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Settling Accounts
Translated by atsam
Edited by atsam
Qing Mei entered the yard, carrying white fungus soup, swearing continuously, “That blasted Tao Hong! She brought diluted food for guniang every day but she never allowed herself to be wronged.
“Nubi went to the small kitchen and saw a stewed white fungus soup. When I asked, I came to know that it was for Tao Hong. All this time that guniang was ill, what could guniang eat except for medicinal supplements?
“I’m afraid that all good things that were meant for us were coveted by Tao Hong.”
Gu Ting was furious. “I want to slaughter Tao Hong, this lowly slave.”
Gu Jiu’s brows bent as she smiled. Gu Ting’s concern for her made her recall her two brothers from her past life. They were also concerned about her this way and hated to see her even slightly wronged. But her two brothers were more careful and patient than Gu Ting.
Gu Ting was playful and ran around, usually wasting time with friends.
Gu Jiu let Qing Mei put the bowl of soup on the bedside table and ate it bit by bit. The white fungus soup was sweet because of the crystal sugar; it was extremely delicious.
Gu Jiu felt very content, having eaten it. She was fond of eating sweets. It was a pity that in her past life, she couldn’t eat as she wished because of her heart disease. In this lifetime, she would recover well and eat every kind of delicacy.
After taking a few bites, Gu Jiu lightly wiped the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief. She asked, “How is Tao Hong, now?”
“She has been dragged down. I heard she is on her last breaths. I’m afraid she won’t be able to survive the night.”
Gu Jiu nodded, understanding. She asked again, “What about the others?”
“Once the pozi from the storehouse were beaten, they followed taitai to beg for forgiveness. Xiao Cui and Xiao Hong are still kneeling in the yard, waiting for guniang‘s punishment.”
Gu Ting said, “In my opinion, Xiao Cui and Xiao Hong, these two servants must be driven away. Keeping such disloyal and unjust maids will only be a disaster.”
Gu Jiu’s brows bent as she smiled and said, “Gege, the matters of my yard, let me manage, okay?”
Seeing Gu Jiu smile, Gu Ting also laughed. “Okay, everything will be as you say. Don’t be soft-hearted. You mustn’t be polite with those two lowly slaves.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I know.” She continued to ask Qing Mei, “Did you get the key back from Tao Hong?”
Qing Mei took out the key from her bosom and handed it to Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu was very emotional. Finally, she had got hold of the key. The third objective of today’s cacophony had also been achieved — controlling her finances.
She put the key beside her.
“Qing Mei, pour me a glass of water.”
“Meimei, are you alright?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “It’s nothing. The white fungus soup was a little greasy, so I want to drink some water.”
“It’s good if you’re alright.”
Qing Mei brought the glass of water. “Guniang, drink some water.”
Gu Jiu held the glass and drank the warm water. The warm water flowed from her throat to her stomach and her entire body felt warm. She finally had some strength.
Her brows bent as she smiled. “Qing Mei, did I scare you earlier?”
“Nubi was indeed terrified, but was able to expose that Tao Hong who has the heart of wolves and lungs of dogs regardless of how terrified nubi was.”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “You’ve worked hard, today.”
“Nubi didn’t work hard. Guniang, nubi has a question. Can nubi ask?”
“Go ahead.”
Qing Mei deliberated a little before asking, “How was guniang certain that Xiao Cui and Xiao Hong would point fingers at Tao Hong?”
Gu Ting was also very curious. “Yes, meimei, how were you sure that those two maids would accuse Tao Hong, that lowly slave?”
I was also gambling. Could she say this?
Naturally, she couldn’t.
Saying so would make her lose face.
Gu Jiu coughed lightly, pretending to be profound and mysterious, appearing as if she held the pearl of wisdom. “Xiao Cui is slow but not stupid. Today, I instigated her relationship with Tao Hong. As expected, Tao Hong fell for it, picking on Xiao Cui incessantly, nearly slapping her. By the time father arrived, Tao Hong’s momentum had basically declined. At that time, no matter how slow-witted Xiao Cui was, she would know how to choose.”
“What about that Xiao Hong?”
Gu Jiu gulped down some water again. “As for Xiao Hong, she is a girl who loves to resort to petty tricks. But she had been suppressed by Tao Hong for so long that when Tao Hong fell, with her temper, she would most likely throw stones at her.”
Listening to her, Gu Ting sighed with emotion. “Meimei indeed schemed cleverly.”
Qing Mei also said, “Guniang lady is truly amazing. Everything turned out just as you planned.”
Gu Jiu smiled, bowing her head. Aiya, if it was put like this, she was indeed quite fearsome.
She was arrogant, but what was to be done? She had to continue being arrogant, ba! Live arrogantly, and be arrogant for an entire lifetime!
The medicine was prepared. Qing Mei helped Gu Jiu drink it. Sniffing at the medicine, Gu Jiu inhaled deeply. This was the correct prescription.
She held the small soup ladle and drank sip by sip. Gu Ting asked, “Meimei, is the medicine too hot? Shall I help you taste it?”
Gu Jiu laughed at him. “How can you drink medicine randomly? Gege, don’t say such silly things.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m very strong. How could I be afraid of drinking a little medicine?” Saying so, Gu Ting smacked his chest twice, as if proving his strength.
Gu Jiu shook her head. “The medicine is not hot. That temperature is just right. Gege, you go back. I’m fine here.”
“I will accompany you.”
Gu Jiu pursed her lips and smiled. “Gege was impatient to come to the houyuan before. You have accompanied me for so long, I have received your concern. Moreover, after drinking the medicine, I will lie down to sleep. Do you even want to guard me as I sleep?”
Gu Ting smiled, embarrassed. “Then I will go back. I will come to see you again tomorrow.”
Gu Jiu nodded. Gu Ting urged Qing Mei, “Serve guniang well. If there is a problem, send someone to find me.”
“Yes!”
After drinking the medicine, Gu Jiu leaned against the headboard, resting. She was sweating all over after drinking, making her feel uncomfortable. “Qing Mei, call someone to bring hot water. I want to wipe myself.”
“Guniang, wait for a little, nubi will get hot water at once.” Qing Mei left the room and saw Xiao Cui and Xiao Hong kneeling outside.
“Qing Mei jiejie, guniang, she
”
With a stern expression, Qing Mei said, “Until guniang calls for you, continue to kneel.”
Both Xiao Cui and Xiao Hong looked disappointed.
Xiao Cui suddenly lowered her voice, “Yes!”
Xiao Hong was clever. “Qing Mei jiejie, can you help us plead with guniang? It is not that we are insincere and don’t want to kneel, but we have been beaten ten times and we are bleeding. If this is left unattended for too long, we will hurt our legs.”
Qing Mei glared at Xiao Hong. She was indeed a person who resorted to petty tricks. Guniang did not misjudge her.
Qing Mei said, “I will talk to guniang.”
Xiao Hong was overjoyed. “Thank you, Qing Mei jiejie.”
Qing Mei brought the hot water and entered the room. “Guniang, let nubi help you wipe your body.”
Gu Jiu sat up and removed her clothes. Peeking at her wrapped small beans on the flat land, she felt very sour.
“Qing Mei.”
“Nubi is here.”
“Who were you speaking to just now?”
“Replying to guniang, it was Xiao Hong and Xiao Cui. Does guniang want to call them in?”
Gu Jiu thought for a while and said, “Call them in after half an hour.”
“Nubi obeys.”
After wiping her body, Gu Jiu changed into cotton clothes, feeling very comfortable.
She took out the key and gave it to Qing Mei. “Open the cupboard and see what’s left inside.”
Qing Mei took the key and opened the cupboard, moving all its contents out.
There were two bolts of silk, one bolt of satin, one bolt of brocade, and five bolts of cotton cloth.
In addition, there was one embroidered pouch and inside it was the silver she had saved over the years.
In all, there were twenty-two taels of silver and three hundred copper coins.
“Guniang, only this much money is remaining.” Qing Mei poured out all the coins.
Gu Jiu fiddled with the silver. “In the three years that Tao Hong has been by my side, she has taken care of the money. I receive five taels of silver every month and in these three years, I must have received a total of one hundred and eighty taels.
Along with the rewards bestowed during the new year and other festivals and deducting the expenses, it is estimated that there should be about one hundred taels of silver remaining. Here, there are only twenty-two taels. Tao Hong has been too greedy all these years, a!”
Qing Mei added, “Nubi also knows that there should be at least five bolts of brocade. Guniang’s new clothes have always been prepared using the household’s treasury. If so much cloth isn’t with guniang, then it has certainly gone into Tao Hong’s pocket.”
Gu Jiu raised her brows and smiled. “Tao Hong’s appetite is not small.”
Qing Mei nodded again and again. Her appetite was not just small, it had grown to a simply unbridled and unscrupulous degree.
Gu Jiu looked at Qing Mei. “Can Tao Hong still live after being beaten forty times?”
Qing Mei shivered, shaking her head. “She won’t live.”
“She still has some breath, right?”
Qing Mei nodded.
Gu Jiu pondered. “Qing Mei, you take a look at Tao Hong on my behalf based on the mutual affection of our master and servant. You also ask her why she hates me so much.”