Chapter 8: Which Part Offended You?

Only Sheng Kuang, setting down his water glass, seemed to let the corner of his mouth curl into a faint, pleased arc.

Sheng Yuanhong cleared his throat. "Pu Rou, Third Brother has a cold temperament and doesn't talk much. Be patient with him. If he gives you grief, come to your mother-in-law and I'll set him straight."

Pu Rou smiled, thinking, *What is wrong with this father? He keeps airing his son's shortcomings. Why say all this to a newlywed couple?*

She nodded. "Understood, Father."

The Old Master picked up his chopsticks. "All right, let's eat. Miss Pu, try the dishes and see if they suit your taste."

Only then did the whole family begin to eat.

The banquet spread was lavish, but there was no staple food. Pu Rou was so hungry her stomach had long since pressed against her spine. She called to the young maid serving behind her, "Is there any rice?"

The table went still again. Pu Rou caught the oddity and met the faintly mocking eyes of her eldest sister-in-law, Qing Lan.

Sheng Kuang turned his head and instructed the servant behind him, "Find some rice for my wife."

Qing Lan said, "The Old Master doesn't eat staple foods in the evening. It's a healthy habit, so Father and the grandchildren have all followed Grandfather's lead. Everyone's used to it. That was my oversight."

Pu Rou understood. "Ah, I see."

The Second Sister-in-law, Rong Ling, who had said nothing until now, suddenly spoke. "Well, well. Who'd have thought Third Brother would turn out to dote on his wife."

Lin Su, the concubine, chimed in as well.

"Exactly. Third Brother's marriage was so rushed—I assumed he'd hurried off to register it just to appease the Old Master. I was afraid he was treating his lifelong commitment like a joke. Seeing this, though, we must have been overthinking it."

At that, Pu Rou set her chopsticks down.

Qing Lan continued, "The kitchen didn't prepare any staple food tonight, so fresh rice might not be ready for a while. Pu Rou, the Old Master's habit is a good one. Why don't you give it a try too?"

Pu Rou smiled meekly.

Qing Lan was just about to praise her for being sensible when her younger sister-in-law lowered her eyes and said, in the most docile tone:

"Elder Sister-in-law, I ate lunch in such a hurry. I've been looking forward to this meal all the way home."

She lifted her gaze, clear and bright. "If the kitchen doesn't have any, send someone out to buy some."

Beside her, Sheng Kuang shifted uncomfortably. It took her a moment to realize he was stifling a laugh.

Sheng Kuang turned and ordered the servant, "You heard her. Send someone out to buy it. I won't have my wife going hungry."

His voice wasn't loud, but his tone was impatient. The servant behind them answered at once and hurried out.

Qing Lan's expression turned sour, though she kept up her dignified smile.

Lin Su put on her best lady-of-the-house air and smoothed things over. "Quite right. Look how thin Xiao Rou is—she needs building up. Next year, Yuanhong can hold another grandchild."

Pu Rou gave Lin Su a bashful smile.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Qing Lan's mask-like face crack in a few places, unable to hide her displeasure.

*Makes sense,* Pu Rou thought. Elder Sister-in-law Qing Lan and Sheng Yuanhong's concubine Lin Su were the same age, yet Qing Lan had to address her as "Mother."

Before Lin Su came along, Qing Lan was the eldest daughter-in-law, the one who called the shots.

With Lin Su around, she was just a role that took all the effort and reaped none of the credit. With a mother-in-law her own age, she had even less hope of ever coming out on top.

Just now she'd tried to put Pu Rou in her place, and Pu Rou hadn't taken the bait. Instead, Lin Su had stepped in as peacemaker.

Pu Rou picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth. Life in the old Sheng residence, she decided, was thoroughly entertaining.

Halfway through dinner, the rice arrived.

Pu Rou nudged Sheng Kuang with her elbow. "Hey, want some?"

From what she remembered, Sheng Kuang had barely eaten anything since sitting down. The man had a cool, noble air about him—seated there, he looked like a model out of a business magazine.

He nodded. "Give me some."

The table had been caught up in idle chatter, so no one noticed their low exchange.

Then came Second Sister-in-law Rong Ling again. "Look at the two of you. What a loving couple."

Pu Rou, in the middle of spooning rice into Sheng Kuang's bowl, paused and met Rong Ling's eyes.

A strange feeling welled up in her chest.

Pu Rou said, "Second Sister-in-law, would you like some rice too?"

Rong Ling froze, then waved her hand hastily. "I wouldn't dare break the Old Master's rules."

The moment the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize she'd misspoken and glanced at her husband, Sheng Lian. Sure enough, she got a warning look in return.

The Old Master ate little. Once he finished, he left the table to rest.

Sheng Yuanhong looked around at the family, his gaze settling on his third son. "It's late. You and Pu Rou shouldn't head back tonight. Stay at the old residence."

Then he turned to the steward. "Third Son's courtyard hasn't been lived in for a long time. Has it been cleaned up?"

The steward's face showed difficulty.

Lin Su quickly picked up the thread. "I wasn't thinking ahead. Third Son so rarely stays at home, that courtyard..."

Pu Rou kept her wide, innocent eyes fixed on her.

Seeing that Pu Rou said nothing, Sheng Kuang didn't chime in either.

Everyone waited for Lin Su to go on.

In truth, there was nothing to go on with. Sheng Kuang didn't even come back to the old residence for holidays—Lin Su had long since forgotten his courtyard existed.

Now she'd simply assumed he wouldn't be staying the night.

Fortunately, Lin Su thought fast.

"Oh—Second Brother, don't you and your wife have spare rooms in your courtyard?"

Eldest Brother Sheng Chu and Qing Lan had two children, so their quadrangle was full, nannies included.

Second Brother Sheng Lian and Rong Ling had been married for years without children, so their courtyard still had empty rooms.

Sheng Kuang had no fondness for the old residence, but Pu Rou's fresh enthusiasm was plain to see.

"What do you say? Stay one night?"

Pu Rou nodded like a pecking chick. "Yes, yes!"

*

While the servants hurried to tidy up a room, Pu Rou dragged Sheng Kuang off to stroll the garden and settle her stomach.

She walked along rubbing her belly. "I ate too much at dinner. I'm so full."

Every time Sheng Kuang came back to the old residence, he felt a sense of oppression. Today, for once, his mood was unexpectedly good. He gave a light scoff.

"That's what you get for eating rice."

Pu Rou stopped under a tree. "Thank you for today."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Thank me for what?"

Pu Rou said, "When I said I wanted rice, you sent someone to get it. You didn't let me lose face in front of my in-laws."

Sheng Kuang smiled. "Then I'll thank you too."

At night, the garden had only a few light sources for aesthetic effect—useless for actually seeing by.

He rarely smiled. In the dim light, when Sheng Kuang's cold eyes curved into a smile, they turned lush and almost tender.

Pu Rou stared, a little entranced. "...Uh, thank me for what?"

Sheng Kuang said, "For insisting on the rice."

Pu Rou understood him perfectly. Between the two of them, they'd managed a small act of unity over this trivial thing.

The Sheng family had strict rules. When she said she wanted rice, Sheng Kuang made sure her words didn't fall flat.

Qing Lan had used the Old Master's habits to pressure Pu Rou. Strictly speaking, the rice was optional—but because Sheng Kuang had backed her first, she wasn't about to leave him looking like the bad guy either way.

"We're two grasshoppers tied to the same rope now. Right?"

An ugly metaphor. Sheng Kuang ignored her.

The garden was swarming with mosquitoes. After Pu Rou got bitten twice on the calves, the post-dinner walk was called off.

She pulled a miserable face and scratched at the bites. "I haven't even digested yet!"

Sheng Kuang's eyes flickered. His hand closed around her slender waist. "Go back to the room and digest."

In the garden at the turn of spring into summer, the evening breeze carried a sweet fragrance. The beauty turned her head and shot him a sidelong glance. "We're at the old residence. In your second brother and sister-in-law's courtyard."

Sheng Kuang didn't care. "Then keep your voice down."

Pu Rou glared at him. "I can't help it!"