"If you have it, then you have it!" Xie Shi launched into an unreasonable tantrum, determined to protect her position.
Beside her, Jin pursed her lips and looked at Jiang Nuan with a wronged expression.
Helpless, Jiang Nuan had no choice but to change the subject, "Well, Jiao Jiao, third brother's wife, it's not easy for you to come all the way to the county town, how about we go out for a walk and buy some things?"
“Okay,” Xie replied sweetly, taking Jiang Nuan’s arm.
She knew Jiang Nuan was changing the subject, but she didn't care. After she grabbed Jiang Nuan's arm, the atmosphere around them became sweet.
The three of them went out. Xie clung to Jiang Nuan, while Jin followed closely behind them with small, quick steps, her head bowed and eyes downcast, looking a little sad.
Since they were all her daughters-in-law, she couldn't show favoritism. Seeing this, Jiang Nuan simply used her other hand to hold Jin's hand.
The seventeen-year-old girl's hands were fair and translucent, but somewhat rough, with thick finger bones and faint calluses on her palms.
Although Jiang Nuan didn't show it, she felt a pang of pity in her heart.
I glanced almost imperceptibly at Xie's hands and found the situation was even worse: rough skin, swollen and red back of the hands, and palms covered in calluses...
Comparing my own hands, though aged, to their softness, I felt inexplicably guilty.
Feeling guilty, Jiang Nuan started a shopping spree to make it up to the two of them.
Chestnut cake is good for you, I'll buy it.
The beaded flowers are beautiful and lively, I'll buy them;
The pale yellow satin fabric is especially suitable for little girls, buy it...
"Mother, we should rest now," Xie Shi said, holding Jiang Nuan tightly to prevent her from going into the candied fruit shop.
By this time, the two of them were covered in things, and they swayed as they walked, like shamans performing a ritual.
“That’s right,” Jiang Nuan looked around, “Let’s go to the teahouse over there.”
"Mother," Xie Shi said softly, her lips trembling as she pouted, "shouldn't we go home?"
"Sweetheart, have a cup of tea to soothe your throat before going home," Jiang Nuan said, pulling the two of them forward.
As soon as we entered, a waiter asked solicitously, "Gentlemen, would you like to stay in the main hall or a private room?"
“Ya,” Jiang Nuan frowned, “Never mind, the main hall is fine.”
After hearing this, the waiter led the three of them to sit down by the window.
After hearing the waiter's price, Jiang Nuan ordered a pot of tea and a plate of peanuts.
Then it dawned on me that those seemed to be the last copper coin.
Realizing she had squandered all her money, she first touched the hidden pocket at her waist in disbelief and counted the coins.
After a moment of stunned silence, I had no choice but to accept this reality.
After lowering her head and remaining silent for three seconds, Jiang Nuan said helplessly, "Let's have some tea, it's already been ordered."
"Mother," Xie asked cautiously, "Are you out of money?"
The money for Wuweilou hasn't been delivered yet, and the little money we have at home can't possibly withstand Mother's spending like this.
"It's all my fault," Xie said, feeling extremely remorseful. "How could I have gotten so carried away?"
Jiang Nuan wanted to make it up to the two girls, so she bought them something suitable whenever she found it.
This was the first time someone had bought her so many things. Xie was so happy that she forgot all about the money.
Jiang Nuan pursed her lips and silently took out the remaining copper coins. "Twenty-seven coins, just enough for our tea."
“Mother,” Xie’s face became wrinkled, “it’s all my daughter-in-law’s fault for being so wasteful.”
“What does this have to do with you?” Jiang Nuan looked at her strangely. “I didn’t think it through. If I had known it would be like this, I should have asked Manager Jin to pay some loose change first.”
Two taels of silver was indeed not enough, Jiang Nuan sighed inwardly, she still had to find a way to earn more silver.
“Mother,” Jin said, blushing, “why don’t we return the items?”
Ms. Jin felt ashamed for spending so much money shopping.
She was a little reluctant to part with it.
Whether it's pearl flowers, hairpins, or fabric, everything suits her perfectly.
It was her mother-in-law who bought it for her.
Just thinking about this makes me feel warm inside.
No one has ever bought her so many things before, and no one has ever been so kind to her.
Jin's mother was a maid who accompanied the mistress of the main family during her dowry. Later, she became the wet nurse of the young lady of the main family and valued the young lady more than her own life.
Although Jin was her own daughter and she loved her dearly, her attention was entirely focused on the young lady of the main family, and she showed less concern for her own daughter.
In addition, Jin was, after all, a servant in the household. Even though her parents wanted to protect her, she was still different from a free person.
As servants, they had to learn to serve and please their masters from a young age. Now, being treated so preciously and pampered like a little girl was unprecedented for Jin Shi, and she cherished it especially.
"No need," Jiang Nuan said somewhat embarrassedly, "The money I just earned is enough for the family's expenses for a long time, so you two don't need to worry about it."
As the group talked, the teahouse suddenly became lively.
"Look, everyone from Chunfenglou has arrived."
"Isn't that the one in the very middle, Mei Yu? She is indeed incomparably charming."
"Is she truly the most alluring beauty of the Meiyu family, the most captivating woman in the Chunfeng Pavilion?"
"Such a beautiful woman is stunning, it's a pity we can only admire her from afar."
"Jiaojiao," Jiang Nuan looked at the girl in the light purple gauze dress who was being escorted to a private room on the second floor, completely bewildered, "What do you all mean?"
Upon hearing this, Xie, who was drinking tea, choked on her water and began coughing incessantly.
Seeing this, Jin, who was standing nearby, suppressed her blushing embarrassment and gently patted Xie's back to help her catch her breath.
Jiang Nuan quickly handed over a cup of warm tea, "Drink some water and calm down."
“Mother,” Xie patted her chest, her face flushed, her eyes darting around, “why are you asking this?”
“I just heard that the big names from Chunfeng Tower have arrived,” Jiang Nuan said, pointing to a figure in light purple. “That one.”
The man in the teahouse looked like he'd just seen his idol; his face flushed red, and Jiang Nuan's heart pounded.
“Mother,” Xie’s face flushed red, like the evening glow. She lowered her head shyly and stammered, “Everyone, she is that kind of woman.”
"What kind of woman?" Jiang Nuan's eyes showed even deeper doubt. "A master calligrapher? A master poet? Or a master painter?"
“Mother,” Madam Jin gently tugged at Jiang Nuan’s sleeve and said in a low voice, “We are all women from the brothel who have not lost our chastity.”
"So that's how it is," Jiang Nuan touched her nose and quickly took a sip of tea to calm herself down. "It's just that Mother is making a fuss over nothing."
Upon hearing Jin's words, she immediately remembered that in certain eras, courtesans could indeed be referred to in this way.
But she really didn't think about it that way.
Teahouses are common places for daily entertainment, crowded and chaotic, with few wealthy people willing to spend lavishly. Jiang Nuan couldn't understand why people from brothels would be here.
As if guessing Jiang Nuan's doubts, Jin explained in a low voice, "Mother, the Flower Queen is selected on the third day of the third lunar month. Before that, some prominent figures always come out to socialize."
Jiang Nuan immediately understood; this was a pre-emptive vote-soliciting tactic.
After thinking for a moment, she asked softly, "Is choosing the top courtesan very important?"
Courtesans are very delicate and rarely go out unless there is a good offer.
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