52 Fight
◎Winning the fight means a bright future for the fourth sister◎
The main kitchen had three head cooks and seven or eight kitchen helpers. Lan Zhu and her friends frequented the kitchen so often that they were already familiar with the faces. The other day, after discovering the food had been tampered with, they took a closer look and noticed a new face had arrived. Upon closer inspection, they learned that the new helper was actually the niece of Yunxitang's Madam Meng.
The answer is almost obvious.
In fact, this matter could have been done more covertly, but I don’t know whether it was because the people in Yunxi Hall didn’t take her, a "stupid girl", seriously, or because they were too hasty and acted so openly.
The girl was only fourteen or fifteen years old and not very courageous. When she was called into Zhuyu Courtyard, Chu Yufu simply threatened her with a cold face, saying she would be handed over to the authorities and asking her to guess whether the mistress would simply push her out to take the blame. The little girl was immediately frightened out of her wits and sobbed, confessing everything.
Finally, he took out a packet of medicine powder wrapped in oil paper from his arms, tremblingly.
Towards evening, the rain that had been falling for a long time finally stopped. After Chu Yufu helped her grandmother drink her medicine, she slowly walked to the outside of the Yunxi Hall, stopped and listened attentively.
The courtyard was dead silent, not even the sound of the maids moving around, as if the house was deserted.
The corners of her lips curled slightly as she walked straight to the courtyard gate and walked in. The maid standing in the corridor saw her come in and turned to report, but Chu Yufu stopped her with a smile: "No need, I just want to say a few words to mother."
The maid hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside and said, "Yes."
After passing through the carved corridor and standing in front of the closed door of the main house, Lan Zhu stepped forward and announced loudly: "The second young lady is here." Then she reached out and pushed open the door.
Without waiting for Wu's response, Chu Yufu stepped in. When she stopped and glanced around the room, she found that not only Wu was there, but Chu Jinhe and Chu Junze were also there.
The mother and her two children all had red and swollen eyes, obviously they had just cried. There were still traces of tears on their faces, and the atmosphere in the room was extremely depressing.
Chu Yufu suddenly felt like laughing. It was really a changing world. Usually she was the one shedding tears to show her weakness, but now it was the turn of the three of them to hug each other and cry bitterly.
Unfortunately, she was pretending, but their sadness was real.
She didn't show it on her face, and bowed as usual: "Mother is well, sister is well, and third brother is well."
Miss Chu suddenly looked up, her face as cold as frost. Her eyes, which bore a striking resemblance to Wu's, were now filled with hatred. She stared at her intently and shrilly demanded, "What are you doing here? Get out! Don't try to act like a spoiled brat after getting the upper hand!"
Chu Yufu pretended to be surprised and widened her eyes slightly. She covered her mouth with one hand, tilted her head, and said innocently, "Sister, what are you talking about? I just picked up some things you didn't want. How can you be considered a spoiled child?"
"You——!" Miss Chu was choked so much that her face turned blue and she was speechless for a moment.
"That's enough!" Wu said tiredly. The series of blows she had suffered recently had left her mentally and physically exhausted. She couldn't even muster the energy to cope. All she could think about was the household accounts due in three days. She said in a hoarse voice, "So you're just here to laugh at me?"
Chu Yufu shook her head, her smile slightly subsiding, her eyes calming down. "Mother, you're worrying too much. I don't have the leisure to do that. I came here today to advise you to be more content. There are some things I didn't mention to Father this morning. It's not that I didn't know, but I was still mindful of the last bit of affection we have."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and took out the half packet of medicine powder from her sleeve. Her fingertips loosened, and with a slight sound, the oil-paper bag was thrown at Wu's feet.
"In the days ahead, I just want to prepare for my wedding peacefully. It's best for you to live quietly in the courtyard until I get married. If I make any more trouble during this period... then we will really have to face each other in the Dali Temple. Perhaps my concubine's old case won't save your life, but your current crime of poisoning a concubine's daughter with the intention of breaking off the engagement is enough to sentence you to exile three thousand miles away?"
As soon as Mrs. Wu saw the oil-paper bag, her cheeks immediately lost color and she tightened the embroidered handkerchief in her hand.
Chu Junze, standing aside, was shocked and angry. He stood up and pointed at Chu Yufu: "Second sister! What are you talking about? It's not enough that my mother was scolded by my father and lost her housekeeper power. Now you are slandering my mother for harming you!"
Chu Yufu nodded gently, her voice light and floating: "Well, third brother and mother, there is such a deep mother-son love!" Then, she looked back at Wu's face and said.
"Then you have to be even more concerned about the reputation of your third brother and eldest sister. One has to study for the imperial examination, and the other is still unmarried. If they have a mother who attempted murder, it would be terrible."
"Chu Yufu! How dare you!" Chu Jinhe screamed angrily.
"Shut up!" Wu shouted, grabbing her children and staring intently at the calm and composed girl in front of her. She gritted her teeth and said, "Then I have to thank you for showing mercy."
Chu Yufu's snow-white chin slightly tucked in, and a soft smile appeared on her face: "You're welcome, then you go ahead and do your work, your daughter will take her leave."
After saying that, she turned and walked out, closing the door thoughtfully. Just as she walked three or five meters away, she heard Chu Junze's slightly panicked voice clearly coming from the door: "Mom! What's going on? Speak!"
Lan Zhu followed behind Chu Yufu, stretched out her hand to tug at her sleeve, and couldn't suppress the smile on the corner of her mouth: "Miss, did you see that? The eldest lady's face is as ugly as an overturned dye vat!"
Chu Yufu held onto the porch pillar, took a deep breath of the fresh and moist air after the rain, and then exhaled deeply and thoroughly, as if to spit out all the forbearance and grievances of the past six months.
After a while, he felt a lot more relaxed from head to toe. He tilted his head, smiled, and hummed, then whispered.
"At this point, it's impossible for my eldest sister to marry into the Pei family. If Wu still wants to turn things around and cares about her children's future, she must keep her tail between her legs and never dare to touch me again."
She paused, "But we must be cautious. Until the wedding, we should cook our own meals in the small kitchen. I trust Yunsui and Yinsuo, but you should be more careful with Cen'er and Pan'er. Don't let them get their hands on important things, and don't let them cause any trouble."
Lan Zhu smiled sweetly and nodded vigorously, saying crisply, "Yes, don't worry, young lady."
Dusk is falling, and the sky is almost dark.
Many days had passed since Chu Yufu had gone to see Aunt Bai. Thinking that everything was done for the day, she simply turned around and went to Aunt Bai's Chaolu Pavilion to take her pulse and see if the prescription needed to be adjusted.
This morning, Master Chu's furious outburst in the front yard and his dismissal of Wu's housekeeper power had spread like wildfire throughout the Chu residence by midday. Aunt Bai hadn't expected the Second Young Lady to come and check her pulse during this moment of controversy. So, when she heard the maid's report, she was stunned for a moment, then collected her thoughts and personally went to the door to greet her.
"Please come in, Second Miss." She invited the person into the house, poured a cup of warm tea with her own hands, and said with emotion.
"I've heard some rumors about the Madam's marriage exchange... I really didn't want to bother you at this point. But today, I heard that the Master has returned and has done justice for you. I feel a little relieved."
"I never thought that the second young lady, who always has the best temper, would get so angry one day." She smiled gently.
Chu Yufu took the teacup and smiled helplessly: "Even a rabbit bites when it is anxious." Besides, she is not a rabbit that can be manipulated by anyone.
"It's better this way. If you don't fight for the important things in life, when will you fight for them?" Aunt Bai sighed.
The last ray of light from outside slanted in through the window and fell on Aunt Bai's face. Chu Yufu just discovered that the yellowness on Aunt Bai's face had actually receded for the most part, and it looked a little radiant in the soft light.
Chu Yufu couldn't help but tilt her head slightly, and after carefully examining her, she said, "My aunt looks much better than she did a few days ago."
Hearing her mention this, Aunt Bai subconsciously stroked her face, a hint of joy in her eyes: "Yes, it's all thanks to the Second Miss. Ever since taking the prescription you prescribed, her complexion has been getting better day by day, and her body is much better than before."
She was naturally pretty and attractive, but the sickly yellowish complexion that had once made her look old and haggard made her look slightly younger than Wu, yet when they stood together they looked more than ten years apart. Now that the yellowish complexion had faded, her face shone with a healthy whiteness, and she looked much brighter.
Chu Yufu's heart moved slightly. She put down the teacup and took Aunt Bai's hand and placed it on the table: "I'll take Aunt Bai's pulse again to see if the prescription needs to be adjusted."
"Thank you, Second Miss." Aunt Bai obediently pulled up her sleeves slightly to reveal her wrists.
Chu Yufu placed two fingers firmly on the inch-and-gate ruler. She looked up at Aunt Bai's beautiful eyes, her lips curled up slightly, and said, "Aunt, Fourth Sister is thirteen this year, right? She's almost old enough to meet a husband."
Aunt Bai was slightly stunned and looked at her in confusion.
"Now that my stepmother has made such a big mistake, my father is deeply unhappy and probably won't want to see her for quite some time. If Auntie is serious about fighting for Fourth Sister's future, now is the best time."
Aunt Bai's eyes widened suddenly, a trace of astonishment flashed across her face, and she was quite at a loss: "Fight, fight?"
Feeling the pulse suddenly accelerating at her fingertips, Chu Yufu's voice became softer and softer: "Auntie has also seen my example. She is not a biological child, how can a stepmother sincerely plan for her? A daughter who is not valued is nothing more than a pawn..."
"Now that she's lost her power, where else can Daddy go, or is willing to go, except for your Chaolu Pavilion?"
Aunt Bai silently withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and remained silent for a long time.
"I," she said in a dry voice, "I'm afraid it won't work."
Chu Yufu shook her head. "A mother is strong, Auntie. It's not that you can't do it, it's that you just don't dare. But right now is probably the best opportunity for you and Fourth Sister. If you win, it will be a bright future for Fourth Sister. If you fail, you can just be your Auntie in peace and security. You don't have to make a big fuss, and there's no need to tear your face with others. Just guard Chaolu Pavilion. Father is heartbroken right now, so you just need to be quiet and gentle, like a gentle breeze and rain, moistening everything silently."
After a few words, the light outside the window finally disappeared completely.
Aunt Bai sat in the shadows for a long while before she whispered, "Okay, let me think about it."
The maid came in and lit the candle. Chu Yufu said no more. She asked for paper and pen and wrote the new prescription on paper. She told Aunt Bai to take it on time and then said goodbye and left with Lanzhu.
In the brightly lit room, Aunt Bai sat at the table, holding a cup of cold tea for a long time.
"Bang—bang—"
She was awakened by the night watchman's gong. She looked up at the candlelight and slowly looked around the room where she had lived for more than ten years.
The corners of the lacquered wardrobe were mottled and peeling, revealing the old wood. The round mahogany table was covered with scratches from years of wear. The silver bracelet on her wrist was a gift from the Chu family when she married into the family, but now its luster has faded.
Aunt Bai turned her head to look out the window. The candlelight reflected on the window paper of the opposite room, outlining a thin gray figure.
She tightened her grip on the porcelain cup little by little.
or……
Why not fight for it? If you don't fight for the important things in life, when will you fight for it?
【Author’s words】
Congratulations to all the winners, please keep it and read your favorite novel~ (Fufu Tea Time: I don’t ask for much, just... just the nutrient solution left by the sisters...) [Poor]
Let's draw again next time when we finish~
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