Chapter 40
Yunkai returned to the courtyard and Feng Xiaosai quickly asked the maid to prepare hot water for a bath. While bathing, Yunkai reminded Feng Xiaosai to tell Yueming's maid not to forget to prepare ginger soup for her.
Feng Xiaosai was so worried. How was he going to tell Ai Ye and Ye Hu that he had lied to the young master earlier, saying he had taken people shopping. How could anyone catch a cold from shopping in such hot weather? Heatstroke was more likely. And he had just offended Miss Yueming again, right? Didn’t he say that Miss Yueming was a young girl who was young and doted on at home. How could she be so hard to coax? She just liked to hear nice words, but the young master always managed to coax her to death. How could he chase a little girl with his bare chest in broad daylight? It was so worrying!
On the way back, he even coaxed the young master into giving him a rest. Why did he feel that Miss Yueming was coerced by the young master? Seeing Miss Yueming's angry and furious expression when she entered the room, he didn't know how to greet the young master's ancestors in his heart!
No matter how much he complained in his heart, he still had to do what the young master told him to do! Not only did he have to do it, but he had to do it well. But he didn't want to ask for a beating. His eyes rolled around a few times and finally he went to the kitchen and told the cook to make ginger soup and send it to Yueming. This way he could complete the young master's order without having to face Miss Yueming's two maids. It was perfect.
After leaving the kitchen, he strolled proudly with his hands behind his back, feeling that he had practically inherited his cunning father's legacy. Look at what he'd done! If the Second Young Master had his all-around abilities, he wouldn't have to worry about dealing with Miss Yueming.
Yueming had been ill twice before, once from a cold and once from a fright. She'd fallen into the water yesterday and was bracing herself for another illness, but she woke up feeling fine. Her nasal breathing was smooth, her head clear, and she hadn't felt any dizziness at all. She didn't know if it was Yunkai's dress that was working, or if he had toughened her up, but it had nothing to do with the ginger soup he'd ordered from the kitchen yesterday.
She sent someone to ask about it and learned that Yun Kai had walked back yesterday in wet pants and bare chested, like a coquettish person, without even sneezing. She couldn't help but sigh to the sky, "How unfair!"
After breakfast, she was about to pack up her art supplies and take advantage of the good weather to paint something in the yard among the flowers and plants. She heard Ye Hu and Ai Ye busying around in the yard, and she was curious. She slipped on her shoes and came out to see them busy around a small red clay stove by the steps of the corridor.
A clay pot was placed on the clay stove. Ai Ye was fanning the fire with a fan, and Ye Hu was holding a small knife and cutting a piece of peeled banana heart into the clay pot.
Yueming asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Seeing Yueming standing at the door, Yehu and Aiye stopped what they were doing. Aiye put down her fan, tucked her hands under her arm, and asked, "Miss, would you like some tea?"
Yueming waved her hand and said, "I'm not drinking. I just heard you guys talking and laughing, so I came out to see what you're all happy about." She went down the steps, came to the small clay stove, and peered into the earthenware pot. "Are you cooking banana hearts? Why not braised pork in it? It tastes very bitter. It tastes better with braised pork."
Ye Hu was so amused by Yue Ming that he covered his mouth and laughed: "Miss, you know that the heart of banana leaves tastes bitter! This is not to be boiled and eaten, but to be used for washing hair. After boiling, add red-hot charcoal, filter it clean, and then use it to wash your hair."
Yueming's mind immediately conjured up a picture of banana heart soup mixed with pot ash. It was a beautiful image. This... can this be washed clean? She frowned in disdain and said, "Why does it sound like it's only going to get dirtier the more I wash it? I have shampoo in the house, so why bother with all this? At worst, you could just get some leather whistles or soap nuts!"
Ai Ye was always open with the young lady and said frankly, "That's yours. We don't have any use for it. I wanted to go get the leather whistle, but Ye Hu wouldn't let me go out. He said we had to guard the door and couldn't let the second young master take you away casually."
Yueming didn't know what to say. She wanted to defend Yunkai, saying, "The Second Young Master isn't as bad as you think." But then she thought, "That jerk did break his promise yesterday and throw her in the water. She hadn't dared to say a word to them because she was afraid they'd worry." Even though they didn't know what he'd done yet, it would be a bit unethical to praise him now.
Not wanting to discuss that stupid asshole anymore, she changed the subject, "It's just a little shampoo, so why bother asking whether it's worthy or not? Feel free to use it. I can still afford it."
After Ye Hu finished cutting the banana heart, he used a knife to stir it in the pot and said, "No need, miss. When we were young, we always washed our heads with banana water and rice water. It was very clean. You don't need to worry about lice getting on our heads."
Yueming wasn't concerned about their hygiene, but she couldn't believe her ears and kept asking, "Is that the rice water you throw away after washing the rice? You use it to wash your hair?!"
Ye Hu nodded: "Yes, rice water can nourish hair. My grandma always uses rice water to wash her hair, and now her hair is still black and shiny."
After hearing this, Yueming didn't dare to ask them what they used to take a bath, for fear that they would say something she couldn't accept.
Seeing Yueming had nothing to do, Yehu nudged Aiye with his elbow and said, "Sister, this needs to cook for a while. Go cut the watermelon that was delivered this morning for the young lady."
Ai Ye happily agreed and fished out a soaking watermelon from a bucket in the corner of the room. Not caring that the wet rind would get on her clothes, she carried the watermelon into the side room where she usually made tea. Yue Ming, seeing the watermelon, also became envious and followed her into the side room.
The green skin of the melons grown in the sand was so tight that it snapped in two as soon as the tip of the knife touched the grain, and the red juice flowed down the flesh onto the table.
Yueming licked her lips. Although she had just finished her meal, she felt that she could take the spoon and dig out another half of the watermelon.
Ai Ye cut the melon and handed a piece to Yueming first. Yueming took it and took an eager bite. Although the melon was not very sandy, it was very sweet and juicy. Afraid that the juice would stain her clothes, Yueming stretched her head and took it under her chin.
Seeing her like this, Ai Ye smiled and suggested, "Miss, shall I get a large handkerchief to wrap around you?"
Yueming didn't bother to talk and just waved her hands. She wasn't old enough to eat rice and cloth (1). She was wearing a handkerchief around her neck just to eat a piece of watermelon, which was ridiculous.
While eating, she said to Ai Ye: "You eat too. How can I finish it all by myself? Leave two pieces for Ye Hu."
Yueming was enjoying her meal in the side room when she suddenly heard Yehu calling out to someone in the courtyard, "Hey! Isn't that Master Feng? What brings you here?"
Yueming threw away the melon peel and found that he didn't bring a handkerchief, so he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and quietly stuck his head out to take a look. Feng Xiaosai was standing in the yard holding two sets of clothes, and Ye Hu was sneering with his hands on his chest.
Feng Xiaosai ignored Ye Hu's expression and said with a smile, "Sister, what are you talking about? Isn't this embarrassing for me? We are all servants of the young master and the young lady. You can just call me Xiaosai. Is Miss Yueming here? The young master asked me to bring her something."
Thinking of what happened yesterday, Ye Hu was furious. That bastard had taken her and Ai Ye for a whole afternoon, and they were so anxious that they almost jumped into the well when they couldn't find the young lady.
She said coldly, "Our young lady? I didn't see her. She must have gone out to play on the street with the second young master again!"
Yueming almost laughed out loud, but covered her mouth and quietly withdrew her head. Feng Xiaosai and Yunkai were in cahoots with each other. Neither the master nor the servant was a good person. Ye Hu deserved to give him a good beating.
Feng Xiaosai was ridiculed but didn't dare show any displeasure on his face. He still smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you to give these clothes to Miss Yueming. They are all new, so she can wear them without worry."
After Feng Xiaosai left, Yueming emerged from the side room. She was surprised at why Yunkai had thought of sending her clothes. Didn't they say that neither of the two tailors was in Yunxiang? Don't send her a tube skirt; she wouldn't know how to wear it.
When she saw the clothes Ye Hu was holding, her face flushed and paled with anger, and she almost grabbed them and threw them all to the ground. "Han Yunkai, you're so good! Yesterday you said you wanted to be good brothers, and today you brought two sets of men's clothes."
Ye Hu asked curiously, "Miss, why did the Second Young Master give you men's clothes?"
Yueming rolled his eyes and said, "Someone touched his head and made him stupid."
She was brought up by a nanny since she was a child, and she had learned countless curse words, but she didn't dare to show them in front of Lan Yingde. If she really started to curse, she would probably make Han Yunkai feel ashamed to death.
Ai Ye and Ye Hu felt that the second young master was truly a talented person, forcing their well-mannered young lady to curse.
Yueming finished scolding and was about to go back into the house to continue sorting out his painting supplies when Yunkai came in. Seeing Yueming, he turned around and scolded Feng Xiaosai: "You said Miss Lan wasn't here again, but isn't she here?"
Feng Xiaosai had no way to refute, and he could only smile awkwardly even though he knew Ye Hu had just played a trick on him.
Yunkai had arrived so quickly! The master and servant had come to her at the same time, so it was definitely not a good thing. Before Yueming could make an excuse, Yunkai pointed at the clothes Yehu was holding and said to her, "Go change your clothes quickly. I'll take you for a bike ride. It's inconvenient to wear a skirt."
Who wants to ride your broken bicycle? Yueming has suffered so much from him that she would rather squat in the yard watching Ai Ye and Ye Hu wash their hair than go out with him.
She said with regret, "It sounds fun, but I can't do it!"
Yun Kai grinned: "It's okay, I'll teach you." He pointed to the pile of clothes and said: "These clothes were made when I was studying abroad. They don't fit me even when I wear them. You're welcome to try them on."
Yueming spat out a mouthful of blood and said, "I'm being polite to you, damn it! When did I ever fall to the point of picking up your old clothes to wear?"
Yueming coughed in a very artificial way, squinting his eyes and said, "Thank you, I don't want to go out today."
Yun Kai narrowed his eyes and said threateningly, "What I said yesterday was in vain, right?"
Yueming choked, bit her lip, and led Yehu into the house to change clothes in a wronged manner.
Yunkai waited in the yard for a moment, hands behind his back. Soon, Yueming emerged. He glanced up and nearly laughed. The shirt was too big, the pants too long. No wonder Yueming looked so awful; the clothes looked stolen. Feng Xiaosai couldn't bear to look at them.
After enduring for a long time, he couldn't help it any longer, so he smiled and said, "Forget it, let the maid alter it for you."
Yueming swung her sleeves like a female opera singer and asked with a funny look on her face, "Can this be altered? Can it be cut smaller?"
Ai Ye continued, "Miss, you can modify it. Just open it and collect it."
Yun Kai sneered, "Aren't girls from your Han family supposed to learn needlework from a young age? Not to mention cutting cloth and sewing clothes, at least they should be able to sew a shoe sole! You don't even know how to hem your pants."
Yueming rolled up her sleeves, waved at him solemnly, and said, "I'll tell you a secret."
Seeing her serious expression, Yun Kai thought she had some important secret to share with him. Feeling a little nervous and expectant, he leaned forward and said, "Go ahead."
Yueming lowered his voice and said, "The Qing Dynasty has been gone for over thirty years."
The clouds have cleared... Oh my god... What a great Lan Yueming! Yesterday he was said to be immoral, and today he is said to be pedantic.
He straightened up and squinted at her: "Your witticisms are really unique."
Yueming swung his sleeves and bounced up and down with joy: "I won't go out unless I have clothes that fit me."
Yun Kai felt that he quite enjoyed watching her showing off like a villain who had succeeded. He was having fun, so he let her say she didn't want to go and used all his tricks to trick her out of the house.
Yueming sat sideways on the back of the bicycle, holding down her skirt with one hand and grabbing his clothes on the back with the other. Yunkai pedaled while warning her, "Hold on tight, this road is paved with cobblestones. Don't blame me if you hit a pothole or get bumped."
Although the process was not very pleasant, it was still nice to be able to go out and stroll around the streets. Listening to the street vendors and looking at the long-lost street scene, Yueming was in a good mood. She didn't care about his shirking of responsibility and said in a raised voice: "It doesn't matter, I will think you did it on purpose."
Yunkai laughed when he heard this.
As they paraded through the streets in such a swagger, the vendors on the street seemed to be watching a foreign spectacle and were talking about it in a flurry.
The young wife selling sticky rice shook a banana leaf and exclaimed, "Who's that little girl sitting behind the second young master? She's so pretty."
The shop owner who often delivered rice and oil to Lan Yingde's family twirled his beard and said, "You don't even recognize this person. She's the eldest daughter of Master Lan's family."
The second young master of the Tusi Mansion and the eldest daughter of Lan Caishen's family rode together in a car, and the people on the roadside were excited.
The uncle selling tobacco praised: "This Han girl is not as shy as they say. She is no worse than our Dai girls. She is very generous and open to whoever she likes."
The girl selling hair flowers curled her lips and said, "Second Young Master is such a handsome man. That girl might not like him, but I like him too."
The young man who was gambling on stones next to her said to her, "You can only like it yourself. Don't you see that they are both wearing Western clothes? That's what you call a good match. A country girl like you would be blinded by staring at the second young master, and he wouldn't even look at you."
The little girl angrily hit him with her hair: "Sell you your broken stone."
The young man picked up the hairpin, kissed it on his lips, and then put it on his bun and continued to shout: "Look, look, it's all excellent, with beautiful wives and concubines!"
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