Chapter 83:
Luo Zhi’er grew angrier the higher she climbed! Indeed, she was particularly bothered by Li Zhenzhu’s words—brat? Daughter?
So what?
The leaves in her hand were torn into shreds, she tore off another and continued tearing…
In this world, do even women despise themselves for being women?
She didn’t believe that nonsense. Apart from lacking strength compared to men, where exactly was she inferior?
Women even had to endure more physical suffering than men.
Looking at the innocent and clueless Miaomiao ahead, munching on pine nuts, humming a little tune purely, envisioning a beautiful future, her heart ached!
She picked up a stick from the ground and vigorously beat the bushes…
On quiet nights, did she toss and turn, feeling sad?
Suddenly looking back, she had missed her own youth, dreams, ambitions…
Due to childbirth, she had aged and become ugly, her figure deformed, looking at her sagging belly, did she feel inferior? Being despised by her so-called loved one, did she feel sad?
She stayed home taking care of the kids and serving the elderly, while he roamed freely outside—what then?
If she became disappointed, unable to bear it and wanted freedom, would those people grant her freedom? Let her soar?
Would they block her from seeing her own child? Separate mother and daughter, use the child to control her and make her submit? Even kill her?
No, she didn’t want her Miaomiao to become just a breeding tool in the future!
She didn’t dare to think about it!
Nor did she want her to be looked down upon and despised for only giving birth to a daughter, forced to give birth again and again, teetering on the line between life and death…
She wanted to teach her to be strong, to have an independent personality, independent thoughts, the ability to live independently, to be brave and strategic.
She… wanted to become strong.
When she had no trump card, she, Luo Zhi’er, would be her backbone.
Miaomiao turned back to look at her, squeezed her hand, her little hands warm and soft, the warmth spreading to her.
“Mother… why are you crying?”
Crying?
Luo Zhi’er touched the water droplets falling from her face…
She squatted down and smiled: “No, Miaomiao, these are dew from the morning leaves on the trees. Mother just got splashed…”
“Oh!”
Miaomiao reached out and wiped it for her,
“Mother, don’t cry, Miaomiao will be sad too. Don’t be afraid, when Miaomiao grows up, she will protect you!”
Luo Zhi’er looked at Miaomiao and hugged her tightly, “Hehe! My little fool, don’t worry, Mother won’t cry. Mother will grow wings to protect you!”
“Remember this: learn to be your own light, pull yourself out of the abyss! Mother’s Miaomiao will grow up, become a mother too, someone else’s wife, someone else’s daughter-in-law, and eventually a mother-in-law.”
“In this lifetime, besides loving Mother and the people Mother loves, you must learn to cherish yourself! Got it?”
Miaomiao’s lively eyes blinked, half-understanding, and she nodded.
She didn’t understand now, but many years later, whenever she couldn’t persist in the deep palace, she understood.
She was also grateful that Mother taught her to be strong, optimistic, to be her own light to save herself, to learn to love herself!
Mother and daughter climbed to the mountain peak, not going too far today.
Along the mountain peak, they picked some mushrooms on the hillsides on both sides of the road. She discovered there were more mushrooms in sunny spots.
The mountain peak got lots of sunshine, so the mushrooms grew big and fast. The places they picked yesterday had plenty again today.
Besides the sides of the mountain peak, they also went to sunny slopes, and the harvest was pretty good!
Meanwhile, Zhou Shi arrived early in town and asked Zhao Maogen about Yumian Tower’s location while on the ox cart.
After getting off, hugging the jar, she headed toward Yumian Tower. Upon arrival, she was intimidated by its grandeur!
She timidly stood at the restaurant doorway, peering in eagerly, hesitating.
Sneaky and flustered, anyone who didn’t know would think she was a thief.
Seeing the waiters inside busily greeting guests, with customers coming and going at the door, her heart raced with fear!
She observed that most diners wore brocade.
Probably rich folks at home—so many wealthy people, why not her?
At that moment, the door-greeting waiter smiled at incoming guests, “Customer, what will you have today? Please come inside!”
“Hehe, your termite mushroom oil mixed noodles are good. Bring this Young Master a bowl!”
“Alright, please sit first.”
This young master looked refined and scholarly, like a scholar.
Then came a splendidly dressed granny, likely a town resident.
“Oh, Granny Li, you’re here again! What will you have today? Please come inside!”
“Hehe! Little Chang Qing, same as usual today—termite mushroom oil mixed rice for this old woman. I’ll order the rest at the table.”
This termite mushroom oil mixed noodles had to be ordered early to reserve, or they’d sell out!
“Got it!”
Chang Qing was the waiter who greeted Luo Zhi’er last time.
Just as he was ushering them in, a large family group arrived—old, young, and middle-aged.
“Waiter, any seats left?”
“Yes, Jia Yuanwai, you all follow me to the private room on the second floor. You arrived just in time—there’s exactly one left!”
“Alright, lead the way!”
“Oldest Brother, is the food at Yumian Tower really that good?”
They’d been before; the taste was average, nothing special!
“Mother, trust me. Yumian Tower has recently introduced many fancy dishes you can’t get elsewhere. They’re delicious—eat once and you’ll want to come back.”
“Really?”
“Truer than real gold. Son tells you, try the termite mushroom oil mixed noodles later! Endless aftertaste!”
“Good, good!”
The old woman smiled happily, like a blooming flower!
This smile probably stung her. Zhou Shi sourly pursed her lips, “Tch, old and still smiling like that—doesn’t she know her face is full of wrinkles?”
But her eyes enviously followed the old woman’s back, fantasizing about her own future, reluctant to look away.
The old woman was then helped upstairs by a girl about her daughter’s age.
“Tch! Acting all delicate? Can’t she climb these few stairs?”
Eyes full of envy, jealousy uncontainable.
This old woman was about her age, yet had such treatment…
At her age, not only had she not enjoyed good fortune from her children, she even had to do farm work, tanned pitch black.
Up before dawn, miserably riding the ox cart to make delivery…
She deeply felt the unfairness of fate.
Fortunately, she had convinced herself to take the ox cart instead of walking. Initially, she planned to walk.
A round trip would save four coppers. Thinking Zhenzhu would return from the ancestral hall today, she could buy her a box of rouge or something—she’d be thrilled…
In the end, reality defeated ideals!
In her heart, she spat at that old woman countless times!
She secretly cursed Luo Zhi’er!
Why cooperate with such a grand restaurant? It scared her from going in.
She thought it was just a small eatery!
But seeing the booming business, it should earn lots of silver. She wished it was hers, Zhou Meizhen’s—her eyes gleamed wolf-like red.
How did Luo Zhi’er get such dogshit luck? To cooperate with such a grand restaurant?
At this rate, at least a hundred taels a day!
That was the minimum!
She sighed!
This fatty Luo Zhi’er was so stupid and useless!!! Why only sell termite mushroom oil?
Months for just fifteen taels—what could that do?
Not even enough to pick her teeth. Who ever thought too much silver was bad? Suddenly, an idea popped into her head!
But she probed with her foot and shrank back again.
Seeing inside, she felt anxious and guilty. Seeing her patched hemp cloth clothes, she felt embarrassed, lifted her foot but didn’t dare enter, back and forth, her spirits utterly deflated.
Finally, after her repeated pacing, little Chang Qing noticed something off and walked over to her.
His attitude was no different from toward other guests.
“This customer, are you here to dine?”
“Uh… no, no!”
Zhou Shi waved her hand, momentarily flustered and forgetting what to say, all her prepared words gone!
“Um, waiter, I just…”
“This customer, you’ve been standing here a while. Or do you have other business?”
Mainly, her earlier ferocious, twisted expression had been seen by him coming downstairs.
That look startled Chang Qing a bit; better to ask.
“Uh… hehe, waiter, I, I’m here for delivery!”
“Delivery?”
Chang Qing suspiciously sized her up. The restaurant had recently signed contracts with two vendors: one for meat, one for fresh vegetables, plus prior dried goods and seasoning business partners—only a few, all acquaintances.
Chang Qing knew this well; he usually handled them. This old woman’s face was unfamiliar—he’d never seen her…
“This customer, which vendor are you delivering for?”
Little Chang Qing thought this couldn’t go wrong; Shopkeeper Zhu had specifically instructed.
Lately, with Luo Niangzi’s recipes, business was booming, getting better daily. Afraid of troublemakers or saboteurs, his gaze scrutinizing, face stern.
Zhou Shi was terrified.
How did Luo Zhi’er sign with a restaurant having such fierce waiters?
Such a harsh, vicious attitude—future deliveries would mean dealing with him?
She still wanted reward money! Seeing him, she couldn’t speak!
Just then, a shrill voice came from behind, “Oh, Da Qiang Ta Niang, it’s you! What are you doing here?”
Chang Qing looked—a suspicious old woman suddenly rushed from behind a tree, grabbed Zhou Shi’s arm, winking.
“Gou Sheng Niang, why are you here?”
Zhou Shi was surprised. Wasn’t she on the ox cart earlier?
Actually, someone had been following her on the way to Yumian Tower…
That person was Li Ergouzi’s wife!
After watching her behavior for a while, she couldn’t hold back!
This was due to Zhou Shi’s showy yet hesitant behavior catching Ju Hua Shen’s attention.
Zhou Shi loudly asked around about the big restaurant Yumian Tower in town.
Gou Sheng Niang then asked why she was going to Yumian Tower.
She wouldn’t say…
Gou Sheng Niang teased, “Oh, so Da Qiang Ta Niang, you’re hungry and want to eat at Yumian Tower, envious of that woman who just went in?”
“I say, forget it. You’ll probably only envy for life. Her son is Jia Manor’s master—can you compare?”
How did she know? Her family’s bear paws were all bought by Jia family’s little cook.
“No silver on you, just standing there stupidly—what are you daydreaming about!”
“Tsk, so embarrassing!”
Ju Hua Shen deliberately showed contempt to humiliate her.
She knew this Zhou Meizhen loved vanity, just like Old Li Tou!
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Zhou Shi was provoked. Had Ju Hua seen her earlier behavior?
So many people passing the restaurant pointed at her.
She felt they were sizing her up, making her the center figure, eyes full of contempt, mocking her.
Already not daring to enter, now she couldn’t lift her head, feeling so ashamed!
“Am I wrong? No silver, what are you doing loitering here? Go away, don’t disturb the waiter greeting guests and doing business!”
“You, shut up!”
“I’m here for delivery!”
Ju Hua’s eyes rolled, onto the main point,
“Delivery? What are you delivering? Lying, huh?”
“Who’s lying?”
Gou Sheng Niang smirked, all-knowing, “Hehe, if you’re so capable, show it to me!”
Zhou Shi clutched the jar tightly.
Her heart conflicted,
“What, know you’re lying and embarrassed? Hahaha, waiter, call someone to chase her away!”
“She’s notorious in our village—shameless, vain, lazy glutton. Watch out, she’ll stick to you, ruin your business, swindle your silver!”
Chang Qing’s face darkened, he waved a big hand, “Someone come!”
Several fierce men came out from inside…
“No, no, I really am here for delivery! Waiter, don’t listen to her. Look, look, this is termite mushroom oil.”
Zhou Shi panicked, quickly set the jar down, opened the lid to prove it.
Gou Sheng Niang smirked, craned her neck to look.
While Zhou Shi wasn’t reacting, she quickly scooped a lump with her finger and shoved it in her mouth, “Pah pah pah! What is this crap, so disgusting!”
“You, Ju Hua, what are you doing? Get away from me!”
She shoved her into a sprawl!
“What are you doing, Zhou Meizhen, are you crazy?”
“Ju Hua, you dare steal my stuff?”
Gou Sheng Niang immediately changed attitude,
“Hehe, Da Qiang Ta Niang, just playing with you!”
“What is this crap? Disgusting! Stop fooling people—Yumian Tower has everything. Come back with me!”
She stood, patted her butt, and pulled her!
“Ju Hua, you stinking woman, you dare ruin my business? Wait till I get back to the village—you’re done!”
Zhou Shi, furious on the street, hands on hips, cursed! That posture, actions—ugly, crude, scalp-numbing…
Immediately attracting more passersby on the street and restaurant guests!
“Chang Qing, what’s going on?”
Shopkeeper Zhu heard the commotion outside and stormed out furiously!
“Shopkeeper Zhu, these two women causing trouble. Minor issue, I’ll drive them away now!”
“Mm, don’t affect business. Handle it quick!”
Shopkeeper Zhu finished with him, eyes casually sweeping Zhou Shi and Gou Sheng Niang’s faces, then looked at the ground…
Suddenly stunned, pupils shaking, “What? What’s this? Chang Qing, bring that woman inside now, and cover that jar—quick!”
Chang Qing’s eyes showed a trace of shock!
“Yes!”
Zhou Shi was grabbed by the arms and taken inside!
Into a room, door shut, guards posted outside.
Zhou Shi looked around—everyone gloomily staring at her, especially this Shopkeeper Zhu…
Scared her trembling!
Nearly peed her pants!
Shopkeeper Zhu slammed the table with a big palm, sleeve flourish, “Who are you? Why cause a scene at our door?”
Zhou Shi got smart now, terrified, she loudly shouted Luo Zhi’er’s name!
“Me! I’m Luo Zhi’er’s mother-in-law!”
……
Luo Zhi’er and Miaomiao, as usual on the mountain, picked some wild fruit raspberries to eat, dug some yams. She even caught a black-tipped snake in a rock crevice, skinned and roasted it to eat!
Miaomiao, watching her catch it, snapped its tail with a crack—scared out of her wits…
Eating it, she was scared at first, then devoured it greedily!
She didn’t plan to gather much today—some were still drying at home. Mainly to relax, out of sight of certain people and things, heart untroubled!
Luck good—not far, before heading home, gathered more than the previous two days, bamboo basket nearly full!
On the way back, saw roadside wild azaleas, purple and pretty, picked a bunch to put in the house for appreciation—mood lifted!
Mother and daughter in good spirits, returned home just as the sun dipped west.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Shi was back! Head hung low, like a deflated ball!
