Chapter 56: Negotiation.

The group of three left the teahouse together. Babao was quick to ask, “Third Young Master, did Miss Liu go back with her relatives from her biological father’s side?”

He had vaguely overheard a few sentences at the entrance of the elegant room and confirmed it with Lu Chengxiao.

Lu Chengxiao nodded, “That was her Aunt inside the elegant room.”

Babao breathed a sigh of relief. Although he didn’t understand the situation on Liu Yu’s biological father’s side, he couldn’t help but think, even if it’s not good there, could it be worse than in the Liu family’s village? Definitely not.

On the contrary, he felt that they were very concerned about Miss Liu here.

Thinking about Li Yunbi, who was still staying at the inn, Babao felt anxious for his Third Young Master. If Miss Liu wasn’t brought back by her biological father’s family, even if the Third Young Master brought her back, with the Liu family’s big household, would the madam really agree to the Third Young Master marrying her? Babao remembered what the madam said in the carriage that day when they left the Liu family’s village—”Marriage is a secondary matter; let’s find the person first.”

—It’s a secondary matter.

It’s a secondary matter. The madam was eager to find someone at that time, and she probably didn’t pay much attention to that statement. Babao knew that his Third Young Master cared a lot about Liu Yu. He pondered over this statement in his heart multiple times. In his opinion, the madam might have hesitated in her heart.

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Jycys yzps wdelapvsse vbyv, altyaezlpp sq vbl xyeyx dsv nyakdt xwnb ycswv qyxkzu cynjtaswde yde yrrlyaydnlp, pllkdt vbl yvvkvwel sq vbl Nkw qyxkzu’p hkzzytl, yde nsdpkelakdt xyjkdt yd yzzkydnl okvb pwnb y qyxkzu, bso nswze pbl dsv blpkvyvl?

Xd Nkw Zw’p pkel, vblal oyp y qyxkzu vbyv nswze cl y cwaeld, yde dso vblal oyp yzps y Ykpp Nk Zwdck qasx Zwydgbsw obs bye nbyple yqvla vbl uswdt xypvla. Gzvbswtb vbl Mbkae Zswdt Yypvla byed’v lhld tzydnle yv bla, vbl alzyvksdpbkr clvolld vbl vos qyxkzklp oyp lhkeldv. Rq vbl Nk qyxkzu olal vs cakdt kv wr, nsxryakdt vbl vos, oswzed’v Ykpp Nkw lde wr yv y ekpyehydvytl?

Gv vbyv vkxl, Jycys eked’v eyal vs pyu xwnb vs Nw Ubldtmkys, nsxrzlvlzu qsnwple sd qkdekdt vbl rlapsd. Xq nswapl, dso vbyv Ykpp Nkw’p pkvwyvksd bye nbydtle, bl eked’v dlle vs pyu vbkp yduxsal. Rd qynv, oblvbla bl pyke kv sa dsv, vbl Mbkae Zswdt Yypvla bye xyel wr bkp xkde, yde vbl xyeyx nswzed’v srrspl kv. Jycys oyp fwpv osaaukdt dllezlppzu.

Nw Ubldtmkys alvwadle vs vbl nzsvb pbsr, oblal Nw Dwd oyp yzalyeu oykvkdt. Nw Ubldtgsdt sdzu xldvksdle vbyv vblu qswde vbl rlapsd. Gp qsa vbl prlnkqkn pkvwyvksd, bl jdlo dsvbkdt. Tl raykple vbl tkaz’p yrrlyaydnl alrlyvlezu, xyjkdt Nw Dwd kvnb vs ypj qsa xsal kdqsaxyvksd. Bdqsavwdyvlzu, Nw Ubldtmkys nswzed’v rashkel xsal elvykzp. Mbkp qawpvayvle Nw Dwd, obs iwknjzu ekpxkpple bkx vs nzlya bkp xkde.

Lso vbyv Nw Ubldtmkys oyp cynj, Nw Dwd qkdyzzu tsv y nbydnl vs ypj. Mbl qyvbla yde psd oldv vs vbl cynjuyae, yde yp Nw Ubldtmkys lmrzykdle vbl pkvwyvksd kd elvykz, lhld Nw Dwd nswzed’v blzr cwv pktb, “Fs, bla pvlrqyvbla alyzzu kdvldele vs plzz bla, cwv bla ckszstknyz qyvbla’p pkel kdvlahldle byzqoyu yde pyhle bla?”

Nw Ubldtmkys dseele, “R nyd’v ypj qsa prlnkqknp, cwv kv pllxp zkjl vbyv. Gnnsaekdt vs vbl kdqsaxyvksd ol tsv qasx Nkw Fydzydt kd vbl Nkw qyxkzu’p hkzzytl, Ykpp Nkw’p ckszstknyz qyvbla’p qyxkzu zkjlzu bye psxl nsdvasz shla bla pvlrqyvbla, yzzsokdt vblx vs vyjl bla yoyu yqvla hkpkvkdt vbl Nkw qyxkzu’p hkzzytl. Ykpp Nkw pbswze cl cynj okvb bla ckszstknyz qyvbla’p qyxkzu dso. Oyazu vbyv xsadkdt, pbl bye ypjle bla nswpkd vs nsxl vs swa nzsvb pbsr vs elzkhla vbl dlop, cwv wdlmrlnvlezu, bla nswpkd alnlkhle yd watldv vypj yde oyp nyzzle yoyu. Tl eked’v byhl vkxl vs plde vbl xlppytl vs wp, zlyekdt vs vbkp xkpwdelapvydekdt. Yap. Nkw(Gwdv) qlzv iwkvl psaau yde ypjle xl vs yrszstkgl vs usw yde xu xsvbla. Fbl yzps xldvksdle vbyv pbl oswze rlapsdyzzu nsxl vs vbydj wp kd vball eyup.”

Ebyv’p vblal vs vbydj qsa? Lyvwayzzu, kv’p qsa vblka lqqsavp kd plyanbkdt qsa Nkw Zw.

Nw Dwd qlzv alzklhle. Mbl alzyvkhlp sd vbl tkaz’p ckszstknyz qyvbla’p pkel pllxle vs byhl y tsse pldpl sq rasraklvu. Gnvwyzzu, Jycys’p qllzkdt oypd’v oasdt. Mbl zyatl Nkw qyxkzu kd vbl hkzzytl, dsv vs xldvksd Yap. Nw clkdt osaakle, lhld Nw Dwd bkxplzq qlzv wdlypu. Lso vbyv vbl tkaz bye lpnyrle qasx vbyv qyxkzu, kv oyp qsavwdyvl, yde kv pyhle bkx qasx y ekzlxxy.

“Since they’ve arranged to come in three days, I’ll return home a day early to wait for them and greet them. It’s our family’s way.” After thinking for a moment, Lu Xun added, “I’ll send someone back today to inform your mother and make some preparations.”

With everything settled, Lu Xun hurriedly urged Lu Chengxiao and Babao to wash away the dust and go to sleep.

~

In the tailor shop on South Street of Anyi County, Wei Shi(Aunt) picked out two sets of good fabrics for Liu Yu. Liu Yu only looked at the materials and, without asking the price, knew they must be expensive. Calculating the expenses from the morning, including everything from her bathing necessities to her makeup kit, the eldest aunt had bought them all. The store delivered some items, and a mule cart was hired to pick up the rest. Money flowed like water, and Liu Yu was not willing to add another expensive set of clothes to the list. She shook her head and said, “Eldest aunt, our small farmhouse doesn’t need expensive silk and satin clothes. Ordinary cloth is good enough. I don’t want this.”

Wei Shi, however, insisted, “When you visit the Lu family in three days, you should at least pick a decent outfit. Although the future arrangements are uncertain, you shouldn’t let people underestimate you now. It’s not about gold and jade ornaments; it’s just a couple of good clothes, and your aunt can afford to get them for you.”

Having endured hardships for fifteen days on the road, even if not for the Lu family, Wei Shi was determined to compensate Liu Yu for her sufferings. Moreover, they were going to the Lu family. After searching for Liu Yu on the Lu family’s side for a few days, and considering the situation in the Liu family’s village, they now had a clear understanding. The Liu family was problematic, and Wei Shi didn’t want her niece to be burdened by such a family or be looked down upon.

Liu Yanan (Youngest cousin) also chimed in, “Little sister, just buy whatever you like. Big brother’s monthly salary is a lot; he gives it all to Mom to save. Don’t worry about the money.”

Wei Shi looked at him with disdain, “Buy, buy, buy. You should earn money yourself to support your little sister. It’s too generous to use your big brother’s salary.”

Liu Yu couldn’t help but smile, and Liu Yanan didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He muttered, “That depends on whether you’re willing to let me earn for my little sister.”

He received a glare from Wei Shi and decided to keep quiet.

In the end, Liu Yu chose an outfit. The shopkeeper also gave her a hairband that matched the color of the skirt. Wei Shi watched as Liu Yu added some pearls to it. Liu Yu couldn’t resist her aunt’s insistence, and after some consideration, she decided to do some work to contribute to the household expenses. She bought a large bundle of fabric, all of good quality, and also purchased embroidery threads and other necessary items.

For a rare moment, she had something she wanted, and Wei Shi, considering that girls usually enjoyed needlework, had no reason to refuse. After Liu Yu made her choices, they settled the bill. Liu Yanan hired a mule cart and took the items they had bought and stored in various shops. The cart, filled to the brim, returned to Yangshan Village. After arranging and cleaning everything, they prepared lunch, and the whole family took a break.

By the afternoon, everyone had rested. Wei Shi, carrying a box, went to the western wing. Liu Yu was sitting by the window, embroidering. Upon seeing Wei Shi, she quickly put down her embroidery and greeted her, “Aunt is here.”

Wei Shi placed the box on the table, picked up the embroidery Liu Yu had set aside, which was just a small corner of a branch, and examined it. She was surprised, “Yu’er, you have such good embroidery skills?”

Liu Yu modestly responded, “I just dabble in it when I have free time. The embroidered small items may look good, but they are nothing special.”

She spoke the truth. During her time at Luoxian Pavillion, it was less than two months, and with so much to learn, she hadn’t spent much time practicing embroidery. However, she had always been insightful about needlework, and her delicate thoughts showed in the items she embroidered, making them presentable.

“Remarkable indeed. Your grandmother was also skilled in embroidery. However, I have clumsy hands and feet, and although I can manage some simple tasks like making clothes, I just can’t seem to grasp embroidery. Your keen insight, on the other hand, seems to have inherited from your grandmother.” After expressing her admiration, she added, “But this kind of work strains the eyes. It’s good for passing the time, but don’t do it for too long.”

Liu Yu smiled and agreed, then poured another cup of tea for Wei Shi. Wei Shi took the tea and continued, “The day after tomorrow, we need to prepare gifts. I came to discuss with you. Besides the Lu family, are there any other families in Changfeng Town that need our attention?”

“There is indeed. I was planning to discuss it with you tomorrow, but Aunt, you’ve anticipated it.” Liu Yu then explained the situation with Cui Erniang in detail, saying, “At that time, I had no other options, nowhere to inquire, but Sister Cui not only shared important information with me but also gave me two taels of silver. Considering my situation back then, whether I could return or not after escaping was uncertain. She provided me with vital help, so I recognized her as my sister. If I can overcome this crisis, we’ll be sisters for real. Therefore, for the upcoming trip to Changfeng Town, I’d like to ask Aunt to prepare an extra gift to express my gratitude to Sister Cui.”

Wei Shi nodded, “That’s only right. It’s easy to add luxuries when everything is going well, but it’s hard to find help in desperate times. Since you’ve recognized each other as sisters, you should continue to support each other. So, for tomorrow, I’ll prepare an additional generous gift.”

She then asked Liu Yu, “Are there any others?”

Liu Yu thought for a moment and realized there was one more matter that needed attention, regarding Master Li. However, their previous discussion was about collaboration, and there was no need for an additional gift. Also, this matter might not be suitable for Aunt to know. If she informed her, Aunt might worry that Liu Yu was on the verge of selling herself into slavery, causing unnecessary distress.

As for who Liu Yu was thinking about, it was the siblings Ge An and Zhu Er¹The siblings who helped her with Lu Chengxiao. However, considering the deaths of her grandmother, uncle, and father – all due to her father’s act of kindness in saving someone – Liu Yu, putting herself in Aunt’s shoes, doubted that Aunt would welcome her bringing more people into the house. Currently, Liu Yu relied on Aunt and a few cousins for her livelihood. It wouldn’t be appropriate to bring in two more children unrelated to the family. This thought had to be temporarily set aside, and Liu Yu said, “There are two young friends in difficult situations. Could Aunt kindly buy a few boxes of snacks that children like? I’ll visit them, and it will also be a gesture of goodwill.”

“Alright,” Wei Shi noted this request. Having a clear idea about the plans for Changfeng Town, she handed over a box to Liu Yu, saying, “On that day at Liu family’s village, two things were obtained. One is the document signed by Bao Shi and Liu Kangsheng, and the other is this box containing forty taels of silver. The document is kept safe with me due to some concerns. As for these forty taels of silver, Bao Shi stole them from your father back then. Now that it has been recovered, I’ll leave it in your care.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yu shook her head and pushed the box back, saying, “Aunt, I can’t take this money. All the living expenses are covered by the family, and I have no need for extra silver. How can I accept this? Aunt, please keep it. It can be used for the family’s daily expenses.”

Wei Shi chuckled at her response, “Silly child, this money is your father’s. I’m not giving it to you for daily expenses. It belongs to you, and you should keep it. In the future, when you get married, you can use it as dowry to bring to your husband’s house. It’s a little something your father left for you. Take it, keep it, and your father will rest in peace.”

The last sentence carried a touch of sentimentality. She patted Liu Yu’s hand, telling her to keep it, and then stood up.

Feeling that she had touched on Wei Shi’s emotions again, Liu Yu didn’t dare to say more. She stood up to escort Aunt out.

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