Ink Burns

Chapter 37 The Open Door

"She is just a little girl without any roots. She is a little dependent and attached to me. She painted my portrait in private. Besides, she admires Lord Liu, a fifth-rank official. Isn't it normal for the painter to paint my portrait?" Cheng Xinghe felt that his mother was afraid of everything.

In his opinion, this was destined to happen.

He had looked down on Cheng Daxing a long time ago.

He could not read two characters, and had no knowledge of poetry, calligraphy, etiquette, poetry, painting, and antiques. He did not even have a superficial understanding of them, but he loved to show off. His family had spent countless silver taels on buying paintings, which were a mixture of real and fake, fake and real. He had heard the owner of a bone toy shop on the street make fun of him behind his back: "He is just a fat, pretentious dilettante. Even if you sell him the worst of the Suzhou movies, he wouldn't be able to spot it!"

He was so embarrassed that his face turned red.

The process of his family's rise to wealth was also full of humiliation and was not worth mentioning. Eight years ago, in front of that group of arrogant nobles in the capital, he was not even as good as a dog. No, no, he was far from a dog - the noble master who looked like a wisteria flower had a pure white fine-haired dog by his side. It actually drank human milk and walked with its chin raised high, just like its master.

Once, he accidentally pulled out a whisker of the dog.

The noble lady, who was wearing a golden hairpin with wisteria tassels, smiled and had someone hold him down, and pulled out his innermost big tooth, saying with a smile: "You are lucky! Beards are very important to dogs, but your big tooth is dispensable. Even if it is gone, it won't affect your appearance - just one thing, don't bite the ribs in the future! You can't bite it anymore!"

Everyone laughed.

He had no doubt that he had no dignity in front of this group of people.

He had thought more than once that if he were the son of an official, would he not have to endure such humiliation?

Now there is an opportunity to change his fate right in front of him. No, this opportunity to change his fate has always been there, since he was born!
But his mother, for the sake of all kinds of worldly fame and her own disgusting, dirty and fragile emotions, forced him to be a merchant's child for twenty-six years!
Even, even his wife!
The gentle and virtuous eldest lady in the worldly rumors is probably just submissive and gentle on the surface, but in private she is also using the "official lady's" attitude to dislike, look down on and disgust him!
It would be better to treat him with a superior attitude!
At least this way, he can be truly happy!
hateful! hateful! hateful!

Cheng Xinghe got up and looked at his biological mother: "Don't think about it. You have been living in the boudoir all your life, and you are one-sided and naive in your views on people and things. He is stupid, but now she has registered a name with Lord Liu. The death of the eldest master is the time when we, an orphan and a widow, are in urgent need of external help. If we touch He at this time, wouldn't it be like destroying our own great wall?"

"Besides, after this incident, she is tied to the same rope as us. Could she report it to the authorities? Wouldn't she fall into the hands of the old man again? Although the new magistrate and the old man have fought before, they are colleagues in the Jiangnan officialdom. You have to consider the owner before you beat the dog. The new magistrate won't be so disrespectful to the old man, right? He can only keep this secret for the rest of her life!"

"We just need to hold a proper funeral, bury the body, cover the grave, and burn paper and incense for the master on Qingming Festival and New Year's Eve. Isn't this a matter that can be passed without mentioning it in the dark or in the daytime?"

Blessings and misfortunes go hand in hand. Now thinking about it, Cheng Daxing’s death was probably not a good thing.

Cheng Xinghe comforted his mother in a gentle voice: "If you really don't like He, just keep her by your side. What kind of waves can a little orphan girl cause?"

He glanced at the closed door of the opposite room.

He didn't know if it was an illusion or if there really was a smell, but he seemed to smell the stench of a rotting corpse, and even saw an illusion of fat white maggots wriggling before his eyes.

Cheng Xingyu frowned in disgust: "Put more ice on the old master's body, have someone tidy up his appearance, and don't change his clothes to avoid a bad smell. After the funeral is over and the condolences are over, change into shroud clothes. It will be more convenient to burn or tear up the previous clothes at that time."

Duan half sat on the edge of the bed, thought for a moment and nodded slowly, beckoning Huang Zhi over: "Please clean up a side room in the compartment for He to live in, and tell her to wait until the master recovers before leaving."

Huang Zhi went into the inner room and saw Shan Yue sitting behind the eight-immortal table, sipping strong tea. Huang Zhi closed the door quietly, and while pouring tea for Shan Yue, he whispered, "The master is probably dead. Madam told you not to leave the main hall. I don't know what Madam wants to do. If you want to be safe, you can run tonight. I will be on duty. I will open a small door for you. The dog hole in the northwest corner of the side door is always there."

The friendship between her and Miss He was built with real money!

Otherwise, how could that precious dog hole reveal the secret to her!

That was the last protection she left for herself!

Shan Yue took the teapot and poured Huang Zhi a cup of hot tea: "Thank you, dog hole, I'll try to use it next time."

This time, I have to save my life first.

Earn other people's lives.

Shan Yue handed the teacup to Huang Zhi and said, "Ms. Huang Zhi, please tell the second young lady a message for me. Ask her to go and look for He Yaoniang who lives on the first floor of the embroidery building at night."

Huang Zhi exclaimed, "Ah?" "You have a secret affair with her?"

Shan Yue: Did she mean "personal relationship"?
Shan Yue shook his head and shook off his thoughts: "Isn't Miss He the niece of Madam He of the Second House? - Please ask Miss Er to tell her to pass on five words to Madam He of the Second House. The eldest master is dead, the eldest son is a heavy suspect, there is something strange about the corpse, and she has become the head of the family. I will take action when the time is right."

Huang Zhi did not say that he would not help, but only said: "Can Miss He go and tell her?"

Shan Yue was very sure: "She must go - which one will benefit more, her own aunt as the head of the family or being a second wife with no real power, anyone who is not stupid can figure it out."

Huang Zhi tilted his head and wrote it down carefully.

Shan Yue nodded slightly towards him and said solemnly: "Thank you very much."

Huang Zhi's cheeks flushed, and without saying anything, he turned around and walked out. Halfway through, he turned around and scratched his head and said, "I didn't help you! I passed on this message to ask Second Miss for at least five cents of silver!"

A simple transaction of money and goods should not be tainted by personal emotions.

Shan Yue nodded: "I know. When I get out, I'll give you another branch made of pure silver, which will be a perfect match for the little silver cicada."

Huang Zhi opened the door and reported to Duan respectfully: "Miss He said that wherever she lives, there are girls from the Cheng family. She is so grateful that she can't express it in words. However, she hasn't washed for two days and wants to go back to the embroidery building to get some clothes to change. Is it okay for Madam and the eldest master?"

What's so great about reporting such a small matter?
Without waiting for Duan's response, Cheng Xinghe waved his hand impatiently: "Just run the trip for her, go quickly and come back quickly, the door to the main courtyard can't be left open waiting for you!"

(End of this chapter)