dognovel Chapter 30 Master and Servant Meet Again
Chapter 30 Master and Servant Meet Again
Aunt Gui stepped forward and said,
“Young lady, Jiu’er said she went back to pack her things, but she’s been gone for quite a while and hasn’t come back yet. Perhaps she’s been delayed by something. This old servant will go and urge her.”
Qiao Qingshu panicked, remembering that in her previous life, Jiu'er had drunk poison and committed suicide the day before her funeral. She hurriedly said,
"Aunt Gui, please lead the way! I'm going to take a look!"
When they arrived at Jiu'er's room, they saw her holding a bowl of medicine, her eyes red from crying, about to drink it down her throat.
Qiao Qingshu rushed in, snatched Jiu'er's bowl, and slammed it against the wall.
The medicinal soup splashed everywhere, and the blue and white porcelain bowl shattered into countless pieces.
Jiu'er remained in the position of holding the bowl, tears streaming down her face. She stood there motionless, like a wooden doll.
Qiao Qingshu said seriously,
"Jiu'er, what foolish thing have you done!"
Jiu'er pretended not to understand, forced a bleak smile, and looked up, saying...
"Young lady, my throat hurts and I'm about to take some medicine."
Qiao Qingshu picked up the piece of paper wrapped in medicine powder from the corner, threw it in front of Jiu'er, and angrily scolded her.
"When did rat poison become a cure for sore throats?!"
Seeing that Qiao Qingshu had seen through her, Jiu'er stopped pretending and cried out with a dull and lifeless look in her eyes.
“Young lady, what’s the point of my life if my wife is dead? Let me go down and keep her company. She loves my Biluo Rose Tea.”
Qiao Qingshu felt a sharp pain in her heart.
"Didn't we allow you to return to the Bai residence?"
Jiu'er lowered her head and smiled helplessly.
“Why go back? My parents are long dead. If it weren’t for my wife’s pity, I would have died long ago. My wife is my second mother. Now that she’s dead, I have no hope left. Young lady, if you really care about me, don’t stop me.”
After saying that, he took out the remaining half packet of rat poison from his pocket and was about to pour it into his mouth.
Gui's mother hugged her tightly, and Gui's mother, perhaps also thinking of Bai Shi, cried out.
“Jiu’er, Jiu’er, we both regarded Madam as heaven and earth. Madam grew up on my milk. To put it bluntly, Madam was practically my own daughter. Now that she’s gone, my heart is broken. Jiu’er, Jiu’er, share half of your medicine with me. Let’s go down together and serve Madam, shall we?”
Then Gui's mother started fighting with Jiu'er over who got the rat poison.
The actions of the old woman and the child were utterly exasperating to Qiao Qingshu, who slammed her hand on the table and, unusually, lost her temper.
“Aunt Gui, Jiu’er is young and doesn’t know any better. Instead of trying to persuade her, she’s just making a fuss!”
Xia Zhi immediately rushed up and snatched the half-packet of rat poison from behind.
Jiu'er and Gui's mother were still crying in each other's arms, and no amount of persuasion could stop them.
Qiao Qingshu took several deep breaths before she could regulate her breathing.
She solemnly instructed Xia Zhi behind her.
"Help Jiu'er and Gui Mama pack their things, keep a close eye on them as they get on the carriage, and tie them up if they try to kill themselves."
Qiao Qingshu personally led the nine servants back to the Bai family. In order to keep an eye on Jiu'er and Granny Gui, the two of them rode in the same carriage with Qiao Qingshu.
The two carriages parted ways in the alley. The other seven people were taken back to the Bai family, while Qiao Qingshu's carriage headed towards the bamboo forest.
The journey became increasingly bumpy. When Aunt Gui saw how badly the bumps were, she lifted the curtain and was stunned.
"Young lady, this is not the way back to the Bai residence."
Qiao Qingshu lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Once they reached the depths of the bamboo forest, the carriage stopped in front of a manor.
When Aunt Gui lifted the curtain, she immediately saw Bai Shi sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun.
Startled, he stumbled and scrambled off the carriage, then ran away as fast as he could.
Jiu'er was surprised to hear Gui Mama crying and calling Bai Shi's name in the carriage. She peeked out and her eyes, which had been blank for many days, suddenly became bright.
She leaped down from the sedan chair and ran swiftly, even past Madam Gui, before collapsing and kneeling in Madam Bai's arms.
When Gui Mama arrived in front of Bai Shi, Jiu'er was already nestled in Bai Shi's arms, crying so hard that Bai Shi's clothes were soaked.
The three of them, master and servant, shed tears, and it took them a while to stop.
Seeing that Jiu'er's eyes and brows were bright and she had regained her usual spirit, Qiao Qingshu teased,
"Sister Jiu'er, are you still going to eat the rat poison or not?"
Jiu'er blushed and lowered her head, saying...
"Why would I eat that stuff for nothing? I still have to serve my wife."
Gui's mother happily held Bai's hand and wouldn't let go.
"Yes, this old servant will also stay with Madam and serve her for the rest of my life."
Upon seeing the two, Bai's usually calm face regained its warmth after many days, and she looked much better.
The quiet village became a bit more lively with the addition of the two people.
Qiao Qingshu talked with her mother for a while, telling Bai Shi everything that had happened in the Qiao family these days.
Bai's expression remained indifferent throughout.
Qiao Qingshu sat for a while longer, arranged accommodations for Jiu'er and Aunt Gui, and then prepared to leave.
Just as she was about to leave the courtyard, Bai called her back and led Gui Mama out.
Qiao Qingshu thought Bai Shi wanted to say goodbye, so she waved and said...
"Mother, there's no need to see me off. It's cold outside, go back inside."
But then Bai spoke up.
“Aunt Gui, please take this back.”
Qiao Qingshu was taken aback, thinking that Bai Shi didn't want Gui Mama to serve her.
But what she said next brought tears to Qiao Qingshu's eyes.
Bai Shidao,
"I'm useless as your mother, making you, a daughter, stand up for me. The Qiao family is a very complicated place. Aunt Gui has been by my side for many years. She is experienced and capable. I can feel more at ease if you stay by my side."
Since Qiao Qingshu began her plan to take revenge on the Qiao family, Bai Shi neither stopped her nor supported her, remaining indifferent throughout.
She even sometimes wondered if her mother only cared about her brother and had forgotten that she had a daughter.
She was pleasantly surprised at that moment, knowing that her mother had always cared about her and had always been concerned about her.
Bai reached out and grasped Qiao Qingshu's hand, then said,
"I've been too busy taking care of myself these past few years to pay much attention to you. But I still want to tell you that I love you and cherish you, and you will always be my daughter. Whatever you do, I will support you. Most importantly, you must take good care of yourself, okay?"
Qiao Qingshu's eyes were red-rimmed, her heart was warm, and she nodded.
Gui's mother walked firmly behind Qiao Qingshu, and after learning the truth, she stood even more firmly on Bai's and Qiao Qingshu's side.
If I could use my years of understanding of the Qiao family to help Qiao Qingshu take revenge on them, that would be the most satisfying thing ever!
Gui's mother said with a firm gaze,
“Young lady, Madam is right! The Qiao family is a deep and murky place. I’ve lived decades longer than you and have a much clearer understanding of the intricate relationships within the Qiao family. I’ll go back with you and protect you. We’ll definitely be able to deal with the Qiao family without them being able to fight back!”
Qiao Qingshu understood her mother's good intentions, nodded, and took Aunt Gui back to the Qiao family home.
On the day of the funeral.
Qiao Qingshu played music by lamplight in the early hours of the morning and didn't sleep a wink all night.
A sense of unease gradually rose in her heart; she would surely see her husband from her previous life, Xiao Chengyan, at today's funeral.