Chapter 52: They don't even bother to hide their intimacy from others anymore.
When words fail to reach a consensus, even a half-sentence is too much. The headmaster was helpless against Ming's gentleness, and even less so against Li Yue'er's sharp tongue.
The mother and daughter were a mix of indecisiveness and stubbornness; he couldn't persuade them or scold them, so in the end he could only put on a stern face, drag his wife home.
Before leaving, he glared at Li Yue'er and said, "Don't forget what you promised me."
Li Yue'er looked at her mother, smiled and nodded to the headmaster, and personally helped him and his wife into the carriage.
The lady got into the car after her, bent down and looked down at her, and said softly, "Try to persuade your mother. After this is over, she can move to the academy. I will clean and tidy up the empty room for her these next few days. I hope she can think more positively and not be confused."
Li Yue'er knew.
After seeing off the headmaster's carriage, Li Yue'er breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at her mother. "Mother, I had no other choice but to send you to the academy. Please bear with it for now. Once I've saved up enough money to redeem our house, you and my sister can move out and live here."
The ancestral home is right next to the academy, so it's quite safe.
Li Yue'er had discussed moving to the academy with her. Madam Ming knew her daughter's plans and worries. "Your headmaster grandfather may not be very nice, but he has a good heart. If I really move there, he won't be able to say anything to me."
She gripped Li Yue'er's fingers tightly and whispered, "You refuse to redeem yourself because you're afraid that the three of us, mother and daughters, will all be dependent on others?"
Li Yue'er knew that her mother understood her.
If they all moved to the academy, the three of them would be entirely dependent on the headmaster and his wife for support. Even if the headmaster and his wife were willing, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
Besides, one or two years is fine, but what if it's ten or twenty years?
If the headmaster and his wife pass away, what will happen to the mother and her two daughters?
The example of Li Juren is right before our eyes; marrying someone or relying on someone else is not as good as relying on yourself. Rather than redeeming yourself from the Qu family now, it's better to stay there and learn some skills from Su Rou so that you'll at least have the ability to make a living in the future.
When she brings her mother and sister out, the three of them will no longer need to rely on anyone or live at the mercy of anyone.
Ming nodded in agreement and said softly, "It's good that you have an idea. I'll listen to you."
Since Li Yue'er doesn't plan to redeem herself from the Qu family right now, she has to be careful in entertaining the person sitting in the main hall.
Ming was completely surprised that the Qu family would send someone to burn paper money; it wasn't the Qu family patriarch who came, but the Qu family matriarch.
The mother and daughter walked towards the main hall.
Qu Rong sat upright in the middle of the long wooden bench, while Teng Huang squatted on the ground burning paper money. Dan Sha helped her offer incense to Li Juren. Li Xing'er brought over hot tea and said softly and carefully, "Auntie asked me to bring you tea."
Aunt Li said that the mistress of the house was there to burn paper money, and since she was also Yue'er's mistress, they couldn't afford to offend her if they wanted Yue'er to be treated badly when she went back.
So Li Xing'er walked over with the tea in a daze, and handed it to her with both hands.
Both gamboge and cinnabar turned to look at their mistress.
The mistress is clean and picky, and although she looks indifferent, she actually has a lot on her mind.
Let alone plain water from outside, even the tea brewed in the house must be served in new, scalded teaware before she'll take a sip.
The Ming family couldn't find her any new teaware, let alone any good tea leaves to brew for her. All they had was ginger tea with ginger slices and peppercorns, boiled together to ward off the cold.
Garcinia is not fond of cleanliness. She drank several bowls of ginger tea last night and today. Even someone as unpicky as her finds it hard to swallow ginger tea, let alone the mistress.
Just as Teng Huang was about to reach out and take the bowl that Li Xing'er was holding tremblingly, he saw the mistress take it over first.
Qu Rong took the bowl and nodded to Li Xing'er, "Thank you."
Li Xing'er shook her head, "No, you're welcome."
Teng Huang's eyes widened in disbelief. She reached her hand into the brazier and forgot to take it back. As the flames licked at the paper money, they almost burned her fingers. "Ouch!"
Li Xing'er shuddered in fright.
The mistress lifted her eyelids and looked over as well.
Gamboge, "..."
Teng Huang put his hand to his mouth and blew on it, saying, "It's alright, it's alright."
Li Xing'er was very reserved, clutching the mourning robe in front of her with both hands, "You, you finish drinking and I'll refill your cup."
The mistress took the bowl and held it without any intention of eating. Now, facing Li Xing'er's timid gaze and her eyebrows and eyes that were seven parts similar to Li Yue'er's, she was caught in a dilemma and couldn't say a word of refusal.
Li Yue'er returned just in time, took the teacup from the mistress, bent down to touch her younger sister's face, and gestured to her, "Bring me the bowl I usually use."
Li Xing'er obediently ran out to find a bowl.
Li Yue'er breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her head to look at her mistress.
The mistress remained expressionless, but her tightly pursed lips slowly relaxed.
Li Yue'er laughed, then pretended to be angry and hummed in the mistress's ear, "Does the mistress think our bowls aren't clean?"
The mistress frowned and glanced at her sideways. "I don't like spicy food."
Li Yue'er knew perfectly well that she preferred sweet flavors; when had she ever drunk water boiled with ginger slices and peppercorns?
Li Yue'er smiled and tilted her head back to drink the ginger tea in the bowl. She then put the bowl aside and walked back.
Qu Rong glanced outside. Ming Shi had been called away by Aunt Li, and Li Xing'er hadn't returned from looking for the bowl. People were coming and going in the courtyard, but only the mistress and her servants were inside the house.
Qu Rong waited until Li Yue'er stood back beside her before raising her hand and touching Li Yue'er's fingers.
She had just come back from outside, and her fingers were icy cold, especially when she took the bowl from her own hands and her fingertips accidentally touched hers; they were as cold as icicles.
Li Yue'er blinked and looked down at her, then at their intertwined fingers, and asked in a low voice, "Aren't you going to hide your affection from others now?"
Is this still the same shy, timid mistress she always was?
Qu Rong, "..."
Qu Rong decisively released Li Yue'er's fingers and handed her the hand warmer on her lap.
Li Yue'er then understood her meaning, and gently curtsied while holding the hand warmer in both hands, saying, "This servant thanks Mistress for her kindness~"
Seeing Ming lead Li Xing'er in, Qu Rong stepped on the tip of Li Yue'er's shoe and warned her with her eyes to be serious and not to cause trouble!
Li Yue'er gasped and deliberately hissed in front of her mother.
Ming was originally looking at the matriarch of the Qu family. The other party looked very young, and it was unclear whether she was even pregnant yet. She was quite pretty, but she seemed a bit cold.
Just as Madam Ming was about to greet them, Li Yue'er exclaimed softly. Madam Ming's attention immediately turned to her daughter. "What's wrong?"
Qu Rong had already stood up and looked at Li Yue'er.
Li Yue'er felt as if someone had stepped on her foot.
Qu Rong, "..."
Ming asked in confusion, "Huh? Who stepped on your foot?"
Qu Rong didn't want the mother and daughter to continue their conversation, so she took the initiative to greet them, nodding and saying, "Auntie."
Madam Ming quickly returned the greeting, "Why did you come on such a cold day? ... Yue'er will go back after she finishes these few days of work, she won't stay out here any longer."
Qu Rong replied, "It's alright. There's nothing to do at home, so she can stay a few more days."
Fujiwara's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
Qu Rong glanced at her sideways. The rattan-yellowed head drooped listlessly; it seemed to be a fake.
The mistress was not a talkative person, nor did she enjoy small talk. Ming was also introverted and not a sociable person.
This resulted in the two of them standing face to face, both racking their brains to say something, but not knowing what to say.
So the two of them looked at Li Yue'er together.
Li Yue'er was watching the play when she met the eyes of two pairs of eyes. She then smiled and said while holding the hand warmer, "Mother, I can take care of the mistress here. You can go and do your work."
Mrs. Ming breathed a sigh of relief. "Then take good care of her."
She nodded to Qu Rong, unsure of how to address her, and simply smiled, "Then I'll head out."
Li Yue'er looked at the mistress, who gave her mother face by smiling back and watching her leave.
It should be noted that the mistress of the house never spoke kindly to the old lady, let alone was so polite.
After Ming left, Li Xing'er didn't want to stay in the room either, so she handed the bowl to her sister and ran out as well.
Li Yue'er took the bowl and rinsed it several times in front of the mistress before pouring her a bowl of water. "Would you like some brown sugar?"
Qu Rong, "Why didn't you suggest adding some honey?"
Li Yue'er: "Of course, my family doesn't have any."
Qu Rong, "..."
Li Yue'er smiled and leaned closer to look at the mistress.
Qu Rong took a sip of tea, looked up at her with wary eyes, and leaned back slightly, afraid that Li Yue'er might kiss her without thinking in this situation.
Li Yue'er squatted down and looked up at her, saying softly, "Thank you, Mistress."
Respect her mother.
If she hadn't returned in time, the mistress might have actually bowed her head and drunk the ginger tea so as not to spoil her sister's mood.
Qu Rong looked down at her and gently straightened the mourning cap that was crooked on her face. "Because that is your mother."
Li Yue'er's only weaknesses are her mother and sister. If it weren't for them, she wouldn't have come to me for help.
Li Yue'er felt a warm glow in her heart. Using her hat as a cover, she turned her head and kissed the mistress's hand, startling the mistress who immediately looked up.
Li Yue'er lowered her head and chuckled softly.
Qu Rong, "..."
As the daughter of Li Juren, Li Yue'er could not simply stay by the mistress's side today; she was always being called over to greet people and return their greetings.
Li Yue'er wanted to pass on the spiciness of her mouth to her mistress and give her a good spicy meal, but unfortunately, she couldn't find an opportunity to take a bite.
She was always with her mother or sister, and when they were alone together, she would take her mistress to the toilet, but her mistress would only glance at the outhouse from afar and then say she didn't want to go...
Li Yue'er turned her face away to suppress a laugh, but the mistress raised her hand and pinched her cheek expressionlessly.
The mistress didn't stay long; she didn't even stay for a meal before preparing to leave.
Li Yue'er didn't keep her, after all, the mistress had been holding back for a long time because of that bowl of hot tea.
Just before she entered the carriage, the mistress bowed her head and said to her, "The old lady is coming back soon. I have too many things to do to come see you. I'll leave the gamboge and wood for you, and you can use the carriage as you like. Come back when you're done with your work."
Li Yue'er raised her head and softly replied, "Okay."
Qu Rong looked down at Li Yue'er, and seeing her delicate face and gentle eyes, she felt a pang of reluctance.
She pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, but still raised her hand and gently touched her hat in a restrained manner.
Seeing Ming's figure appear in the distance, Qu Rong immediately withdrew her hand, her face expressionless and as serious as could be.
Li Yue'er, "..."
Ming asked, "Aren't you staying for dinner?"
Qu Rong turned around and stood up straight, replying, "No, Auntie, I have a lot to do, so I'll head back now. If you need anything, just ask Teng Huang."
Fujiwara smiled. "Yes, that's right, it's me."
Dansha raised her hand and rubbed her head, "..."
Ming smiled and said, "Thank you, Xiaoyue, please help me see this off."
Li Yue'er: "Okay."
Ming turned and went back into the courtyard. Qu Rong breathed a sigh of relief, said no more, and bent down to get into the carriage.
She sat on the cushion, stroking the cool hand warmer in her hand, which seemed to have absorbed the ginger scent from Li Yue'er.
The smell was pungent, and Qu Rong was disgusted, but she still held it with both hands, silently savoring the way Ming Shi addressed Li Yue'er, and smiled with her lips pursed and eyes lowered.
Little Moon~
————————
Moon: Call me sister!
Mistress: ...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com