“Did Mother leave any final words when she passed away?” Gu Jiu asked softly.
Gui mama recalled the past. “Just a few days before she passed, furen seemed to sense it. She called nubi to her side and instructed nubi to take good care of guniang and san shaoye. She also said…”
Gui mama hesitated, as if there was something she couldn’t bring herself to say.
Gu Jiu picked up the teapot and refilled Gui mama’s cup. “Mama, have some tea. Did Mother mention my marriage before she passed?”
Gui mama looked at Gu Jiu in disbelief. “How does guniang know?”
Gu Jiu lowered her head slightly, her expression calm. “I guessed. When Mother passed, she was most concerned about my brother and me. Gege’s future would naturally be taken care of by Father. As for my marriage, Mother probably feared Father wouldn’t take it seriously and would hastily send me away. That’s why she entrusted this matter to you.”
After finishing, Gu Jiu raised her head and looked at Gui mama. “Mama, what exactly did Mother say? Please tell me.”
Gui mama’s old eyes welled up with tears. “Not only has guniang grown up, but she’s also so intelligent. If furen’s spirit is watching from above, she must be comforted.”
Gu Jiu took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Gui mama’s tears. “Mama, please don’t cry. My brother and I will only get better and better.”
Gui mama nodded repeatedly, finally managing to stop her tears. “Before furen passed, she instructed me to remind laoye to honour his promise when guniang comes of age.”
“What promise?” Gu Jiu asked.
Gui mama looked at Gu Jiu, who bore a striking resemblance to her mother. Excitedly, she said, “Before furen passed, she already suspected laoye might elevate Xie shi to the position of official wife. Furen was worried that Xie shi would meddle with guniang’s marriage. So, before she passed, she begged laoye to marry guniang off to a distant place after coming of age, to keep guniang away from the capital. Furen feared that if guniang stayed, guniang would suffer under Xie shi’s hands and wouldn’t find peace even after marriage.”
“Ah!” Qing Mei and Qing Zhu both exclaimed in shock, quickly covering their mouths.
Furen wanted the young guniang to marry far away? How could that be good?
Gui mama said, “Guniang must understand furen’s good intentions.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I understand Mother’s concerns. But in my view, her plan is too timid. Does marrying far away guarantee a good life? Whether one can lead a good life often depends on oneself.”
Gui mama was taken aback, looking at Gu Jiu with surprise. She hadn’t expected such words from her.
Gu Jiu smiled. “Mama, I’m different from my mother.”
After saying this, she nodded firmly, emphasising the differences between herself and Su shi.
Gui mama suddenly let out a long sigh of relief. “Guniang is truly different from furen. Nubi can see it now—guniang is much stronger than she was.”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “Thank you, mama. I want to take you away from here to live in the city. Would you be willing?”
Gui mama was moved but couldn’t believe it. “Nubi, nubi is certainly willing! But nubi is old and feeble, clumsy with my hands and feet. Nubi fears not being able to serve guniang well.”
Gu Jiu said, “Mama, you don’t have to serve me. I want to bring you to the city to enjoy life.”
Gui mama froze, then quickly waved her hands. “No, no, I can’t burden guniang. Now that Xie shi is in charge of the fu, taking me back will only anger her, which will be bad for guniang.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Mama, you don’t need to worry about that. I plan to rent you a house in the city along with Dazhuang ge and Erzhuang ge. You won’t stay in the estate; instead, you’ll help me handle some matters.”
Gui mama was confused, not quite understanding Gu Jiu’s words.
Gu Jiu took a sip of tea and said, “With Xie shi in charge, it’s difficult for me to accomplish anything within the fu. That’s why I need someone outside to act as my eyes and ears. Do you think Dazhuang ge and Erzhuang ge would be willing to leave the manor and work in the city?”
Gui mama suddenly burst into tears and said while crying, “They’d be willing, absolutely willing! If guniang is willing to use them, they’d be overjoyed. Nubi can’t vouch for others, but you can trust Dazhuang and Erzhuang’s loyalty without any doubt.”
After crying, Gui mama wiped her tears and said, “Nubi thought nubi would never see the light of day in this life. Nubi didn’t expect guniang to come and even want to take us away. Guniang, nubi can’t repay your kindness even if I become an ox or a horse in my next life.”
Thud!
Gui mama knelt in front of Gu Jiu, repeatedly kowtowing.
Gu Jiu quickly helped her up. “Mama, please don’t do this. My brother and I came late—it’s our fault you’ve endured so much suffering all these years.”
“No, no, it’s not like that. It’s my failure to take care of you, causing you to worry instead.”
Gui mama looked at Gu Jiu and asked, “Guniang, if you want to take the three of us away, will Xie shi agree?”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “Mama, leave that to me. What are Dazhuang ge and Erzhuang ge doing now? Can I see them?”
Gui mama said, “They’re probably still working in the fields. They won’t be back until evening.”
Gu Jiu asked curiously, “Don’t they return for lunch?”
Gui mama shook her head. “No, they eat in the fields. Someone delivers food to them.”
So that’s how it was! Gao Erfu treated Dazhuang and Erzhuang as mere laborers.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “Mama, get some rest. At the latest, in two days, I’ll take you away from here.”
Gui mama looked at Gu Jiu, her eyes filled with hope and worry. “Will it be difficult for guniang?”
Gu Jiu smiled and shook her head. “Don’t worry, mama.”
Even so, Gui mama couldn’t help but worry.
This was Xie shi’s estate, and the steward, Gao Erfu, was Xie shi’s man. Leaving this place wouldn’t be easy.
Qing Mei spoke up to reassure her, “Mama, trust guniang. If she promises something, she’ll make it happen.”
Gui mama was half-convinced, but her concern remained.
Yet she also knew she couldn’t help much and would only add to the trouble if she stayed.
So, she nodded and said, “Take care of yourself, guniang. Nubi is old; leaving or staying doesn’t matter to me. Just don’t risk offending Xie shi because of nubi—it’s not worth it.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Thank you for your concern, mama. I understand.”
Gui mama left.
Qing Mei asked, “Guniang, what’s the next step?”
Gu Jiu said, “Let’s eat first. We’ll talk after the meal.”
Gao Erfu had the kitchen prepare a table of dishes, mostly wild game.
Gu Ting called out, “Manager Gao, join us and have a drink with this young master.” Gao Erfu declined, but Gu Ting forcibly seated him and filled his cup. “Drink!”
One cup after another, Gao Erfu, unable to hold his liquor, soon became drunk. When Gao Erfu woke up from his nap, the situation had changed entirely.
Gu Jiu sat calmly on a chair, with Gu Ting beside her. On the table lay a pile of account books.
Gao Erfu, still groggy, stammered, “Er guniang, san shaoye, what are you doing? What time is it now?”
Gu Ting raised an eyebrow. “Manager Gao, have you forgotten what you’ve done?”
“What? What did I do? Just had a few drinks, right?”
Gu Jiu patted the account books on the table and said softly, “In the 30th year of Kaiyao, the estate produced 1,800 taels’ worth of goods and had 50,000 catties of grain in storage.
In the 31st year, when Manager Gao took over, the output dropped to 1,200 taels, and the stored grain to 30,000 catties.
In the 32nd year, last year, the output further decreased to 880 taels, and the stored grain to 15,000 catties.”
After saying this, Gu Jiu sneered.
Gao Erfu looked at the account books in panic and disbelief. “How did you get these? It’s impossible!”
He touched his waist—his keys were gone.
Realising the truth, he pointed at Gu Ting. “San shaoye, you dared to plot against me, stealing my keys and taking the account books while I was drunk!”
“Ha! Your petty schemes don’t require much effort to expose,” Gu Ting snorted coldly. “You’d better pray for yourself.”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly and continued, “Year by year, the output and stored grain have decreased.
At first, I thought it was due to natural disasters. I assume that’s how you reported it—drought, insufficient water sources, lower yields.
Taitai has never visited this estate and knows little of its affairs. With Gao Sanfu backing you, whatever you said was taken at face value. But upon reviewing the accounts, it’s clear that despite consistent harvests, the reported output kept shrinking. A rough calculation shows that over the past few years, Manager Gao has embezzled at least four to five thousand taels of silver. Now, if I report this to taitai, what do you think will happen?”
“No! You can’t tell the taitai!” Gao Erfu panicked, his expression turning vicious. For a moment, the thought of silencing them crossed his mind.
But seeing the guards standing watch outside, he quickly backed down.
“Er guniang, san shaoye, xiaode beg you, spare me. Let’s not report this to the taitai. You’re not on good terms with her anyway, right? You should be happy I stole her silver!”
Gu Ting scolded, “Shameless!”
Gao Erfu didn’t care. As long as he could keep his position and wealth, he didn’t mind being cursed a hundred times over.
If Xie shi discovered his embezzlement, with her temper, she’d flay him alive. Even if his brother Gao Sanfu interceded, it wouldn’t help.
“Er guniang, I beg you, spare me this once. I’ll repay you double!”
Gu Jiu smiled softly, closing the account book. “If I let this slide, are you truly willing to repay me?”
Gao Erfu nodded repeatedly. “Yes, I’m willing!”
“Good!” Gu Jiu smiled with satisfaction.
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