Chapter 62: The Old Madam is Ill
Chapter 62: The Old Madam is Ill
Half an hour later, the carriage entered Zhuque Street from the east and turned into a small alley to the north.
The snow in the alley had not been cleared, and the carriage wheels got stuck, forcing the passengers to disembark and continue on foot.
"It's just up ahead," said the toothless old woman.
Tan Er looked around curiously and asked, "Why isn't there anyone around?"
Meng Qianqian also found the place unusually quiet and couldn't believe that such a desolate place could be near the bustling Zhuque Street.
The toothless old woman sighed, "This used to be the most bustling alley on Zhuque Street, home to many generations of artisans and wandering warriors. I can't remember the exact year, but one day, a mysterious person came to Zhuque Street and massacred everyone in this alley. No one knows how many died, and the authorities investigated for years without finding any leads. This case became a mystery."
"After that, people gradually moved away, and only a few households remained. Almost no one dared to move in. Otherwise, with its prime location, even a hundred thousand taels wouldn't be considered expensive!"
"Ah, we're here!"
The toothless old woman stopped walking.
Meng Qianqian looked at the slightly ajar gate on the right.
Tan Er walked up and pushed it open.
Instead of rushing in, Meng Qianqian carefully observed the place and said, "Facing south with a road to the west and sand to the side. Although there is no water to the east, there is a feng shui pond in the courtyard. This house has good feng shui and will bring prosperity and wealth."
The toothless old woman stood opposite her and said, "I was talking about this one."
The brass lock was too old, and the key wouldn't turn. Tan Er simply twisted it with one hand, pulling off the lock and pushing open the dilapidated gate. "There, it's open now."
Meng Qianqian looked up and down at the house and said calmly, "White walls and blue tiles, a mourning household. An open door with a withered tree, now a grand tomb. Indeed, it is a haunted house."
The toothless old woman smiled awkwardly, "My lady, you also understand feng shui?"
Meng Qianqian stepped over the threshold and said, "I read about it in storybooks."
The toothless old woman's mouth twitched, and she smiled as she followed, "Since it's a haunted house—"
Meng Qianqian observed the furnishings in the courtyard, "It doesn't matter, feng shui can be changed."
The toothless old woman asked, "Do you know how to change it?"
Meng Qianqian frowned seriously, "The storybooks haven't gotten to that part yet."
Toothless Old Woman: "..."
"Whoosh!"
Tan Er darted through the main room like a streak of smoke.
Meng Qianqian began inspecting each room.
The toothless old woman followed her with a smile, "My lady, you have an extraordinary bearing. There's really no need to save some silver by buying a haunted house. How about I take you to another place? It's a bit further from Zhuque Street, and the price... is just a little bit higher."
Meng Qianqian said, "No need, this one will do."
The toothless old woman was taken aback, "Ah?"
"Sister, look! Such a tall tree!"
Tan Er had climbed a towering tree in the backyard.
Meng Qianqian nodded, "Mhm."
Then she turned to the toothless old woman and said, "Twenty-five thousand taels. Not a copper coin more."
The toothless old woman bit her lip, "Thirty thousand! Thirty thousand taels! That's the lowest price I can offer! Spring Mom isn't making a single copper coin from this deal! My lady, please?"
Meng Qianqian was tracing her fingers along a damaged octagonal lamp hanging under the corridor, deep in thought.
The toothless old woman waved her hand in front of Meng Qianqian's eyes, "My lady?"
Meng Qianqian's eyes regained their coldness, "How much did you say?"
The toothless old woman forced a laugh, "Twenty-eight thousand taels."
Meng Qianqian, "Deal."
Upon returning to the tooth shop, they found the lame young man waiting in the main hall.
He wore a thin gray robe with a patch on his right elbow. His frame was slender, and his features were delicate. Though his eyes were downcast, there was not a hint of fawning in his demeanor.
He exuded the scholarly aura of a literati, mixed with the vibrancy of the marketplace. His gaze was firm, indicating a strength of character.
Meng Qianqian pointed to the account book on the table, "How long did it take you to calculate that?"
"Half an hour."
"Not bad. What's your name?"
"Li Changsheng."
Meng Qianqian continued, "I have two shops under my name. Can you handle the work?"
Li Changsheng nodded. "I'm quick with numbers."
Meng Qianqian looked at him and said, "I'm asking you to be my shopkeeper, so naturally, you'll be in charge of the accounts for both stores."
Li Changsheng was taken aback.
Meng Qianqian stood up and, with Tan Er in tow, started to leave. "Think it over and come find me at the Lu family residence on Chaning Street. My name is Meng Qianqian."
"Chaning Street... Lu family?" The toothless old woman exclaimed, "You're the wife of the General who guards the north, the eldest young mistress of the Lu family?"
Meng Qianqian boarded the carriage. "Not anymore."
On their way back, Meng Qianqian bought Tan Er a string of tanghulu.
Holding the tanghulu, Tan Er snuggled closer to Meng Qianqian and asked, "Sister, why did you stay in the capital? Don't you miss home? Don't you miss your parents?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she covered her mouth, regretting her words. "I forgot that your parents passed away when you were three."
"Revenge," Meng Qianqian replied.
Tan Er paused for a moment, realizing she had answered her first question.
"This answer is so exciting! The Lu family, right?"
Tan Er was eager to try her hand at it.
"We're here. Wake up Li Mama and Wan Mama."
Meng Qianqian got up, lifted the curtain, and stepped down from the carriage.
"Fine," Tan Er pouted, took a deep breath, and put her hands on her waist. In a loud voice, she shouted, "Li Mama—Wan Mama—wake—up—!"
The news of Meng Qianqian publicly severing ties with Lu Lingxiao at the Liu family's funeral had already spread that morning as guests came and went.
Along with this, the story of the sixty-year-old Madam being diagnosed with a happy pulse also took on a life of its own as it was passed around.
Upon her return, the old madam fell ill.
This time, it wasn't pretend. She truly felt chest tightness, dizziness, and a throbbing headache as if someone had split her head with an axe.
Apparently, Lu Xingzhou had wanted to invite imperial physicians to treat the old madam, but for some unknown reason, they were either unavailable due to family emergencies or had been summoned by others.
It was obvious that the imperial physicians looked down on the old madam's behavior and had no intention of treating her.
Lu Xingzhou had no choice but to go to a medical clinic to invite a doctor.
While the doctor's skills could not be faulted, the old madam's illness was half due to her anger and half due to the after-effects of the abortion medicine, and there was simply no cure.
The old madam was in so much pain that she cursed Meng Qianqian eight hundred times.
"It's all because of this jinx! Get her out of my sight!"
A maid replied, "Old Madam, the one-month deadline hasn't been reached yet, so we can't drive her out."
The old madam became even more furious.
Meng Qianqian, however, paid no heed to the old madam's anger. She asked Ban Xia to summon the servants in the courtyard.
"You all probably know my situation by now. You can choose to continue serving me or stay with the Lu family. I will give you your freedom papers either way."
The servants exchanged glances.
Liu Pozi stepped forward. "To be honest, my daughter-in-law just gave birth, and I don't have enough help at home. I... I would like to return home to take care of my grandchild."
Meng Qianqian said, "Ban Xia."
Ban Xia took out Liu Pozi's freedom paper from a stack and handed it to her, along with ten taels of silver.
Liu Pozi's eyes reddened, and she knelt down to kowtow. "Thank you, Young Mistress!"
Ban Xia said, "You should call her Miss now!"
Wiping her tears, Liu Pozi said, "Yes, yes! Miss!"
Hu Pozi said, "I will follow Miss!"
The cook said, "I also wish to follow Miss!"
Meng Qianqian asked, "Anyone else?"
The remaining servants looked at each other but remained silent.
The eldest young mistress might have money, but she had done something as outrageous as divorcing her husband. It was easy to imagine how the world would curse her, and they did not want to be implicated.
Meng Qianqian calmly said, "To each their own. Ban Xia, return their freedom papers and settle their wages."
After the servants left, Li Mama closed the door and sighed. "Miss has always treated them well... I wonder if it's a blessing or a curse for them to stay with the Lu family."
Meng Qianqian no longer thought about other people's affairs. Her immediate concern was how to gather twenty-eight thousand taels of silver.
(End of Chapter)
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