Chapter 101: I'll spoil you from now on.
"Gamboge, 'Another perfect match, a match made in heaven?'"
Seeing that Li Yue'er was in a good mood, and her complexion was even more rosy, like a blooming pink peony, she couldn't help but tease her, "Oh~ you've changed back into your dress?"
Li Yue'er's cheeks felt hot. Compared to the dark purple dress, the light pink outfit matched the one the mistress was wearing much better.
Fujiwara chuckled and asked, "How did the head of the family manage to win you over?"
Li Yue'er said, "I'm not one to make a fuss over nothing. Naturally, once she explained things clearly, I stopped being angry."
She reached out and gently nudged Teng Huang's arm. "Go check if the food in the small kitchen is ready. I'm starving."
The lunch was tasteless and bland. The mistress barely ate anything, and even if she did, it was as if she hadn't eaten anything at all. Plus, she had been up and about during her lunch break and was already starving.
Teng Huang stretched out his hands to Tan Sha, letting Tan Sha pull her up from the steps, and said in a cheerful tone, "Okay, then I'll go and urge them for you."
Li Yue'er smiled and shook her head as she watched Teng Huang pat her skirt behind her back and run to the small kitchen.
She stood up and spoke to Dansha, “Go and prepare more gifts. Tomorrow, the head of the family will come back to the academy with me. Also, make a reservation with Yingkelai in advance for a large private room. We will invite the headmaster and his wife to have lunch at Yingkelai at noon.”
Cinnabar, "Yes."
During the time the mistress was away from home, Li Yue'er was extremely worried. Her mother and sister were also worried, as was the headmaster. Although he didn't say it outright, he had asked her mother about it many times.
On the contrary, the old lady living in the Qu residence lived a life of good food and drink, and never asked about the mistress of the house.
Since the two got married, the mistress no longer imprisoned the old lady. She could leave Shouhe Hall if she wanted, or stay inside if she didn't. Anyway, their marriage contract had been issued and the wedding had been held. What's done is done, and there was no use in the old lady stopping her anymore.
Before the Lunar New Year, Li Yue'er took every precaution, even having everyone stay at the manor, for fear that others would find out that the mistress was not at home. After the Lunar New Year, when the situation outside had stabilized, she no longer hid it. If anyone asked, she would say that the mistress had gone out to discuss business.
Anyone with a modicum of sense knew what the mistress was doing and was well aware of the risks involved, but the old lady was completely oblivious to what was going on.
She was no ordinary woman who never left the house. She had managed the Qu family business and was a shrewd businesswoman in her youth. Logically, she should have been the most knowledgeable and experienced person to know how dangerous the mistress's trip was and that she was taking such a risk for the sake of the Qu family. Yet, she was the one who knew best and remained the most indifferent.
Although Li Yue'er knew that the old lady and the mistress did not get along, she still felt wronged and heartbroken for the mistress, even if the mistress did not think anything of it, because her own grandmother treated the mistress so coldly. She felt resentful on behalf of the mistress.
On the carriage for the return visit, Li Yue'er sat next to the mistress and spoke up for her in front of her, "The headmaster and I are not related by blood. He is quite old. I only returned to the Qu residence after the New Year, and he came over."
“That day was when the snow was heaviest. He came to my door, covered in cold air, just because he heard that the former emperor had died. He came to ask me what my current situation was.”
Li Yue'er said angrily, "Look at our husband. Not only does he not care about how you are doing outside, but he also tells the maids around him that you deserve it and that your mother's death outside is a warning for you."
She said, "If she weren't so old and an elder, I would definitely go over and have a good talk with her!"
The "mother" the old lady was referring to was Zheng Qianxi.
The old lady harbored hatred not only for the murderer Zheng Er, but also for Zheng Qianxi, regarding the deaths of her son and daughter-in-law.
It was Zheng Qianxi and Tan Xiang who were not satisfied with their current situation. Their greed was insatiable, which is why they kept going south. If it weren't for their instigation, Qu Su would not have died on the road, and her obedient grandson Qu Ming would not have resolutely gone south to investigate the truth, abandoning his business and never returning.
Now that Qu Rong is starting to follow Zheng Qianxi's path, she might end up risking the lives of her entire family. The old lady felt that she was being merciful by only cursing her verbally.
The situation was dangerous at the time. If she had just kept a low profile as she suggested, everything would have been fine. But Qu Rong insisted on taking the risk. So no matter what trouble she encountered, whether she was injured or killed, it was all her own fault!
Naturally, with the change of dynasties, merchants have contributed a lot, and their treatment will surely improve in the future. This not only proves that Qu Rong's adventure was worthwhile, but also demonstrates her vision and perspective.
Because of Qu Rong's previous aggressive acquisitions and mergers, the Qu family's business has now more than doubled in size!
The old lady didn't dare utter a sound at this moment, only grunting and groaning that Qu Rong had stepped in dog poop by sheer luck.
Li Yue'er said, "She couldn't even step on her if she wanted to! With the old lady's fierce personality, even dogs wouldn't dare to poop in front of her."
Qu Rong, "..."
She didn't want to step in dog poop either; why would she step in it for no reason?
Qu Rong didn't really feel anything when she heard these things. After all, it had been like this since she was a child. The old lady was not her biological grandmother, but the ancestor of the Qu family. So, Qu Rong was as calm as if she had just heard some gossip about the old lady's curse. She did not feel cold or wronged.
But when she saw Li Yue'er speaking "fiercely" and indignantly on her behalf, her heart was filled with warmth.
Even when Li Yue'er angrily said she wanted to argue with the old lady, she was incredibly cute.
Qu Rong couldn't help but take her hand and say gently, "The old lady is not someone to be trifled with."
Li Yue'er glanced at her sideways, her beautiful, hook-shaped eyes curving upwards at the corners, and slowly said, "Neither do I."
Qu Rong looked at her with great interest.
Li Yue'er: "Xingming'er weighs 60 pounds. I can pick him up if I want, and I can swing him around if I want. If I see an old lady and we can't reach an agreement, I also have some strength and skills."
Pulling hair and snatching canes, she and Teng Huang were still not afraid of the old lady and Aunt Wu!
If a fight really breaks out, it's hard to say who will come out on the losing end.
She wore a pink dress, had exquisite makeup, and her head was adorned with jingling hairpins. Her eyes were bright and clear, and she had a gentle and charming appearance, yet she talked about all this "fighting and killing."
Qu Rong turned her face away, raised her hand to cover her lips, and laughed.
Li Yue'er, "..."
Li Yue'er reached out and pushed her, "Isn't that right? Say something! ...I'm just worried about you, and you're still laughing! Keep laughing!"
Enraged, Li Yue'er reached out and scratched her mistress's waist.
To think that she, a delicate and frail girl who has been well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood, now speaks of dogs and excrement at the drop of a hat, and even tries to compete with the old lady, the mistress should reflect more on herself.
They say that one becomes like the company one keeps; who did she spend so much time with to become like this?
Qu Rong laughed as she was tickled, and couldn't help but reach out and pull Li Yue'er into her arms, hugging her tightly. She caught her breath and said, "If it were before, I would really worry about you, but now..."
Li Yue'er is no longer the timid and submissive woman she once was. If she were to have a real argument with the old lady, Qu Rong would have to pray for her, hoping that the Bodhisattva would protect her from being angered to the point of fainting, considering the old lady's annual prayers to Buddha.
Li Yue'er pinched the flesh on her waist with her fingers.
Qu Rong winced as she pulled her hand out from her waist, raising an eyebrow and saying, "You pinched it until it's red. When I see Mother later, I'm going to tell on you."
Li Yue'er: "...Rogue."
That's her mother, her own mother! ...Now they always side with outsiders and dote on the mistress.
Her mother always said that the mistress was unloved and had never had any elders who cared about her since she was a child. She wondered how she got through the years. No wonder Teng Huang once said that they never celebrated New Year's or other holidays. Because there were no elders to take care of them, the younger generation had no way to learn from them. They could only behave the same way on ordinary days as they did on holidays.
Li Yue'er nestled in her mistress's arms, her voice softening, "Mother said that when you left last year, there was no Little New Year yet, and you always celebrated your birthday outside. I don't even know what you ate."
Taking advantage of her mother's words, Li Yue'er also asked the question she wanted to ask.
On the day before the Lunar New Year, she, Teng Huang Xiaoxiao, and Sister Su took the opportunity to learn how to make dumplings with their mother, Aunt Qiu. Li Yue'er washed a copper coin and put it into a dumpling. At that moment, she thought how wonderful it would be if the mistress were here, and even better if she could eat this copper coin.
Qu Rong thought for a moment, "We were so busy traveling that day that we didn't even have time to eat our rations. If you really think about it, we must have drunk a lot of cold air."
Li Yue'er felt very sorry for her. She sat up straight, put her arm around her mistress's shoulder, and pulled her into her arms. She patted her shoulder like she was coaxing a child, saying, "You're turning twenty-nine this year. I'll give you a big celebration."
Qu Rong, "..."
No need for that; she doesn't like things to be too lively or grand. Being able to celebrate Li Yue'er's birthdays year after year is enough for her.
Qu Rong raised her hand to pinch Li Yue'er's face, but seeing her beautiful makeup, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she pinched her earlobe instead, asking, "Why aren't you wearing earrings?"
Li Yue'er blinked, her eyes flickering slightly. "Ah, you're not wearing them? Maybe I don't have enough earrings, and I didn't even notice them and forgot to wear them."
Qu Rong: "Buy."
Qu Rong sat up straight and took Li Yue'er's hand, "I'll take you shopping after dinner."
Li Yue'er then cheered up and said in a soft, affected voice, "Thank you for the reward, Patriarch!"
Actually, she had quite a bit of savings, but she kept it all and couldn't bear to spend it.
Not to mention that the mistress has her own monthly allowance, the three shops that Qu Rongcheng allocated to her before the marriage are all very profitable.
Unfortunately, the situation was bad last year, which affected her business and she didn't earn much. However, with the current situation stable and the new imperial court under construction, the new dynasty is bringing a new atmosphere, and her shop's business is sure to gradually flourish!
Then she will be able to save enough money to redeem the Ming family's land deed, and in the future, she will take the mistress back to the Ming family for the New Year.
It doesn't matter that no one in the Qu family cares about her; the three women in the Ming family will treat her well.
Li Yue'er touched her mistress's face in a flirtatious manner, saying, "I'll dote on you from now on."
What is she thinking about now? She was just thanking the family for the reward, and now she's calling herself "elder sister"?
Qu Rong, "..."
Qu Rong frowned and stared at Li Yue'er suspiciously, feeling that Li Yue'er had read a lot of storybooks during the time she was away.
However, it's not a bad thing that Li Yue'er likes storybooks. We can find someone to write them according to her preferences, and even the ones she writes can be printed and sold after some revisions.
If she made any money, she would put it all into her own little treasury to buy jewelry and cosmetics.
As for the name...
Let's not think about it for now; we'll wait until Li Yue'er actually agrees to print the book.
The carriage moved slowly forward.
The couple first went to the academy to deliver gifts, then picked up their mother and sister. The headmaster and his wife got into the carriage, and the two carriages, one in front and one behind, headed towards the welcoming party.
As they passed by the academy, Li Yue'er lifted the carriage curtain to look out and see the Ming family's ancestral home.
The house still stood there, quiet and still unoccupied. This was a good thing for Li Yue'er; at least the home she had grown up in should remain the same, and with a little renovation, it would still feel like the place she had been as a child.
If people are already living there, not to mention whether she can buy it back, the main issue is that the new owner might change the layout of the courtyard and the appearance of the house according to their own preferences and tastes. When the land deed is taken back, the interior of the Ming family home will not be the same as she remembers.
When Li Yue'er lifted the curtain and looked eagerly at the Ming family mansion, Qu Rong watched her quietly with an expectant smile in her eyes.
She hoped even more than Li Yue'er that Li Yue'er could save enough money to redeem the land deed.
The guests have arrived.
Li Yue'er got off the carriage first, and habitually turned around and raised her hand to help her mistress down.
In the carriage behind, the headmaster and his wife got off first, followed by the Ming family mother and daughter.
The headmaster stood beside the car, stroking his beard and looking around with emotion, "Life is finally getting better again."
The common people didn't really care whether the emperor in the court was surnamed Yang or Jiang; all they cared about was their own small plot of land and their daily lives.
As long as the imperial court does not increase taxes or conscript soldiers, they may suffer a bit, but they can still get by, and may even get better and better. The real danger is when the imperial court is incompetent and wars are constant, then they will truly suffer unbearably.
Last year, for example, the imperial court conscripted soldiers, going door-to-door to take people to the battlefield. People's homes were in disarray, and merchants were struggling to survive; how could they possibly have the leisure to go out and do business?
At the end of the year, which is usually the busiest time, the streets are deserted and no one walks around. Even the usually bustling Yingkelai restaurant is empty. You can imagine how people are doing.
This year is better. The one surnamed Yang was defeated by the one surnamed Jiang, and the court has a new emperor. Let's not talk about the future, but just look at the present. At least there is no more war.
People no longer had to serve in the military, businesses reopened, and the streets gradually became lively again. As before, guests needed to make reservations for private rooms.
Li Yue'er still liked these days. Holding the headmaster's wife's arm, she spoke to her mother with a smile, "Yes, we went to pick out jewelry. The head of the family said she would pay for it."
Madam Ming chuckled and tapped Li Yue'er's forehead gently, saying, "She just spoils you. You haven't even had a chance to rest since you got back. First, she accompanied you to see us, and now she wants to buy jewelry. We can go another time."
Li Yue'er shook her head, "We have to go now. As life gets better and better, the price of jewelry might go up too."
The headmaster's wife nodded in agreement, "Little Yue'er is right. Even if the price doesn't go up, we should still love to look beautiful."
As she spoke, she discreetly removed the jade bracelet from her wrist using her sleeve as a cover, then revealed half of her smooth wrist to the headmaster, waving it back and forth in front of him. "Don't you think so?"
Headmaster, “...buy.”
The group couldn't help but laugh.
At times like this, reciting poems or uttering long, sentimental speeches is not as effective as using this one word.
Qu Rong was clearly surprised that the rigid headmaster would speak like that, and looked up at him in astonishment.
The headmaster sighed, "You'll understand the way of life later."
Qu Rong looked at Li Yue'er and thought to herself that there was no need for her to wait; she was already slowly understanding.
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Random thoughts:
The main story will be finished in about two or three chapters!
Let's put Su Rou's story in a side story, so those who don't want to read it can simply not buy it.
The extra chapters are the same as before, depicting some of the daily life of the mistress, Yue'er.
Writing Instrument Su Rou
When writing about the mistress Yue'er, please include some gamboge and cinnabar as well!
Also, their audio recordings have already been released! [shy]
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