Yeux charmants

Chapitre 11

"Alright, alright, it's Mao'er who wronged her. Let's grant her wish, after all, she's suffered so much over the years! You handle the rest properly, and don't leave any room for gossip. By the way, how's Qing'er's learning going these past few days?" The old lady remembered Mu Qing and changed the subject.

"Qing'er is smart, she understands things quickly, and she draws patterns very well." Zhang Ma's face lit up with a smile when she mentioned Mu Qing. "She's even more clever than the boys in our family!"

The old lady then asked, "Hehe. Have you been going back to Qian's place to practice calligraphy and reading these past few days?" Zhang Ma nodded.

The old lady smiled again. She genuinely liked Mu Qing's temperament; he was neither arrogant nor impatient, spoke like a child, but acted like a little adult.

"This girl is a clever little devil, with a lot of tricks up her sleeve. She must have been instructed by Madam Qian, so she's afraid of upsetting me and doesn't dare to say that she goes back to the west courtyard to practice calligraphy every day," the old lady said confidently.

Aunt Zhang chimed in, "That's why it's a bit of a hassle going back and forth like this!"

"She's only been back a few days! Who told this little girl to keep quiet? Let's see how long she can hold out and beg me! Does she think I'm an old fogey? Well, she'll have to suffer for now!" The old lady teased, though her expression was full of affection.

Watching the old lady and her great-granddaughter bicker, Zhang Ma couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Then she thought about it and realized that if that matter were true, the old lady would be fine, but it might not be a good thing for Mu Qing herself.

"Qing'er, where did you go?"

"Yes, just now the head maid from Third Brother's room came to invite Qing'er over, saying that Third Brother has acquired some interesting things and wants Qing'er to come and take a look."

"Oh, it would be good for me to get closer to my older brothers!"

...

While someone was talking about Mu Qing, she was feeling confused on her way. She hadn't seen her older brothers much since returning home, and this invitation came so suddenly. Mu Qing really couldn't figure out why, so she could only wait and see when she got there.

Before even entering the south courtyard, several old women came out with unfriendly expressions. One of them spat at the gate, muttering curses under her breath. When they turned and saw Mu Qing, they hurriedly smiled apologetically, bowed, and then left in a hurry. Mu Qing was puzzled. Her sixth aunt was such a gentle and unassuming person; could it be that she kept a shrew in the courtyard?

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Lucky Cat

The shameless raccoon Zhaocai, upon encountering his cunning master Huarong, is destined to be bullied forever. Zhaocai stretches out his fat paw and grabs everyone's feet—

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Chapter Twenty-Six: Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

After entering the south courtyard, Mu Qing walked around the corridor to the main hall at the back. Mu Qing intended to pay her respects to Madam Liu first, but saw her sitting at the head of the table, with two head maids standing on either side, heads bowed, waiting to hear Madam Liu's instructions. Mu Qing stopped the maid from announcing the arrival and stood in a corner, waiting while observing the situation inside the room.

"Sixth Sister's reprimand was just right. It was our negligence in disciplining her that led to this mistake." The speaker was the old woman to Little Liu's right.

Mu Qing took a closer look and noticed that the old woman standing on the right was He Ma, who had come with Madam He as part of her dowry. The other woman opposite her was Lu Ma, the mother of Yun Cui, the old lady's personal maid. The two of them were in charge of the kitchen and were considered prominent figures among the servants.

Looking at Liu Shi's expression, which was indifferent and showed no emotion, Mu Qing thought to herself that the two old women had probably been driven away by Sixth Aunt. She couldn't help but gain a new understanding of this Sixth Aunt.

The two women standing in the hall were inwardly complaining, but dared not utter a word, only muttering to themselves. Normally, Madam Liu would at least show some leniency when reprimanding them, but she hadn't expected her sister to act so decisively, making them stand there for an hour while she finished disciplining her subordinates before allowing them to speak. Who knew what awaited them afterward? After all, Madam Liu was the Old Madam's most beloved granddaughter-in-law; who knew what thoughts lay hidden behind her seemingly amiable demeanor?

Over here, Madam Liu spoke up: "Leaving aside whether this task was assigned by the Old Madam, even the most meticulous person, who manages all the affairs of the courtyard, is bound to make oversights. You, the managers, don't even bother to help or remind her, and just let the purchasing staff below do a sloppy job?"

Little Liu paused for a moment, then said, "The expenses for the wives and ladies in the house, including their main meals, tea, snacks, late-night meals, and fruit, after deducting the monthly wages of the cooks, seem to be quite different from the actual cost of the purchases."

He Ma and Lu Ma looked frightened and were about to raise their heads to reply when Xiao Liu Shi waved her hand to stop them: "I'm not saying you embezzled money, but you are both old servants of the household. One of you has been with the First Madam for so many years, and the other has served the Old Madam and the Old Master for many years. You are very familiar with the rules of the household. The vegetables and fruits purchased by the household are all contracted out to regular vendors outside. It is inevitable that some vendors will take kickbacks when inspecting them. As the saying goes, two fists can't beat four hands. You two, the head and deputy head of the household, have to set the menu, check the dishes, and pay attention to the purchases. Even if you keep an eye on things all the time, you will inevitably doze off sometimes. It is not possible to keep a close watch."

The two women's expressions softened slightly, and then they heard Madam Liu continue, "However, I've been thinking, why not outsource it to a few specialized purchasing agents outside, each with a fixed monthly salary? If the purchased goods are fresh and the masters are satisfied, they'll receive a reward; if they're substandard, their pay will be deducted, and if there's another oversight in the second month, they'll be dismissed, and a replacement will be given in the third month. What do you two think of this method?"

The two women exchanged glances, both knowing full well that unless Little Liu pointed it out, the only ones receiving kickbacks were the inspecting maid and the two of them. Now that purchasing was divided, authority was delegated, and the money was controlled, relying on subordinates' bribes was naturally less than directly taking kickbacks from the merchants. If they agreed, their own income would be far less than it is now; if they disagreed, they would anger this woman and be in deep trouble, possibly even losing their positions as managers.

The two exchanged glances; something was better than nothing. They'd better keep a close eye on him from now on, as this one was even more shrewd than Liu.

The two turned to look at Xiao Liu Shi, and Zhang Ma replied with a smile, "Sixth Sister's method is good. This way, the people below will also pay attention, and there will be no more inferior seasonal fruits and vegetables sneaking in."

"Hehe, the selection of personnel, the monthly wages for purchasing, and the bonuses for this matter still need to be discussed by the two of you to come up with a concrete plan. I think if this matter is successfully handled, the expenses will be less than before, and of course, the bonuses for the two of you in charge should be included."

Little Liu smiled kindly at the two women in charge: "You've worked hard, so don't give you two too little when you get the noodles. If you do a good job, when I return the responsibility to the eldest sister-in-law later, there will be something to talk about."

The two men's faces lit up with joy. This was a direct offer, much better than secretly taking kickbacks. They pretended to be embarrassed and declined.

Of course, Madam Liu didn't think they really didn't want it. She smiled and praised the two women for their hard work and contributions before sending them away.

Seeing the old woman who had just been looking disheveled and waiting to be scolded now walking out beaming, Mu Qing couldn't help but secretly praise Little Liu's clever methods and skillful management of her subordinates. However, she was still somewhat surprised that Little Liu, who seemed so unassuming, actually harbored ambitions for power. Returning power to the eldest daughter-in-law? If she really intended to return it later, what was the point of any reforms? Maintaining the status quo would have been enough! Indeed, appearances can be deceiving!

...

"Qing'er is here, come over quickly!" When Madam Liu saw Mu Qing standing under the eaves, she hurriedly invited her into the house.

Upon hearing this, Mu Qing composed herself, smiled, and entered the main room. She gave a deep bow to Madam Liu, saying, "Qing'er greets Sixth Aunt!"

"Qing'er, come, try this fruit. My family brought it. It's not as refined as the ones in the manor, but it tastes quite good!" Little Liu smiled gently as always, but for some reason, Mu Qing felt that the feeling was no longer the same as before. She picked one up and put it in her mouth, nodding repeatedly, "Mmm! Aunt Liu's tea and food here are excellent!"

"You little rascal, your words are sweeter than honey!" Little Liu stroked Qing'er's hair affectionately. "What brings you to your sixth aunt's place today? Did you come to learn some tea-making skills from your aunt?"

Mu Qing shook her head, pouted, and said aggrievedly, "My third brother invited me over to play today. As for the tea ceremony, I've been learning embroidery from Granny Zhang lately, and it's so tiring; my hands are covered in needle marks. Look! So please don't blame me, Sixth Aunt, for not coming to learn tea ceremony from you. I really wanted to learn!"

"Poor thing, your sixth aunt can come anytime. The old lady asked Zhang Ma to teach you embroidery, that's the important thing. If a girl doesn't know needlework, she'll be laughed at by her husband's family when she gets married." Liu handed Mu Qing another cup of water. "I won't give you tea today. Children like sweets, so I'll give you a cup of honey water to quench your thirst."

"Thank you so much, Aunt Six!"

"After you finish drinking, go to your brother's place. Your third brother is usually close to your eldest brother. After your eldest brother leaves in a while, he'll be cooped up in his room again. Come over and visit more often when you have time, see your third brother, and also see your sixth auntie! Hehe!"

"Hmm? We should be looking at Sixth Aunt, and then Third Brother! Sixth Aunt is so beautiful, Qing'er is overjoyed to see her."

Mu Qing didn't forget to flatter, making Little Liu laugh: "I'm impressed by your sweet talk! I think our Qing'er will always be the most beautiful! Hurry up and go to the back, your brother is probably getting impatient!"

"Alright! Qing'er will go now!" Mu Qing said and went to the backyard.

As Liu watched Mu Qing leave, she stood there stunned for a long while, then touched her face and said with a bitter smile, "No matter how beautiful she is, she can't compare to Qiong Niang..."

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Please give me some money, I'm so eager...

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Thank You

Mu Qing arrived at the side courtyard where Chen Xun lived. Looking up, she saw a crooked sycamore tree outside the wall, its branches stretching diagonally into the courtyard, like the flowing sleeves of a female opera singer, sweeping away and obscuring half of the courtyard.

"Qing'er, do you also think this sycamore tree is quite peculiar? When I came, it wasn't as lush as it is now. Over the past few years, it has grown increasingly dense. But that's good; it provides more shade in the yard during the summer." Chen Xun, who had somehow appeared in the yard, said to Mu Qing, "Come inside quickly!"

When Mu Qing saw Chen Xun come out, she called out, "Third Brother! What did you call Qing'er here for today?"

"Hmm, Third Brother got some good stuff from outside today. Come and see if there's anything you like."

Chen Xun seemed a little awkward speaking. Seeing that Mu Qing didn't understand, and not knowing how to explain, he simply said, "Go inside," and went in by himself.

As Mu Qing walked, she muttered to herself, "What's Third Brother up to? Is it really possible to deliver something to someone and then expect them to come and pick it up?"

Mu Qing entered the room, and Chen Xun, acting like an older brother, instructed the maid to bring Mu Qing soup and a plate of candied fruit.

After the maid left, Chen Xun pushed the disk in front of Mu Qing, pointed to the contents and said, "You've come at just the right time. I just brought back some plum candy from the Fruit Shop, and this new 'Shuang Tuan' (a type of sweet dumpling). I tasted it and thought it was delicious, so I bought a bag of it. Come and try it!"

Mu Qing felt a soreness in her teeth; the mother and son really did have the exact same way of entertaining people!

Mu Qing bit her lip, thinking to herself, "Luckily, my teeth are still pretty good. But I'm about to lose my baby teeth. If I keep eating like this every day, will I end up with a mouthful of black teeth?"

Chen Xun was puzzled as to why Mu Qing was staring blankly at the fruit. He thought about how he had gone to great lengths to please his younger sister with something different from what she had at home, only to be met with ingratitude. Feeling a little embarrassed, he asked in a daze, "Why aren't you eating?"

Mu Qing glanced at Chen Xun, whose face looked somewhat embarrassed, and quickly picked up a piece of the light golden "shuangtuan" and put it in her mouth. It was sweet and refreshing, with a unique flavor. While chewing, she muttered, "Not bad! Third Brother, I wonder if you can find out the recipe and ask Aunt Li from the small kitchen in the Old Madam's courtyard to make it and try it?"

Chen Xun wasn't usually close to this younger sister, and he didn't know her likes or dislikes, or whether she was difficult to get along with, so he was always unsure. Seeing that Mu Qing wasn't being coy at all, Chen Xun felt relieved and teased her, "You glutton! You always think about the recipe when you eat something good, and every time you eat something good, you still ask about the recipe?"

“Why not open a food stall in your own home! Food is served whenever you want! What’s wrong with that?” Mu Qing said, taking another one, having long forgotten about her earlier worry about cavities.

Chen Xun, with an air of "I knew it," smiled and said, "It's said to be a recipe passed down from Mr. Feng Ledao, known as 'Old Man Chang Le' during the Five Dynasties period. It's not exactly a secret. Coincidentally, his shopkeeper's son is also at the He Family Private School, and he's my classmate. After trying this 'Shuang Tuan' some time ago, I inquired about the recipe. My classmate said that Guopinzhai added one or two secret ingredients to that recipe, and is more particular about the proportions and preparation method, but there's nothing else. So he gave me Old Man Chang Le's recipe! But I haven't had anyone try it yet!"

Mu Qing exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't expect Third Brother to be such a culinary expert! Third Brother, please remember to write down the recipe for me later, I'll go see Aunt Li tomorrow!"

Chen Xun felt a little embarrassed by Mu Qing's words, and his cheeks turned slightly red: "It's just that when I come across something I like to eat, I ask a few more questions. I'm not usually that particular."

Mu Qing found it amusing. Her third brother was fearless in fights, but now he blushed after just a few words of praise: "Third brother, where is that wonderful thing you mentioned? Qing'er came all this way just for that!"

"Yes, I'll have someone go get it right away! Xiao Qiu, go get the box I brought back yesterday."

A moment later, a maidservant came from behind carrying a box.

Chen Xun took the box and handed it to Mu Qing: "Take a look, take whatever you like."

Mu Qing opened the box and saw a pair of lotus-shaped glass hairpins, a purple crystal peony, and a crystal magnolia inside. Mu Qing was dumbfounded. She thought they were just some little toys for children. She didn't expect her third brother to give her jewelry. Why was that?

"Third brother, why give it to Qing'er?" Mu Qing asked.

Chen Xun coughed twice, his face turning even redder, and stammered, "That day at the Old Madam's birthday banquet, it was thanks to my sister's reminder that I made a grave mistake. This is a small token of my appreciation; please accept whatever you like! If you like them all, take them all!"

Mu Qing noticed that Chen Xun seemed a little uncomfortable. Although it was a gift for his younger sister, it was still a bit awkward for a grown man like him to buy jewelry for a girl. However, she was surprised that Chen Xun was so thoughtful and had chosen some very unique items.

Mu Qing smiled and said in a soft, childish voice, "Then I won't be polite, Third Brother. The things you chose are really beautiful!"

Hearing his sister's praise, Chen Xun felt pleased and said with a smile, "I'm glad you like it! I don't know anything about these things. This was picked out by Young Master Ma and Doctor Shu when we passed by Fuyaxuan the other day when I accompanied my elder brother to the pharmacy with Young Master Ma and Doctor Shu."

Mu Qing thought to herself, no wonder the items he chose were all different. Ma Mingyuan, with his flirtatious eyes, was a young master who had seen a lot of these things, so naturally he chose well. But why is there another guest at home?

"Young Master Ma and Doctor Shu? When did Doctor Shu come to our house?"

"I don't know Dr. Shu's background either. I only know that he came to our house on the day of the old lady's birthday."

Upon hearing Chen Xun's answer, Mu Qing's smile froze. Thinking of that irritating fox-like face, could it be him?

Mu Qing asked again, "Third Brother, I remember that it was Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother who accompanied Young Master Ma that day, so why were you and Eldest Brother there instead?"

Chen Xun sneered: "Fourth Brother is still locked up by Grandfather to reflect on his mistakes, and Fifth Brother is a tagalong. If Fourth Brother doesn't move, why would he? Besides, who is Young Master Ma? He had a very pleasant conversation with Eldest Brother the other day and is already interested in befriending him. It was Young Master Ma who took the initiative to ask Eldest Brother to accompany him. Today, I also invited Eldest Brother to play chess with Young Master Ma."

"Oh no!" Mu Qing thought to herself, "This is bad. I'd better grab my things and leave!"

Remembering the one she had conscripted and the other she had tricked into coming to the front yard, Mu Qing knew that neither peach blossom eyes nor fox-like faces were good to behold. She placed the box on the table, carefully examined the three pieces of jewelry, picked up the amethyst peony and the crystal magnolia, compared the two, and finally put down the peony, saying to Chen Xun, "Third Brother, I want this one!"

"Not choosing another one?" Chen Xun was surprised. Don't girls usually like brightly colored jewelry? He remembered seeing women on the street dressed in all sorts of colors. But his little sister, at such a young age, didn't like the dazzling glass hairpins and the translucent purple peonies; she actually chose that colorless magnolia!

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Chapter Twenty-Eight: They Still Met (Minor Revision)