The next day, mid-afternoon.
The blazing sun was like fire, making the narrow village paths hard and scorching, the cicadas among the branches scread harshly, and the haystacks on the ridges of fields emitted a dry, fragrant scent.
Hua Xiaomai and Old Lady ng hurried out from the small eatery and made their way back to the ng family’s eastern courtyard in the village. As soon as they entered, they went straight into the room and brought out the things they had prepared the night before to take to ng Yuhuai.
"Mother, are you really not coming with ?" Standing in the courtyard, Hua Xiaomai called out to Old Lady ng’s room. The next mont, her forever-ill-tempered mother-in-law staggered out.
"What for? In this sweltering heat, I can’t be bothered to wander around. A single move and I’m drenched in sweat. Better to stay ho where it’s quiet. Besides, I can’t talk sense with you and don’t feel like wasting my breath!"
"You better think it through," Hua Xiaomai said with a beaming smile, revealing her pearly white teeth. "Don’t you have sothing you want to buy? If you co with today, whatever you buy, I’ll pay for it. But if you go another day by yourself, you’ll have to pay on your own! Also, don’t you want to go see Yuhuai?"
This argunt seed to hit ho, and Old Lady ng showed a hint of hesitation on her face. However, after thinking it over, she still raised her eyebrows and said in irritation, "What do I need to see him for? My standing in front of him would probably just be an eyesore! Can’t you just leave quickly and let have so peace for once?"
She pondered for a bit and then asked, "Are you coming back tonight?"
The issues between this mother and son weren’t solvable overnight, and pushing the matter now would likely only irritate Old Lady ng. Hua Xiaomai gave up pressing and shyly lowered her head, "Then, if you’re not going, I’ll just..."
"So you’re not coming back tonight, is that it? You are rightfully my son’s wife, visiting him and staying the night is quite normal, isn’t it? What’s with this hesitant and unsatisfying attitude?" Old Lady ng glanced at her disapprovingly. "Better if you don’t co back. The two of you hardly see each other as frequently as once in ten days or a half-month. If this continues, when will I be able to hold a grandchild? Hurry up and go."
While she spoke, she hastily grabbed a newly woven straw mat and stuffed it into Hua Xiaomai’s arms before pushing her towards the door.
Unable to decide if she should laugh or cry, Hua Xiaomai repeatedly told her to bolt the door at night and not to wander around after dark, then she left the house, burdened with bundles.
That day, it was Great Saint who accompanied her. As they entered the city gates of Fuzhe County, they split up. Great Saint headed straight for the market, while Hua Xiaomai went directly to Lianshun Escort Agency. As she stepped through the large black lacquered gate, she imdiately saw ng Yuhuai standing under a tree, talking to a young man.
Surrounded by "sister-in-law is here" greetings coming from all directions, ng Yuhuai turned around as he heard the calls, and upon seeing Hua Xiaomai, a slight smile rose on his lips. He said in a deep voice, "How did you get here? Alone?"
Lifting higher the things in her hands, Hua Xiaomai deliberately spoke up, "Your mother is worried about you and sent so clothes and food. It was Great Saint who ca with , he went to the market to help the small eatery buy a bullock cart. He’ll head straight back later, so I ca over here." When he approached, she imdiately lowered her voice, narrowed her eyes, and said, "What, can’t I co? You not coming ho for seven or eight days, and I’m not allowed to co see you? If you don’t like it, then I might as well leave!"
ng Yuhuai laughed her off with a "stop fooling around," took the things from her, exchanged a couple more words with the young man, and then leisurely led her to the back courtyard. He opened the door to the innermost room and stepped in.
This row of rooms, built along the wall, must have been initially constructed by Lianshun Escort Agency to accommodate the Escort Masters whose families lived out of town. The room wasn’t big, and naturally, it couldn’t compare to the comforts of ho, but fortunately, except for the cook Zuo Jinxiang, everyone else in the Escort Agency was a man who wasn’t too picky about living conditions, so it was just about bearable.
As soon as Hua Xiaomai entered the room, she grumbled, placed the items on the table, and showed them to ng Yuhuai one by one, saying, "Here, I brought you so wine-marinated at. I always see you going for it when we’re at ho, so you must like it. I got extra so you can share with the others. I wanted to make so fresh food to bring as well, but with the weather so hot, it might spoil on the way and cause trouble. This stuff will keep."
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