Chapter Thirty-One: Weighing and Abandoning

  "Then you say send it to the Taoist temple?" Mr. Cheng asked.

  The girl presented tea, and Mr. Cheng drank a mouthful with satisfaction.

  "The newly arrived great monk at Wanning Temple made some good tea, and it took the help of many people to get just one pot." he said.

  "What's the big deal about spending a bit more money?" said Madame Cheng.

  Cheng Da laughed.

  He had no hobbies in his life, except for loving tea.

  "It wasn't my intention to send him to the Taoist temple," said Madame Cheng, "it was Mother's idea."

  A maidservant came in from outside the hall, whispered a few words in her ear and withdrew.

  "What's so shameful about it?" asked Mr. Cheng.

  "Lao Er's side has sold a maid servant." said Madame Cheng, with some helplessness and a sigh, "As she grows older, Qingniang's temper also becomes more pronounced."

  "What nonsense." Old Master Cheng put down his teacup, displeased. "Can't you control him?"

  "I don't dare to intervene anymore," said Mrs. Cheng, pausing for a moment, "Ever since this child entered the house, it's been chaotic."

  "Then let's see him off," said Mr. Cheng.

  "Do people from the Zhou family still need to make a special trip to greet us?" asked Madame Cheng.

  Before she had finished speaking, a servant woman rushed in from outside the door.

  "Master, mistress, someone has come from the Zhou family," she said.

  Don't mention people in front of others, how did you bring it up again?

  Cheng Da and his wife exchanged a glance, somewhat surprised.

  This time, the Zhou family came with a smaller group than last time, consisting of four men and four women. Their demeanor and attitude were similar to those of their masters in previous encounters.

  "The old master and mistress have called us over to take charge of our eldest daughter's dowry estate." one of the men in charge said.

  Everyone in Cheng's family was stunned for a moment.

  "Preposterous!" Old Master Cheng sat up straight and shouted.

  "Master, please calm down." The steward bowed and said, "In the past, when Young Mistress hadn't returned, it was thought that she wouldn't live long, so Master and Madam didn't make any arrangements. But now that Young Mistress has returned, and her age isn't young anymore, in the future when she gets married, this dowry will inevitably be taken away."

  The old masters and ladies of Cheng's family showed a strange expression.

  Are you still planning on going out?

  This week's family members are telling lies without blushing at all.

  "So, Master and Mistress have asked us to personally take care of the dowry for the young lady's marriage, so that our dear daughter can leave with dignity in the future." The steward continued.

  "Do you think our Cheng family would be so greedy as to not give Jiao Niang her dowry?" Madam Cheng asked coldly.

  "The old master and mistress didn't think that way, they just wanted to do something thoughtful for their beloved daughter," the steward said expressionlessly. "If it's not clear, we might as well invite the officials over, and personally compare the dowry list with them. It wouldn't be good to let the old master and mistress have a bad reputation for no reason."

  "They all have accounts, how can they not be clear?" Madam Cheng spoke up, "What's the point of being good to that person."

  Since I won't benefit anyway, I'd rather see others not benefiting either.

  Madam Cheng let out a sigh of relief in her heart.

  "You've come just in time." She said, "Go see Jiaoniangzi, she's going to the Taoist temple to cultivate her body in a few days."

  The men and women of the Zhou family were stunned, but before they came over, they had been instructed that everything would be handled by the person in charge, so they lowered their heads and remained silent.

  "What's the point of sending Daoguo there?" asked the manager, "If it gets out, what will others say?"

  "What did I say? The Taoist priest had calculated it before, this child's three souls and six spirits are not complete, only by sending him to the Taoist temple can he be safe." Mr. Cheng said coldly, "You're not unaware of this, if you don't believe us, there are many good doctors in the capital, send him over and have them take a good look."

  The official smiled and bowed his head in respect.

  "I dare not, Second Master's flesh and blood are naturally good, it is this old slave who does not understand and spoke rashly." He apologized.

  Cheng Da Lao Ye and Cheng Er Lao Ye exchanged a glance and shook their heads.

  The Zhou family only wants benefits, as for that spoiled girl, they really don't care about her.

  "Now that we know it's our family's flesh and blood, we can't just hand over the dowry to you." Old Master Cheng said calmly, "Although my younger sister is no longer around, Jiao Niang is still here, her father is still here, and I, as her elder uncle, am still here. What right do you have, the Zhous, to point fingers and lecture us?"

  Madam Cheng II immediately sat up straight.

  That's right, Father is still around, it's not your turn yet, big brother, to point fingers and give orders.

  It's time to talk about this dowry thing properly.

  These two families have been planning and scheming for a long time, with each side trying to outmaneuver the other. It's not something that can be resolved in just one or two days. As for the management of dowries, people don't seem too concerned about it. In comparison, the news that Cheng Jiaoniang is going to be sent back to the temple again is much more important.

  "What? Send the daughter-in-law to the Taoist temple?"

  The maidservants in the courtyard of the Prodigal Daughter's Mansion were suddenly thrown into confusion.

  He went to a Taoist temple or something, especially following this fool, it's highly likely that he'll never come out for the rest of his life!

  Coming to this fool's place, there is indeed no good thing at all. First, it led to the expulsion of the servants of both families, and now they are going to be framed for life, which is not much better than being driven out!

  This idiot is really a jinx, whoever gets involved with him will be unlucky!

  At once, the servants and maids in the courtyard were flustered and rushed about, begging for help, just wanting to escape.

  The girl sat under the veranda sewing a pair of socks, her expression calm.

  There was a faint noise coming from inside the house, she quickly put down her needle and thread and rushed in.

  Jiang Nang was slowly getting up from her bed.

  "The girl is awake," she said, offering her hand to help her up.

  Undress, wash face, sit down in front of the window and desk, hand over a cup of warm white water, this set of movements is very smooth.

  "Daughter, I did as you said, got the white lotus root, cooked it with rice flour and sugar, mashed it up and steamed it well. It's already cooled down, come try some?" The maid asked, "I think the sweetness is just right, don't know if it suits your taste, mistress."

  Jiang Nang nodded.

  The yellow-green rice cake in a small white porcelain plate was very appetizing, and Cheng Jiaoniang ate one or two pieces.

  "It's okay." said Jingniang.

  The girl smiled happily.

  "Are things packed up?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "It's just this book that the young lady wants to see," said Yatou, "On the day we leave, I'll personally bring it."

  Jiang Nang raised her eyes and looked at her.

  "Are you going with me?" she asked.

  "Yes, I'm here to serve you, Miss. Wherever you go, I'll naturally follow." said the maid.

  "What's good about going with you?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "If I, a humble servant, can come to your presence, it's already a sign that I'm not welcomed in the mansion." The maid said with a hint of a smile, her hands placed on her knees. "Staying here might sound pleasant, but the days would inevitably be spent in discomfort. I'm getting older and will be married off in a year or two. Given my status, it's easy to imagine what kind of person I'll be matched with. These days following you, however, have been relatively comfortable. I've thought about it, and things like food, drink, reputation, and so on are all secondary. One can't have everything go their way in this life. I don't ask for much else, just a sense of comfort is enough."

  Jiang Yao looked at her and pursed her lips.

  "You say so much, can a fool like me understand?" she asked.

  The girl covered her mouth and smiled.

  "My girl, don't joke about it, if you're a fool, then that servant is a fool too." She said with a smile.

  Jiang Nang stopped talking and lowered her head to read a book.

  The girl also stopped talking, retreated a few steps, sat down and continued to pick up her needle and thread.

  "It's possible for a person to have everything go their way in this life." said Jingniang suddenly.

  The girl speaks a beat slower than ordinary people. The young lady already knew it and smiled in response to the words, but didn't take it to heart.

  Someone is calling at the door outside.

  The two of them looked out from the window and saw a strange maid, dressed differently from their household.

  Like everyone who saw Cheng Jiaoniang for the first time, the servant girl was stunned for a moment before coming back to her senses under Cheng Jiaoniang's wooden gaze.

  "This is what we brought for you from home." She bent down and pushed over a square box.

  "Hemlock." Chiang Jiuniang suddenly said.

  My wife was startled and looked up in surprise.

  Isn't it said that people and things are unforgettable? How...

  "Yes, miss." The maid replied, taking over the box.

  My wife is a bit confused, she thinks of something and then feels like she hasn't thought of it.

  "Daughter, it's food." The maid opened the box and looked inside, saying with a surprised and delighted gaze.

  The package was opened to reveal a double-layered food box, with the square grid inside filled with all sorts of colorful pastries and dried fruits.

  "This is a famous snack in the capital, half... My family said that my wife loves snacks, so I specially selected them." The servant woman said, but this was said to the young girl, "But don't eat too much, or you'll get a stomachache."

  The girl smiled but didn't say anything.

  "That old slave has retired," said the servant woman, although this fool looks very good-looking, but staying in front of a fool always makes people feel unhappy.

  "This." Jingniang spoke again, picking up a book from beside the desk, "Take it away for her."

  His wife was taken aback and looked at Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Who is she? Who is she? Does this fool know who's who? Impossible!

  The girl has already taken it from the maid's hand.

  The woman took a look and saw that it was a simple notebook made of handmade paper, thin and light. She couldn't read or recognize what was written on it, so she picked it up again and bowed her way out.

  The girl herself saw him off at the corridor.

  "Sister, may I ask how to address you?" The servant woman asked as she walked down the steps and then turned back.

  The girl looked at her and smiled slightly.

  "Slave, half celery," she said.

  Still updating twice a day, the plot has been too slow lately, I hope everyone will accumulate and watch again, sincerely not recommended to chase the text, everyone is anxious, I will be flustered, but a story really can't be finished in one sentence, forgive me, forgive me.