Chapter 103: A coin, a sincere heart. (End of main text)
With just two words, Li Yue'er felt as if she had returned to two years ago.
At that time, my younger sister had a high fever that wouldn't go down, and the family didn't have the money to hire a doctor. She almost didn't make it through. She was desperate, and it was Aunt Qiu who advised her to ask the matriarch of the family for help.
When Li Yue'er first mustered the courage to knock on the mistress's door, the mistress uttered only two words:
Come in.
Li Yue'er was stunned for a moment, then lowered her eyes and smiled gently.
She must have been missing her mistress, because upon hearing the familiar words, her mistress's voice spontaneously echoed in her mind, drowning out the other person's original tone.
She took a deep breath, reached out and pushed the door open to go inside.
Unlike two years ago, no matter who was inside, she now had the confidence and the right to sit down and negotiate on equal terms with them.
Li Yue'er felt that apart from her mistress and those two times when she had no other choice, she would never ask anyone else for help, including her mistress.
Until the door opened, she saw the seller of the ancestral home's land deed.
Li Yue'er, "..."
That familiar figure, that light blue dress—who else could it be but the mistress?
Qu Rong stood in front of the wide-open window, turned around slowly, looked up at Li Yue'er, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Like a cat that has been waiting for a mouse to come in.
Li Yue'er stared at her suspiciously, then stepped out, glancing deliberately at the number plate next to the room, afraid of going into the wrong one.
Qu Rong leaned against the window. "You didn't get the wrong person, it's me."
Li Yue'er, "..."
She'll have to beg the mistress again. Like that night on the day of Lidong, she'll never escape the mistress's grasp.
Li Yue'er stared silently at the mistress.
No wonder.
When the two ate breakfast together in the morning, she told her mistress that she needed to meet someone to discuss a business deal. When her mistress served her porridge, she simply nodded calmly without asking any further questions, only saying, "Talk it over properly."
If Li Yue'er had known this would happen, she should have smeared the bowl of porridge on her mistress's face an hour ago and asked her, "Is it fun to tease your mistress like this?"
Given the mistress's personality, she didn't ask many questions when she heard that she was going to discuss business; it turned out she was waiting for her here.
It's all her fault for not thinking things through at the time; otherwise, she would have noticed something was wrong and taken down the mistress on the spot, instead of having to make this trip.
Li Yue'er glared at the mistress, then suppressed her emotions and pretended not to know the two of them before stepping into the side room.
Teng Huang followed behind, and just as he was about to enter the room with Li Yue'er, Dan Sha, who appeared out of nowhere, grabbed his wrist.
Teng Huang's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "?!"
She glanced at the side room and then at Dansha. "What a coincidence! What are you doing here? Where is the head of the household? Does the mistress know that she's here discussing business?"
Cinnabar, "...should know that, right?"
Fujiki asked in confusion, "?"
Dansha pulled her aside and explained in detail that she didn't need to go in with the mistress.
Inside the side room.
Seeing Li Yue'er's expression, Qu Rong asked in a businesslike manner, "Are you the one who wants to buy the Ming family's land deed?"
Li Yue'er closed the door to the room behind her, walked to the prayer mat, and knelt down. "It's me."
The mistress said, "Let's talk it out," so she would talk it out.
She raised her face and said, "That was originally the ancestral home of my Ming family. The thieves deceived my mother's feelings, coaxed her to hand over the land deed, and then turned their backs on us, treating us mother and daughter harshly. They even sold the house that my Ming family had lived in for generations at a low price."
The tea in the small teapot had just boiled. Li Yue'er wrapped the wooden handle with cotton cloth, lifted it, and poured two cups of tea. She rinsed the teacups first, then poured one cup for herself and another for the person opposite her.
Her gesture was a silent invitation to the other person, while simultaneously testing their attitude.
If the other party is willing to discuss the matter, they will sit down for tea. At this point, she can continue to discuss the matter with them sincerely and try to lower the price.
If the other party has no intention of negotiating, they won't sit down for tea, so she can only directly ask about their intentions and the price they're willing to pay.
This is something she gradually learned while observing her mistress doing business with others.
Qu Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing down at Li Yue'er as she gently pushed the teacup onto the empty seat opposite her. She didn't go over, but instead dusted off her sleeves and said slowly and deliberately:
"The location of that piece of land is quite good. It's next to the academy, and the environment is quiet and peaceful, making it suitable for families with young children. Plus, my wife's younger sister is studying at the academy, so living there is really convenient. I don't want to sell it easily."
That means they're willing to sell, but the price might not be low.
Li Yue'er smiled and tried to establish a connection, "My wife's younger sister is studying at the academy. I wonder which subject she likes? If she has any difficulties with her studies, just tell me. I have some kinship with Headmaster Zou, so I can talk to him."
Qu Rong then slowly walked over, lifted her skirt, and knelt opposite Li Yue'er, her fingers holding the teacup. "I've heard that Headmaster Zou is not easy to talk to."
Li Yue'er said, "That's how he treats strangers. When it comes to his own people, he's still tough on the outside but soft on the inside."
Qu Rong said, “Then I really do have something I would like to ask the headmaster for help with. My wife’s younger sister is a girl. If she were in another place, she probably wouldn’t even be able to get into the academy. Only the academy here is relatively open-minded and allows women to enroll. However, the content taught is mostly needlework, music, chess, calligraphy and painting.”
She said, "It is already a blessing to be able to enter the academy. I shouldn't ask for more. However, I noticed that my sister-in-law doesn't like these things, so I want her to study properly like an ordinary man. I wonder if Headmaster Zou would be willing?"
Li Yue'er was stunned, staring intently at the mistress. Her face remained expressionless, but her heart was already churning with turmoil.
She often returned to the academy and frequently saw her younger sister. In fact, she had raised her younger sister herself, but she neglected her younger sister's true thoughts about her studies.
She paused, then asked softly, "How did you know?"
Qu Rong took a sip of tea, looked up at Li Yue'er, and said, "My wife once told me that my little sister was learning something from someone at the academy. She was very quick-witted, so I paid more attention to her."
Li Yue'er's eyes welled up with tears. She had always thought that the mistress and her younger sister might not get along. When the two sat together, they could barely exchange a few words. Her younger sister was not as close to her as she was to Teng Huang. However, the mistress had keenly sensed her younger sister's true feelings.
It was impossible to expect the mistress to ask her younger sister for information, so she must have learned these things through her "observation".
and……
Moreover, the mistress never mentioned these things in front of her, especially when she addressed her as "Li Yue'er" or "you," but when the mistress addressed her outside, she always called her "my wife."
Li Yue'er raised her hand, picked up the teacup, took a few sips, suppressed the burning emotions in her heart, and tried her best to keep her tone steady, "Okay, I will seriously discuss this matter with the headmaster."
Qu Rong said, "If the headmaster agrees to set this precedent and allow women to learn what men learn, my Qu family is willing to persuade other merchants to contribute money to support the academy."
She must have had this idea for a long time.
Li Yue'er was both annoyed that her mistress hadn't told her what was going on, and slightly moved by her mistress's actions.
Two years ago, the mistress had tried to "humiliate" her quite a bit because she was educated. If she hadn't been so beautiful and good at flattering people, given the mistress's temperament at the time and the tense atmosphere of "scholars looking down on merchants and merchants looking down on scholars," the mistress might have actually said something to humiliate her.
Li Yue'er stood up and performed a traditional Chinese bow to the mistress, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I will carefully consider my words and try to persuade the headmaster."
Qu Rong accepted the bow sincerely, tapped the table lightly with her finger, and then continued to talk about the house, "Since Madam is so straightforward, I won't be coy. When I bought this house a year ago, it cost me almost five hundred taels of silver."
Li Yue'er slowly lifted her dress and knelt back down, lowering her eyes to ponder.
The mistress had told her before that the house was sold for a low price, only three or four hundred taels, but it would cost five hundred taels to buy it back. So Li Yue'er felt reassured that she had saved six hundred taels this time.
The mistress doesn't know how much money she has in private, so she can definitely get six hundred taels!
Li Yue'er's eyes shone brightly as she asked gently, "Madam is a righteous person who is willing to set an example by paying for girls to enroll in school in Chenhe County. She should also understand my desire to redeem my ancestral home."
She flattered the mistress, then asked with a smile, "So I'd like to ask how much you're willing to offer, madam. I certainly won't let you, a good person like you, do a losing deal."
If the mistress asks for five hundred taels, she is willing to spend six hundred taels for her.
Moreover, the mistress of the house has never been willing to make things difficult for her.
Qu Rong paused her light tapping of the table, looked at Li Yue'er, and slowly uttered, "I'll make my offer..."
Li Yue'er breathed softly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Qu Rong, “Six hundred and one taels of silver.”
Li Yue'er, "..."
Li Yue'er's heart, which had been clenched in her chest, suddenly shattered on the ground.
She turned her head to look out the door.
Only Teng Huang knew how much money she had saved. She even took out the monthly allowance she had kept in her purse to save up the six hundred taels.
Gung Homura would never betray her.
That was what the mistress found out through cinnabar.
That's outrageous!
Li Yue'er glared at the mistress.
Qu Rong slowly sipped her tea, watching her with great interest.
Li Yue'er said, "Madam is willing to spend lavishly on other women to establish schools and support education, so why is she making such exorbitant demands when it comes to me?"
Qu Rong paused for a moment. Although Li Yue'er's words were clearly spoken in anger, she felt very happy.
At least when negotiating with her, Li Yue'er now unconsciously adopts the image of their wife, instead of being distant and aloof as before, only thinking of persuading her with benefits.
Qu Rong never talks about personal feelings when doing business. Even if she does, it's always to use emotions to gain benefits. But today, only with Li Yue'er in front of her, is she thinking about using benefits to gain emotions.
Li Yue'er's tone was sarcastic. After she finished speaking, she realized that she had made a mistake. She pursed her lips and steered the conversation back on track, "Although that place is next to the academy, its location is not as good as the shops on the street. Madam's asking price of six hundred taels and one wen is really too much. Could you give me a discount?"
She said, "Six hundred taels."
She only paid back one penny and didn't intend to pay more.
The mistress shook her head, "Not a penny less."
Li Yue'er, "..."
Li Yue'er took a deep breath, smiled slightly, and then stood up.
She...she doesn't want it anymore?
Qu Rong panicked for a moment, fearing that Li Yue'er would simply say no.
Qu Rong's fingers curled up on the table, her heart leaping into her throat. She thought Li Yue'er was angry and about to leave. Just as she was about to reach out to pull her sleeve, Li Yue'er took off her outer garment and sat in her lap, wearing only her skirt.
Qu Rong's mind didn't react for a moment, but his hands caught his wife who was sitting in his arms before his thoughts could.
My heart, along with her weight, settled firmly into my belly.
Qu Rong breathed a sigh of relief.
She still wants the Ming family ancestral home, and she wants it to be hers.
Li Yue'er said, "Then I won't try to bargain with you as the daughter of the Ming family."
Qu Rong looked at her.
Li Yue'er said smugly, "As Qu Rong's wife, I bargained with Qu Rong."
Qu Rong, "..."
What's the point of haggling? She'll just have to do whatever she says.
Li Yue'er wrapped her arms around the mistress's neck, squirming and acting coquettishly in her arms, "Hurry up and sell it to me, you know that what I've been thinking about for the past two years is redeeming the ancestral home, and you're still teasing me like this."
Qu Rong smiled and hugged her, looking down at her, "I knew you'd been thinking about it, so I bought it and left it with me."
She said, "Compared to others, I ask for very little."
That's really unacceptable.
Li Yue'er stared at her silently, bluntly exposing her, "If it were someone else, knowing that I am the matriarch of the Qu family, they would sell me for 400 taels if they bought me for 500 taels just to curry favor with the Qu family. Even if we disregard the Qu family, the other party would only ask for 550 taels at most, just to ensure that they don't lose money, considering my maternal grandfather and the headmaster."
Only the mistress, only that wicked woman, would ask her for "six hundred taels and one coin".
Not only did they stop at the amount of money in her purse, but they also demanded an extra copper coin.
Li Yue'er bit her mistress's lower lip, pleading softly, "Give it to me, Master, Qu Rong, give it to me~"
Qu Rong's breathing became hot.
When she wanted it in bed, he would torment her like this.
Qu Rong lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes falling, and just as she was about to return the kiss, Li Yue'er reached out and covered her lips, looking at her with bright eyes, and said with a smile, "No kisses allowed."
Qu Rong, "..."
Qu Rong sighed softly, pressed her forehead against Li Yue'er's through her hand, and said in a muffled voice, "Just one coin."
She looked at Li Yue'er and said, "Sincerity is worth a penny."
She only wanted Li Yue'er's article.
Li Yue'er paused, released her hand, and said softly, "I gave it to you a long time ago. I gave it to you when you allowed me to go home to visit my mother and sister."
She had already fallen for him then, and her feelings for him only grew stronger day by day.
Qu Rong smiled and kissed her lips, whispering, "Why do you never learn from your mistakes?"
When Li Yue'er returned from visiting her family, he scolded her quite a bit.
Li Yue'er didn't mind at all, smiling as she kissed her mistress's lips, humming, "Who told me to be so greedy~"
The outside was not a place for intimacy; the two, burning with desire, simply held each other tightly to calm themselves.
The ancestral home, which originally cost 600 taels and 1 wen, was acquired by Li Yue'er for a mere wen. It can only be said that the mistress should not have read "The Art of War" but should have read "The Thirty-Six Stratagems".
Li Yue'er whispered to her mistress, "This six hundred taels will be used for repairs. Once the house is repaired, we'll go home for the New Year this year and celebrate your birthday together."
She stroked her mistress's shoulder and back, deliberately drawing out the words, "Our Rong'er is eighteen this year!"
She reported on her mistress's behavior that day, and then teased her. Unexpectedly, her mistress buried her face in the crook of her neck, acting like a younger sister, and gently hummed in agreement.
Li Yue'er was already somewhat softened and moved—
If the mistress obediently hums softly, and her hand touches her bosom without going through her clothes.
Li Yue'er, "..."
A mistress is a mistress, even if she occasionally acts a little childish like a younger sister, she is still a mistress.
Li Yue'er kissed her temple, and out of consideration for the ancestral home, she allowed her to grasp and play with it for the time being.
Half an incense stick later, the two came out of the side room. Teng Huang immediately came up to them, then turned his head and glared fiercely at Dan Sha, saying to Li Yue'er with a wronged expression, "I didn't know she tricked me into telling me the truth."
Dan Sha bowed to Li Yue'er with a guilty expression.
The one who acted improperly was the mistress, and it had nothing to do with Dansha. Li Yue'er naturally wouldn't implicate or blame her, especially since today was just a little bit of fun.
Not only did they redeem the ancestral home, but they also arranged to discuss the girls' education with the headmaster, which is a good thing.
Li Yue'er smiled and patted Teng Huang's head, "It's alright, it's already taken care of."
Garcinia was overjoyed. "You got it! How much is it?"
If it really is six hundred taels, then Dansha can sleep alone tonight!
Li Yue'er turned to look at her mistress, who was behind her. When the mistress saw Li Yue'er turn around, she also looked up at her.
Li Yue'er smiled and said, "One coin for a sincere heart."
Gamboge, "..."
It was time to get into the carriage and return to the Qu residence. Li Yue'er got into the carriage first, stood on it, bent down, and reached out to the mistress below.
The autumn sun was gentle, and Qu Rong looked up.
In their relationship, it always seemed like she was on top and Li Yue'er was on the bottom. However, in their interactions, it was Li Yue'er who was the one who stood on the higher ground and was willing to lower her head and reach out to pull her up.
Qu Rong placed her hand in that warm, cool palm, clenched it tightly, and used her strength to get into the carriage.
Li Yue'er kissed the corner of her mouth and smiled, "Let's go home."
Qu Rong: "Okay."
She was no longer someone driving a carriage homeless in the dead of night; she had a place to go and a place to call home.
His wife is indeed Saiyue.
—End of text—
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The moon waxes and wanes, its phases changing, but Li Yue'er, gentle as the moon, remains constant. Therefore, my wife, is as beautiful as the moon. —Qu Rong
Hehe, the main text is finished. I originally wanted to stop at the place where I went back to Ming's house for the New Year, but today this place is particularly suitable!
Elijah, the mistress who didn't believe in love and felt no one cared for her, now had her own home.
Li Yue'er, who sincerely and passionately believed in love but was abandoned by her "father" for personal gain, also found someone who loved her without any ulterior motives.
A match made in heaven! Love blossomed over time!
This is probably the most emotionally charged story I've ever written, I'm so happy! [Laughing out loud]
Then--
I'll write about going back to the Ming residence to see where Li Yue'er lived as a child in my daily life. Also, besides the episodes about Shi Su, which other main couples would you like to see? I'll choose based on that.
No rest, no extra updates every day, but I will still update daily! (I'll just stay on the rankings, so I won't be updating extra.)
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