When Gu Jiangzhi lifted the curtain and stepped into the room, Madam Jin had just grabbed a handful of melon seeds and was about to sit down and enjoy them. A victorious flush from her recent argument still lingered on her face. Triumph shone from the corners of her eyes and brows. The moment she saw her son enter, she continued ranting.
“Hmph! Asking for wages? In their dreams!”
“They should go ask around and find out who I am! Trying to play those dirty tricks on me? Bah!”
Before Gu Jiangzhi could even sit down, his younger sister, Gu Liu’er, pushed aside the curtain and entered.
The siblings had never gotten used to bowing and paying respects to their mother. Besides, the marquis household was hardly in a position to enforce such rules now.
Gu Liu’er immediately complained, “Mother, Aunt Jiang didn’t even heat water for foot baths tonight. Grandfather and Grandmother were asking about it.”
Madam Jin waved it off. “Then don’t wash. Back in the day, nobody washed for half a month at a time. What’s there to fuss over now? I just drove that Jiang couple out. Let the Second and Third Branches pick up the slack.”
She beckoned her children closer and waited until they had sat down before recounting what had happened. “Listen well. Today’s lesson is one you’ll use for the rest of your lives. From now on, this is how we’ll manage servants in our marquis household. Doesn’t matter if they’re gatekeepers, cooks, or laborers. Use them for a few months, then find some fault and kick them out!”
Gu Jiangzhi was dumbfounded.
Gu Liu’er’s eyes, however, lit up.
Madam Jin leaned forward, thoroughly satisfied with her brilliant scheme.
“Then we’ll head to the labor market and hire new people. Pick the honest-looking ones who ask for the lowest wages. During the first few months, they’ll work hard and behave themselves because they’re trying to secure their place. Once they get lazy, slick, and start plotting, we’ll replace them all over again!”
That way, people would always compete to work in the household, and they could save wages every month.
“Mother, you’re amazing at managing a household!” Gu Liu’er said, eyes sparkling, as she grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them open.
“Let’s see how those wretches can escape my grasp!” Madam Jin spat a seed shell forcefully onto the floor as though spitting directly into a servant’s face.
Listening to this so-called wisdom, Gu Jiangzhi felt as though scalding oil had been poured over him. His face burned with shame. He had read the classics. He knew the meaning of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor. To him, his mother’s behavior was uglier than Zhou Yuanwai’s, the wealthy landlord they had once despised. If word of this ever spread, the marquis household’s reputation would be completely ruined. But he had no time to argue about that now.
Gathering his courage, he changed the subject. “Mother! Let’s call off the engagement with the Lu family!”
Madam Jin’s smile froze. “What?”
“I still want to marry Miss Nian!” Stepping forward, Gu Jiangzhi said firmly, “I’ve thought it through. I don’t want Lu Zhaohua. I only want Nian Chujiu…”
Madam Jin’s eyes widened. “Don’t even think about it!”
Beside them, Gu Liu’er couldn’t help interjecting. “Brother, have you lost your mind? She’s just a merchant’s daughter. How is she worthy of becoming your principal wife?”
Honestly, Gu Liu’er thought Nian Chujiu would be fortunate just to become her brother’s concubine. Though if Nian Chujiu entered the household and was willing to provide a generous dowry, Gu Liu’er would happily speak a few good words on her behalf.
Gu Jiangzhi ignored his sister completely and stared at Madam Jin. “Mother! If Miss Nian is willing to bring her dowry with her, every problem facing our family will disappear. Miss Nian and I… we can return to how things were before.”
At last, Madam Jin caught the implication. “So Nian Chujiu has been stalling for time all along?”
Gu Jiangzhi lowered his head. After a long pause, he replied quietly, “Yes.”
Madam Jin let out a cold snort and dumped the remaining melon seeds back onto the plate with a loud clatter. “The Nian family refuses to appreciate my kindness? Then don’t blame me for getting rough! What’s that saying again? Something about fish and nets breaking?”
“When the fish dies, the net splits!” Gu Liu’er replied automatically without even looking up, spitting out a seed shell.
“That’s right! When the fish dies, the net splits!” Madam Jin slapped her thigh. “If we can’t enjoy the Nian family’s mountains of gold and silver, they won’t have it easy either!”
She had always been infamous throughout the surrounding villages for her fierce temper. Now that she had suddenly risen in status, she felt she could get away with anything.
“Mother, you mustn’t!” Gu Jiangzhi pleaded. Unless necessary, he didn’t want things to reach mutual destruction.
“Why not?” Madam Jin’s eyes flashed viciously. “Tomorrow I’ll go straight to the ward chief and bury the Nian family in the gutter. They’ll never rise again!”
“Mother!” Gu Jiangzhi was a tangled mess of anxiety and fear. “Since Miss Nian saw through our plans, she must have prepared for this.” He recalled her expression when they had finally torn away all pretense today.
Her gaze had been calm. Too calm. So calm that it felt as though she could see through everything.
Suddenly, inspiration struck. His face changed dramatically. “Miss Nian has probably gone to Marquis Jinliang Manor!”
Gu Liu’er blinked in confusion. “What’s she going there for?”
“What else?” Gu Jiangzhi’s face darkened. “To tell the Lu family that I already had a prior engagement and that I’m a shameless man who broke faith and abandoned my promise!”
Madam Jin sucked in a sharp breath and jumped to her feet. “You told her you’re marrying the daughter of the Jinliang Household?”
“I didn’t,” Gu Jiangzhi replied irritably, running a hand through his hair. “But she knew exactly what you were planning. How could she not know we’re arranging a marriage with the Lu family?”
Madam Jin immediately panicked. She struck her son’s shoulder. “You fool! Why didn’t you say so sooner? Go take the shortcut and intercept her outside the Jinliang Manor. Under no circumstances can she meet General Lu!”
Then she shouted at her daughter: “Liu’er, don’t just stand there! Go with your brother and find Aunt Zhu at the side gate of the Jinliang Manor. Pass her a message. No matter what method she uses, she must guard that gate for me!”
“Absolutely do not let that jinx Nian Chujiu inside to spread even a single word of nonsense!”
“Got it!” Gu Liu’er answered crisply. She casually grabbed another large handful of melon seeds and stuffed them into her sleeve pouch before tugging at her brother’s sleeve. “Brother, what are you standing around for? Let’s go!”
Gu Jiangzhi hesitated.
Madam Jin shoved him forward. “Go quickly. Once the curfew drums sound, the entire city will be locked down. She won’t be able to go anywhere. At dawn tomorrow, I’ll have the ward chief drive them out of the capital.”
Then she’d throw the marriage contract in Nian Chujiu’s face in public and see whether the girl still had any pride left. Once the Nian family had been chased from the capital like stray dogs, the Lin family would make their move. Everything was under control.
The Gu siblings hurried out together and headed toward the Jinliang Manor.
Meanwhile, unlike the chaos engulfing the Zhongyong Manor, the Nian residence was strangely peaceful. The torrential rain outside had only just stopped. Inside, candlelight glowed warmly.
Dinner had been served in every courtyard.
Worried about her daughter, Yin Ying went to her room, and mother and daughter ate together. When she saw her daughter had eaten only half a bowl of plain porridge before setting down her chopsticks, she lost her appetite too. “My precious girl, I really don’t see what’s so great about the capital. It’s damp and stifling here. The humidity sinks right into your bones.”
The sudden downpour earlier in the day had done little to dispel the summer heat. Instead, it had only intensified the thick, oppressive humidity, which hung heavily in the air and made it difficult to breathe.