Chapter 38: Sharing Honor and Disgrace

A faint smile appeared on Huang Wenzhao’s refined and handsome face as he looked at Jingyuan, graceful as an orchid or a jade tree.
“Jingyuan, may I?”
Jingyuan curled his lips. “You may.”
Huang Wenzhao was surprised. “So it still takes the presence of the respected lady for Jingyuan to condescend to speak.”
He then turned to Su Tang and said, “The respected lady may not know, but Jingyuan’s temperament is truly a headache. Yesterday, your house introduced dragon beard noodles, and even Master Fang came in person. I’ve heard those noodles are extraordinary. If it weren’t for our strict teachers, we scholars from Wenhui would’ve gone to snatch some yesterday, but we also feared Jingyuan would dislike it.”
“Jingyuan does dislike it,” Su Tang replied earnestly.
…
Huang Wenzhao’s smile stiffened for a moment.
Su Tang suddenly smiled. “Why go so far as to snatch it? If you’d just asked Jingyuan, he would have agreed.” Hadn’t he just agreed now?
Huang Wenzhao couldn’t help but laugh. “Indeed, that was my slip of the tongue. I hope Jingyuan will forgive me. Next time, we’ll surely come to your house to savor it properly.”
“You’ll be most welcome,” Su Tang replied, glancing at the box in her hands.
Huang Wenzhao laughed. “Last time, I truly didn’t want to take what Jingyuan liked. This time, there really are matters at home. But the lady’s heartfelt gesture, I will remember it well. Next time we meet, I’ll be sure to repay your kindness! I won’t disturb you further today. Farewell, farewell.”
Huang Wenzhao gave Su Tang a long, meaningful look and then took his leave.
Only after Huang Wenzhao had retreated three paces did Jingyuan finally finish the piece of pastry in his hand.
Su Tang returned the gesture of farewell, then looked at her young husband.
She found him staring only at the box.
Su Tang handed it over, and he took another piece.
“Do you have a grudge with him?” Su Tang asked.
Jingyuan replied, “No.”
“He came to you first?” Su Tang pressed.
Jingyuan nodded.
Su Tang understood. “In the future, don’t bother with him.”
Jingyuan looked at her.
Seeing most of the scholars had already left, Su Tang lifted the box and lowered her voice, “I’ve offered him twice, and he refused both times. Last time I thought he minded the basket wasn’t presentable, now I realize he probably finds the box beneath him as well. Hmph, his words are flowery but in his heart, he wants nothing more than to keep his distance. This man is not a true friend to you.”
Jingyuan looked at her.
Su Tang said proudly, “Your respected lady has seen a thing or two, so when it comes to judging people, you have much to learn from me.”
Jingyuan pressed his lips together in silence.
Oh? He doesn’t believe her?
Su Tang smiled. “In time, you’ll see that I’m not mistaken.”
“But why didn’t I see that little junior today?”
That junior from last time was quite amusing; she’d rather hoped to feed him again.
Su Tang looked around expectantly.

Unconsciously, the box in her hand drifted a little farther from herself.
At her side, Jingyuan’s eyes flickered and his hand clenched and then relaxed beneath his sleeve.
Almost at the same moment, a figure suddenly darted out, snatched the box from Su Tang’s hand, and ran off at full speed.
Su Tang had been craning her neck, searching, when her hand suddenly felt empty—the box was gone.
Someone was running ahead—wasn’t that her box in their hand?
Brazen daylight robbery!
“Catch—”
She started to shout but swallowed the rest. This was near the academy; she didn’t want to be too unruly or seem a shrew.
Gritting her teeth, Su Tang gathered up her skirts and chased after the thief.
Jingyuan watched her give chase, his gaze wavering.
Had she forgotten about him now?
…
Peaceful Town was only so big.
Where could a box-snatcher possibly run?
The pastries weren’t worth much; the thief could eat them while running and leave her the empty box.
Wasn’t it tiring to run while carrying the box?
The box itself wasn’t valuable either.
Still, if she lost something, she had to give chase.
If she called others to help, she’d owe them thanks—at least a few bowls of dragon beard noodles.
Too expensive, she couldn’t bear it.
Luckily, there were still people in town, and the thief seemed to realize Su Tang wasn’t going to raise an alarm, so he didn’t run too fast, allowing her to keep up.
The thief seemed practiced, but the alley he ran into was narrow and didn’t go far.
Was he finally going to throw away the box?
Su Tang gritted her teeth and gave chase.
At last, the thief stopped.
Hearing the bustle of the street behind her, Su Tang braced herself on her knees and glanced at her young husband, who’d followed her, gasping, “Give me the box, and I’ll pretend I never saw you.”
Instead, the thief simply raised his hand—
With a sharp smack, the box was thrown to the ground, and the pastries inside scattered.

Su Tang nearly choked on her own breath, reaching back to grab her young husband and retreating a step.
“Why run, young lady? Weren’t you quite swift a moment ago?”
A mocking, teasing voice sounded from behind.
Three figures appeared at the entrance to the narrow alley, blocking it completely.
On the thief’s side, someone else vaulted down from the wall.
Now, both ends—three men on one side, two on the other—were blocked.
“Don’t go too far! Do you know who my father-in-law is?” Su Tang warned.
“And what if we do?” The leader, a man in his twenties, looked sly and leering, casting a lazy glance at Su Tang. “Afterwards, we just won’t hang around here anymore—what can you do to us?”
Su Tang regretted everything; she should never have chased for the sake of that box.
She quickly pulled off her purse and flung it out. “This is all the silver I have—take it and let us go.”
Several pairs of eyes immediately fell on the purse on the ground. Even the leader was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected her to be so straightforward.
“Second Brother…” the original thief murmured.
“Haha, what a forthright young lady!” The man gave a thumbs-up, chuckling. “If I’d known you were like this, we wouldn’t have robbed you, would we? But since we’ve taken your money, we have to remove your misfortune, don’t we?”
His gaze shifted to the young gentleman behind Su Tang.
Su Tang almost turned to look as well.
Her young husband had hardly been out of the house—had he provoked someone during his few days at the academy? Or was it trouble brought by Lu Dashan?
Was it too late now to claim “this has nothing to do with her”?
Jingyuan, behind her, saw her wavering glance and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
In the next instant, Su Tang quickly crouched, grabbed a dry branch from the ground, and held it tightly in her hand.
“Don’t come any closer! I’m warning you, I’ve had training!” she shouted. “And my husband—he’s been well taught by my father-in-law! Don’t be fooled by his delicate looks; you’re no match for him!”
Su Tang bluffed bravely, but her trembling voice betrayed her lack of confidence.
The men nearby could barely hold back their laughter.
The leader, Second Brother, eyed the posturing young lady with even more interest, rubbing his hands together as he edged closer.
“Don’t blame us, then.”
“Get them—”