Chapter 50 Gift Giving
Zhiqiu asked Zhichun to watch at the door of Second Madam's bedroom while she went to ask Second Master for leave in person. After giving the instructions, she was ready to leave.
Zhichun grabbed him. When Zhichun was about to open her mouth to dissuade him, Zhiqiu shook her head at her and turned to Zhixia and said:
"Go to the small kitchen and prepare some porridge for Second Grandma. She will eat it when she wakes up."
When Zhiqiu arrived at the hall, the dining table had already been set up, and the Second Master was sitting there. Several maids were busy setting the table, and Hongzhu and Hongyu were serving on the side. When the two saw Zhiqiu coming alone, they were so frightened that their faces turned green. Why is this Second Wife still angry with the Second Master at this time? They stole a glance at the Second Master, and were so frightened that they dared not breathe.
"Your servant Zhiqiu pays respects to the Second Master."
Zhiqiu stepped forward and knelt on the ground.
“Get up!”
"I apologize to the Second Master. The Second Master served me dinner, and I should have woken up Second Madam to serve her. However, I saw that Second Madam had just fallen asleep. She was not in good health and fainted yesterday. I also thought that Second Madam had just vomited, so I did not wake her up. I am afraid to ask for leave for Second Madam, and I will come to serve her when she feels better in the evening. I beg Second Master to show mercy."
Several maids held their breath and looked at the Second Master nervously, fearing that he would have another outburst. The Second Master had been very angry these days. This Second Mistress was really troublesome. Although she was not in good health, anyone could see that the Second Master did not like her. She had to hold on no matter how difficult it was. It had only been a few days, and she took the opportunity to not come to serve? She was waiting for the Second Master to have an outburst!
After a long time, I heard the second master say:
"Just let her rest, you go down"
After hearing what the Second Master said, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Zhiqiu thanked him and got up to go back to the inner room. She was so scared that she broke out in a cold sweat. She thought the Second Master would have a fit. She didn't know why he would let her go so easily. She thought, it's really hard for the Second Madam to have to deal with such an unpredictable master.
Mengxi opened her eyes after waking up and saw Zhiqiu sitting beside the bed, holding a pattern and tracing the lines. Zhiqiu looked up and saw that the Second Mistress had woken up and was looking at her, so she quickly stopped what she was doing and said:
"Grandma, you're awake. Are you hungry?"
"What time is it?"
"It's already late"
Mengxi took a long time to react. This Weishi is from 1pm to 3pm in modern times. Now she finally has some idea about this ancient time.
"Has the Second Master had lunch?"
"I have used it. Seeing that Second Madam was sleeping soundly, I told Second Master that I did not wake her up. Now that Second Madam is awake, I think she is hungry. Let's get up and eat first."
As he spoke, he asked Zhixia to serve him the meal while helping the Second Madam to get dressed.
"It's already noon, let's keep lunch simple and bring it inside."
Zhiqiu and Zhichun were serving Second Madam their meal when Eldest Aunt sent the maid Hong'er back to ask when all the things for the Master would be prepared and when they would be delivered.
Mengxi was just about to ask Hong'er to pass on a message and ask the eldest aunt to send it directly, but after thinking about it, she felt that it would be better to meet the eldest grandmother in person. Although they met their respects, there were so many people around and they seldom had personal conversations. She really liked the eldest aunt's calmness, but she could not learn it. She always wanted to argue about everything. Mengxi knew too little about the Xiao Mansion now, and urgently needed to find someone to understand the situation in the Xiao Mansion. Of course, she could not find the second master and those aunts, so she took the opportunity to contact the eldest grandmother.
Thinking of this, he told Hong'er:
"Please send the things to the upper room."
"Yes, I will go and tell the eldest aunt right away. Usually, it is the eldest aunt who sends you off. Does the second madam want the eldest aunt to accompany you this time?"
"No need, Zhiqiu can just accompany me."
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
After Hong'er went down, Mengxi turned around and told Zhidong to prepare the car and get ready to go to the grandmother's place.
After dinner, Mengxi ordered everyone to leave. He then called Zhichun, Zhixia, Zhiqiu, and Zhidong into the house and said:
"Zhixia, Zhidong, you stay in the house this afternoon, pack up my things and move to the east wing. We will live in the east wing from tonight on. The four of you must remember this: this east wing is my own courtyard. No one else is allowed to enter except the four of you. If there is anything, ask them to wait in the upper room."
"Second Madam..." When Zhiqiu heard this, he came over and tried to persuade Second Madam, but was stopped by Second Madam with her eyes.
"I've never spent money before, so I have no idea what these things are. I don't know what I can do with the 12 taels of silver I earn this month."
After hearing this, Zhichun stepped forward and said:
"Second Madam was born in a wealthy family. She has never lacked for anything. You don't have to worry about her. Of course, she doesn't know these things. This tael of silver can be exchanged for 1,000 Da Qi coins. For ordinary farmers, if they are healthy, 5 or 6 taels of silver is enough for a year. Second Madam's 12 taels of silver a month is already a lot. It is enough for a farmer to use for two and a half years."
"Oh," Mengxi nodded and continued:
"I have already asked the old lady this morning to go out to the market the day after tomorrow to have a look..."
"Really, Second Madam! That's great! That's great! Second Madam, please take us with you. I beg you..."
Before Mengxi finished speaking, the four maids jumped up with joy.
"Um……"
Mengxi pretended to be thoughtful as she looked at the four maids. The four of them looked at the Second Madam expectantly, wishing they could go up to her and call her "mother".
"It depends on your performance. If you perform well, I will take you there."
When the four maids heard this, they knew that the Second Mistress had agreed. They looked at the Second Mistress with sparkling eyes. Mengxi felt that she was like Tang Monk's meat at this moment. The four maids might pounce on her and eat her up the next moment. She coughed and continued:
"Zhichun will go to the account office to withdraw 50 taels of silver and tell the old lady that she has agreed to it. The second wife will leave the house the next day."
Zhichun nodded in agreement.
"Zhiqiu, tomorrow you will find a way to inform your brother and ask them to get ready. Just tell him that you will go back to see them the day after tomorrow afternoon."
"Second Madam, Zhiqiu will never forget your kindness in this life..."
After hearing what the second grandmother said, Zhiqiu fell to his knees with a thud. He kowtowed three times and choked.
Before Zhiqiu could finish his words, Mengxi helped him up:
"Get up, your face is all red from crying. People who don't know would think that I, your Second Grandma, have been waiting for you again. Pack your things and come with me to your First Grandma's place."
…
Mengxi held Zhiqiu's hand and walked through the small hanging flower gate, and saw that the eldest grandmother Zhang had led the maids and servants to greet them. Zhang took a few steps forward and grabbed Mengxi's hand:
"It's so hot and you're not in good health, so why do you come here in person? If you have something to say, just send a maid to pass on the message." As he said this, he took Mengxi's hand and walked inside.
"Well, I thought my sister-in-law would be leaving tomorrow, and it would probably be Chinese New Year before I see her again. I couldn't bear to let her go, so I wanted to come and see her."
Mengxi said to Zhang with a smile.
