The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

68. The Deck Chair

Translator: Iris Guo

However, A’Chou mentioned buying him a deck chair, so Zhong Mingwei couldn’t help asking questions. He did want to go out after being cooped up for more than half a year. He used to be downhearted, but now he wished to enjoy the sunshine, look at the blue sky and white clouds, as well as check their home.

“Why do you ask about that?” A’Chou was stunned. Then she continued the massage and hastened to answer him, “Surely we do. I have been working at the palace for many years, so I got some savings. Further… Miss Duan left some money, and it could support us for almost 5 years. Don’t you worry about anything.”

“Okay.” answered Zhong Mingwei gloomily. He stopped asking questions. When the jasmine tea got cooler, A’Chou put it on the tray. He blew into the overly fragrant tea and sipped it slowly.

After A’Chou finished the massage to help absorb the ointment, it was already dark. A’Chou went back to her room, opened her wallet, and counted the money repeatedly. Only three liang and seven qian of silver ingots was left. She sighed and put her wallet under the pillow again.

A’Chou had to find someone to renovate the house and build a heated bed. Further, the winter in NingGuTa was very long, and people definitely had to stay indoors when it snowed and shut the access to the mountain, so she had to store some flour, rice, fish, meat, and all kinds of necessary medicine for Zhong Mingwei. Moreover, he didn’t even have any winter clothes. In addition, she needed to buy some mats after the heated bed was ready…

It seemed that A’Chou had to spend a lot.

“Ah! Mrs. Chen, please find me a job soon!” screamed A’Chou inwardly.

Day: The third day of the sixth lunar month, the 32nd year of Jiasheng Reign

Location: NingGuTa

After breakfast, A’Chou went downhill. She didn’t bring her bamboo basket this time because she prepared to buy a deck chair from the market. It would be inconvenient to carry a basket and a chair on her back. However, when she thought of Lao Jiang, she felt extremely terrified, and she prayed repeatedly that she would never see him again.

When A’Chou passed the Jixian Study, she slowed down and glanced inside. She wanted to ask Mrs. Chen about the job, but she didn’t go inside at last. She just requested a job yesterday, and it would be improper to urge the elder lady today.

Later, A’Chou walked into a carpenter’s shop in the market. She saw this store last time, but dared not come inside.

“Miss, how can I help you?” greeted the shopkeeper with a smile.

“I’d like to buy a deck chair.” A’Chou looked around but didn’t see one, so she got anxious and tried to show him: “You can lie on it in the sun. Mostly used by elder people.”

“We have deck chairs. Please follow me.” The shopkeeper hastened to lead A’Chou inside to the corner: “What a coincidence! There’s only one left today. You’ll miss it if you come a little later.”

A’Chou looked at the rattan deck chair and was very satisfied since it got the right size and good appearance. Then, she sat on it and tried to sway. The seat was very wide, enough for two girls of A’Chou’s figure to sit together or Zhong Mingwei to sit alone. She became more satisfied, so she tilted her head and asked: “Can I lay the back of the chair flat? I’m afraid that my waist and back will be sore after I sit too long.”

“Sure. Miss, if you get up, I’ll show you.” answered the housekeeper hurriedly while squatting. “See, here is a gear. Turn it, and then the back of the chair will be flat. Like this.”

The shopkeeper turned the gear, and the back of the chair fell flat slowly. Then, he patted the back of the chair and said: “Miss, would you like to have a try?”