Chapter 60 Long time no see
After the incident of telling stories to the children, Su Qing was called to the upper room by Meng Qi more and more often, and she began to tell stories to Meng Qi again.
But this time, she followed Liu's mother's suggestion and told stories about women's virtues and how women should get along with others in the future. Guo's mother even came over once and brought several books, asking Su Qing to make up stories and tell them to Meng Qi.
Looking at those books, Su Qing sighed at Wang's good intentions. At the same time, she thought with disdain, what did she do before? She had been spoiled for more than ten years, but she only remembered to educate her when she was about to get married. She was already a mature sapling, how could she bend it into the shape she wanted?
Su Qing had no choice but to rack her brains to mix the irrelevant contents together, and finally formed a pot of stew. Fortunately, Meng Qi liked it. Even Liu's mother said that Meng Qi had changed a lot since she started listening to Su Qing's stories again.
Su Qing rolled her eyes in her heart, thinking that it was all the palace maid's credit. But no matter what, Meng Qi became obedient and honest, and Su Qing's treatment and attention increased sharply. The most practical manifestation was that Qing Rui was going to leave the house to work in Wang's tea shop to get married, and Su Qing got two days off to go with her because Mother Liu came.
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"Look how happy you are. Go quickly. Sister Qingrui has packed her things and is waiting for you at the back door."
Su Qing picked up the bundle and said to Chuan'er, "My sister is getting married in ten days. When the time comes, we will ask Mama Liu to ask you to go there early as well."
As soon as they went out, Yuan Dong handed her a box and said, "Here, this is a gift from the fourth young lady. I told you to give it to your godmother."
Su Qing's mood was as brisk as her steps. When she arrived at the back corner door, she was even happier to see that Mother Guo had specially arranged for a servant from the mansion to drive a carriage to take them there.
Qing Rui was already sitting in the car. Seeing Su Qing coming out, she pushed open the door and let her in. Looking at the car full of boxes and bundles, Su Qing was really happy for Qing Rui. Was this like those scenes in TV dramas where people retire after achieving success and return home?
About half an hour later, they arrived at the tea shop owned by the wife of the prince, Wang, in the south of the city. Gu Hai was the second-class shopkeeper before, but last month the head shopkeeper was transferred to another place to work, so Qing Rui made efforts and Gu Hai became the head shopkeeper.
The shop was neither too big nor too small, and the interior was clean and elegant. Su Qing and his friends walked around the main entrance and entered through a narrow corridor on the left side of the shop. There was a small door there, and pushing it open led to the backyard of the shop.
Gu He, Gu Hai and the shop assistants came out to help move Qing Rui's belongings that she had accumulated over the years. Su Qing got out of the car and stood in the backyard looking around, "What are you looking at?" Hearing the familiar voice, Su Qing looked up and saw Mother Liu smiling at her, supported by Gu He's wife, standing under the eaves.
"Godmother" Su Qing threw herself into Liu Mama's arms. Liu Mama was infected by Su Qing's emotions and burst into tears. She hugged Su Qing and kept stroking her back. She looked up and saw Qingrui coming over and holding out her hand. Qingrui also took two quick steps, held Liu Mama's hand, and tears also flowed down.
"What's the matter? Today is a happy day. You are so happy that you don't know what to say." Gu Hai's wife, Zhong, is not as quiet as Gu He's wife. She is a sharp-tongued person. Seeing this, she stepped forward and joked.
"That's right, that's right. We are happy today. Don't cry. Come on, go into the house." Mother Liu hugged one of them in each hand and went into the inner room.
"Sister Qing'er, after meeting mother and brother and sister-in-law, do you no longer want me as your sister?" A voice came. Su Qing looked up and saw a little girl coming out from behind Gu He. She had a chubby face and was holding Gu Hai's second son in her arms. She looked at her with a smile. Who else could it be but Cai'er?
"Cai'er, why are you here too?" Su Qing happily pulled Cai'er over and looked her up and down.
"As for me, it's a long story." Cai'er weighed the fat boy in her arms, and everyone went into the house together.
One wall of this room is the back of the cabinet of the shop in front, and a door curtain separates it from the shop. There is a big table in the middle of the floor, and there is a kang around it. Although it is big, it doesn't feel cold. The table is full of various dried fruits.
Mother Liu pulled Qingrui and Suqing to sit on each side, looking left and right. Seeing that Su Qing had grown taller and more beautiful, and Qingrui looked more and more like she was going to get married, she couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Qing'er, maybe you have gone home after lunch?" Gu Hai's wife asked Su Qing while pouring tea for everyone.
"Not only can I have lunch, I can also have dinner, and I can also have dinner tomorrow night." Madam Liu was confused by her words and didn't react for a while. Qing Rui smiled and tapped her forehead, "Mother Liu beside the fourth young lady has promised this girl two days off. She can go back the day after tomorrow morning."
"Oh, that's great. It seems that our Qing'er is very respectable in front of the housekeeper." Mother Liu said happily.
"It's not that I'm respectable, I'm just relying on my sister's reputation. The Crown Prince's wife knew that my sister would leave the house early, and that my godmother would come in the next two days, so she let me stay with her for two days." Su Qing said as she opened the box of snacks that Yuandong gave her before she left. She saw two layers of snacks inside, which were not available on the market.
Su Qing took out a soft piece and handed it to Mother Liu, then took out two pieces and gave them to Gu Hai's two sons. For a while, everyone started chatting happily.
"No matter what, you have to do your best, otherwise no matter how much your sister does, it will be useless."
"That's right, Auntie, you don't know that Qing'er is not only liked by the Fourth Miss, but also valued by the Crown Prince's wife. I think it won't be long before she can be promoted to the second rank."
"Really?" Su Qing asked.
"Well, it should be about the same. These days, the changes in the fourth young lady have made the prince's wife feel at ease. This is what Madam Guo told me. The prince's wife is optimistic about you. If there are no accidents, you will definitely marry a girl."
She didn't want a maid as a dowry, but it would be good if she could get a second-class one. There were still two years before Meng Qi got married, so she had enough time for her plan.
Here, Mrs. Zhong was going to the kitchen to prepare food, and Gu He's wife, Mrs. Qin, also wanted to go with her, but was held down by Mrs. Zhong and went out alone, smiling.
"Let your sister-in-law go. You are pregnant now. The first three months are extremely important. Don't be anxious about it." Qin blushed and sat down again.
When Qingrui and Su Qing heard this, they exclaimed at the same time and said congratulations to Qin with a smile.
After some caring and concerned conversation, Su Qing also knew the reason why Cai'er could come along.
"After you left, Mother Yu sent back all the things she bought. She wanted to sell Cai'er as well. I told her that Cai'er is hardworking and there should be a young one left to do yard work. Besides, the Madam just went back and you sold everyone. It would be bad if the people in the clan talked about it later."
"So, Mother Yu also agreed to let Cai'er come along?" Su Qing knew from the letters between her and Mother Liu that Cai'er came to work for her, but she didn't know the specific process.
"How can I do that? They say that the West Mansion has no master and doesn't need so many people. What else is there? It's nothing more than money. I'll just let Cai'er take charge. It's only for about a month. I can give up the monthly salary but I can't leave Cai'er there alone. I can't rest assured."
"The result is good. Cai'er's monthly salary was reduced, and Ruchun's sister was brought in. Alas." Mother Liu said this and took Cai'er's hand and patted it, "You will lose more than one month's monthly salary."
"Of course, I have to thank Mother Liu. If you and my second sister-in-law were not in the West House, I don't know what would have happened. Qing'er, you haven't seen Ruchun's sister, but Ruchun is much more powerful. We live in the same room, and she orders me around like a lady. If I'm a little slow, she threatens to let Mother Yu sell me out."
"In that case, I think you shouldn't go back." Qingrui looked at Cai'er and said, "Including Jiaohong and me, there are four or five maids in the main house who were sent out to get married in the spring. Qing'er told me about you a long time ago, and I have been keeping an eye on you. I also asked Madam Guo when I left. When Qing'er goes back the day after tomorrow, she can ask Madam Guo. I think we are not going to serve the master, so it's okay for us to be a servant."
When Cai Er heard Qing Rui say this, she stood up happily and saluted, saying a bunch of words of thanks, which made Qing Rui cover her mouth and ask, "Aunt, do you like girls based on how sweet their mouths are?"
This sentence made everyone laugh. Su Qing looked at everyone, and a feeling of home that she had never felt before filled her body. It's great, this is what a family is.