Chapter 44 Two old ladies went out to see a play
Madam Min Qiao was determined not to get involved. No matter how much Madam Wu hinted or suggested that she take over Min Hui's marriage, or how much Min Hui tried to get close to her and ask her to help with the marriage, Madam Min Qiao always refused and ignored it.
On the appointed day, he took Wei Jia and the other two to the Duke of Jin's mansion to pick up Madam Zheng and headed straight for the Painted Corner Tower.
"So many days have passed, and there's still no news. I thought you were just saying you wanted to invite me to a play, but it was just talk."
Once inside the carriage, Madam Zheng began speaking in a sarcastic and unpleasant tone.
Didn't I send you a message yesterday?
Seeing that Madam Zheng was clearly happy but still had a sharp tongue, Madam Min Qiao deliberately teased her with amusement, saying, "I thought Madam Zheng didn't care about my invitation! I didn't expect that you would be waiting and looking forward to it every day?"
When Madam Zheng's secret was exposed, she immediately flew into a rage and spat out, "Bah! Who's waiting and hoping for this? It's not like I'm looking down on a play! Do you think I need your invitation?"
Madam Min Qiao laughed and said, "Yes, yes, it was I who insisted on inviting you to the opera. I should thank you for being so forgiving and for condescending to accept the invitation."
"Hmph, that's more like it!" Madam Zheng nodded in satisfaction.
The two elderly women, whose combined age was one hundred, suddenly smiled at each other, their hearts filled with joy.
Two people who had been at odds for years simply let bygones be bygones and turned hostility into friendship.
The group entered the Painted Corner Building, and Manager Wu personally led them to the best private room on the third floor.
The two old ladies sat at the table by the window, while Granny Fang, Granny Guan, Ajiu, and Weijia also sat at another table.
Since her rebirth, Madam Min Qiao has stopped paying so much attention to rules. Every time Granny Fang and the others accompany her out, they sit at the same table with her.
Since Madam Zheng is present, it's impossible for them to sit at the same table. However, it's still possible to arrange another table so they can sit together and listen to the opera.
At first, Granny Guan was a little unaccustomed to it, but seeing Granny Fang's habitual attitude, and seeing the eight or nine-year-old girl sitting down and eating the fruits and snacks that had been laid out on the table in a casual and relaxed manner, she followed suit and sat down as well.
However, she silently labeled the people around Min Qiao as people who didn't know the rules.
Later, I'll have my own matriarch quietly remind Madam Qiao to prevent her from being bullied by her servants in the future.
The plays performed at the collective corner tower were all ordered in advance by Madam Min Qiao after she had inquired about Madam Zheng's preferences.
Moreover, all the performers on stage were famous actors.
It not only has the pillars of the corner tower, but also the pillars of several other theaters in the capital.
Logically speaking, the other opera houses and the painted corner towers are in competition with each other. Logically speaking, it would be impossible for them to let their own star performers go to the rival's territory to perform and attract more audiences for the rival.
But today, Madam Zheng witnessed such a strange sight.
After her initial shock, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. "You really went to great lengths."
No wonder it took so long to invite her. I reckon they put a lot of effort into getting everyone together.
Madam Min Qiao smiled and agreed, "I've not only put in a lot of effort, I've also spent a lot of money!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's initial感动 (feeling of being touched) vanished instantly.
She scoffed and said mockingly, "It's just a little extra money, isn't it? Tell me how much it cost, and I'll give it to you."
Madam Min Qiao smiled and teased, "I also watched the opera, so I can't let you pay for it all by yourself. How about this, we each pay half."
Madam Zheng, her face dark, glared at Madam Min and said irritably, "Tell me, how much should I pay?"
"Let's forget it. I'm afraid you can't afford it." Madam Min hesitated, but her words were utterly infuriating.
As expected, Madam Zheng got angry. "Bah! Who do you think you are? It's just the cost of a few opera performances. Do you think I can't afford it?"
Suppressing a laugh, Madam Min Qiao deliberately said, "This private room is one hundred taels. Tea and snacks are fifty taels. A performance is five hundred taels, and a famous actor is five hundred taels each. Those from other families received an extra two hundred taels each..."
Madam Zheng said impatiently, "Just tell me how much you spent!"
"Five thousand taels. You only need to pay two thousand five hundred taels."
"How much did you say?!" Madam Zheng was stunned.
This is the kind of show that could make her turn in her grave after just one day!
Min Qiao finally stopped teasing and said with a smile, "Alright, I was just joking with you, why are you taking it so seriously?"
Madam Zheng didn't take this as a joke and asked seriously, "How much money did you actually spend?"
Madam Min Qiao didn't take it to heart. "Why are you asking this? I'm not asking you to pay. I promised to treat you, so why would I let you pay?"
Madam Zheng gave Min Qiao a meaningful look. "Are you really not clear, or are you just pretending?"
"What's the meaning?"
This time it was Min Qiao's turn to be puzzled.
Madam Zheng glanced at the four people at the table behind her. "Are they all trustworthy?"
Min Qiao nodded.
Madam Zheng then said, "Isn't your Third Master Min arranging a marriage between you and the Fifth Miss of the Marquis of An'nan?"
Madam Min Qiao nodded: "That's true."
Madam Zheng wanted to ask why she had taken a liking to his daughter, but she held back and went straight to the point: "These past few days, people outside have been saying that your household is stingy, and the betrothal gifts only amount to a mere thousand taels."
"Some people say that your household is humiliating the Annam Earl's Household."
"Some people say that your Xuanping Marquis's mansion is all bark and no bite, that it's not that you don't want to pay, but that you simply can't afford it."
At this point, Madam Zheng said earnestly, "You are a stepmother, yet instead of spending money to arrange your son's marriage, you spend a fortune to invite me, an insignificant outsider, to watch a play. If word gets out, who knows what people will say about you!"
"People can say whatever they want, what right do I have to control what they say?"
Madam Min Qiao pursed her lips, unconcerned, and said, "Besides, you yourself said that I'm going to be someone's stepmother. Isn't it only natural that I, as the stepmother, shouldn't care about Min Hui's marriage?"
"Besides, no matter how good I've been to Minhui over the years, there are always people who say I'm a stepmother. Since everyone thinks I've mistreated Minhui, why should I put on a show for them?"
Madam Zheng stared at Madam Min with wide eyes, as if trying to see a flower bloom on her face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Madam Min Qiao felt a little uncomfortable being stared at.
"I've noticed you've really changed," Madam Zheng said with a nostalgic tone. "Back then, you even came to our house to lecture me about 'not airing your dirty laundry in public.' Now you don't care about your reputation at all!"
Madam Min Qiao also sighed, "Yes, who could have imagined it?"
She used to care so much about the Marquis's mansion and her reputation! But now, she cares about nothing at all!
Having been reborn, she finally understood that what tormented her was always the things she cared about too much! If she stopped caring, who could do anything to her?
"It's not good for you to spend money so extravagantly. You should be more restrained in the future," Madam Zheng kindly advised.
The son couldn't afford to get married, but the stepmother was spending money lavishly on operas, which would be bad for Min Qiao Shi if word got out.
"It's alright. I'm spending my own money, and I have a clear conscience."
Madam Min spoke calmly and composedly, leaving Madam Zheng speechless.
While Madam Min Qiao was leisurely enjoying the opera with Madam Zheng, the Xuanping Marquis's residence was in complete chaos.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com