Chapter 4: Enduring (Additional Update)

  Why bother adding more, lest I get screwed over.

  It's just as Cao Guan said that they were invited in, but unfortunately, Cheng Jiaoniang was asleep.

  "My mistress is unwell and has had a lot of nightmares. Please excuse her." The maid said.

  Chen Siye didn't know much about this Cheng Jiaoniang, but along the way, he had heard several times that she was not in good health and had been ill since childhood.

  Cao Guanshi's words were ambiguous, and he naturally had doubts in his heart. He let the little servant secretly ask around to find out what kind of illness it was, and as a result, he couldn't help but be startled.

  Cheng Jia's daughter is actually a born fool!

  How can an idiot see a doctor! What a joke!

  But had no choice but to believe Lao Taitai's words.

  According to people close to Zhou's family, this foolish child seems to have recovered and is no longer foolish.

  But can a born fool be good? Maybe there's something hidden in this.

  Whether a person is foolish or not, young people can't tell, how could an old man be wrong?

  Thinking again about this daughter living alone in the Taoist temple, it seems that there is a hidden affair in the Cheng family.

  Cao Guan Shi said don't let himself go see Cheng family elders, is this the reason?

  Old Fourth is deep in thought.

  "The Taoist temple is simple and doesn't have tea to entertain guests, please forgive us." The maid said.

  Cao Guanshi and Chen Siye hurriedly said polite words, "Don't bother."

  The maid indeed didn't show any courtesy and didn't even offer a cup of water before leaving.

  Cao and Chen rushed along the road day and night, eating on horseback when they were hungry. This day's journey was so urgent that they didn't even have time to drink water. Now that they had finally arrived in front of the person they were looking for, although they hadn't seen them yet, their hearts felt a little more at ease. Suddenly, the feeling of thirst and hunger surged up.

  Cao Guan Shi was the first to stand up and couldn't sit still.

  Here lives the daughter of the Cheng family and the granddaughter of the Zhou family. You can consider it your own home, no need to be polite.

  He looked around the house but didn't see a water pot or cup, pushed open the paper door, and found the courtyard quiet and deserted.

  Cao Guan Shi could only swallow his saliva and retreat.

  "Fourth Master, do you still have water?" he asked Chen Fourth Master.

  "Endure it." Chen Siye said somewhat irritably, he had never suffered such injustice in his life!

  It's really a case of desperately seeking medical attention, if it weren't for having no other choice, why would I be so foolishly running to see this inexplicable Miss Cheng.

  On this side, Taiping Palace is like a hot pot with ants sitting on it. On the other side, Cheng Jia's Cheng Liu Niang is like a cat whose tail has been stepped on.

  "How dare you say there isn't?" she shouted.

  "Yes, miss." The maid nodded, afraid that her anger would be misdirected at herself. "The most hateful thing is that she said no at first, but then gave a big package to Young Master Jin."

  Cheng Liu's mother was taken aback.

  "Who is that?" she asked.

  "It was that little servant who mainly went to serve the young lady under Sun Guan's orders." said Cheng Si Niang.

  Unlike her legitimate sister, as a concubine-born daughter she was more inclined to pay attention to the whispers and rumors within the household, so naturally she knew about these strange happenings.

  "...Sun Guanzhu said that the two maidservants sent by Second Uncle had inauspicious eight characters, which were not suitable for Jiaoniang to recuperate from her illness. He chattered and nagged until they were sent back. Second Uncle was originally going to select another two, but it just so happened that Old Lady Zhang returned a maidservant as a gift. As soon as Sun Guanzhu saw her, he was delighted and said this one was good, so he took her away. Second Uncle was not willing at first, but the maid also said she wanted to go and claimed it was Old Lady Zhang's intention. Second Uncle had no choice but to let her go. But Sun Guanzhu wasn't finished yet, saying that another young servant boy was needed to run errands, in case something happened, as they were all women, it wouldn't be convenient for them to walk around and find people... Spring Orchid, do you still remember? The one who..."

  "I remember, I remember." Cheng Qiuniang finally had the opportunity to interject, hastily sitting up straight and shouting, "It's the one for collecting Fourth Brother's soul."

  "It's not collecting souls, it's a folk remedy for treating illnesses." Cheng Liu'niang corrected.

  "Fourth Brother wasn't seduced by a female ghost, and then this Chunlan was infatuated with him..." said Cheng Qiuniang.

  Before she could finish speaking, her mouth was covered by Cheng Liu Niang and Si Nian Wu Niang.

  "What about her?" Cheng Liu's mother scolded, looking outside, "Who raised Qiniang?"

  Outside, Qiniang's wet nurse hastily came in, knelt down and knocked her head.

  "Give me a slap!" shouted Cheng Liu Niang.

  The wet nurse slapped herself in the face with a loud slapping sound.

  Cheng Qiuniang was frightened and her eyes widened in shock.

  "Sixth Sister, why did you hit them?" she asked.

  "You've heard things you shouldn't have, learned things you shouldn't have. This is the fault of those slave girls." said Cheng Liu Niang, her face stern, as she looked at Cheng Si Niang and Cheng Wu Niang, "We are a family of good women, we don't listen to improper words, we don't look at improper sights. Remember this, don't degrade yourselves."

  Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister were a bit embarrassed, but they responded in unison.

  The atmosphere is somewhat dull and awkward.

  Cheng Liu Niang told the wet nurse to go down.

  "What were we just talking about? How did it suddenly become like this?" She laughed and asked again.

  "Speaking of that silly girl," said Cheng Qiuniang, pouting, "she's the one who causes all the trouble."

  Is it related to her again? Several people in the house thought for a moment, but aren't they all related to her! Sending Yaotou wants Yaotou to want a small servant, the small servant's snack...

  "Are you saying that Mr. Miao didn't give me any pastries, but instead gave them to that fool?" asked Cheng Liu Niang with raised eyebrows.

  Is it?

  Anyway, she didn't bring back any pastries, that little servant is a spoiled brat.

  "Yes." The maid replied in affirmation.

  "I'm going to find my mother! Stop worshiping that mysterious temple!" Cheng Liu'niang stood up, picked up her skirt and left.

  Cheng Qiuniang sat in the back for a moment, thinking about something and then stood up.

  "Aunt is giving that fool some small stove food again! Not giving us any!" she shouted, "I'm going to tell grandma!"

  The girls in the courtyard of the Cheng family's house dispersed with a clamor. On Miao Mountain, Cheng Jiaoniang also woke up from her sleep.

  Cao Guanshi and Chen Siye were finally invited into the house, where they saw this daughter of the Cheng family from behind a screen.

  Behind the screen can be seen a young girl sitting upright, her features indistinct and blurry.

  "Girl, I used plum, apple, and licorice root. The licorice root was peeled and stir-fried, it's the two liang of white broad beans that were stir-fried according to Master Jin's instructions from the pharmacy. After brewing this water drink, try it and see if the flavor is good?" The maid brought in a bowl and walked past them, carefully saying from behind the screen.

  Just hearing these ingredients, Cao Guan Shi and Chen Si Ye's mouth corners were sour and their throats were burning.

  It must taste great and be very refreshing.

  The sound of a bowl and spoon lightly touching came from inside, through the screen I saw that woman eating a few shallow mouthfuls.

  Cao Guanshi and Chen Siye were amazed for the first time that eating could be so visually appealing, they couldn't bear to look away, and their mouths felt even drier.

  Shouldn't we serve our guests some tea? No tea, a bowl of water is fine too...

  Behind the screen, the daughter-in-law and the servant girl, one fetching water and the other carefully attending to her needs, yet no one remembered this matter.

  So, it's no good if there are no grown-ups at home! There's no discipline!

  "Ah, right, wife, we have a guest, let the guest try some too." The maid suddenly asked.

  The two outsiders let out a sigh of relief.

  "No way." Came Jingniang's voice, "I want to eat."

  Cao Guanshi and Chen Siye's hearts suddenly felt stifled, how could this woman be so rude!

  "Daughter." The maid's voice was soft and gentle, as if coaxing a small child. "It's a guest, we have to give them some, it's the way to treat guests."

  Are you kidding me?

  The two were shocked outside.

  "Well, let's divide it among the guests," said Cheng Jiaoniang, her voice dull and lacking the pleasant tone of a young woman, making people feel very uncomfortable.

  Anyway, let's take a sip of water first and moisten our throats before continuing.

  Cao Guanshi and Chen Siye let out a sigh of relief.

  The maid quickly came out, but held a bowl and placed it in front of Old Man Chen.

  "Please," she said, "try some of this water drink we made ourselves. It's a special recipe, Scorpion Poop, one of a kind."

  Chen Siye's face was full of smiles, while Cao Guanshi's expression was somewhat distorted.

  What's wrong with this girl's way of speaking?!

  Should I eat this crap or not?