
Well, it is easier to spew those few words than to act on them–
Resisting those innate temptations was a great task already.
Four weeks had gone, and he had visited almost all the restaurants, shops, and inns in the large city of Jungyang– his taste buds could now recognize every delicacy made in the city while shamelessly giving some cooking tips to the cooks. There was a time, he barged inside the kitchen of a restaurant, ignoring the obvious facts about it being restricted to only the employees, scolded the poor cooks and the restaurant owner, who tried to stop him("...") and shared 'life-saving tips' because the food served was not spicy enough.
Shen Zhufu, "One spicy meal per day is like medicine to one's boring life... Don't you know?"
Cooks and the owner, "...."
Shen Zhufu could only sigh in his heart, he can not blame them for not understanding his pain. He felt sorry for them and several others in Junyang for missing this.
As big and prosperous a city as Junyang, he noticed almost all of their delicacy lacked spiciness.
' Does their ancestor forbids spice in their food? '
Speaking of their ancestor; it was never mentioned in any of the books he was opportune to 'borrow' and read.
Did they try to ignore the existence of their ancestor? Was it intentional? Or their ancestor was someone who does not to be known? What was the reason? Or have they never had one?
It raised several questions in his head.
Notwithstanding those unsettling questions building up in his head, every restaurant, shop, and inn soon recognized and made him their special customer for his tips which in turn improved their business.
Three months have gone, and with his clever tips, Shen Zhufu had helped several businesses to prosper, likewise, earning himself both fortune and the trust of Junyang.
Though it was a difficult task to accomplish, with how crafty Shen Zhufu is, it is as easy as turning over his hand.
In their little cottage built by the villagers as an act of gratitude. It was built far from the village, as requested by Shen Zhufu. It had nice scenery and a peaceful environment; most especially, free from prying eyes and noses.
A restless figure walked back and forth, chewing on his nails anxiously. He turned to face the man with an untamed smile on his face and a child in his arms.
" Cao Chang, don't just sit there playing with a kid!! Help me think!"
The said man took a glance at the serious face before him and smirked, " As you see, I am helping you."
"...By playing a child?"
" Definitely."
Shen Zhufu felt his veins about to pop out of his forehead.
' Damn, peacock! '
While still sulking, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
"A-Xiao?"
His contorted face smoothened and his nerves calmed like the sight of this person had a soothing effect like a warm jasmine tea.
XiaoMeiNan handed him a piece of paper, few words were scribbled with elegant cursive.
'Sit calmly and settle your spirit.'
His lips curved into a gentle smile as he read the words written on the paper for the third time. Like a spell, he did exactly what was said on the paper.
' A-Xiao is improving! '
He stared at the elegant cursive with a proud smile on his face. For the last two months, he took it to himself to teach XiaoMeiNan calligraphy; since he couldn't communicate verbally, he could write.
Right?
And he got himself an excellent student, who learned at a fast pace. Not only could he write well, he reads well.
Who won't be proud to have such an excellent student?
But...
'Why does he always communicate in just a few words? '
That was the only challenge this teacher faced.
His student only communicated in short and precise sentences.
Was he expecting a long paragraph? Or a letter?
He laughed at his silly thoughts.
At least, he got something to Parade through the busy streets of Junyang.
" A-Xiao, what do you have in mind?"
A pair of heterochromatic irises stared in his direction for a split second before he started scribbling on a notepad made and gifted by his Gongzi for being the best student ever.
After scribbling whatever, he handed it to his gongzi to read.
' Rats are foraging.'
Also, his dear student is a little bit crafty with his words... And it gives Gongzi Shen Zhufu, a big headache.
' Rats? Foraging? '
His mind ran a mile before finally realizing what those words meant.
Shen Zhufu, "Why?" a confused look appeared on his face. he returned the notepad for an answer.
'patiently seek'
" We could do that." I guess, he never said it. Within him, he couldn't ' sit calmly and settle his spirit', his gut won't let him. But what could he do, then be a listening gong?
He drew the beauty close to him with a smile and patted him on his head," My good boy, I am proud of you. "
Cao Chang, who has been watching quietly, jumped up from where he sat, carefully holding Wei Xiang in his arms," I agree with him, gege~ It's best we should just observe for now... Not to raise suspicion among the villagers. "
Shen Zhufu nods his head in agreement but he didn't know why he felt uncomfortable with these simple but troubling suggestions.
All he could say was an" Alright. " before heading to his room to rest out the anxiety.
Cao Chang followed behind but glanced back with a little smirk, which didn't go unnoticed by those icy eyes which were once soft.
A red deadly glint flashed through them.
Upon reaching the door to his room, he turned around to see the playful face of a wild peacock.
" What? " his eyebrows raised in confusion.
Cao Chang," Xian-Xian"
' Oh'
His headache melted at the sight of his son wanting to be held by his father. He sure felt guilty for forgetting about his little bird.
He stretched out his arms to hold his son, who happily snuggled against him, after almost jumping into his arms. Shen Zhufu, " Thanks. "
With that, he entered his room.
Cao Chang stared at the shut door for a split second, his eyes were clouded by something unknown before vanishing as if it was never there.
While at the other side of the door, ears glued to the door till no sound was heard.
'Finally! '
He went to the bed and gently laid the baby before preparing the communication link to Qing Hua.
"Good day my lord."
A smiling face appeared on the icy surface of the mirror.
"A-Qing."