Chapter 149 Grabbing Greenie's Neck Tightly
The next morning, the thin fog had not yet dissipated.
Wan Wanning was leaning against the window, lost in thought.
She wanted to go to the capital, but she was unwilling to ask for permission, as it would seem undignified.
But that Greenie didn't need to fight for anything; Lu Zhaoruo personally took her along.
The thought of this made her feel as if a damp wad of cotton was stuck in her chest, making her feel suffocated.
At this moment.
She saw Greenie carrying a bamboo basket and a small hoe, looking like she was about to go out.
Wan Wanning frowned. They were to set off the day after tomorrow. Why wasn't she packing properly instead of running around? She really was destined to be a busybody.
She called out to him, "Greenie, where are you going so early in the morning?"
Greenie stopped and turned around, a light smile on her face, and gave a slight bow: "Miss Wanning, spring is in full bloom right now, and I was thinking of going to try my luck at 'Broken Cloud Cliff' on Wanghai Mountain outside the city. I heard that the wild bamboo forest by the cliff hides the fattest and tenderest spring bamboo shoots. If you dig them up at this time of year and dry them into dried bamboo shoots, they can be stored for a long time without spoiling. You can take them with you on the way or use them when you arrive in the capital."
As she spoke, her gaze drifted slightly into the distance.
My father once said... when my younger brother was little, this was his favorite food...
My younger brother was just three years old when he was sold to a noblewoman in the capital.
Wan Wanning sneered inwardly.
What a prosperous place the capital is! What delicacies can't it have? Why do we still need to dig up these crude wild animals to bring there? It's true that we can't escape our poor fate.
Greenie had just left when Dongrou came gracefully over and walked straight up to her, saying, "Miss Wanning, my wife requests your presence."
Wan Wanning's heart skipped a beat, and a surge of immense joy welled up within her.
She thought to herself: If Lu Zhaoruo is calling me now, could it be... could it be that she has changed her mind and is going to take me with her to the capital?
She suppressed her excitement, straightened her clothes, and followed Dongrou.
Along the way, countless images of the bustling city of Beijing and how he would navigate it had already formed in his mind.
Upon entering the room, Lu Zhaoruo was sitting by the window looking at accounts. When she saw her, she put down the book and said in a gentle tone, "Wanning, in two days, I will be leaving for the capital. My return date is uncertain."
Wan Wanning held her breath; her heart was pounding like a drum.
But Lu Zhaoruo continued, "The journey is long and the return date is uncertain. I plan to take three people with me: Dongrou, Lü'er, and Sun Jing. You should stay in the embroidery shop and learn embroidery well from Madam Yang, learn to read from Manager Yun, and also look at the account books."
"Once you've mastered your skills and become more composed, I'll give you a shop to manage."
Lu Zhaoruo had her own considerations.
The capital is a mixed bag of people, and given Wan Ning's temperament, she is prone to causing trouble. It would be better to leave her in Jizhou for peace and stability.
If one can temper their patience and learn some real skills, becoming a shopkeeper in the future would be a solid and good career path.
With her temperament, she really shouldn't go to that turbulent place.
Wan Wanning felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, instantly freezing all her fervent hopes.
She dug her fingertips into her palm, but forced a gentle and grateful smile onto her face. She lowered her head and said, "Wan Ning understands. Thank you for planning for me, Sister... I will definitely study hard and not let you down."
She withdrew respectfully, and as soon as she turned around, the forced smile on her face instantly collapsed, leaving only a grim resentment.
Why? Why can even that stupid girl, Greenie, go? While I'm stuck in this tiny place, learning embroidery and bookkeeping?
Lu Zhaoruo is clearly biased! She just thinks I'm not as good as that lowly maid who only knows how to dig bamboo shoots!
This thought tightened around her heart like thorny vines.
She was filled with jealousy and hatred, and without hesitation, she turned and ran towards the mountains outside the city.
She must find Greenie!
She searched all the way to the northeast foot of Wanghai Mountain, and from afar, she saw Lü'er squatting in the wild bamboo forest by the Broken Cloud Cliff, intently digging for the newly sprouted bamboo shoots between the rocks with a small hoe.
She took a deep breath and walked quickly over: "Lü'er."
Upon hearing the voice, Lü'er looked up and saw Wan Wanning. She quickly stood up, instinctively gripping her small hoe, and timidly asked, "Miss Wanning, what brings you here?"
Wan Wanning was exhausted.
She took a few breaths, frowned as she surveyed the treacherous surroundings, her tone filled with undisguised annoyance and sarcasm: "Are you out of your mind? Why did you have to come all the way to the edge of a cliff to dig up a few bamboo shoots? This must be exhausting!"
Once she caught her breath, she didn't bother beating around the bush and looked directly at her: "Lü'er, go tell your older sister that you don't want to go to the capital anymore, and just want to stay quietly in the Embroidery Pavilion in Jizhou. Is that alright?"
Greenie was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly said, "But...this servant...this servant wants to go to the capital..."
Wan Wanning's brows furrowed with anger: "What are you going to the capital for? You are of lowly status, know nothing, and only know how to serve tea and water. Going there will only embarrass your elder sister!"
Greenie stared at her in a daze.
Realizing her tone was harsh, she softened it: "What I mean is, you go and tell my sister that you think it's more appropriate for me to go. After all, I've seen a lot of things with my older sister, okay?"
Greenie didn't expect Wan Wanning to want to go to the capital...
She whispered, "If Miss Wan Ning wants to go, she can just tell Madam, and Madam will definitely agree."
"She won't agree!"
Wan Wanning said angrily.
She suddenly lost her patience, her voice becoming shrill, "She only booked the three of you! She made me stay in this dilapidated embroidery shop to learn embroidery and accounting, she never intended to take me with her!"
Startled, Greenie took two steps back, her voice trembling, "Then... then staying in the embroidery tower is actually... quite nice..."
These words completely enraged Wan Wanning: "Then why don't you stay?"
She looked Lü'er up and down with a mocking gaze, "Look at your appearance, do you deserve to go to a prosperous place like the capital?"
Greenie pursed her lips and lowered her head.
She knew she was insignificant, but her unwavering determination to find her brother sustained her.
Wan Wanning suddenly stepped forward and gripped her shoulder tightly with her fingers: "Lü'er, go back now and tell her you don't want to go anymore, okay?"
Greenie gasped softly in pain, but still spoke in a low but firm voice: "I'm sorry... Miss Wanning... My wife needs someone to serve her, and besides, I must go to the capital to find my younger brother..."
Wan Wanning's face instantly darkened, and she shoved her hard, her eyes like knives: "Serve? Can't Dong Rou serve? Find your brother? We don't even know if your brother is dead or alive, how can you say you can find him? Don't push your luck!"
Tears welled in Greenie's eyes, and for the first time, she raised her voice in rebuttal: "Miss Wanning, don't talk nonsense! My brother is definitely alive and well!"
When Wan Wanning saw that she dared to talk back, she was furious and suddenly reached out and pushed her hard to the ground!
Greenie cried out in surprise, and the bamboo basket and small hoe tumbled to the ground with a clatter.
Looking down at her, she said resentfully, "When did Lu Zhaoruo ever truly treat me as her sworn sister? It was just an act for outsiders! Yet you, a mere tea-serving maid, receive such preferential treatment from her!"
Greenie raised her tearful eyes: "My mistress kept you in the embroidery room so that you could learn to embroider ledgers and become a manager in the future... She treats you the same as she does herself, how can you think of her like this?"
Wan Wanning sneered: "Are you accusing me of being ungrateful?"
Greenie hurriedly shook her head: "No...no..."
Wan Wanning leaned down and stared intently at her, her voice icy: "I'm asking you one last time, are you going or not?"
Greenie bit her lip and stubbornly shook her head: "I...I'm not going...My luggage is already packed."
The next second, Wan Wanning suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Lü'er's neck tightly. Her face was contorted with jealousy and hatred as she hissed, "Why? Why can you go while I have to stay?! Why do you have the right to do this?!"
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