NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 11 - Lanterns and Decorations for a Family Feast
Chapter 11 Lanterns and Decorations for a Family Feast
“This is going to be a party!”
Gao You smiled and said, “Bonfire, party!”
“What is a party?”
Sun Sanniang looked at Gao You with some confusion. Gao You didn’t explain. Instead, he turned around, grabbed Zhao Pan’er’s hand, and walked towards the marketplace.
At this time, although there was still a curfew in Qiantang, the city gates wouldn’t close until much later. As evening approached, shops lit up their lanterns.
After a long day of work, people strolled through the streets, eating, shopping, and enjoying their leisure time. Looking at the bustling street life, Gao You suddenly felt that the Song Dynasty was quite nice.
Without mobile phones, everything had slowed down. With a beautiful woman by his side and a system in his mind as his trump card, life was truly carefree and enjoyable!
Before long, Gao You entered a lantern shop. Pointing at the wedding-themed lanterns on the shelves, he said, “I want them all!”
“Zhao Niangzi?”
The shopkeeper recognized Zhao Pan’er and Gao You.
He knew that Gao You was considered a fool, so he hesitated and looked at Zhao Pan’er for confirmation. These lanterns wouldn’t come cheap. But since her husband wanted them, she decided to buy them.
“We’ll take them!”
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper quickly ordered his assistants to fetch the lanterns.
Zhao Pan’er instructed, “Send them to the teahouse and settle the bill there!”
“Got it!”
The shopkeeper nodded cheerfully. Lanterns weren’t easy to sell outside of festival seasons. A big order like this was rare, so he made sure to seize the opportunity.
He even picked out some leftover decorative lanterns from last year’s Lantern Festival and sent them to the teahouse as a complimentary gift.
When the two of them returned to the teahouse, Sun Sanniang and the others were already busy. Gao You wanted to help, but Zhao Pan’er arranged for him to rest at a riverside seat.
With no choice, Gao You found a cushion and lay down comfortably again.
“Sanniang!”
Xiao Lingdang frowned as she stared at Gao You.
“What do you think of Gao You?”
“He’s great!”
Sun Sanniang gave a firm answer.
Xiao Lingdang was confused.
“Compared to Ouyang Xu?”
Sun Sanniang scoffed in disdain.
“That’s like comparing clouds to a pile of mud!”
“Gao You is the pile of mud?”
Xiao Lingdang reflexively followed up.
Sun Sanniang rolled her eyes at her.
“Ouyang Xu is the pile of mud!”
“Don’t be fooled by Gao You’s silly appearance!”
At some point, Zhao Pan’er had appeared behind them and corrected, “He’s just reserved.”
“Gao Lang said that being reserved doesn’t mean being foolish!”
Sun Sanniang chuckled and nodded.
“Got it, he’s reserved!”
“You’ve only been married for two days, and you’re already defending him?”
Zhao Pan’er blushed bright red.
“Sanniang, don’t talk nonsense!”
“Gao Lang truly treats me well, and he really isn’t a fool!”
“Uncle Fu originally…”
Sun Sanniang was shocked when she heard that Gao You had given Zhao Pan’er the freedom to open a business. For someone from an official family to allow a woman to run a shop—this was almost unheard of!
At least, Sun Sanniang had never heard of such a thing before.
“Gao You is truly a rare good man!”
Xiao Lingdang was dumbfounded by Sun Sanniang’s praise.
“That’s not right!”
“Ouyang Xu told me that Gao You is a fool!”
Zhao Pan’er suddenly caught on to something. “You’ve met Ouyang Xu?”
“Uh…”
Xiao Lingdang scratched her head, not knowing how to respond.
But Zhao Pan’er wasn’t going to let it slide. She pressed on, “What did he tell you?”
“Tell me everything word for word!”
Xiao Lingdang swallowed nervously. Instead of repeating the words, she asked back, “Pan’er Jie!”
“What kind of person is Gao You, really?”
“Are you truly willing to marry him?”
Zhao Pan’er glanced at Gao You, who was lying down.
As one of the most beautiful women in Qiantang, Zhao Pan’er had many suitors. But among all of them, if she had to choose one to marry, she would choose Gao You.
If Gao You, who was lying there, knew what she was thinking, he would be overjoyed!
“I’m already married to him!”
Zhao Pan’er fixed her gaze on Xiao Lingdang. “Tell me what Ouyang Xu said!”
Under Zhao Pan’er’s sharp gaze, Xiao Lingdang finally confessed everything.
“That Ouyang Xu is disgusting!”
Sun Sanniang frowned in disgust.
“He actually asked Xiao Lingdang to spy on you?”
“What is he planning?”
“Is he hoping to marry into the Gao family and gain power before taking you as his wife?”
“Or does he plan to make you his concubine?”
Zhao Pan’er hadn’t expected Ouyang Xu to go this far. Was she blind back then to have liked him?
“Pan’er!”
Sun Sanniang looked at Zhao Pan’er.
“You absolutely cannot believe Ouyang Xu’s nonsense!”
“Gao You may seem foolish, but his heart is only for you!”
“He genuinely treats you as his wife!”
Zhao Pan’er nodded.
“I know!”
…
“The lanterns are here!”
At the entrance of Zhao’s Teahouse, several young assistants arrived with the lanterns. Their service was excellent—not only did they deliver them, but they also helped hang them up.
Seeing this, Gao You lit all the lanterns with a fire striker. The colorful lanterns brightened up the courtyard. Instantly, a festive atmosphere filled the space.
“How beautiful!”
Xiao Lingdang admired the lanterns in the courtyard, unable to hide her amazement.
But Sun Sanniang frowned.
“So many lanterns—how much did this cost?”
“It looks nice!”
Xiao Lingdang said seriously, “The cost doesn’t matter!”
Zhao Pan’er nodded in agreement.
“Xiao Lingdang is right!”
“You two…”
Sun Sanniang shook her head helplessly.