Chapter 257: The Two Beauties of the Wu Family Residence
Yu Family First Madam, Wu Sanniang, waited in the room for a long time before her Second Sister, Wu Erniang, returned.
Hearing the movement, Wu Sanniang quickly stood up to greet her.
“They say your Master called for you? Both times I’ve come over, I’ve seen your Master calling for you. Second Sister is becoming more and more capable.” Wu Sanniang said with a smile, her words of flattery tinged with a hint of sourness.
“You’ve come at just the right time. Let’s go inside and talk. Brew a pot of good tea and bring it in!” Wu Erniang instructed an old woman, then pushed her sister into the room.
“What’s wrong?” Wu Sanniang’s question was full of curiosity.
“Why have you come?” Wu Erniang asked, not answering her sister’s question.
“To see Second Sister. Is there something you need, Second Sister? Your matters are most important, Second Sister, you speak first.”
Wu Sanniang and Wu Erniang were like two fighters in a ring, exchanging pleasantries before getting down to business.
“You never come without a reason. Speak, what is it?” Wu Erniang sat down on the couch, looking at her third sister with a half-smile.
“Second Sister said I came at the right time. What do you need me for, Second Sister? You speak first.” Wu Sanniang sat opposite Wu Erniang.
“It’s no use telling you about my matters. Saying you came at the right time was just so I could ask you to inquire about something for me.” Wu Erniang stopped smiling, turned her face away, and loudly urged the old woman, “Where’s the tea! I’ve been standing in the main house all this time, and now I want a hot cup of tea. Why is it taking so long to brew a pot!”
“Madam, don’t shout! The water isn’t even boiling yet!” the old woman replied from outside.
“The tea in this warm room is still hot. Second Sister, have a sip to moisten your throat first.” Wu Sanniang poured half a cup of tea and handed it to Wu Erniang.
“What is it, just tell me. We’re sisters, why are you playing games with me?” Wu Erniang took the tea and snorted.
“My matter, it’s truly a big one.” Wu Sanniang lowered her voice, and after speaking, she rolled her eyes and looked around.
Wu Erniang frowned, then relaxed, pressing her fingers to her brow.
Her eldest sister-in-law’s three worry lines made her look old and bitter; she couldn’t afford to frown like that.
The old woman entered with the teapot.
Wu Sanniang watched the old woman leave, then stood up, walked to the door, watched the old woman return to wash clothes, then turned back, sat down next to Wu Erniang, and whispered in her ear, “They say these days, Lao Wu runs to that tea house on Academy Street every day, staying for one to two hours each time.”
“Why is she going to the tea house?” Wu Erniang was stunned.
“They say Nanny Miao always escorts her to the alley entrance. A couple of times, I even followed Lao Wu and watched her enter the tea house, pacing back and forth at the entrance a few times before leaving,” Wu Sanniang continued whispering.
“Is this Nanny Miao’s idea? What does she want? Who is she trying to get involved with? There are so many important people coming and going at that tea house!” Wu Erniang’s eyes lit up.
“Second Sister, think about Lao Wu’s appearance. Her arms and legs are like four clubs, and her lips are so thick you could serve a whole plate of them. Who could she possibly get involved with? Who would fancy her?” Wu Sanniang said with disdain.
“That’s true.” Wu Erniang laughed first, then felt a bit disappointed and quickly suppressed the urge to frown. “What is Nanny Miao up to?”
“Second Sister is living such a good life that you don’t worry about anything anymore. Second Sister, have you forgotten that at New Year’s, Nanny Miao mentioned the family she had chosen for Fourth Brother?” Wu Sanniang glanced sideways at Wu Erniang.
“Steward Huang’s family from the Weaving Bureau? Then why is Lao Wu going out? Has she been replaced? Does the Huang family’s eldest son like someone like Lao Wu?” Wu Erniang’s thoughts were straightforward.
“Oh, Second Sister!” Wu Sanniang gave her second sister another disdainful sideways glance. “They say Nanny Miao has been hinting to others that Lao Wu goes to the tea house to serve that Young Lord.”
“Could it be! Has Lao Wu really gotten involved with the Young Lord?” Wu Erniang straightened her back abruptly, her eyes shining.
“Oh, Second Sister, during the time Lao Wu was going to the tea house, the Young Lord wasn’t in our Pingjiang City; he was in Hangcheng!” Wu Sanniang said, exasperated and disdainful, rolling her eyes upwards.
“How do you know the Young Lord wasn’t in our Pingjiang City!” Wu Erniang retorted unceremoniously.
“Second Sister, the Yueyang Li Family across from my shop, they are the ones who have truly gotten involved with the Young Lord. Sister-in-law Yin from the Yueyang Preserved Egg Business told me herself. She said Nanny Miao spread rumors, and even she heard them.”
Wu Sanniang leaned close to Wu Erniang’s ear, “Sister-in-law Yin also said this is smearing the Young Lord. If the Young Lord finds out, it will be terrible! She said the Young Lord has a very bad temper. I didn’t dare tell our Foreman, so I hurried to find you. Otherwise, you ask Second Brother-in-law. Is this a big deal? Second Brother-in-law is a scholar, knowledgeable and experienced.”
“You don’t dare tell your Foreman, and you want me to tell my Foreman?” Wu Erniang glared at Wu Sanniang.
“Second Brother-in-law is so good to you,” Wu Sanniang said with a dry laugh.
Wu Erniang opened her mouth to retort further, but then suddenly remembered something and froze with her mouth half-open.
“Second Sister?” Wu Sanniang, who had just stood up, looked at the stunned Wu Erniang in surprise.
Wu Erniang suddenly stood up, rushed to the door, looked around, then quickly sat back down. She pulled Wu Sanniang to her side, leaned close to her ear, covered her mouth with one hand, and spoke in a voice so low it could barely be heard.
“Just now! My father-in-law asked me if Nanny Miao had ruined someone’s marriage and gone too far!”
Wu Sanniang’s eyes widened. “How does your father-in-law know? How did he ask you?”
“He also told me to go back quickly and ask clearly. He said the inquiry came from above, from above!” Wu Erniang’s face turned a little pale.
“At this time of year, Nanny Miao only has Fourth Brother’s marriage in her hands,” Wu Sanniang also became scared.
“Could it be?” Wu Erniang looked panicked.
“It must be this matter! That old hag has lost her mind! The Young Lord must have found out, and they are investigating! This will kill us!” Wu Sanniang also panicked.
“I have to tell my father-in-law…”
“No!” Wu Sanniang grabbed Wu Erniang. “Why don’t you think about who that old hag offended! If an investigation starts, it will be about Fourth Brother! Why don’t you think about whether your father-in-law will protect you or kick you out to protect himself!”
Wu Erniang gasped sharply and sat down heavily on the couch.
Third Sister was right. Her mother-in-law already disliked her and would surely use this opportunity to divorce her and remarry!
“What do we do? This old hag, this old slut, this son of a bitch!” Wu Erniang cursed angrily.
Wu Sanniang held her belly and spun around seven or eight times. “I have a plan!”
“Tell me quickly! You’re pregnant, sit down and tell me!” Wu Erniang quickly replied.
“As long as we sever ties with Nanny Miao, make it clear that we are us and she is her, and that she, surnamed Miao, has nothing to do with us,” Wu Sanniang gritted her teeth.
“How can we clearly sever ties? It’s been twenty years!” Wu Erniang gave Wu Sanniang a look; this was stating the obvious.
“Let Mother go to the yamen and accuse the one surnamed Miao of abducting Lao Wu and pushing her into a fiery pit!” Wu Sanniang said, gritting her teeth, word by word.
“Will Mother agree?” Wu Erniang frowned this time, forgetting to press her brow.
“She will. Mother was already wavering last time. It was the one surnamed Miao who brought up the marriage with Steward Huang’s family, and Mother said she’d wait until Fourth Brother’s marriage was settled.
“The two of us together, Eldest Sister can be left out; she’s long felt she wasn’t surnamed Wu. Just the two of us, let’s talk to Mother properly. For Fourth and Fifth Brother’s marriages, whatever Mother says, we’ll agree. Anyway…”
Wu Sanniang trailed off and snorted.
“We’ll just do our best,” Wu Erniang finished, understanding perfectly.
“Exactly. This matter needs to be done quickly rather than slowly. Let’s go now, call Mother out, and persuade her no matter what. Let’s have Mother stay at our place for a night. Tomorrow morning, you go to the yamen first, and I’ll accompany Mother to file the petition!” Wu Sanniang was decisive and direct.
“That’s what I think too! I’ll change my skirt, and let’s go now!”
Wu Erniang changed her skirt, and the two of them went out, hired a carriage, and headed straight for Qiao Dong Lane.
