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Last time on Grafting Life: Bao Yu sleeps with a lot of his servant girls.
Chapter 65 – Red Chamber (65)
Zhou Rui’s wife took away Bi Hen and She Yue. First, they would be kept locked up for a night. Tomorrow morning, she would report to the mistress for punishment. Xi Ren frowned, her expression one of worry. She took silver to give to Zhou Rui’s wife and Wang Shan Bao’s wife. “I do not ask for anything else, but just that they do not suffer.”
Zhou Rui’s wife felt more wary of Xi Ren. Tripping the other up and looking virtuous at the same time. Over time, such a person may become a calamity.
Qing Wen looked down on Xi Ren’s tactics and snorted as she looked. This was right when Wang Shan Bao’s wife accepted the silver. At this time, Wang Shan Bao’s wife felt very embarrassed. She secretly felt hate for Qing Wen. She thought, you did not make a sound when Zhou Rui’s wife took the silver, but you are so dismissive when I do. What do you mean?
Ping’er was a bit afraid of Xi Ren and pretended to not see this. She left the courtyard first. Inside, she did not feel very good. She and Xi Ren had always been on good terms because they had similar statuses. She did not think that Xi Ren would not hesitate at all when she acted.
The group came out of Red Harmony Courtyard. When they passed by River Bamboo Building, they seemed to hear what may be the wind or the sound of weeping. It was very frightening.
“Go, this place is strange.” Wang Bao Shan’s wife did not dare to stop at all, holding the lantern. Adding on there were many plants that swayed, and the cries of cats in the night, it was very creepy.
Ping’er was sad. This garden had once been very busy and now, it was very miserable.
The second stop was Tan Chun’s Cool Autumn Study.
Tan Chun looked and saw only a few servants had come. She felt fury rise. Now, it was the servants’ turn to investigate their masters. What kind of joke was this?
Because Tan Chun was in charge of the household and had interacted much with Ping’er, Ping’er knew Tan Chun’s personality and just docilely bowed. She sat down on the stool by Tan Chun’s feet and lightly kneaded her legs. Such an attitude meant that Tan Chun could not vent her anger on her.
“You are smart. If you want to search for loot, then you should call for your missus to come. The yard full of servant girls are all thieves. The loot is here. Do not flip through their things. Just investigate me,” Tan Chun slanted a look at Ping’er and said.
“Miss, you really like to joke,” Ping’er smiled and said, “We just came to see if the grannies are doing their duties in the night. Miss, when have you ever seen my missus care about this?”
Zhou Rui’s wife was naturally not willing to investigate Tan Chun. She was a miss of the second branch in the end, and had been raised by the mistress. If something was found, then the mistress would be shamed. She said, “I thought that Miss was asleep, and did not expect to have disturbed Miss. We will look around and then leave.”
But Wang Shan Bao’s wife was not a clever person, and did not know how to read the situation. She thought this was a bashful girl who came from a concubine’s belly. She herself was one of the eldest mistress’ people and would not fear the girl. She said, “Miss, you are young, you do not know the severity. These servant girls are the most lawless, they bully Miss for being young……”
Before she finished, Tan Chun laughed coldly, “You think me Second Sister, and will let you bully me. You have the wrong idea. Since you want to investigate, investigate well.” Then she called for her servant girls to open all her boxes. “Today, if you want to investigate, investigate me. My people, I can guarantee them. Any loot would have been given to me. I am more evil than others, and treat my servants harshly. I know each needle and thread. The things are all here. Search. But once you leave, if you want to come back again, it will not be possible.”
“Miss, do not say such things,” Zhou Rui’s wife hurriedly said, “No matter how brave we are, we will not search through Miss’ possessions.” She said to the servant girls in the room, “Quick, return the things to their places.”
Tan Chun sneered and asked, “Look well, do not say that I hid loot here tomorrow.”
Zhou Rui’s wife repeated that she did not. Wang Shan Bao’s wife went forward with a smile and searched through the jewelry in Tan Chun’s make up box. She said with a smile, “Searched, searched, nothing here.” Then, she lightly pulled on Tan Chun’s sleeve and said, “Searched very carefully.”
Ping’er’s expression immediately changed. As expected, Tan Chun stood up and slapped Wang Shan Bao’s wife in the face.
“Who are you to dare pull me?” Tan Chun pointed at Wang Shan Bao’s wife, her expression frosty. “You think that I am your miss, always a good temper and will let you bully me all the time? I just did not want to bother with you, seeing you are older. Now, you dare to be so arrogant.”
Ping’er hurriedly went to soothe Tan Chun, saying, “She is a fool, Miss, do not bother with her. You will be angry for nothing.”
“If I am truly angry, I will just hit my head on the wall and kill myself. Is having a servant girl pull and tug at me something respectful? Tomorrow, I will go ask the old mistress and the mistresses. Then I will go ask forgiveness from the Eldest Miss.” Ping’er helped Tan Chun sit down. She said, “The court has raided the Zhen Family and confiscated their properties. You are good. You are raiding your own home. You will make such trouble that the family will fall from the inside.”
Ping’er saw her speak of this and did not dare to speak. She hurriedly asked for forgiveness and the group left.
“My old face has been greatly embarrassed. Tomorrow, I can only beg the eldest mistress to let me go.” Wang Shan Bao’s wife covered her red face. She had been slapped, and she was afraid to some degree. However, she could not find a way out of the embarrassment and just muttered.
Ping’er said, “You should stop. She is a miss. If she has a temper and says something to the old mistress, the old mistress and the mistresses will take a few steps back. You dare to go over. Now, stop talking. If someone hears, I fear the matter will not end well. At the time, you may not be able to return if you want to, you will be let go.”
Zhou Rui’s wife said, “Right now, we cannot search Miss Bao’s rooms.”
“Yes, we cannot search our relatives.” Ping’er nodded and agreed.
Wang Shan Bao’s wife nodded as well. She followed behind the two. The Xue and Xing Families were about to make a match, and they did not count as outsiders. So they should not go right now, and ruin the relationship between the two families.
The group went to Ying Chun’s courtyard and did not encounter any resistance. Zhou Rui’s wife sincerely wanted to find something. As expected, she flipped through Si Qi’s possessions. In the box was a pair of men’s shoes, and a bright red note. Ping’er saw Si Qi’s face turn pale and knew it was not right. She took the note first, and looking at the writing, her expression changed slightly, while she smiled and said, “It must be difficult for you to record the accounts so clearly, I have to learn this.”
Saying this, she put the note in her sleeve. Si Qi looked oddly at Ping’er and then did not say a thing, pressing her lips together.
Zhou Rui’s wife said, “Never mind that, but what is the reason behind the shoes?”
Before Si Qi could speak, Ping’er said, “What else can it be but Second Miss wanting to make a pair of shoes for our second master. But the soles are very thick. The miss cannot make this, it has to be the servant girls. This is just the size for our second master. Is it a crime for a sister to make shoes for her brother?”
Si Qi instantly sighed in relief. It would be best if Ping’er managed to brush over the matter and save her life.
Ping’er changed her focus and said to Zhou Rui’s wife, “Do not spare the others. Inspect the boxes of these wives and grannies. See if anything is wrong.”
Zhou Rui’s wife smiled. This Ping’er saved Second Miss, but pushed the blame to Eldest Mistress. Everyone knew the people around Second Miss were like blood-sucking beasts. If they investigated, they would find something. She was happy to do this, and lead people to search the rooms completely. They managed to find a lot of Second Miss’ clothing and jewelry. Even more interesting, they found some pawn receipts. What had been pawned were Second Miss’ things.
Ping’er smiled and said, “We said to find loot, and we found big thieves. They have cleaned out Miss’ things without making a sound. Tomorrow, we will report to the old mistress and the mistresses to kick them all out.”
Si Qi sent them outside the door, and held Ping’er hands, shaking and not knowing what to say.
Ping’er sighed and said in a low voice, “Do not worry.” Then she said at a normal volume, “Second Master is Miss’ brother. Our missus is Miss’ sister-in-law. They do not make shoes, they do not do needlework, could they neglect to serve Miss? Do not worry, I will pick a few good people to come serve Miss.”
Si Qi’s tears came down. Taking advantage of the darkness, she wiped them away and turned back to the courtyard.
Xi Chun was young, and when she saw them, she was frightened. Then, seeing the things that Ru Hua took out, her face flushed. She thought of the rumors of the eastern residence. They said that Brother may have relations with some of his male servants. The silver that Ru Hua took out now were those that she said her brother gave her for safekeeping. However, why would a master reward a servant with so much silver? Without needing to think, there must be something else involved. Thinking of such matters, she felt a bit of dislike for Ru Hua. “Just take her. I am an innocent person, I do not want to be dragged in.”
Ping’er did not think that she would be so ruthless. Looking at Ru Hua begging on her knees for mercy, her heart went soft. However, this Fourth Miss did not change expression at all.
Returning to the courtyard, Ping’er told Wang Xi Feng what had happened today.
Wang Xi Feng nodded and said, “You did well. Second Miss only has Si Qi who is useful. You kept her, and cleaned out the worms. It is a good deed. As to Fourth Miss, you think she is cold and ruthless. But you do not think, she knows all the matters of the eastern residence. In this life, what she cares about the most is her reputation. She fears that people will say she is the same as her brother, sister-in-law, and nephews. She is young, no one has taught her, and it is very good she knows to protect herself. Also, Ru Hua’s brother’s silver may not be clean.”
Ping’er then realized and sighed.
The next day, Xue Bao Chai learned of the matters of last night. She immediately moved out of the garden and back in with Aunt Xue.
Madam Wang looked at Xue Bao Chai who came to bid farewell. While she was just moving out of the garden, Madam Wang did not feel pleased. She said, “Child, you think too much. They just came to see if the servants are fulfilling their duties properly. You do not have to move out.”
“It is not because of that, it is just a coincidence. My mother is discussing a marriage for my brother, and there are a lot of matters in the family. I want to return and help them,” Xue Bao Chai said with a smile.
“Do they have a miss they like?” Madam Wang asked.
“They say that the Miss Gui Hua of the Xia Family is very beautiful, and she is very nimble and capable. She is also an only daughter. My mother feels she is very good, and has gotten a matchmaker.” Xue Bao Chai smiled and said, “I think that even if she is not as good as other people, she is someone from a known family, and her upbringing will not be bad.”
Just as they were talking, Zhou Rui’s wife came in. Xue Bao Chai was about to say good-bye when Madam Wang said, “It is not anything important, but you should know. The servant girls in Bao Yu’s rooms have grown up. I was thinking of letting them go. You can see which ones are good and keep them. Just send away the ones you think are bad.”
Madam Wang’s words were very clear. It was the first time Madam Wang gave such a strong hint for a long time. Xue Bao Chai immediately blushed, and she could not say anything else.
Madam Wang smiled and said, “You are frequently in the garden and familiar with these servant girls. These people like to act in front of me. They are only true in private.”
Xue Bao Chai put away her embarrassment and said, “Brother Bao Yu is one who remembers, you can see it from how he treats Xi Ren. He remembers the feelings from their service for many years. This She Yue appears docile, but after a few years, she may become another Xi Ren. We will feel relieved with such a considerate person to care for Brother Bao Yu.”
Zhou Rui’s wife glanced at Xue Bao Chai and seemed to understand. This miss only said She Yue and said that She Yue was another Xi Ren. In reality, she wanted to say that this person would also fall out of favor with Bao Yu, and it would not be too late to sort her out then. Also, this She Yue and Xi Ren had been very close before. Now, the two of them were likely at odds. She did not fear leaving behind an enemy who understood Xi Ren very well.
Madam Wang immediately said, “Child, you are right. I just fear arrogant servant girls who do not know their own weight. Bao Yu was ruined by them. Last time I went to the garden, I saw a girl with a thin waist who is very competitive. This servant girl cannot be kept. Let her go, along with that Bi Hen.”
Xue Bao Chai knew that this was speaking of Qing Wen. Qing Wen and Xi Ren were not the same. She was prettier than the others, and she looked similar to Lin Dai Yu. The likelihood that she would lose favor with Bao Yu was not high. She was also a harsh and fierce person. Such a person would not be easy to control if she remained.
She bowed her head and did not speak.
Ping’er got the words that Zhou Rui’s wife passed on from the mistress and did not know what she felt. However, she did carry out the orders.
Bao Yu had gone out and was not at home. Qing Wen bit her lips. Feeling the gazes of people who were happy at her misfortune, she was stubborn and did not cry a tear. She just twisted her hands in her handkerchief, and bit her lips, not making a sound.
When Xiao Hong arrived, she saw the other stubbornly waiting for Bao Yu and hurried over, urging in a whisper, “Why do this? You have hope for Bao Yu?”
“In any case, dying here is better than being tormented out there,” Qing Wen said hatefully.
“Who says that you will die if you leave? Our missus said for me to tell you that the Lin miss has an embroidery workshop which makes wedding blankets, bed drapes, and other items. They are also a shop which provides the official uniforms for the court. Right now, they lack a storekeeper, and ask if you want to go. Even if you think of Bao Yu, as long as you are alive, you will meet again. Also, with the protection of the Lin Family, you will not fear for your bastard brother and sister-in-law to torment you. The two misses of the Lin Family stayed in our family for so long, and you can trust their character,” Xiao Hong urged in a whisper.
Qing Wen was shocked. “Truly?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
Qing Wen gritted her teeth and agreed. That day, she went out of the residence with Xiao Hong to the embroidery work owned by Lin Yu Tong. It was all women there. In the front was the shop, and the workshop was in the back, followed by the rooms for people to live. It was very orderly. There was five taels of silver a month for a wage, including shelter and food. She did not have to fear people disturbing her. While the days would not be as rich as in the Jia Family, it would not be much worse.
Later, when Xiao Hong sent people with blankets for her, she learned that Bi Hen did not want to leave. She hit her head on the wall, and immediately died.
The tears that Qing Wen had kept back for a whole day finally came down……
- Grafting Life Chapter 64 – Red Chamber (64)
- Grafting Life Chapter 66 – Red Chamber (66)
- Grafting Life Chapter 67 – Red Chamber (67)
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