Qiu Songdao was still immersed in lingering fear, but Qiu Zhuqing glanced at Zhu Jiayu subtly. If he didn't understand what Zhu Jiayu wanted to do before, he now understood.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Qiu Songdao quickly pushed him, saying, "Let's go, let's go back quickly."
Zhu Jiayu was the last to leave. Only after Qiu Zhuqing and the other person had left did she turn around, take the kitchen knife that Wu Laosan had been holding from the guard, walk up to Wu Laosan, and pat his face.
Wu Laosan was terrified by her movements, fearing that she might slip and the cleaver would fall on his feet.
However, Zhu Jiayu remained calm. She glanced at Wu Laosan's crotch and said, "I stayed behind specifically to tell you that next time you're in front of a woman, watch your mouth. If I hear those filthy words again, watch out for your crotch, hmm?"
She picked up the kitchen knife and patted his thigh again.
Wu Laosan felt a cold wind blow past his crotch. Just as he was about to speak, the kitchen knife in Zhu Jiayu's hand slipped from her grasp and fell straight to his feet. If he had made any rash move at that moment, the tip of the knife would probably have landed on his feet instead of at his feet.
He gasped, staring in horror at the girl's departing figure.
After leaving the gambling den, Zhu Jiayu returned to the Qiu residence with Qiu Zhuqing and Qiu Songdao.
Hearing that his article had won first prize, Qiu Weiming was very happy. What made him even happier was that his mother's complexion had improved a lot recently. Although she still looked listless, there was a hint of vitality in her eyes. He thought this was normal, after all, illness comes like a landslide and recovery is like pulling silk from a cocoon. With double happiness on his mind, he even had a drink at the family dinner that evening, which was quite rare for him.
After the banquet, Zhu Jiayu did not return to Chunshan Residence, but instead went to sit in the small pavilion by the pond.
Before long, she was found by Qingshang, the old lady's maid.
Qingshang stood under the bamboo grove outside the pavilion, her voice carrying a hint of a smile: "So this is where Miss is. I've been looking for you. The old lady is in Songhe Pavilion and would like to invite you over for a chat. Is this a convenient time for you?"
Zhu Jiayu stood up: "Of course it's convenient."
After saying that, she and Lüzheng went to Songhe Pavilion with Qingshang.
As she had last seen, the old lady, Madam Lin, leaned listlessly against the pillar by the headboard, but she looked much more energetic than before.
Zhu Jiayu walked over and curtsied, saying, "Grandmother."
Madam Lin smiled gently and beckoned to her, "Good child, come and sit down, keep your grandmother company for a while."
Zhu Jiayu went over as instructed and sat down on the plum blossom stool next to her bed.
The room was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, and wisps of smoke curled from the incense burner. A bronze crane lamp stood on the table by the window. A gentle night breeze swept by, and the lamplight and the sandalwood smoke swayed and flickered, creating a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere.
But Zhu Jiayu dared not let her guard down. She nodded obediently, but still did not speak. She looked like a reserved and quiet young girl.
Seeing her like this, Madam Lin's eyes darkened slightly, and she asked, "Is A-Yu fifteen years old this year?"
Zhu Jiayu obediently agreed, and then said, "The ninth month is the fifteenth."
"Speaking of which, your mother met your father when she was fifteen years old. She fell in love with him at first sight and insisted on marrying him in Suiping, ignoring all advice from the family."
Lin smiled as she said this, "Our Ayu is exceptionally beautiful and intelligent. She's reached the age where she's attracted to beauty and young women. Does she have someone she likes?"
Zhu Jiayu shook her head, blushing, and said, "Grandmother, Ayu is still young and wants to spend more time with you and Father..."
Madam Lin's smile deepened as she gently stroked Zhu Jiayu's head: "Silly child, in this world, everyone's fate is only for a short time. Now that you're this age, your fate with your family is almost over, and next, it will be your fate with your husband."
“But—” she changed the subject, her voice tinged with worry, “If you had been born into the Qiu family, you would have had a good marriage like your cousins, marrying into an official’s family as a young mistress, without having to worry about making a living, traveling in luxury cars and enjoying tea and flowers every day.”
"But your mother died early and your father is just a merchant, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to arrange a marriage."
Zhu Jiayu followed her words, a trace of sorrow showing in her eyes. She lowered her eyes and said, "It's alright, Grandmother. In my life, I only hope to marry a kind-hearted man who will not look down on me."
Seeing that she seemed to really think so, Lin patted her somewhat thin back and tentatively asked:
"If that's the case, I have a good candidate here. He comes from a distinguished family, is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and is quite handsome. He would be a perfect match for our A-Yu. You don't need to worry about being looked down upon for your family background when you marry him; the entire household will respect and honor you. I just don't know what A-Yu thinks?"
Zhu Jiayu pondered for a moment. The Qiu family was already considered a high-ranking family in Heling City. The family that Old Madam Qiu called a high-ranking family must be the family she knew in Yujing.
But if it were a young master from Yujing, even if they were to propose marriage, they would never marry a merchant's daughter like her. She knew all too well what those people in Yujing were thinking. In their eyes, the peddlers, farmers, and merchants of this world were all worthless lives, like weeds. They wouldn't even give them a second glance, let alone have anything to do with them; that would be worse than killing them.
If they don't look down on her background and even respect her, then either the family or the man who married her has a problem.
She found it somewhat amusing, but didn't show it on her face. Instead, she looked at Madam Lin with surprise and asked, "There really is such a person?"
Madam Lin smiled and nodded: "Ayu, your mother was my most beloved youngest daughter. I owe her so much, and now that she is gone, I can only make it up to you even more..."
She pursed her lips, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes: "That young master's grandmother is an old acquaintance of mine from Yujing. Although your status is somewhat lower, I have already spoken to her about it. You are gentle, intelligent, and kind, making you the perfect choice for a granddaughter-in-law, which is why she reluctantly agreed. But with her approval, no one will dare to make things difficult for you once you marry into the family. You will then be a highly respected official's wife in Yujing..."
Her hand, which had been loosely resting on Zhu Jiayu's wrist, suddenly tightened, gripping her granddaughter's wrist tightly: "The difference between then and now is like night and day, an insurmountable chasm!"
Zhu Jiayu covered her lips: "Then when the time comes, won't it be a case of one person attaining enlightenment and all their relatives and friends benefiting from it?"
Lin loosened her grip, her expression somewhat unpleasant, but since Zhu Jiayu insisted on saying so, she had no problem with it. She remained silent, unsure how to respond.
Zhu Jiayu continued softly, "But why would Grandmother want to give me such a blessing?"
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