Seven or eight days after Ms. Fengxian rushed off to her new life, the Shi brothers were finally returning. Che Sanniang was like an ant on the hot pot, restless and anxious. Catching a glimpse of Minglan's curious gaze, she smiled awkwardly, "Ever since we got married, my husband and I have been inseparable. We agreed that if he went into the water, I would be in the water; if he went into the fire, I would be in the fire. Whoever went there first would have to wait for us on the road to the underworld."
She spoke so confidently that Minglan felt a little embarrassed. She couldn't help but ask, "Sister, you are so infatuated. What if... the eldest brother of the Shi family betrays you?"
Che Sanniang laughed heartily, "I was originally a prostitute, so I'm marrying up, marrying a small leader of the Cao Gang. I want to serve me well, and he wants to take care of the older brothers. We're all from the lower class, and a burden, so we'll just live together. Who knows what will happen in the future? If he really dares to have any bad intentions, I'll just treat me as blind and fight him to the death! For now, I'll just enjoy every day."
Minglan smiled shyly, and in contrast, she found her own anxiety about gains and losses quite funny.
On the day when the Shi brothers came, Che Sanniang wore a brand new bright red silk jacket and went to the door to greet her husband. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Shi Keng's dark face, and his eyes looking at his wife were as bright as the clouds.
He brought back more than a dozen large boxes, ten of which were brought back by Gu Tingye. They were all specialties from the Northwest, including various precious furs, woolen materials, dried mushrooms and vegetables, Codonopsis pilosula, Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica sinensis, and several exotic thick felts with rich and gorgeous colors.
Shi Keng said, "These are gifts for the Marquis on the way." He then pointed to several other large boxes and said with a smile, "These are the New Year's goods that my brothers and I have put together for this year. They are all coarse items. Madam, please accept them."
The things themselves were secondary. Minglan was concerned about the people. Ruomei also moved her heavy body over and asked a few questions timidly.
Shi Keng added, "The Marquis is in excellent health, and the march is going smoothly. He told Madam to just focus on taking good care of the baby and not worry about anything else." He then said to Ruomei, "Mr. Gongsun is also doing very well. He's become addicted to Western wine lately, but because of the war, he doesn't dare drink much. He asked me to seal two carts and have my aunt keep them, saying he'll share the wine with our son."
It was indeed the tone of old man Gongsun. Ruomei laughed when she heard it, lowered her head and covered her mouth with her hands, smiling sweetly.
Shi Keng sat by the door and talked for a long time. Finally, he took out a letter from his arms and gave it to Minglan, saying it was a letter from Gu Tingye.
The envelope was thick and felt heavy in my hand.
Gu Tingye was known for his concise writing style, often refusing to write even a single extra word. Minglan suddenly had a flash of inspiration: could this be a note of filial piety he'd received on the way? But when she returned home and opened it, she discovered it was actually a letter from home!
There was nothing important in the letter, just some daily trivialities and nagging advice.
One page after another, one line after another, intermittently, as if he wrote whenever he had free time, talking about the weather conditions, morale, the customs and people of the Northwest, as well as the gossip and jokes between soldiers; often at the end of each paragraph, he would add a few jokes and ridicules.
Something like, "The sandstorms obscured the sky and sun, and we had to set up camp after a short journey. They're even more turbulent than your temper." Or, "The heavens have the same temper as you, changing at a moment's notice, and never letting anyone know where you've made a mistake." Or, "The women here are mostly strong and sturdy, and can ride and shoot. When we get back from this trip, I'll teach you how to ride."
Sometimes when I can’t think of anything else to say, I just come up with a few lines of weird poetry.
What about 'The stars are not the same as last night, for whom am I standing in the wind and dew in the middle of the night'? That's better; 'How much longing for a one-night stand, the corners of the earth are not far away'? That's a bit corny; 'I wish I were like the stars and you were like the moon, shining brightly every night'...
Minglan fell on the bed with the letter in her hands and laughed, "Well, very good, very good. You are the star and I am the moon. Then all the stars will surround the moon."
The little fat boy had just eaten half a bowl of egg custard, and his fat head was about to fall asleep. Minglan kissed her son hard and said with a smile: "Study hard in the future. Don't be like your father. I don't know where he copied it from!"
That night, Minglan read the letter from home over and over again, holding the dozen sheets of letter paper to her heart, and finally fell asleep in a daze.
…
The next day, Che Sanniang came to Jiaxiju with a rosy face. Her eyes were full of affection and her skin was moisturized. It was obvious that she had enjoyed a fierce battle last night. Minglan joked with her and Che Sanniang told her the purpose of her visit.
She spoke clearly, and after a few words, Minglan was shocked: "Shi Qiang wants to marry Xiao Tao?!"
Che Sanniang twisted her handkerchief and said in embarrassment, "He's been away from home for several months. Our head of the household plans to leave in the next two days. That silly boy has been acting up since last night. He's been sulking and refusing to eat. I asked him what was wrong, but he kept his mouth shut like a clam. His eldest brother was about to pull out a fist, but then he finally opened his mouth and said he had met Miss Xiaotao a few years ago and had been thinking about her ever since. This time, seeing that they were all older and taller, he became interested in her."
Minglan was stunned for a moment before she stammered, "Brother Shi... you're attracted to Xiaotao... what?"
She remembered the time she was robbed on the river a few years ago. After being rescued, she changed her clothes and rested, sitting in the room to concentrate while the maids were busy running around to clean up. Shi Qiang, who helped at that time, had naturally seen her maids.
Xiao Tao is a good girl, but her appearance... Minglan imagines Xiao Tao: round, innocent, thick, clumsy, and with a very country girl temperament. Love at first sight?
Che Sanniang was also in a dilemma and said, "I don't know either. Why don't you ask the boy yourself?"
Minglan nodded. Because it was not permitted for outsiders to enter the inner chambers, she and Che Sanniang had to take a sedan chair to the outer hall and send for Shi Qiang.
When they arrived at the outer hall, the young man Shi Qiang was standing at the porch, his head almost hitting the beam, his face as red as a boiled egg, and his throat seemed to be stuck, and he couldn't speak no matter what.
Che Sanniang treated Shi Qiang almost as her own son. Seeing this, she walked over with a look of disapproval and hit her younger brother hard, saying, "Why don't you say something? Madam said that she is looking for sons-in-law for the maids. If you don't say anything, then the cooked..." No, the girls are not cooked at all.
"If you don't tell me, that long-haired duck can fly..." Che Sanniang roared, waving her fist.
Minglan burst out laughing, and the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.
"Tell me carefully, what is it about Xiaotao that you like? If you don't explain, how can I feel at ease to marry Xiaotao to a place far away?" Minglan asked softly.
Shi Qiang wiped the sweat from his forehead, not knowing where to put his hands and feet. He looked at his sister-in-law, then at the figure behind the screen, and finally mustered up the courage to say, "Miss Xiaotao..." After holding it in for a long time, he said, "She's a good girl!"
Che Sanniang was desperate and wondered if she had been too strictly disciplined since childhood.
Minglan sighed and, in the tone of a high school disciplinary director coaxing a student into a premature love affair, said, "Then tell me, what was it like when you first met Xiaotao a few years ago...?"
According to her original plan, she must find a reliable husband for the silly girl, and he must be close by so that she can be taken care of more easily.
Shi Qiang began to recall his past, talking incoherently for a long time, with only one key sentence: "...all the girls on the boat were terrified. Some were crying, some were cursing, and some were trembling and couldn't even speak... Only Miss Xiaotao was not scared."
"Then what is she doing?" Minglan was also curious.
The maids in the inner chambers of high-ranking families were all pampered and had never seen robbers before. Although the boat had already docked, several bodies were still floating on the water. The fire on a nearby boat had just been put out, and the stench of burnt corpses wafted over. Blood was still wet everywhere on the boat's planks. The girls, who had just been rescued, were still in shock and had to deal with the mess, so naturally they were not in a good mood.
A dreamy look crossed Shi Qiang's face. "...She borrowed a harpoon, went to the shallows, and speared a dozen fat fish in one go. Then, she picked up a dagger that had washed ashore, decapitated the fish, scraped off their scales, and gutted them. Then, she went home singing."
Now not only Minglan was dumbfounded, but even Che Sanniang was embarrassed. She really wanted to touch her younger brother's forehead - could it be that the girl who killed the fish and chopped off its head looked so charming and beautiful?
"I just want to marry a woman like this!" Shi Qiang clenched his fist and said firmly.
Minglan was speechless for a long time, and finally she could only say, "Well... I have to ask Xiaotao..." Thinking of that silly girl's temper, she added, "I'm afraid she won't be able to give an answer for a while."
Che Sanniang smiled and said, "There's no rush. Madam, you've been with the girl for so many years, so you should make careful plans for her. My brother is not that old, and our uncle passed away less than a year ago. Take your time, take your time, and wait until Madam has made up her mind."
She wasn't as naive as her younger brother Shi Qiang. She needed to be more thoughtful and considerate about everything. It would be great if her younger brother could marry his beloved girl, but perhaps even better still, marrying Marquis Gu's wife, a personal maid who had been with her since childhood. She wasn't seeking any benefits, but having a connection to the Marquis's mansion meant that even if she and her husband passed away and the Shi family lost their influence in the Cao Gang, her daughter and younger brother would still have someone to look after them and protect them from being bullied.
…
Even when she returned to the house, Minglan was still feeling a little confused, so she quickly caught Xiaotao and asked her about it.
Xiao Tao's reaction was better than Dan Ju's. She didn't blush at all. She was silent for a long time before asking, "After I get married, can I still live with my wife?"
Minglan said, "That won't work. The Shi family is quite far away. It takes nearly half a month to get here."
Xiao Tao immediately shook her head: "Then I won't marry."
"Idiot, why?"
Xiao Tao said gloomily, "We agreed with Sister Danju that if I were to marry out, she wouldn't leave. I told her she had someone waiting for her outside, but I didn't, and I would stay to accompany my wife, so she could just go ahead and get married. How could you go back on your word?"
Minglan's heart ached, "You two..."
She held Xiaotao's head in her arms, like she was hugging Tuan Ge'er, as if she was just a little child.
"Silly girl, I've already said this to Danju, and I'm saying it to you now." Minglan's nose began to sore. "I've never, ever, never thought for a moment that I would ask you to give up your lifelong happiness just to stay with me."
Even though she was reluctant.
Fighting back the tears in her eyes, Minglan pulled Xiaotao's face up and said seriously, "From childhood to adulthood, you have never hidden a single word or thing from me. Now, tell me honestly, you know the young man from the Shi family, do you... like him...?"
Xiao Tao thought about it for a long time and shook her head, "I don't know."
Minglan said helplessly: "Then what do you think of others?"
Xiao Tao cried, "Before he went to the northwest, he asked people to bring me things several times, including crispy candies from Anyazhai, braised pork elbows from Defuju, lotus leaf and lotus root rice dumplings from West Street... This time he brought me a lot of delicious food again. I secretly asked him how he knew I liked to eat these, and he said he just picked out the ones he liked to eat and sent them to me."
As she spoke, she really started to cry, feeling helpless and as if she had done something wrong.
Minglan sighed, "Why are you crying, silly girl? We have similar interests and are both foodies. Isn't that great?" She wiped her tears and asked, "Then are you willing to live with him? Forever."
Xiaotao still looked confused.
Minglan was amused yet powerless. She waved her hand and said, "Forget it. Go away first. Don't tell anyone about this. Let me think about it carefully."
Should she keep this silly child by her side for safety's sake, or should she let her go and have an independent life? Minglan thought hard while holding her head.
Che Sanniang was very smart. After a few days, she noticed Minglan's hesitation and said that she and her husband would go back to take care of the gang's affairs first. She asked Minglan for mercy and asked Shi Qiang to stay for a while so that he could learn some skills from the Tu brothers.
Minglan, who was having a headache, agreed immediately. Che Sanniang was a man of action, her mouth and hands were always busy, and the two ladies of the Tu family had already been coaxed into submission. Upon hearing this, they were also happy to do a favor.
So Shi Qiang stayed and lived in the outer courtyard in the room next to Gongsun Meng. He usually learned martial arts from the fierce second son of the Tu family. After getting beaten, he would go to look for delicious food.
After finally taking care of Shi Qiang's daily life, Liao Yong's wife came to report to Minglan. Minglan happened to be taking a nap, so she asked Xia He to pass on the message. Xia He agreed immediately. After seeing Liao Yong's wife off, she returned to her room and saw Bisi lazily leaning on the kang. She laughed and scolded her, "What a frivolous little bitch! You've been spoiled. Sister Liao ordered you to do something, and you dare to pretend to be asleep?!"
Bisi listlessly flipped through the poetry collection in her hand and said with a delicate smile, "Tell me to rest for a while. I will enjoy every day you have."
Xia He stared at the charcoal basin on the ground for a while, lost in thought: "It seems that Sister Xiaotao will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life."
Upon hearing this, Bisi suddenly jumped up from the kang and asked anxiously, "Could that be true?" Then she said to herself, "No wonder they keep sending things in there every few days."
Thinking of Shi Qiang's tall stature and the wealth of the Cao Gang, she pouted and said, "You're not afraid of getting embarrassed by giving things away privately!"
Xia He shook her head and smiled, "You, you're jealous, aren't you? They sent us food, and you took a bite, I took a bite, and the sisters finished their meals long ago. Didn't you eat anything? Besides..." She pursed her lips, "The He Youchang family didn't say anything, it's obviously Madam's idea."
Bisi said sullenly, "Who's jealous? Who's jealous? Sister Cuiwei has loved Xiaotao and Danju since they were little, and Madam is always considerate of them. I really don't know what the Shi family sees in that silly girl?"
Xia He looked at her with amusement, "I came later, so I can't compare with you. But you deserve it!"
"What do you mean?" Bisi asked in a low voice.
Xia He said, "Although I haven't served Madam for long, I can see that she is kind and gentle. Like the few you have served since childhood, how could Madam not care about any good ones? Qin Sang and Dan Ju are both married, and Madam still sends them gifts from time to time. A master like this...tsk tsk, she must have earned it in her previous life."
She walked to the stove, poured a cup of hot tea, and blew on it gently. "I've never seen that Yancao before. Ruomei is the one who is causing trouble for Madam. As for you..." She sat down next to Bisi and poked her forehead playfully, "You are truly a hopeless person."
Bis twisted her body unhappily.
Xia He continued with a smile, "I've never seen you so lazy and gluttonous! When clothes and rouge were distributed, you were the first to run, and when there was work to do, you hid away. Fat geese and ducks, silks and satins, only you, Miss Bisi, could sketch half a pattern and do a few stitches of embroidery every day. When you're free, you either read or eat and drink. Amitabha, my Buddha, are you here to be a maid or a lady? It's only because the madam and sisters are so kind that they never say anything to you. If you were in another family, how could you enjoy such a good life?!"
Bisi was docile by nature and loved a comfortable life. She just wanted to live like this forever, with good food and clothes, no need to work, and maids to serve her. But when she saw that her sisters all had found a place to stay, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
"He's just a low-class gangster, what's so great about him!" she muttered softly.
Xia He laughed and said, "What are you talking about? If they weren't from a good family, would Madam be so embarrassed? Look at what Madam Che is wearing and wearing. She doesn't even blink when she throws money around." Then she sighed and said, "If she really goes out, she will be the mistress of the house."
"Since you're such a prominent family, why..." Bis blushed and lowered her voice, "Why don't you pick a good wife for your brother-in-law? I don't think Mrs. Shi is much better."
Xia He laughed: "My dear sister, are you really stupid?" She wanted to explain it to this confused person but couldn't, so she just said the most direct thing, "The Shi family is going to have more branches and leaves. Madam Shi has seen it a long time ago. Sister Xiaotao has the appearance of a boy and she likes her very much."
After taking a sip of tea, he continued, "Isn't Mrs. Shi very smart? Haha, she saw that Madam was moved, but Sister Xiaotao was not open to the idea. Madam was worried because of the character of the Shi family boy. She simply kept the boy and told Madam to examine him carefully. If he is really a good person, Madam will make the decision for Sister Xiaotao."
Bisi became anxious after hearing this and tugged at Xia He's sleeve, saying, "Then, what should I do? Even Luzhi has some clues. Madam has entrusted the young steward Chen from the harem to the court, and has asked Sister Liao to talk to the old couple of the Chen family. I am the only one left..."
Xia He patted her hand and said with a smile, "According to Madam's character, she will never treat you unfairly."
However, there is no way I can put my heart into choosing a husband for a girl like you who loves to be lazy and hates work. I guess your future life... hehe, will be simple and plain.
Bisi has always been easy to coax. She has neither the courage to climb up to the Marquis's position nor the perseverance to do her job diligently and hard. But after listening to Xia He's words, she felt relieved and lazily lay down to flip through the poetry collection, acting like a real young lady.
Xia He held her chin and looked at her for a while, then smiled.
In fact, she hoped that Xiaotao would get married so that she could have more opportunities to show herself. After all, it was a blessing to be a maid in such a sensible and honest family.
The atmosphere in the courtyard is harmonious, and the maids don't have to fight with each other. As long as they work hard, they can at least have enough food and clothing in the future, even if they can't say they will be better than Luzhi. If they are lucky, they can be sent out to settle down and start a career.
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