Transmigrated into Substitute Bride ‘Fu Lang’

TSBFL C34.2

Chapter 34.2: 果凍

Jelly

Chen Xing didn’t know what Gu Lang had in mind. He thought Gu Lang had heard his persuasion so he hurriedly added, “Well, we’re really busy just now, we’ll be able to eat in a little while.”

 

After thinking about it, as if he thought his words were too perfunctory, Chen Xing pointed to a cold stewed meat dish with sauce that was ready to serve not far away and said to Gu Lang as if he was coaxing a child, “How about this, why don’t you bring that over first?”

 

Gu Lang looked at the bowl of stewed meat that smelled, looked and tasted good, nodded his head before he carried it out without changing his face. 

 

Qiu Jiu looked at his young master who obediently carried the dish and left, and then looked at Chen Xing who had been in a good mood since his young master came. He trembled and had goosebumps for some unknown reason.

 

It took a few days to boil the glue and during these few days, Chen Xing not only bought all the fruits needed to make the jelly this time, but also took back the custom-made molds from the old carpenter.

 

Looking at the fruits spread all over the courtyard, Gu Lang, who had been watching Chen Xing and Qiu Jiu’s work, looked a bit uncomfortable at this time, because he already knew that some of these things were to be given away, and even though he knew that a large part of them were for him. He still felt unhappy since all supposedly was left for him.

 

Gu Lang was not happy, but he did not say so, he just sat there sullenly, his eyes always kept moving along with Chen Xing who was working.

 

Qiu Jiu occasionally turned his head to see his family’s young master’s expressionless face staring at them, and he couldn’t help but shiver. He looked at the fruit juice in his hand, and then at his family’s young master’s expression, he had some doubts that what he had made was not jelly, but something that would kill him, otherwise why would his young master have that kind of expression. Chen Xing looked at the prepared fruit and thought that he could make jelly after squeezing out the juice later, so he couldn’t help but be a little happy. Then, as if thinking of something, he turned his head to look at Gu Lang who was sitting next to him and asked with a smile, “Would you like to have a glass of juice later? What flavor do you want? I’ll get you a glass.”

 

“I’ll have a cup of grape-flavored one.”

 

Chen Xing nodded his head after hearing this and went back to work, while mentally noting down what Gu Lang wanted, thinking that he would put more sugar and honey into Gu Lang’s grape juice later.

 

Qiu Jiu next to him watched the interaction between the two of them. He could have sworn that he saw the instantaneous look of tenderness on his family young master’s face the moment Chen Xing turned his head to look at his family Gongzi.

 

Finally, after Chen Xing squeezed all the juice, he made a glass of watermelon juice for himself and Qiu Jiu, and a glass of blended grape juice for Gu Lang. The three of them had ice in their glasses, only Gu Lang’s was given a little less because Chen Xing was worried about his health.

 

 When Gu Lang got his own glass of ordinary juice, there was a little bit of unhappiness on his face that was not too obvious, but Chen Xing quickly noticed it.

 

Chen Xing spoke carefully to Gu Lang about his concerns and how the ice had affected him many times, before then he watched Gu Lang take a sip with no expression and accepted his offer.

 

Chen Xing turned his head to look at him from the side; at first, when he was still not that familiar with Gu Lang, he thought he was a very aloof and cold literary man. Only when he gradually became familiar with him did he realize that sometimes he would silently have a little temper like a little kid!

 

Perhaps Chen Xing’s gaze was too focused, Gu Lang, who was drinking grape juice, turned his head to look and asked in some confusion, “What’s wrong?”

 

Chen Xing shook his head, smiling like a cat that had stolen something fishy, “Nothing, just looking.”

 

Gu Lang felt that Chen Xing was hiding something from him, but looking at the fine warm light in his eyes, he did not pursue the matter further.

        

In the afternoon when the sun was not very hot, the three of them sat under the eaves enjoying a rare peace, Chen Xing looked at the dappled sky and suddenly felt that such a day was not bad.

 

That afternoon, Chen Xing and Qiu Jiu, who had rested well, began to make jelly, with Gu Lang beside them who helped them occasionally, and the scene was harmonious for a while.

 

When the jelly was taken out, Qiu Jiu looked at the colorful and variously shaped jelly yet he could not help but exclaim, “Chen Xing, these are too beautiful!”

 

Compared to Qiu Jiu’s astonishment, Chen Xing was not very satisfied. He felt that if there was a better way of managing the ingredients and using a more elaborate mould, the result would probably be better. However soon he also felt that he had too high expectations, after all, it was already very good for him to be able to make it here.”

 

Chen Xing reassured himself, then looked at Gu Lang next to him and said joyfully, “This is the jelly we made, take a look at it and pick the ones you like first and keep it, I’ll see how the situation is and how am I going to pack it?”

 

Hearing Chen Xing’s words, Gu Lang’s displeasure that had been secretly rising for the past few days instantly and completely dissipated, he turned his head to look at Chen Xing who was staring at him expectantly, and smiled lightly, “Good.”

    

After Gu Lang had chosen the ones he liked, and Chen Xing had left a portion for the family to finish before it went bad, he picked out the portion he wanted to give to Zhao Jing and the ones he had promised to give to Fu Gongzi from the rest.

 

At this time of the year, the crafts were also slower and he did not have many moulds, so Chen Xing did not make many of them with patterns, the rest were all plain shapes.

 

Chen Xing filled all the remaining ones with patterns for Zhao Jing, while Fu Gongzi’s share would all be plain oval ones. As for the rest of the remaining ones, he was going to see the feedback from Fu Gongzi’s side before deciding how to box them up.

 

The next day, this was also the day when Chen Xing and Miss Zhao had agreed to come and pick up the jelly.

 

Before Chen Xing even reached the stall, he saw a woman standing in front of his stall, and when he got a little closer, he found out that it was the maid who had come to fetch the jelly for Zhao Jing last time.

 

When that maid saw Chen Xing coming, she first gave him a salute and a gentle smile before she said in a warm voice, “Little boss, I’m here to pick up what my family young miss has ordered.”

 

Chen Xing still had a good feeling towards her, and after hearing her words, he immediately handed her the basket he was carrying. At the same time, he then said, “Everything is inside.”

 

That maid carried this humble food box in her hand, not expecting that this was what her lady had ordered for a thousand dinglings. Her eyes changed for a moment, only the smile on her face did not diminish in the slightest, “Thank you so much little boss.”

    

Chen Xing didn’t notice his expression and unconcernedly,waved his hand, “No need to be polite, I’ve taken the money this time.”

 

That maid looked at Chen Xing’s handsome face, did not say anything anymore, smiled and carried the food box and left.

 

Only when that maid left with her things did Chen Xing look at Qiu Jiu next to him and muttered, “Should I get her a nice food box to carry back because of that? After all, I’ve received so much money.”

 

Qiu Jiu next to him shook his head in disbelief and said indifferently, “I don’t think it’s necessary, after all, you are selling the taste, not the looks.” Hearing Qiu Jiu’s words, Chen Xing nodded and felt that he was right, then he raised his eyebrows and looked at him, teasing him, “I didn’t expect you to know quite a lot.”

 

Qiu Jiu scratched his head and foolishly said, “It’s all because of what my young master had taught me.”

 

The two of them started to set up their stall happily while chatting and laughing but what was strange to Chen Xing was that Young Master Fu, who used to come to his stall every day to buy food, was nowhere to be found today, and even the jelly he had brought for him could not be delivered.

 

Chen Xing thought about it for a while and decided that Fu Gongzi must have some business so he was delayed, so he decided to wait until tomorrow to see what happened. After all, a person who loves food as much as Young Master Fu could not possibly wait calmly after knowing that the food he had always wanted finally could be eaten.

 

Mother Zhao, who had gone out with father Zhao to socialize, walked straight towards Zhao Jing’s courtyard as soon as she returned to the Zhao residence.

 

When she saw Zhao Jing sitting in the main hall, she directly asked, “Where are the things?”

 

As soon as she saw her mother, she was terrified. By her mother’s order, she did not hesitate to ask the maid at her side to bring over the food box she had retrieved.

 

At the first sight of the food box, Mother Zhao’s eyebrows furrowed and her gaze was filled with disgust. Her voice was full of dissatisfaction, “He’s using this only to pack?”

 

Zhao Jing looked at her mother and knew she was upset again, but she still managed to say stiffly, “Mother, you should look at the things first.”

 

Although Mother Zhao was disgusted, she still knew what was important and asked the helper around her to open the box, only to be shocked by the moment she saw the contents.

 

There were seven flower-shaped jellies neatly placed inside, each in a different color, and in a transparent state. It looked extremely beautiful.

 

Seeing this unique item, Mother Zhao knew the value of it and said repeatedly, “Good, good, hurry up and go change the box, while it’s still early, I’ll go and visit the county magistrate’s wife.”

 

After saying that, Zhao Jing’s mother didn’t say anything else and directly let her servant leave in a hurry with the food box.

 

Zhao Jing stood by the side and watched her mother. Only after her mother left did she slowly sit down and let out a long breath because she had finally passed her mother’s approval. 

 

It was only when the room became quiet again that the maid following beside Zhao Jing muttered, “Miss, how come Madam didn’t leave a single compliment? That was something young Miss had worked so hard to get, and you even took so much effort into it.”

 

Zhao Jing didn’t look at her but smiled helplessly and said warmly to the maid, “It’s good that my mother is happy. Moreover, whatever I have, isn’t it all also from the Zhao family, so what’s wrong if I only help a little bit? Just don’t say such things again in the future, lest word gets to mother’s ears and at that time, she will find an opportunity to punish you.”

 

The maid was frightened and immediately covered her mouth.

 

Seeing that it was almost time, Zhao Jing looked at her and said relaxedly, “Alright, now that mother is gone, you go get me some food to fill my stomach. Be careful.”

 

The maid looked at her somewhat hesitant expression, but in the end, she still went out as she was instructed.

    

Until the room all became quiet, Zhao Jing sighed softly and murmured alone, “I only hope that mother will not be so greedy and insatiable in the future.”

 

The portion of jelly for Fu Gongzi, which Chen Xing had not sent out on the first day, he hesitated for a while whether to bring it with him on the second day. He thought that if Young Master Fu didn’t come for it today, he would eat it by himself, otherwise it would easily go bad if there isn’t any ice. 

 

As a result, when Chen Xing arrived at the stall, he saw a familiar chubby figure waiting anxiously there at the moment with just one glance. Even from a distance, Chen Xing immediately recognised that person as Fu Gongzi on the first glance.

 

After seeing Chen Xing coming, Young Master Fu’s eyes immediately lit up and he ran towards him, shoving a small money bag into his hand first, before then he said eagerly, “Where is my food?”

 

Chen Xing was a little confused by this series of movements, but still handed him the box he was holding in his arms and said hesitatingly, “This is for you.”

 

Young Master Fu held the box with excitement written all over his face, but he did not open it immediately, instead he looked at Chen Xing and said, “I’ve got it then I’ll leave first.” After saying that, he couldn’t be bothered to say anything anymore and ran away in a hurry with the box in his arms.

 

As Chen Xing looked at the back of Fu Gongzi who hurriedly ran away, he still could not help but say, “The power of a foodie is indeed great!”

    

Qiu Jiu next to him somewhat didn’t understand, but looking at the admiring face of Chen Xing, he tore for a moment yet he still did not ask more questions, after all, it had nothing to do with him either.

 

Young Master Fu arrived at the school with the food he had been thinking about for quite a long time. The moment he stepped in, he noticed that something was wrong, the surroundings were a bit too quiet.