~ GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY ~
Mu Yunyao looked at the table that Li Munian was pointing to her. Because the people of the whole city gathered here, so there was no need to pay too much attention to the rules. There are only two tables next to each other, one for men and the other for women.
Su Qing nodded her head. “We’ll follow along.”
Lady Zhou affectionately held onto Su Qing’s arm, “Does Madam Su have any restrictions to eat? I’ll repeatedly tell the people cooking below to pay extra attention to it.”
“Thank you for your concern, Madam. It’s already good enough for people in the countryside to have something to eat, so there’s nothing to avoid.” When Su Qing said this, her expression was extremely calm, causing Lady Zhou to hold her in high regard. If she could face up to look at her background so calmly, Madam Su’s mind was not ordinary either.
Mu Yunyao spoke, “A few days ago, the commoners sent over a lot of vegetables and fruits, and some people even tied up a few hens to our doorsteps. I’ve asked them to keep them in Jin Xiu Garden. It just happened to be delivered, so let’s have a taste of Baijiafan, too.”
Lady Zhou nodded her head repeatedly. “That’s good.”
Today, the entire Jingling City was bustling with noise and excitement. Many of the people nearby wanted to enter as soon as they heard the commotion. They had initially thought that the guard would stop them. However, they did not expect the guards to let them in and order them not to cause trouble inside the city.
However, they didn’t expect to be ordered by the guard not to cause trouble and let them enter the city.
Li Munian was extremely considerate. He contacted a few big grain merchants and sent over a lot of food, filling up several warehouses on the dock. However, he agreed on the terms and conditions that he would settle the bill for all the food the people received today. When the grain doesn’t use up, he will help the grain merchants sell the grain to other places.
The grain merchants were willing to accept this benevolent title. Thus, after a moment of consideration, they agreed. In this way, they would be able to repay the people in the city with extraordinary agility.
Those who were willing to take the food would go and register. After people have recorded information about themselves, they will be able to claim food according to the number of family members. If one’s family couldn’t eat all of the food, they could directly receive a silver tael equivalent to the food price, and they wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
Because there are too many people in the city, they were still making porridge this time, but the atmosphere was even more lively than at Laba Festival.
Everyone on the street has a smile on their faces. Many orphans and beggars took their bowls and found a corner where they could eat in peace. They were eating happily, and their faces had a few traces of anger. The hot porridge went down to their stomachs, and they were sweating profusely. They raised their sleeve and wiped it with a feeling of satisfaction.
Many beggars were hungry and scared. It was not easy for them to get a full meal, and after drinking a bowl, they carefully wanted to get another bowl of porridge. On one side, a young master dressed in luxurious clothing walked by, and seeing his eager look, he coldly snorted and poured the porridge in his hand into half of his bowl, then threw two copper plates over:
“If I can’t finish, I’ll give it to you. If you’re still not full after, I’ll find someone to buy two steamed buns. It’s not easy to make porridge. It’s been burning and simmering up till now! Don’t be too greedy.”
The beggar was stunned for a moment, and then he took the bowl and bowed, “Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, Young Master. Young Master kindness will definitely be rewarded.”
The well-dressed Young Master carried the half bowl of porridge and walked away, feeling extremely pleased with himself, “I am a kind-hearted person, hahaha!”
The officials in Jingling City looked at the surrounding scenes, and their minds were full of a myriad of thoughts.
Mu Yunyao sat with Su Qing, watching the scene around them, and a warm feeling flowed through her heart. The smile on her lips was faint, but it was exceptionally genuine.
Lady Zhou seemed to have sensed something. “This said that the world is peaceful and prosperous, but even in the Capital, it’s hard to see such a thriving scene today.”
Mu Yunyao withdrew her gaze, her gaze clear enough to see the end, “The human heart is kind, but it’s just that it lacks guidance. Today, it’s only igniting a little bit of kindness, but what we reap is a prairie fire.”
Lady Zhou was startled and turned her head to look at Mu Yunyao. With eyes filled with admiration, she said, “Miss Mu is indeed knowledgeable.” She couldn’t help but think of what Li Munian had said before. When a girl like Mu Yunyao, coming to Zhou’s family, they had really wronged her. She merely didn’t know how the Su family would treat their granddaughter. If they underestimated her in the future, I would definitely have a lot of fun looking at it.
They busied for the entire day, and it was only when the sky turned completely dark that the crowd gradually dispersed.
When Mu Yunyao and Su Qing returned home, the corners of their mouths still raised unconsciously. They felt that even though they had worked hard and tired today, they were still quite fulfilled. Coming to the parlor, Wen Mama and the others stood with their hands hanging by their sides.
Su Qing said, “We have more or less dealt with the matters in Jingling City and have finished packing up everything. So, let’s leave for the Capital tomorrow!”
Wen Mama nodded her head hastily. “Yes, the boats have already been arranged. If there’s anything Madam and Miss need to take away, feel free to tell them to load it tomorrow morning.” Although the Su family didn’t send someone in charge to take over, they still had to do something about their face, so they specially prepared a two-story boat, which was extremely luxurious.
Su Qing nodded, “Alright. Then Wen Mama, you guys should go rest early. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
“Yes.”
After leaving the parlor, Wen Mama couldn’t help but turn her head and happened to see Mu Yunyao talking against Su Qing.
Liu Mama followed her gaze and couldn’t help but secretly pout her lips. After she returned to Bu Xian Luo and closed the door, she said, “I really didn’t expect that Miss Mu would be able to earn that much silver by opening a small workshop and tea house. In total, it’s only been a year, but ten thousand taels of silver were thrown out just like that. It’s really very generous of her to say that.”
“The silver belongs to someone else, so naturally, you can spend it as you like.” Wen Mama’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
Liu Mama realized that her tone was too sour and quickly smiled. “Elder sister, don’t be angry. I was just casually saying it. Since Madam and Miss haven’t been to the Capital, they naturally don’t know that they have spent a lot of silver in the Capital. Now they have spent all their silver, and they earn enough reputation. But once they reached the Capital, wouldn’t they need to rely on the Su family to make up for it? It’s not easy for the Eldest Madam to take charge of the family...”
“It’s getting late. We still have to get up early tomorrow. Hurry up and rest.” After Wen Mama finished speaking, she immediately got up to wash her face.
Mother Liu was not amused. She could not help humming to herself: It seems like the Old Madam has quite a deep affection for her long-lost daughter and her granddaughter. Otherwise, this Wen Mama wouldn’t have protected them like this. She should have told the Eldest Madam in advance to prevent herself suffer losses in their mother and daughter’s hands.
On the last night before their departure, Mu Yunyao insisted on pestering Su Qing to sleep with her. Su Qing had no choice but to agree. The mother and daughter pair had finished washing their faces and were lying on the bed in their clothes. Mu Yunyao pulled Su Qing’s arm and rolled into it. “Mother, I can’t sleep.”
Su Qing did the same as she extended her arms to embrace Mu Yunyao, “Mother must have hugged a darling.”
“Didn’t mother say that I am a pampered girl? Now, I became a darling?” Mu Yunyao leaned on Su Qing and acted like a spoiled child.
“Mother is so casual, do you take it seriously? However, the skin on the face has not changed at all.”
“I feel like I’m following Mother. Who told me to care about you the most!”
“Good, you actually dared to plot against me. Mother is going to get angry.”
“Mother, don’t be angry. How about Yao’er will pinch her face to vent your anger?”
Awww... mother and daughter are adorable. 🥺
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