Archives: FS

Gu Fei didn’t know that someone had been thinking about the gun in her hand. She had a good sleep.

After waking up early and eating breakfast, Mrs. Chen discussed with Gu Zhang: “Why don’t we all go to the city today? There are many things to buy in this house.”

“We can’t burn the kang in the south, so we have to buy more charcoal and charcoal basins. And the bed, it doesn’t look good if it’s bare, so we have to buy some mosquito nets and curtains to hang up.”

“With so many rooms, we have to buy more oil lamps and candles, and more teapots. Alas, this house is big, and we need several copies of everything, which is also expensive!”

Gu Zhang nodded: “We need to buy some things. The New Year is coming soon, and we have to buy New Year’s goods. ”

Lanzhi raised her head and said cautiously: “Auntie, can I go to the city with you?”

Mrs. Chen looked at her, and Lanzhi said hurriedly: “I want to go to the city to take some embroidery work at the embroidery shop.”

“I am very good at embroidery!”

“Last year, Xiao Fei took a job embroidering four screens for me in the embroidery shop. I worked for half a year and earned 60 taels of silver.”

“I, I want to earn more money for the family.”

Mrs. Chen glanced at Gu Fei, and Gu Fei nodded. She knew that Lanzhi felt that she was eating for free, and she would feel at ease if she asked her to do some work.

Mrs. Chen said: “Then go ahead. The money you earn from embroidery will belong to you.”

Lanzhi waved her hands anxiously: “No, no, no, I will give you all the money I earn. I can’t stay at home and eat for free without working.”

Lanzhi lowered her head: “I know I’m not as capable as Lian’er and can’t do much work. , I’m not very good at serving people. I can only embroider and do needlework.”

Lanzhi raised her head with tears in her eyes: “Uncle and Aunt, my parents are gone. I have already regarded you as my relative in my heart, and this place is my home. I also want to earn more money to make our family live better and better.”

Seeing Lanzhi crying, Gu Erlang couldn’t help but get anxious and looked at his mother eagerly.

Mrs. Chen didn’t even look at him, and smiled at Lanzhi: “This girl, why are you crying while talking.”

“Okay, I’ve promised you. When you go to the city to buy embroidery frames, embroidery threads, etc., you can ask Xiao Fei to buy them for you.”

Lanzhi was happy: “Thank you, Auntie.”

Gu Erlang’s heart finally settled down.

At this time, Lian’er suddenly said: “Auntie, I have to go to the city with you.”

Mrs. Chen looked at her, and Lian’er continued: “When Miss Xiao Fei bought me, she didn’t go to the government to sign a contract. I’ve been here for a few days. Miss Xiao Fei may have forgotten, but I haven’t forgotten.”

Gu Fei was silent for two seconds. She didn’t forget. She just didn’t think about what to do with Lian’er.

If she let her go, she would have no relatives. It would be difficult for a girl to support herself outside, and it would be dangerous.

If she was not allowed to go, she would not have a contract to sell herself. Some things were always not so reliable.

Gu Fei said slowly: “Think about it carefully. If you sign a contract to sell yourself, you will no longer be a good citizen, but a slave.”

Lian’er stood up and knelt: “Miss Xiao Fei gave my mother steamed bread, Uncle Gu and several elder brothers helped bury my mother and brother, and Miss Xiao Fei was willing to buy me and spend so much precious food to support me. My life has long belonged to Miss Xiao Fei.”

“I said that I, Lian’er, will be Miss Xiao Fei’s person in life and Miss Xiao Fei’s ghost in death.”

“I originally have arranged marriage at home, but now it is no longer counted. I have thought about it. In this life, I will not marry, and I will serve Miss Xiao Fei for the rest of my life.”

 

“Did you see the hidden weapon?” Xiao Yu leaned forward slightly.

Uncle Ma shook his head: “I didn’t see it. Both times were at night, but the hidden weapon was not big. I saw Xiao Fei holding it in her hand. I looked for it quietly when I was on guard, but I couldn’t find it. I don’t know where the girl hid it.”

“By the way, I saw that there seemed to be a flash of fire when the hidden weapon was fired.”

Xiao Yu was a little excited. There was a flash of fire. Was it because of this that the lethality was so great?

He has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He has always had two major hobbies. One was that he loves horses, of course, good horses. Ordinary horses cannot enter his eyes.

Then he liked to play with various weapons. He was most proficient in knives. He can also use various other weapons, but he is not proficient in them.

The main reason was that his father said that he would easily get distracted when he learned too much.

“I must get this thing!”

Uncle Ma glanced at Xiao Yu and said cautiously: “My Lord, Xiao Fei is just a simple and kind girl after all. I hope I hope you can show mercy and leave her a way out.”

Xiao Yu rolled his eyes: “What do you mean?”

“Am I the kind of unreasonable person who takes advantage of others?”

“Would I steal her things or even take her life?”

Uncle Ma lowered his head hurriedly: “I said the wrong thing, please don’t blame me, my Lord.”

Xiao Yu snorted: “That girl is very poor. At most, I can exchange gold with her, and she will agree.”

“No, it’s better to find her master. Then this Lord can have as many blood-dripping devices as he wants!”

“Hahahaha——”

Uncle Ma stood aside with his hands hanging down, watching Xiao Yu laughing foolishly.

After Xiao Yu finished laughing, he played with a dagger: “Where does that girl live now?”

Uncle Ma whispered: “She lives in Young Master Su’s farmhouse outside the city.”

Xiao Yu raised his head: “Young Master Su? Which Young Master Su?”

“It’s your cousin, Young Master Su Chen.”

Xiao Yu frowned: “How did they know each other?”

“This – it’s a long story.” Uncle Ma lowered his head slightly.

When they met at the inn that day, he recognized Young Master Su and the county magistrate’s wife, but they didn’t recognize him.

All the way thereafter, he paid attention to Young Master Su. After all, he was the cousin of the prince, and if something happened, he couldn’t get away from it.

“Let’s make it short!” Xiao Yu waved his hand.

“Young Master Su scared his horse, broke his leg, and got separated from the wife of the county magistrate. He has no official documents, and the escort agency has no escorts to hire. They are afraid that there will be many refugees on the road, so they asked Master Gu to go together.”

Xiao Yu snorted coldly: “Maybe he just saw that the girl is pretty.”

He remembered that the girl looked very pretty when she smiled.

Uncle Ma thought about it, if he was talking about a pretty girl, it must be Lanzhi.

He didn’t see Young Master Su treat Lanzhi any differently, but he often saw Young Master Su sneaking glances at Gu Fei.

Xiao Yu waved his hand: “You’ve worked hard on this trip. Go to the housekeeper to get 50 taels of silver, rest for a few days, and then go to the escort agency.”

“Remember not to tell anyone about the blood-dripping device.”

Uncle Ma responded and retreated.

Xiao Yu played with the dagger in his hand. Should he go to find that girl tomorrow?

Whether to exchange it for gold, cheating, or intimidation, he must get the blood-dripping device and find out the whereabouts of her master.

The blood-dripping device must not fall into the hands of others.

 

In another courtyard of Prince Qi’s mansion not far from here, Shitou bowed slightly outside the main door: “My Lord, Old Ma is here.”

A voice came from the house: “Let him in!”

Shitou opened the curtain to let Uncle Ma in, and Uncle Ma stood on the ground with his head down properly.

Xiao Yu sat at the top and waved his hand casually: “Sit down, I called you here to ask about the blood-dripping device you wrote in the letter.”

“Is that thing really that powerful?”

Uncle Ma just sat down and stood up again to reply: “Answering back the prince, I have never seen a more powerful hidden weapon than that. As long as you point that thing at a person, with a bang, the person will fall.”

“If that thing hits the vitals, it will kill you. If it hits other places, the skin will be torn apart.”

Xiao Yu squinted his eyes: “Then have you seen the wounds of those who were killed by the blood-dripping device?”

Uncle Ma nodded: “I saw the wounds, but I can’t tell what they are. Some were smashed, and some were just bloody holes.”

“It’s just very strange. I searched for a long time and couldn’t find the thing that was fired.”

“The hidden weapon must be made of something, but whether it was a flying knife, a flying thorn, a stone bullet, or a cow-hair needle, I didn’t find it.”

“I also thought that to cause such a wound, the hidden weapon must be fired at a fast speed and with great force. It’s hard to imagine that such a small hidden weapon can have such a great force.”

Xiao Yu nodded. Old Ma was an old soldier. He had been on the battlefield when he was young. Later, when he was older, he was arranged to escort the escort agency to earn some money and collect some intelligence.

Old Ma had experience, vision, and knowledge, and Xiao Yu still believed in his judgment.

Xiao Yu stood up and turned around twice: “Maybe the thing dispersed after it was hit, and it’s not easy to find.”

“You said in your letter that the girl said she had a master?”

Uncle Ma nodded: “He should be some master of the hidden sect. The girl is mysterious and refuses to say more.”

Xiao Yu looked at Uncle Ma: “Do you think what the girl said is credible?”

Uncle Ma hesitated for a moment, thinking of Gu Fei’s fragrant dry pot rabbit meat and braised snake, licked his lips, and decided to say a few good words.

He nodded vigorously: “I think it’s true! The little girl trusts me very much. I asked casually and she answered casually. It should be that her master has a rule that cannot be said.”

“Besides, I have observed along the way.”

“That girl is just a little girl who is ignorant of the world. She is soft-hearted and kind. She is not like a spy from another country. She is always thinking about eating something delicious.”

Xiao Yu nodded slowly.

He had sent people to investigate Gu Fei. There was no doubt about her background. He now knew that the Marquis’s mansion was confiscated because the sister of Madam Pingyang Marquis murdered the imperial heir. The Emperor was furious. Not only did he sentence Concubine Yufei to death, but he also found a reason to confiscate Pingyang Marquis’s mansion.

So this matter has nothing to do with Gu Fei at all.

If Gu Fei has a mysterious master behind her, then the telescope and the blood dropper she gave him before make sense.

If Gu Fei was a spy from the enemy country, the enemy country would have started to attack the British Empire long ago if they had things like telescopes and blood-dripping devices.

They would not give such important things to a little girl.

The telescope was very useful. He has had someone copy it. It was not a very sophisticated thing, but it took a little time to polish the crystal.

Xiao Yu also wanted this blood-dripping device.

Just imagine, if such a hidden weapon was used in a war, what kind of lethality it would have.

 

*Blood-dripping device – a pistol gun.

After the people left, Mrs. Chen began to assign houses.

The eldest son lived in the east wing, and the second son lived in the west wing. This was the rule.

The daughters should live in the backyard, but the courtyards in the south of the Yangtze River were different from the courtyards in the north. There was only one main hall and two flower halls in the front yard, which could not be lived in. The resting side room was for servants.

They could only live in the backyard.

Mrs. Chen let Gu Fei live in the main room on the west side, and the side room on her side was for Lanzhi and Lian’er.

Everyone had no objection.

Only Gu Erlang suddenly said: “Mother, aren’t there two side rooms? Why don’t you let each of them live in a room?”

He felt that it was unfair for Lanzhi and Lian’er to live together. Lanzhi was a daughter of the Marquis’s mansion, and Lian’er was just a country girl.

Besides, the side room was a little small.

Lanzhi blushed and said anxiously: “It’s fine for me to live with Lian’er.”

She knew that Gu Erlang wanted to live more comfortably, but she was just a maid bought by Gu Fei. It was good enough to have a house to live in. How could she dare to be picky?

Mrs. Chen glanced at Lanzhi, and then glanced at Gu Erlang indifferently: “I’ll keep that side room for things.”

“That’s it, go pack your bedding and luggage, and put things in place.”

Gu Fei took out the messy things that Mrs. Chen had asked her to stuff in the space when Lian’er and Lanzhi went out of the house.

The big water tank, broom, dustpan, and uneaten pickled meat were put in the front yard kitchen.

The cradle that Xiao Cao slept in when she was a child, the sewing basket, rags, herbs, and all kinds of essential items for home and travel were all put in the side room by Gu Fei.

At this time, a small blue and white porcelain bottle rolled out of Xiao Cao’s cradle.

Gu Fei picked it up and held it in her hand for a moment, then she remembered that this was the golden medicine that Su Chen sent Chen Hu to give her that day.

Gu Fei was slightly absent-minded for a moment, thinking of the handsome young man.

She doesn’t know if his injury has healed.

*

At this moment, in a courtyard of the Prince Qi’s Mansion.

Xiao Min grabbed Su Chen’s hand: “Chen’er, are you still angry with your mother?”

“Mother told you that I had no choice but to not wait for you in the city at that time. Those refugees were too scary.”

Su Chen pulled back his hand, lowered his eyes, and said lightly: “Mother thinks too much. This son only wishes mother peace, how can I blame you.”

Xiao Min wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief: “Mother originally thought that with the guards, you would be fine.”

“Mother didn’t think about the official documents, I didn’t know that without them, you couldn’t live in the official post, and didn’t think your leg——Woo woo woo…”

Su Chen lowered his eyes: “Mom, my leg is fine, the doctor has checked it, and said it will be recovered in about a month.”

“It’s getting late, Mom should go to rest early.”

“You said you don’t blame Mom, Mom just said a few words, you want to drive me away——Woo woo woo, I didn’t mean to leave you, I was just too scared.”

“Your uncle also scolded me severely, I know I was wrong.” Xiao Min cried.

Su Chen rubbed his forehead: “Mom, don’t talk about this anymore, don’t cry, I’m fine, I don’t blame you.”

He called the maid outside, “Chun Ying, help Madam go back.”

The maid at the door lifted the curtain and came in, helping Xiao Min up.

Xiao Min leaned on the girl, walked two steps, and turned back: “I just heard that your cousin, the prince, is back. If you feel bored in the house, go find him and play.”

Su Chen nodded: “This son knows.”

 

Mrs. Chen sent Lian’er to check several rooms one last time, and nothing was left behind.

As soon as she came out of the house, Aunt Liu came up to her with a smile: “Are you moving there now? How far is the new house from here?”

Mrs. Chen also smiled: “Not far, less than a mile away, you should go and take a look when you are free.”

Aunt Liu clapped her hands: “I am free now, I will go with you to take a look, just in time to get to know the door, so that it will be easier to move around in the future.”

Mrs. Chen smiled and said: “That’s right, it’s not far away, it’s just like before, it’s almost like living in the same village.”

Aunt Huang came over: “Then I will go to join in the fun.”

The Eldest Aunt also came over: “I will take a look at the new house too.”

Mrs. Chen also smiled: “That’s great, let’s go together. ”

The women of each family were also interested, and a large group of people followed her out of the door and headed for the courtyard.

In less than a cup of tea, everyone arrived at the gate of the courtyard.

There was a shiny copper lock on the gate.

Gu Zhang stepped forward to open the door with the key and pushed open the gate.

The ground was paved with stone slabs, and two rows of bamboo were planted along the courtyard wall on both sides.

Gu Erlang walked in front with a lantern. Everyone looked at the front yard first and praised it one by one.

Then he entered the second gate.

There were two large vats on the left and right of the courtyard, with water and a few remaining lotus leaves.

The yard was also paved with stone slabs, clean and tidy. There was no dust.

After entering the house, they saw the furniture in the main hall was still there, with the armchair, table, and flower table arranged neatly.

After looking at the main hall, Mrs. Qian was impatient, took the lantern from Gu Erlang, and went into the main room to see the bed in the main room.

This bed was also a step-out bed, like a small room, with a cabinet on one side of the bed and a small table on the other. But it was not as exquisite as in Young Master Su’s house, without gold and lacquer, and no such complicated carvings.

Mrs. Qian breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that she had won.

Everyone admired the place, so Mrs. Yu said enviously: “Second Sister-in-law is so lucky, people like us can’t live in such a house in our lifetime.”

Aunt Huang was also full of envy.

Just for this yard, she felt that her family could not be compared with Gu Zhang’s family, and her son could not afford Gu Fei.

Mrs. Chen laughed happily and said: “I am enjoying the blessing of my daughter. This is all earned by my Xiao Fei without spending a penny! ”

Everyone started to compliment Gu Fei, and Mrs. Chen felt comfortable and relaxed.

Only Mrs. Qian frowned and felt sour. She had three daughters, but why didn’t any of them become as successful as Gu Fei?

She couldn’t help but turn her head and glared at Xing’er next to her.

Xing’er understood her mother’s thoughts instantly and rolled her eyes: What does it have to do with me? Go find your elder sister and the second sister! I don’t see that they treat you well!

Everyone looked around the house and left when they saw Mrs. Chen and the others still had to put things away.

Before leaving, Mrs. Qian glanced at Lian’er and said sourly: “I see someone has a plan. She might have known people would be a young lady, so she sold herself readily.”

Humph, if it weren’t for me, Lian’er wouldn’t have been able to enjoy such a blessing!

These words moved Mrs. Chen’s heart.

When their family settles, they must set a rule for the future.

A maid was a maid. She can’t let people act like they did when they fled from famine. There was nothing she could do then.

Lian’er was a well-behaved and hardworking girl. She was devoted to Gu Fei, so she was satisfied with Lian’er.

But Lanzhi——

Don’t think she didn’t see Gu Erlang’s thoughts, but she couldn’t say it on the way.

 

Gu Zhang opened his mouth, wanted to say something, and then lowered his head dejectedly.

The Eldest Uncle then left.

The rest of the people also left in a sullen mood.

Gu Zhang sat in the main room in a daze.

It’s not that he didn’t want to help his brothers and his brother-in-law, or everyone. How could he not want to help?

But what can he do? He really can’t help!

Gu Fei was silent in the room.

Her thoughts were similar to her father’s.

If she could help, she would naturally help.

Not to mention, her eldest uncle and aunt, her younger uncle and aunt were also very good to her.

But her ability was also very limited. She had to rack her brains to think of planting chili.

Mrs. Chen opened the door at this time and said to Gu Zhang, who was still in a daze: “Husband, are we going to move?”

Gu Zhang sighed and waved his hand: “Let’s move.”

All the people in the Gu family immediately took action, and the eldest, second, and third sons went in and out to get things.

Gu Zhang glanced at the old lady’s door and hesitated for a moment.

What should he do with his mother?

He was annoyed that his mother was always looking for trouble. Especially, she liked to scold Gu Fei. If he took her to live with them, the old lady would be happy, but his family would be in turmoil.

But if he didn’t take his mother with him, his mother would eat coarse grains with his eldest brother every day, while he would eat white flour every day, which was a bit too much.

Gu Zhang hesitated at the door for a long time and finally gritted his teeth and walked in.

Old Lady Gu sat by the bed, listening to the noise outside with a gloomy face.

Gu Zhang suddenly walked in and said with a smile: “Mom, I’m moving over now. I’ll take you over when I’m free. If there’s anything delicious, I’ll send Dalang to bring it to you. Please take care of yourself.”

Old Lady Gu looked at him blankly and slowly shed tears: “I know you hate me. Ever since Xiao Fei came back, your family has been looking down on me.”

“I know, you all still blame me for selling her back then.”

“But if I hadn’t sold her, would she be where she is today? If I am a black-hearted person, I would sell her to a brothel!”

“No matter how capable she is, didn’t she learn it in the Marquis’ Mansion?”

Gu Zhang’s forced smile disappeared, and he said lightly: “Mom, do you still speak this?”

“No matter how capable Xiao Fei is, it has nothing to do with the Marquis’ Mansion.”

“Isn’t there the young lady from the Marquis’ Mansion? What can she do? What did she do? Can she compare to Xiao Fei’s toe?”

In Gu Zhang’s heart, no one in the world can catch up with his daughter.

“Forget it, I don’t want to talk about these things anymore. To be honest, I don’t want you to move with us.”

“It’s not that I can’t support you, nor that I don’t want to support you, but if you move with us, there will be a lot of noise all day long, and there will be no peace at home.”

Old Lady Gu was very angry, and pointed at Gu Zhang with a trembling hand: “You, you, you can say such unfilial words, you just forget your mother after getting a wife!”

Gu Zhang shook his head: “I told you all this just because I hope you won’t make trouble in the future, and the family can live in harmony.”

“If you insist on saying that I am unfilial, then I am unfilial. You can scold me however you want, but I still have a big family, and I can’t give up this big family for you, Mother.”

Gu Zhang knelt and kowtowed: “Take care, mother, we live not far away, I’ll come to see you when I have time.”

After Gu Zhang finished speaking, he got up from the floor and turned away.

Old Lady Gu pointed at the door with a trembling hand, but the door was empty, and there was no one in sight.

Old Lady Gu suddenly felt that the room was empty and cold.