112 Chapter 112
◎Gifts◎
Xu Xiuying nodded. "After hearing Madam Cheng talk about down jackets, I wanted to try raising some geese. I used to just pick up any down that fell, but then I realized the colder the weather, the thicker the geese's feathers grow. The down that grows back is incredibly dense and soft. The down I'm giving Madam Cheng comes from under their wings, on their bellies, and on their necks—the best down."
Cheng Mu thanked her, "You're so thoughtful. I never thought I could wear a goose down coat."
Xu Xiuying: "I've brought this to you today on purpose. Today is the day to offer sacrifices to the gods of agriculture and harvest. Forget about the gods of rivers, dams, insects, and so on. I'm here to offer sacrifices to the goddess of the earth."
Gui Er said bitterly, "Just because of your kindness, our Earth Mother will definitely support you."
"Nonsense!" Cheng Mu sneered. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not her. Be careful not to anger the gods."
When Xu Xiuying arrived, the house became lively and everyone was talking about their recent situation. Xu Xiuying had been wanting to ask Guier if she wanted to go back, but she held back the words several times when they were on the tip of her tongue. She couldn't be too rash and had to at least find out her situation first.
Until they talked about what to eat in the evening, everyone said to have a hot pot, Cheng Mu asked Gui'er to slice the meat, and after everyone left, Xu Xiuying dared to ask Cheng Mu.
"I think Gui'er is almost recovered now. She's really a different person now compared to how she was back then."
Cheng Mu: "She is much better now. She is still sparring with others every day and the fight is very intense."
Xu Xiuying asked, "Doesn't she miss Jiu'er at all? Her biological child is still so young. I went to see Aunt Yu a few times, and she felt sorry for the child without a mother to take care of her. She resented Gui'er for being lost and gone. She did everything herself, which was too tiring. She'd aged a lot."
"Guier must have had postpartum depression. She only got better after leaving that environment and getting rid of her motherhood. Don't mention these things to her. If she doesn't mention it, then neither of us will."
"Okay, thank goodness you reminded me. I almost couldn't help myself a few times."
Xu Xiuying and Badou stayed here for one night and had to leave early the next morning. Cheng Mu asked her to stay a few more days, but she refused, saying that she was worried about Sao Hu.
Cheng Mu prepared a farming calendar for the coming year for her, and Xu Xiuying kept it in her pocket like a treasure. "What Madam Cheng gave me is so good. I'll come again when I pay New Year's greetings."
It made everyone burst into laughter.
Xiaoliu also gave Badou a blessed red bean purse, "When we learn to chant, we will bless you first." She touched his head like an adult. Badou didn't know what it meant, but happily hung the purse around his waist.
The adults laughed and said, "Sixth Miss is a mischievous girl."
"We're leaving now," Xu Xiuying said, holding Badou's hand. "Please don't see me off, Madam Cheng."
Not long after Xu Xiuying left, the others had just returned to the second gate when Tong'erdan came to report, "Madam Cheng, the Rongchang Escort Agency has sent someone with something."
The people who came back this time were not the young lady or the young man from Rongchang, but two servants, who carried two rolls of cloth, one brocade and one silk, as well as other gifts such as the four treasures of the study and cakes.
The one with the broad nose and square forehead said, "We are here today on the orders of the chief escort to apologize to Madam Cheng. The chief escort said that it was Zhaohua who was reckless when we went to Wufu Temple last time, causing Madam Cheng and the young lady and young master to be frightened. Madam Cheng, please forgive her for her recklessness and ignorance and don't argue with her. I have already taught her a lesson and punished her to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors. This small gift is not a token of my respect, I hope Madam Cheng will accept it with a smile."
Gui'er stepped forward and said, "So your chief escort knows your young lady is ignorant. Madam Cheng doesn't mind because she's a good person. At worst, she won't come with you. If your chief escort doesn't discipline your young lady, she might cause trouble at her husband's house in the future. If she displeases him, you won't be able to stop her."
"That's what Madam Gui said."
When Rong Zhaohua and An Cui saw Wanli that day, neither of them asked why he was there. They probably had a bad feeling. The most important thing at the time was the two horses. One ran away and the other broke its leg. The carriage couldn't carry anyone, and someone had to be responsible for pulling the horses and the carriage back. At that time, Gui'er asked why the horses suddenly went crazy and what happened when they were at the foot of the mountain. Shouldn't they investigate it thoroughly? Cheng Mu said directly, "There's no need to investigate the reasons. This is the end of our trip. We will go back on our own. Madam Rong, you will take care of the aftermath."
The matter could have been put to rest, so why did the other party come so eagerly to apologize?
Last time, Rong Chong was reckless and Rong Zhaohua apologized earnestly. But this time, she didn't dare to face up to her mistake and asked her father to come forward. She dared to do it but not to take responsibility for it, which shows her character.
Later, Cheng Mu asked Mu Yun and found out that even Rong Chong's beating of Xiao Qi was deliberately arranged by Rong Zhaohua, just to have an excuse to get close to them. It seems that the evaluation of her was too kind. She was just a person with evil intentions. She was full of humility and friendship, but she was full of conspiracy and calculation.
"Is it because of Wu Wei that Chief Rong is apologizing on my behalf?"
"No, it's Sister-in-law's own pride. I simply explained to Chief Escort Rong what Sister-in-law has done over the years. At least half of Rongchang's business in recent years is due to Sister-in-law's contributions—escorting grain and seeds—and what's more, Sister-in-law has been personally awarded by the Emperor. How could a mere escort chief from his escort agency dream of such a thing! As for the things his children have done, Sister-in-law can let it go. If I were to, Rongchang wouldn't be able to bear the consequences."
Cheng Mu poured Mu Yun a cup of tea and said, "You have earned my respect, so I should toast you."
Mu Yun lowered his eyes and sipped his drink, "Sister-in-law, follow your heart. If you want to avoid, then avoid. If you want to attack, then attack. Leave the rest to me."
When interacting with people, trouble is inevitable. Cheng Mu is not a person who likes to stir up trouble and engage in intrigue. Unless necessary, she basically doesn't want to bother with socializing.
She had originally agreed to go to Liu's residence to chat with Gao on the fifth day of the first lunar month, but after this incident, she gave up her fearless curiosity. What happened to Gao and Zhou Mao later, or what happened to Jiang now, these were not necessary to know. After all, they did not live in the same world.
After some consideration, Yu originally planned to let Gui'er deliver Qianxi and the reply letter. However, Gui'er was not as thorough as Mu Yun, so she changed her mind and asked Mu Yun to deliver it.
Xiaoliu refused and insisted on going.
"Such a nice Qianxi box, if mother says to give it away for free, then she will give it away for free."
Cheng Mu coaxed her: "Aren't the better boxes reserved for you? Besides, didn't I teach you how to make hydroponic vegetable towers? You also got things in exchange with me."
"But the rest of my Qianxi chests are also to be sold to people like the Liu family who can afford them. If there are anyone at the banquet who wants them, they can buy them from me."
"We delivered it, and those who wanted to buy it naturally knew to come to us."
Mu Yun was easy to talk to. "Don't make it difficult for your mother. Daddy will take you there. Just one thing, don't run around."
Xiaoliu jumped up with joy, "Daddy is so nice!"
Li Yan and Jin Xiong tied a red cloth on the Qianxi Box to completely cover the scene inside, and tied a straw rope on the box so that it could be carried on their shoulders.
When passing by her own house, Xiaoliu asked her to wait a moment, and she ran back to her room and got her booklet.
Xiaoqi's symptoms have broken out, and even if he takes medicine, it will take more than a day or two to fully recover. He has been weak since he was a child, and he won't be fully recovered for seven or eight days.
Cheng Mu first opened the windows of the room where she and Xiaoliu lived for half an hour to ventilate it, then fumigated orange peels, wrapped Xiaoqi in a goose down jacket and moved him over, then asked Huaihua to open the windows of the room where Xiaoqi and Muyun lived for half an hour to ventilate it, and then fumigated mugwort.
Gui'er looked unhappy. She and Xiaoqi sat at the desk practicing calligraphy.
"Madam Cheng, didn't we agree that I should be the one to deliver the Qianxi Box? Are you angry with me because of Madam Rong's matter?"
Cheng Mu concentrated on drawing her own album, saying, "As for Madam Rong's matter, Madam Rong's heart is not right, so don't take it on yourself. But it is true that this incident made me change my mind about going to the Liu Mansion. I have no ambition to live in a wealthy family, so why should I get close to them? I have good seeds in my hands, I have no worries about food and drink, and I am not short of gold and silver, so why should I worry about it?"
Xiao Qi casually added, "Don't be distraught over poverty, and don't be anxious for wealth."
"Xiao Qi is awesome, that's the point. Gui'er, if you want to stay by my side and keep me safe, then of course you can't go unless I go. If you want to go to Fugui's nest, I'll call Mu Yun back now, and you can switch with him, and he can come and accompany me."
"I won't give him a chance," Gui'er said angrily, "He's dreaming!"
Mu Yun actually talked to her alone about the trip to Wufu Temple.
What he said at the time was quite harsh. He said: "If you are causing trouble, get out as soon as possible."
Madam Cheng didn't say anything about her, so why should Mu Yun say anything?
Mu Yun and Xiao Liu came back in less than quarter of an hour.
Xiaoliu pouted and his shoulders drooped.
Mu Yun simply replied, "The items have been delivered and given to the chief steward of the Liu Mansion."
"Um."
As soon as Mu Yun left, Gui Er immediately asked Xiao Liu, "What's wrong with you? Did your father make you angry?"
"No, little daddy." Xiaoliu sat down on the chair, "I went and came back, no one saw me. Once I handed the things to the steward, it was done!"
Gui Er chuckled: "Do you think you are here for a banquet? You are just deliverymen, and the people you meet are not the managers!"
"There are so many carriages in front of the door, and they have received so many gifts. Our thousand-gift boxes haven't even been opened yet. How will they know that these are our gifts?"
Xiao Qi coughed and said, "Don't worry, ours is the only one anyway."
Cheng Meihe said, "The steward of a wealthy family does have some skills. He won't make a mistake in who sent the gift. Once you've given it away, don't think about it anymore. Don't you want to raise chickens? Let's design a chicken coop today."
Guier washed her brush and nonchalantly poked it several times.
"Madam Cheng, Xiaoliu is not doing this right. Shouldn't you discipline him?"
Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi had already spread out their papers and were whispering about how to draw a chicken coop. They were confused when they heard Guier's words.
Cheng Mu didn't react either, "What's wrong with Xiaoliu?"
Gui'er put down her pen. "She's obsessed with getting rich, making those Thousand Joy Boxes and selling them to wealthy families. She's only a few years old, and she's always trying to make her happy, whether you're short of food or clothes. That's what I mean, isn't it? Madam Cheng, just let her be."
I didn't expect Gui'er to say such a thing. Her mind was actually able to change.
Cheng Mu was at a loss for words. "You're on the same level as Xiaoliu? She's just a child. Rich or poor makes no difference to her. She's persevered enough to grow a thousand-joy box, surpassing many adults. The price she can sell it for is a testament to her accomplishment. Only wealthy families can afford such a rare fruit tree. How could I possibly discourage a child's enthusiasm and creativity?"
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