Chapter 243 Twenty taels of silver

The cold wind, which had calmed down for two days, suddenly began to howl.

The house was very quiet.

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were sitting on the couch playing chess.

Xue Baochai, in contrast to her usual graceful and leisurely demeanor, picked up a chess piece and slammed it heavily on the chessboard.

Lin Daiyu glanced at Xue Baochai, who looked anxious, and laid out a piece. She said to Zijuan, who was standing by, “Send someone to check ahead.”

Before she could finish her words, footsteps were heard outside. Xiangling came in with a letter and bowed to Lin Daiyu: “Miss, this is a letter that your uncle asked his personal soldiers to deliver. It says that it is from the Xue family to Miss Bao.” Then she handed the letter over.

Xue Baochai was startled and snatched the letter from Xiangling’s hand. She hurriedly tore it open and read it. Then she clenched the letter against her chest and closed her eyes.

Lin Daiyu was also surprised and asked anxiously: “Sister Bao”

Ying’er was also anxious: “Girl, girl”

Xue Baochai slowly opened her eyes, a smile appeared on her face, and she said, “It’s okay, I’m just happy.”

Lin Daiyu seemed to understand something. She looked at the letter in her hand and said with a smile, “If you have any happy news, tell us and smile too.”

Xue Baochai smiled and said, “My brother has come out of the prison of the Infantry Yamen.”

Ying’er asked anxiously: “Is the master okay?!”

Xue Baochai nodded and continued, “Baoqin also broke off her engagement with the Mei family. The eldest master asked Zhu’s sister-in-law’s father, Li Shouzhong, the chief academician of the Imperial College, to be the middleman.”

Lin Daiyu: “Oh? The Mei family is so easy to talk to?!”

Xue Baochai was silent for a moment, then told the Xue family about the letter written by Mrs. Mei to threaten the Xue family.

Lin Daiyu was stunned at first, then shook her head. With such a mistress in charge, the Mei family would definitely not have a good ending.

At this moment, Qingwen came in excitedly, pulling Xueyan in with her: “Miss, Miss, go and have a look, there are so many prey.”

Lin Daiyu stood up and asked, “Is your Second Master back?”

Xueyan: “Second Master hasn’t come back yet.”

Qingwen: “Second Master has gone to fight for justice for someone.”

Xueyan: “It’s to seek justice for the people!”

Qingwen: “It’s all the same.”

Lin Daiyu frowned her beautiful eyebrows: “What’s going on?”

Xueyan: “It was said that a village woman stopped us on the road and complained.”

Qingwen: “Yes! A village woman stopped me on the road and complained.”

Xueyan: “I don’t know about the rest.”

Qingwen: “Young lady, go and have a look. The Second Master has hunted several black bears, some as big as this.” She made an exaggerated gesture and said, “There is also a tiger.”

Xueyan said hurriedly: “The tiger was in such a miserable state, it was killed by a musket, its body is full of holes and blood.”

After hearing this, Zijuan said to Lin Daiyu, “It’s very dirty. You’d better wait until the maids have cleaned it up before you go and see it.”

Lin Daiyu thought for a moment, sat down, and said to Xue Baochai, “Since everything is fine, stay here for two days and consider it as accompanying me.”

Xue Baochai hesitated: “I’m afraid this is not a good idea.”

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, “Then I’ll take it as your consent.” She then said to Qingwen and Xueyan, “You go and have a look. Ask them to prepare some of the fresh prey and treat Miss Bao to dinner tonight.”

Qingwen and Xueyan answered: “Yes!” and walked out.

Lin Daiyu: “Let’s sleep in the same bed and talk tonight.”

It’s hard to refuse such hospitality.

Xue Baochai smiled at her faintly, took a chess piece from the chess bowl and placed it down.

Lin Daiyu calmly made a move and said, “Send someone back to Beijing to tell my aunt that I am safe. Tell her that Sister Bao is here to keep me company for two days.”

Zijuan replied, “Yes,” and walked out.

Xue Baochai took out another piece and was about to place it when she suddenly remembered her previous idea. She couldn’t help but hesitate. Now that her brother Xue Pan had been released, should she still hand over all of the Xue family’s shares in the Chamber of Commerce to the Li family?
Lin Daiyu spoke: “Sister Bao?”

Xue Baochai came back to her senses and said, “Hmm.” Then she gently placed the chess piece.

At this time, Zijuan hurried back and whispered a few words in Lin Daiyu’s ear.

Lin Daiyu: “Since she is worried about her family, and we can’t let her go, tell Zhang Cheng to send someone to bring her family here.” After saying that, she gently placed a piece of cloth.

Both of them had something on their minds, and they talked to each other half-heartedly while playing another round of chess. The light in the room gradually dimmed.

Zijuan lit the lantern on the table and asked the maid to bring the brazier.

Xue Baochai glanced at the position where Lin Daiyu’s chess piece was placed, and then said with a smile, “I lost.”

Lin Daiyu looked at her and smiled, saying, “Sister Bao is deliberately giving in to me.”

Qingwen and Xueyan came in again.

Qingwen: “Miss, Granny Liu is coming to express her gratitude.”

Xueyan: “And her daughter.”

Lin Daiyu looked at them: “Grandma Liu? That village woman?”

Qingwen and Xueyan: “That’s her!” Lin Daiyu: “No need, just some medicinal herbs.”

Qingwen smiled and said, “Miss, there is another coincidence.”

Lin Daiyu: “What coincidence?”

Qingwen: “That Liu Laolao’s son-in-law is a distant relative of Second Madam Lian’s family.” Then she told Lin Daiyu the news she had heard from Liu Laolao.

Xue Baochai looked at Qingwen and then at Lin Daiyu. It seemed that the Li family didn’t like Mrs. Wang and were unwilling to even mention her name.

Lin Daiyu thought for a moment and asked, “Where is the person?”

Snow Goose replied, “Waiting over there on the bridge.”

Zijuan spoke up: “Did you run to the bridge?”

Xueyan quickly covered her mouth.

Qingwen said hurriedly, “We are wearing veils and hats.”

Lin Daiyu: “Okay, go and invite the person in.”

“Hey!” The two of them ran out like the wind.

Lin Daiyu stood up and said to Zijuan, “Please tidy up the living room.”

Zijuan: “Yes.”

Just when Lin Daiyu was meeting Liu Laolao, Li Hu came back.

In front of the gate of the manor, Li Hu, with a frosty face, sat on a big white horse.

A row of more than a dozen prisoner vans drove into the village, carrying the fat squire and others.

Then there was another sound of wheels coming, and the big carts were loaded with big boxes, which were all filled with confiscated property.

Li Hu had never thought that these people would be so vicious. They were greedy for money, but they also wanted to kill the people. Their hands were stained with blood, and their crimes were heinous. The Wanping County Magistrate, the trial records, and the confession had already been sent to Beijing.

When the last cart drove into the village, Li Hu squeezed his legs together and rode his horse to follow.

Here, Granny Liu and her daughter sat cautiously on the edge of the stool, talking to Lin Daiyu who was sitting at the top, and from time to time they smiled at Xue Baochai who was sitting on the guest chair.

The housekeeper’s wife who came with her was all there, standing on both sides of Lin Daiyu.

As they were talking, a report came from the maid outside: “The Second Master is back.”

Then the door curtain was lifted and Li Hu strode in.

All the wives and maids bowed and said, “Second Master.”

Lin Daiyu stood up and looked at him with a smile: “Are you done?”

Li Hu smiled and said, “I’m done.”

Xue Baochai had already stood up, bowed, and said, “Uncle!”

Li Hu smiled and nodded: “Miss Bao is here.” He then turned his gaze to Liu Laolao and her daughter who were already kneeling on the ground.

On the way here, she met Xiangling who was going to the kitchen and learned about the story of Liu Laolao and her daughter.

Granny Liu and Mrs. Liu: “I pay my respects to you, Master!”

Li Hu stretched out his hand and supported him: “Get up, get up and talk.”

Granny Liu and Mrs. Liu: “Thank you, Uncle!” They kowtowed in unison and then stood up.

Li Hu looked at Granny Liu with a smile. No wonder she looked so familiar. It turned out to be the famous Granny Liu. Hey, when I read a novel in my previous life, didn’t someone say that she lived in Tongzhou?

Granny Liu smiled and said, “It’s getting late, I won’t bother you anymore.”

Li Hu: “Let’s eat first before we go.”

“no, I’m fine”

Granny Liu waved her hands quickly and explained, “There are patients and children at home.”

Li Hu nodded.

Lin Daiyu said to a housekeeper, “Please send grandma off for me and my uncle.”

The housekeeper’s wife: “Yes.”

Li Hu suddenly remembered: “Give Granny Liu twenty taels of silver.”

Zijuan: “Yes.”

Granny Liu was stunned for a moment, then she fell to her knees and said excitedly, “Thank you, Uncle, for your grace!” Then she kowtowed three times.

Liu also knelt down and kowtowed.

Li Hu: “Help Granny Liu up.”

The housekeeper’s wife hurried forward and helped Granny Liu up.

At this time, Zijuan took out a bag of silver from the inner room.

Li Hu: “I won’t keep you here in vain. We’ll be here for the next two days, come and have a chat if you have nothing to do.”

Granny Liu and her daughter thanked him profusely, took the silver, and followed the housekeeper’s wife out.

(End of this chapter)