GBP Chapter 88 Determination
Chapter 88 Determination
Hua'er pushed open the study door and walked in. She looked at her parents sadly and said, "Dad, Mom, please stop arguing! I'm not going to Wuliping anymore. I'll never see Sister Zisu again in this lifetime. Please stop arguing!"
The second wife exclaimed joyfully, "Really? You'll never see that wretched maid again in this lifetime?!"
"Mother! What are you doing? How did Sister Zisu become a lowly servant?!" Hua'er couldn't bear it any longer and loudly questioned her mother, her heart filled with pain: "Before, you also thought Sister Zisu was very good and liked her very much. However, just because Father wanted my eldest brother to marry her, you looked down on her no matter what. That's one thing, but you actually called her a lowly servant, which is completely unreasonable!"
The second wife was even more displeased after being scolded by her daughter: "Isn't she a shameless person like her a lowly servant? A country girl, how dare she covet my general's son! Shameless thing, she's not even qualified to be my Chun'er's concubine!"
Hua'er was furious: "A country girl? Her father is a second-rank Protector-General, and she is a proper daughter of a military family! As for her brother, he's just a fifth-rank general. She doesn't even care about the title of Princess Consort of the Rong'an Prince's Mansion. It's ridiculous to say she covets her brother. She's never even met him! Besides, it's all been Father's wishful thinking from beginning to end. Sister Zisu has no idea that Father wants her brother to marry her!"
She paused, then couldn't help but sigh deeply, "Mother, Mother, how could you have become like this? You used to be so elegant and graceful, so gentle and kind. Now, I simply can't believe you're like this!"
Jiang Shichang: "Alright, I will never mention the marriage between Zisu and Chun'er again, and I have no face to mention it again! Even if Zisu has feelings for Chun'er, with you as her mother, Zisu will never marry into the Jiang family! Don't worry, with Zisu's temperament, she will never recognize someone like you who has insulted her for no reason as her mother-in-law!"
Second Madam: "Hmph! If that's really the case, then she's wise enough to know her place! My daughter-in-law must be from a prominent family, and both her parents must be alive! I wouldn't even agree to her being my son's concubine, even though she's an orphan!"
Jiang Shichang was furious: "I thought you were a good person, but I never expected you to be so unreasonable and so ignorant! I've already said that the matter between Zisu and Chun'er ends here, and no one is allowed to mention it again! If you insist on making trouble, don't blame me for being ruthless and sending you back to your parents' home!"
He's exhausted from socializing outside every day! Even when he gets home, he can't find peace and quiet. How innocent is Zisu, being called a lowly servant? Even though she's no longer the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, she's still the daughter of the Protector General. She's lived an honest and upright life; how did she become a lowly servant?!
Just imagine how much pain, anger, and sadness would Hua'er feel if he were called a lowly servant?
Everyone is born of parents, and every child is precious to their parents. How can she so casually call someone else's child a lowly servant? What's wrong with her? Is she possessed by an evil spirit?!
Jiang Shichang was shocked, furious, and extremely disappointed. If it weren't for their years of marriage, and if she hadn't borne him children, he would have definitely divorced this unreasonable wife!
How could he allow such a crazy woman to accompany him until old age? The thought of divorcing his wife took root in his heart from that moment on. If she did not repent and became increasingly outrageous, even if he did not divorce her, he would bring a concubine into the house.
The night was long, and surely he needed a woman by his side with whom he could confide his innermost thoughts? Hua'er's importance in his heart was rapidly diminishing. That night, he didn't return to the main house, but went to the study in the outer courtyard. He stayed in the study for several days.
Hua'er couldn't help but worry and feel sad for her mother.
Father must be very disappointed in Mother, right? This isn't a good sign. He might even take a concubine or other maids in the future. If things continue like this, my worries will become a reality. Having a concubine in the house means there will never be peace; her and her brothers' lives will be greatly affected!
Hua went to find her second brother, Jiang Yong. The two siblings sat on a chair under the pomegranate tree, and she told him all her worries and concerns.
Jiang Yong remained silent for a long time before sighing helplessly, "Sister, your worries are also my worries. Mother can't go on like this. We must persuade her properly, lest she drift further and further away and never be able to reconcile with Father again!"
The two of them went to the main room together and had a long talk with the mother.
Hearing her children's words, the second wife was terrified: "Hua'er, do you think your father would take a concubine?"
Hua nodded vigorously and said very seriously, "If Mother insists on going her own way, Father will definitely take a concubine!"
These words were cruel, but she had no choice but to say them. A short, sharp pain was better than a long, drawn-out one; letting her suffer now, to truly repent, would bring her lasting peace. Otherwise, once her father took a concubine, things would never be the same again between them!
Jiang Yong: "Sister is right. Father has been staying in the outer study for several days now, and he hasn't spoken to Mother for just as long! If Mother continues like this, Father will definitely take a concubine!"
The second wife waved her hand in annoyance: "You may go, I need some peace and quiet!"
The siblings exchanged a glance and went to the garden to continue their heart-to-heart talk.
Hua'er looked at the small green lawn in front of her, rested her chin on her hand, and said with a troubled expression, "Sigh, I don't know what's wrong with her. Sister Zisu is such a good person, how could she not like her? It's fine if she doesn't like her, but there's no need to treat her like an enemy! Look at the way she looks, as if she has some great hatred for Sister Zisu. No wonder Father is angry!"
Jiang Yong: "Yes, thanks to Zisu's help, Good Days Restaurant would probably have been ruined by Shili Xiang long ago!"
Hua'er: "Second Brother, you have no idea how wonderful Sister Zisu is! During the days I stayed at Little Stone Pool, my fondness and admiration for Sister Zisu grew day by day! I think she is wonderful in every way, with almost no flaws! Such a wonderful woman, calling her an extraordinary woman, a heroine, is not an exaggeration at all! I dare say that if you, Eldest Brother, miss out on her, it will definitely be the biggest regret of your life!"
Jiang Yong: "Hearing you say that, I also feel that losing her would be the biggest regret for my brother!" Not to mention my brother, he himself also felt that not being able to spend his life with such a woman was the biggest regret of his life.
What a pity, what a pity! Her mother hates her so much, she will absolutely never marry into the Jiang family! She wouldn't choose either her elder brother or him!
At this moment, the boy felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and loss towards his mother.
This is a wonderful girl. I hope she can live a peaceful and joyful life and find her own happiness. Otherwise, he will never be able to stop thinking about her for the rest of his life.
Today is the second day since the Princess arrived in Wuliping.
That day, after breakfast, Zisu led the people of Xiaoshitan to start wrapping zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). The Princess and Yue'er were very curious and came to join in the fun.
Yue'er said, "Sister Zisu, I'd like to learn too, so I can make zongzi for Daddy when we get back!"
Zisu: "Okay, little princess is so good!" She patiently demonstrated to her how to wrap zongzi, and specially selected small zongzi leaves to wrap miniature zongzi.
In no time, she had wrapped several small rice dumplings, each one beautifully wrapped, like a work of art, making them irresistible.
Yue'er loved it and clapped her hands, saying, "Wow, Sister Zisu is so great! This zongzi is so beautiful!"
"Yes, that's really great. I'll learn how to make it too. When I get back, I'll make some for Yue'er's father and brother!" Perhaps, we can even send some to the palace as a Dragon Boat Festival gift.
To be honest, she always struggles with what to give as gifts for the New Year and other holidays.
Madam Yu personally instructed the eldest princess, and the two got along very well, exchanging questions and answers. Zisu was overjoyed to see this; her mother had finally regained her confidence and could now act with ease in front of the princess.
The day passed by while everyone was wrapping zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and everyone was very happy.
Both the eldest princess and Yue'er had mastered the skills of wrapping zongzi. The head maidservant by the eldest princess's side even asked about each step of the wrapping process. On the third day, two of the eldest princess's guards accompanied Xiangli and Yingtao to the deep mountains and personally picked several large baskets of zongzi leaves.
The princess's people, at the thatched cottage, personally experimented with how to wrap zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). From beginning to end, Zisu and her subordinates didn't interfere. After failing two or three times, the princess's people finally managed to make delicious zongzi.
The eldest princess was very pleased. She said to Zisu, "How about the Good Days Restaurant buys the recipe for these zongzi for one thousand taels of silver?"
Zisu shook her head and smiled, "No need to give money, I'll just give it to the Good Days Restaurant!"
The Eldest Princess: "No, how can this be? Giving you a thousand taels is actually a huge bargain for me!"
Her attitude was very firm, so Zisu had no choice but to nod: "Alright then, I'll respectfully comply. Thank you, Your Highness!"
Zisu agreed, and the Princess immediately dispatched ten guards to pick zongzi leaves in the mountains and deliver them back to the Good Days Restaurant. At the same time, she also sent two maids and servants who had participated in the experiment on how to make zongzi to the Good Days Restaurant to instruct the restaurant's pastry chefs.
Jiang Shichang was very happy; this was the only thing that had made him happy in recent days.
The appearance of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) made him keenly aware that it would bring huge profits to Good Days Restaurant. It's worth noting that Good Days Restaurant now has twenty chain stores nationwide, including three in Beijing.
To be honest, giving Zisu a thousand taels of silver was indeed too little. However, he also knew very well that if he gave her more, Zisu definitely wouldn't accept it. A thousand taels was really just a token of his appreciation.
Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Good Days Restaurant launched its zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) at its branches within a 500-mile radius of Beijing. The zongzi were well-received by diners, making Good Days Restaurant's business even more prosperous and reaching new heights.
On the third day after arriving in Wuliping, Zisu led people to the mountains to pick a large basket of big, red, and sweet bayberries, which made the little princess very happy!
On the fifth day, after she finished eating the bayberries, she begged Zisu, "Sister Zisu, please take me to the mountains to pick bayberries!"
Zisu: "No, it's too dangerous in the mountains, you're too young!"
Yue'er: "No, I want to go! Take me with you!"
Zisu looked at the princess with pleading eyes: "Your Highness, it's very dangerous in the mountains, and the little princess is still too young!"
"Don't make things difficult for your sister Zisu!" The princess glared at her daughter.
"No, I want to pick bayberries!" Yue'er twisted her little body, pouted, and looked like she was about to cry.
Zisu thought for a moment and then said, "We can pick bayberries without going to the mountains. I have an orchard with dozens of bayberry trees. Besides bayberry trees, there are also peach and plum trees. How about we go to the orchard to pick bayberries? It's quite fun there!"
The eldest princess said, "Hmm, let's go to the orchard! If you want to go to the mountains, we can wait until you're a little older!"
Since the princess had said so, Yue'er had no choice but to nod in agreement: "Alright, let's go to the orchard! I want to pick bayberries, plums, and peaches too!"
Zisu: "Okay, you can pick any ripe fruit! By the way, the cherries are ripe at this time of year too."