Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Miss Qu Is Harsh-Tempered
"Miss, you also know that one should be grateful and repay kindness; otherwise, a bad reputation will spread. Now, isn’t your behavior asking me to betray the Princely Heir? As his maid, I must report every word and action to him, but now you want me to teach you skills privately without his knowledge?"
Qu Fulan didn’t have time to waste words with her and directly stood up, bowed slightly toward her, and spoke in a somewhat grave tone, "Fulan would never commit an act of betrayal towards my lord, please understand."
After saying that, she turned and left without waiting for a response.
Ying Man’er watched her leave without a backward glance and was so furious that she trembled all over.
Just a servant, yet daring to be so arrogant. Just wait, when she becomes the Young Lady in the future, she’ll see how she swallows this grievance!
Qu Fulan didn’t have time to care about what Ying Man’er thought of her. Truth be told, for a guest cousin living under others’ roofs to be so restless and unruly was simply incomprehensible.
Returning to the Lixiang Courtyard, Qu Fulan arranged a few things and then went out again.
Even though the Heir Pei was overseeing things for a few days, she still had to check for herself to be at ease.
When the carriage approached Chang’an Street, she noticed that there were significantly more pedestrians than during her last visit, making the carriage’s progress much more difficult.
Besides, she vaguely heard the discussions among the street vendors.
"Do you know what all this noise about ’Journey to the West’ is these days?"
"I’ve heard about it everywhere, but I haven’t had the time to ask about the details."
"How can you business people not know about ’Journey to the West’? It’s a storyteller’s book, narrating the story of Tang Seng and his disciples traveling to the Western Heaven for scriptures, undergoing eighty-one trials along the way, each trial is fascinating, I’ve been going to the ’Flower Garden Ode’ daily to listen, I almost have it memorized."
"I see, no wonder the number of people on Chang’an Street has increased so much lately, and all seem to be nobles here to listen at the ’Flower Garden Ode’."
"I heard that on the day it opened, ’Flower Garden Ode’ became renowned overnight with ’Journey to the West’ and that five-word quatrain. Who doesn’t know about it now? Even my relatives in the city north, knowing I’m doing small business here, have been asking about it."
"Moreover, they say the dishes at ’Flower Garden Ode’ are unique, everyone who dined there praised it, and there’s a beverage called milk tea, unprecedented."
"Hearing this makes me tempted as well, it’s just a shame that it’s not a place accessible to ordinary folks like us."
...
Qu Fulan entered from the back door.
Probably due to her previous ’making an example out of someone’, now everyone at ’Flower Garden Ode’ was very respectful upon seeing her.
Yinhua was still washing dishes in the back kitchen, and when she noticed her coming, she glanced up and then quickly lowered her head again.
In fact, among the girls in ’Flower Garden Ode’, only Yinhua didn’t possess any skills, while the others had some talents to varying degrees.
Take Taohua and Juhua for example.
One sings well, the other plays the zither beautifully.
’Flower Garden Ode’ once hired a teacher to instruct, trying to emulate other taverns’ businesses. Even though it had no effect, the girls in the tavern managed to pick up a few skills during the lessons.
Except for Yinhua, perhaps too self-abased, she didn’t learn any skills.
Qu Fulan wouldn’t usually seek out Yinhua without reason, but today she came over for two purposes: to check if business was stable, and to convey the old lady’s intentions.
Last time the old lady mentioned wanting to take in Yinhua, to find her a good match. With the Pei Family backing her, the arranged match would naturally be more reliable than one seen by themselves.
Qu Fulan did feel that the old lady was a bit overly compassionate; if the Yu Family had sought her out, returning the favor would be no issue. However, with them not asking for anything, offering help proactively was a bit...
There’s a saying that free things are never truly valuable.
Moreover, the Princely Heir providing the Yu Family a place to settle was already humane enough.
Qu Fulan found Manager Yu and his wife, conveying the old lady’s intentions.
Upon hearing it, Manager Yu and his wife were so overjoyed that they didn’t bother asking for Yinhua’s opinion and agreed straight away.
Qu Fulan said nothing, not even suggesting that they should consult Yinhua’s opinion. Given her character, she might not agree. She had seen people with social anxiety, for whom even a golden palace is not as dear as their own dwelling.
Moving her to another place to live would be quite difficult.
But this had little to do with her. In ancient times, children had no personal choice; it was all up to parental orders. Why should she meddle unnecessarily?
Besides, even if Yinhua strongly opposed, it would still be a matter for their family alone.
After going to the accounting room and reviewing the recent accounts, Qu Fulan overheard voices from the next room, belonging to Manager Yu’s family.
She wasn’t concerned and remained focused on reviewing the account books.
"The old lady is kind-hearted, showing mercy to our family by wanting to take you to the Pei Mansion and raise you as a proper lady, which would facilitate your future matches. This is a blessing for our family," Manager Yu’s wife said in a low voice, apparently unaware that Qu Fulan was reviewing records next door.
After all, the accounting room was an important place, usually empty.
"Although I once saved Old Marquis, it was simply my duty, and didn’t the Marquis thank me back then? We’ve long since settled accounts. It’s the Princely Heir who considers old ties, offering us shelter from starvation. When it comes down to it, it’s us who owe the Pei Family. Now with the old lady’s goodwill ensuring a good marriage for you, repaying this kindness would not be over the top. Once you enter the Pei Mansion, all you need to do is to serve the old lady devotedly, and don’t worry about home, understand?" Manager Yu said.
Neither Manager Yu nor his wife felt indebted to the Pei Family; rather, they believed they owed the Pei Family, so their teachings for their daughter inclined towards supporting the Pei Family.
However, Yinhua couldn’t comprehend her parents’ intentions; she thought they didn’t want her because she was incompetent. Tears quickly welled up in her dark eyes, "Father, Mother, do you think that your daughter is useless and don’t want me anymore?"
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably after she spoke, "I don’t want to go to the Pei Mansion; I want to stay by your side. From now on, I’ll diligently wash dishes every day. I only accidentally broke a few in the past, but now that I’m proficient, I won’t break any more. I beg you, please don’t send me away."
Manager Yu and his wife were anxious, "Child, how can you be so ungrateful? It’s not that we don’t want to keep you, but what kind of good marriage could you find if you stay with us? But it’s different if you go to the Pei Mansion. Even if it’s not a rich and powerful match, finding a young promising man would be something we could never even wish for."
"Exactly, it’s rare for the old lady to take pity and help us out; we should be grateful rather than refuse. Moreover, it was Miss Fulan who came to pass the message. You know Miss Fulan, she’s very capable and kind. In the future, when you’re inside, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask her. Making connections with capable people is always beneficial."
Yinhua lowered her head, clutching her clothes, silent for a long time. She seemed persuaded by her parents, but she was not.
She thought of Qu Fulan, truly the most capable woman she had ever met. But that day, her handling of Lianhua, although justified, was ultimately ruthless and cold-hearted.
She thought, someone like that might just see her make a mistake one day and deal with her the same way as Lianhua.
"Father, Mother, although Miss Fulan is capable, she... is a bit harsh in her character. I’m afraid that if I make a mistake, she might punish me," Yinhua said honestly.