Chapter 2

Today, You Cuicui had prepared a fire-avoidance chart for Fu'er.

I don't want the content to be too explicit.

Fu'er glanced at it once, then dared not look at it a second time.

I still think that animal breeding is the most direct method.

She had personally witnessed her orange cat and gray cat flirting.

Ning Shiyu shoved Fu'er away and shouted sternly, "If you still want to stay in the Ning residence, leave immediately."

The commotion inside the house also alerted Mu Li outside.

He asked, "Master, what has happened?"

Ning Shiyu glanced at Fu'er, who was standing there, frozen, hugging her arms tightly.

"It's nothing, the cat went inside."

His face was gloomy, and he didn't even glance at her.

Fu'er was at a loss for what to do, and she knew his temperament well; if he didn't want to, no one could force him.

I've heard people say that forced relationships are never sweet.

She took it as just idle talk, but after failing to get into his bed tonight, she finally understood the deeper meaning behind those words.

She deeply regretted not listening to her cousin and putting the drug in Ning Shiyu's tea.

Then she crawled naked into his bedding.

Or perhaps it's because she's looking at him with pleading eyes, and he feels a little sorry for her.

Ning Shiyu's voice softened slightly, "It's cold at night, put on your clothes and go back to rest."

After saying that, he tore down the bed curtains and ignored Fu'er completely.

Fu'er quietly put on her clothes and had no choice but to return the way she came through the hidden door behind the bathhouse.

The next day, Ning Shiyu transferred Fu'er to the head accountant's office in the mansion.

Now everyone in the manor knows that Fu'er has fallen out of favor.

Even Granny Yu was completely bewildered, and felt great sympathy for Fu'er.

The secret passage has always been a place where only the newcomers laugh, but the old ones weep.

After being assigned to the accounting office, Fu'er became quite depressed.

But she can't bring herself to give it up.

After all, she had been eyeing this house for a long time.

She has lived here for many years and has a deep affection for this house.

She was so familiar with every single bluestone slab on the ground, having stepped on them countless times.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind: the new girl, Yunyou, was so favored.

Ning Shiyu would never be willing to leave her in Lingyang.

If Yunyou has a child during this period.

Even if she can no longer serve Ning Shiyu, she will still have a chance.

I was so stupid yesterday. Ning Shiyu's anger will subside after this period of time passes.

She will try to find a way to get back to Wenxuan Pavilion.

Having figured all this out, Fu'er shook off her earlier gloom.

My mood suddenly brightened.

He managed to cheer himself up, but he made many mistakes in the accounts.

Uncle Hong, the accountant, was a gentle man. Knowing that she was in a bad mood, he didn't blame her.

When they went to the kitchen for lunch, the maids and servants in the mansion were all whispering and pointing at each other.

Fu'er let it go in one ear and out the other.

It didn't affect her mood at all during her meal.

After finishing her meal, she hadn't even left the backyard.

The gatekeeper rushed over, saying, "Miss Fu'er, something has happened at your home. I heard your brother-in-law went to your house to snatch your child. You'd better go back and check on things quickly."

Upon hearing this, Fu'er turned pale and forgot to ask Uncle Hong for leave.

I rushed home as fast as I could.

Fu'er took leave a few days ago because her sister gave birth.

Her older sister, Man'er, had only been married to the Xu family for half a year when she discovered that her husband was keeping a singing girl as a mistress.

She's several months pregnant, and her belly is even bigger than hers.

The girl must have been pregnant before the two got married.

Man'er refused to compromise herself and insisted on divorcing her husband despite everyone's opposition.

At that time, she was already three or four months pregnant.

Back home, she was not well received by her father, brother, and sister-in-law.

I suffered a lot of injustice.

It was supposed to be due in ten days, but she had a few arguments with her brother and sister-in-law.

It then started earlier than expected.

The one who loves Man'er the most in the family is Fu'er, who can't bear to see her sister suffer even the slightest grievance.

She took a shortcut and soon arrived at Xieqiao Lane.

Most of the people living here are outsiders who, like Fu'er's family, run small businesses.

She bumped right into her scumbag brother-in-law, Xu Yuan, as soon as she reached the alley entrance.

The baby he was holding in his arms was Le Ge'er, who was only a few days old.

Her sister's pitiful cries echoed from the alley: "Xu Yuan, you beast! Le'er is my life!"

Fu'er glared fiercely at Xu Yuan, filled with hatred, and immediately pulled out the silver hairpin from her hair.

"Put the child down. My sister is no longer a member of the Xu family."

"Brother Le is certainly not one of them either."

After Xu Yuanhe's divorce, he immediately took the girl who sang the diary home.

Two months ago, that woman gave birth.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and she was born a girl.

The Xu family learned that Man'er had visited their home several times since giving birth to a baby boy.

The goal was simply to take the child back.

Today, while her brother and father were not home, they came to snatch the child again.

Xu Yuan glanced at Fu'er's small frame and laughed, "Fu'er, I won't say anything more to you, you can't make the decisions at home anyway."

“I gave the money to your brother and sister-in-law, as well as your father. They all agreed that I should take Le’er back to the Xu family.”

Fu'er spat, "Le Ge'er is my sister's child. If she doesn't agree, I won't let you take the child away."

Xu Yuan was not afraid and said angrily, "I don't believe that a girl like you can stop me."

They immediately changed course and left through another alley.

Fu'er was very familiar with her surroundings.

He jogged to catch up and blocked Xu Yuan at the intersection.

The two men fought over it with all their might, which frightened Le Ge'er so much that he screamed loudly.

The child was finally placed in Fu'er's arms.

Xu Yuan's hands already had several bloody marks from Fu'er's cuts.

Judging from her ruthlessness, she might just stab him in the heart next.

Xu Yuan had no choice but to let go. Before leaving, he said firmly, "You just wait. Your family has all agreed. I'll come back tonight and see if you can stop me now."

After saying that, she tied up her hair again, which had been messed up by Fu'er.

He straightened the torn pant leg.

Pressing the bleeding wound on his hand, he left the place in a disheveled state.

Fu'er wasn't much better off.

She has no time to tidy herself up, given her tattered battle record.

Carrying the crying child, I returned home.

Man'er and her mother saw Fu'er snatch the child back.

Overjoyed, she wept.

As soon as Le Ge'er returned to his mother's familiar embrace, he immediately stopped crying.

Fu'er didn't stop, and said to her mother, "Mother, hurry up and pack your things."

"I took my sister away from home."

"Silly child, where can you take your sister?"

“When you go out to rent a house, people will see that you are both women and they are afraid that you will not be able to earn enough money to rent the house, so they are unwilling to rent to you.”

Man'er's eyes were red from crying. She hugged Le Ge'er tightly and didn't know where to go for a moment.

Fu'er was stunned for a moment, then realized that what her mother said was true.

But she quickly came up with an idea: "I'll take my sister to the Ning residence and let her stay in my room. At worst, I'll take on another job."

Fu'er's mother, Madam Wen, immediately retorted, "No, the young master will not agree."

"He's never been one to talk to people."

Fu'er's mother was a good cook and had always worked as a cook at the Ning residence.

Two years ago, I injured my back and couldn't stand for long periods of time.

She had no choice but to resign from her job as a cook at the Ning residence.

Having lived in the Ning residence for many years, how could she not understand the temperament of her former master?

If Fu'er took it upon herself to bring her sister back without his permission...

I'm afraid Fu'er will lose her job too.

Fu'er, a maid, received a monthly allowance of ten taels of silver, which was the highest in Lingyang County.

They earn more in a month than their family's tofu shop.

Ever since Man'er returned to her parents' home, her daughter-in-law, Ma, has been making veiled accusations and disturbances every few days.

Most of the money earned from the tofu shop was in the hands of her daughter-in-law.

Man'er and her son were entirely supported by Fu'er's wages.

He saw that his mother was stopping him.

Fu'er couldn't think of a better solution at the moment.

The mother and her two daughters fell silent again. They all knew that if they didn't leave now, Xu Yuan would have to take their child away tonight.

Fu'er was also very busy today.

Seeing her sister's eyes swollen from crying, Fu'er felt heartbroken.

She made a bold decision in her heart, "Mother, I know where to take my sister."

After noon, Ning Shiyu returned to the Ning residence.

Upon entering the study, I received a letter from Chang'an.

After reading the letter, he immediately burned it.

Then he summoned Granny Yu, saying, "Granny, in a couple of days, I'm going to visit a senior."

"This senior enjoys fine wine, and his mother loves jade jewelry. Prepare gifts for me tomorrow."

Granny Yu immediately agreed, "This servant understands."

Ning Shiyu publicly claimed that he was just a merchant.

Those close to him know that he is busy with more than just business matters every day.

Knowing that he had important business to attend to, Granny Yu did not dare to linger and replaced the leftover fruit cakes from yesterday on the tea table.

He was about to step down.

If Fu'er were here, there would still be some left.

Ning Shiyu glanced at the enamel tray that Granny Yu had been holding, which hadn't been touched since yesterday, and his gaze darkened slightly.

As soon as Granny Yu left the study, the orange cat started meowing incessantly.

Ning Shiyu's cool gaze shifted to the orange cat beside the tea table.

He closed the document in his hand, moved to the tea table, picked up the pastries on the table, and fed two pieces to the orange cat.

This orange cat is no longer the one that Fu'er used to bring home for food when he was a kitten.

The orange cat that grew up with Fu'er and Ning Shiyu passed away four or five years ago.

This is its son, also called Little Orange.

It is very clever and knows who the master is here.

Then she stopped clinging to Fu'er.

She fawned over Ning Shiyu and wouldn't let anyone else touch her, which led to her becoming quite overweight thanks to Ning Shiyu's care.

Ning Shiyu bent down and stroked its head.

Little Orange's two bright, sparkling eyes reminded Ning Shiyu of Fu'er's large, round eyes, which seemed to be able to ripple with water.

Ning Shiyu could keenly detect her lies as soon as she did.

The thought of the foolish thing she did yesterday...

Ning Shiyu snorted coldly, even the orange cat was unusually quiet.

A moment later, Zhuang Xing came to report.

"Young master, I have found out that after Miss Fu'er returned to the Ning residence yesterday..."

"I went to the Wan residence again."

Upon hearing the words "Wan Mansion," Ning Shiyu frowned.

I guessed it too; that's why Fu'er was so bold.

Ning Shiyu knew more or less about the people and things around her.

Not only did they know she had a cousin, but they also knew that this cousin worked as a maid in the Wan family.

She became Master Wan's concubine because she slept in the master's bed.

He was wondering last night where Fu'er had learned such lewd talk as "having sex with two women in one night."

It turned out to be her cousin again.

Ning Shiyu rubbed his temples, and then heard Zhuang Xing say, "I also went to Miss Fu'er's room and found a packet of medicine."

"Mr. Wu took a look and it was a packet of [unclear - possibly a type of drug or powder]."

Ning Shiyu was stunned for a long time, unable to believe that Fu'er had prepared this medicine for him.

Then another thought popped into my head: Why didn't she use it?

Fu'er was always well-behaved and intelligent, but she was unexpectedly persuaded by others to plot against him.

Ning Shiyu slammed his fist on the table with anger in his eyes, startling Xiao Ju who darted out of the study.

"It seems the punishment was too lenient on her."

Zhuang Xing guessed that Fu'er's transfer to the head accountant's office was probably related to this matter.

But what exactly happened?

Since their master didn't say anything, he didn't dare to ask any more questions.

I couldn't help but feel a chill for Fu'er.

Just when she thought her master would surely kick Fu'er out of the Ning residence, she heard him say, "This matter must not be known to anyone."

"Also, you are not allowed to enter her boudoir again."