Chapter 48: Bright Moon and Gentle Breeze

As soon as he entered the cafeteria, Sun Yanzhen saw Huang Guolun sitting alone at a table, eating. Smiling, she waved at him, picked up a set meal from the counter, and headed straight for his table.

A few other teachers were scattered around the dining hall, among them two single male teachers whose eyes unconsciously followed Sun Yanzhen as she moved, pondering whether they should join her for lunch. Yet, embarrassed to approach her alone, they could only watch enviously as the goddess sat down with Huang Guolun.

Seated across from Huang Guolun, Sun Yanzhen lowered her voice and asked, “Did you get the address I sent you for the gathering?” Her tone suggested she didn’t want the nearby teachers overhearing and joining the fun.

Huang Guolun, unhurried, used his chopsticks to break apart a meatball, dipped a piece in gravy, and savored it slowly before replying, “Yes, I got it. It looks like it’s somewhere on the South Third Ring?”

“That’s right.” Sun Yanzhen smiled mysteriously and whispered, “It’s a new music bar opened by a friend of a friend. It’s only been in business a short while, so we’re taking the chance to help build some buzz. My friend and the owner have agreed to give us half off on all drinks, and there’ll be a folk band performing for us.”

“That’s quite impressive.”

“Of course! For a girl as beloved as me, how could my birthday not be grand?” Sun Yanzhen deliberately flicked her hair behind her ear with a proud flourish, youthful and radiant.

Huang Guolun teased her, “You’re just like our little Huang Tao, so full of yourself.”

Sun Yanzhen shot him a look and retorted, “You’re the one who’s full of yourself. Tao and I, we call it confidence!”

“Alright, confidence it is.”

Not wanting to argue, Huang Guolun got to the point. “Among the friends coming to your birthday tomorrow, is there anyone suitable—a woman who could be Tao’s mother? Don’t forget to introduce me, but only someone reliable. If she’s not, don’t bother.”

Sun Yanzhen looked at him disdainfully. “You’re really impatient.”

“How can I not be? I’m losing control over that little rascal. I need someone to help me manage him.”

“Are you looking for a partner or a helper?”

“A helper and a partner. The two roles have to be one and the same.”

Sun Yanzhen laughed. “With that attitude, I doubt you’ll find the right one in the next year or two. Besides me, what woman would want to be with you just to be Tao’s stepmother? I think you’re completely missing the point in your search for a wife.”

Her words woke him up.

Huang Guolun pondered for a moment—it was true.

His goal now was entirely to find a new mother for Huang Tao.

But what single woman would want to be with a man just to become someone else’s child’s stepmother?

The proper order should be: a woman falls for the man, then is willing to be the child’s stepmother.

But Huang Guolun was hoping a woman would first take on the responsibility of caring for Huang Tao, and only then discuss their own relationship.

That was completely upside down!

What woman would accept that?

Yet Huang Guolun’s main motivation right now was to find a new mother for Huang Tao.

As for himself, he didn’t feel an urgent need for a partner. Without Tao, he wouldn’t even consider searching for one.

He sighed quietly, praying that fate would grant him a heavenly match—a woman who could be both a good mother to Tao and a good wife to him, and that she would appear soon.

Sun Yanzhen comforted him, “Don’t worry. I’ve invited a few women I think might suit you to tomorrow’s birthday party. If you’re interested, and they are too, you can try getting to know each other.”

She didn’t voice her doubts about whether Huang Guolun could really find a suitable partner in his current state.

Huang Guolun said gratefully, “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m doing it for Tao.”

Sun Yanzhen, her lips slick with oil, spoke to Huang Guolun with anticipation, “You sing so well. Tomorrow at the bar, you have to perform.”

“Perform what?”

“Sing, of course! I told everyone coming to my birthday that they’ll need to show off their singing, no one can be shy. Everyone has to sing at least one song to liven things up and celebrate.”

“But isn’t there a folk band to entertain us? Why should we sing?”

“The band is mainly there to accompany us! Karaoke is so boring. Tomorrow, we’ll do something different, with live musicians backing us. That’s real talent.”

Sun Yanzhen winked and encouraged him, “Tomorrow, you can’t be a wallflower. You need to shine in front of my girlfriends. I never thought your singing was that good, but after hearing your version of ‘Contentment,’ I realized you’re quite talented! If you could write me a song like ‘Contentment’ as a birthday gift, that would truly satisfy me. But no pressure.”

Huang Guolun sipped his soup, seemingly nonchalant but actually quite expectant. “I’ll do my best. I’ve never sung with a live band in a music bar before, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Sun Yanzhen laughed, “Isn’t it your dream to open a little tavern and sing once Tao grows up? Tomorrow, you can get a taste of it.”

Suddenly, an idea struck her. Covering her mouth as she laughed, she wiped her lips with a napkin, cast a meaningful glance at Huang Guolun—and laughed again.

Huang Guolun was confused and touched his face. “What are you laughing at? Is there something on my face?”

“No, I just remembered something funny.”

“What’s funny?”

“Didn’t you tell me before that your dream was to wash your hands, play your instrument, and invite the moon and breeze as guests to your little tavern? I recently heard a joke about moon and breeze.”

Huang Guolun’s brow furrowed, sensing that Sun Yanzhen was about to poke fun at his dream.

With a mischievous smile reminiscent of Huang Tao, Sun Yanzhen asked, “This joke is a bit risqué. Do you want to hear it?”

“No,” said Huang Guolun, focusing on his meal.

“But I want to tell it, hehe.”

She whispered the joke to him, “It’s from ‘The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.’ Zhang Wuji was training with Zhang Sanfeng on Wudang Mountain and complained, ‘Grandmaster, life here is so lonely. Only the moon and breeze keep me company.’ Zhang Sanfeng sighed, ‘That’s already pretty good. At least you have the moon and breeze. When I was at Shaolin, I only had two companions—one was called Breeze…’ Zhang Wuji asked, ‘What about the other?’ Zhang Sanfeng replied, ‘The other…was called Heartfelt Harmony.’”

If he hadn’t already heard some of her risqué jokes, Huang Guolun would have wondered if fate had installed the wrong parts in Sun Yanzhen’s head. Such a pure-looking teacher, telling jokes like this, really left him speechless!

He didn’t laugh much, but Sun Yanzhen was delighted, “Now, whenever I think of you inviting the moon and breeze, I think of Heartfelt Harmony, haha.”

Huang Guolun sighed, “Stop teasing me.”

“What are you two talking about, so happy?” Hu Yan, the Chinese teacher for grade eleven, had arrived with his tray and tea, joining their table for some fun.

With an outsider present, Sun Yanzhen instantly reined in her mischievous side and smiled brightly, “I just told Mr. Huang a joke. It was quite funny.”

Hu Yan had come for Sun Yanzhen. After nodding a greeting to Huang Guolun, he turned his attention exclusively to her. “What joke? Tell us.”

“Not telling. I just finished it, and repeating it would ruin the fun.” Sun Yanzhen lowered her head and ate.

To please her, Hu Yan said, “Then let me tell you a joke.”

Sun Yanzhen teased him, “Mr. Hu, your jokes are always too literary. They’re not funny.”

“This one’s different. Listen.”

After sipping his tea and clearing his throat, just like a storyteller, Hu Yan began, “Moral standards of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, achievements of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou, five overlords and seven heroes stirring the Spring and Autumn, rise and fall in a blink. Today’s joke takes place in the Tang Dynasty, year 688. Li Chong, the governor of Bozhou, rebelled against Empress Wu, and Li Zhen, governor of Yuzhou, joined him. The rebels pillaged and committed every atrocity along the way. Zhang Guangfu traveled to the capital and reported his observations to the emperor, crying, ‘Your Majesty, what I saw on the journey—the enemy’s virtue has been lost…’ Before Zhang could finish, Di Renjie glared and shouted, ‘Nonsense! When have I ever lost my virtue!’”