Chapter 30030: Her period ended today.
Li Yue'er met Meng Xiaoxiao before noon.
When Meng Xiaoxiao arrived, Su Rou, who was sitting sideways to the door, reminded her, "You're looking for you, aren't you?"
The tone was affirmative.
Li Yue'er was working on the accounting problem Su Rou had given her when she heard this and subconsciously looked up at her. Su Rou, however, kept her eyes down, flipping through her book, without even a hint of a second thought.
Su Rou was always like this when it came to matters that didn't concern her; it wasn't exactly indifferent, but it conveyed a sense of detachment.
It's as if she only takes responsibility for her studies, and Su Rou doesn't ask or listen to anything about her private life or interpersonal relationships. Once she leaves this door, she cuts all ties with her.
If Li Yue'er hadn't known that Su Rou was the same to everyone, she would have thought that Sister Su disliked her.
Li Yue'er apologized to Su Rou and quickly went out the door, grabbing Meng Xiaoxiao's hands and asking, "Have you packed your things?"
Meng Xiaoxiao looked inside with curious eyes, and after Li Yue'er came out, she only looked at Li Yue'er.
Meng Xiaoxiao hadn't asked about Li Yue'er's absence the previous night, but when she learned that she was able to move to such a nice courtyard because Li Yue'er had helped the mistress, Meng Xiaoxiao's eyes widened with excitement.
She squeezed Li Yue'er's hand, "Sister Yue'er, I live in a very nice house! You must sleep with me tonight, because my house is really too nice!"
The bed was narrow, but the blankets were thick and looked very warm, especially with her own dressing table and mirror. She had never stayed in such a nice place before! She wished she could invite all her close friends to sleep with her that night!
Li Yue'er smiled and squeezed Meng Xiaoxiao's fingers, not agreeing to her right away, but only saying, "If you like it, that's fine. Once the winter clothes are distributed tomorrow, you won't have to worry about this winter."
When it suddenly got cold a couple of days ago, Meng Xiaoxiao was worried that she would freeze to death. She wrapped herself up in old clothes like a snake hibernating, and was almost coiled up on the kang (a heated brick bed) and wouldn't get down.
Meng Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Thanks to Sister Yue'er."
The next moment, he uttered the familiar phrase, "No wonder it's two taels more expensive than mine."
Li Yue'er, "..."
Is this something to be proud of?
Xu Xinmei is gone, so let's not mention that title anymore!
Meng Xiaoxiao didn't think it was an insulting title. She just proudly raised her head and said, "If I had money, I would be willing to spend seven taels to buy Sister Yue'er!"
Li Yue'er, "..."
Very good, it's an extra tael compared to the six taels given by the mistress. What a generous gesture! She was actually quite moved.
Meng Xiaoxiao looked at her with the same eyes her younger sister looked at her, like a child looking at a reliable, steady, and capable adult. Her clear eyes showed complete trust and reliance on her.
Li Yue'er patted Meng Xiaoxiao's head, knowing that she had come to find her because the courtyard was nice but too unfamiliar, and she was a little scared. So Li Yue'er took Meng Xiaoxiao's hand and led her into the main hall.
Li Yue'er looked at Su Rou, but before she could ask anything, Su Rou turned her body slightly away to avoid her gaze, giving an attitude of "whatever, I can't see you."
Li Yue'er felt relieved and settled Meng Xiaoxiao in a chair next to her. She poured her some tea and gently told her, "Sit here and wait for me. We'll go out for lunch together."
Meng Xiaoxiao held the teacup with both hands, and also looked at Su Rou cautiously. She lowered her voice and nodded to Li Yue'er, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
Regardless of whether Sister Su saw it or not, Li Yue'er gave her a slight curtsy and thanked her before sitting back down.
Although Sister Su's way of handling things is gentle indifference, with a "mind your own business" attitude, Li Yue'er quite likes this kind of interpersonal relationship. At least there is no need for small talk and socializing, and what is possible and what is not is all out in the open.
When the three of them lived in the courtyard, there was no one else in the courtyard, and Meng Xiaoxiao could move around freely. She could even go to the kitchen to peel scallions and kill chickens with Aunt Zhou. But after coming to Songlantang, although the house was nice, she lost her freedom.
The courtyard was filled with busy maids. In the early morning, someone would sweep and clean the place. In the morning, the maids would tend to the flowers and plants, walk around tidying things up, and wipe the doors and windows. In the afternoon, they would make the beds and fold the quilts. In the evening, they would go inside to light the lamps and close the windows. There were people in the courtyard every hour of the day.
Meng Xiaoxiao was not used to the place when she first arrived, and the maids wouldn't let her help with the chores. Standing in the courtyard, Meng Xiaoxiao suddenly felt superfluous and useless, so she could only go to Li Yue'er and follow her around. Wherever Li Yue'er went, she went.
After listening to a nonsensical lecture for most of the day, Meng Xiaoxiao had a good sleep. Hearing that school was over, she immediately wiped her drool and flew excitedly to Li Yue'er's side like a little bird, "Let's go eat!"
It was already late afternoon, and the sky was getting dark.
Li Yue'er then led Meng Xiaoxiao to escort Su Rou to the outside of Songxin Courtyard, where Shi Yi was waiting with a lantern.
Since he was a man, it was not appropriate for him to go in and out of the backyard, especially after dark, so Shi Yi waited at the boundary between the backyard and the middle courtyard.
As always, Su Rou handed the bamboo box to Shi Yi.
Shi Yi carried a lantern in one hand and a bamboo box in the other.
Seeing the two walking forward, Li Yue'er let Meng Xiaoxiao take her arm and head towards the kitchen.
"Su Rou".
It was the sound of the timekeeping instrument.
Li Yue'er, "?!"
Li Yue'er thought she had misheard and turned around to look, but Su Rou quickened her pace and left, with Shi Yi following slowly behind.
In the dim light, the two figures resembled a gray wolf calmly and confidently chasing a snow-white sheep. The wolf, full of vigor, gradually forced the weak and powerless sheep into the darkness before disappearing from sight at the same time.
Li Yue'er, "?"
Was she mistaken?
She didn't quite understand how her stepson and stepmother got along in private, but she would never call her biological mother by her full name, "Mingyue".
It's all Aunt Qiu's fault. The storybooks she's been finding lately have become increasingly outrageous, and the relationships between the main characters are quite complicated.
...Every time, she had to close one eye and suppress her morality and conscience to continue watching.
Speaking of Aunt Qiu, Aunt Qiu has arrived.
Aunt Qiu led her maids and walked directly in front of them.
Meng Xiaoxiao ran towards Aunt Qiu and called out sweetly, "Aunt Qiu."
Aunt Qiu smiled and patted her head, then took out two pieces of candy from her purse, one for her and one for Li Yue'er.
Meng Xiaoxiao couldn't hold onto things, so she immediately peeled off the sugar coating and stuffed the candy into her mouth, her eyes crinkling with sweetness.
Li Yue'er then looked at the two maids behind Aunt Qiu. The maids were carrying a tray with a stack of clothes on it. The clothes looked brightly colored and didn't seem to be the kind of clothes that the old lady and the mistress liked. Instead, they looked like the clothes that she and Meng Xiaoxiao would wear.
Sure enough, "The embroidery workshop delivered the clothes ahead of time, and I was just about to take them to you."
Aunt Qiu hinted to Li Yue'er, "It was all the mistress's idea, and the selection of fabrics was all approved by the mistress."
To Li Yue'er, it sounded like this:
Excellent material! Very expensive!
Li Yue'er wanted to touch it a couple of times, but she was afraid that doing so in front of the maid would embarrass the mistress.
Li Yue'er clasped her hands together with a reserved air, like a well-bred young lady who had seen many grand occasions. "Xiao Xiao and I thank the mistress in advance."
Aunt Qiu looked at Li Yue'er with satisfaction, thinking to herself that following the mistress of the house was indeed beneficial. Putting aside the material aspects, she had learned to imitate her temperament.
No one hoped more than Aunt Qiu that Li Yue'er would have a better life with the mistress.
Aunt Qiu said softly, "Then I'll take some people to deliver the clothes to your room first."
As she walked toward Li Yue'er, Aunt Qiu whispered, "I also brought you a new storybook today. I'll put it under your clothes later."
Li Yue'er's face flushed, her eyelashes fluttered, and she lowered her head slightly, asking softly, "Aunt Qiu, can we... possibly read storybooks again...?"
Pick something a little more serious.
After all, the book was brought to her by Aunt Qiu, an elder, and she felt a little embarrassed.
Aunt Qiu didn't hear clearly, took two steps forward, and looked at her with a blank and puzzled expression, "What?"
Li Yue'er steeled her resolve and asked, "Did you read the storybooks before you chose them?"
Aunt Qiu looked at her suspiciously, "Why should I look at that?"
She is illiterate.
Li Yue'er suddenly realized, her eyes instantly becoming clearer, and she smiled as she took Aunt Qiu's arm, "It's nothing, I just want to thank you for buying me the storybook."
Aunt Qiu, unsuspecting, patted Li Yue'er's hand and said, "I always ask the shop assistant to get them directly from the store. I don't know what's written inside. What, those aren't allowed?"
Okay, that's absolutely fantastic.
Li Yue'er vaguely changed the subject and started talking about going home in a few days.
After Aunt Qiu and her maid left, Li Yue'er felt completely relaxed, as if she could read the storybook without any psychological burden when she got back.
Li Yue'er's original plan was to take Meng Xiaoxiao back to her room after dinner, and then go to the mistress's place herself.
Unexpectedly, Meng Xiaoxiao held onto her arm tightly and wouldn't let go. After returning to the house, she even tried on the new clothes.
Li Yue'er was itching to try them on, so she couldn't resist bringing her own clothes along. Together with Meng Xiaoxiao, they tried on all four new winter outfits. Amid Meng Xiaoxiao's sincere praise, she drew her eyebrows with charcoal.
After Li Yue'er's initial excitement about the new clothes wore off, she glanced at the sky and estimated it was already past midnight.
Li Yue'er, "..."
Looking at her glamorous reflection in the bronze mirror, she began to hesitate about whether or not to go to the mistress's place.
It's too late.
The mistress must be tired after a long day and should be sleeping, since she didn't even ask Dansha to come and wake her.
Li Yue'er thoughtfully washed herself clean and changed into a new undergarment, then lay comfortably on her soft new bed.
Those who wield the pen understand their peers best. Li Yue'er felt her wrists were tired after holding the pen and doing accounts all day, let alone the mistress of the house.
She simply didn't want to add any burden to the mistress's wrists.
After comforting herself, Li Yue'er flipped through the storybook that Aunt Qiu had just brought her—
A new trick: a woman disguises herself as a man and gets together with her stepmother!
Li Yue'er closed it, then opened it again, then closed it again, finally looking at it with shining eyes.
To hell with propriety, shame, morality, and ethics. Even the mistress said she had no shame, so let her be shameless for one night.
The purpose of women learning to read is to broaden their horizons, and what kind of knowledge they gain is entirely up to their personal choices.
Reading by lamplight is a bit extravagant and wasteful. Li Yue'er is used to being thrifty. After thinking for a while, she took out her sewing basket, sat on the bed wrapped in a quilt, and cut out her old undergarment to sew a pad for her bottom.
She'd readily use old clothes when things were going well, but not new ones. Her bottom wasn't that delicate; old, rough clothes were fine.
While Li Yue'er was busy with needlework in her room, Qu Rong was still sitting at the table.
She stared at the still-cold peach gum and longan soup on the table for a long time, so long that Teng Huang couldn't bear it any longer and came in to ask softly, "Should I call Miss Yue'er over?"
The mistress never eats a late-night snack after dinner, so this soup was probably specially reserved for Miss Yue'er, since almost all of last night's portion ended up in Miss Yue'er's stomach.
The mistress thought she liked it, and that evening she casually instructed the kitchen to send another portion.
The person didn't show up.
Qu Rong frowned at her, her tone cold and hard, "Why call her? I'm waiting for Geng Liang."
Gamboge, "..."
She didn't ask what the mistress was waiting for; she only asked if they should call Yue'er to sleep with her.
Qu Rong realized what was happening, frowned slightly, and turned her face away somewhat awkwardly. "No need. If she doesn't want to come, she doesn't have to come at all."
Teng Huang blinked and feigned ignorance, "Should we tell Miss Yue'er about this tomorrow?"
Her response was a cold glare from the mistress.
Qu Rong had completely lost her appetite for soup. She told Teng Huang to turn off the light and go to bed, and specifically instructed, "Close the door and don't let anyone in."
Teng Huang glanced at the funnel and guessed the time. He was quite certain that if Miss Yue'er hadn't come by this hour, she wouldn't be coming tonight.
Gambogi, “...Yes.”
The door was gently closed, and Qu Rong slowly opened her eyes. She glanced at the empty pillow next to her, then reached out and turned it over, out of sight, out of mind.
When she lived far away, Li Yue'er would still make a fuss about coming over, but now that she lives closer and has achieved her goal, she's started to become perfunctory and lazy.
Did they calculate that her period would end today, so they didn't want to come and serve her?
In the dim light, Qu Rong let out a cryptic chuckle.
If you're so capable, then don't ever come here again.
The following morning, as Li Yue'er was yawning and forcing herself to do the accounts, she saw Su Rou get up and nod to someone.
Li Yue'er turned her head to look over.
The mistress has arrived.
Li Yue'er's eyes lit up, thinking that the other party had come to see her. However, there were three people in the room. The mistress was talking to the other two, but she was the only one not looking at her.
Li Yue'er, "...?"
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Mistress: ...Just passing by
Moon: [Melted]
Bonus chapter!
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