CH 144

Mo Yan went up to grab on Lu Junming, “What about Mo Zheng? Could he…”

“Don’t say something like that casually! That child is already pitiful enough.”

“I need to find out for sure.”

They arrived at the workshop while talking, and Lu Junming called for someone to unload the carts. Dagan was the first to respond, and brought two male workers to unload the bamboo, then stacked it neatly.

After finishing his work, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was only the beginning of spring. If he hadn’t just worked hard, how could he be sweating hard?

Mo Yan tugged at Lu Junming’s sleeve again, “Let Brother Dagan be the leader of the male workers, and give him a pay increase of two hundred dollars a month.”

“Okay, the workshop needs hard workers like him.”

During lunch break, the workers gathered in the kitchen to eat and chat. They baked their steamed buns on the stove, with Dagan taking out two pieces of cornbread with shredded pickles stuffed inside.

Xiaoyue sat opposite to him, cracked open a salted duck egg and took a bite. The golden egg yolk flowed out, so she had no choice but to quickly scoop it up with one of the steamed buns that were not hot yet.

The people next to her enviously asked, “Xiaoyue, your salted duck eggs look really good. Where did you buy them?”

“They’re sold by Miss Mo Yan’s family.”

Xiaoyue watched Dagan nibbling on a piece of cornbread, and finally plucked up the courage to pass the other salted duck egg over, “Brother Dagan, my appetite isn’t great today and I can’t eat any more, please help me finish this.”

Everyone looked at each other and someone asked, “Xiaoyue, how old are you?”

“Thirteen,” she timidly replied.

“You already want a man? You must’ve matured quite early!”

Xiaoyue didn’t have thick enough skin to take such a joke. She just lowered her head, blushing scarlet without saying a word.

Mo Ling had gone to get a water flash, but when she came back, she saw Xiaoyue in distress. She lifted the pot from the stove, filled it with water from the water flask, and forcefully placed it back down. Many sparks came from the stove, and the boiling water splashed out.

The person who had just made fun of Xiaoyue brushed off the sparks which had splashed on her body, “Mo Ling, what are you doing!”

She said coldly, “I just can’t stand anyone who has to bully Xiaoyue for being honest and kind. Why don’t you take a look? Her work is better than yours.”

She gave Mo Ling a hard look, “Your family has shares in this workshop, of course, whatever you say will be done!”

“What’s the matter here? Am I not a competent worker?”

Dagan stood up and said, “Okay, don’t quarrel, Xiaoyue just pitied me for eating cornbread every day, and rewarded me for my hard work.”

Xiaoyue, who had lowered her head, suddenly stood up, “Brother Dagan, what are you talking about, me ‘pitying’ you. I specifically brought two salted duck eggs so I could give one to you as thanks for sending me home every day, and helping me all the time.”

Mo Ling tore half of the wrap she was having for lunch and handed it to Dagan as well, “Brother Dagan, thank you too. You took the initiative to move the fabrics for me, it’s pretty obvious I wouldn’t be able to do it myself.”

Everyone agreed, saying that Dagan was an honest hard worker.

Mo Ling sighed and said, “It’s a pity that I already have a fiance, otherwise, I would have wanted to snatch up a good man like him.” [1]

Everyone burst into laughter, even Dagan laughed and said, “Aren’t you afraid of being overheard by Zhong Cheng?”

Mo Ling raised her head and said, “Of course not, I’m the only one in his heart!”

“That’s right!” Everyone looked at the door, and Zhong Cheng was standing there.

Mo Ling blushed and said, “Why are you here?”

He lowered his head to see if something was wrong with his clothes and said puzzledly, “I’m here to deliver the fabrics! They’re all in bright colours.”

As soon as Dagan heard that, he immediately stood up to unload the goods. Zhong Cheng said, “I’ve already unattached the horses. Rest for a while, and unload the goods then.”

He looked at Mo Ling and asked if there was anything to eat, and she held up the only bite of wrap left in her hand, “Go and ask Yan’er if there’s anything, or you can go to the sheep soup restaurant to eat!”

Zhong Cheng waved his hand, “I’ll just buy two crackers there, that costs a lot.”

Mo Ling asked, “Do you not have enough money? I’ll buy you a bowl of mutton soup. You just went on a long journey, you have to eat well.”

Zhong Cheng looked sideways at Mo Ling, and smiled innocently, “Don’t I have to save money for our marriage?”

“You should already have enough money for the brideprice.”

“But I want you to get married as the most beautiful bride in both Chenzhong Village and Xiahe Village.”

“Then you……”

A happier smile appeared on Zhong Cheng’s face, “I have to choose an auspicious day.”

Mo Ling sent Zhong Cheng out and was about to return when she heard someone talking to him. It sounded like Erlin, who often delivered goods with him.

“Brother Cheng, let’s go and drink mutton soup together!”

Zhong Cheng shook his head, “No, I’ll just make do with a bite.”

“It’s no wonder, you have to save money! Yue’er is our chieftain’s most beautiful girl, and her mother is greedy, so her dowry must be high. When’s the wedding?”

Zhong Cheng subconsciously glanced at the gate of the workshop, “Erlin, don’t talk nonsense, I already have Ling’er.”

“Didn’t your mother dislike her? You should tell her as soon as possible! Her reputation is already bad, if you procrastinate, it will be really difficult for her to marry.”

Mo Ling heard their conversation clearly. No wonder Zhong Cheng hadn’t been around much recently or raised the topic of marriage. It turns out that his family disagreed with his choice and disliked her bad reputation.

When Mo Yan came out of her office, she saw Mo Ling standing there in a daze, with an ugly expression on her face.

“Sister, are you alright?”

Mo Ling was uncharacteristically silent, and her face became even uglier. Mo Yan walked over and repeated the question. Mo Ling took her hand, “Yan’er, ask someone to inquire about Zhong Cheng at Xiahe Village!”

In the countryside, both parties have to go to each other’s village to inquire about their character and their family’s reputation before marriage.

Mo Yan nodded, “Okay, I’ll ask Lu Junming to go.”

Mo Ling ran back to the workshop. Mo Yan looked at the two carriages parked at the door of the workshop, and seemed to understand something.

She waited outside the office, and Zhong Cheng came back soon. As he walked, he stuffed the last bite of cracker into his mouth and went to the kitchen to find water.

“Brother Cheng, why haven’t you come over in so long?”

Zhong Cheng was about to drink when he heard Mu Yan speak. He turned around and said, “You closed your shop, so you don’t need flour and duck eggs. I decided to transport goods to other places to make money, and those were far away, so I didn’t come over recently.”

“Brother Cheng, when will you arrange your marriage with your sister?”

Post-translation notes: This might mean Mo Ling will break up with Zhong Cheng and hook up with Dagan, which…seems weird? I don’t know, but I hope that doesn’t happen.

On another note, I’m done with finals  chapters will be back to normal from now on.

[1] Ironic considering she turned Dagan down a few times, if I remember correctly.