Chapter 5, Incident, Watching the Drama Unfold

Breathless, as I walked into the eighth lap around the room, the round-faced Qiaoguo entered with a steaming bowl of medicinal soup. As she lifted the thick velvet-lined curtain, a wave of spicy and bitter aroma greeted me.

Madam Xiao was taken aback

Suddenly, as the door curtain was lifted, a slight chill entered the room. Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao only brought Qing Cong inside. Just a moment ago, Ah Xu, who was still chattering about how many rare materials were added to the medicine, hurriedly took the medicine bowl from Yu Cai Ling's hands, helped her lean onto the bright floor, and with her arms in a gesture of respect, said: "I pay my respects to Father and Mother, and wish them well."

Madam Xiao immediately stepped forward and said to Ge with a stern expression: "Sir, you are bowing to our mother. Shouldn't the younger sister step aside? Do I also have to receive this bow?"

This time, she was not accompanied by a long line of servants; instead, she led Ge Shi and two other women whom Yu Cailing did not recognize. The first one was of a similar age to Cheng's mother, and her appearance was equally rough, with snot and tears all mixed together. The other, however, was quite charming and shrewd, appearing to be in her thirties, though her makeup was a bit heavy, and she was also crying.

Indeed, in these past two years, Uncle Dong has straightened his back and improved his posture, earning more each day. He can also occasionally relay news of the rewards and captures received by the Cheng couple to his own sister. Lady Cheng has become increasingly proud, frequently demanding money and land from her son, while the siblings enjoy a life of great contentment.

Cheng Shi felt great joy in his heart, truly realizing that his daughter was indeed the most beautiful young lady in the world. Even if all the daughters born to General Wan were gathered together, they would not compare to her beauty. Next time he drinks, he must boast a little and revel in his pride. Madam Xiao, upon seeing Yu Cailing's appearance, still wore a complex expression.

People of the time inherently preferred tall and robust women, and one could not help but wonder if, with proper care in the future, the young lady might grow taller and gain some weight. Although the late Lady Xiao was indeed frail, her figure was not lacking in any way... As Qing Cong was lost in thought, she inadvertently turned her gaze and saw a little girl watching Cheng Shi and Lady Xiao with great interest. The girl's large eyes were strikingly clear, full of spirit and vitality, reminiscent of a newly born creature in the forest, lively and wild. She was momentarily taken aback. Inadvertently turning her gaze again, she saw the little girl still watching Cheng Shi and Lady Xiao with great interest, her large eyes clear and bright, full of spirit and vitality, reminiscent of a newly born creature in the forest, lively and wild. She was momentarily taken aback.

A'lu observed the chaotic situation and initially intended to pull Yu Cailing out of the room, but at that moment, Yu Cailing was unwilling to leave, completely caught up in her excitement.

About two or three years ago, the old lady heard that the war in the front was gradually easing, so she urged Cheng Shi to secure a position for Uncle Dong in the military, thinking that with her own nephew looking after him, he would no longer be bullied, and Madam Xiao would have no more excuses.

Yu Cailing was unwilling in her heart, but the reality was that the once agile Yu heroine, who could perform splits and break bricks while dancing, was now panting after just two laps. Clearly, she had previously been able to hike around the countryside, but now it felt as if she had regressed overnight, needing to start over with medication and recuperation. Yu Cailing was filled with anger, walking a bit and resting a bit, cursing as she took breaks, wishing that the pair of Ge's, the master and servant, would trip and fall when they went out, twisting their waists, and that she would run into a swindler who deceived people for money and affection when she turned around.

A-Lu helped Yu Cai-Ling sit on the couch, tightly bringing the medicine bowl closer. As soon as Yu Cai-Ling took a sip, she felt a bitterness spreading from her tongue to her forehead, a bitterness mixed with sourness, sourness intertwined with spiciness, and spiciness accompanied by a fishy taste. The combination of these flavors made Yu Cai-Ling's eyes well up with tears immediately. Seeing this, A-Lu hurriedly said, "This medicine was prescribed by the palace physician. It is indeed quite bitter, but it is very effective. Just yesterday, after the young lady took a dose, her fever subsided immediately."

Yu Cailing nodded slightly, realizing that it was her aunt.

In a wine-red lacquered wooden square tray, there were three small bowls of the same color, adorned with strange little beasts painted in dark hues on their walls. The slightly larger lacquered bowl in the center held a fragrant rice porridge, which Yu Cailing immediately recognized as her favorite beef bone mushroom porridge. Next to it, in a slightly smaller bowl, was pickled vegetables made with sea salt and vinegar, salty and sour, a specialty of A Lu. The last small bowl, with rounded corners, surprisingly contained two small pieces of sweet milk cake, exuding a rich milky aroma, and one could only wonder how much sugar was inside. Yu Cailing knew that at this time, sugar was not easy to come by; in the countryside, even two pieces of rock candy could make the children drool.

Nonsense, if it weren't for the desire to recover from illness more quickly, who would eat this moldy thing that has been passed down for eighteen generations without any virtue? Yu Cailing, while cursing inwardly, tearfully leaned closer to the bowl again. At that moment, a voice from outside the door announced: "The master and mistress have arrived"

Upon seeing Cheng Shi, she rushed over and let out a heart-wrenching wail. The onlookers could only watch in shock as Cheng's mother struck her massive fists against his robust chest, producing a terrifying thud. At the same time, she did not forget to pull her hand back to hit her son, creating a dull thumping sound. Despite Cheng Shi's strong physique, he was staggered back several steps from the blows

Yu Cailing originally intended to call out in approval, and then proceeded to ask Amei and Aliang, but suddenly felt it was inappropriate and hurriedly said: "Have my father and mother returned? This time they surely won't leave again. What about my original wet nurse and maid?" She was grateful to the president of the salted fish club for sending her Stanislavski, and she finally did not forget the self-cultivation of an actor—how could a good child not think of their parents first before inquiring about playmates

It was fine not to look up, but as soon as I did, I saw my daughter with tears in her eyes, and I anxiously asked: "Why is my child crying?"

A Lu smiled and said: "She is the sworn sister of the madam. Over the years, the madam has greatly benefited from her support, so you must treat her with respect in the future"

Qing Cong gazed silently at the sky, fully aware that her master was blind to the obvious. The young lady clearly did not resemble her parents at all. In her view, although the young lady's appearance was not bad, she appeared pitiful and lacked grandeur, making her incomparable to the radiant demeanor of Madam Xiao

Such crimes, even with a reduction in penalty, not only result in the confiscation of family assets and the conscription of family members as official servants, but the principal offender is also subject to be executed by slicing and displayed in public

While A Lu was still contemplating, Yu Cai Ling had already discerned clues from Cheng Mu's wailing, and combined with what A Lu had just mentioned about fragmented past events, she clarified the sequence of cause and effect.

Yu Cailing felt nauseated and thought: Here comes another one without a good mirror. Your figure, appearance, temperament, and insight are at least eighteen levels below that of Ms. Xiao. You might as well save yourself the trouble

Madam Xiao watched with her lips twitching, thinking it was a pity that her niece was born into the wrong family; had she been born a boy, she would surely be a valiant general. She carefully avoided the chaos, lest she be accidentally harmed by a stray punch. To her surprise, when she turned her head, she saw her own daughter mimicking her movements, cautiously retreating to a corner. The little girl even turned to Ah Lu and said something, amidst the confusion, she heard the words "... the eldest mother should go become a general ..." Before the sentence was completed, the little girl was forcibly shoved behind Ah Lu to hide.

Turning her head with delight, she saw that A'ru had already knelt by the couch, arranging bowls, dishes, and cups. Yu Cailing, both surprised and pleased, hurriedly inquired about the situation, only to learn that under the instruction of Madam Xiao, A'ru had taken on the role of her own mother. The two maidservants kneeling behind A'ru also seemed to have been assigned by Madam Xiao to serve her.

Madam Xiao was unaware of what her confidant and daughter were thinking. With a stern expression, she said to her husband, "... My lord, please do not go out and speak recklessly. What use is it for a girl to boast about her beauty all day? It is far more important to possess talent and virtue." A husband knows his wife best; she could see through her husband's intentions at a glance. Cheng Shi could only respond with an awkward smile.

Yu Cailing, known for her sharp tongue and wit since childhood, initially intended to deliver a few more barbs to the 'wise and all-powerful' Madam Xiao. However, upon seeing Ah Lu's weary expression, she felt a pang of compassion in her heart

Looking up, one could see that Cheng had today shed his military attire, donning instead a spacious dark robe embroidered with golden threads, cinched at the waist with a black belt interwoven with silver. He bore no adornments of gold or jade. Madam Xiao, on the other hand, was dressed in a deep-colored gown with large purple flowers, beneath which peeked a light purple skirt that was two palms wide. The neckline was adorned with a circle of snow-white fox fur, and her hair was styled in a half-updo secured with a golden phoenix hairpin and a white jade hairpin. Her ears were adorned with white jade earrings, further accentuating her exquisite beauty and extraordinary demeanor.

Cheng Shi exerted the strength of a valiant warrior to forcefully pry open his mother's large hand. He quickly turned back to glance at his wife, noticing a fleeting glimmer in Madam Xiao's eyes. This action, which took no more than a second, was caught perfectly by Yu Cailing, who thought to herself: the drama is about to unfold

After finishing the meal, Qiao Guo carried the food tray downstairs, while Lian Fang hurriedly took out a half-foot tall lacquered wooden cylinder that had been warming in the cotton nest, mixing hot water in a copper basin for Yu Cailing to wash up. In fact, Yu Cailing was still not full, but A Xu only gave her seven parts of a full serving, saying, "You will still have to drink the medicinal soup later." After she finished washing up, A Xu forcibly pulled Yu Cailing, who had intended to stay in bed and continue sleeping, out and started walking around the small room, saying, "It is cold outside, and the young lady is weak, so it is better to walk around inside."

Madam Xiao, seeing him like this, recalled how her husband had been so warm-hearted since their daughter was born. For the sake of his elderly mother and wife, he had reluctantly been separated for ten years. At this moment, he was so fond of her that he did not know what to do. She immediately softened her heart, sighed, and gently said: "Everyone has eyes; when Yong'er and the other brothers return with General Wan's family and entourage, we will take Niao Niao out to attend the banquet and enjoy the gardens. Who would not see her? We need not speak of it, for others will know as well."

Most of humanity's fears stem from ignorance. Previously, Yu Cailing's anxiety and melancholy were largely due to her worries about an uncertain future. However, after several days of eavesdropping, she has basically made up her mind. Her parents are astute and capable, her family is affluent, and she has several siblings, including her own fraternal twins. With such a solid foundation, no matter what happens, she will not be put in a position of great distress.

The cries of Cheng's mother quickly turned into repeated shouts of 'My son, Da Lang... my son...' The voice, coming from afar, soon drew near, and Yu Cailing increasingly felt that this residence was not very large.

Yu Cailing lowered her head and said, "I will listen to Mother Fu." If she were to call over someone she had spent every day with in the past, she could not guarantee that she would not reveal her true self; it was not that she feared being accused of not being herself, but rather that she was afraid these superstitious individuals would come and pour talisman water on her, claiming that she was possessed by a spirit.

Qing Cong once again gazed silently at the sky, knowing that her master could feign ignorance to the point of being truly foolish. Clearly, he had come early in the morning to visit his daughter, but had underestimated the speed of Aunt Dong and the mother-in-law, which led to him being blocked here. Could you at least make your lies more convincing? It truly wasted the effort the lady put in teaching all night.

Mother Cheng appeared in a very disheveled state, her splendid attire torn at the collar, and she no longer wore the thick gold hairpin that resembled a firewood stick. One of her large gold earrings, which were as big as a wheel, was missing, and tears and mucus were hanging on her face. She kept pleading, "...You must save your uncle... This is a matter of life and death..."

Cheng took a deep breath, shook off the wrinkled sleeves of his robe, stood tall and bowed, then knelt straight before Cheng's mother, his tiger-like eyes filled with tears (Yu Cailing secretly praised his acting skills, observing this performance), and with a sorrowful sigh, he said: "Mother! I heard about this matter from my subordinates this morning. I intended to inform you, but... I truly do not know where to begin..."

A-Lu straightened her face and said, "The young lady has grown up and should now be aware of matters. Once your parents return, everything will be decided by them. As for those individuals that Auntie pointed out to you before, you need not consider them any longer"

Cheng Shi said, "What the lady said is true." He then turned to his daughter and said, "You must listen to your mother. Once you are well, your father will take you to ride horses and see the lantern festival after the New Year.

Yu Cailing twitched her lips; shouldn't a confidant be someone one cultivates oneself to be reliable

A-Lu smiled and said, "In the earlier years, the outside was very chaotic, and letters could not be delivered properly. Moreover, regarding the trivial matters within the inner residence, even if the mistress knew something, she could not manage it in a timely manner. The household was under the control of the uncle's wife, so what use was it for the mistress to appoint someone?" In fact, Lady Xiao's original words were: 'Loyal servants are hard to come by, and now is the time to employ them; do not let them be hindered by the schemes of the women in the inner residence.'

The beginning of the journey of self-reflection still feels insufficient, he turned to his wife and smiled, saying, "Our daughter is indeed beautiful." Then he added, "It is all thanks to your efforts, my dear."

This remark earned Lady Xiao a disdainful glance as she solemnly stated, "Sir, you speak in jest. Can a physician's prescribed medicine be tampered with? Good medicine is often bitter; one can only take the medicine and then suck on some sugar afterward"

After contemplating all these trivial matters, she noticed the calm expression on the face of the young man beside her. The Cheng couple above exchanged knowing glances, and she suddenly realized— the show was about to begin

The couple was about to leave, but they underestimated the agility of Cheng's mother. Before Qingcong could even lift the door curtain, she was forcefully pushed back by a strong force. Cheng's mother charged in like a wild boar that had been shot with an arrow, nearly tearing down the door curtain.

The round-faced maid is slightly younger, around thirteen or fourteen years old, named Qiaoguo, while the other, with an oval face, is slightly older, about fifteen or sixteen years old, named Lianfang. According to A Lu's account, the "wise and capable" Madam Xiao has been seeking reliable and loyal personal maids for her daughter for several years, and these two are evidently the result of a meticulous selection process.

Yu Cailing was unaware of how pitiful she looked at that moment. Her frame was frail, her shoulders sharp, and after recovering from a serious illness, her skin had become almost translucent. Her delicate neck struggled to support her head, and simply kneeling there made her seem on the verge of toppling over onto the floor. When she spoke, her voice was even weaker. Cheng Shi felt that with just a single sweep of his hand, he could crush his daughter like a fledgling bird. Not only did his heart soften, but his voice did as well: "How about adding some rock candy to the medicinal soup?"

The slap was both loud and heavy, immediately causing large areas of redness and swelling to appear on Ge's cheek. Overcome with shame and anger, she no longer looked at anyone, covered her face, and ran out the door in tears

This statement is quite profound. Yu Cailing, while concealing her true thoughts, feigned displeasure and pouted, saying: "Since Mother knows that Aunt treats me poorly, why didn't she send someone to serve me earlier? I have endured so much suffering." Such an immature little girl, she plays her part without any pressure

Cheng was delighted to see that his daughter was much more spirited than the day before, yet he did not know where to begin. He could only sit on the couch with a smile, while Qing Cong helped Madam Xiao to sit beside him. As a child, Yu Cailing could only continue to bow her head and kneel on the mat below.

A Lu was very satisfied, serving Yu Cailing with mouthwash and porridge.

A Zhu could not pull her away. Seeing the girl huddled in the corner tightly holding the medicine bowl, her small body trembling slightly, he interpreted it as the little girl being frightened and shivering. He thought that since she was on the verge of recovery, it would not be good for her to go out in the wind, especially since the lady had not spoken, and moreover, it was embarrassing for Cheng's mother. A Zhu felt indifferent to the situation.

"Who is that Lady Qingcong?" Yu Cailing asked while nibbling on a small sweet cake

At this moment, Yu Cailing was sizing up those around her. Her kneeling position was level with the area just below Madam Xiao's chest. She secretly rejoiced, thinking: According to A Lu, Madam Xiao has given birth to seven or eight children, including the ones who died young, yet her figure remains so alluring, both in front and behind. Old Cheng is truly fortunate.

In fact, if the original Madam Fu and the servants were here, they would inevitably be astonished at how much their young lady has become so agreeable. However, Ah Lu, having taken care of Yu Cai Ling for so many days, always feels that she is a kind-hearted child by nature, so she does not find it strange.

Since arriving in this place, the person she was closest to was this taciturn and honest woman before her. At that time, A Lu, being cautious in her actions, did not dare to seek more servants for assistance, and thus handled all matters herself. When Yu Cailing could not swallow food, A Lu fed her medicine little by little; in order to reduce her own fever, even in the harsh winter with snow, A Lu boiled water several times a day to wash herself and change clothes. As a result, the well water froze, and she could only scoop snow to melt it. A Lu's fingers, which had been well cared for, developed frostbite; because she found the meat soup too greasy, she personally went into the mountains to dig through the snow and soil to find a few mushrooms and vegetables to add to the soup—one could imagine that A Lu had not had a proper rest during these days, so it would be better to spare her some trouble.

All are things they love to eat, and Yu Cailing finds them particularly appetizing. A Lu stands by, smiling as she watches her, as if the food entering the girl's mouth is also satisfying her own stomach.

Recognizing these inexpensive parents until now, only this phrase sounds the most pleasant to the ears. Yu Cailing happily smiled at Cheng Shi, her pale skin flushed with a hint of childish pink, looking as adorable as a jade doll

Madam Cheng's maiden name was Dong. During the chaotic times of the past, the Dong family faced great turmoil, with some fleeing and others perishing. Only the younger brother of Cheng's mother and his family managed to survive until Cheng's rise to prominence. From that point on, the Dong family relied on the Cheng family for their livelihood

Upon hearing the news, Aunt Dong immediately brought her daughter-in-law to seek help. Upon hearing this, Mother Cheng nearly fainted. Thus, Da Xiong went to find Doraemon, who had already taken a wife and was not very obedient.

During a meal, Yu Cailing inquired about the siblings Amei and Alang. A Lu replied with a smile, "Thanks to the lady's kindness, Amei will also come to serve you in the future. As for Alang, it is uncertain which young master he will accompany. However, they have been accustomed to the wild life in the countryside, and now Lady Qingcong is actively seeking someone to teach the siblings proper etiquette." She then introduced the two maidservants behind her.

A family was engaged in idle chatter, and before Yu Cailing had the chance to speak, a sharp and coarse cry from an elderly woman echoed from a distance. The initial tone was somewhat tragic, while the latter part carried a mournful melody, with the main theme being one of indignation. Notably, the concluding sound of "ah ah ah ah ah ah——" lasted a full seven to eight seconds without interruption

Once the mind is settled, this sleep is particularly sweet, and it seems that the medicinal soup brought by my dear parents this time is quite effective. I slept soundly until dawn, and upon opening my eyes, I felt my heart and lungs were unblocked, and the heaviness in my limbs had diminished somewhat

Yu Cailing felt an unusual admiration in her heart, able to balance emotional investment alongside a loud and resonant call. This remarkable voice was akin to a maternal version of Pavarotti combined with Li Shuangjiang from the neighborhood committee. She then pondered, no matter how loud the call was, it could be transmitted so clearly, the Cheng family courtyard seemed rather small, so how well was Old Man Cheng actually doing in life

Just as I was about to say, who the hell dares to bully my daughter now that I am back, I heard my daughter weakly say: "The medicine is too bitter."

Unfortunately, Madam Xiao's fingers were tightly closed, and what fell into the hands of Old Madam Cheng was not abundant, let alone what was leaked to the Dong family. It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. In order to let the Dong family benefit more, the 'clever' old madam instructed Cheng Shi to arrange a job for Uncle Dong. Unfortunately, Uncle Dong neither had the ability to read nor was he adept in commerce, and he found agricultural work tedious with slow returns, repeatedly facing setbacks outside.

In recent days, the old lady Cheng was originally waiting for her younger brother to return and report on her son's recent achievements. However, instead of receiving him, she was met with the devastating news that Uncle Dong had been caught selling military weapons and supplies for personal gain.

Not knowing where to begin, Madam Rao, who is resourceful and strategic, also found herself at a loss for words at this moment, and could only lightly cough and say: "My child is much better now." Yu Cailing slightly raised her head and replied softly: "Much better." It was not intentional; she simply felt a sense of unease in front of her adoptive parents, which naturally made her voice weaker.

Supporting Mrs. Cheng, Ge made her way through the crowd and said in a soft voice, "After all, he is my uncle. No matter how difficult my brother makes it, we must still try to help him!" As she spoke, she also took a moment to assess the tall and upright Cheng Shi.

Before Ge could speak, Cheng's mother had already slapped her with a backhand and angrily scolded, "Why don't you just get lost? Are you here to gloat over my family's misfortune?" She did not want too many people to know about her family's embarrassing matters, yet as soon as Ge heard the news, she rushed over. Cheng's mother was well aware of Ge's intentions, but she had initially chosen to ignore it.

After the couple finished their legal dispute, Cheng Shiqing cleared his throat, stood up to greet Cheng's mother, but Madam Xiao, unhurried, adjusted her husband's clothing and did not forget to instruct Yu Cailing, "Don't just stand there, quickly drink the medicinal soup."