Chapter 12 No, You Want

After everyone left, Erya suddenly started crying.

She stamped her feet and said angrily, "Mom, please send that guy out of the room!"

"What are you talking about, kid?" Lu Qiniang glared at her and looked towards the window guiltily, and happened to meet Xiao Yan's eyes.

Lu Qiniang's attempt to hide the truth only made it more obvious: "...I'm not talking about you."

Xiao Yan closed the window.

But he had very good hearing, and even with the window closed, he could still hear Erya's crying.

"...Since he came, the money has been spent, my eldest sister's wedding has fallen through, and I've lost my new clothes. And because of him, I borrowed money and made that old woman surnamed Zheng embarrassed you."

"What are you yelling about? You're the only one with the loudest voice?" Lu Qiniang pushed her. "Why did we save him? Because we owe him! Mother Zheng has always been like that, thinking all the women in the world like her son and that we don't need to pay attention."

"I can't stand this! Why did she curse like that in front of so many people?"

"If you can't swallow it, you spit it out." Lu Qiniang said unhappily, "Whatever others say, she has the right words. As for the outside gossip, who doesn't talk behind others' backs, and who doesn't get talked about behind their backs? It doesn't matter."

She really doesn't care.

She already had the money to solve her urgent needs, and she was feeling relieved that the New Year was over.

"Also, she mentioned the Fifth Young Master, why are you messing around?"

"Mother, the Fifth Young Master is so good to you..."

"The Fifth Young Master is kind to everyone. Okay, I'm warning you, stop talking nonsense. He's the Wenquxing from heaven, if you talk nonsense, be careful you'll get struck by lightning. If you're not good at talking, go help your eldest sister with her work."

Erya turned around angrily and went into the house to sulk.

Daya looked at Lu Qiniang nervously.

"It's okay, just think of it as a gust of wind blowing past your ears, whoosh, it's gone." Lu Qiniang said lightly, "Let's make something thick to eat today."

The world is big, but eating is the most important thing.

At dinner that night, Erya was still arguing at the table, poking at the rice with her chopsticks and saying, "Isn't it just one or two taels of silver? The old hag is looking down on people. Wait until I make some silver, and then I'll throw it in her face."

Daya picked up a piece of radish with her chopsticks and silently agreed.

Although she is a quiet person, she was very angry today.

"Then I'll wait for you to come back with money." Lu Qinniang thought she was joking and said with a smile, while telling her own plan.

The end of the year is approaching, shops are closing, and everyone goes home to celebrate the New Year.

All the restaurants in the capital are closed.

"I'm going to go to Zhuangyuanlou tomorrow and see if I can find some small business."

"Zhuangyuan Building? What kind of business is there? Mother, you are not going to sell pens, ink, paper and inkstone, are you? That requires a lot of capital." Erya said.

Sanya was still innocent and naive at that age. "Mom, can I sell candied haws?"

My family sells candied haws, so she always gets to eat some of the sugar residue.

Thinking of the sweet candy that she hadn't eaten for a long time, San Ya couldn't help swallowing her saliva, and even rice didn't taste good anymore.

Lu Qiniang said, "Most of the people living in Zhuangyuan Building are scholars from other places who came to Beijing to study, and the living conditions are not bad. Although there will definitely be meals provided during the New Year, most of the servants will be sent back home for the New Year, so the meals are just enough to fill your stomach."

A few years ago, the Zhou family invited fellow scholars who had come to Beijing to celebrate the New Year at home.

They all complained that Zhuangyuanlou had a shoddy New Year's Eve dinner.

At that time, Lu Qiniang just listened to it casually, but now she thinks there may be a business opportunity.

"But mother, that also requires capital." Daya reminded her.

"No capital required." Lu Qiniang said, "I'll go see if anyone is in need. Then I'll let those scholars make their own lists and pay for the purchases, and we can just go and help with the cooking, right? Daya, your cooking skills are definitely no problem."

Daya is a clever, quiet, and thoughtful person.

Good at sewing, better at cooking.

Erya's eyes lit up, "Mom, let's give it a try. I'll go with you during the New Year! I'm going to dress festively and say a few more auspicious words. Maybe the scholar will give me some extra rewards. Sanya, follow me and learn to say auspicious words tomorrow."

"But tomorrow—uh—"

Lu Qiniang pretended to hit Erya's hand with her chopsticks. "You're just eating your meal, why are you covering your sister's mouth? I wonder if you're up to something bad again."

"You are wronging me. All I think about is making money."

"Eat quickly, eat more, you look so thin."

Xiao Yan was eating alone at a table on the kang. His hands were strong enough to hold the chopsticks, although they were still shaking a little.

He didn't know if it was his illusion, but he felt like he was feeling better.

Listening to the four mothers and daughters discussing making money in a lively manner, the haze brought by the day's loan crisis was swept away, and he felt relieved.

At night, Xiao Yan wanted to go out.

"Can you do it? No, no." Lu Qiniang disagreed, "Do you need to relieve yourself? Wait, I'll get you a urinal."

"No, I want to try going downstairs." Xiao Yan's ears turned red.

Lu Qiniang has been taking care of him these past two days.

"Going to the toilet? That's okay..."

"No, I want to get out of bed!" Xiao Yan was anxious.

"Be careful not to fall into the toilet. It's so cold today. You said I should wash you, but aren't you cold?" Lu Qiniang muttered.

Xiao Yan felt a sense of powerlessness, like "a scholar meeting a soldier, unable to explain his reason clearly."

He moved to the edge of the kang, hung his legs over it, and slowly moved down.

Lu Qiniang hurried over to help him put on his shoes, then held his arm with her left hand like an iron clamp.

Xiao Yan felt dizzy, but he forced himself to get down slowly.

But he overestimated his own strength. When his feet touched the ground, his body weight pressed down and he couldn't stand steadily.

Fortunately, Lu Qiniang held up his arm, which prevented him from collapsing to the ground.

"What did I tell you? You just don't believe me. Even if Lao Hu says you're fine, you still have to take good care of yourself for a few days. Come on, don't be stubborn with me——"

She bent down slightly, and her right hand passed through Xiao Yan's knee. Her left hand released his arm and supported his back.

Xiao Yan felt his body lighten and he flew into the air.

He was actually held in the arms of a woman like a child!

Lu Qiniang weighs 200 pounds, and since she is fat, she is naturally plump.

Xiao Yan felt like he was resting his head on a piece of soft cotton.

Fortunately, this feeling was just like a brief electric shock. Although I felt a little numb, I was quickly put on the kang.

"People have three urgent needs. What do you want now? Everyone gets sick sometimes. When I was seriously ill, it was Da Ya and Er Ya who took care of me! Wait, I'll go get the toilet."

Xiao Yan said weakly: "I really didn't..."

But that doesn't matter.

He was still pressed on the toilet by Lu Qiniang without any explanation.

The pants were taken off by Lu Qiniang.

"I'm afraid you won't feel comfortable with me here. Call me when you're done." Lu Qiniang went out "considerately".

Xiao Yan sat on the toilet, feeling numb.