Chapter 57 You Did It On Purpose
In his previous life, He Xing failed the imperial examination but suddenly became successful and became a staff member invited by the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion. It is said that this was largely due to his relationship with the steward.
However, there are too many poor and pedantic scholars like He Xing, so how did he manage to climb the social ladder?
Jiang Baozhu rubbed her temples and suddenly remembered that back then, He Xing seemed to have taken a fancy to a little girl from a family in town. The little girl was only a little over ten years old, with fair and delicate features, but He Xing found a way to send her to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion.
One winter day, the little girl, naked and covered in bruises, was wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave.
The girl's parents were just ordinary people; how could they possibly compete with the royal family? They received a sum of money and moved away.
Could it be that...
Jiang Baozhu's pupils dilated, and her whole body trembled.
"Baozhu, what's wrong?"
Jiang Huai and Madam Xu's attention was focused on their daughter. Seeing that Jiang Baozhu's face was pale, they quickly asked her with concern.
"Father, Mother, I'm alright."
Jiang Baozhu spoke unconsciously, leaving Jiang Huai and Madam Xu dumbfounded. They couldn't believe their ears; this couldn't be a hallucination.
"The young lady has spoken! The young lady has spoken!"
Xiao Xi clapped her hands happily, but Jiang Baozhu found it too difficult to speak.
"Isn't it normal for you to speak? Your young lady isn't mute."
The sorrow on Xu's face immediately vanished, replaced by joy, and she scolded Xiao Xi for making a fuss.
"Alright, let's eat first. Xiao Xi also contributed today, so come and join us at the table."
The rules in the Jiang family are not strict, and Xiao Xi has gotten used to them and accepts them well.
Jiang Baozhu didn't say a word before or after the meal, but neither Jiang Huai nor Madam Xu pressured their daughter. After so many years, it wouldn't be easy to change things overnight.
Now that Baozhu is willing to express herself, her parents are overjoyed.
After the meal, upon returning to Jiang Baozhu's courtyard, Lin Yuesha immediately used the small kitchen.
Xiao Xi's mother, Aunt Wang, had already selected large melon seeds, and Lin Yuesha put them in water to wash them clean.
The process of making spiced melon seeds is very simple: boil the melon seeds, add salt and stir well, then add star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon and licorice and boil to let the melon seeds absorb the flavor.
The remaining drying process, at the temperature inside the chamber, will take approximately three days.
"Sister Lin, can we eat sunflower seeds now?"
It was already nightfall, but Xiao Xi lingered, eagerly waiting for her spiced melon seeds.
Because Lin Yuesha said it was her family's secret recipe, Xiao Xi was too embarrassed to peek inside, so she just circled around the door, itching to see it.
"It won't be that fast. Since they are fragrant melon seeds, it will take three days for the salty, fragrant, and crunchy spiced melon seeds to be ready."
Lin Yuesha tried her best to persuade Xiao Xi to go back, and it took a lot of effort.
Inside the main room, an oil lamp was dimly lit. Lin Yuesha glanced at it and decided to go back to the side room to check on her spoils of war.
A pink peony, a silver hairpin, and some needles, thread, and a wooden comb—all small items commonly used by women.
The peddler only sold women's items, which Lin Yuesha found a bit of a pity. If he had the Four Treasures of the Study, she might have been able to swindle Young Master He.
"You did this on purpose."
Behind me, a voice, calm yet resolute, spoke.
Lin Yuesha was so startled she almost jumped up. Turning her head, she saw it was Miss Baozhu from the Jiang family.
"Miss, it's you!"
Lin Yuesha rubbed her temples. The shock she had suffered last night hadn't yet subsided, and now Jiang Baozhu was adding insult to injury.
You know, this person walks without making a sound; it's terrifying!
"What do you mean, intentional?"
Lin Yuesha blinked and asked innocently, but she was puzzled. Wasn't it said that this Miss Baozhu rarely spoke more than a few words a year? If that's the case, she's been talking a lot today.
"What's the point of this pit?"
Jiang Baozhu didn't keep anyone in suspense. In her previous life, her parents had found many playmates and bought maids for her, but there was never a Lin Yuesha.
Jiang Baozhu was very cautious about Lin Yuesha's appearance, as it would determine whether she could change her fate.
"You knew all along?"
Lin Yuesha felt no remorse whatsoever. It wasn't her who asked for it, so why should she pretend to be a sucker? Why blame her?
That person clearly had ulterior motives; He Xing's intentions were malicious, and it had nothing to do with whether or not I took anything.
"You're right, he's definitely not a good person."
Jiang Baozhu nodded in agreement. She found a chair, sat down, and asked Lin Yuesha, "How did you find out?"
"His eyes, his eyes were malicious."
It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. A ruthless person with innocent eyes and a compassionate expression would surely be an Oscar-winning actor in modern times.
He Xing's cultivation is inadequate, and he always treats people like fools. Lin Yuesha, on the other hand, is knowledgeable and experienced, not a twelve-year-old naive girl.
"I see."
Jiang Baozhu sighed with regret. In her past life, her parents and she were kept in the dark until her family was destroyed and she realized how ridiculous it all was.
What's funny is that He Xing has always been like this, never really pretending; they're just too naive.
Having been reborn, Jiang Baozhu learned from her past life and, upon careful observation, immediately noticed the differences.
“Miss Baozhu, if you feel this is inappropriate, please return these items to Young Master He.”
She can return the hairpin, but not the peony silk flowers. At worst, she can pay twenty coins herself; she can afford it.
Lin Yuesha handed over the silver hairpin, her hands trembling, clearly reluctant to part with it. The hairpin was carved with lotus flowers, making it especially suitable for her mother, Chen Shi.
Judging from the widow Li Niang, Chen Shi really had a tough time, taking good care of the original owner and doting on her.
After Lin Yuesha transmigrated, she felt very sorry for Chen Shi. The wooden hairpin in her mother's hair had already peeled off a layer of skin.
They wouldn't even replace a wooden hairpin that cost a few coins, let alone wear a silver hairpin.
"I bought it for you, so just accept it."
Jiang Baozhu almost burst out laughing. How could this little girl be so adorable! She was clearly extremely reluctant to part with her, yet she was still trying to test her.
Jiang Baozhu originally wanted to tease Lin Yuesha and take the hairpin back, but seeing her pitiful eyes, she couldn't bear it.
“Take it with peace of mind. Every copper coin He Xinghua receives comes from my father.”
Jiang Baozhu was certain that He Xing's mother was also a terrible person, always scheming to get her family's money, even having to hire someone to make her insoles, and acting like a rich man's wife.
When He Xing's father was alive, the He family didn't hire anyone to serve them. On the contrary, now they are living better and better, all thanks to Jiang Huai's sense of guilt.
"Alright then."
Lin Yuesha felt relieved, but this Miss Jiang Baozhu was different from how others had described her.
In just a short while, the two had exchanged several words.
"Miss……"
Lin Yuesha wanted to ask Jiang Baozhu, because she had noticed that Jiang Baozhu disliked He Xing very much.
"You're not a servant of the Jiang family, just call me Baozhu."
The two are a little over two years apart in age, and they don't use any terms of address like "older sister" or "younger sister," but simply call each other by their first names.
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