Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Wen Shuse couldn't describe the feeling in her heart. It was even more uncomfortable than if she had swallowed salt instead of sugar.
The spring scenery was gone, and so was her mood. She had dressed up so well, but the white horse suddenly turned into a mule. She was extremely disappointed.
Now I finally understand why good silver and money are regarded as the stink of copper by some sour scholars.
Isn't it just smelly? It corrupts people's hearts and turns a dashing young man into a hideous vampire.
Seeing that she suddenly lost interest, like an eggplant withered by frost, Nan Zhi thought that her words scared her, and quickly comforted her, "Don't worry, Third Madam, the old lady will definitely not agree."
Wen Shuse nodded weakly. He no longer had a good impression of the young master. When he was losing interest, he saw a young man walking in from the hanging flower gate.
He wore a blue shirt with a white collar and a round neck, and a gold and jade crown. He looked dignified and elegant.
Before today, she had always fantasized that if she married the eldest son, she would have been treating him as an equal and having a deep love for him by now.
Now looking at Xie San who was coming towards her, she suddenly felt fortunate that the Xie family had changed its people. Even if he was a prodigal son, fortunately he had money and would not try to take advantage of her money in the future.
Xie Shao had been leaving early and coming back late these past two days, half because he was pestered by Zhou Kuang, and the other half because of the girl in front of him.
That day I only thought she had a sharp mouth that no one dared to provoke. But when I lay on the couch late at night, I realized that what was even more terrifying were her green fingers.
She suddenly put the rice cake to his mouth. No young lady had ever fed him anything before. He didn't react for a moment, but she seemed impatient, frowning, as if she was going to have a big fight with him. He was forced to open his mouth, and it was only a crack that she pushed it in. Her finger poked the corner of his mouth, and it seemed that it was not only that, but also touched his teeth...
I don’t know if her fingers had been soaked in perfumed powder, but the faint fragrance lingered all night long in my head.
There was no evidence to prove it. That night I really wanted to go to her room and warn her not to do this again next time, because he had hands and didn't need her to feed him.
The next day, I changed my mind and decided to meet her less often.
After not seeing her for two days, the girl was still as beautiful as ever, with high hair and red hairpins. The spring green long skirt she wore was a new one he had never seen before. She had a white gauze shawl on her arm and a flower ornament on her forehead. She had gorgeous and delicate makeup on, as if she was going on a date.
I had just been called back from the teahouse by the old lady to attend today's family dinner.
Yes, the eldest son is back today.
He had interfered that day and didn't let her meet the eldest master, but he was just trying to play a prank on her. Now that she had married into the Xie family, the family members would have to meet each other eventually.
Finally, she could meet the man she wanted to marry. She must have been very excited and happy. But when she got closer, she unexpectedly found that the girl's face did not have the joy she expected, and even showed some frustration.
This is rare.
Before he could figure it out, the young lady opposite him also saw him, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she ran towards him with her skirt lifted, "My dear..."
Xie Shao: ...
The young lady ran enthusiastically from one end of the corridor to the other, and Xie Shao became even more confused.
Min Zhang said that she had been basking in the sun in the yard for the past two days. Maybe her eyes were blurred by the sun. There was still some difference between her and the eldest master in appearance.
The young lady walked quickly to him, and before he could remind her to open her eyes wider, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, tilted her head, and her high hair poked his chin. He tilted his neck to avoid it, and then he heard her say, "My dear, did you know that the eldest master is back today?"
What's the meaning?
She was asking me this on purpose, taking the opportunity to criticize him, saying that he was not as good-looking as the eldest son. Then she might not be able to get what she wanted, because he was always very confident about his appearance.
The young lady didn't even look at his expression. She held on to him tightly and even moved closer and closer. She whispered to him, "Just now I heard from Nan Zhi that the eldest master came back this time to ask us for money."
The romantic feelings in her heart were gone. Wen Shuse's mind was now full of how to respond to the challenge. "Fortunately, you came back in time. Let's talk and think about how to refuse later. It's better to unify the caliber to avoid being found out by the other party. What excuse should we find..." She was really distressed. "Say we don't have money? No, we don't believe it ourselves." Even the eloquent tongue can be difficult. She really couldn't think of anything. She looked up at the person next to her, "My dear, do you have any good ideas?"
Xie Shao: ...
He looked at the worried-looking young lady lying on his arm, his face somewhat stunned.
So, the young master who she was so eager to meet that day, and even felt bad for blocking her sight and stepping on him, suddenly lost interest in him and disliked him just because she knew he was going to borrow money from her?
He had no idea what the young lady was thinking, let alone what she really liked in her heart.
She suddenly asked him what he could do, and he asked her in return, "Didn't my wife tell me to rest assured that day?"
She did say this, and Wen Shuse was just asking, not expecting the prodigal son in front of her to help her come up with any good ideas.
He is an outsider and can be cold-blooded and only care about money but not people, but he is different. If Deputy Envoy Xie forces him by using his status as uncle and the eldest son no longer lobby for him out of brotherhood, what should he do?
Fortunately, she has experience.
"I think you shouldn't be soft-hearted. If they say they just want money to buy a house in Dongdu, don't believe them. A house is indeed not expensive for us, but what happens after we buy it? Don't we have to renovate it, buy some furniture, and hire a few servants? Besides, the eldest son just went to Dongdu, and he needs money to run around, right? They can't even afford to buy a house, so where will the money come from? They still rely on you. Have you seen ants moving house? They move all your things bit by bit and make them theirs."
Seeing that he was listening intently, Wen Shuse must have felt that what she said made a lot of sense, so she continued, "Besides, did your money come from the wind? Grandpa has contributed his whole life to the court, and the gold awarded to him by the emperor is for him to enjoy his old age. And the spices sold by grandma, do you know how spices are made? Take agarwood for example, the particles of that stuff are very small, and they have to be mixed with various dried flowers and rolled into round cakes. The process is very complicated, but they make a small profit but sell in large quantities, and all the money they earn is hard-earned. They cheated the money from you, and then threw it to restaurants and teahouses. Have you ever thought that this is all the hard-earned money of grandpa and grandma, and don’t you have any uneasiness or guilt in your conscience?"
Xie Shao: ...
According to her, I have not been a human being these years.
Seeing his suspicion, Wen Shuse hurriedly said, "I didn't say anything about Langjun. Langjun is their biological son, and he should be spent. Isn't the money earned to be spent..."
She is no different.
Now it seems that this is really a fate destined by God. She and Xie San are both rich people, and people are trying every means to suck their blood. There is no one in the world who is more suitable than them. She said hopelessly, "I have finally figured it out. My dear, I and I are the same kind of people. We are both golden Buddhas, and we attract people's attention wherever we go. But my dear, don't worry, I promised to be your housekeeper, and I will not break my promise. It's not that easy for anyone to get a penny from me."
She really has a sharp tongue, and at least she has the final say.
Xie Shao had known about the eldest wife's plan for a long time. When Deputy Envoy Xie let Pei Yuanqiu go in front of the Crown Prince that day, it was clear what he was thinking.
Back then, Xie Daoyuan was promoted by Prince Jing, which is why he is the eldest branch of the Xie family today. However, once people's horizons broaden, they will feel that the place they live in is too small.
It is no small matter for a deputy governor of a foreign land to have second thoughts.
Therefore, Zhou Kuang has used all his efforts to test and lobby him in the past few days, fearing that he would turn against him.
At the beginning, the eldest son wanted to go to Beijing to be an official. He passed the imperial examination with his own ability, and Prince Jing did not stop him. Even if the prince was magnanimous and allowed him to enter the Eastern Capital, the court might not accept him.
Why did the eldest son go to see the emperor to receive his post? Of all the places he could have chosen, the emperor chose to assign him to Fengcheng as the county magistrate? The meaning was very clear.
As the son of a foreign deputy envoy, the court would never allow him to enter the officialdom of the Eastern Capital.
If nothing unexpected happens, the eldest son's transfer order will not come, so there is no need to go to Dongdu to buy a property. If it really comes, you can't go.
He had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind, but he couldn't let the young lady down, so he nodded and said, "It all depends on you, madam."
Wen Shuse breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that all her words were not in vain. She forgot that her hand was still hanging in his arm, and continued to talk to him in detail while pulling him towards the old lady's yard.
The people from the eldest house arrived earlier than the two. A group of young people were gathered in the yard to admire the orchids planted by the old lady. When they heard some noise in the corridor behind them, they turned around and saw two people arm in arm in the corridor.
From a distance, one could see Wen Shuse talking nonstop. The second lady's eyelids twitched, and she was extremely disdainful, "I wonder what you are talking about..."
They are probably making up stories about them and saying bad things about them.
She was not wrong in her guess. Wen Shuse was indeed saying bad things about them, saying that the eldest lady had wasted the powder in the shop, and the second lady had used his name to buy things on credit, and so on. He kept talking until they reached the door, then stopped.
Nan Zhi went to the front first and went into the house to report to the old lady, "The third young master and the third mistress are here."
Everyone in the room looked towards the door.
Everyone from the main house is here today, including the younger generations. The bride has been married for half a month, and only Master Xie and the eldest son have not seen the Third Young Lady.
The eldest son's expression changed slightly.
The eldest son changed people on the wedding night. Although he felt that the eldest lady of the Wen family was his type, he had to give in because the old ancestor threatened him with pretending to be dead.
That night, I returned to the government office and lay alone on the bed, watching the night slowly pass. I thought that Madam Wen had become the Third Madam. However, the next day, a servant from the mansion came to report that the person carried into the mansion by the Wen family was not the First Madam, but the Second Madam.
In addition to being shocked, the eldest son was secretly happy and relieved. If the old lady hadn't replaced him, he would have married the second wife of the Wen family.
He had never seen Second Madam Wen, but he had heard rumors about her. She was the only daughter of the Second Master of the Wen family and had been spoiled by Old Madam Wen since she was a child. In addition to her stunning appearance, she was also a big spender.
He has been well-read since childhood and does not like people who squander money. He is not suitable for such a young lady. If he really encounters such a young lady on his wedding night, he cannot guarantee that he will send her back to the Wen family intact.
Just as I was thinking about this, the people outside the door had already walked in. Xie San walked in front, followed by a girl. The moment he walked in, the dull room suddenly became bright.
The girl was wearing a spring green long skirt, a lining of the same color and a layer of five-silk tulle on the outside. She didn't wear any accessories around her neck, revealing a swan neck. Her skin was as delicate as white jade, and her makeup was exquisite, bright but not heavy, which just outlined her beauty. She was indeed a pretty girl, but the look she gave him made him puzzled.
It seems sad but not really, just like the disappointment that comes from buying a stone at a high price on the market, only to find, when you open it, that there is not a trace of jade inside.
The eldest son was stunned.
It's hard not to think too much with such an expression.
Ever since she married into the Wen family, she must have known that she was the one to marry. Today was the first time they met, and the look on her face must have been because she was disappointed with her appearance.
In terms of appearance, he was indeed not as good as the third brother. He disappointed a young lady for no reason and felt somewhat embarrassed. The eldest master turned away slightly, but Wen Shuse had already stopped looking at him.
In fact, the eldest son's appearance was not bad. Just as she imagined, he was indeed a handsome young man. But after the halo in her heart was shattered, she could never get back the feeling she had before.
Wen Shu's eyes were full of regret. He only took a glance and then looked away indifferently.
Wen Shuse had seen the old man of the Xie family on the street that day. He had the typical appearance of a military general. After greeting his elder, Wen Shuse sat down on one side with Xie Shao.
It was still early, not yet time for dinner, and it was the perfect time for the family to get together and talk.
Several youngsters who were admiring orchids outside also squeezed in and sat in the room in a lively atmosphere, but the atmosphere was not pleasant at all.
The eldest lady had adjusted her mentality after being scolded by the master of the Xie family a few days ago. Wen Shuse had just greeted her with a smile, and she had the intention of reconciliation.
The younger ones were different. They had just had a fight two days ago, and the eyes of enemies were extremely red when they saw each other. They lowered their heads and twisted the silk handkerchiefs in their hands, turned their necks to the side, and put on an expression as if they couldn't stand the sight of her.
Wen Shuse didn't pay any attention to it. After sitting down, he leaned over to ask the old lady, "How is grandma?"
"Very well." He remembered that he had fainted two days ago, so he changed his words in time, "My head feels dizzy from time to time, and I can't stand the stimulation..."
The lady opposite twitched her lips, thinking that these words were meant for her.
"Grandma's problem is the same as the old ancestor of the Wen family." Wen Shuse was quite surprised. "Grandma of the Wen family has headaches all year round. She usually uses red arrows to treat it. I will send some to grandma tomorrow and ask Nanzhi to use it to make soup for her."
Red arrow is Gastrodia elata. Old Madam Xie has heard that it can cure headaches, but this thing that is used as medicine, "can also be used to make soup?"
"Yes." Wen Shuse nodded. "What's available in the market are some dried red arrowheads. Soak them in warm water to swell them, then cut them into pieces and stew them with chicken soup. After stewing, eat them together with the chicken. It tastes very good."
Madam Xie was surprised, "Is there such a way to eat it?"
Wen Shu said, "After it swells, chop it into small pieces and steam it with eggs. It tastes good. Every time Grandmother Wen has a headache, she will ask the servants to make it for her. After eating it a few times, her headache will be relieved."
"I didn't expect this old sister to be so good at living. Give me some tomorrow so I can try it..."
"Okay." Wen Shuse nodded, "If grandma is afraid of taking medicine, she can use more medicinal herbs to make soup on weekdays. In addition to red arrowheads, there are a few other things that can also relieve headaches..."
"Really?" Old Madam Xie was very interested. "Tell me everything. I'll let Nanzhi write it down."
This is endless...
Everyone in the room heard the two of them talking about making soup. If they continued talking about this, there would be no need to talk about business today. The eldest lady became more and more annoyed. She straightened up and was about to explode, but tried her best to hold it back.
After listening for a while, Mr. Xie interrupted and said, "I didn't know that the third son's wife knew all this. She is so virtuous and filial. She is a blessing to the third son."
When Wen Shuse heard him speak, she stopped talking, sat up straight, put her hands on her knees, and lowered her eyes, looking very dignified.
The old man of the Xie family smiled and took the opportunity to ask Xie Shao who was beside her, "What has the third brother been busy with recently?"
"I am an idle person, unlike my uncle who is busy with work." Xie Shao's tone was always lazy. "How come my uncle has time to come back today?"
"Why, I can't come back." The old man of the Xie family smiled, "No matter how busy you are, you have to go home." He turned his head and glanced at the eldest son beside him, "Chengji, don't just focus on the work in the government office, come back to see your grandmother more often..."
The eldest son lowered his eyes and said, "Father is right. I will come back more often in the future."
"You are making things difficult for him." The eldest lady interrupted, "Now that his three-year term is up, the transfer order will come down soon. The government office has to deal with the backlog of affairs. I'm afraid he will be too busy to take care of his family..."
Uncle Xie made a face that looked annoyed, "I have no right to say anything about the eldest brother. I have been too busy lately to talk to mother. The second master and his sister-in-law are not here." He turned to look at the eldest lady, "Please pay more attention and ask some of the younger generations to come and chat with mother when you have time."
The eldest lady echoed, "You don't have to worry about that."
"It's good that you know. The Second Master is not at home, and the Third Master has married a new wife. He must be unfamiliar with many things when he first arrives at the mansion. We are all family, and harmony is the most important thing. If there is any difficulty, please pay attention and take care of it."
Mr. Xie pretended to be deaf and dumb and pretended not to know what happened in the mansion. These words also showed Wen Shuse his attitude.
The implication is that a family cannot be separated.
Before she could talk about what happened today, the eldest lady knew the importance of the matter and replied, "Mind your own business. Everything is fine at the mansion. You don't need to worry about it."
She said "very fine" and covered up everything. She didn't tell the master about Wen Shuse. On the surface, she seemed to be sensible and protected her, but it also made several younger generations unhappy. The second wife was about to get angry, thinking that maybe her father didn't know, but this new bride was used to it and treated the Xie family as her own home as soon as she entered the house. Now even the accounting office has been removed.
The eldest lady gave the second lady a look in time, and the second lady had to shut up.
I have already given the attitude that I should give.
After talking for a long time without getting to the point, the eldest lady didn't want to continue to negotiate, and directly said to Xie Shao, "Third brother should also know that your eldest brother will go to Dongdu to take up a post soon. Since the second master returned to Fengcheng, our Xie family has no relatives in Dongdu anymore. He will go alone and I'm afraid he will be lost. Auntie thinks that if he has a place to stay, other things will be easier. I have already inquired about it. The rent in Dongdu is very high. It is not cost-effective to rent it for a long time. It is better to buy a house."
Here it comes...
Wen Shuse took a breath and his expression became more energetic.
I had already talked to Xie San before, so he should know how to reply. However, I didn't hear any response from my husband for a long while. My heart sank, and I turned around and stared at him without caring about etiquette.
He is so soft-hearted. He is really hopeless.
Xie Shao was weighing whether to go along with the eldest wife to cover for him. He noticed the gaze of the young lady next to him from the corner of his eye. It was about to poke a hole in him. He raised his hand and touched his brow. "I am used to being lazy and don't like housekeeping. Now it's Shuse who has the final say. Aunt, please consult her if you have anything to do."
As expected, he was controlled by his new bride and the vixen had taken possession of him. What opinion did he have left?
Mr. Xie and his wife exchanged a quick glance and understood each other tacitly. The wife hated him for not living up to her expectations, but the money was in other people's pockets, so it was only natural for the wife to manage the accounts.
Thinking about what happened a few days ago, the eldest lady was a little afraid of the third lady. She was afraid that she would be embarrassed in front of everyone, so she didn't look at Wen Shuse for a while.
There was no need for the Madam to speak, Wen Shuse took the initiative to say, "This is unfortunate. Uncle Wen's family moved to Dongdu. The Madam mentioned it to me a few days ago and did some calculations with me. She said that renting a good house in Dongdu would cost 90 guan, and buying one would only cost more than 1,000 guan. She also said that every inch of land in Dongdu is worth gold, and the price of real estate changes every day. It is more cost-effective to buy a house than to rent one. It is the same as what my aunt said..."
Hearing her say this, the eldest lady was totally surprised. She was stunned for a moment, and her expression became much happier. "That's right, Shuse also knows..."
"So, I decided to have someone go to Dongdu to buy a house. When the eldest master arrives in Dongdu, he can rent my house. We are all family, and it is better for the rent money to fall into the hands of our own people than to let others take advantage of it. What do you think, eldest master?"
The babies are here! Love you~ Third Grandma, don't act on impulse, Third Grandma will cheat all the way~ (Yueyuezi is two yang today.)
I’d like to recommend another article written by my gay friend to you guys. He is a master of palace fighting novels.
"The Little Palace Maid Wants to Become a Royal Hero" by Stars in the House
Yun Si is just a little palace maid
She's not a nice person, but she's a beauty.
She knew that her status was lowly, and even if she left the palace in the future, becoming a concubine for a noble family would be considered marrying up.
She was used to the luxurious life in the palace and could never go back to the old days.
So, she set her sights on the man on the dragon throne.
Everyone says that Yun Si is very scheming and is favored by the emperor.
But no one knows
After being spotted by that man, Yun Si remained in the position of a palace maid without any status for two whole years.
Tan Yuanchu will initially fall in love with Yun Si
It's because of her clumsy flattery that she thought was smart
He kept Yun Si by his side for two whole years.
Only then did he give Yun Si the status she had always wanted.
He watched with cold eyes as Yun Si, a villain, bullied others by taking advantage of his power after he succeeded.
Until the end
Tan Yuanchu realized that he was not only attracted by her beauty
He coveted everything about her, including her little thoughts that she thought were well hidden.
【You are smart, and I am stupid. 】
【What you see may not be what I want you to see. 】
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