Chapter 46 Encountering an Old Acquaintance

The shop assistant at "Ruishang" smiled without fading, bowing respectfully as he replied, "Your Madam just mentioned wanting to go to the jewelry shop across the street, but seeing that Madam was engrossed in trying on clothes, she didn't want to disturb her, so she went ahead with that young lady. Before leaving, Your Madam specifically instructed me that once Madam finished trying on the clothes, I should ask her to settle the bill for this new outfit and the other outfits she had chosen." As he spoke, he presented the red paper bill with both hands.

Granny Wei felt a chill run down her spine, and her vision blurred with stars. Gritting her teeth, she snatched the bill; the ink on the paper seemed like menacing imps, desperately trying to pierce her eyes. But line after line, it was clearly written:

One lake-blue Shu brocade jacket with lotus scroll pattern, worth twenty taels of silver; one jade-colored Hangzhou silk undershirt, worth ten taels of silver; one autumn-colored horse-face skirt, worth twelve taels of silver; one set of moon-white plain silk jacket, worth twelve taels of silver; one set of light yellow jacket with gold-embroidered butterflies, worth eighteen taels of silver; one set of sky-blue satin skirt, worth eighteen taels of silver; one set of bamboo-green horse-face skirt with dark floral pattern, worth twelve taels of silver; one set of lotus-root-colored Hangzhou silk shirt and skirt, worth eighteen taels of silver; totaling one hundred and twenty taels of silver.

The last five characters, "one hundred and twenty taels," were so powerful they seemed to penetrate the paper, the ink so thick that they made the veins on Granny Wei's forehead bulge, her vision go black, and she almost couldn't stand up straight.

Seeing her reaction, the shop assistant standing to the side smiled slightly, but remained polite: "Madam, your lady just instructed that all these clothes are needed. We dared not neglect them and wrapped them up properly, and the two young men from your household have already carried them back to the carriage. As for the bill, your lady also made it clear that the money is with you, Madam, and you can just ask us to settle the account." This shop assistant had worked at "Ruishang" for a long time and was quite perceptive. Seeing Wei Mama's reaction, he roughly guessed that she was unwilling to spend money. He paused and added, "That lady also said that you are a respectable person in the household, and you know the rules very well. You would never shortchange the shop's money, so we can rest assured." After saying that, he put on a smile again.

Granny Wei, being a long-time servant of a noble family, was seething with anger, but she managed to suppress it and force a stiff smile: "There are just too many... I'd appreciate it if you could take me to see them again, young man, and we can just keep a few essential items."

The shop assistant sneered, "Once the clothes have been paid for and taken from the counter, there's no reason to return them! Granny, are you perhaps trying to renege on your debt and extort money?"

Granny Wei's face turned bright red with embarrassment, her lips trembling. Just as she was about to speak up to explain, she saw two burly guards quietly approaching from the inner room. Their faces were unfriendly, and their cold eyes were fixed on her.

Granny Wei's face flushed red and then turned pale, filled with shame and indignation. She finally realized that this was a trap Xue Shanhe had deliberately set for her! Xue Shanhe wanted to humiliate her in public to avenge the beating Qingyue had suffered that day! Gritting her teeth, she fumbled in her purse for a long time, finally pulling out two silver notes—several notes she had brought from home before coming to Liang Ye's ship. She had intended to use them to curry favor with her grandson, who had just taken up his post as county magistrate, after arriving in the capital with Liang Ye, but now she had been ruined by this! Thinking of this, Granny Wei harbored a deep hatred for Xue Shanhe.

As Granny Wei settled the bill, her eyes bloodshot, she clutched her own jacket, undershirt, and horse-face skirt and headed out. Her earlier arrogance had vanished, replaced by a pathetic, stumbling gait; she practically fled from "Ruishang." Just as she stepped outside, Xue Shanhe approached from the street corner, smiling. Granny Wei glared at her hatefully, but Shanhe remained unfazed, pretending not to see her, and greeted her with a beaming smile: "Are you alright, old lady?" She produced a gold-inlaid jade hairpin, gesturing towards Granny Wei's temple, her smile gentle: "I just saw this hairpin, gold-inlaid jade, the gold is pure gold, and the jade is a vibrant, translucent green. I thought it would suit you perfectly, so I decided to buy it. It cost thirty taels, and right now I'm completely broke."

First, he flattered her, then he complained about being poor, explaining how he abandoned her and ran off with Caiping.

Suddenly, Granny Wei realized that this Lady Xue, who seemed gentle and kind, actually had a sharp edge hidden within her!

Granny Wei turned her head away and sneered, "This old woman is too lowly to accept such fine things."

Shanhe frowned and stepped closer, taking Wei Mama's arm with one hand. She whispered apologetically in her ear, "Mama, I'm so sorry. I really don't have any cash on me. The things the master gave me are all heavy jewelry and ornaments, and I don't have time to exchange them right away. When we get back to the ship tonight, I will definitely tell the master and return all the money to you. These clothes aren't just mine; Caixiang, Caiping, He Niang, Qingyue, and the other girls all have a share. When we get back, I will definitely tell them that this is all because of your kind heart, so that everyone will have clothes to make a good impression when we get to the capital. It has nothing to do with me. You are such a considerate and kind-hearted person, Mama, you will definitely not blame me."

Even these clothes weren't just for her; little maids like He Niang and Qing Yue also got a share! Granny Wei felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, her blood churning.

That Xue Shanhe! Every word she utters is a double-edged sword! Each one stabs at her heart! First, she uses the master's name to pressure her, then she uses the gratitude of the head maid to reward her. If she were to insist on the money, it would only make her, the head maid, seem petty and lacking in manners! But whether or not to tell the master is entirely up to Xue Shanhe. If Xue Shanhe doesn't bring it up, wouldn't she have to swallow this bitter pill? If she were to shamelessly ask the master for it, that… that would be utterly humiliating.

So, Granny Wei said coldly, "I am foolish and not as good at doing favors as you are, madam. You are using my money while pretending to be a great philanthropist for me!"

Shanhe pretended not to hear or understand, smiling as she linked arms with Granny Wei and walked affectionately towards the carriage. Huaisong and Huaifeng, waiting in front of the carriage, stared wide-eyed, stunned by the two women's intimate display. Caiping, following behind, was already red-faced from trying not to laugh. Once Shanhe and Granny Wei boarded the carriage, Huaisong grabbed Caiping's sleeve and whispered, "Good sister, what's Lady Xue up to now? Why is she holding Granny Wei's arm?"

Granny Wei was very strict with rules. After she came to the main house, not only the maids who served her, but even the servants were miserable under her control. They used to get up at 4:45 AM to do their work, but now Granny Wei forced them to be on duty at 2:45 AM, or their monthly wages would be deducted. The servants and servants of the main house were all full of complaints.

Caiping was eager to share this good show with someone, and chuckled, "You two wait a moment." After saying that, Caiping lifted the felt curtain and said to Shanhe and Granny Wei in the carriage, "Madam, Granny, there's a stall selling buttered snails up ahead. They smell delicious. Huaisong and I will go and buy some to try."

Granny Wei turned her face away and remained silent. Shanhe glanced at her secretly, but said as usual, "Alright, go and come back quickly."

Cai Ping left with Huai Song in high spirits, while Huai Feng stood silently by the car.

Inside the carriage, Granny Wei, as usual, wore a cold expression, her gaze stingy with any affection for Shanhe. In the past, she had looked down on her; today, she harbored deep resentment. Shanhe suppressed a laugh, lifted a corner of the curtain to let in some fresh air, and said, "It's stuffy in here. I'm going out for some fresh air. It's nearby; Granny can see me as soon as she lifts the curtain."

Granny Wei couldn't wait for her to disappear, so she grunted in agreement.

Shanhe then lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, and Huaifeng hurriedly brought out a sedan chair to serve her. As soon as Shanhe's feet touched the ground, two figures suddenly darted out from the side and knelt down in front of her with a "thump," startling Shanhe so much that she took a half step back.

The man kneeling in front cried out in tears, "Girl! Please, have mercy and buy my sister! Please buy her!" His neatly combed hair was already disheveled, and he wore a short, filthy brown robe, patched upon patched.

Shanhe was taken aback at first, then realized that the voice sounded familiar. But before she could figure out who the person in front of her was, Huaifeng strode forward and stood between Shanhe and the beggar on the ground.

Huai Feng frowned and scolded, "Where did this beggar come from? Get out of here!"

The beggar sobbed and raised his face, which was covered in tears and grime.

Shanhe's heart skipped a beat; the person before her was none other than Wenzhu!

Wen Zhu wept bitterly, crawling on his knees and grabbing Shan He's skirt: "Girl, please have mercy! My brother and I have been kneeling here all afternoon, begging, but no one has come to our aid! We beg you! My father is dead, and my mother is sick at home. We really have no money to buy medicine!" As he spoke, he grabbed the collar of the girl kneeling beside him, forcing her to raise her head: "Quick! Quickly beg this living Bodhisattva girl!"

Miao'er cried even more pitifully than Wen Zhu, her eyes swollen beyond recognition, snot practically dripping into her mouth, her trembling lips pleading, "Please, young lady... please, have mercy... buy me... save my mother..."

Shanhe almost blurted out their names!

Her hands trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

Huai Feng thought Shan He was kind-hearted and pitied the brother and sister, so he advised, "Wife, why don't you go back to the carriage?"

As Wen Zhu kowtowed, she said, "Miss, my sister is quick and hardworking, and she can do any kind of rough or tiring work! Please consider this an act of kindness to save a life!" When Wen Zhu looked up again, her forehead was covered in bruises, and tears streamed down her face, mingling with the dust on her cheeks and creating two muddy ditch-like streaks.

Miao'er also cried: "Please have mercy, young lady! My mother is seriously ill, and my family really can't go on living like this. I am willing to sell myself into servitude and serve you for the rest of my life to repay your great kindness!"

The commotion had already alerted Granny Wei inside the carriage. She got out of the carriage with a sullen face, frowned, and looked at the filthy brother and sister on the ground. She curled her lip in disgust: "If you're kind-hearted, Madam, you can give them some money. But don't bring them bad luck back to the boat and offend the master." On the other hand, she thought that such a girl, who knew nothing about her background and had never been disciplined since childhood, was really difficult to train.

Shanhe suddenly turned around, her voice agitated: "How can you say that! Everyone has their share of pain, and every family has its share of misfortunes. When the old master was dying, he was also bedridden, and the whole family took good care of him. Did the eldest and second masters ever utter a single word about 'bad luck'!"

Granny Wei was speechless for a moment, then retorted, "What kind of person is the old master? How can this be compared to the old master..."

Shanhe ignored her and turned around to help Wenzhu and Miao'er up. She said gently, "How much silver do you still need for your mother's treatment?"

Wen Zhu asked cautiously, "Twenty taels, is that alright?"

"How much will it cost if I buy both you and your sister?" Shanhe asked seriously.

Granny Wei immediately narrowed her eyes and interjected coldly, "The master's room doesn't have that many vacancies. It won't be easy to solve the problem of where the extra people will live, what they will eat, and what they will wear."

Wen Zhu quickly shook his head: "You are too kind, young lady! I have to stay home to take care of my mother and cannot leave. I will only sell my younger sister. Please, young lady, buy my sister!"

Miao'er also cried, "Girl, Bodhisattva, my mother is sick at home alone and can't be left unattended."

Hearing their words, Shanhe had no choice but to give up. However, she had just spent money on hairpins and ornaments, and she hadn't brought Liang Yeyu's money with her. If she asked Granny Wei for it, it would be tantamount to humiliating herself. After pondering for a moment, Shanhe immediately took off her gold earrings and gold bracelet and was about to hand them to Wenzhu.

"What are you doing, madam!" Wei Mama hurriedly stepped forward to grab her hand, saying anxiously, "Putting aside whether the master would allow her to be bought, madam is using the things the master gave you to buy someone, what are you doing! What kind of rule is this!"

Shanhe's eyes were resolute: "I only have some loose silver left, not enough for twenty taels. I'll repay the master's kindness. If he knows I used these things to save people, he might not blame me. Even if he does blame me, I'll bear it alone, it has nothing to do with Granny Wei." She looked up at Granny Wei, her tone turning cold, "If you're going to use Qingyue as a pawn again, to beat and abuse her, then I won't live either. If you kill Qingyue, if you cripple Qingyue, remember to collect all the sharp and heavy things, and keep me tied up every day, otherwise, I can either die or be crippled."

The wind on the long street seemed to freeze for a moment.

Both Granny Wei and Huaifeng gasped in shock. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered; Xue Shanhe had been driven to this point, so easily and resolutely uttering the word "death." They believed she was capable of committing suicide. Hadn't she tried to kill herself last time?

Huai Feng cautiously began, "Madam Xue, I have two or three taels of silver here, perhaps..."

Shanhe tried her best to suppress the glare she was giving him, inwardly blaming him: This Huaifeng, he's with Huaisong every day, how come he doesn't have even a fraction of Huaisong's cleverness? She'd made it clear that she wanted Granny Wei to pay, why was he interfering! Did he think it was easy for him to save those three taels of silver?

Wen Zhu looked up and said timidly, "Miss, one bracelet is enough."

Shanhe then took out a bracelet to give to him.

Granny Wei hurriedly clutched the bracelet: "It was a gift from the master, how can it be given away so easily?" If Xue Shanhe were to add fuel to the fire and whisper sweet nothings in Liang Ye's ear, how could she, as the housekeeper, maintain her position? "Huaifeng, if the two of us pool our money, plus the loose silver that the lady has on her, it should be about right."

Shanhe pulled the bracelet back: "It was given to me by the old man, so I can decide what to do with it."

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Author's Note: Everyone carries their own karma. But Granny Wei's true "karma" is yet to come, haha.