Chapter 161: Aboveboard
A Wu rushed into the courtyard and threw himself in front of Li Xiaonan.
“Didn’t you say you had something to do today? Why are you at home?” A Wu stood in front of Li Xiaonan, hands on her hips, and asked.
“I have things to do at home.” Li Xiaonan was tapping a yellowed old booklet with one hand and rapidly operating an abacus with the other.
In this era where the abacus was the most advanced calculating tool, she could only put in some effort and master the abacus, this most cutting-edge calculation technique.
“I’ve sent you messages twice already, this is the third time! I’m telling you, Sister-in-law Lu’s mouth is full of blisters from worry!”
“A Wu, come wash up!” Mei Jie heard the commotion and came from the backyard, quickly pouring water and calling A Wu.
“Wait a moment, it’s urgent.”
“No matter how urgent, it’s not this urgent. Look at you, you’re covered in sweat and dust, come here quickly!”
“You go wash up first, your sweat stinks, I can’t talk.” Li Xiaonan didn’t look up, her hands still busy with the abacus.
A Wu turned around, took the basin of warm water from the stand, placed it on the ground, and bent over, washing herself with a flurry of splashing.
“Mei Jie, no need for hot water next time. I used well water to wash my face all year round back home. It’s much warmer here than back home.” A Wu washed from her head to her neck, dried herself, then scrubbed a few handkerchiefs clean, wrung them out, poured out the water, and put the basin and handkerchiefs back.
“With all that sweat, well water is so cold. If you splash water on your face like that, you’ll get sick! We’re not short on firewood, here, have a cup of tea, it’s good tea brought back by our Third Great Aunt.”
Mei Jie handed the teapot and teacups to A Wu.
A Wu thanked Mei Jie, picked up the pot and cups, and returned to Li Xiaonan’s side.
Li Xiaonan finished the last page, closed the old booklet, glanced at A Wu, and signaled that she could speak.
“Do you still want to get back the silver you scattered?” A Wu asked, extremely annoyed.
Li Xiaonan slanted a look at her, not answering.
“Fine, the silver is yours, I can’t control it. I’ll just pass on Sister-in-law Lu’s message.
“Sister-in-law Lu is furious, saying that silver isn’t theirs, yet they dare to spend it so carelessly.
“She said He Lao Wu’s family used that silver to hire their eldest daughter-in-law, and they plan to repair their house. Once the house is repaired, they’ll bring the new bride home.
“He Li’er’s family is building a new house. The old one has already been demolished, and the materials are piled up in the courtyard. I went to see, they’re laying the foundation.
“Lao Liu’s family has pawned a woman and brought her home. She’s pawned for three years, and they say if they hurry, she can give birth to three sons.
“At the village entrance, Da Huan’s second and third sons pooled together five taels of silver and went to Pingjiang City to indulge in meat and women. They were gone for two days, returned, and the silver is gone.”
After A Wu finished speaking, she glanced at Li Xiaonan. Seeing that Li Xiaonan seemed not to have heard anything, she sighed deeply, bowed, and leaned forward, “Did you hear what I said? Your silver can’t be recovered! Are you still going to Hejia Village?”
“I heard. I will definitely go, just wait a few more days. For dinner, we’re having dumplings, leek and egg filling. If you want some, quickly tell Mei Jie to make more.” Li Xiaonan picked up another booklet and continued practicing the abacus.
“I’ll eat!” A Wu gritted her teeth and spat out the word “eat.” “I’ll go ask my cousin to come help Mei Jie make dumplings.”
She had told them about the chaos in Hejia Village again and again. She had done her best, and she wouldn’t bother anymore!
The next morning, Li Xiaonan went to the Prince’s Estate villa to look at the archives again.
After looking for a whole morning, just before lunch, Wan Jing hurried in and whispered next to Li Xiaonan, “Cousin Girl is looking for me again, she wants to have lunch with you!”
“Is it still about Miss Shi?” Li Xiaonan asked in a low voice.
“It must be. I asked Cousin Girl if our Young Lord knew, and Cousin Girl said she just heard you were here today. She said the Young Lord went out early this morning, and our Young Lord indeed went out early. What should we do?”
“Last time we ate together, she fell ill again.” Li Xiaonan looked at Wan Jing meaningfully.
“She called the doctor that very day. They said she had to lie in bed for several days! I heard Sister-in-law Shen from the pharmacy say that this time it’s a calming prescription. She must have been angered sick by you.” Wan Jing patted Li Xiaonan’s shoulder.
She greatly admired Xiaonan’s ability to make people sick with just a few words. She was always the one who got angered.
“If she wants to eat, then let her eat.” Li Xiaonan thought for a moment and smiled.
“Really eat? Alright, you’re not at a disadvantage anyway. Besides, our Young Lord didn’t do anything. He deducted my monthly allowance because of the fresh meat mooncakes.” Wan Jing sighed.
This lunch was arranged in that Water Pavilion, with Fourth Mistress Wei, Ninth Lady Pan, and Miss Shi, along with Li Xiaonan.
Miss Shi was even thinner than last time, and her complexion was not as good. She wore a thin silk-cotton cape and quietly listened to Li Xiaonan and Ninth Lady Pan talk, speaking very little herself.
The meal was very harmonious and pleasant.
Following Li Xiaonan back to the library, Wan Jing breathed a long sigh of relief.
Li Xiaonan slanted a look at her.
“Although our Young Lord doesn’t say anything and hasn’t deducted my monthly allowance, it’s not good for you to clash with Miss Shi every time you meet.”
“Alas, to say something that might anger you, your family is ultimately commoners. A Xiucai scholar is not considered a noble. Miss Shi, however, was once betrothed to our Young Lord, a noble. Miss Shi is also cunning. They say she is generous, but is she truly generous or pretending? Who knows!
“If you truly anger her, it’s not worth it, is it? People should be kind to others if they can. This is what my mother said.” Wan Jing said softly.
“Mhm, mhm!” Li Xiaonan nodded quickly.
Wan Jing was looking out for her.
The next day, Fourth Mistress Wei and the other two came to the Water Pavilion again to invite Li Xiaonan to lunch. Miss Shi still listened more than she spoke, and Fourth Mistress Wei didn’t talk much either. It was mainly Ninth Lady Pan and Li Xiaonan who chatted back and forth about what to eat in the Capital City and what to eat in Pingjiang City.
Li Xiaonan came to the villa to read for three consecutive days, and for three consecutive lunches, she ate with Fourth Mistress Wei and the other two in the Water Pavilion.
Gu Yan was busy familiarizing himself with the command of the Jiangnan troops temporarily assigned to him, inspecting and arranging defenses, and preparing for the Crown Prince’s arrival in Jiangnan. He was extremely busy these days, almost always returning late at night.
Hearing that Miss Shi and the other two had gone to the Water Pavilion for lunch with Li Xiaonan for three consecutive days, Gu Yan frowned.
The next day, Gu Yan left half an hour later than usual. Hearing that Fourth Mistress Wei was up, he went around to the outside of Fourth Mistress Wei’s courtyard and asked someone to invite her out.
“I heard you’ve been going to the library for lunch these past few days. Don’t you need to accompany Second Madam?” Gu Yan asked directly, without any pleasantries.
“Cousin, are you worried about Eldest Madam, or about that girl Xiaonan?” Fourth Mistress Wei asked without politeness.
“I’m worried about you, you’re my cousin.” Gu Yan replied smoothly.
Fourth Mistress Wei chuckled, “Cousin, you’re becoming more eloquent. Eldest Madam wanted to go. She didn’t say why. I asked, but she didn’t say.
“During meals, Eldest Madam barely spoke. If the four of us say ten sentences, eight of them are spoken by Ninth Lady and Xiaonan. I say about one and a half, and Eldest Madam says at most half a sentence.
“As for Ninth Lady, you know she only talks nonsense. That’s what you said.
“Ninth Lady talks to Xiaonan about all sorts of nonsense like you mentioned. For example, Ninth Lady said they should eat dumplings during the New Year, and Xiaonan said they should eat rice cake soup. Ninth Lady said they should cross at least two bridges during the Lantern Festival, and Xiaonan said she wanted to go steal scallions. Ninth Lady and Xiaonan agreed that if Ninth Lady could spend the New Year in Pingjiang Prefecture, Xiaonan would take her to steal scallions. It’s all that kind of nonsense.
“After dinner, Eldest Madam didn’t say anything. Eldest Madam has been speaking very little these days, just sitting there in a daze for half the day.”
Fourth Mistress Wei said, sighing.
Eldest Madam has been in a daze, as if she had lost her soul. Seeing Eldest Madam like that, she felt very sad.
“I’ll talk to A Nan later and have A Nan find an opportunity to persuade her.” Gu Yan said after a moment of silence.
“Huh?” Fourth Mistress Wei was stunned by Gu Yan’s words.
A Nan? Have A Nan persuade her?
“I’m very busy lately. You must keep a close eye on Eldest Madam, and absolutely nothing must happen. Do you have enough manpower?” Gu Yan gestured towards the courtyard.
“Yes. Don’t worry, when will the Crown Prince arrive?” Fourth Mistress Wei nodded quickly in agreement.
“Soon. I’m leaving.” Gu Yan turned and left.
Fourth Mistress Wei watched Gu Yan stride away, tilting her head slightly, lost in thought as she looked at the treetops.
What was going on between her cousin and that girl Xiaonan? Her cousin actually said to have Xiaonan persuade Eldest Madam. This couldn’t be thought about too deeply…
But if she thought about it in that direction, it didn’t seem right either. Xiaonan was very upright, and although her cousin called her A Nan intimately, he also seemed very upright.
Mother used to say that the relationship between Cousin and Eldest Madam was too upright, and she once said: “The feelings of male and female desire are hidden and shy, with countless thoughts that must be made known, and cannot be upright.”
Alas, her experience was too shallow. If only Mother were here.
