Chapter 41.2 - Flat-Chested (2/2)

Since then, the Song family had become famous, and an endless stream of dignitaries came to order lanterns.

The Song family was not complacent about it. They remained in this small county town and hired four or five apprentices. The Song family only made three pairs of lanterns every month. When they were done, whoever came to make an order would have to wait for the next month in sequence. The apprentices had been taught by the head of the Song family, and their craftsmanships were also excellent. Generally, the rich and noble families were unwilling to wait because the queue was too long, so they would retreat to the second best. It was decent enough to boast that their lanterns were made in the Song house anyway. In this way, the Song family lantern business was booming.

When it came to Song Mo’s generation, his father had died early, and it was his grandfather who had raised Song Mo and his brother. The eldest son Song Qi had taken over the family business, and the second son Song Mo was gifted and intelligent, so his grandfather had sent him to an official school to study. At the age of eighteen, he had placed first in the prefectural, metropolitan, and palace examinations, and he was even personally chosen as first place by the emperor in the palace examinations. However, just as Song Mo was about to serve in the Hanlin Academy, he heard the bad news of his eldest brother’s sudden death due to illness. Song Mo immediately resigned, saying that he wanted to go home to keep filial piety for his brother and inherit the family business.

The number one scholar in the country actually wanted to go home to make lanterns. The emperor was reluctant to see a talented individual go to waste like that. Song Mo, on the other hand, said that the imperial court was full of talents, and the court was not short of someone like him, but the Song family lantern-making was ancestral craftsmanship, which should not die in his hands. His words were sincere, winning the praises of the emperor, and because of the emperor’s appreciation of Song Mo’s calligraphy and painting, he ordered Song Mo to make all the Song family lanterns that would be sent to the palace as tributes after he mastered the craft, and gave the lanterns the name “Scholar’s Lantern”.

Three years later, Song Mo mastered the Song family lantern-making technique and presented the first pair of Scholar’s Lanterns to the emperor. The exquisite craftsmanship and elegant design once again earned praise from the emperor. Song Mo became the talk of the city at the time. Although he was a craftsman, an occupation people looked down upon, because of his handsome looks, widely known talent, and gaining the favor of the emperor, many young maidens from reputable families were interested in him.

Song Mo, however, had stated that he would not think about marriage before reaching thirty years old to focus on lantern making, and politely rejected many good marriages that others envied. Six years had passed since then.

The shopkeeper became thirsty after talking for a long time. He drank some tea and asked Tang Huan with a smile, “Little brother, are you also here to become a disciple?”

Tang Huan raised her eyebrows, her eyes showing curiosity.

What a pair of talking eyes!

The shopkeeper praised them in his heart and explained to her. It turned out that after accepting a disciple and personally guiding him two years ago, Song Mo would be accepting a second one this year, and the selection would be held tomorrow. Because there were too many people who wanted to become his disciple, he arranged three contests, and only the one who stood out would become his disciple.

Tang Huan took the pen and wrote: ‘Does he accept female disciples?’

“Of course not.” The shopkeeper laughed. “Firstly, no woman would learn this kind of craft, and secondly…ahem,” the shopkeeper lowered his voice, leaned over, and whispered, “Little brother, you don’t know, Song Mo has been single for many years. In his house, let alone tongfang maids 1 , even the cooks are men. Plus because he had rejected so many good marriages back then, there are rumors that Song Mo doesn’t like women and likes men instead.”

After saying that, he gave her a meaningful glance.

Was he trying to imply that Song Mo could be interested in her?

Tang Huan only thought it was funny at first, but as she smiled, a thought suddenly popped into her head. She believed that there must be a connection between her and Song Mo’s identities in the dream. Was it because Song Mo was indeed into men this time that she had such a lousy body?

After asking about the location of the Song family lantern store, Tang Huan left deep in thought.

The only way now to get close to Song Mo was to become his apprentice.

Perhaps it was for the convenience of a woman to disguise as a man that her chest was so flat?

After thinking for a while, Tang Huan still thought that the latter guess was more likely. Otherwise, if Song Mo really liked men, it would be useless for her to disguise herself as a man.

Hmph, even if Song Mo liked men, she would make him like women instead!

Unknowingly, she arrived in front of the lantern store.

A table was set up at the door, and a man dressed as a store worker sat there writing down names.

Looking at the long line, Tang Huan was a little dumbfounded. This was the last day, but how come there were still so many people coming to register!

She quickly ran over.

In front of her was a tall, big man. When he heard the noise at the back, he turned around, looked down, swept her a glance, snorted, and turned back.

Tang Huan did not bother to pay attention to him.

She was not worried about her identity being exposed. Mute couldn’t speak, so others weren’t able to tell whether she was a man or a woman based on her voice. While dressing up as a man with this flat body, she could declare herself as two years younger than her actual age. She could say that her Adam’s apple had not grown yet, and her fair and pretty face could also be attributed to her parents’ good genes. This way, as long as she insisted that she was a man, as long as she paid more attention to her actions, those people would not doubt her, and at most praise her saying that she was as pretty as a girl.

The sun was setting. It was getting dark, and it was finally her turn.

If Tang Huan had to wait any longer, she would have starved to death. She was too busy asking about Song Mo’s information just now that she had forgotten to eat first. What a mistake.

“Okay, the sky’s dark now, and the registration for the last day is over. Those who couldn’t make it should go back now. When the owner recruits disciples again in the future, if you still want to be a disciple, remember to come register earlier!” the store worker smilingly shouted.

Unfortunately, even if he smiled like a flower, no one supported him. Those who had lined up for a long time but waited in vain, such as the big man in front of Tang Huan, all swarmed up, blocking the worker from letting him enter the store and forcing him to register everyone before leaving.

The worker wasn’t a pushover either. He turned his head and called the people inside to report to the officials, saying that there were people making trouble here.

The Song family had always had a good relationship with the government, and as soon as the troublemakers heard his words, they hurriedly dispersed.

The worker straightened his clothes, cursed, and carried the table inside.

Two little hands were pressed on the table. The man looked up and met a pair of begging black eyes.

Tang Huan pointed to the name list that he held in his arms. Her intention could not be more obvious.

The man came back to his senses and asked tentatively, “You can’t speak? You want to be a disciple?”

Tang Huan nodded.

The guy snorted, “Mute still wants to be a disciple. Stay at home!” He lifted the table harder.

Tang Huan hugged his waist and didn’t let him go.

The guy staggered. The leg of the table collided with the door, making a dull bang, and his hand was also hit, causing him to grimace in pain. Bam . Slamming down the table, he grabbed Tang Huan’s hand and tried to push her away. “You little mute, I talked properly to you but you want to pick a fight. Let me teach you a lesson!”

Tang Huan had been hungry all day, so how could she have the strength to fight him? The worker pushed her away with ease. However, Tang Huan took aim early, and with his strength, she threw herself directly into the store and staggered forward a few steps, but she still couldn’t control the momentum in the end and fell forward.

“Be careful.”

Seeing that she was about to fall to the ground, a pair of hands suddenly stretched out beside her, grabbed her shoulders, and lifted her up.

Tang Huan looked up in surprise.

In front of her, Song Mo was dressed in green clothes. His skin was like jade, his eyes were like stars, and he was as handsome as a fallen fairy.

The author has something to say: This time Huanhuan is mute. It is a challenge to her, and it is also a challenge to Jiaren. I hope everyone will like the story I wrote~

If you like my translations, buy me a coffee, pretty please?

https://ko-fi.com/superbulatt

通房丫头 ( tongfang maid): Maids who also serve their master in bed. Sorry, I don’t know how people usually translate this term.