Chapter 102: Be a decent human being.

In the warm spring of March, the spring breeze is just right.

Even when walking casually on the street, you can feel the gentle breeze on your face.

Since the journey wasn't far and the weather was nice, the headmaster suggested walking there after the meal to digest the food, and the others naturally agreed.

On the way to the jewelry shop, Li Yue'er helped the headmaster's wife, turned her head to look back at the mistress, and saw that the mistress's gaze was on her. Her eyes lit up and a smile appeared on her lips.

She used to feel that her mistress didn't love her, but now she can always feel her mistress's affection for her.

Qu Rong noticed that Li Yue'er was staring at her and assumed that something was wrong, so she walked over to her and asked silently.

Li Yue'er, however, used the sleeve to conceal herself, hooking her fingers together and gently swaying them tenderly.

Qu Rong feigned indifference, but secretly she was quite pleased with Li Yue'er's open intimacy. She pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and gently squeezed Li Yue'er's cool fingertips before letting go.

We've arrived at the jewelry shop.

As the group went inside, the shop assistants came out to greet them, "Distinguished guests, what kind of jewelry would you like to buy?"

Li Yue'er said, "Let's go in and take a look around first."

"Okay, buddy."

The waiter was new and didn't recognize Li Yue'er, Qu Rong, or the headmaster, but the manager had lived here for many years and was very familiar with these faces.

Hearing the footsteps, he glanced up and saw the head of the Qu family cloth shop, followed by the headmaster of the academy. He gasped and quickly came out from behind the counter to greet them warmly, "Headmaster Zou, Head of the Qu family."

He bowed respectfully and instructed the shop assistant to bring out all the most expensive and newest styles in the store, while also ordering others to prepare fine tea and fruit.

The head of the Qu family brought his wife to the shop, so today was probably the biggest business deal he had made since the New Year. Therefore, the shopkeeper was exceptionally attentive.

The shopkeeper bowed to Qu Rong and stepped forward familiarly, saying, "I heard you were back and was just about to visit your home. Who knew you would come here today? What a coincidence!"

He said, "How about this, for your sake and the headmaster's sake, all the items you chose today will be discounted."

Teng Huang became happy, "That's great! I'll pick out a bracelet too."

She moved closer to Li Yue'er and asked Li Yue'er to help her choose.

The shopkeeper glanced over, feigning hesitation as he looked at Li Yue'er in the pink dress, then, glancing at the Qu family head's expression, asked slowly, "This is..."

Qu Rong, “My wife, Mingyue’er.”

The headmaster had already sat down. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but look at Qu Rong. Seeing her serious expression and the earnest and formal way she introduced Xiao Yue'er to the others, he stroked his beard with satisfaction and smiled as he accepted the hot tea brought by the waiter.

The shopkeeper, being the most adept at handling situations, quickly said, "So it's the mistress of the Qu family. I was too far away to see clearly at your wedding that day, and that's why I didn't recognize her face. I'm sorry for my poor eyesight. In the future, when the mistress comes to our shop, she can get a discount on whatever she chooses. Consider it an apology for not recognizing her earlier."

Not only Qu Rong, but even someone like the headmaster who doesn't deal much with merchants, saw through his trick.

Qu Rong, however, was very good-natured. She sat down, straightened her sleeves, and said slowly, "That depends on whether the things in your shop can please my mistress today."

The shopkeeper understood. The way the head of the Qu family spoke clearly meant that he didn't need to serve her wholeheartedly; he only needed to please the matriarch of the Qu family!

This was the first time Li Yue'er had ever experienced being the center of attention like this, and she turned her head to look back in surprise and delight.

Qu Rong said softly, "Choose whatever you like."

If Li Yue'er laughed, then she really wouldn't hold back!

Li Yue'er was reluctant to spend her own savings, but she was eager to empty the mistress's savings.

She not only chose earrings for herself, but also picked out bracelets for her mother and the headmaster's wife. In the end, the bracelet that Teng Huang chose was also paid for under her name.

The jewelry pieces weren't cheap, so the shopkeeper was all smiles as the group left the store.

When buying earrings, Li Yue'er chose carefully, but the mistress didn't look at them closely.

Li Yue'er couldn't let her money go to waste, so after taking a bath that night, when she got into bed, she tied her long hair back with a hairband, put on earrings, drew back the bed curtains, lit the oil lamp, took off her clothes, straddled her lap, straightened her back and puffed out her chest, so that her mistress could have a good look at her.

Qu Rong, "..."

Qu Rong found it hard to look away from the jewelry.

Compared to the lustrous white pearl earrings, she still preferred the two red dots on the towering, fragrant pearls.

Qu Rong slowly closed the account book in her hand, casually placed it on the bedside table, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and then placed her palm on Li Yue'er's waist.

She tried her best not to look into Li Yue'er's arms, but her hands moved over on their own, her fingers lightly patting and grasping like cat claws.

Li Yue'er raised an eyebrow, looked down at the screen, and asked teasingly, "Are these earrings?"

Was Li Yue'er trying to show her the earrings? Qu Rong thought to herself, but wisely, she didn't say it aloud. What if Li Yue'er got angry and turned away from her? Then she might be left with empty arms tonight.

Qu Rong's face remained indifferent, but her hands encircled Li Yue'er's smooth waist, pulling her into her arms and giving her a deep kiss.

In the end, Li Yue'er knelt beside her mistress's legs, holding her head and letting her eat as she pleased.

The mistress lowered her hand while looking up at her.

The candlelight illuminated her face, revealing her fair skin and dark eyelashes. A flickering light danced in her eyes, making the red beauty mark at the corner of her eye even more alluring.

The current mistress is like a piece of melted ice, all wet and dripping with water, compared to the mistress of the past.

Li Yue'er couldn't resist and bent down to kiss the corner of her eye. At the same time, following her mistress's movement, she almost collapsed, her forehead resting on her mistress's shoulder. "No, no..."

Qu Rong, "Don't stop?"

Li Yue'er, "..."

Li Yue'er looked at her reproachfully with her wet eyes.

Qu Rong, however, picked up on the words Li Yue'er had teased her about when they were in the carriage, and said softly, "Little Yue'er sister, be gentle with me."

Li Yue'er, "!"

...Li Yue'er was so useless; she got the mistress's hands all wet.

Fortunately, the night is still long.

After Qu Rong returned, she spent three whole days with Li Yue'er, and then got busy again on the fourth day.

At the same time, she had Dansha print out the portrait Jiang Hua had given her everywhere, so that every shopkeeper had a copy.

Her idea was that if the person went out to buy fabric to make clothes in the surrounding area, the shopkeeper would be able to recognize them.

However, the difficulty lies in the fact that one's appearance changes the most rapidly in their teens, and they look different every year. This year, we can still find people by drawing portraits, but it will be difficult to do so in two more years.

Qu Rong could only do her best to help, fulfilling the feelings that led to her acquaintance with Jiang Hua.

Summer passed in the blink of an eye, and as autumn approached, Qu Rong received a letter from afar, sent to her by Jiang Hua.

First, the Su family was indeed on the list of those whose wrongful convictions were overturned.

Secondly, regarding the improvement of the treatment of merchants.

Qu Rong only learned that Jiang Hua already had a title when she received this letter.

Wu Xiu.

It really suits her perfectly.

Qu Rong carefully put the letter away and asked Dan Sha, "Where is the mistress?"

Dan Sha said, "These past two days, the mistress has been taking Teng Huang around to inquire about who has the land deed to the Ming family's ancestral home. It seems that the mistress has already saved enough money."

Qu Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, leaned back in her chair, rested her elbow on the armrest, and propped her fingertips on her forehead. "You've saved enough."

She said slowly, "I'll ask her how much gamboge she has stored, and then I'll take the opportunity to raise the price."

cinnabar,"……"

Dansha looked up at the head of the family and thought to herself, "Have some decency. It's not easy for the mistress to save money. Not only does it all end up in your pocket, but you also want to raise the price at the last minute."

Qu Rong said, "Go quickly."

Cinnabar, “...Yes.”

Dansha didn't even need to inquire about this; Tenghuang would nag her before bed, "The mistress had saved six hundred taels of silver to buy land deeds! Now look what's happened, she's penniless. I'll have to carry more money with me when I go out in the future. I can't buy her jewelry, but at least I can't let her go hungry."

Dansha had always known that the mistress wanted to redeem the land deed of the Ming family's ancestral home, but she wondered, "Why the rush? Why not wait until we have more money on hand?"

Once the three shops owned by the mistress earn some more money, she will be much more financially secure.

"We need to find someone to repair it after we buy it. It's already the end of September, and there are only a few months left until the New Year. The mistress is still looking forward to spending the New Year with the head of the family and us at the Ming family this year."

Fujiwara felt sorry for his mistress. "She said we haven't had a proper New Year since last year, and since the head of the family and you weren't able to stay at home for the New Year, we must have a lively celebration this year."

cinnabar,"……"

Compared to the mistress, the head of the household seems less like a human being.

Cinnabar cannot be sold to the head of the household, and since the mistress did not mention it to the head of the household, she naturally wanted to give her a surprise.

Dansha didn't say much, but simply raised her hand to pat Tenghuang's head, took off her purse and handed it to her, saying, "I have some."

The two of them have always been—

All of hers is gamboge, and as for how gamboge spends his share, that's entirely up to him.

Teng Huang chuckled, tied Dan Sha's purse back onto Dan Sha's belt, put his arm around Dan Sha's waist and kissed her lips, tilting his head up to kiss her again and again, "You have to keep yours to support me."

If you're going to support your mistress, you can just use her money.

Dansha was so dazed from the kisses that she didn't have time to think about who Teng Huang had taken care of, and she rolled onto the bed with Teng Huang in her arms.

When Qu Rong went to sleep at night, she raised her hand and gently patted the bed beside her.

Li Yue'er happily climbed up, but instead of rolling onto the inside of the bed, she straddled the mistress's waist and nestled into her arms.

Qu Rong gently patted her back, lowered her eyes and asked softly, "Are you tired?"

Li Yue'er nodded, but didn't say what she was tired about.

The mistress didn't ask any further questions, but simply held her, resting her chin on her head, and asked in a gentle voice, "Do you need any help?"

Li Yue'er's heart softened. She looked up at her mistress and kissed her lips, saying, "I can do it myself."

It's just a pity for her wallet. On the surface, she is the glamorous and wealthy matriarch of the Qu family, but in reality, she has to hand over the little silver she has saved tomorrow.

Li Yue'er was both delighted that she could soon redeem the land deed for the Ming family's ancestral home, and pained by the money she had saved for so long. Although she couldn't be described as frugal, she certainly hadn't dared to spend money extravagantly.

As for why it was six hundred taels, it was because she had inquired around and found that the Ming family's ancestral home was priced at most that amount, so her six hundred taels was just enough to get it.

If the other party is willing to give her a discount because she is the matriarch of the Qu family, or because of her maternal grandfather and the headmaster, then she will really be lucky!

Li Yue'er hugged her mistress, smelling the familiar scent of cold plum blossoms on her body, and said softly, "I have to go out again tomorrow. If you come back and can't find me, wait for me a little longer. I'll have dinner with you tonight."

Qu Rong lowered her eyes, gently combing Li Yue'er's smooth, cool hair behind her back with her fingers, and softly hummed, "Okay."

Seeing how "well-behaved" she was, Li Yue'er became interested and reached into the mistress's bosom, intending to reward her.

Having no money, she had no choice but to reward Qu Rong with her body.

Li Yue'er didn't ask her mistress about the Ming family's residence. She wanted to surprise her mistress, so she went out to search behind her mistress's back.

Although the investigation was difficult, her efforts paid off. Someone was willing to act as a go-between and let her meet the person who had previously bought the land deed from the Ming family, so that she could personally negotiate the price with them.

Li Yue'er thought so too; at the very least, she had to let the other party feel her sincerity in wanting to buy the house back.

To outsiders, it was just a place, an old house, only next to an academy. But to Li Yue'er, it was the home she had grown up in.

Li Yue'er and the middleman agreed that the meeting place would be Yingkelai.

Before entering the house, Li Yue'er's palms were sweating with nervousness. She even prayed in her heart that her maternal grandparents would bless her so that she could successfully redeem the ancestral home!

After taking a few deep breaths, Li Yue'er, with dignified demeanor and a calm expression, knocked on the tightly closed door in front of her.

A woman's voice came from inside the door, two clear and concise words, the tone and words of which were remarkably familiar:

"Come in."

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It's exactly chapter 102, which corresponds exactly to chapter 002!

Moon: [Question mark]

It's almost finished! No more extra updates, hahaha!