The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 804 - 171: Focusing on Appearances_2

Chapter 804: Chapter 171: Focusing on Appearances_2

Wang Nuo also followed with a smile.

Zhang Gengshan stood to the side with a faint smile, observing Zhang Yan who was left out, and indeed, his expression didn’t look too good. Seeing him like this would probably brighten his mood a bit.

The look in Zhang Yan’s eyes was like a layer of frost, sitting without expression and drinking tea. Since their acquaintance, he had hardly ever shown him a friendly face, always being the one ignored. Looking at her protruding belly, his gaze fell on Jiujiu’s delicate and fair little face. He had not seen Mo Heng many times, but he still remembered his stunning beauty to this day. Did this daughter resemble him?

Imagination was one thing, but seeing with one’s own eyes was quite another.

Wang Nuo stood up with Zhang Yan to greet Mo Heng who had returned from the Government Office. He had never met Mo Heng, only heard that Pei Qin had married a husband with an extraordinary appearance and had thought it was just a rumor because from what he had seen, she didn’t seem to be someone... to be swayed by beauty. But now, seeing the man himself, it appeared the rumors were indeed true.

"Everyone says that Inspector Mo’s beauty is unmatched. Seeing you today, they’re right, the name doesn’t do justice to the face! No wonder even today people say Madam Yuanyang fancies your looks," Zhang Yan said with a smile and a slight bow, arrogance flickering in his eyes.

Zhang Gengshan lowered his head, no wonder his wife had disliked him from the start, his words never seemed to please.

Mo Heng’s gaze was indifferent as he looked at Zhang Yan and smiled slightly, "I am indeed fortunate to have this appearance, with it, others can only feel inferior and stand back."

A chill flashed through Zhang Yan’s eyes, followed by his laughter, "It seems Inspector Mo isn’t as indifferent to others as the rumors say. Now, Brother Nuo needn’t worry about being rejected when seeking your advice on his studies."

Wang Nuo bowed again and said he had returned to his hometown to take the spring examinations and hoped Mo Heng could offer some advice.

Mo Heng glanced at the conch shells and corals on the table and in his daughter’s hands, knowing that Pei Qin was not close to the Wang family, but she had always been quite fond of Wang Ting. He didn’t refuse.

Pei Qin toyed with a conch shell and handed it to Feng Wei, "Feng Wei! Cut an opening here for me."

Feng Wei looked at her doubtfully. The conch shell was quite beautiful and could also be used as a decoration to play with. She seemed to like it too, and cutting it would ruin it. Despite her doubts, she took it and left to cut the opening.

"Why cut an opening?" Zhang Yan asked.

His family was not from a coastal province, and only Wang Ting’s father, who conducted his business away from home, had settled down in one place, bringing Wang Ting and his mother to live with him. That was how he came into contact with these things.

Wang Nuo, having studied with the Zhang family’s patriarch in a private school, was also not very familiar with these objects.

Pei Qin laughed but didn’t respond. Once Feng Wei brought back the conch, Pei Qin tried it out and blew into it, producing a sound immediately.

Understanding dawned in Zhang Yan’s eyes, "So this conch shell can make a sound."

"Not all conch shells can be made to sound," Pei Qin said, recognizing this one as a horn conch.

Zhang Yan looked puzzled.

Mo Heng frowned, "It takes effort to blow into that. Don’t play with it anymore. Later, we’ll attach a whistle to it."

"Indeed! I’ve seen them add whistles inside when blowing these. The ones Brother Ting brought should have them too," Wang Nuo chimed in.

Pei Qian pushed aside the other conch shells and indeed found two with whistles attached below. She blew into them easily, producing a sound, and handed them to Jiujiu to play with.

Jiujiu, having a new toy, immediately cast aside the little toy given by her godfather.

In an instant, the continuous noise of the little conch horn echoed inside and outside the house.

"If your cheeks hurt from blowing later, don’t come looking for me!" Pei Qin called out to her.

Jiujiu blew for a while before coming over and telling her, "Mommy! I can make it sound!" She had seen vertical bamboo flutes, flutes, and gourds that could all make sounds, the nicest being those used at temple fairs. But to think that this beautiful conch could make a sound too.

"It won’t last three days before it’s broken," Pei Qin chuckled.

Wang Nuo couldn’t help but laugh. After dining with them and discussing policies with Mo Heng, and seeking advice on a few scholarly matters, he then took his leave.

The cook woman came over to report that she did not recognize most of the dried seafood. She knew abalone and dried scallops, but she had rarely seen dried fish.

"Who cares what kind of fish it is, soak it a day before the New Year’s, and we’ll just cook and eat it!" Pei Qin dismissed with a wave of her hand.

The cook woman chuckled in response and went down to prepare for the New Year’s goods. This year, they also had to prepare extra for the Wang family.

Lady Yu and Grandma Fang had gone to the market to purchase New Year’s goods, also bringing over pickled bamboo shoots and fine noodles, saying that Fang Fang was already pregnant. Lady Yu’s face glowed with happiness, "Kang Yuan came early yesterday to deliver the news. That girl is so careless, she didn’t even realize she was pregnant. Fortunately, Kang Yuan is studying medicine, he noticed she was expecting and kept her from recklessness." Her daughter married a responsible and considerate son-in-law, which truly delighted Lady Yu. Now she only had her eldest son’s lifelong affair to worry about.