Chapter 133: Can we go back after burning our grudges? ...
Song Jin returned to the shop covered in cold sweats. What hit her was not just the stigma, or rather, the stigma did not seem that important to her, at least for now.
Ji Shubai drew a line between them, making her feel that all her past joy and excitement were like a mirage, vanishing in an instant.
Mo Hongfu's false accusation completely exposed the man's true colors. She could no longer walk around the streets and do business freely like before, unless she was not afraid of being pointed at by others.
Is it scary to point fingers?
That's pretty scary.
This kind of injury that does not cause any serious damage is like the pornographic rumors of the 21st century. It is not against the law, but it is enough to make you despised. In modern times, at least you can unplug the network cable, leave at any time, and start over in a new place.
In the Ming Dynasty, she couldn't go anywhere and could only let people spit at her door. But she still had to do business and make money. If she was spit on, what would happen to her small shop? What would she do if she couldn't support her family?
Her father will marry her off to a place far away, and then her life will really be over.
The more Song Jin thought about it, the more disheartened he became. When he got home, he collapsed on the bed and didn't move.
Mrs. Chen's eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she kept saying sorry. Song Jin wanted to comfort her, but she really didn't have the strength. She could only comfort her twice and said that it had nothing to do with her. She asked her to help her cook a bowl of noodles because she was hungry, and then she sent Mrs. Chen out.
Dujuan and Chunyun were beside her trying to persuade her.
"If it really doesn't work, we rent this yard, so we can just move to another place."
"Actually, Master Ji..."
"Don't mention him to me." Song Jin spoke with such vigor that tears rolled down his eyes as soon as he finished speaking.
"Don't ever mention him to me again."
Dujuan sighed and stopped talking. She only asked Chunyun to accompany Song Jin while she went to help Mrs. Chen cook noodles.
When they went downstairs and entered the shop, they saw Qingshan waiting there.
"how's it going?"
Du Juan shook her head: "We are not allowed to mention your parents."
Qingshan sighed: "This matter can't be blamed entirely on my master."
Du Juan was annoyed: "If your master could admit his mistake in court, our shopkeeper would not have done this."
"My master didn't expect to mention those things. Besides, if he admitted it, how could he help your shopkeeper to intercede? How could he help your shopkeeper to prove that there was no fraud? Who knew that things would turn out like this later."
The two people each serve their own master and both have a headache.
"How is your master?"
"Tell the prefect to punish him, and then go home to reflect on his mistakes for a while, and wait until the storm has passed before we talk."
Du Juan snorted coldly: "That's easy, but what about my shopkeeper?"
"It's not easy at all. My master used to have a good reputation, but now there are endless rumors about him."
"Can you blame my shopkeeper?"
Qingshan remained silent.
This incident was not a big deal as it would not really hurt anyone, but it was also a small matter as the diners at Lu's restaurant had some bad words that night.
What? The storyteller is a woman? Why doesn’t she come out to serve us today?
What do you mean she has close relations with the government? Why won’t they protect her today? Do they not want her anymore?
She seems to be running a food and wine business, but in reality she is just like the prostitutes in that brothel. She's pretending to be a decent girl.
In short, all kinds of unpleasant words came out. At first, the waiters were arguing with the customers, but later they were afraid that Song Jin would hear them, so they simply closed the business and planned to carry the preserved eggs to sell on the street the next day, which was better than quarreling in the store.
Old Lu went to the old house of the Ji family to help take care of the courtyard. He didn't come back until the evening and heard about this. He was very upset. At first, he scolded Mo Xiucai for being a good-for-nothing, then he scolded Ji Shubai for being irresponsible, and then he blamed Song Jin for not taking Ji Shubai down, and why the other party refused to recognize her. Now it's good, it's in court, sentenced and punished, whose daughter goes through court before getting married? How can she get married in the future?
In Lao Lu's eyes, a woman's marriage was more shameful than selling herself into slavery, which caused all of his descendants to become slaves. Song Jin didn't understand the logic behind it, and he was too lazy to think about it. He was just glad in his heart, and he told Du Juan to persuade Chen Pozi not to tell Lao Lu about what happened on the Lantern Festival, otherwise there would be a commotion at home.
On the second day, Manager Song from the Chai family came in person to inquire, but Song Jin fell ill. A Rong answered for her, and Manager Song said that the Chai family "sympathized" with Manager Lu and put the teaching on hold, and would invite Miss Lu again after the storm had passed.
It's not their fault. What kind of good person would want his daughter to learn skills at such a young age from a woman who is full of rumors?
The Chai family knew the whole story of this matter very well, and knew that Song Jin was not as the rumor said, but they had to avoid suspicion at the moment. In order to show sympathy, after Manager Song replied that the person was sick, they sent someone to deliver some medicinal herbs, and told him to take good care of the person, and the land they promised could be planted as usual.
Song Jin fell ill. It was not known whether it was because of his chilled heart or because of the sweating that day. He had a burning fever in the second half of the night on the first day, and could not get up on the second day. In a daze, Song Jin wondered if he was going to die of fever again. Could he go back after dying of fever?
At most, he'll go to jail for a few years. It's not like he hasn't suffered before. It's better than having no chance of turning over in this feudal Ming Dynasty.
However, she did not die. Chunyun, Dujuan and Chen Po took turns to look after her. Two shop assistants carried their loads to sell preserved eggs, leaving Arong to watch the store. When they came back, they bought some duck eggs. At night, a group of people washed the duck eggs so that the women could make preserved eggs the next day.
Because spring had arrived, they had to earn money from the mosquito coils they earned in the summer, and the Chai family promised that the land could still be used, so several people got together to discuss who should be arranged to farm.
Old Lu wanted to go to the Ji family and couldn't leave. Song Jin was sick, and it was not convenient for the three women to go. In the end, they could only choose from the three men. In the end, the two guys went to the fields, brought rice, vegetables and some meat, and stayed at the home of the tenant farmer of the Chai family.
Anyway, the shop was closed these days, so A Rong simply put down his abacus, went to buy milk in the morning, and picked preserved eggs during the day. Any money he could earn was better than sitting in the shop and doing nothing.
The milk tea business in the yamen did not stop, and Qingshan kept running to the shop, but he could not see anyone every time. Originally, Ji Shubai wrote a letter, but Song Jin ignored it and returned it the same way he had delivered it.
Dujuan just said that the person was sick and couldn't open his eyes and read the letter. After Qingshan replied, he brought a medical officer from the yamen to treat Song Jin that afternoon. Ji Shubai, with a gloomy face, also came with them.
Du Juan often cursed Ji Shubai behind his back, but when she really saw him, she didn't dare to say a word. She just asked Chunyun to take the medical officer upstairs to see Song Jin, and she invited Ji Shubai to sit in the hall and drink tea.
Ji Shubai had a frosty face, not as friendly as before. He looked as if he wanted to keep strangers away, and there were dark circles under his eyes, as if he had not slept well.
Dujuan looked at it, sighed, and turned to go upstairs to see Song Jin.
Song Jin was so sick that he was confused. He asked the doctor to feel his pulse and went downstairs to get a prescription. Du Juan wanted to pay the money, but Qing Shan stopped her and she did not insist.
There are fewer ways to make money now, but there are probably many places to spend money.
Du Juan didn't walk into the yard until the medical officer left. She saw Ji Shubai still sitting in the hall, dazed and motionless, with no intention of leaving at all.
"Master Ji?" Du Juan called him softly, and Ji Shubai came back to his senses.
"Can you please let me meet her?"
Song Jin heard Du Juan ask her in a daze that Lord Ji wanted to come up and see her, and asked her if she wanted to see him.
She shook her head instinctively, and Du Juan advised: "After all, he is an official. It is not good to leave him alone all the time. In our situation..."
Du Juan didn't finish her words, but the implication was obvious. Her family was in a bad situation right now, and she might need help in the future. It was not a wise move to treat Ji Shubai so coldly.
Song Jin opened his eyes, was stunned for a while, and said in a hoarse voice: "Help me wash my face and comb my hair."
Song Jin lived in a small room on the second floor. Ji Shubai walked up the stairs on the old floor boards. Under the guidance of Du Juan, he entered the small room alone and saw Song Jin sitting on the bed wearing a coat.
Her long hair was tied behind her head with a silver hairpin. Her face was flushed, her eyelids were drooping, and her lips were chapped and bloody.
If Song Jin used to be eloquent, lively and good at debate, then Song Jin today is lifeless and listless. If it weren't for the flushed face, this person could be said to be lifeless.
Ji Shubai's heart suddenly tightened. He wanted to move closer, but then he felt inexplicably scared and couldn't help but think of her blurry vision in the court that day.
She had already judged him and convicted him.
With his steps as heavy as a thousand pounds, he slowly approached Song Jin and could see her body shaking slightly due to exhaustion.
He squatted in front of her: "I'm sorry..."
Before Ji Shubai came in, when Song Jin still had the strength, she thought that if she saw him again, she would scold him harshly, question him, and even beat him. But now that she really saw him and heard the word "I'm sorry", the only thing she could respond with was tears.
Ji Shubai's hand touched her cheek, the scorching temperature burned his eyes and his palms were soon soaked with tears.
He half-knelt beside the bed, saying sorry over and over again. Apart from sorry, he didn't know what else to say.
Song Jin closed his eyes silently, rubbed his cheek in Ji Shubai's palm, and all his resentment turned into tears.
"Let's get married, okay?"
This was the only solution Ji Shubai could think of. No matter what the rumors outside were, he would marry her. As long as she entered the house, she would be Mrs. Ji. Even if the rumors outside were rampant, they would not reach her ears, and she would be relieved.
He couldn't think of any other solution.
Song Jin opened his eyes slightly and looked at Ji Shubai steadily, without making any comment.
Suddenly she moved, and just when Ji Shubai thought she was going to answer, Song Jin suddenly pounced on him, hugged his neck like a snake, and wrapped him tightly with all her strength, making it impossible for him to breathe.
She buried her face in Ji Shubai's neck, tears flowing out uncontrollably. Ji Shubai sat on the edge of the bed, put his arms around her, and let her cry until her clothes were wet.
Ji Shubai's clothes still smelled fragrant. He was always respectable. Even if he was caught up in rumors, there would be people who would protect him without him asking for help. But what about her? She had only truly experienced the class that Qingshan had taught her before.
We are all human beings, but there is a huge difference between us. If you want to cross over, you will suffer heavy losses.
The lessons from the previous life are enough.
"Marry me. If you marry me, no one will treat you like this anymore, okay?"
He longed for a chance to atone for his sins.
However, Song Jin simply loosened his arms, held his face with both hands, and looked at him carefully.
Ji Shubai's face was a little paler, but he was still good-looking. She had been coveting his beauty for a long time. The last time she took advantage of the alcohol to take advantage of him, he even threw her onto the bed. Now he sat quietly beside her, letting her hold him and look at him slowly.
Song Jin moved forward, and when he didn't dodge, she opened her lips and kissed him.
At first he just kissed her gently, then he gradually became more forceful and bit her as if in revenge, almost making Ji Shubai's lips bleed.
Song Jin had a high fever and was exhausted. At this moment, she was bullying people so hard that her body fell to the ground uncontrollably. Ji Shubai moved forward, holding her waist with one hand and the back of her head with the other, helping her to stabilize her body and let her lean on him.
After an unknown amount of time of kissing, Song Jin gradually stopped and looked at Ji Shubai's lips with half-opened eyes, with red blood oozing out.
She extended her thumb to wipe it off for him.
"I won't marry you."
"My grudge with Master Ji ends today. Please don't come here again in the future."
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