Wang Yutong slowly walked to Aunt Tian’s side and said softly, “Aunt, it’s me, Yutong.”
Aunt Tian showed no response, still sitting there with empty, unfocused eyes.
Wang Yutong raised her voice and called her a few more times.
Only then did a faint flicker return to Aunt Tian’s eyes.
Wang Yutong continued gently to comfort her, “Aunt, don’t be afraid. You’ve already left the Marquis household. From now on, you won’t suffer those grievances anymore.”
As she spoke, she gently embraced Aunt Tian, patting her back to help her relax.
After about a quarter of an hour, a tear slid from the corner of Aunt Tian’s eye. Then, like a dam breaking, tears poured out uncontrollably as she burst into loud sobbing.
“Tong’er… Tong’er… how could they… how could they treat me like that… I… I was already very obedient. Every day, before dawn, I went to serve the madam. Why did she still treat me like this?
Was I not good enough, so the madam had to punish me? But why use such a method… this would harm Tong’er…”
Aunt Tian cried and spoke through sobs, her voice filled with grief.
Wang Yutong patted her back, letting her release all her pent-up sorrow.
“Mother, it’s not your fault. You’re not the problem—it’s them who are evil. But don’t worry, I will protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Wang Yutong comforted her.
After a long while, Aunt Tian’s crying gradually subsided and her emotions stabilized.
Looking at Wang Yutong, she said tremblingly, “Tong’er, if it weren’t for you, your mother would have been in trouble. You don’t know—I was so frightened at the time that I nearly lost my mind. I didn’t know what to do.”
Wang Yutong smiled and said, “Aunt, don’t be afraid anymore. From now on, you’ll stay with Tong’er in Piaoyi Residence. I will protect you.”
Aunt Tian nodded heavily, a faint light finally returning to her eyes.
“Alright. Aunt will stay by Tong’er’s side from now on.”
..
The next day, Wang Yutong and Aunt Tian both changed into men’s clothing and went out.
“Tong’er, where are we going?” Aunt Tian followed behind her in confusion and asked softly.
“Aunt, we’re going out to have fun. How about we go to a teahouse to listen to opera today?” Wang Yutong replied gently.
Hearing they were going to a teahouse to watch opera, Aunt Tian’s face finally showed a hint of a smile. She quickly asked, “Really, Tong’er? Can I really go to a teahouse to watch opera?
Won’t it cost a lot of money? Maybe we shouldn’t go to the teahouse—we should just walk around the streets instead!”
Seeing her clearly wanting to go but worrying about the cost, Wang Yutong almost laughed out loud.
Good heavens! She had never realized her aunt was actually so frugal—almost stingy to the point of being a “iron rooster.”
“It’s fine, Aunt. We’ll just find a cheaper seat in the teahouse. It won’t cost much.
Besides, we don’t go out every day. I can still afford the occasional opera. Don’t worry about money,” Wang Yutong comforted her softly.
Hearing this, Aunt Tian’s desire to watch opera eventually won out. She quickly added, “Then let’s sit in the cheapest spot. It’s fine if we can’t see clearly—we can just listen.”
Wang Yutong couldn’t help but smile at how carefully she tried to save money even while wanting to enjoy herself.
Aunt Tian really was a master of frugality.
..
At Xinglong Teahouse, in a private room on the second floor, the two sat by the window.
“Oh no, Tong’er, let’s go downstairs instead. The private room is too expensive!” Aunt Tian said worriedly, pulling at her.
Wang Yutong could only laugh and gently persuade her, “Aunt, downstairs is crowded with all kinds of people. Even though we’re dressed as men, what if someone sees through us and realizes we’re women? What if they bully us?
So it’s safer to spend a little more money here. It’s worth it, don’t you think?”
Thinking of the possibility of being discovered and bullied, Aunt Tian immediately fell silent and stopped insisting.
Soon, the opera on stage began.
After listening for a while, Wang Yutong grew a little bored, but Aunt Tian was thoroughly engrossed, occasionally clapping and cheering with the crowd.
Her excitement had finally pushed away the trauma from the previous day.
Wang Yutong finally felt relieved.
After the opera, the mother and daughter went to a restaurant to eat, then to a cloth shop to buy fabric, planning to make clothes when they returned.
Wang Yutong intended to keep Aunt Tian busy—only by keeping her occupied could she gradually forget what almost happened to her.
In the afternoon, they returned to Piaoyi Residence by carriage.
“Hongshan, Chuntao, Cuifen, come help carry the things from the carriage into the house!” Wang Yutong shouted as soon as she got off.
They had gotten carried away while shopping and ended up buying far too many things, eventually even hiring a carriage to bring them back.
After everything was moved inside, Aunt Tian excitedly led Chuntao and Cuifen to organize the items.
Pastries, fabrics, jewelry—all kinds of things filled half a room. Only then did Aunt Tian, the “iron rooster,” realize how extravagantly she had spent today.
The worst part was, she had thought she was saving money while buying everything.
“Goodness… how did we buy so many things today?
This… this must have cost a lot of money!” Aunt Tian murmured in confusion.
Chuntao and Cuifen exchanged glances, each thinking the same thing: this aunt seems a bit silly—she doesn’t even know how much she bought.
What they didn’t know was that it wasn’t that Aunt Tian was foolish or careless.
It was Wang Yutong who had deliberately encouraged her to spend money in order to help her forget her pain.
One unchanging truth is that when women are upset or sad—
shopping… shopping… shopping.
After a shopping spree, they feel much better.
Of course, that only applies when there is financial ability.
Otherwise, without money, there’s nothing to shop for at all.
..
Hongshan, seeing no one paying attention, quietly reported:
“Miss, the Marquis of Weiyuan and the young master of the Marquis household came today.”
Wang Yutong frowned slightly, secretly feeling relieved that she had taken Aunt Tian out earlier. Otherwise, facing those two today would have been awkward and might have worsened Aunt Tian’s condition.
“What did they say?” she asked in a low voice.
“They only said they were sorry to Aunt Tian and wanted to apologize.
After learning that you and Aunt Tian were not in, the marquis left two boxes behind and asked me to hand them to you before leaving.”
“Oh? Did he say what was in the boxes?” Wang Yutong couldn’t help but ask.