Powerful Minister Buddha-like Sweet Wife

Chapter 2 — Having dinner

Speaking of it, the Wei house is actually not a small house, it’s much larger than the rural house where Liu Tangxi lived when she was a child. 

The Wei house resembles a courtyard house, with rooms in the east, west, south and north. However, the yard is larger and not connected on all sides. 

There are about nine rooms in the entire Wei’s house. 

There is one main room, and both sides of the room are symmetrical.

On the left side of the main room is the room of Wei Laosan and Li, and there is a small storage room where the entire Wei family’s property is stored. On the right side of the main room is the room of Wei Daniu and Zhang’s, and further down is the room of Wei Daniu’s six-year-old son Wei Bosheng and three-year-old daughter Wei Shulan. 

There are also two rooms that are not connected to the main room, one in the west and one in the east. 

On the west side are the rooms of Wei Erhu, Zhou and their five-year-old daughter Wei Fuyao, and on the east side is the room of Wei Hanzhou and Liu Tangxi. 

On the west side are the pigpen and chicken pen. There are two pigs in the pigpen, and seven or eight chickens are fed in the chicken pen.

At the north side is the kitchen. Next to the kitchen is the gate, which is also connected to the pigpen.

There is also a room on the east side opposite to the pigpen and chicken pen. This room is not compatible with the style of the whole yard. 

This was originally a place for sundries. After Wei Hanzhou began to study, the sundries were moved to the northwest. So a new room was built in the empty place for Wei Hanzhou’s study. 

This room has excellent lighting. It faces south and inside the room is clean.

On weekdays, no one is allowed to approach this room except Wei Hanzhou.

After all, it’s not easy for a scholar to come out from the village. Moreover, it’s still such a young scholar who won first place and has a promising future. 

 The family attached great importance to Wei Hanzhou. 

Although Liu Tangxi walked like a snail, she was getting closer and closer to the study.

The door was not closed, and Liu Tangxi could clearly see Wei Hanzhou’s straight back, his head down and flipping through the book in his hand. Although she couldn’t see the face clearly, from the side, the expression on Wei Hanzhou’s face was very focused. 

Suddenly, the wind gently blew in, Wei Hanzhou’s long hair was slightly blown, and his thin wrinkled clothes were pasted on his body. 

It has to be said that Wei Hanzhou’s appearance and figure are still very outstanding. At this moment, the appearance when he reads the book seriously, does not reveal that he is a villain with an evil mind, but rather he is like a graceful young master. 

Liu Tangxi was still in trance, when Wei Hanzhou suddenly turned his head and looked over.

How do you describe this pair of eyes, one word, cold. Two words, very cold. Three words, extremely cold. 

Liu Tangxi was not embarrassed by being caught at all, and the expression on her face was very natural, as if she was not the one who was peeking. 

Thinking of what Wei Hanzhou had said to her on the day she just woke up with a cold face, Liu Tangxi curled her lips and said coldly ：”It’s time to eat.” 

Speaking of it, this is the first sentence Liu Tangxi said to Wei Hanzhou in the past three days. 

On the day when she woke up, Liu Tangxi’s consciousness was still not sober. At that time, Wei Hanzhou said to her grimly with a cold face ： “Since you are begging my mother to take you in, don’t even think about leaving after getting rid of the dental people. My mother helped you, then followed the agreement. If you want to leave, you can, but you have to wait until my father’s illness recovers. Before that, if you dare to run, I will definitely report to the government. If the government doesn’t care, I will find you in heaven and earth.” 

Hearing these words, thinking that Wei Hanzhou, who was estranged, did what he said in the near future and carried out a crazy revenge on Liu Tangxi. Instantly, Liu Tangxi was so frightened that she didn’t dare to say anything. 

For the past three days, Liu Tangxi has been honest stayed in Wei’s house, to be precise staying in her own small room, she didn’t dare to take a half step out from the room. 

According to the description in the book, Liu Tangxi fled on the day of her marriage. When Wei Laosan knew it, he was so angry that he vomited a mouthful of blood. After all, these twenty taels are all his family’s savings. That day his son didn’t marry the daughter-in-law and the money for the exam was gone, he felt very guilty.

(t/n taels— the currency used in this bg era.)

Then, Wei Laosan’s condition worsened.

Three days later, Wei Laosan died.

Wei Hanzhou hated Liu Tangxi very much for this. 

He wanted to bring Liu Tangxi back, but he was busy with his father’s funeral at the time, and he didn’t have time to find her. 

When Wei Hanzhou was finished, he went to inquire about Liu Tangxi’s traces and learned that she had returned to the capital to be a concubine in the Third Prince’s Mansion. Wei Hanzhou’s face was gloomy, but he did nothing at the moment, just quietly returned home to study. 

Three years later, Wei Hanzhou passed the exam and got first place. After staying in the Imperial Academy, he won the old (late) emperor’s favor because of his good handwriting and skill of flattery.

From then on, he began to confront Marquis Huai En’ Mansion and the Third Prince. 

Thinking of those cruel struggles in the book and Wei Hanzhou’s vicious temperament, Liu Tangxi stayed honest these days for fear that she might accidentally annoy Wei Laosan, and even more afraid that Wei Hanzhou would blame everything on her.

Now three days have passed. Not only did Wei Laosan not die, she heard that his condition has eased a little. Upon learning this news, Liu Tangxi was both surprised and relieved.

It seems that with her intervention, the plot of the book has changed unconsciously. 

Liu Tangxi felt that as long as she didn’t run away, Wei Laosan wouldn’t be angry. As long as Wei Laosan is not angry, Wei Hanzhou will not regard her as an enemy for killing his father as in the book.

She will stay until Wei Hanzhou gets first place on the examination and enter the capital, so she can naturally follow Wei Hanzhou and back to the Marquis Mansion.

However, compared between the vicious minister and the protagonist who would put her to death in the future, she really couldn’t tell which was better.

But, no matter what, it’s important to stay alive for now.

Moreover, thinking of the polite attitude of the Wei family towards her these days, if Wei Laosan died as in the book because of her departure, she would feel guilty and uneasy.

When Wei Hanzhou heard Liu Tangxi’s words, his face was cold, his eyes were staring straight at her, the emotions in his eyes were incomprehensible. 

The fact that Wei Lao San was not dead made Liu Tangxi’s fear of Wei Hanzhou alleviate a lot. Seeing Wei Hanzhou staring at her with such cold eyes, Liu Tangxi wanted to leave immediately. 

However, before she turned around, she saw Wei Hanzhou walked towards her.

Liu Tangxi mustered up her courage and stood still. 

She kept comforting herself in her heart, she did nothing wrong and wasn’t afraid of him! She was his wife, not his father’s murderer.

Wei Hanzhou got closer and closer, and when he walked in front of Liu Tangxi, he glanced at Liu Tangxi’s face, then lowered his eyes down. 

Realizing that Wei Hanzhou was looking at her chest, Liu Tangxi’s face was suffused with a thin blush, she put her hands around her chest, and there was a trace of vigilance and anger in her eyes when she looked at Wei Hanzhou.

Seeing Liu Tangxi like this, Wei Hanzhou’s expression remained unchanged and calmly walked away from Liutangxi’s side. 

Looking at Wei Hanzhou’s calm appearance, Liu Tangxi became even more angry and clenching her fist and gave a virtual blow to Wei Hanzhou’s back. However, as soon as she raised her arm, she found a hint.

It turned out somehow when making a fire, a willow branch about twenty centimeters long got into the place where the collar overlapped. Half of the willow branches were buried in the clothes and pressed on the chest, and the other half was outside. The white inner clothes could even vaguely be seen where they were lifted. 

Because the willow branches were very small, she didn’t feel it at all. 

Thinking of Wei Hanzhou’s eyes just now, Liu Tangxi’s face turned red and quickly pulled out the wicker.

Then she looked around and saw that there was no one else, only Wei Hanzhou in the yard, Liu Tangxi let out a sigh of relief.

He glanced at Wei Hanzhou who went to fetch water and wash his hands by the well. Liu Tangxi took the wicker and went to the stove. 

The vegetables in the pot have been simmered, and Zhang’s just came out. 

Liu Tangxi wanted to take it over, but Zhang refused.

Zhang glanced at Liu Tangxi’s delicate hands, and said, “Third sister-in-law, please take the steamed buns and chopsticks to the main room first. The dishes have just come out and are a little hot. You can’t carry them.” 

Liu Tangxi didn’t get entangled in it either, and went to the side to get chopsticks and steamed buns. 

Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. 

It’s not that she feels so sorry for Liu Tangxi. Even though she (Liu Tangxi) is attractive, Liu Tangxi has just been here for a few days, so there is no such thing as deep affection. 

In fact, Liu Tangxi hasn’t done any work in the past three days. She doesn’t even come out of the room . She looks like a lady of a great family. Moreover, she has just seen that Liu Tangxi’s fingers are very delicate. 

She put a lot of oil in this bowl, which was very valuable. She was afraid of Liu Tangxi’s instability and the bowl fell.

At this time, Wei Hanzhou, who had finished washing his hands, came over, picked up the dishes in the kitchen, turned and walked towards the main room.

Because of what just happened, Liu Tangxi felt a little embarrassed. Fortunately, Wei Hanzhou didn’t even give her a look, which made her feel more at ease. 

After taking the chopsticks and steamed buns, Liu Tangxi followed Wei Hanzhou to the hall. 

At this time, Wei Hanzhou went to the west room. 

Liu Tangxi knew that he was going to help Wei Laosan in the room come out for dinner. 

After putting the things in the main room, Liu Tangxi went again to serve the porridge. 

Maybe it’s because her old man’s illness has really improved after Liu Tangxi came, or maybe Liu Tangxi was too lazy for the first three days, so when she saw Liu Tangxi working today, Li was very satisfied and the corner of her mouth was always smiling.

Seeing Li’s eyes looking at Liu Tangxi, Zhou’s heart was very uncomfortable and couldn’t help saying ：”I’ll go to serve the soup too.” 

Li glanced at his second daughter-in-law’s belly and said with a smile ： “Don’t go. You’ve been busy all morning. Have a good rest and let your big sister-in-law and third sister-in-law do it.”

(t/n —since Zhang is the wife of the first son, based on marital status she is the eldest, Li did not call her first sister-in-law to count their familiarity.)

Zhou Cuiliu turned her eyes and said, “How can you be so precious? My sister-in-law is still working in the field when she on eight months old (pregnancy). And I am only seven months old, I am not a city person, as rural people we can’t be so particular.”

Liu Tangxi happened to hear this sentence when she came over. She knew Zhou Cuiliu was looking at her, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she smiled at Zhou Cuiliu, turned and went to the kitchen.

On the contrary, Li is more satisfied with Liu Tangxi’s performance, and thinks that this daughter-in-law is really well married, not only blessed, but also beautiful and elegant, which is very suitable for her son. 

Zhou was annoyed for a while. However, because Liu Tangxi didn’t refute her, she felt a little unreasonable and didn’t say anything more. 

The food was soon set up. Rural people are not so particular about it. Whether men or women, adults or children, they eat at the same table.

On the left of Liu Tanxi is Wei Hanzhou and on the right side is Li.

The Wei family doesn’t have the rules of not talking, at the dinner table, the third Wei asked about the situation of his two sons in the field. After asking, he sighed. Looking at that look, if the body didn’t allow it, I must run to the ground immediately.

(t/n rules of not talking— it’s about table manners/ etiquette, talking with a mouth full will spill the food out, it’s inappropriate behavior and also very rude, so in noble/ aristocratic families they will put these rules.)

“Father, you just need to take care of your illness, the things in the field you have me and the second brother. When you get better, it won’t be too late to go to the ground again.” Wei Daniu said. 

Wei Laosan sighed heavily, looked at the youngest son again, and asked him about his studies. 

Wei Hanzhou respectfully answered Wei Laosan’s question ：“I have been more clear-headed these past few days, and read a few more pages than before.” 

This answer is really good, simple, clear, and reassuring. Even people who do not understand the imperial examination can understand what he means. 

Liu Tangxi couldn’t help but glance at Wei Hanzhou. 

Wei Hanzhou’s appearance is really far from the description in the book. At this moment, this steadfast, polite and considerate person is really not like the sycophantic villain who is only good at pleasing and flattering as mentioned in the book.

(t/n —og translation should be ‘who is only good at pleasing and slip on the horse’. But I directly translate it from the idioms. Time efficiency, since I don’t need to put so many notes to repeatedly explain every same idiom.)

“Well, Hanzhou, now that you have married a wife, you are an adult. From now on, you will study hard and bring honor to our Wei family.”

(t/n —og translation ‘you will study hard and splendor shines on our Wei family’s door.’ —Splendor shines on the family’s door (idiom) / fig. to bring honor to one’s family.)

Aware that Wei Laosan looked at her, Liu Tangxi retracted her eyes and bowed her head to pick up rice. 

“Yes, son will follow the father’s teachings.” Wei Hanzhou replied respectfully. 

From beginning to end, Wei Hanzhou didn’t look at Liu Tangxi. 

When Liu Tangxi heard the name of Wei Lao San called Wei Hanzhou, his thoughts suddenly drifted far.

Daniu (一great/ excellent cow), Erhu (—second tiger), Hanzhou (—cold boat)… Why is Wei Hanzhou’s name so different (meaning) from the Wei family brothers? Could it be that Hanzhou was the name changed later? So, what was his former name?

Sangou (—Three dogs)?

Sanyang (—Three sheep)?

At the thought of this, Liu Tangxi almost laughed out loud. However, she managed to hold back after a brief cough.

Liu Tangxi thought that she was hiding well, but the man sitting next to her found a hint in her slight shaking. Because he didn’t know why she was doing that, Wei Hanzhou only glanced at her lightly and then looked away.