Chapter 109.
The spring rain is misty, as fine as a cow's hair, pouring over the sky and the earth. Occasionally, the spring breeze passes by, blowing away the bright yellow of the winter jasmine flowers.
A carriage drove slowly and after a while, it stopped at the gate of Qiao's house. A pretty maid with a small brown mole on the end of her eyebrows opened the curtain and she held up an oil paper umbrella. She said to the girl on the carriage, "Second Miss, we have arrived at the house."
The girl in the car was gorgeous, with a pair of clear eyes that made people's hearts tremble. She was smiling very kindly, "Liu Zhu, please remember to put away your smile later. You smile so heartily, be careful that sister Ying sees it. With her temper, it's wrong for you to even smile when you don't like others. I didn't agree to meet her first, so I guess she's planning to find a chance to choke me."
Liu Zhu pursed her lips in grievance, "I understand."
Tangli didn't want to talk to Qiao Ying, the eldest miss in the family. She was used to crying, making trouble, and hanging herself. Her cries could lift the roof off the house, so every time Tangli saw her, she pouted and acted coquettishly. She looked so obedient that she couldn't help but shudder.
Liu Zhu helped Tang Li get out of the carriage and they crossed the main gate of the mansion holding an umbrella. The moon white cloak made Tang Li even more elegant. Although she looked beautiful, she could be both elegant and refined, and also bright and charming, because who makes the second miss of the Qiao family the most beautiful woman in Yuzhou?
"Grandma." Tangli opened the bead curtain, leaving Liuzhu outside to collect the oil paper umbrella. She saw the old woman sitting on the soft couch and called her softly.
Mrs. Qiao was pretending to be asleep. When she heard the voice of her granddaughter whom she had not seen for several months, she immediately opened her eyes and said happily, "Ah, I thought sister Yuan would come to see me at night, but I didn't expect you to come back so fast."
Tangli took off the cloak and handed it to Liu Zhu. She smiled and sat beside Mrs. Qiao's legs. The soft waist was slightly higher. After Tangli sat on it, the toes of her embroidered shoes were slightly exposed. She rocked the embroidered shoes in a good mood. There are no manners at all, but she is very casual and lazy.
Mrs. Qiao raised her hand and patted her knee, and said angrily, "Fortunately, your aunt is not here. If she sees you like this, she will definitely scold you."
Tangli half leaned on Mrs. Qiao and said pitifully, "My aunt is the most partial. Sister Ying is sometimes more shameless than me, but my aunt always says that sister Ying is lively and cute. When it comes to me, here it becomes that I am a bully. Grandma, tell me if I am unjust or not!"
Her complaint made the old lady laugh loudly, and said with a sideways glance, "That's how your eldest aunt has a temper. It only needs to go in the left ear and out the right ear. She also always controls me and doesn't let me eat this or that. Yeah, actually I can't control my mouth, sister Yuan, you haven't been here these few months, so you don't know that when she eats that mutton pot in winter, her mouth is bubbling, and she is so happy."
Tang Li likes to talk to Mrs. Qiao. She is cheerful and open minded. In the eyes of the eldest daughter-in-law, who is stuck in the rules, Mrs. Qiao is an anomaly. They think she is not stable enough and does not look like an old lady who can be the head of the family. Of course, the eldest daughter-in-law thinks so because Mrs. Qiao holds the power of housekeeping.
Mrs. Qiao looked at Tang Li with a smile, touched her face with her fingers, and exclaimed, "My second granddaughter is really the most beautiful girl in the Qiao family. My second son and second daughter-in-law don't know how they gave birth to you, sometimes I feel that you don't look like a girl from the Qiao family, that sentence seems to be quite right, stupid people are blessed with stupid things."
When Tangli heard Mrs. Qiao's words, she sighed in her heart.
She was right, she was really not Qiao Yuan, the second miss of the Qiao family.
Half a year ago, Tangli was transported to this different world. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in Mobei. She came to Mobei this time to visit her relatives. It turned out that the brother of her compatriot got married in Mobei. According to the timeline, after Tangli returns to Yuzhou, she will meet the real second miss of the Qiao family at Ren Yazi.
In this huge sea of people, where can I find that person? You must know that it was not easy to find someone in ancient times, let alone people who were wandering around without a fixed abode.
Tangli suppressed her inner impatience and waited for her next return to Yuzhou. Currently, she needed to use the power of the plot to meet the heroine.
After longing for it, she finally returned to Yuzhou. Today she went to her grandfather's house to deliver the specialties her parents collected in Mobei, and then hurried back to Qiao's house.
Mrs. Qiao saw that Tang Li was lost in thought, so she pinched Tang Li angrily, "As soon as sister Yuan came back, she was in a daze in front of me, an old woman. Are you still thinking about your grandmother?"
Tangli covered her face and smiled, exposing old lady Qiao, she was so serious, "I wrote a letter to my grandmother about this before. It was my parents who told me to send special products to my grandmother and them first. It was not my idea. Why do you blame me? In sister Yuan's heart, her grandmother is the most important relative."
In the plot, Tangli was brought up by Mrs. Qiao. Although Tangli had no real experience in getting along with her for more than ten years, the exchange of letters in the past six months was enough for Tangli to put this old lady into her heart.
Parents are partial, so it can better highlight Mrs. Qiao's kindness to Tangli.
Madam Qiao was poked into her mind by the junior, and suddenly she felt so humiliated. She picked up a piece of pastry and fed it to Tang Li. She smiled and scolded, "Stop that mouth of yours, a monkey, and let's see how you keep talking."
Tangli's eyes lit up as she chewed the pastry, "It's delicious!"
"Your uncle and mother cook by themselves, which is an advantage for you."
Tangli tilted her head and joked, "Grandma, don't worry, I also brought some good things from Mobei to my eldest aunt this time."
"What?"
"Wool sweater!"
When Mrs. Qiao heard about the wool, she couldn't help but frowned, "The smell of sheep is so strong, be careful your aunt doesn't gave you a good."
Tangli finished the pastry in a few mouthfuls and said confidently, "Grandma, if you don't tell, who would known it was wool. It's really warm. Even though it's early spring, it rains from time to time. The spring rain is still very cold. You and auntie both have bone diseases, and your whole body hurts when the weather is cold. You two must try this thing."
"All the people in mobei dress like this?"
Tangli shook her head, patted her chest and said, "Sister Yuan, I figured it out myself."
Mrs. Qiao changed her tone instantly, "Then I have to try."
How could I refuse sister Yuan's affection?
Tangli's eyes were warm, and she couldn't help but smile movingly when she saw Mrs. Qiao's loving eyes towards her.
In this different world of real and fake daughters, apart from the heroine, it is this old lady who makes her feel most distressed.
Sixteen years ago, Qiao Zhenshan took his family to work as a county magistrate. Unexpectedly, it rained heavily that day, so he hurriedly stayed in a farmer's home. That night, both Qiao Zhenshan's wife and the farmer's wife were expecting a baby. The farmer was so worried that he was sweating profusely, so Wen Po said that they should be placed in the same room so that she could take care of them at the same time.
Later, the two ladies gave birth to a daughter, who was carried by the wrongly by accident.
Tangli, who was originally a farmer's daughter, came to Qiao's house and became Qiao Yuan.
She who was supposed to be Qiao Yuan became Tang Yuan, the daughter of a farmer.
Sixteen years later, Tang Yuan entered Qiao Mansion and became Tang Li's maid, and the story of the real and fake daughter also began.
The story is the same old one, the fake daughter is still unwilling to give up the glory and wealth in front of her, so she plots against the real daughter secretly, causing the real daughter to suffer losses one after another. And because the real daughter was raised in the countryside and did not know how to play music, chess, calligraphy and painting and almost disgraced the Qiao family at the flower viewing party, the real daughter's life in the mansion became increasingly difficult.
The story up to this point is not a joke. What is really a joke is that the real daughter was able to save the life of the sick fiancé who had made an appointment to have a baby kiss the year before. Therefore, the fiancé regarded her as a life saving straw and would risk his life to marry the real daughter. Thousands of gold. But Tangli doesn't want to do it at this time, because it can save your life. Tangli wants to see if the real daughter is dead. How many tears can you, a heartless and unjust fiancé, shed?
Because in Tang Li's character, she was the one who had been with her fiancé for more than ten years. Now that her identity had changed, she was immediately abandoned by her fiancé and fell into the arms of the real daughter.
The family is gone, the wealth is gone, and the fiancé is snatched away by the real daughter.
Then Tangli has nothing to care about. If she dies, everyone will die together.
She drugged the Qiao family's well and in the end, the whole family lost their livelihood, except for the real daughter.
The real daughter who had lost her family was no longer feared by the hero and took her into the house regardless of her wishes. On the night of the wedding, the real daughter committed suicide by hitting a pillar. Although she was rescued, she became a stupid girl and could not remember her past.
On the contrary, the hero, with the help of the heroine's fragrance, gradually recovered from his illness and lived a life of freedom and ease.
Tangli recalled the plot of another world again and silently poured herself a cup of tea.
She felt that her soul was hurt and she needed a cup of tea to calm her nerves.
It is indeed a different world. The plot brings a strong sense of discomfort from beginning to end. For example, Tangli, who doesn't like to eat onions, ginger, and garlic, was forced to finish a plate of onions, ginger, and garlic. Finally, if you want her to give a good review, you can tell her whether she is evil or not!
At this time, nanny Zhang, who was waiting on the side, spoke up, "Qiu Xue next to the second miss is a little older and she has been promised to Lao Cao's family at the front door. In a few days, someone will come to the house. When the second miss arrives, you can choose a few little maids you like to keep by your side."
"Qiu Xue is married?"
Mrs. Qiao poked her forehead, "Qiu Xue is nineteen, and her mother begged me. Can I deny it? You were in mobei at that time, and I told you about this before you left. Have you forgotten?"
Tang Li explained, "It's not that I forgot, I was thinking of choosing a good family for Qiuxue myself when I come back."
Mrs. Qiao knew that her second granddaughter was kind hearted, so she hurriedly said, "The old Cao family is honest and responsible and will not do anything bad to the maid in front of you. The old Cao family's son is a steward in my shop, it is appropriate for Qiu Xue to marry her."
Tang Li pursed her lips and said to Liu Zhu, "Didn't I ask you to leave a small bundle for Qiu Xue? Find a chance to send it to her."
"Why don't you wait until Qiu Xue comes to see the miss before giving it to her?"
Seeing that Liu Zhu stupidly didn't understand Tang Li's meaning, nanny Zhang smiled and shook her head and led her out, "Silly niece, your miss just wants to show off for Qiu Xue. As soon as the master comes back, she thinks of giving something to Qiu Xue, then the old Cao family knows that Qiu Xue has a lot of weight in the miss's heart, and they don't dare to manipulate her easily."
"Ah, why didn't I think of this?"
Nanny Zhang said angrily, "That means the miss doesn't dislike you. Okay, stop being so nagging and go run errands."
Liu Zhu tugged on nanny Zhang's sleeve and whispered, "Auntie, what if the new maid is smarter than me?"
Nanny Zhang glanced at her indifferently and warned, "The miss is kind hearted. As long as you don't do anything wrong, you will always be her maid. Just put your heart in your belly."
"Okay! Auntie." The little girl's lively back image showed that she was not afraid of the beating of the spring rain. She held an umbrella and moved forward bravely, as if she had endless energy.
She entered the inner room with a smile. The bead curtain swayed back and forth, and the soft sound was covered by the sound of rain. Tangli, who was sitting on the soft couch, could see the scenery outside the bead curtain. There was a quietness that was rare in modern society. Everything here was slow paced, even the sound of raindrops hitting the eaves is so soothing and gentle.
She half squinted her eyes, lazily like a cat basking in the sun and raised the corners of her lips. She thought she would be able to see that person soon.
"Second miss, what are you smiling at?"
Mrs. Qiao asked her narrowly. Tangli looked back and said with a smile, "I'm thinking about the future."
"My second miss will definitely be able to marry the man she wants and live a good and glorious life."
Tang Li was quite ambitious and asked with a smile, "Grandma, I can live a prosperous life without marrying a man. I don't want to marry that sick man like Lu Mingzhi."
"Huh? You're so good, why did you suddenly have this idea?" Madam Qiao didn't agree with this marriage at first, but Lu Mingzhi came from a scholarly family and had a weak body, which was a bit inappropriate, but his temperament was as gentle as jade, which was perfect for her family's second miss with a firecracker temper.
Tangli avoided answering and talked about other things, "Grandma, I missed you when I was in mobei."
"Are you angry with your parents again?"
"Who can make me feel angry?"
Mrs. Qiao patted her and murmured, "Mobei is remote, let them live a good life there. You have a grandmother."
"There are also the eldest aunt and sister Ying." Tang Li couldn't help laughing. Speaking of it, the eldest aunt is more like her mother than her mother. At least, she is not as partial as her mother.
Suddenly, the bead curtain hanging on the door frame made a crackling sound. Mrs. Qiao originally hung the bead curtain for the elegance of the beads and jade, but Qiao Ying wanted to throw the bead curtain to the window every time she came. It can be seen that this girl is not very calm.
Mrs. Qiao pressed her temples and whispered, "This evil star really means that call Cao Cao and Cao Cao will arrive."
"Grandma! Grandma!"
"Stop yelling, I'll drag you to the market another day and let everyone see your character, Qiao Ying."
Qiao Ying's eyebrows stood up and her big eyes widened in dissatisfaction. As soon as she walked in, she saw the offending Tang Li. She immediately sneered a few times, "I can smell your fragrance from so far away. Fortunately there are no bees now, otherwise they would sting you."
Tangli stretched out her sleeves, smiled delicately, "You'll be sore to death."
"Qiao Yuan!"
Tangli looked at her sideways, "What are you doing?"
Qiao Ying squeezed beside her, first smiled sweetly at Mrs. Qiao and then threatened Tang Li fiercely "Where's my gift."
Tangli sighed helplessly, "I will let Liu Zhu bring it to you later."
"That's pretty much it. I thought you forgot."
Tangli moved to the side and cursed: If she doesn't bring mobei's specialties to Qiao Ying, she will make herself uneasy for days, so she will definitely not forget it.
"Sister Yuan."
As soon as Tangli heard her tone, she felt something was not good. With the plot and the letters from the past six months, she could roughly understand Qiao Ying's character. Tangli's intuition was very accurate.
Qiao Ying hugged her arm, looked at her with a look of dependence, "Do you remember Wen Xiu's birthday next month?"
"Next month?"
Qiao Ying nodded in agreement.
"You want me to accompany you?"
Qiao Ying's face turned red with embarrassment. She was not good at lying and Tang Li already understood some things without her having to say them.
Tangli withdrew her arm and ruthlessly dismissed Qiao Ying's thoughts.
She told Mrs. Qiao, "Grandma, I'm tired and want to go back and rest."
"Go back, go back." Mrs. Qiao turned her eyes and saw Qiao Ying, and shook her head helplessly.
When Qiao Ying saw that she was ignoring her, she stamped her feet angrily, hurriedly saluted Mrs. Qiao, and quickly followed Tang Li's footsteps.
"Qiao Yuan, stop."
There is still no sign of spring on both sides of the corridor, only the winter jasmine flowers are blooming stubbornly.
Tangli's arm was grabbed by Qiao Ying and she said angrily, "Why are you ignoring me?"
Tang Li looked at Qiao Ying with a cold expression, "You're not going to see Wen Xiu, you're going to see her cousin."
"No!"
Tang Li said firmly, "That's what you have in mind, don't deny it. Wen Xiu and her cousin are living in the house, and they are bent on gaining fame in order to marry Wen Xiu. Why do you need to get into trouble?"
Tang Li knew this matter better than anyone else. Mrs. Qiao still had to guess, but she saw through Qiao Ying at a glance.
Qiao Ying's face turned pale with fright, and she bit her lip. She knew she shouldn't covet Wen Xiu's cousin, but... she just couldn't control her heart! What can she do?
Qiao Ying was really scared. She held Tangli's hand, her fingertips became cold. She said with a trembling voice, "Sister Yuan, you must not tell my mother about this. I am your sister, please."
"I won't tell auntie."
"That's good, that's good."
Tangli sighed and advised, "Don't sacrifice your whole life for someone who is not worthy."
"Sister Yuan, you don't understand."
Tangli rolled her eyes indecently, broke away from her arm again, and whispered, "I can't offend the love brain, but I can hide."
She left quickly, and Qiao Ying asked in confusion, "Love brain? What do you mean? Sister Yuan! Qiao Yuan! Stop right there."
It's okay if Qiao Ying doesn't say anything. As soon as she says this, Tangli lifts up her skirt then he started running.
At this moment, she didn't care that her eldest aunt Meng would see her bad manners, she just wanted to escape from love brain as soon as possible.
*
"Little girl, stop standing around and get in the carriage."
Ren Yazi was an elderly woman. She pushed Tang Fang who was in a daze and urged Tang Fang to get in the car so as not to waste the good time.
Ren Yazi glanced at the little girls in the carriage. They were all with good facial features and pretty features. The one with the most outstanding appearance was the one named Tangyuan. Normally, she would not sell Tangyuan to a wealthy family as a maid, but who is short of people, so she can only take her to Qiao Mansion.
Tangyuan held back her tears and held tightly in her hand the small jade button left by her mother. It was a relic that she had tried her best to get back from her uncle. With the jade button, she seemed to have returned to her mother's home, once she gets the warmth, she will no longer be afraid of the people in front of her.
"Let me tell you, today we are going to a good place, Qiao's Mansion, which is the home of Mr. Qiao Tongjian of Yuzhou. You all behave well and try to stay so that you can make more money for my mama."
Tangyuan lowered his head and said nothing. She was suddenly sold into slavery and turned from a commoner to a slave who could be killed. Tangyuan couldn't stand this gap.
Back then, a flood flooded the entire Lihua village. Her parents took her to live with her uncle, and they died soon after. Tangyuan was a beautiful girl, so her uncle simply sold her.
Tangyuan listened to the cries of vendors on the street. The excitement belonged to others, and it would belong to her from now on. Thinking of this, Tang Yuan left crescent marks on her palms and her inner collapse caused her to pinch out the blood marks with all her strength, so she who was grieving didn't know that the jade button was slowly absorbing her blood.
The carriage drove for who knows how long, and finally it stopped.
Ren Yazi handed her badge to the butler and walked in through the side door.
Tang Yuan followed her, looking at the ground with her face lowered.
She didn't dare to look around, because Ren Yazi told them to understand the rules along the way. If she couldn't make money and the housekeeper didn't keep them, then they would be beaten.
"You all raise your heads."
Tangyuan heard a woman's voice, soft and charming.
Who is she?
Tang Yuan slowly raised her head. They were not far apart, and they could easily see the person's appearance. There were so many people, but Tang Yuan found that she was eye-to-eye with that person.
Suddenly, the woman smiled.
At this moment, Tang Yuan thought of the beautiful scenery she accidentally saw while standing under the pear tree at the entrance of the village.
Back then, the pear blossoms were in full bloom, densely packed, and remaining on the branches as quietly and beautifully as snowflakes in spring.
Meeting the wind, the shadows of the trees swayed, blowing down the pear blossoms all over the ground.
It was as soft as snow, so beautiful that she remembered this scene in her heart.
"I want her." Tangli's eyes were bright and lively, and she pointed at the girl with slightly open lips and a chubby face.
"She has a round face, she must be easy to squeeze! It feels absolutely great! Ah~ I really want to touch her."
The housekeeper said, "Yes, second Miss ."
At the same time, Tang Yuan suddenly remembered another voice.
[This woman is so ugly, with a face as big as a basin, just let her stay with me for fun. ]
Tang Yuan couldn't help but twitch her brows, and her face suddenly turned frightened.
There is... there is a ghost!