At daybreak, Guo Taohua prepared breakfast and went to the front yard, where she took down the door panels one by one, opened the shop door, and began her day's business.
This is a pickle shop located in Sanxiang, Xinmin County.
Sanxiang isn't a busy place, but thanks to the huge influx of people from Xinmin County, business is surprisingly good. The income is enough to support the family.
Back then in Jinzhou, Guo Taohua and Jiang Yan were selected to work as maids in the governor's mansion.
Jiang Yan followed Gu Jiu, while Guo Taohua served in Madam Xie's yard.
Later, Jiang Yan entered the palace and was made a concubine, and she became the most popular person.
Guo Taohua followed the Gu family to the capital.
When she got older, the housekeeper arranged for her to marry a peddler.
After marriage, she had children and learned to make pickles from her husband. She started out as a street vendor, and after years of hard work, she finally rented a shop in Sanxiang, Xinmin County, and bought a house with a six-term loan.
Guo Taohua, who was so poor that she had to sell herself into slavery, finally settled down in the capital and took root there.
She hasn't been back to her hometown in the northwest for many years.
Her family came to the capital to visit her, and she even found a hard labor job for her brother, which paid well.
However, her brothers from her mother's family were concerned about the crops, wives and children at home, so they finally chose to return to their hometown in the northwest.
Guo Taohua took a long wooden spoon and stirred the pickles.
In the lean season, pickles are the best way to go with rice.
And pickles can be kept for a long time.
There was the sound of carriages outside the store.
Guo Taohua thought that a guest had come, so she turned around and prepared to greet the guest with a smile on her face.
But when she saw the woman getting off the carriage, she was stunned for a moment.
Jiang Yan walked into the shop with a smile on her face and asked crisply, "How much are the pickles?"
“You, you…”
Guo Taohua was dumbfounded.
Jiang Yan is clearly dead, so who is standing in front of her now?
"This pickle smells so good, a bit like how it's made in the northwest. I want this whole jar. Is delivery included?"
Guo Taohua nodded subconsciously, "Send, deliver."
Jiang Yan said, "Please take this jar of pickles to the main entrance of Phase 3. Someone will take you in. I haven't had breakfast yet. Can you deliver it now?"
After saying this, she took out a bunch of official silver and placed it on the counter.
"Remember to send it over now." She winked at Guo Taohua, smiled, turned around, walked out of the store, and got on the carriage.
Dadada...
The carriage slowly drove away.
It was unknown how long it took before Guo Taohua came to her senses.
She picked up the official silver and took a bite. It was real, not adulterated.
Jiang Yan is actually still alive, and seems to be living a comfortable life.
Guo Taohua felt inexplicably uncomfortable in her heart.
However, time is limited, and she has no time to be sad and reminisce about the past.
She spoke to the head of the household, loaded the jars of pickles onto the donkey cart, and transported them to Phase 3.
The donkey cart is rented.
The shop and the carriage and horse business had a long-term cooperation, and the carriage and horse business gave them a very low price, saving them the money to buy a donkey cart.
Guo Taohua's mind was empty and she didn't dare to think about anything else.
Because the more she thought about it, the more scared she became.
She drove her donkey cart to the gate of Phase 3, and sure enough, someone came to greet her. It was the maid who had been with Jiang Yan before.
She followed the maid, driving the donkey cart, and walked all the way to Phase 3. It felt like they had walked for a very long time before they finally arrived at the gate of a large mansion.
"Phase 3 is so big." She sighed secretly.
Unexpectedly, the maid heard it.
The maid laughed at her, "Is this your first time in Phase 3? The houses in Phase 3 are second only to those in Phase 4, and they're incredibly valuable. The building my wife lives in has three entrances, several small courtyards, and a garden pond. I'll take you in through the side door."
Guo Taohua smiled awkwardly and drove the donkey cart into the side door.
The servants will take away the pickle jars.
The maidservant said to her, "You are lucky today. My wife wants to see you. My wife is always generous. If you speak nicely, you will definitely get a reward."
Guo Taohua curled her lips, not knowing what to say.
The maid glanced at her with disdain, wondering how she could do business when she was so dull.
Guo Taohua didn't know how she ended up doing business with Jiang Yan.
She was led by her maid through the garden and corridors, and finally arrived at the depths of the courtyard.
There was a crisp laughter coming from the room.
Even though she hadn't heard it for many years, Guo Taohua instantly recognized the voice as Jiang Yan's.
"Come in. My wife is waiting for you inside."
"Oh! Thank you, sister."
"Bah! Who are you calling sister? Don't you see how old you are? Do you have the nerve to call me sister?"
Guo Taohua's face turned red and she was teased by the maid again.
Until Jiang Yan's voice sounded again, "Is it the owner of the pickle shop? Please come in."
The maid urged her, "Go in quickly."
Only then did Guo Taohua put away her discomfort and stepped into the room.
Jiang Yan was the only one in the room.
I don’t know where the laughter came from before.
"Taohua, you're here. Haven't you eaten yet? Come and sit down and have breakfast with me."
Jiang Yan was very enthusiastic and stood up to take Guo Taohua to a seat.
Guo Taohua felt uncomfortable all over and stared at Jiang Yan blankly, "You, are you alive?"
Jiang Yan covered her mouth and laughed, "Feel my hand, it's warm, right? Of course I'm alive. Otherwise, how could I come out in broad daylight?"
"But everyone says you are dead. The late emperor ordered you to be buried with him." Guo Taohua was very uneasy and nervous and wanted to escape from here.
Jiang Yan looked at her and laughed, "That was all a trick. The late emperor loved me and was afraid that after his death, I would be sent to Gratitude Temple to become a nun. You know I don't have any children, and all concubines without children were sent to Gratitude Temple to become nuns. So the late emperor issued an edict to sentence me to death and burial with him, but in reality, it was to allow me to escape from the palace and live in anonymity."
"ah?!"
Guo Taohua was obviously shocked by Jiang Yan's story.
"The late emperor was so kind to you? He even considered your affairs after his death."
Jiang Yan nodded repeatedly, lowered her voice, and said mysteriously, "This matter remains a secret. The fact that I'm still alive must not be made public. His Majesty doesn't know the truth. If he learns that I'm still alive, he'll definitely send the Jinwu Guards to capture me and execute me."
Guo Taohua's heart trembled, and she also lowered her voice, "Don't worry, I promise not to say anything, I will definitely keep my mouth shut."
"Good Taohua, I knew you were the best to me." Jiang Yan hugged Guo Taohua and was very affectionate.
Guo Taohua felt stiff all over and very uncomfortable.
"Over the years, I have been living in hiding and my life has been very hard. Finally, I met you. You are my dearest sister." Jiang Yan said emotionally.
Guo Taohua was slightly moved. She asked with concern, "How have you been through these years? How do you make a living? This place..."
Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I bought this place myself. The late emperor originally arranged for me to live in Jiangnan, but I'm not used to it. The climate there is too humid, and I often get sick. If I continue to live there, I will die in Jiangnan one day.
So I took the risk and returned to the capital, where I've been living a secluded life ever since. A few days ago, a maid from the mansion bought some pickles. As soon as I tasted them, I realized they tasted like home. So, early in the morning, I rushed to the pickle shop to take a look. I never expected to meet you, Taohua. I'm so lucky. God must have known how lonely I've been in my life, so he let me meet you.
After saying that, Jiang Yan hugged Guo Taohua tightly.
Guo Taohua was a little breathless.
"Swallow, don't get excited yet."
"How can I not be excited? After all these years, I finally see you again. Taohua, do you miss me?"
Guo Taohua lowered her head and smiled embarrassedly.
"When I first learned that you had entered the palace and were favored by the late emperor, I was truly happy for you. Later, when I heard that His Majesty had ordered you to be buried with him, I was terribly worried. But I couldn't help at all. Now that I know you're still alive, I'm relieved."
Jiang Yan held Guo Taohua's hand and said, "Thank you, Taohua, you are so kind. Does the Gu family know about me?"
Guo Taohua shook her head. "The Gu family doesn't know about your situation. I heard it from Qingzhu and the others. Do you remember Qingzhu? The head maidservant beside Madam Zhao..."
Jiang Yan's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly adjusted herself and nodded with a smile, "Of course I know. When I was serving Madam Zhao, I studied and learned to read with Qingzhu, Qingmei, and the others. They were a bit clumsy, and not as good as me."
Guo Taohua laughed, "I know you've always been the best."
Jiang Yan laughed, "So, Madam Zhao didn't reveal my identity in the palace to the Gu family?"
Guo Taohua nodded, "The Gu family doesn't know that Jiang Shuyi in the palace is you."
Jiang Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then I'll be relieved. If I run into the Gu family outside one day, I don't have to worry about them looking surprised when they see me. I won't have to hide here and there like a wanted criminal."
Guo Taohua asked with concern: "It must be very hard for you to live alone."
Jiang Yan nodded, then shook her head. "In all these years, you are the first person who cares about how hard I've been living. Taohua, thank you."
Guo Taohua smiled sheepishly. "I'm relieved that you're doing well. Have you been in touch with your family?"
"I don't dare contact my family. I'm afraid of causing trouble for them. Taohua, have you been back in these years? What's the situation at home now?"
Guo Taohua said, "I haven't been back to my hometown since I came to the capital. But my eldest brother has been to the capital and he said your family is well off. When you first entered the palace and won the favor of the late emperor, he bestowed rewards on your family, including houses, land, and some kind of honorary position.
Later, you were gone, but the government didn't reclaim your house or land. You only lost your honorary position. Now, your family is a well-known and wealthy family in the local area. Your nephew is studying at the county academy, and your niece has found an excellent marriage partner.
After hearing this, Jiang Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
"I've been worried about my family being implicated. I'm relieved to hear that they're all okay."
"Aren't you going back?" Guo Taohua asked curiously.
Jiang Yan laughed bitterly, "Everyone thinks I'm dead, buried with the late emperor. If I reappear before them, not only will it be useless, but it will harm them. Let everyone think I'm dead. That way, I can live the rest of my life in peace."
Guo Taohua felt a little distressed, "I've wronged you over the years."
Jiang Yan shook her head. "As long as I can live, I can endure any amount of grievances. As for you, I thought you would stay in the Gu Mansion, marry a servant, and then become the housekeeper's wife. I didn't expect you to leave the Gu Mansion."
Guo Taohua smiled shyly, "I can't be a slave forever. He's a good man, so I married him and left the Gu Mansion naturally."
"Congratulations! We entered the Gu Mansion together, and now we both jumped out." Jiang Yan said sincerely.
Guo Taohua smiled, her smile revealing genuine happiness.
Jiang Yan invited her to have breakfast, "It's just porridge and side dishes, don't be disgusted."
"Why would I dislike it? It's much better than what I eat at home."
"You are a boss lady now, so you should be willing to eat!" Jiang Yan laughed at her.
Guo Taohua shook her head. "I still have to save money to pay off the loan, and my children need to go to school in the future. I dare not spend money carelessly."
"You're too frugal. If you need my help, just ask."
Guo Taohua put down her chopsticks and said, "Thank you. We can still support you."
Jiang Yan smiled and said, "Don't forget to find me when you need me."
Guo Taohua nodded. "Thank you. Eat more. You've lost a lot of weight."
"Have you lost weight?" Jiang Yan covered her cheeks.
Guo Taohua said with certainty that she had lost weight, which made her very happy.
In her joy, she asked again, "Do you know anything about Madam Zhao's situation? These are the only people I know, and I can't help but want to find out a few things."
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