This is undoubtedly a great thing for Gu Qinlan, so why did she choose to remain silent?
Gu Qinlan said softly, "Some truths don't need to be revealed in a hurry; he will understand one day. Those who are grateful will not lose their gratitude because they learn it too late. But those who are ungrateful will selectively forget, even if they are reminded every day."
"Besides, he worked hard for this opportunity for several days and firmly believed that it was the result of his own efforts. This dedication must make him cherish it all the more. Imagine if you were him, and you knew that I secretly helped you, how would you feel?"
Zheng Huaiyu pondered for a moment and sighed, "I bet he must feel disappointed, as if all his efforts have been in vain. Several days of hard work are not as valuable as a single recommendation from his mother."
Just imagining it made her feel heavy-hearted.
Gu Qinlan smiled and explained, "That's why I chose to remain silent. Not only that, he might even think this opportunity is too easy, and he might even feel resentful."
"It will make him believe that everything he has achieved is through his own hard work, and he will cherish it more. He will also be more cautious in every step he takes in the future and will no longer be as impulsive as before."
"You can also use this wisdom when managing household chores."
Zheng Huaiyu's eyes lit up as he realized that Gu Qinlan was taking this opportunity to impart her experience, and he quickly replied, "Thank you for your careful guidance, Mother."
At this moment, her admiration for Gu Qinlan surged like a tide, and her heart was filled with gratitude. Her grandmother, her aunt, and even her birth mother had never passed on these precious wisdoms to her. Those old women only taught her to be cunning, how to please others, and how to scheme.
These are wisdoms about dealing with people that they themselves have not mastered, so how could they pass them on to her?
Looking back, she used to pride herself on her intelligence, but now, following Gu Qinlan, she realizes how absurd her previous thoughts were.
No wonder Granny Zhang once asserted that with her knowledge and skills, if she were to actually marry into the capital, she might not even know how she died.
She had doubts then, but now she is completely convinced.
Gu Qinlan had no ill intentions toward Zheng Huaiyu. Seeing her humble attitude, she said gently, "If you have any questions in the future, you may ask Granny Zhang for advice, or come to me. In your spare time, you may read more books. Although women do not need to take the imperial examinations, there is a wellspring of wisdom in books, which can help you understand many essences that others cannot teach you."
Zheng Huaiyu nodded respectfully in agreement.
A few days later, the weather suddenly changed.
The sky was overcast with dark clouds, there wasn't a breath of wind, and the heat was stifling.
Princess Duan suffered from heatstroke due to the high temperature and lay on her bed groaning in pain.
Gu Qinlan ordered someone to fetch the cool well water from the deep well to wipe the body of Princess Duan. She also boiled mung bean soup and put it into the well to cool so that everyone in the household, including the servants, could drink it. Only after these measures did they feel a little more comfortable.
The sweltering weather lasted for three days before finally bringing a heavy rain.
The rain poured down like a waterfall, as if someone had poked a huge hole in the sky, making it difficult to see anything more than a few meters away.
Fortunately, the heavy rain only lasted for one day, and then the rain gradually subsided.
Nevertheless, the city still suffered severe flooding, with streets filled with murky sewage and many homes in low-lying areas submerged.
The Prince Duan's mansion, situated on high ground, escaped destruction, but the pond within it overflowed, and the once-blooming lotus leaves and flowers could now only peek out from the water's surface.
People throughout the city were trying to drain the water from their homes, and the Ji family was no exception.
The Ji family was poor in the past, so the old house was in a poor location in the low-lying area in the west of the city. Not only was it difficult to drain the water in their own yard, but there was also a constant flow of water from higher levels, which caused the entire yard to be flooded.
The entire Ji family home was submerged in water.
Gu Qinlian stood on the table in despair, shouting at her maids, "Quickly drain all this water! Hurry!"
Jin Suo held the basin and tried her best to splash the water out, but human strength is limited, how can it resist the rage of nature?
"Miss, why don't we move? While the water level isn't too high yet, let's find somewhere to take shelter and come back after the water recedes."
Gu Qinlian was furious: "You expect me to wade through this filth?"
How is that possible!
The water was filthy; heaven knows what filth it had been soaking in. How could her delicate body possibly be contaminated by such dirty water!
Jin Suo comforted her gently, "Miss, I won't let you wade through the water. I'll find a large basin, you can sit in it, and we'll push you forward, making sure you don't get a single drop of dirty water on you."
Gu Qinlian was still somewhat unwilling, but the water level continued to rise, and if she didn't act soon, even this desk would be submerged in the water.
"What are you standing there for? Let's go!"
Jin Suo finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran to find a large wooden basin for washing clothes.
Several maids, some supporting the wooden basin and others helping Gu Qinlian, finally managed to place her in the basin.
Gu Qinlian raised one hand high to maintain her balance, while the other hand tightly clutched the package in front of her chest, which contained all her current possessions.
At this moment, the water in the courtyard had reached the maids' waists. They pushed the wooden basins, moving slowly forward step by step.
Just as they reached the center of the courtyard, they suddenly heard Old Madam Ji shout sternly, "Qinlian, bring me that wooden basin!"
Gu Qinlian glanced back and saw that Old Madam Ji had rolled up her trousers and lifted her skirt, glaring at her with a livid face. Behind her stood Ji Yinli's concubine.
Without hesitation, she replied, "This wooden basin was part of my dowry. If my mother-in-law wants to use it, she can pay for it with silver."
Madam Ji gritted her teeth in anger: "I am your mother-in-law! How dare you ask me for money?"
Gu Qinlian scoffed twice, her tone firm: "Didn't my mother-in-law always say that even brothers should keep clear accounts? Is there something wrong with me asking you to keep accounts?"
The aunt immediately interjected, "Sister, you've misunderstood. It's true that brothers should keep clear accounts, but the mother-in-law is an elder, the husband's biological mother, and we, as the younger generation, should be filial and respectful to her."
Gu Qinlian glanced at her coldly and said sarcastically, "Since you're so good at being filial, why don't you take out some money to buy it? Wouldn't it be simpler to buy it and then be filial to her?"
The aunt immediately replied, "Alright, I'll buy it. Just name your price, sister."
Gu Qinlian quoted a price without hesitation: "One hundred taels of silver, to be paid immediately."
"One hundred taels?!" Old Madam Ji exclaimed in shock, as if she had been robbed: "This is blatant robbery!"
Gu Qinlian gently patted the wooden basin and said casually, "Ordinary wooden basins are indeed not worth mentioning; even one hundred coins would be too expensive. But this wooden basin can save lives right now. Do you still want to buy it? If not, I will leave now."
The aunt's mouth opened slightly, as if she wanted to defend herself, but in the end she didn't dare to utter a sound.
Gu Qinlian deliberately amplified her laughter and said sarcastically, "So your filial piety is nothing more than this, not even worth a hundred taels."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
