roccoschili Chapter 1697: 44: A Smile Ushers in Spring
Chapter 1697: 44: A Smile Ushers in Spring
Chapter 1697: Chapter 44: A Smile Ushers in SpringZuo Guangshu intentionally paused, waiting for Jiang Wang to walk over and join them before continuing forward.
The three walked side by side in the long corridor. Although Zuo Guangshu didn’t talk much, Qu Shunhua was very attentive to this “Brother Jiang,” frequently throwing a topic his way.
Yet Lord Jiang couldn’t shake the feeling of being superfluous…
The two young folks, although lacking any secret conversations, exchanged glances, had accidental brushes as they moved, and shared knowing smiles…
An endless tacit understanding flowed between them.
Clearly, Jiang Wang walked with them, but it was as if he was isolated in another world.
It must be an illusion.
How could such an illusion arise?
Just moments ago, he was imposing, overpowering Qi Country’s genius Xiang Bei, standing up for this little brother beside him. How could I, a dignified Daqi Son of Qingyang, be unnecessary?
After all, I’m the honored guest today!
“Ahem!” Jiang Wang looked around, seeking a topic: “Your Huangliang Platform is so large, yet only opens three tables daily?”
Zuo Guangshu walked in the middle, with Jiang Wang to the left, close to the pond. Qu Shunhua was on the right, walking on the other side.
Her glance skimmed Zuo Guangshu’s face before she explained to Brother Jiang: “We only have one head chef at Huang Liang’s Dream; the other chefs are assistants. Opening three tables daily already keeps us busy.”
“Furthermore, all ingredients — pigs, dogs, cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, fish, vegetables, melons, and fruits — are grown and raised on Huangliang Platform. Many environments require arrays to control. So despite its size, there are only so many dining seats available.”
Truly eye-opening.
This is the first time hearing about a restaurant leaving space to produce ingredients.
This is the Chu capital!
Is land price not a concern?
Jiang Wang wanted to ask how much a meal here costs in Dao Yuan Stones but restrained himself after some thought.
If Qu Shunhua answered truthfully, should he, as an elder brother, pay for it or not?
Accepting someone else’s invitation, don’t care about the price, it’s vulgar!
Qu Family holds as much status as Zuo Family, both being top-tier noble families in Great Chu, how could they be tainted by vulgarity?
The three turned back along the corridor, crossed a stone bridge, bypassed a vegetable garden, chatting and laughing, arriving at a secluded courtyard.
In front of the courtyard gate, Chu Yuzhi had been waiting for a long time
This was a youth with a brave aura. In Chu Country, his attire would be considered plain — wearing only warrior clothes and a waist knife, cleanly without any jade ornaments.
“Brother Jiang!” Upon seeing Jiang Wang, he immediately greeted: “The style at Guanhe Platform left me unforgettable at first sight. Hearing Miss Qu say she and Guangshu would be hosting you today, I shamelessly came to impose, hoping you wouldn’t mind!”
“Your remarkable style suggests you must be Chu Yuzhi?” Jiang Wang warmly replied: “Meeting today is my fortune, I’ve admired your great name for a long time!”
“Who dares claim a name before the Yellow River Leader?” Chu Yuzhi courteously stepped aside.
The two exchanged polite formalities, flattering each other, finally having a normal conversational rhythm.
Only Zuo Guangshu quietly watched Jiang Wang, afraid he might find a reason to test Chu Yuzhi with his fists.
“Let’s go inside to talk.” Qu Shunhua said: “Do we plan to chat at the gate all day?”
So everyone laughed and walked into the courtyard together.
Inside the courtyard, there were trees, and on top of a tree hung a caged emerald bird.
The bird, with jade-green feathers and a red crown, upon seeing strangers, chirped thrice, melodious as if welcoming guests.
Treading the stone path inside led to a small two-story building.
The structure was simple, yet meticulous details were evident everywhere.
The colors were frost-like yet not cold.
“What’s this building called?” Jiang Wang asked.
Qu Shunhua softly replied: “Meet Me.”
Zuo Guangshu’s eyes softened, he said nothing.
Jiang Wang was stunned for a moment before savoring the name. He couldn’t help but look up closely.
There was a couplet at the door, engraved on a wooden plaque, with clear and bright handwriting, conveying a sensation of tender storytelling.
The left couplet said: “Lay snow to be paper, paint endless rivers and mountains.”
The right couplet said: “Smiles herald spring, life’s affections bloom for this flower.”
The horizontal couplet: “Seeing the words as seeing me.”
Jiang Wang was struck by the immense and passionate emotion within this couplet.
This was a courtyard exclusively for Zuo Guangshu within Huangliang Platform, a small building specially built for Zuo Guangshu…
Meet Me Building.
Think of me, come see me.
This building is me.
This couplet is me.
Every word is my heart.
The romance of Chu Territory’s children is all in this couplet, all in this building.
Guang Shu, this marriage arrangement, I’ve promised it for you.
Send the betrothal, set the ceremony, hold the wedding, have the kids, immediately!
Jiang Wang looked at Zuo Guangshu with the deep affection of an old father.
It made Zuo Guangshu feel very uncomfortable.
He thought about it, and with regard for his brother’s face, transmitted a message: “Which word don’t you recognize?”
Jiang Wang ground his teeth and stepped inside.
He wanted to take out “History of Chiseling the Sea” from the storage box, slam it book by book in front of Zuo Guangshu, and let this guy see Brother Jiang’s knowledge.
But as his sister-in-law was still there, he had to maintain composure as a family man to the young Guangshu, uphold dignity, uphold style, and ensure the setting was respectable.
Thus the group entered the building.
This “Meet Me Building” was ingeniously designed.
The first floor hall was very spacious, with no unnecessary decorations, only murals painted on all four walls.
They depicted spring, summer, autumn, winter, and magnificent landscapes.
Echoing the couplet on the door, “Ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains all become paintings.”
Jiang Wang looked left and right, and amidst the romantic and exaggerated brushstrokes, he saw only passionate expressions.
At the center of the hall stood a wooden spiral staircase, gracefully leading to the second floor.
The group ascended it step by step, arriving at the true dining area of the Meet Me Building.
All the curtains around were drawn up, offering an incredibly open view.
From this place, you could almost take in the entire scenery of Huangliang Platform.
There were rippling lotus leaves, bountiful fruits, chickens and ducks in flocks…
The gentle breeze came, unrestricted and free.
“What a truly nice place!” Jiang Wang praised.
At the center, there was a round table made of cold fragrant wood, with five chairs evenly placed.
The few people sat down in turn.
Zuo Guangshu sat next to Qu Shunhua, with Jiang Wang sitting on Zuo Guangshu’s other side.
“This is the best spot within Huangliang Platform. Guangshu doesn’t go out often; I often want to come but can’t manage. Today, it’s thanks to Brother Jiang!” Chu Yuzhi laughed heartily, sitting on Jiang Wang’s right hand side.
With a total of five chairs, only the place between Chu Yuzhi and Qu Shunhua was empty, naturally reserved for the imminent arrival of the Great Chu’s first beauty.
Here, being all open and with a round table, there was no distinction between main and secondary seats.
Chu Yuzhi initiated the conversation, and Jiang Wang was not aloof either.
The group sat down, and there was a sense of cheerful harmony.
“To receive a praise from Brother Jiang, our Huangliang Platform’s reputation will spread even within Qi Country!” Qu Shunhua said with a smile, then commanded the waiting attendants: “Tell the kitchen to start serving the dishes.”
Jiang Wang glanced at the still empty seat and couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t there one more person?”
“Miss Ye,” Qu Shunhua chuckled, “I told her the time, but she always likes to be late, today it seems she’ll be tardy again.”
With basic courtesy, Jiang Wang politely said, “Then we can wait a bit.”
Qu Shunhua waved his hand, signaled the attendant, and said to Jiang Wang, “Brother Jiang, today you’re the main guest; there’s no reason you should wait for anyone. If she’s late, that’s her own matter, she can have what’s left.”
Jiang Wang thought, Qu Shunhua’s relationship with Ye Laner must be quite good.
Yet he didn’t speak further.
After all, even Lord Jiang doesn’t like waiting for others. Offering polite words was just the result of being in Chu Territory, showing a bit of demeanor.
Regardless of what rank beauty, dining and drinking are things for the fast hands.
Yet a voice, smooth like wind touching strings, pleasantly settled in his ears.
“Who’s eating leftovers?”
When the voice first started, it was still downstairs, but as it settled, a beautifully dressed woman already appeared on the second floor.
Too contradictory.
You seemed to still hear the sound of her ascent, yet she had already arrived before you.
Her features were impeccably perfect, without a single flaw.
Her beauty was intense and dazzling, with an eye-catching brilliance.
Her eyes seemed to have glanced over you, yet also appeared to have ignored you, as her gaze swept around and finally landed on Qu Shunhua.
A smile like spring upon arrival.
Seemingly scolding, yet seemingly reproachful: “Aren’t you afraid of ruining Huangliang Platform’s reputation?”
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Ps: This couplet, “Meet word like me”, is something like a Spring Festival couplet I wrote myself one year. Originally wanted to write a new one, but upon considering spending too much time on a few words, probably won’t be able to repay. So I lazily reused it. Fortunately, it still fits well.