Chapter 27: Resurrection (2)
Mother Mao put down the bundle on her shoulder, sat on a small stool, and sighed. For a moment, she simply couldn't muster the energy to scold Li Xiaoxiao.
She felt a throbbing in her head and a surge of anger welling up inside her, but she didn't know who to vent it on.
What kind of time is this to be arguing about this?
The rules implied in Yingchun's words were correct; they were from the Meng family mansion in the capital, where the mistress was extremely strict in preventing the maids from seducing Meng Guanqi.
But what was the situation like before, and what is it like now? Before, if the sky fell, the old master would hold it up, and all the masters and servants in the mansion lived off the public funds. But now, Magistrate Meng is about to pass away, and there is no one in the family who can take charge. Both the front and back courtyards are in complete chaos. Granny Qi, the steward of the inner courtyard, has to take over the responsibilities of the outer courtyard. There isn't even enough firewood in the kitchen, and Li Xiaoxiao has to go to the mountains to chop some. But Yingchun is still clinging to the old rules.
Mao's mother didn't know what to say.
In her opinion, Li Xiaoxiao was a very reliable person. At least she knew that if there was no firewood, she would find a way to go to the mountains to cut some; if there was no meat, she would go hunting to eat it herself. Moreover, she would generously share it with everyone. However, among the servants left in the inner courtyard, Yingchun, Xiumei, and Baoqin were all pampered like young ladies. They casually bossed around Li Xiaoxiao, who worked in the kitchen, and thought they were superior. But had they ever thought that once Magistrate Meng left, their family would lose its backer? When the eldest young master took over, he definitely wouldn't be able to support so many servants. Who would be the first to be dismissed?
Mama Mao didn't know which of the three would be sent away first, but she was determined to keep Li Xiaoxiao. She was such a capable person, and no one would be willing to let her go.
But Yingchun was still representing the Madam's face. Since she had already spoken up, Mama Mao had no choice but to ask about what had happened to Li Xiaoxiao today: "Xiaoxiao, I know you wouldn't go to the main room to talk to the young master for no reason. Tell Mama Mao, what happened?"
Li Xiaoxiao plopped down opposite her and placed a bowl that hadn't been cleaned yet in front of her: "Look!"
"What are you looking at?" Mao's mother stared blankly at the still-unwashed bowl.
Li Xiaoxiao said proudly, "I fed Lord Meng a bowl of porridge! Don't worry, Mama Mao, Lord Meng has eaten, he will definitely get better!"
What? Madam Mao was shocked: "Sir, sir, you finished a bowl of porridge?" She had completely forgotten about disciplining Li Xiaoxiao. Compared to Magistrate Meng's life, this trivial matter was insignificant.
Li Xiaoxiao nodded confidently: "I brought him some porridge. The young master couldn't eat it. In my opinion, there's no such thing as food that can't be fed. There are only people who don't know how to feed others. So I helped him finish the whole bowl of porridge." She patted Mama Mao's shoulder reassuringly: "Don't worry, after drinking this bowl of porridge, the adult will get better."
Without waiting for Mao's mother's reaction, he took the bowl and washed it.
Only then did Mao's mother realize what had happened, and she was both surprised and delighted. She chased after her, asking, "You really fed the adult a bowl of porridge? He really drank it?"
Li Xiaoxiao nodded: "Yes, you can ask the young master if you don't believe me. He was helping the adult."
Mao's mother couldn't help but pray for a miracle. Her thoughts were the same as Li Xiaoxiao's: as long as a person could eat, it meant there was hope.
She clasped her hands together and kept bowing, praying, "May the Bodhisattva bless you, may you have great fortune and long life, and may you overcome this ordeal and live to be a hundred years old."
Lord Meng's condition had improved, so she no longer thought about disciplining Li Xiaoxiao. She spent the entire afternoon keeping an eye on the commotion in the main house.
As Li Xiaoxiao had predicted, about an hour after Magistrate Meng finished his bowl of "porridge," he began to sweat profusely, almost soaking the bed. Granny Qi had returned and, together with Meng Guanqi, helped him wipe his sweat and change his clothes. Magistrate Meng sweated all afternoon. Granny Qi was surprised to find that his hands and feet, which had been ice-cold half a day ago, had begun to warm up, and his weak breathing had become much stronger.
She was both surprised and delighted: "Young master, the master seems to be feeling a little better."
Meng Guanqi was also very excited: "Granny, should we feed Father another bowl of porridge? Father has sweated so much, he must be exhausted."
Granny Qi nodded hurriedly and turned to call Yingchun: "Go to the kitchen and fetch a bowl of porridge. Make sure it's thin and not too thick." Magistrate Meng had not yet regained consciousness, and if the porridge was too thick, it might choke him.
Meng Guanqi said directly, "Go and call Li Xiaoxiao over. She's the best at serving people. She's the one who fed Father that bowl of porridge this afternoon."
Yingchun's face immediately changed. The young master actually asked Li Xiaoxiao to come and feed the master porridge?! Her worst fears had come true. She had actually caught the young master's eye. If she continued to feed him, would the young master think that she had saved the master's life?
She was both jealous and resentful, but dared not disobey the young master's orders, so she could only go to the kitchen with a gloomy face.
Only then did Granny Qi inquire about Meng Guanqi's afternoon activities. Meng Guanqi praised Li Xiaoxiao highly. In the past two days, so many people had come to the room but had failed to feed Magistrate Meng a single drop of soup. However, Li Xiaoxiao had fed him a bowl of porridge in one go. Anyone who heard this could not help but admire her.
After listening to Meng Guanqi's words, Granny Qi took a closer look at the bruise on Magistrate Meng's chin and sighed. No wonder they couldn't feed him. If Magistrate Meng were conscious, Li Xiaoxiao would probably have broken his chin off. She had to force it open.
Thinking of her astonishing strength, Granny Qi said tactfully, "She's only good for manual labor, how would she know how to serve people? Let this old servant do it..."
Yingchun returned quickly, carrying a bowl of congee. Li Xiaoxiao did not come with her. She had already thought of an excuse to tell the young master and Granny Qi on the way. However, Granny Qi took the bowl as soon as she came up and did not ask her anything.
She glanced at Meng Guanqi, whose attention was entirely focused on Magistrate Meng, seemingly forgetting that Li Xiaoxiao hadn't come. She breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stepped aside.
Meng Guanqi helped Magistrate Meng up and leaned him on his shoulder. Granny Qi scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it to Magistrate Meng's lips. Before she could even exert any force, Magistrate Meng opened his mouth and the porridge was quickly fed to him.
Granny Qi was overjoyed: "I've got it! Master knows how to drink porridge! Yingchun, quickly, go and call Madam over."
Yingchun hurried towards the side room, and soon came in supporting Liu, whose face was pale. Liu had tears in her eyes and said in a trembling voice, "Granny, the master has started drinking porridge, is that true?"
Granny Qi was overjoyed. While carefully feeding Magistrate Meng porridge, she replied, "Madam, you'll see for yourself."
Magistrate Meng drank the bowl of greasy porridge clean.
But his eyes were still closed, and he didn't vomit after being fed. Instead, he slept peacefully. Granny Qi touched his hand and found his palm was warm. She felt relieved: "Master's palm is warm. He will definitely get better!"
The main room was immediately filled with weeping, but this time it was a joyful and excited cry.
Lord Meng drank rice porridge for three whole days before he regained consciousness. He was still very weak, but his mind was clear, and he was able to eat some well-cooked yam porridge.
Seeing that he had drunk a bowl of yam porridge, Liu finally felt relieved. She invited Dr. Zhang from Jimintang to come for a follow-up examination. Dr. Zhang was very surprised when he felt his pulse: "Your health is fine now. It is normal for you to be weak from a long illness. Eat more medicinal food to replenish your vital energy and rest for a while."
Madam Liu was furious with Doctor Xie from Huichuntang, who actually said that Magistrate Meng wouldn't survive more than two days, calling him a quack! So after Magistrate Meng started eating again, he invited Doctor Zhang from Jimintang for a follow-up examination.
Liu hurriedly asked, "Do we still need to prescribe medicine?"
Doctor Zhang said, "Every medicine has some toxicity. Now that the adult can eat, it's better to replenish his vital energy through food, so there's no need to take these bitter and astringent medicines anymore."
Granny Qi politely saw Doctor Zhang off, and only then did Madam Liu finally feel relieved. She held Magistrate Meng's hand and wept bitterly.
Magistrate Meng was filled with remorse: "Madam was frightened; it's all because of my weak constitution."
Liu's eyes were brimming with tears: "My husband, you must take care of yourself. Qi'er is still so young. If something were to happen to you, how would we, mother and child, survive?"
Magistrate Meng had just escaped death and returned to the mortal realm, so he cherished his life even more: "Don't worry, Madam. This time, it was all because the King of Hell didn't spare anyone. No matter what, I will make sure that Qi'er gets married, has children, and passes the imperial examination with flying colors."
The couple nearly faced a life-or-death separation, which forged a deep bond between them.
As Magistrate Meng's condition improved, the entire backyard of the county government office was no longer shrouded in the sorrow of a few days ago; they were practically ready to set off firecrackers in celebration.
No one knew that the bowl of porridge that Li Xiaoxiao fed him contained a life-saving medicine, and that day when she forcefully pried open Magistrate Meng's jaw, it did not arouse much suspicion. It was simply assumed that Magistrate Meng's health was improving and that he had regained his will to live.
But Li Xiaoxiao didn't care.
Magistrate Meng is alright, surely he won't be thinking of selling her off? She can go back to being a carefree cowherd~
As she drove the oxcart out of the city gate, she encountered Constable Shi again. Constable Shi caught up with her and called out, "Sister!"
The process of settling the displaced people was nearing completion, and Constable Shi was not as busy as before. However, a few days ago, Granny Qi went to the coffin shop next to the mortuary, which really scared him. He thought that Magistrate Meng would not make it through, but the back gate of the county government was tightly closed, and Steward Zhao and his son were not there. He didn't even have anyone to ask for news.
After observing for two days, he found that Granny Qi had disappeared again. He was scratching his head, trying to find out what was going on, when Li Xiaoxiao came out to herd the cattle.
Officer Shi jumped onto Li Xiaoxiao's oxcart: "Come on, I'm going to Hedong Village anyway, give me a ride."
Once outside the city gates and out of sight, Constable Shi inquired about Magistrate Meng's condition. Li Xiaoxiao waved her hand dismissively: "The magistrate is fine. He's just recovering from a serious illness and is still weak. He was only able to get out of bed and walk a few steps today. He even basked in the sun this morning. I recuperate a bit and he should be able to go back to work soon."
Officer Shi breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "It's good that everything is alright, it's good that everything is alright." Lord Meng had just settled more than 300 households of refugees in Biyang County, and there were still a lot of problems to be solved. Although Officer Shi and Lord Meng did not get along very well, the matter had already been settled, so naturally he did not want any more mistakes to happen.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com