Chapter 68: Chapter 40: The Innocent and Lively Meizi (2)

Zhang Huai explained sheepishly, “I don’t know what’s wrong with Yangzi, but he’s been feeling under the weather the past couple of days and has a fever. My mom made him some plain rice porridge, but he complained it was bland and said he’s craving the spicy pickled cabbage you make!”

Juhua said softly, “That’s no problem. Come back for more when you run out. Just remember, don’t put any oil in it!”

Zhang Huai nodded. “Got it!” After saying that, he glanced at her one more time before leaving.

Meizi shouted from outside, “Huai Zi, I thought you came just to bring us beef, but it turns out you’re trading it for spicy pickled cabbage! Hee hee!”

Zhang Huai ignored her and strode away.

Juhua had Meizi stay for lunch. Although Meizi had already eaten at home, she couldn’t resist the temptation of Juhua’s cooking and ended up eating a lot more. She was so stuffed she had to walk several laps around the courtyard before she started to feel better.

Her mother came down the mountain to call her home, but Meizi said with childlike charm that she wanted to play a little longer. So Gou Dan’s mother let her be and headed home first by herself.

Meizi saw that Zheng Changhe was in the kitchen tending to the pig’s head meat, leaving only her and Juhua in the courtyard doing needlework. She sidled up to Juhua mysteriously and whispered, “Liu’er is engaged! To Mr. Tang from Xiatang Market!”

Juhua rarely did needlework, but thinking about how sensitive she was to the cold, she decided to make a small, padded vest for herself. She found an old piece of her brother’s clothing that he couldn’t wear anymore and altered it into a small vest, leaving an opening along the edges of the front and back panels to be stuffed with cotton once her mother returned with some.

She was sewing with intense focus when she suddenly heard Meizi’s words. It took her a moment to process them, and she stared at her in surprise.

Meizi sighed and repeated, “Liu’er is going to Xiatang Market to be a concubine.” Her tone was sullen, and she was clearly very upset.

Juhua saw the hopeful look on Meizi’s face as she stared at her with wide, innocent eyes, and couldn’t help but chuckle. ’Does she really think I can help Liu’er?’

Seeing that Juhua wasn’t speaking, Meizi could only sigh again. “I know you don’t like to meddle in other people’s business. This isn’t something little girls like us can do anything about, anyway. I just wanted to talk to you about it. Liu’er is just so pitiful! You don’t know… the day our two families were fighting, I went to see her, and she was crying her heart out. But now? She doesn’t say a word, doesn’t even seem sad. She’s just… vacant, like a mute. It’s heartbreaking to see her. I don’t know what her mother is thinking. Is Liu’er not her own flesh and blood?”

’That’s hard to say,’ Juhua thought. ’Maybe Liu’er’s mother is dead set on marrying her into a wealthy family precisely because she loves her daughter and thinks this is what’s best for her.’

Meizi didn’t mind that Juhua remained silent—she knew Juhua wasn’t a big talker. She just continued on her own, “Liu’er really likes your brother, you know. She has since they were little kids.”

Juhua finally spoke, her voice soft. “Meizi, you can’t say things like that from now on. You have to keep it buried deep inside. If someone overheard, it could be the death of Liu’er, and my brother would get dragged into it too.”

Meizi nodded again and again. “I know! That’s what I told Liu’er, too. That day, she insisted on going to see your brother. I wanted to talk her out of it, but she looked so pitiful that I just let her go. Who knew her mother would start such a huge fight later? You have no idea, I was scared to death!”

Juhua sighed deeply. ’No one could help Liu’er out of this predicament. Her own parents created it, so who could possibly interfere? My own family has a mountain of troubles. What right do I have to pity anyone else? In Meizi’s eyes, I’m probably just as pitiful.’

Meizi added, “I went to see Liu’er once, and Liu’er’s mother seemed really unhappy about it. I asked my mom why, but she didn’t say. After that, she wouldn’t let me go back.” Here, she lowered her voice. “I think her mother has her locked up in the house. She can’t even step out the front door!”

Her face was a mixture of disbelief and fear, as if she found it terrifying that a mother could do such a thing to her own daughter.

Juhua fell silent for a moment, pondering. ’Did the things I said to Liu’er’s mother that day make her worry? Is that why she’s put Liu’er under house arrest before the wedding, to stop her from causing a scandal?’

’Still, I can’t really blame myself. The situation that day left me no room to back down. If I hadn’t shut Liu’er’s mother down, who knows how far she would have taken things? My brother is too kindhearted; he couldn’t bear to hurt Liu’er, but I couldn’t worry about that. Besides, I only spoke to Liu’er’s mother in private, not in front of everyone!’

The topic was too heavy, so Juhua changed the subject. “There’s nothing we can do to help with Liu’er’s situation. But you, Meizi, you seem so happy. Your mother really dotes on you!”

At this, Meizi giggled happily. “Oh, that’s for sure! My mom adores me. Gou Dan, that little rascal, still gets spankings, but my mom has never laid a single finger on me. Your mom dotes on you too, Juhua. And your brother dotes on you most of all. You used to be so timid when you were little. You wouldn’t even dare answer me when I spoke to you. You’re much better now.”

Juhua smiled but didn’t answer. ’Anyone with a face like this would feel insecure, wouldn’t they? Outsiders could never understand the pressure that little girl was under. When I first woke up, I was heartbroken, too.’

The two chatted idly for a while longer, then Meizi gave her a pleading look. “Juhua, I was hoping to get some more of your spicy pickled cabbage. I tried to make some myself the day before yesterday, but it wasn’t nearly as good as yours. My parents and Gou Dan wouldn’t even touch it. I don’t think I’ll bother making it again. If you give me some more, I’ll make you a few pairs of shoe insoles in return!”

Juhua chuckled at Meizi’s adorable expression as she frankly admitted her craving. “Alright, you said it, not me,” she said softly. “I haven’t even brought myself to use the insoles you gave me last time. The flowers you embroidered are so beautiful, it’d be a waste to just stuff them in my shoes.”

Meizi’s eyes widened dramatically. “Oh, for goodness’ sake! You silly girl! What are insoles for if not to put in your shoes? If you’re not putting them in your shoes, what are you going to do, put them on display?”

Juhua pursed her lips in a small smile. “Wouldn’t that be a waste? I was planning to put them in my new shoes. My old pair is about to fall apart. My mom made me a new pair—she just has to attach the upper to one of them—and then your mom brought another pair today, so now I have two new pairs of shoes.”

Meizi smiled. “My mom heard you get cold easily, so she put a thick layer of cotton inside. I guarantee they’ll feel warm when you wear them. Say, Juhua, why are you so sensitive to the cold? Feel your hands—they’re ice-cold!”

As she spoke, she grabbed Juhua’s small hand with her own warm, soft ones. She cupped them together to warm it, muttering over and over how it was too cold and she couldn’t stand it.

*****

A humble request for your votes, dear readers.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep