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Putting a Big Hat
Translated by atsam
Edited by atsam
After nurturing her body for a few days, Gu Jiu’s body had already recovered to a great extent. Her coughing symptom had finally disappeared.
But her body was still very weak.
The weather was quite warm and the window was open, letting the gentle and cool breeze in, bringing a trace of chill.
Gu Jiu sat at the desk, practicing writing characters.
Qing Mei stood at her side, grinding ink for her.
“Guniang’s writing is getting better.”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly and said, “Recovering for so many days, my body finally has some strength. My writing is naturally more pleasant to look at than before.”
Qing Mei said, “Doctor Chen’s medical expertise is truly brilliant. Guniang’s illness which persisted for half a year was finally cured the moment the medicine was taken under his treatment. Perhaps Doctor Xu is a quack.”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “I don’t know whether Doctor Xu is a quack. But he must have earned a lot of silver from the mansion.”
“Guniang is right.”
When Gu Jiu finished writing, Qing Mei picked up the paper and put it to the side to dry, placing a paperweight on it.
She suddenly lowered her voice. “Guniang, nubi heard that laoye rested at shang fang last night.”
Gu Jiu understood and smiled calmly. “It seems that laoye and taitai have already reconciled.”
“Isn’t guniang worried?”
“Why worry?”
Qing Mei said nervously, “If taitai and laoye reconcile, won’t taitai be allowed to harm guniang?”
“You are wrong.” Gu Jiu smiled, saying, “It was a matter of time before taitai and laoye reconciled, if not today, then tomorrow. It is also a good thing for taitai to reconcile with laoye. They are husband and wife and their relationship being harmonious is a good thing.
“If the family lives in harmony, then all affairs will prosper. If the rear court is peaceful, father can also rise up the ranks with his ability. If father is promoted, when the tide rises, the boat floats. We, his children, will also follow.
“Let alone other matters, the direct benefit is that when the time comes to set a relationship, we will have many more choices. This is precisely what ‘glory for one, glory for all; loss for one and loss for all’ means. Understood?”
“Why did guniang suddenly mention marriage?”
After all, Qing Mei was an unmarried girl. It was unavoidable for her to be shy when the topic of marriage was raised. Her cheeks had already flushed red and she feeling shameful.
Gu Jiu laughed and said, “It is a matter of time before a relationship is set. If we plan early, it is unlikely for things to go wrong.”
Qing Mei asked, “Was guniang speaking seriously just now?”
Guniang solemnly said that laoye and taitai reconciling was a good thing.
On the surface, it was indeed as guniang said, glory for one, glory for all; loss for one and loss for all. But from guniang’s point of view, shouldn’t she wish for laoye to shun taitai?
Gu Jiu smiled. Qing Mei, this silly girl.
To put up a play, one had to play out the entire set. No matter how dissatisfied she was with Xie shi, at least superficially, Gu Jiu couldn’t speak out against her.
Regardless of whether she was in others’ presence or not, she said what ought to be said and did what ought to be done.
Even if she needed to vent, she wouldn’t speak unless necessary.
If she didn’t speak, it could still cause trouble.
She naturally wanted to stay away from such bothersome matters, then lead a comfortable and simple life.
She told Qing Mei, “If you truly believe it’s true, then it’s true.”
Besides, what she told Qing Mei wasn’t wrong. If Gu daren rose up the ranks steadily, his children would have a good life.
As for Xie shi, her status and position were stable. No one would be able to shake that in a short while.
It was better to stay where she was.
In the future, there would be many opportunities to reconsider this.
Qing Mei asked curiously, “Guniang, do you have any thoughts about settling a relationship?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “No. With this sickly body, it is premature to think about it.”
“Guniang, don’t say that. Guniang will certainly marry the ideal husband in the future.”
Gu Jiu’s brows moved, her appearance both delicate and charming. After recovering for several days, her cheeks had more flesh. With her current exquisite features, it was difficult to associate her with that little girl with a waxy and yellow skin.
She said casually, “There is no such thing as ideal husband in this world. None of them have been trained.”
Qing Mei’s jaw dropped. She was speechless.
Guniang’s words were becoming more and more brazen. She really wasn’t able to adapt fast enough.
Gu Jiu picked up the longan soup and took a few sips.
She said to Qing Mei, “It’s too sweet. Next time, tell them to put a little less sugar.”
“Nubi will remember.”
There was some noise outside.
“Is er jiejie not here? Er jiejie, we have come to see you.”
Headed by their third sister Gu Yue, her sisters had come together to pay her a visit.
Without informing, Gu Yue barged inside the room.
Gu Jiu got up, walked to the bed and told Qing Mei, “Take the table away.”
Qing Mei quickly put away the paper, brush and ink.
The table was soon tidied up and no one could see that Gu Jiu had been sitting there a moment ago, practicing writing characters.
Gu Yue barged inside the room with the other sisters following her.
“Er jiejie, are you feeling better?”
“Er meimei, we have come to see you.”
Gu Jiu lay down, leaning against the headboard. Holding a handkerchief, she covered her lips and coughed softly, looking extremely fragile.
She said weakly, “I have troubled da jiejie, san meimei, si meimei and wu meimei. I’m feeling better. Qing Mei, put out some chairs and offer them tea.”
Da guniang, Gu Zhen, was of shu birth and the eldest daughter in the family.
She stepped forward and held Gu Jiu’s hand. “Meimei is so thin! Meimei has been ill for half a year. We were all very worried about you.”
“Thank you for your concern, da jiejie. With Doctor Chen treating me, my illness has been getting better.”
Gu Zhen seemed moved, her eyes moist. “I was nearly unable to er jiejie again. Thankfully, mother and father called Doctor Chen.”
“Yes!” Gu Jiu lowered her head.
Gu Shan sat down on a chair. “Er jiejie, your complexion seems to have improved.”
Gu Jiu held her silk handkerchief and covered her face with it partially. She turned to look at Gu Shan.
Gu Shan and Gu Yue were blood sisters but she didn’t look as bright or splendid as Gu Yue. However, her features could still be regarded as refined.
Gu Jiu said softly, “Is that so? I also feel that after drinking the medicine made from Doctor Chen’s prescription, I’ve been feeling better. I don’t cough as often as before.”
Gu Shan smiled and said, “It seems that er jiejie’s body is on the road to recovery. This is indeed gratifying.”
“Thank you for your lucky words, meimei.”
Gu Yue looked around. Compared to her room, this room was truly unpresentable.
She curled her lips, clearly showing disdain. Gu Shan was a little embarrassed. San jiejie always behaved this way. She didn’t know how to conceal her thoughts in the least. Gu Shan felt like she had lost face.
Gu Yue said, “Er jiejie, a few days ago, you made such a big scene and caused mother to be implicated. You are so calm. Mother is so concerned about you but you are still not grateful.”
Such a big hat put on her!
Gu Jiu hung her head, a smile on her face. She couldn’t afford to wear such a big hat.
She raised her head slowly, tears already welling up in her eyes. Soon, they fell from her eyes like pearls one by one.
“San meimei, do you think so? Or do you all think so? Ke… ke… If I had known that I would live to see such a day, I would have rather died. If I died, taitai wouldn’t have been implicated. If I died, I wouldn’t have troubled you to pay me a visit. You say that you have come to visit but everyone is looking forward to my death.”
Qing Mei panicked and shouted, “Guniang, your body is important! Doctor Chen instructed that guniang needs to recuperate and cannot be overwhelmed by sadness.
“San guniang, nubi will kowtow to you. Please give my guniang a way to live, ba. It wasn’t easy for my guniang to survive under Tao Hong’s hands. Please be kind and allow my guniang to live, ba!”
Qing Mei knelt, kowtowing continuously.
Gu Jiu exclaimed inwardly, such a good maid, really quick-witted!
Gu Yue panicked. She was only venting on Gu Jiu and said a few words according to her temper. How could she determine life and death? She was extremely vexed.
She pointed at Gu Jiu, “Er jiejie, you, you…”
Gu Jiu didn’t speak but merely cried loudly, falling on her bed. She seemed to be gasping for breath from crying too hard.
Gu Shan was startled. She stood up hurriedly. “San jiejie, quickly apologise to er jiejie. Quickly explain that you were just joking. Everyone came today sincerely to visit er jiejie, not with any other intention.”
Da guniang Gu Zhen and wu guniang Gu Lin nodded.
“Yes, a! Er jiejie/meimei, you misunderstood, we don’t have any other intention.”
Gu Jiu continued to cry and wouldn’t stop.