Chapter 17 Are you settling a personal score?
On the other side, Qi Yi and Shen Qingtang were both ushered into the main hall by the servants. Unlike Qin Guanlan's two-story Western-style villa with red bricks and white walls, Qin's old lady's house was a proper large mansion.
The exterior is surrounded by lush trees and flowers, and both the interior design and spatial layout reveal lingering traces of Republican-era Chinese style. The huanghuali wood tables and chairs, the matching thousand-year-old mahogany furniture, and the subtle aroma of wood incense all speak to its understated luxury. Considering the historical background of the Qin Mansion itself, this is not surprising.
Shen Qingtang keenly noticed that Qi Yi, who was usually carefree, seemed uneasy after stepping into the room. The aroma of fine oolong tea and the exquisite bird's nest cake from Hong Kong failed to attract his attention. Instead, he kept taking deep breaths and muttering to himself, as if he were reciting something in his head. His clenched fists betrayed his nervousness.
Seemingly noticing Shen Qingtang's questioning gaze, Qi Yi forced a smile and patted his chest, saying, "Sister Shen, don't be nervous. We'll leave as soon as we deliver the food to the old lady. Try to speak as little as possible."
Shen Qingtang blinked and said calmly, "I'm not nervous, but you..." Her gaze lingered on Qi Yi's slightly trembling forearm for a moment before she said, "You look quite nervous."
Qi Yi immediately gave a wry smile and said in a low voice, "Sigh, I dislike coming to the old lady's place the most. It's like living in a cage as soon as I come in." He playfully stuck out his tongue and said, "She's just too amazing."
Old Mrs. Qin married into the family from Hong Kong. Unlike the reserved and demure women from the mainland, she was decisive and ruthless in her actions. In her youth, she was fiercely independent and relentless, never tolerating any injustice. She and her daughter, Yingjie, were known for their outbursts at hotel rooms. It was only after having children that her temper softened somewhat. Later, due to Mr. Qin's excessive drinking and subsequent stroke, she returned to the company in middle age to build her business. Not only did she preserve her vast fortune, but she also doubled its size. She only gradually relinquished control after her two sons grew up. Even now, some people secretly refer to her as "Empress Wu Zetian" (a legendary Chinese empress).
Qi Yi and Qi Er were orphans adopted by the Qin family. Having grown up in the Qin family, they were naturally very familiar with these rumors, especially the ruthless methods used by Old Madam Qin to deal with people. Perhaps because he was a close relative of Brother Qin, Old Madam Qin never made things difficult for him. On the contrary, she treated him like a grandson. However, the deep-seated authority and awe she had accumulated over time made him dare not be fearful.
In the past, when he came here, he would try to remain silent. He was even more puzzled: Brother Qin knew that he was afraid of Old Madam Qin, so even if there was something, he would send Qi Er over. Why did he specifically ask him to accompany Sister Chen to deliver the food box this time?
Despite his confusion, he solemnly instructed her again, "Sister Chen, don't speak unless the old lady asks you." He added, "Actually, among her grandchildren, she likes Brother Qin the most."
Shen Qingtang immediately understood Qi Yi's good intentions. She was the culprit who caused Brother Qin to become crippled. Although there was the pink diamond award incident before, she couldn't guarantee that Old Madam Qin wouldn't be angry after seeing her with her own eyes. So she nodded and agreed, "I understand."
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of a wheelchair rattling behind her began. She instinctively thought of Qin Guanlan, but quickly realized that the volume and frequency of the sound were wrong.
Brother Qin was, after all, a tall man over 1.8 meters, and with her medicinal meals every three days without fail, his originally thin figure gained some weight, resulting in a louder and more frequent sound.
Therefore, the person behind her should be Old Mrs. Qin.
She stood up with Qi Yi and glanced over out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, an old lady was sitting in a wheelchair, and Ying Jie behind her was giving her a slight smile.
Although this elderly lady Qin was sitting in a wheelchair, she stood up straight, exuding an aura of authority without anger. Especially when she wasn't smiling, she made people wonder if they had done something wrong.
Her hair, now gray, was no longer young, but it was neatly combed, not a single stray hair protruding. She wore a simple white button-down Chinese-style shirt, and perhaps because it was about to rain, she had draped a light yellow coat over it. Her legs were wrapped tightly in a thick blanket. Drooping eye bags, prominent crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, and loose skin all indicated the passing of her youth, yet even so, one could still glimpse the admirable beauty of her youth in the sculpted features of her face, especially her deep, indifferent green eyes, which left a lasting impression.
Shen Qingtang also found a sense of familiarity in these incredibly similar eyes, and sighed in her heart: So it turns out that Brother Qin's beautiful eyes are inherited from the wealthy old lady in front of her. The two of them also have the same cold temperament. The word "genes" is too magical.
"Grandma Qin, Sister Shen and I have come to bring you some food." As the saying goes, you can't hit a smiling face, and Qi Yi knew this rule well, so her smile was even more exaggerated than usual.
Grandma Qin glanced at the two of them indifferently and said lazily, "Guan'er called you over just for this? I have all sorts of good things here. He should really take good care of himself."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yi was momentarily at a loss for words and could only stand there awkwardly, forcing a smile and letting out a forced laugh.
Fortunately, Sister Ying spoke up to defuse the situation, saying, "Miss, this is also Guan'er's way of showing filial piety. It's touching that he still thinks of you even during such a difficult time."
Qi Yi cast a grateful glance at Sister Ying and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, Grandma Qin, this braised eel was specially sent over by Brother Qin."
He said, "The sky is overcast today and it looks like it's going to rain heavily. Your arthritis is bound to flare up again. The medicine is so bitter that you definitely can't swallow it. Why don't you try this medicinal dish instead?"
"I heard that braised eel is especially effective for arthritis patients because... because..." Qi Yi stammered as he spoke. He had memorized his introductory speech perfectly before coming here, but now his mind was like a bottle of paste, and he couldn't come up with a single new word for a long time. His face turned red, and he felt like he had been rolled around in a hot steamer.
Fortunately, at the crucial moment, Shen Qingtang interjected, "Eels have the effects of replenishing qi and blood, strengthening muscles and bones, dispelling wind and dampness, and enhancing immunity. They are warm in nature and sweet in taste, and can deeply regulate the liver, spleen, and kidneys of the human body, effectively improving joint swelling and pain caused by dampness."
"It also contains two Chinese medicinal herbs, perilla and ginger. Perilla is pungent and warm in nature, which can both regulate qi and relieve chest tightness, as well as dispel wind and cold, and it does not clash with your constitution."
After speaking, she paused for two seconds and looked at Qi Yi: "Qi Yi, is that all you wanted to say?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Qi Yi nodded excitedly, "That's exactly what I wanted to say, which is why Brother Qin asked Sister Shen and me to send it over quickly."
Grandma Qin gave Shen Qingtang a deep look and suddenly said, "I've always been picky about food. Eel has a muddy taste, and I don't like it."
"Grandma Qin, the fishy smell of eels comes from the mucus on their bodies and the fishy substances in their internal organs. So when I make them, I specifically choose fresh eels that are as thick as a pen and have a bright greenish-yellow color. I let them soak in clean water in a tank overnight to expel the mud. Then I rub the eel segments with flour and salt to remove most of the mucus and scrape off the remaining mucus with a tool. Finally, I soak them in ice-cold beer, ginger slices, and peppercorns for an hour. The fishy smell is almost completely gone."
"In terms of cooking method, I specially stir-fried it with tea oil and rapeseed oil, which not only removed the remaining earthy taste, but also brought out the natural sweetness of the eel."
"Because Brother Qin had specifically instructed Grandma Qin about her tastes, I was extra careful when handling the food."
Upon hearing Shen Qingtang mention Qin Guanlan's name, Old Madam Qin's originally stern face softened, and she praised, "I didn't expect you to know so many ways to remove the fishy smell. You really are unassuming."
Yingjie deliberately laughed from the side, "Miss, you seem to have forgotten that the claypot rice you praised so highly last time was also made by Qingtang."
Qi Yi keenly sensed that the atmosphere had relaxed considerably, and let out a soft sigh of relief, saying with a proud look, "Grandma Qin, you have no idea how amazing Sister Chen is."
"Her cooking skills are one thing, but she can also do acupuncture and make medicinal cuisine. It was Sister Shen who helped Qi Er with his lumbar spine sprain. Sister Shen also treated Brother Qin's cold a few days ago. Dr. Li praised Sister Shen's medical talent and told her to take the Chinese medicine practitioner's license exam as soon as possible. He said he would recommend Sister Shen to his senior brother's pharmacy for an internship."
Grandma Qin had been listening casually, but upon hearing Dr. Li's name, her gaze towards Shen Qingtang changed. She knew Li Mingsheng and was familiar with his character; the fact that he had made such a weighty promise after only one meeting showed that Shen Qingtang indeed possessed some talent in traditional Chinese medicine.
A thought struck her, and she asked, "Shen Qingtang, when did you learn medicine?"
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips, carefully considering: "After arriving at the Qin Mansion..."
Grandma Qin pressed on, "Why do you want to learn?"
Shen Qingtang blurted out without hesitation, "Because I want to heal Brother Qin's legs so that he can stand up like a normal person."
Hearing this, Old Mrs. Qin was deeply moved. She had experienced many ups and downs in her life, and had developed her own unique way of judging people by their appearance. No matter how sophisticated the lie was, it could not escape her sharp eyes.
In her youth, she used this skill to avoid many traps.
She initially thought these were just polite and flattering words from Shen Qingtang, but when she met the other person's earnest eyes, she realized how ridiculous her thoughts were.
Shen Qingtang's words were completely sincere, which is why she suddenly decided to study traditional Chinese medicine. Regardless of whether this matter would ultimately succeed, her sincerity touched Old Madam Qin.
She moved her lips, about to ask a few more questions, when she saw Shen Qingtang glance at her watch, her expression change, and she said apologetically, "Grandma Qin, I have to leave now. It's time for Brother Qin to get acupuncture and massage later, so I need to go back and prepare."
“From now on, I will send you a dish of braised eel every day. After you eat it for ten days to replenish your qi and blood, I will send you a jar of Sanwu wine.” Sensing the puzzled looks from the crowd, she explained, “Sanwu wine is a medicinal wine made by soaking Chinese medicinal herbs such as Aconitum carmichaelii, processed Aconitum kusnezoffii, black snake, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and safflower in white wine for ten days. It has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, warming the meridians and dispersing cold, and relieving pain. It is especially suitable for symptoms of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia and joint pain.”
"Grandma Qin, even if your arthritis can't be cured, it will at least alleviate most of the pain when it flares up. Grandma Qin, Sister Ying, I'm going now."
After saying that, she really turned and left. Qi Yi watched from behind, dumbfounded, thinking to himself: Sister Chen is really too fierce, she actually dared to leave like that.
Fearing that the other party's rash and rude behavior would offend the two of them, he quickly turned around and explained, "Grandma Qin, Sister Ying, please don't take offense. Sister Chen always arranges Brother Qin's schedule and activities in an orderly manner. She didn't leave on purpose."
After hearing this, Old Madam Qin smiled and said, "That's good. It seems she really takes good care of Guan'er." She glanced at the mahogany food box on the table and said, "Thank you for making this trip today. Have Qingtang come over to my place sometime."
Upon hearing the invitation, Qi Yi was taken aback for a moment, then immediately replied, "Okay." As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but think to himself: Sister Chen is truly amazing! Even someone like Old Madam Qin has been won over by her.
As soon as the two left, Yingjie eagerly opened the food box and said, "Miss, you should try this braised eel. It might really work. If it works, I'll throw away the bottle of special medicine for you." Finally, she added, "Miss, that pink diamond you gave me was really worth it. Qingtang is a sensible person. This braised eel is truly delicious and nutritious, with perfect color, aroma, and taste."
Grandma Qin, however, did not have such high expectations. Over the years, she had been suffering from arthritis and had seen many traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine doctors. Not to mention a complete cure, she even found it difficult to relieve the pain when it flared up. Could a few medicinal dishes and a few cups of medicinal wine really have such a significant effect?
She didn't believe it.
However… smelling the incredibly tempting aroma of the braised eel in front of her, she secretly swallowed, picked up a piece with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and nodded repeatedly: “Shen Qingtang’s cooking skills are indeed excellent. The fishy smell is handled perfectly, and you can’t taste it at all. The high-temperature stir-frying and the heat control are just right, so when you bite into it, the outer layer is crispy and fragrant, while the meat inside is as delicate as tofu, melting in your mouth with a gentle touch. Although it is seasoned with soy sauce, cooking wine, and fermented bean paste, the slight saltiness brings out the natural sweetness of the meat. The unique aroma of perilla is used properly, and the addition of cucumber and green peas balances the greasiness and adds a refreshing touch. I would give it an eight out of ten.”
After saying that, she suddenly felt a surge of appetite: "Yingzi, call the main kitchen and get a bowl of white rice."
As if by magic, Sister Ying produced a bowl full of white rice. Old Mrs. Qin's eyes flashed with surprise as she asked, "Did you deliver it so quickly today?"
Sister Ying smiled and said, "After I found out that Shen Qingtang made this food box, I called the head kitchen to send it over."
Grandma Qin rolled her eyes and said, "You little rascal." Although she said that, she started eating more frequently. After eating to her heart's content, she let out a burp and then picked up a newspaper to pass the time.
But soon, her expression turned ugly at a visible speed. She frowned and said in a low voice, "Yingzi, you said Guan'er and Xiaoyun are both my grandsons, so why are they so different?"
“I believe I’ve always treated everyone fairly and never shown favoritism to anyone. How can Xiaoyun be so insensible? When Guan’er was his age, he was already helping out at the company, while he’s still messing around in the entertainment industry.”
"Okay, even if he doesn't want to take responsibility, why doesn't he have the most basic filial piety? Even though Guan'er's legs are paralyzed, he still cares about my arthritis, but Xiao Yun has been filming for so long and hasn't even called me once. I really don't know how Bai Rou raised her."
Seeing her young mistress getting angrier and angrier, eventually slamming her fist on the table, Yingjie was puzzled and quickly stepped forward, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.
The newspaper headline read in large black letters on a white background: "Wealthy Young Master Rejects Leading Actor from Famous Director! All for Venting His Love."
Yingjie immediately frowned, silently flipped the newspaper article to the back, and comforted her, "Miss, even fingers are of different lengths, and everyone has their own ambitions. We're all this age, so let's take things a little easier." After a pause, she used her all-purpose comforting words, "Besides, Young Master Yun is still young."
After venting her anger, Grandma Qin shook her head in disappointment and said, "Two years old can be considered young, but can 22 years old still be considered young? They're already adults. I was forced to get married at my age back then."
"Back then, I insisted on entering the entertainment industry to act, but now I don't even act properly. I'm just wasting my opportunities for some love and romance."
Yingjie could only pat Old Madam Qin's back to soothe her, saying, "Miss, Young Master Yun is young and handsome, it's normal for him to be a little flirtatious. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, we just need to mind our own business."
At this point, Old Madam Qin suddenly remembered something: "By the way, you mentioned before that the two maids who served Guan'er were sent here to relearn etiquette. What's going on?"
Yingjie said vaguely, "I'm not too sure either, but I heard that Guan'er threw a huge tantrum when she was brought over. Should I ask someone to find out?"
Grandma Qin waved her hand impatiently, "Guan'er has never been one to fuss over trivial matters. If he loses his temper, it's because his bottom line has been crossed. Even in the last century, no employer would dare to hire such an overbearing maid. Her nature is impure, and no amount of teaching her manners will change that."
She took a sip of tea and said, "How about this, the new girls Xiao Qing and Xiao Xia are reliable and hardworking, you can send them over to Guan'er."
Yingjie's eyes lit up, and she teased, "Miss, you really spoil Guan'er too much. I was originally thinking of taking her into our room."
Old Mrs. Qin put down her teacup and said firmly, "Guan'er is so filial to me, isn't it only right that I love him? After lunch, hurry up and send him over, so that I don't fail to take good care of Guan'er."
It was rare to see Old Mrs. Qin so relaxed and happy, so Yingjie deliberately sang a different tune: "I can't bear to send Xiaoqing and Xiaxia over for nothing, but it would be fine to take this opportunity to get Qingtang over."
"She's beautiful, a great cook, and most importantly, has an exceptionally calm and composed personality."
Grandma Qin waved her hand impatiently, saying, "That won't do. Shen Qingtang has to take good care of Guan'er. Others can be absent, but she must."
*
Seven days later, Xiaowen and Xiaoqian, who had painstakingly practiced the rules, returned exhausted and drained.
Pushing open the door, Xiaoqian saw two people busily cleaning in the hall and asked with a puzzled look, "Xiaoqing, Xiaxia, what are you two doing here?"
During the training course, these two were praised by Sister Ying every day as exemplary cases, and they finished the seven-day training early, which aroused the envy of many people.
She guessed that some gentleman or lady had taken him away beforehand, but she never expected that the two of them would actually appear here.
Suddenly, a sense of crisis rose in her heart, and she looked at Xiaowen with some unease.
Xiaowen reached out and patted her shoulder, gently comforting her, "Don't panic, they might be here to help."
Unfortunately, this expectation was soon dashed by Shen Qingtang.
Shen Qingtang said in a calm tone, "It's good that you know each other. You'll be learning etiquette these next few days. Old Madam Qin was worried that there wouldn't be enough people in the house to take good care of Brother Qin, so she specially picked two new servants to come over."
The tall, round-faced one is Xiao Qing, and the short, oval-faced one is Xiao Xia. They may have come from the same village, as their features are somewhat similar, but they are still easy to tell apart.
Upon hearing this, Xiaoqian's face turned deathly pale, and she looked unwilling to accept it. Xiaowen gave a forced smile and said, "Sister Chen, we've already learned the rules and are back. We don't need them to take care of the young master anymore. Why don't we send him back?"
She glanced at Xiao Wen indifferently and said, "Why don't you send it back to Old Madam Qin?"
Xiaowen immediately shrank back and said with an embarrassed smile, "Sister Chen, it's actually quite good to have more people. Xiaoqian and I will have more helpers. If they don't understand something in the future, they can ask us. We will definitely teach them patiently."
"After all, the two of us have always taken good care of the young master..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Qing frowned and said in a loud voice, looking puzzled, "That's not right. I remember that it was because you didn't take good care of the young master that he was sent to Old Madam Qin's side to relearn manners."
Xia chimed in, "That's right, and it made the young master throw a huge tantrum."
Upon hearing this, Xiaowen and Xiaoqian's faces turned almost green.
Where there are people, there is a social hierarchy. Servants may seem equal to each other, but seniority still matters. Therefore, how to manage new servants is an art in itself. The most important aspect is establishing a reputation among the seniors.
Xiao Wen deliberately started by talking about taking care of Qin Guanlan, intending to show that her status was quite special. This is a common tactic used by older people. They would then occasionally give her a slap and a treat, which would not only solidify her position but also allow new people to share the workload.
But ironically, all four of them had just learned manners from Old Mrs. Qin.
Xiaowen and Xiaoqian were the typical examples of those who were criticized, while Xiaoqing and Xiaoxia were the role models. Naturally, the two of them were not convinced.
Not to mention, they returned earlier and took the initiative, so it was only natural that they regarded Xiaowen and Xiaoqian as the newcomers.
Although Shen Qingtang was not prone to emotional fluctuations, it did not mean she was a saint. Faced with Xiaowen's pleading eyes, she did not speak up to help her out. Instead, she handed Xiaowen a receipt and said, "This is the fine from the logistics department. Remember to pay it as soon as possible."
Looking at the bright red "50,000" compensation amount, Xiaowen felt dizzy and pursed her lips, saying, "Sister Chen, what valuable item did I damage that requires so much compensation?" A full 50,000—that was all her savings!
Shen Qingtang said in a calm tone, "Flowers."
Seeing Xiaowen's confused expression, she continued, "You poured the Chinese medicine I brewed for you on several 'Cold Beauty' pine trees in the small garden, causing them all to die."
Xiao Wen never expected this, and said with a heart attack, "Sister Chen, I know the price of Cold Beauty. Even if it's five hundred per plant, I can easily lose five thousand, right?"
Xiaoqian, standing nearby, sharply accused, "Shen Qingtang, are you perhaps settling a personal score?"
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