stingy landlady

Chapter 101 Another Storm (5)

The old man said angrily:

"Take Dazhu back right away! Just like Guizhi said, it's become a bandit's den! They steal everything! Is there no law anymore? They have no manners at all!"

The old lady got onto the kang (heated brick bed) in a huff.

"I'm not going! It's not like I stole it! Whoever took it should return it themselves! I don't care! I'm an old man, I still have some self-respect!"

Helpless, the old man came out and shouted at Guizhi, "Guizhi! Move your fabric back! It's taking up space on the kang! I don't even have room to lie down and rest!"

Guizhi then called out:

"Okay, Grandpa!"

Then he said to the children:

"Alright! That's enough for today! Second Aunt! Learn your lesson! Be careful next time you pass by my house! You never know when you might get a good beating!"

"Jixiang and Ruyi! Come with me to move the fabric! So as not to disturb my grandparents' sleep! Xile, come too!"

When Dazhu returned with the carriage, the group had just finished unloading the cloth. Guizhi didn't go into the old lady's room; she just stood outside and watched silently.

Zhao limped back to her room and saw that Erzhu had also been beaten. She immediately lost all her energy. Then she saw that her hidden stash of money had been taken away, and she burst into tears! She couldn't fight back, and she was afraid of being heard cursing! She could only curse quietly inside the room!

Dazhu carried Li Shi onto the carriage. Guixiang had already laid a quilt on it so that Li Shi would experience less bumps during the ride.

Zhou Qiong returned with the carriage.

"Young Miss! Second Young Miss! Third Young Miss! Let me go with you! I'll go serve Madam!"

Guizhi handed the silver she found on Zhao to Dazhu.

"Dad! Going to the clinic for a checkup and medicine costs money! This is what I got back from Second Aunt, I don't know if it's enough! Take it all with you! We must be willing to use good medicine! Mother's health is the most important!"

Gui Xiang and Gui Hong also wanted to get on the bus, but Gui Zhi stopped them:

"Eldest sister and second sister, stay home! There are so many things to do at home! Let Dad and Zhou Qiong go! Sending too many people won't make a difference!"

Once the carriage had left, Guizhi instructed Xile...

"Xile! Go find Grandpa Zhou and ask him to hitch up the oxcart! Jinxiu, go to the new house and heat up the kang (heated brick bed) in the main courtyard! Boil a big pot of water; my mother might need it when she gets back!"

As soon as Xile left, Guizhi led good fortune, happiness, and peace into her old house.

"Big sister! Second sister! Let's hurry up and pack everything up! I've asked Grandpa Zhou to hitch up the oxcart, and Mom and Dad will move in tonight!"

Gui Xiang asked:

"We haven't had our housewarming party yet!"

"It's alright! We have to act quickly in this emergency! Sister, these are special times and special circumstances! Let's move in first and then have the banquet. A few more days won't make a difference!"

"Our parents are feeling stifled in this house! Why not move to a new house? Wouldn't it be more comfortable for them to live in their own courtyard? Eldest sister! Don't hesitate! Third sister is right, let's move our parents!"

Gui Hong gave the order, and the three sisters started packing! Actually, there wasn't much. The three sisters had already taken their things; only Da Zhu, Gui Ling, and their clothes and bedding remained.

There were also some needles and thread, and fabrics that Li Shi was preparing to make clothes from in the cupboard! Everything was packed up in bundles! Except for the cupboard, everything that could be taken was loaded onto the oxcart!

After locking the door, the group swaggered away! The old woman was smug; no one had asked her for the two strings of copper coins! Humph! That was Dazhu's tribute money; once it was in her pocket, she wanted to take it back! No way!

After confirming the miscarriage at the clinic, Ms. Li wept softly. Dr. Qian said to her:

"Miscarriage is not scary! If you keep crying, you won't recover properly after childbirth, and you might never be able to get pregnant again!"

Li suddenly stopped crying and looked at Doctor Qian.

Dr. Qian said:

"It's just a miscarriage, but I can see you're heartbroken. If you don't take care of yourself, it will be very difficult to conceive again. Even if you do get pregnant, it won't be easy to keep the pregnancy! It's up to you! After all, it's your own body!"

The postpartum period after a short period is similar to the postpartum period; it's essential to get plenty of rest!

Li dared not cry anymore. Doctor Qian prescribed some medicine, including wound medicine which Zhou Qiong applied to Li's wounds; and also herbal decoctions to treat Li's symptoms.

When Dazhu returned home in his carriage, he was taken aback to see General Tie guarding the house. After thinking for a moment, he drove the carriage to the east end, where Old Zhou was finishing up his harvest of wild vegetables. Seeing the carriage, Jinxiu ran out, bowed to Dazhu, and then said:

"Master! Miss wants you to go to the new house! The food is ready, please go back and eat first!"

Dazhu drove the carriage back to the new house. The gate opened, and Guizhi and several children had already finished picking cucumbers and the first batch of green beans, which looked quite a lot.

The main living room was filled with the aroma of food. The fragrance of osmanthus, the red of osmanthus, and the branches of osmanthus all came out, along with auspiciousness, good fortune, and peace to welcome Dazhu and Li Shi.

Dazhu felt warmth! This was his home, a home filled with coziness!

Several girls came over to help Li Shi out of the carriage, and Zhou Qiong took the medicine down. Ping An took the reins, led the carriage to unload the carriage himself, and fed the horses.

Jixiang and Ruyi have prepared a large basin of warm water to help Li Shi bathe and change her clothes! Li Shi is not used to having someone around, so Guizhi said:

"Mom! You're not feeling well right now. Having someone by your side means you'll have someone to help you if anything happens! That will put our minds at ease!"

Upon hearing this, Li said:

"Sigh! Let Xiao Qiong come over here!"

Zhou Qiong happily closed the door to the room and helped Li undress and take a bath!

Gui Xiang asked Da Zhu:

"Father! What did the doctor say about Mother's health?"

Gui Hong and Gui Zhi also looked at Da Zhu. Da Zhu said:

"Oh dear! Your mother had a miscarriage! But the doctor said that this 'mini-postpartum' period is similar to the full-term postpartum period. If she takes good care of herself, she'll be able to get pregnant again!"

Gui Hong continued:

"Dad! Everything's ready here! We'll all be living in the same courtyard as a family, no more of that mess! We've brought all your and Mom's things over, we'll gradually put them away once Mom's better. For now, we'll use all the new stuff!"

Guizhi also said:

"Dad! Starting tomorrow, Grandpa Zhou will move to the gatehouse! Our gate will be guarded, and no one will be allowed to come and go as they please!"

After dinner, Pan Sen and Pan Qiang came to find Da Zhu, and the two knelt down and said:

"Master! After much consideration, we are still willing to sign this contract of servitude with you! From now on, we belong to you!"

Da Zhu called for the two men to stand up and talk, but they refused. Gui Zhi came out and asked:

"Sell yourself! Do whatever the boss tells you to do! Isn't that pretty much the same thing?"

"Master, Miss! Now that we've sold ourselves, we're your people, and we can move in. It'll be easier to get orders from you! And when we get married, you'll have the final say!"

Guizhi understood; the problem was the inconvenience of their living conditions and the lack of opportunities for marriage. After being sold into servitude, it was all the master's responsibility; the two of them only needed to do their jobs well!

Guizhi thought the two brothers were quite honest, and asked:

"Actually, even if you don't sell yourselves, my father values ​​you very much."