stingy landlady

Chapter 227 Why Do Women Make Things Difficult for Each Other (3)

Guizhi, too lazy to pay attention to the two concubines, said to Xiahe:

"Xiahe, come here! Help me carry Aunt Lan inside. Zhou Qiong, go find Ping An and tell him to hitch up the carriage and fetch a doctor right now!"

Xia He agreed and came over, about to help Aunt Lan with Gui Zhi. But then she heard the Third Aunt say in a sarcastic tone:

"Xia He, I'm telling you! The Third Miss is a young lady from a wealthy family! You're just a servant. If something really happens to Aunt Lan's belly, the young lady will be fine, but the responsibility will all fall on you!"

Think carefully before you help her up! What if you both slip and fall? That would be a disaster! Humph!

Xia He paused upon hearing this, a look of hesitation on her face. Gui Zhi angrily scolded the two concubines:

"Fine! Not only are you two unwilling to help, but you're also making sarcastic remarks! You think it's easy for you to talk when you're not in the same boat! You think no one can handle you?"

The second aunt hurriedly explained:

"Third Miss! My sisters and I are just telling the truth! Aunt Lan's belly is very precious, how could we servants dare to touch it casually!"

Gui Zhi snorted coldly, and seeing that Zhou Qiong had already called Ping An to hitch up the carriage and was jogging towards them, she asked:

"Zhou Qiong! Where is my mother?"

Zhou Qiong stammered:

"Madam! Madam is taking a nap!"

Madam Li was restless in her room. When she heard Aunt Lan's screams, she became anxious, fearing something might happen to the child in Aunt Lan's womb!

But then she thought of Aunt Lan's previous favored and arrogant demeanor, and she was filled with resentment. If Aunt Lan really gave birth to a son, wouldn't she become even more arrogant, and she herself might even be inferior to her.

Li felt that it was none of her business, so she asked Zhou Qiong to check, while she pretended to be taking a nap and unaware of what was happening outside.

Guizhi was so clever; she immediately guessed what Li was thinking. But Li was her own mother, and there was nothing she could do about it!

In modern society, this is a matter of life and death, but in this day and age, concubines are considered lowly, as worthless as pigs and dogs, and can be bought and sold. The mistress of the house doesn't care, doesn't care about the life or death of her servants; who can say anything wrong about that? Besides, Li Shi has never been one to be very clear-headed!

"Alas!" Guizhi sighed inwardly. Aunt Lan, however, pleaded with Guizhi with a clear head:

"Third Miss! Miss! I know I've been delusional! Miss! Please save me! I've finally conceived this child, and whether it's a boy or a girl, it's my life!"

Miss! Please, please take me with you! Take me to work for you! I've made up my mind, I'll do anything you ask!

Even babysitting for your farmhands and servants is fine! I can do other chores too—needling, washing clothes, cooking, even the roughest work! Whatever you command, Miss, I will obey!"

Guizhi finally softened and asked Aunt Lan:

"So you might take a carriage to see a doctor?"

Aunt Lan nodded and said:

"I'm used to doing rough work, so my body isn't that delicate! I can still ride in a carriage, and my child won't be that pampered!"

"This servant is willing to accompany Miss to see the doctor!"

Guizhi instructed Zhou Qiong:

"Zhou Qiong! Let Ping An drive the carriage in!"

I used to think that maids and servants were always in the way, and that I wasn't missing any limbs, so I could do everything myself. But now, looking around, I realize that there's no one I can use.

"Xiahe, go and take Aunt Lan's quilt out and put it on the carriage!"

Guizhi then asked Aunt Lan:

"Let's go to the clinic and see a doctor first! Will you be coming back here later?"

Aunt Lan whispered:

"Miss! I know my indenture is in your hands. I am pregnant and cannot serve Master! I know men only care about the new love and never the old. Please, Miss, do not bring me back!"

"This servant will be eternally grateful and is willing to accompany Miss to Huanghua Village, to stay by your side!"

Guizhi sighed many times today and said to Zhou Qiong:

“Aunt Lan! I sympathize with you! But you are still young, and besides, you are my father’s beloved! I do need manpower. But if I need people, I can go to the brokerage firm!”

Aunt Lan said somewhat anxiously:

"Miss! Have pity on my daughter and me! I don't crave comfort or enjoyment, nor do I blame fate for being so unfair! It's just my destiny!"

This servant is willing to leave Master's side, begging Miss to grant my mother and me a way to survive! This servant was pregnant before, but was unable to give birth to a child.

Now that Master and Madam have bestowed this child upon me, I swear on my life that I will be loyal to Master and Miss for the rest of my life!

"Please, miss, save me!"

Ping An had already driven the carriage in, and Xia He carried the quilt inside and laid it out in the carriage.

"Xiahe! Ping'an! You two help Aunt Lan into the carriage!"

Guizhi instructed:

"Ping An, take Aunt Lan to see a doctor and get the medicine. After that, take Aunt Lan back to Huanghua Village. Ping An, let Aunt Lan stay in my room, and have Jixiang and Ruyi take good care of her!"

Ping An agreed, and together with Xia He, they half-helped and half-carried each other into the carriage, and then drove off!

Seeing that Aunt Lan was saved, the second and third concubines, no longer interested in watching the spectacle, swayed back to their respective rooms. Zhou Qiong returned to the main room and reported everything to Madam Li. Madam Li herself couldn't tell whether she was happy or angry. She just sat on the kang (heated brick bed) in a daze!

After dinner, Guizhi called Dazhu aside and said:

"Father! Aunt Lan fell today, and I took her to see a doctor. Both mother and child are fine, and she can stay with me to rest for the time being!"

Dazhu scratched his head, looking troubled, and said:

"Guizhi! Your father is useless! Your father couldn't even save Aunt Lan's unborn child! Aunt Lan resents your father, and your father knows that. Your father brought this upon himself!"

Guizhi! Aunt Lan is carrying your own blood-related sibling! You! Sigh! Your father can only hope that you will treat him well!

Guizhi said to Dazhu earnestly:

"Father! Our family... sigh! Father! I wish our family didn't have so much backstabbing and treachery! Father! We're not a wealthy family!"

Father just needs a son to inherit the family business! Father! To be blunt, how much property do we have to inherit?

"Father! How much of our family's wealth is worth people scheming and fighting over?"

Dazhu suddenly realized:

"Guizhi! Your father is confused! He knows this is the truth! What's the point of arguing? What I have is not as good as a few bits and pieces of mine! Poor mother, she works so hard, but I don't even know what it's for?"

"How hateful that Father's eyes are blinded by women! Guizhi! Let Aunt Lan rest and recover during her pregnancy! Father! I'm so sorry to them, mother and daughter!"

That being said, it's impossible to make Dazhu spit out the meat that's already in his mouth. His two concubines are beautiful and charming; how could he bear to send them away!

Dazhu also fell victim to the charms of beautiful women, treating his two concubines with utmost care!