Chapter 81: It's Time She Experienced What Qianqian Went Through
Chapter 81: It's Time She Experienced What Qianqian Went Through
Meng Qianqian was unaware of Lu Lingxiao's situation, and even if she knew, she probably wouldn't care.
Holding Bao Shu, she returned to Fengshui Hutong with Tan'er and Banxia.
The first time she came here, the mansion was dilapidated. But in just two short months, the gates had been repainted a vibrant red, and the courtyard was immaculately cleaned up. Two crabapple trees were planted in the east, while a clump of green bamboo was nestled in the west, alongside a meandering little pond where bright red koi fish swam leisurely in the clear water.
A path made of cobblestones ran through the middle, with vibrant grass growing on either side.
Additionally, elegant and serene potted plants adorned the walls, adding to the tranquil ambiance.
Tan'er stood beneath the crabapple tree and called out, "Sister! Aren't the trees wonderful? Do you like them?"
Meng Qianqian nodded, "I do."
Bao Shu, only half her body visible as she was still in Meng Qianqian's embrace, kept herself busy. At one moment, she wanted to pluck the flowers, and the next, she tried to catch the koi in the pond, keeping everyone on their toes.
Wan Mama was in the process of tamping down the soil. With the recent snowmelt, the soil had become loose, and some dog had dug a hole in the corner of the wall. She was determined to fill it in.
"Wan Mama," Meng Qianqian called out to her from behind.
"Hmm," Wan Mama responded absentmindedly, not quite registering the voice. "This won't do either. Pass me the large shovel over there."
Meng Qianqian handed Bao Shu to Banxia and fetched the shovel from the wall to give to her.
Wan Mama took the shovel and turned it over, using the back of it to pound the soil vigorously.
"You should try it too. Take that smaller one."
"Okay."
Meng Qianqian picked up the smaller shovel and joined Wan Mama in tamping down the soil.
Wan Mama exclaimed in surprise, "My, you've got quite a bit of strength there! You're packing it down better than I am. Have you done this before?"
As she spoke, she looked up, taking a proper look at Meng Qianqian, and her eyes widened in shock. "Oh my!"
Tan'er and Banxia couldn't hold back their laughter.
Even Meng Qianqian found it hard to keep a straight face.
Seeing everyone laugh, Bao Shu, always one to please, joined in with a hearty laugh of her own.
"Is it Miss Qianqian who's returned?"
Li Mama emerged from the house, her face lit up with excitement.
Ever since Cen Ganting had informed her that Meng Qianqian had gone to the border to take care of Bao Shu, she would assume that Meng Qianqian had returned every time she heard an infant's cry.
Even when out shopping, she would be drawn to any sounds of crying, needing to check if it was Miss Qianqian.
She didn't know how many times she had been disappointed, but thankfully, this time, Meng Qianqian had truly returned.
Li Mama's eyes welled up before she even spoke. She pulled Meng Qianqian close, examining her from head to toe.
Meng Qianqian gently reassured her, "Li Mama, I'm fine."
Li Mama turned away to wipe her tears before facing Meng Qianqian again. She looked at Bao Shu and asked, "Why has Miss Bao Shu become so thin?"
How could she not lose weight when she had been traveling day and night? Although she had grown a little taller, it wasn't by much.
Tan'er chimed in, "It must have been tough at the border!"
That remark only served to upset Li Mama further, and she couldn't help but curse Lu Yuan in her heart once again!
Soon, the cook and Hu Pozi, now addressed as Hu Mama due to her promotion and raise, also came out to join them.
Meng Qianqian's return brought more joy than the new year celebrations.
Li Mama led Meng Qianqian into the house. "Miss, how did you spend the Chinese New Year Eve?"
Meng Qianqian was taken aback.
She had been so focused on her journey and then immediately thrown into the battle upon reaching Fengshazhen that she hadn't kept track of the dates at all. Now that she thought about it, the night she encountered Lu Yuan on the mountain had indeed been Chinese New Year's Eve.
The snow water and biscuits she had made for Lu Yuan had become his New Year's Eve dinner.
"I spent it in the army camp," Meng Qianqian replied nonchalantly.
Wan Mama and the cook hurried to boil water for baths, as both Meng Qianqian and Bao Shu needed to wash off the grime of their journey.
The little one had crawled all the way from outside the city gates, and she was covered in dirt.
Lu Yuan hadn't been overly restrictive with her, allowing her to explore and play as she pleased, as long as she didn't endanger herself.
The worst that could happen was that she'd get dirty, but a good wash would fix that.
After Bao Shu's bath, she sat in Meng Qianqian's embrace, drinking her milk.
Meng Qianqian had brought a small milk jug made by a herder from the border. It was crafted from a modified water bladder, with a reed inserted into the wooden plug at the mouth of the jug, allowing Bao Shu to sip the milk through it.
Tan'er bent down to watch, pointing at the small milk jug. "Bao Zhu Zhu, let sister have a sip! There's so much, you won't be able to finish it!"
Bao Shu, her mouth occupied with the reed, resolutely grabbed the milk jug and turned her back to Tan'er!
Meng Qianqian couldn't help but laugh.
"Hmph! There's more in the pot! I'll drink it myself!"
Tan'er stomped off to the kitchen.
Bao Shu, ever vigilant, promptly handed the milk jug to Meng Qianqian and slid down from her lap, scurrying off to the small kitchen.
Li Mama and Meng Qianqian began discussing the dowry.
Li Mama had submitted the dowry list to the officials, and with their intervention, the old madam had been forced to return everything she had taken over the years, either through eating or pocketing.
The second wife had also returned a significant portion, and it was rumored that she had even borrowed from her family to make up the difference.
However, even with all of this, there was still a portion that remained unaccounted for.
Meng Qianqian nodded, "The silver used to repay the Lu family's debt is separate. My grandfather told me that Lu Lao Ye once saved his life, so that money was to repay his life-saving grace. As for the dowry that the Lu family has spent over the years, I'm already very pleased that we were able to recover this much. As for the remainder, I have my own plans."
The Lu Family.
Unlike the joyous reunion taking place in Meng Qianqian's household, the atmosphere in the Lu family was filled with awkwardness from the moment the little girl appeared and called out to Lu Gege.
"Why did you bring back another woman again?
Lu Linglong muttered under her breath.
The Second Madame pinched her daughter, signaling her to be quiet.
Lu Linglong pouted, whispering, "Can't I even speak the truth? They dragged us out of our beds in the middle of the night just to see Big Brother bringing home another concubine?"
The Second Madame quickly covered her daughter's mouth.
"Grandmother, Mother, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, I'm back."
Lu Lingxiao greeted his elders and then turned to Lu Linglong, offering a brief "Little Sister."
Finally, he faced Lin Wan'er and took her hand, gently saying, "Wan'er."
Lin Wan'er glanced at the little maid behind him, unsure of what to say.
Lu Linglong spoke up, pointing at the little maid. "Big Brother, who is she?"
Before Lu Lingxiao could introduce her, the little maid stepped forward and introduced herself confidently, "I'm called Xiao Die. Lord Lu saved me, and from now on, I belong to Lord Lu!"
Lu Linglong scoffed, "You've saved her and created more trouble for yourself. Now we have another mouth to feed!"
Xiao Die looked at Lu Lingxiao with a hurt expression, "Lord Lu..."
Lu Lingxiao addressed the elderly Madame Lu and his mother, "Grandmother, Mother, Xiao Die has had a difficult life and has nowhere to go. Please allow her to stay in the manor as a maid."
The elderly Madame Lu had no objections.
Lu's mother said to Lu Lingxiao, "Since that's the case, let's arrange for her to stay in your courtyard."
Lin Wan'er was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at Lu's mother.
Lu's mother spoke nonchalantly, "When you first came back with Lingxiao, the family didn't make a fuss. Now, it's just one more maid."
Lin Wan'er clenched her fingers.
The elderly Madame Lu motioned for Lu Lingxiao to sit by her side and inquired about his meritorious deeds.
Lu's mother left first.
As long as her son was safe, she didn't care about his achievements.
Lin Wan'er noticed that the elderly Madame Lu's attention was solely on her grandson, completely forgetting about her, the future daughter-in-law. Not only Madame Lu, but everyone from the Second House had their eyes fixed on Lu Lingxiao.
The girl named Xiao Die, having heard about the battle on their journey, chimed in with a few comments.
Lin Wan'er knew that at this moment, she should quietly sit in the flower hall. After all, when she had first arrived at the Lu family, Meng Qianqian had done the same.
However, she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.
She left the flower hall and hurried after Lu's mother.
Lu's mother understood her unspoken words, "You can't even handle a single maid. When Lingxiao brought you back, Qianqian endured far more than you."
With that, Lu's mother walked away without looking back.
In the flower hall, the elderly Madame Lu was so focused on her grandson that she didn't even notice Lin Wan'er had left. Her entire being was fixated on her beloved grandchild, "Xiao Ge, I heard you accomplished a great feat at the border? You saved that person called...?"
"Yinhu," the Second Master Lu interjected.
"Yes, yes, yes!" The elderly Madame Lu agreed.
Lu Lingxiao's expression turned serious, "That's not true. I didn't save Yinhu."
Yinhu had escaped from the Northern Liang army camp on his own, and although he had encountered pursuers, it was Meng Qianqian who had intercepted them. He could only take credit for bringing Yinhu back to the army camp.
He wouldn't deny his own accomplishments, but he wouldn't take credit for something he hadn't done.
"Ah?"
The elderly Madame Lu was taken aback, "But that's what everyone is saying!"
Lu Lingxiao explained, "I only guided Yinhu back to the army camp on the way. It can't be considered saving him."
The elderly Madame Lu stammered, "You... you guided him, and he took you on as his disciple. Isn't that still my grandson's ability?"
As she spoke, the elderly Madame Lu smiled proudly.
Lu Lingxiao frowned, "Yinhu didn't take me as his disciple. Grandmother, where did you hear that from?"
The elderly Madame Lu was shocked, "Wasn't it said that Tiger had taken on a disciple?"
Lu Lingxiao lowered his gaze, his expression complex as he said, "Yinhu did take on a disciple, but it wasn't me."
Lu Linglong's face drained of color, "Big Brother! We've already received the gifts! What are we going to do now that you're not the new Yinhu Guard? How are we going to save face?"
Lu Lingxiao was completely unaware that his family had been so absurd. They had actually accepted gifts even before he had returned home? He was already troubled by the matter concerning Meng Qianqian, wishing to never hear her name again. Yet, here his family was, using her glory to solicit gifts on his behalf.
His sense of pride had taken a severe blow, and he couldn't bear to stay any longer.
"I'm tired. I'm going back to my courtyard now!"
One problem had barely been resolved when another arose.
As soon as he reached the entrance of the Bamboo and Pine Courtyard, he encountered Lin Wan'er, who had been waiting for him for a long time.
Lin Wan'er's eyes were red-rimmed as she gestured and asked, "Lu Lang, why did you bring a woman back from the border? Have you changed your heart?"
Lu Lingxiao had no romantic feelings for Xiao Die, but he had just suffered a setback, and now his beloved was questioning him. Negative emotions swirled within him, and his anger ignited.
"I just got back, and you're not concerned about whether I was injured on the battlefield. Instead, you're only worried about whether my heart has changed. I failed both as your husband and as your sworn brother. In the end, is this how little you trust me?"
Lin Wan'er choked, gesturing, "I was just too afraid of losing you. You're the only one I have in this world. I even gave you the keepsake my father left me. If you change your heart, I'll have nothing left."
"Speaking of this,"
Lu Lingxiao didn't want to suspect Lin Wan'er, but his emotions were running high tonight, and he found himself questioning her, "Are you really the Black Armor Guard's rescue order and not the Black Armor Guard's hundred-mile kill order?"
Lin Wan'er's face changed!
(End of Chapter)
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