Chapter 95: Isn’t My Qingqing Very Powerful?

In these two days, Shen Qingzhi has been contemplating a counterattack plan, searching online for a lot of information. She even risked being mocked by Shen Hanzhi as she went to ask for advice.

With silent hard work in these two days, she feels like her entire being has ascended.

Now everything is ready, all that's left is...

At this moment, Shen Qiong called her, urging her to hurry home and make dumplings.

Make dumplings?

Shen Qingzhi glanced at the calendar and realized that New Year's Eve had quietly arrived.

Since the holidays, she has been indulging in the land of tenderness every day and has almost forgotten her mother. It is really human nature...

Of course, such thoughts must not be known to Shen Qiong, or her ears will have to endure a few more layers of calluses later.

Shen Qingzhi led Gu Jinrong back to the old Shen family residence. Thinking that they hadn't seen each other for quite some time, and considering Shen Wangshu's clingy nature, she was afraid they would have to immediately stage a scene of deep mother-daughter affection, but the result...

"Yao'er, you've come at just the right time. We're out of soy sauce at home. Could you please go to the supermarket and buy a bottle?" Shen Wangshu came out from the kitchen, with flour still on her hands.

Shen Qingzhi:...

Why do I need to buy vinegar or soy sauce every time I come home?

"Um, is there enough help for making dumplings?" It's not that Shen Qingzhi loves making dumplings so much; she just has some concerns about her own mother's craftsmanship.

"We have enough now; your sister and Xiao Yu are in the kitchen at the moment."

Shen Qingzhi's face revealed an awkward yet polite smile: Oh, with Shen Hanzhi around, I guess I'm just here to buy soy sauce after all.

Gu Jinrong looked at her little girl, who was biting her cheek like a pufferfish, thinking that if it weren't for the elders present, giving her a pinch would feel quite satisfying.

"Mom, I'll drive Qingqing to the supermarket to buy soy sauce." Saying this, she pulled the reluctant Shen Qingzhi to the garage.

Shen Wangshu watched the backs of the two younger ones, being harmonious and peaceful, and nodded with satisfaction.

In fact, the supermarket is very close to the old Shen residence, and there's really no need to drive.

It's just that Gu Jinrong remembered the last time Shen Qingzhi was attacked while buying vinegar, and she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

Shen Qingzhi, on the other hand, is someone who quickly forgets past troubles. She just sees it as her wife caring for her, unwilling to leave her even for a second and she felt proud like a little peacock.

Luckily, it's New Year's Eve, and there are very few pedestrians in the supermarket, or else her current confident stride, like walking on a catwalk, would really attract attention.

The two quickly found soy sauce in the condiment section but didn't hurry back home. Instead, they strolled over to the snack aisle.

Shen Qingzhi's exact words were, "Starting tomorrow, many relatives' children will come to visit, so we're preparing for them."

Gu Jinrong thought about the snack cabinet at home which is usually never empty and saw through her but didn't say anything.

As they passed by the diverse array of goods. Shen Qingzhi initially pretended to be a serious elder. Every time she picked up a snack, she would earnestly comment a couple of sentences.

"This gummy candy is good; my little niece loves this kind."

"The oatmeal cookies are also good, sugar-free, less likely to cause cavities."

"Wow, these spicy strips have been missing for several years. When did the supermarket start stocking them? Forget it, too spicy, not suitable for kids."

Shen Qingzhi held the pack of spicy strips, hesitating for several seconds, and ultimately regretfully put it back.

The next moment, however, there was a pack of the same spicy strips lying in the shopping cart.

Gu Jinrong gently rubbed the little head with light golden hair, her smile very tender.

"This isn't suitable for kids, but it's perfect for adults."

As she spoke, she leaned closer and winked "Don't worry, if our mom has any objections later, I'll cover for you."

For a moment, Shen Qingzhi was stunned by that wink. Gu Jinrong is usually mature, intellectual, and elegant, and this sudden cuteness was quite irresistible.

She instinctively covered her pounding heart, took a deep breath, and said, "In that case, grab a couple more."

With the connivance of her beloved wife, Shen Qingzhi gradually revealed her true colors and began a thorough sweep within a ten-meter radius of the entire aisle.

Gu Jinrong followed behind with a shopping cart, acting as an accomplice from time to time.

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

Without the myriad halos in front of the camera, the two were just an ordinary couple at this moment, spending simple and serene times together.

Shen Qingzhi, who once regarded herself as a progressive young woman and scoffed at arranged marriages, could not help humming a tune in her heart, singing: ‘It's wonderful to have a wife.’

She was a little too happy, so much so that she walked a little unsteadily. Suddenly, her feet slipped, and her waist almost collided with the handle of the cart.

Thanks to Gu Jinrong's quick eyes and quick hands, she supported her with one hand and held the cart firmly in place with the other hand, showing perfect core strength.

After the person in her arms steadied herself, Gu Jinrong didn't rush to let go. Instead, she teased with a hint of humor.

"Although I know that Qingqing must love me very much now, this place here is too slippery for a performance. Wait until we get home, and you can dance however you want in a softer place."

What does 'wait until we get home and you can dance however you want in a softer place mean?

Shen Qingzhi, who had someone see through her thoughts at a glance, blushed so much that she could only tighten her face to show composure, "In public places, let's be mindful of our influence."

Naturally, her sullen appearance couldn't scare anyone, so Gu Jinrong pinched her cheek arrogantly, "Don't worry, there's no one around here.”

The shelves on both sides are three meters high, and any line of sight is completely blocked.

As they spoke, the two reached the end of the aisle and nearly collided head-on with two young girls coming from the next aisle.

Shen Qingzhi:...

You said there's no one around!

Taking advantage of the sparse holiday crowd, they didn't even bother to wear masks. If someone were to say now that they aren't Shen Qingzhi and Gu Jinrong, but just two people who happen to look alike, would anyone believe it?

The young girls looked eighteen or nineteen years old, their eyes were extremely bright as they stared at the two of them, showing quite vivid emotions.

Before Shen Qingzhi could think of something to ease the awkwardness, the shorter girl had become so excited that she was about to burst into tears.

“Queen... Queen Gu, Zhizhi, I'm... I'm your fan! I wish you a hundred years of happiness!”

After she finished speaking, she grabbed the tall girl next to her and ran away without looking back.

Shen Qingzhi was stunned, "You don't even want an autograph, are you really a fan?"

Because of this little episode, the two of them toned a bit down afterward.

By the time they returned home with big and small bags, the dumplings had already been cooked.

The other four people at home, accustomed to Shen Qingzhi and Gu Jinrong taking an hour and a half to buy soy sauce together, acted as if it were entirely normal.

On the contrary, it was Shen Qingzhi who realized later that her pride caused trouble.

To avoid being misunderstood as deliberately lingering outside to escape labor, while Shen Hanzhi was cooking dumplings at the stove, Shen Qingzhi started rolling out dough with a rolling pin.

"Lunch is on you and Kexin today; I'll take care of dinner."

"Okay, but make fewer dumplings. I'm going to meet Kexin's parents tonight." Shen Hanzhi has been in high spirits lately due to happy events and spoke to her sister with a cheerful tone.

So sudden?

Shen Qingzhi was unexpectedly fed a mouthful of dog food, tapping softly on the table with the rolling pin in her hand.

Shen Hanzhi couldn't help but intervene, "Forget it, your skills were clearly inherited directly from our mother. Maybe you should skip this. If you're bored, go write spring festival couplets; there are still two doors at home waiting for you."

*also known as "Chunlian", are traditional decorations made of red scrolls with calligraphy of poetic well wishes hung on doors, during the Lunar New Year to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. 

Shen Qingzhi held the rolling pin without expressing a clear opinion.

Write couplets? With my barely legible handwriting?

At this time, Shen Wangshu's shout came from far in the living room, "Yao'er, don't stay in the kitchen. Come out and write the spring festival couplets for your and Jinrong's rooms."

Look at this mother and daughter, how in tune they are.

Shen Qingzhi reluctantly came to the yard and saw a long wooden table at the center. On one side, there was a long red scroll, and on the other side, there were brushes and an inkstone.

Gu Jinrong was at the table, her hair tied up, and she was holding a brush in her right hand. Despite wearing modern clothing, she managed to exude a bit of the demeanor of an ancient scholar, standing tall and upright.

Shen Qingzhi suddenly realized that writing couplets was a collaborative effort, not a solo endeavor. That made things easier for her.

She immediately approached, twisting the ink stick and grinding it on the inkstone, saying in a playful tone, "Master Gu, let me grind the ink for you."

Gu Jinrong looked up, a charming expression naturally adorning her features. She seemed genuinely puzzled, saying, "Aren't you here to write? Shouldn't I grind the ink then?"

Hearing this, Shen Qingzhi vigorously shook her head, "You're already here. How can I be so bold as to snatch it from you?"

"No, Mom asked me to stand in the middle and check if the table is straight, just now."

Gu Jinrong spoke while making eye contact with Shen Wangshu to confirm her words.

Shen Qingzhi glanced at her own mother, then at her wife, and couldn't help but coquettishly lean her head closer, saying,

"It's not like you don't know what my handwriting is like."

Shen Qingzhi usually never fails when it comes to acting coquettish with her wife, but it failed this time.

"I've never written Spring Festival couplets," Gu Jinrong said with a calm expression.

Shen Qingzhi didn't believe it. "With your rich acting experience, haven't you played a role where you had to write couplets?"

"I used to film in the M country, and they don't celebrate the Spring Festival there."

Tsk~

It seems to make sense.

Shen Qingzhi had no choice but to be forced to go with it.

At this point, she wasn't in the mood to wait for Gu Jinrong to grind the ink. Thinking of a quick resolution, she directly grabbed the brush and started scribbling on the red paper.

[Picturesque mountains and clear waters of the nine provinces*...Bird's songs and the fragrant flowers..."

*nine provinces poetic name for China, it is the ancient geographical division of China.

Ah, the red paper was too short; it couldn't contain the entire couplet.

The second elder Shen took a glance, shook her head with some disdain, and went back into the living room.

If things go as expected, Shen Qingzhi's effort on this couplet might take less than an hour, and she might even have to continue writing after lunch.

It's a tradition in the Shen family that the homeowner must personally write the couplets for their own room, and it will be auspicious.

Shen Qingzhi despised this kind of superstitious thought.

But this time, even her dear wife didn't stand by her side. She could only grit her teeth and continue writing.

However, Gu Jinrong was much better than Shen Qiong. Regardless of how it turned out, she wouldn't mock Shen Qingzhi. Instead, she patiently encouraged and guided her from the side.

The words “Picturesque mountains and clear waters of the nine provinces” are written very elegantly, just make the spacing a bit closer, and it will look even better."

"The first time, only twelve characters could fit into two scrolls. This time, I could fit fourteen characters. I'm making rapid progress."

She has to admit, that encouragement is effective, it's just that the results aren't very obvious.

Now, the characters can all fit on the red paper, but someone else might not necessarily recognize the content.

At first, Shen Qingzhi, who was reluctantly pushed to the front, felt a bit of competitiveness under her wife's gaze.

She took a deep breath, the pen tip soaked in ink from the inkstone and prepared for an uninterrupted and swift completion.

"Slow down." Gu Jinrong stood behind her at some point and held her hand that was holding the brush with her right hand, calming down the somewhat impatient atmosphere around her.

Behind Shen Qingzhi, there was warmth and tenderness. With one hand held by her dear wife, her heart skipped a beat, but her wrist magically steadied.

The black ink traced on the red paper, stroke by stroke, and surprisingly, it looked much more pleasing than before.

[Picturesque mountains and clear waters of the nine provinces; bird's songs and the fragrant flowers; eternal spring for all four seasons.]

“See, isn't my Qingqing very powerful?”

Shen Qingzhi was overwhelmed by the praise. Still, she modestly added, "You also played a part, let's consider it our collaboration."

After saying this, she felt something was wrong, "Wait, you just said you haven't written Spring Festival couplets before?"

"It is true that I have never written Spring Festival couplets before, but I have practiced calligraphy."