Full House Spring

Chapter 18: Not as Expected

These days, Jiang Yapo has been looking at Chougu with ambiguous eyes. She might sell her out, so she has no choice but to try her best to win Pengger's heart.

In Chougu's mind, no matter which family they were sold to, they would suffer. The situation of Xia Li and the others surprised her a little.

When Qiao He heard that Jiang Ya Po's money had been stolen, she felt indescribably happy. She said sarcastically, "Jiang Ya Po's money was not clean to begin with. It was retribution that it was stolen."

Chou Gu felt a little hot when she heard this, because she was now the granddaughter-in-law of Jiang Ya Po and was apparently a member of her family.

Xia Li smiled and said, "Sister Chou Gu, please sit down. It's a rare opportunity to meet you again. Let's have a meal together."

Chou Gu swallowed unconsciously and looked at Manager Chai uncomfortably. Xia Li understood and said to Manager Chai, "Grandpa Chai, I will host this dinner. She dare not sit down without your permission."

Manager Chai liked Xia Li's generosity, and he said with a smile:
"There's no need for you to treat me. Just sit down. It's just an extra pair of chopsticks. Your Grandpa Chai is not a petty person."

Xia Li showed a grateful smile on her face and took the initiative to pour a cup of tea for Chou Gu, suggesting that it should be used to moisten her throat. Qiao He didn't bother to pay attention to her.

Chou Gu took a sip of the tea cautiously. Xia Li asked tactfully, "What are your plans next? How could Grandma Jiang allow you to sell rouge?"

Ugly girl smiled bitterly and said, "I signed a contract to sell myself. Even if I get out, I dare not run away. If I am caught as a runaway slave, my fate will be even worse. Now I call her grandma. Grandma is so angry that she is sick. I am the only one who can take care of the family."

Xia Li never looks down on anyone. Chou Gu has always planned for herself from the beginning. Even though she has fallen to this situation now, she still has plans in her mind.

Xia Li comforted her, "The difficulties are only temporary. When Mrs. Jiang Ya recovers from her illness, she will surely make a comeback. By then, you can still be the young mistress."

Ugly girl's eyes were full of confusion. She hesitated and said, "I am lucky that I can take care of the present. I wonder if the Duke's Mansion needs servants? If I am sold, maybe my grandmother and Peng'er can live a better life..."

Qiao He was not stupid either. She immediately understood her intention and said bluntly:
"You are smart. You go wherever you can make a living. Unfortunately, there are so many children waiting to be sent out in our house. We don't need to buy one from outside. Xia Li and I are lucky. Forget it."

Ugly's eyes dimmed, and she subconsciously looked to Xia Li for help. Xia Li said calmly, "Qiao He is telling the truth. Although life is difficult outside, a lean camel is bigger than a horse at Jiang Ya Po's place. The house you live in can be sold for several hundred taels of silver, and Jiang Ya Po has dozens of acres of land. You will definitely not be left without a living."

Chou Gu's expression was slightly stunned, and she obviously didn't think of all this. Jiang Ya Po kept complaining to her about being poor, and she really took it as if she had no rice to eat. She was worried that she would be sold, and she couldn't think of anything else at all.

She restrained her expression and asked humbly, "Then why is my grandmother acting like this now?"

Xia Li put down the teacup and said meaningfully, "What Jiang Ya Po cares about most is Peng Ge'er. She has to make more plans for Peng Ge'er. Li Laoguai has been with her for so many years and still managed to steal money and run away. How can she trust you?"

Ugly girl suddenly understood, and she guessed, "So grandma is testing me?"

Xia Li didn't say anything final. She raised her eyebrows and chuckled, "It's up to you to judge. What's more important now is how you choose, whether to enter a wealthy family as a slave, or to be Pengge's daughter-in-law."

The ugly girl's eyes were clear and she said without hesitation: "I don't want to be sold as a slave, and I don't want to be a servant, even if my family lives in poverty."

Xia Li admired her pride and stopped keeping her in suspense.

"You can negotiate with Jiang Yapo. As long as she is willing to help you get rid of your slavery, you will live with Peng Ge'er wholeheartedly and serve her well until the end of her life. Only then will she know what you want and feel at ease."

The ugly girl hesitated and said, "Grandma is so cautious, how can you trust me?"

Xia Li raised the corners of her lips slightly, and she smiled and said, "Things are different now. How do you know it won't work if you don't try it?"

Ugly girl met Xia Li's deep eyes, and stood up as if relieved. She bowed and said solemnly: "Thank you for your guidance. I will go home and talk to her now."

Ugly girl picked up the bamboo basket and turned to leave. Qiao He was confused and said, "Why didn't she stay for dinner before leaving? It looks like she hasn't had a full meal in a few days."

Xia Li smiled brightly and said in a brisk voice, "She has more important things to do than fill her stomach."

Manager Chai was an experienced man, and he could guess what was going on from the conversation between the two. He looked at Xia Li and asked casually, "Do you like the life that girl leads?"

Xia Li shook her head and said bluntly: "Being a child bride means supporting the family alone. Life is not easy. How can I like it?"

Manager Chai was puzzled, "Then did I misread the yearning in your eyes just now?"

Xia Li laughed and said, "You read it right. I was jealous of her because she was about to be freed from slavery. She could always find a way to make a living even if it was difficult. It's better than losing our freedom because we are inferior to others. But everything is determined by fate, so I just thought about it."

Manager Chai didn't think there was anything wrong with being a servant.

"You are young and have little experience. You don't know what it means to have the support of the Duke's Mansion. Stay in the mansion and do your job well. Don't have too many ideas."

How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan? Xia Li smiled and did not argue with him.

Although the dishes in this restaurant are not as exquisite as those in the mansion, they have a unique flavor. Xia Li has a rare appetite. Qiao He can explain the cooking method of each dish. She is indeed talented in cooking. The atmosphere at the table is harmonious.

When Manager Chai sent them back to the house, night had already fallen. Before he left, he instructed them, "I'll send a servant to pick up the things you ordered and deliver them to me in two days. You two girls should not go out. It's not peaceful outside, and if something goes wrong, no one will help you."

Public security in ancient times was a worrying issue. Xia Li appreciated the kindness of Manager Chai. She said calmly, "Thank you for the trouble, Grandpa Chai. If you are free someday, come and try the dishes made by Qiao He."

Qiao He nodded hurriedly and said, "I'll make you some appetizers. Please drink more wine."

Manager Chai smiled cheerfully, "You are so thoughtful. I will come back when I am free. Go inside quickly and close the doors and windows tightly. If anything happens, shout for help. The neighbors are all acquaintances."

Xia Li nodded slightly, and Manager Chai drove the carriage away only after seeing them bolt the door. Although there was a carriage following her on this trip, Xia Li still felt tired. After she washed up, Qiao He brought some medicine into the room and watched her drink it all before allowing her to lie down and rest.

The inner room had low gauze curtains and a brocade quilt and embroidered duvet. Xia Li was lying on the bed, feeling extremely comfortable. She had told Qiao He that there was no need to wake her up in the morning, as she wanted to sleep until she woke up naturally.

There was no master waiting for her to serve in this house, nor did she have to clean up before dawn. Xia Li thought that she could enjoy every day and would take care of the future later. Qiao He had gotten up at the appointed time to do the work, but there was not so much work in this house, and Xia Li did not need her to take care of him. If she got up early, she could only sit in a daze under the osmanthus tree. She simply slept in the house until the sun rose. The two girls lived a happy life like gods.

Three days later, the items Xia Li ordered from the craftsman were delivered, and it was time for Xia Li to start making velvet flower hair accessories.

Now that autumn has arrived, it is best to wear velvet flower hair accessories in accordance with the season. In the summer, I plan to reproduce the chrysanthemums from the Forbidden City collection.

Although the shape looks simple, it contains pompoms, long velvet strips and leaves. The production process is much more complicated than that of ordinary chrysanthemums, and it is also more delicate and eye-catching.

The two sat under the osmanthus tree. Xia Li stretched a bunch of embroidery thread on her wrist for a few times, then folded it in half and cut it with scissors. Qiao He said distressedly, "This embroidery thread is so expensive, how can you bear to cut it?"

Xia Li neatly straightened the embroidery thread, then divided it into small bundles and tied them into knots. She smiled and said, "This embroidery thread is for use when I buy it. If I don't cut it, I'll make a hair accessory. Just wait and see. Not a single strand will be wasted."

After Xia Li had arranged the embroidery thread and fixed one end, she was about to use a bristle brush to comb the velvet when she heard a noise coming from outside. Qiao He pricked up her ears and listened for a while. She said seriously, "Why does this sound a bit like Madam Lu? I shouldn't have heard it wrong."

Although Qiao He had not known Madam Lu for long, they were together every day and she could recognize her voice even with her eyes closed. Xia Li stopped and looked out the courtyard gate.

"Whose family is Mrs. Lu's husband from? Maybe they live in the back alley too."

Qiao He's eyes were full of interest. "Why don't we go out and take a look? I want to see what Madam Lu is doing and whether she is as domineering as she is in the small kitchen."

Xia Li chuckled and said, "You don't mind watching the fun. I'll go with you."

Xia Li first pressed the embroidery thread tightly on the stone table to prevent it from being blown away by the wind. Qiao He couldn't wait to open the gate and look outside.

Xia Li walked up to her and asked with a smile, "Can you see clearly which one it is?"

Qiao He narrowed her eyes and said, "It seems to be the third one on the east side. There are quite a few people standing there."

Xia Li opened the gate and said openly, "Let's go closer and take a look."

Qiao He said timidly, "What if it really is Madam Lu? What if she finds out that I'm laughing at her and takes her anger out on me?"

Xia Li rolled her eyes at her and said, "You think too much. Let's not talk about whether it was Madam Lu or not. Even if it was her, she has something going on at home right now so how could she care about you? You came here on Madam's orders, so it doesn't matter if she really saw it."

Qiao He thought about it and it made sense. If she was afraid of being seen by Madam Lu, she could cover her face with a scarf. What's more, there were so many people watching the fun, and she would not be noticeable if she hid in the crowd. So she followed Xia Li and walked forward boldly.

The aunties and ladies I met on the road were all whispering.

"Lu Huaer is incompetent. She can't even keep the man at home. She lets him go out and have affairs with other women every other day."

"Who says it's not true? Even if she controls the small kitchen in the mansion, so what? If the man in the family is not at peace, no matter how much money he earns, it will be spent by outsiders."

"This time the commotion is so big, I wonder which slut her man is involved with."

"Anyway, no matter which one it is, she's more attractive than Lu Hua'er. Her face is smoky all day long in the kitchen, and it makes men lose their appetite when they see her."

Xia Li felt physically uncomfortable when he heard such remarks. Qiao He also frowned. She leaned close to Xia Li's ear and whispered, "Why do these people sound so awkward when they talk?"

Xia Li raised a sneer at the corner of his mouth and replied in a low voice:

"They are jealous of Madam Lu for having a good job. These people are not as capable as her, so they use other weaknesses to attack her. Although Madam Lu is not a good person, she has established herself in the mansion with her own abilities. At the very least, she is better than them who can only gossip."

Qiao He felt that what she said made a lot of sense, and said thoughtfully: "Mrs. Lu's bad temper may be related to trivial matters at home."

Xia Li nodded slightly. Although she had not married and started a family, she could still understand the most basic truths: a woman who lives a comfortable and happy life would never be full of resentment and act like a shrew all day long, disliking everyone.

As they were talking, they arrived at the door of Madam Lu's house. They saw Madam Lu with messy hair, grabbing her man's collar fiercely and cursing:
"You conscienceless coward, if I hadn't asked for leave to come back, I wouldn't have known that you were involved with that slutty vixen. Do you think you are worthy of me working so hard to support the family?"

Zhao Daqiao was born weak and not as strong as Lady Lu. He couldn't break free. His face flushed and he said in a muffled voice, "It's common for a man to have three wives and four concubines. It's uncivilized for a woman to be like you."

The cousin of the Zhao family who was called a slutty fox hid behind her aunt and said timidly:

"Don't be upset, cousin. In the future, you will be the elder and I will be the younger. I will never compete with you. Now I have nowhere to go. Just think of it as pity for me."

Mother Zhao protected her niece and said righteously, "You have been married for many years and you have not laid an egg. Do you want my Zhao family to die? Not divorcing you is already a mercy. Don't embarrass yourself here and let my son go."

Madam Lu was in awe of her mother-in-law and unconsciously loosened her hand. Zhao Daqiao immediately slipped away. When she wanted to catch him again, the sister-in-law reached out to stop her. She smiled and said:

"Sister-in-law is the chef in the old lady's courtyard after all, and she has some respect in the mansion. If you come back and make such a fuss, it will be disgraceful if the old lady hears about it."

Madam Lu felt extremely aggrieved and shouted without caring about anything: "It's not me who did anything wrong. Zhao Daqiao didn't even let go of a widow who was in mourning. If he really makes trouble in front of the old lady, he should be the one to be punished."

Zhao Xiaohui's eyes rolled, and she tiptoed to whisper in Madam Lu's ear. Madam Lu's face turned pale and blue. After she finished speaking, Madam Lu calmed down and went into the house.

Zhao Xiaohui turned around, pinched her waist, and said to the onlookers with a fake smile:

"Are there no chores to do at home, ladies and aunts? If you are bored, come and help me wash the clothes and dishes..."

This girl has a sharp tongue and is not easy to mess with. The women watching did not dare to respond to her and they all dispersed and went back to their homes.

Qiao He and Xia Li followed him and left. After they went back and closed the gate, Qiao He sighed, "I never thought that a person like Madam Lu would have such an unsatisfactory life in her husband's family."

(End of this chapter)