Chapter 539 Don't do anything rash
The Zhuang and Zhou families were at odds, and their maids were also fighting amongst themselves. The precious flowers and plants in the Prince's villa were crushed and scattered all over the ground, which Prince Luo was currently heartbroken about.
"The Zhuang family has always had a reputation for being virtuous and kind in the capital, which shows that they are not truly virtuous and kind."
As someone in the know, Xu Da understood her mother's words even more: one cannot judge a person by appearances. If he hadn't overheard Zhuang Shi talking to herself, Xu Da really wouldn't have been able to connect her with the case of Madam Qi's disembowelment twenty years ago.
People who stab you in the back are ruthless; you can never be too careful.
"You little brat, be more careful and stay away from the Zhuang family in the future."
The fact that Zhuang was able to harm her best sister back then shows that she has no conscience. Over the years, she has been eating vegetarian food, chanting Buddhist scriptures, and making donations, but these are just to lessen her crimes or to create a false image for others.
Xu Da did not believe that such a ruthless person could ever truly repent.
"I understand."
Lin Yuesha had never understood why she felt distant from Zhuang Shi, but now she had the answer.
She felt that Zhuang was a peaceful person and was grateful to Zhuang for lending her the house, but she did not feel truly close to her. However, she felt differently about Madam Xu.
People who are straightforward are easy to get along with; the most difficult to deal with are those who are good at hiding their true feelings.
The same applies to making friends. Speaking your mind can reduce misunderstandings, but relying on suspicion will inevitably increase many misunderstandings.
The carriage arrived at the outer city. It was the Ghost Festival, and the shops on both sides of the street hung lanterns. There were vendors and peddlers everywhere on the main street, selling all kinds of river lanterns and incense, candles and paper money for worship.
"Would you like to go down and release a river lantern?"
Xu Da noticed that Lin Yuesha kept looking out of the car window and asked her a question.
Originally, the Prince's Palace had planned to release river lanterns during the flower viewing party, but everything was disrupted by Fang's death.
During the Ghost Festival, we pray for our deceased relatives.
"Okay, let's pull over for a bit."
Lin Yuesha's family members are all alive and well, but she wants to release a river lantern to pray for the original owner of the body, hoping that she is doing well no matter where she is.
The two stepped off the carriage, surrounded by the scent of incense. Lin Yuesha sniffed, feeling a sense of peace.
She bought a river lantern at a stall, and Xu Da readily paid for it. Not only that, he also bought her small items such as purses and embroidered handkerchiefs.
Lin Yuesha raised an eyebrow and stared at Xu Da's face. The dog was so nice to her, and she was worried that she might be imagining things. Was it that he had taken a liking to her?
"Cousin, don't worry about it. Since you call me cousin, I can't let you spend money when I'm out buying things."
Xu Da spoke in a grand and righteous tone, but Lin Yuesha did not believe him. Based on her understanding, although he did not take advantage of others, he was not a generous person either.
"Then I'd also like candied hawthorns and a sandalwood bracelet."
Lin Yuesha's candied hawthorns cost only a few coins, but the sandalwood bracelet, because it was finely polished and engraved, cost the peddler a flat price of five taels of silver.
Unexpectedly, Xu Da did not hesitate and immediately took out his money to buy it.
Now, Lin Yuesha became suspicious and asked directly, "Just tell me, do you need something from me?"
"My cousin is indeed clever; you noticed that."
Xu Da was slightly embarrassed when he talked about this.
"You don't have a girl you like, so you need my help, do you?"
The flower viewing party at the Prince's Mansion hasn't reached the crucial stage yet, and the young masters and ladies haven't had a chance to look at each other. Perhaps Xu Da has someone he's interested in.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with this."
Xu Da had no interest in women. There were so many fun things to do, like riding horses, shooting arrows, and practicing martial arts. Why would he waste his time on women?
Lin Yuesha blinked and suddenly understood why Madam Xu was anxious.
Madam Xu was actually overly optimistic about the situation. Xu Da wasn't interested in women, and he wasn't interested in men either!
"Tell me, what kind of help do you need?"
Lin Yuesha accepted the sandalwood bracelet, agreeing very readily.
"It's like this, cousin, my mother has recently become obsessed with learning to cook. Could you please try to persuade her not to do anything rash..."
Practicing martial arts every day is good; please don't think about learning to cook.
The problem is that when he practiced martial arts, he only got beaten up. From childhood to adulthood, Xu Da was thrown around and beaten up, so he was very resilient and tough. But eating the food his mother made could very well be fatal.
The last time was a year ago. His mother suddenly decided to make a pig's heart soup, insisting that it was a way to "replenish his heart and mind" by using the principle of "like cures like." But she didn't know what she added, and after drinking a bowl, he had to go to the toilet for three days straight, suffering terribly.
Lin Yuesha: ...This request seems difficult. Madam Xu is currently very enthusiastic about learning to cook.
“This matter concerns my cousin’s life and fortune.”
Xu Da regretted it. If he had known this would happen, he would have listened to his mother and bought the neighboring house and combined it with the existing one. It would have been much more convenient for Lin Yuesha to move in.
The problem is that his father is not home now, so he is the most direct victim.
"Let me think about it."
Lin Yuesha rubbed her temples. Judging from Xu Da's tone, Madam Xu's skill level was exceptionally poor. However, she herself had no foundation in martial arts and was perhaps quite clumsy. Since Madam Xu was willing to offer guidance, she should reciprocate.
It's definitely not right not to teach cooking skills, so let's start with the simplest home-style dish: stir-fried shredded potatoes.
Peeling the potatoes is done with a peeler and a grater; it's a foolproof process. As for adding chopped green onions and salt, Lin Yuesha will use a special spoon to measure the amount. I doubt Madam Xu's cooking will be too bad.
With that thought, Lin Yuesha felt relieved.
In the realm of cooking, learning is easy, but mastering it is difficult.
After releasing the river lanterns, Lin Yuesha bought a blessing lantern before getting into the carriage, which Xu Da then sent back to her residence.
Neither Madam Chen nor Xiao Chenggui went to sleep. Upon learning that Lin Yuesha had returned to the mansion, Madam Chen immediately went to her daughter's courtyard.
"In the afternoon, Madam Xu sent a maid to deliver a message. She heard that something went wrong at the flower viewing party, and Mother has been worried about it."
When Madam Chen heard that her daughter had met Madam Qin, she felt extremely conflicted. After arriving in the capital, she didn't even dare to leave her residence, fearing that she might run into Scholar Lin and cause further embarrassment.
"Did she give you any trouble?"
Chen looked at her daughter with pleading eyes. If Qin dared to bully Lin Yuesha, she was ready to fight to the death. After all, the barefoot have nothing to fear.
"Mother, don't worry."
Lin Yuesha shook her head, holding Chen's hand. Her mother was a gentle woman, but she could be strong for the sake of those she protected. Perhaps this was the nature of women who became mothers.
Lin Yuesha thought of Madam Qi, who, even knowing she was doomed to die, still had the foresight to leave a way out for her son. Motherly love is the greatest.
Her mother wanted to protect her, and Lin Yuesha also wanted to protect herself; she wouldn't let herself suffer.
As for Qin, she was just a pitiful person. She thought that Lin, the scumbag, was devoted and had no concubines, but she didn't know that the green grass on her head had grown very tall.
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