Chapter Thirty-Nine: Preparations

  Liu's face became increasingly rigid, and by the end, her complexion was deathly pale. She glared at Qiao'er with a ferocious gaze, as if she wanted to devour her whole. This little slut has been trying to cling to Master for so long, and now she's even managed to bribe Second Madam into speaking on her behalf!

  Qiao's heart skipped a beat as she stood in front of Liu Rong, her face pale with terror.

  The second grandma looked at Liu Dainai with a hint of puzzlement: "But isn't this idea of mine not good?"

  Grandma Liu forced a smile: "No, it's fine. My sister-in-law has just finished removing the stitches and is tired too. I won't stay here for long, I'll come visit you another day."

  As she spoke, Liu Dainai got up and walked out, but Qiao'er hurried to follow her, only to be stopped by a fierce glare from Liu Dainai, which made her fall back.

  Liu Rong returned to her residence and began drawing the sample, first not mentioning that using a brush to draw was not handy, wasting several sheets. Later, when it became handy, there were too many types of paper to be drawn, and one afternoon was not enough to consume them. So, she came back the next day, and it was still like this, struggling back and forth. Finally, in order to rush through the drawings, she didn't go to the Zhong family's place for two days, only sending Dong'er to the Buddhist hall to attend to Mrs. Zhong, letting her accompany Mrs. Zhong and return later.

  That evening, Liu Rong lit the oil lamp herself and then stretched her fingers to relieve the numbness.

  Looking at the stack of finished drawings on the table, Liu Rong couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile. She didn't expect that after all these years, her amateur foundation in traditional Chinese brush painting hadn't been lost. In fact, she had previously underestimated her own talent for drawing and was able to complete everything needed within just one day, even labeling the dimensions.

  She had drawn out the blueprint, but its accuracy was insufficient because she had only seen the physical appearance of these instruments and equipment, not their blueprints.

  Fortunately, they are all relatively simple things. Even if there is an error, it should be fine. The only concern is that these errors will make the materials difficult to shape. I just hope the craftsmen here can do it.

  After all, in this way, she had the opportunity to get the original strain of penicillin-producing mold.

  "Is Third Miss in?" Just as Liu Rong was admiring her own handiwork, she heard a maid's voice from outside asking. Liu Rong slightly furrowed her brow, for she had long been neglected within the manor and it was rare for anyone to come looking for her at this hour.

  "Isn't Third Miss around?" After a long while, Liu Rong finally responded, and the maid outside couldn't help but ask another question.

  Liu Rong thought for a moment and responded with a "yes" towards the outside, lest the people outside see that she didn't respond and rush in.

  As soon as Liu Rong responded, a maidservant in a crimson jacket with a small step quickly walked in, saw Liu Rong and smiled and bowed: "The slave has seen the third young lady."

  Seeing the confusion in Liu Rong's eyes, it was clear that she didn't recognize herself. The little maid was obviously a sensible one and quickly spoke up to Liu Rong: "Third Miss may not have seen me much, so you don't remember me. I serve Second Young Master, and he sent me over to ask you something - are you also going with the Grand Lady to attend the celebration of the birth of the eldest grandson of the Duke of Wei Bei tomorrow?"

  Liu Rong raised an eyebrow. She had never been in contact with the second young master of the mansion, Liu Bo, so why was he suddenly interested in asking about her?

  But thinking that it was the madam who brought everyone together, she didn't respond now and would meet again tomorrow, at which point it would be even more awkward. So Liu Rong nodded to the little maid.

  "Thank you, Third Miss. I'll go back and report to Second Master now." The little maid got an answer from Liu Rong, showed a big smile of gratitude, thanked her and then turned around and left.

  It came suddenly and left quickly. So Liu Rong didn't take this matter to heart either.

  It was probably because of the fatigue from drawing that Liu Rong didn't know what time Dong Er came back at night, and it wasn't until the next morning that she was woken up by Dong Er to get ready for washing.

  Xuan took the wet cloth from Dong Er's hand and wiped her face, only then did she come to herself. She saw Dong Er standing beside her, grinning foolishly, and couldn't help but be speechless: "So early in the morning, what's there to be so happy about, you're laughing like a fool."

  "Miss, didn't I tell you? I heard from Cui'er that after we left the other day, Big Madam came out of Second Madam's room and didn't even glance at Qiao'er. It's said that she was called into Second Madam's room, and when she came out, her face was all red and swollen." Dong'er exclaimed happily: "Our miss is still the most formidable, see if Qiao'er dares to bully us again!"

  Liu Rong lost her smile, and yet this one thing could still bring her so much joy for so long.

  Just then, a maid came in and delivered the lady's words, telling her not to dress as she usually did today, but to wear something more dignified.

  Dong Er's face tightened and he stopped chatting with Liu Rong. He hastily went to the cabinet, took out a lock, and retrieved a trunk for storing clothes.

  Before long, Dong Er took out a piece of purple brocade with embroidered crane cloak and finally showed a relieved expression. She walked up to Liu Rong's side, comparing the size of the clothes, but before she could smile, her smile had already frozen on her face.

  It's too small! This shirt is actually too small!

  Dong Er tossed the clothes to one side, took out another, compared them and found they were still small. She repeated this process until she had taken out all the clothes that she used to lock in her trunk and didn't dare to wear.

  Not a single one is suitable, Dong Er cried with a sad face, what to do, rarely can go to the Weibei Hou Fu, but there is no suitable clothes for guests to wear!

  Dong Er was flustered and hastily ran to fetch other boxes to rummage through.

  Liu Rong furrowed her brow: "No need to look anymore, the other trunks probably have even older clothes in them. Even if there are some good clothes, they're probably unwearable by now."

  "What can be done about it?"

  She glanced at the clothes hanging on the clothes rack and saw that in addition to the slightly faded clothes she had washed before, there was also a plain-colored brocade shirt made of ordinary fabric. She asked Dong Er to bring it over for comparison, and it fit perfectly: "Just this plain-colored brocade shirt will do, and later we can add a red festive headscarf."

  Can't help but say that Liu Dà Nǎi (Liu's grandmother) really took care of her, not even preparing clothes that were decent enough to go out and receive guests, didn't even bother with the most basic superficial work.

  She didn't know that in the past, whenever Liu Dà Nǎi went out, she would never take her with her, so naturally there was no need to prepare some clothes for her.

  "This... how can this be, the fabric of these clothes is not good at all!" Dong Er said with a sad face: "Miss definitely won't be able to go to the Weibei Hou Mansion, I heard that the eldest grandson of the Weibei Hou Mansion, San, will also attend, and some of the noble young masters from the capital will also go, and those ladies who get along with the madam and the big missus will all be there, maybe there will be a good marriage match..."

  Liu Rong's scalp was numb, did ancient people all have to mature so early?

  In two more months, her body will be thirteen years old, how big is that? If it were modern times, she would still be a little loli in elementary school!

  However, looking at Dong Er's dejected appearance, Liu Rong finally couldn't bear it and thought for a moment before whispering to Dong Er, who suddenly brightened up: "Miss, can we really do this?"

  "Why not? Hurry up and braid my hair for me. This time it's a Japanese-style bun, remember to tie some light-colored threads around the head."