Volume 1 Chapter 138: Three Steps Forward, Three Steps Back (Part 2)

  Chapter 138: Three Steps Forward, Three Steps Back (Part 2)

  "Mozi, do you believe in fortune-telling by facial features?" asked Qiu Sanniang more specifically.

  "Did Xiao Yi tell you that he met a fortune teller in Lu Jiao Xiang?" asked Mo Zi, "But did he say something unpleasant? Cen Er is worried that you won't like the place we bought and is anxious about it."

  "Well, if the fortune teller really said something bad, would you believe it?" asked Chou San Niang persistently.

  "I don't believe it." Meizhi replied resolutely.

  "Why not believe? The heavenly principle is cyclical, and everything has a fixed number in the dark. If it goes against it, wealth can become poverty, and fortune can become misfortune." Qiu San Niang believed. Although she knew that half of the fortune tellers were deceiving people, like most ancient people, in this underdeveloped scientific society, she still trusted more than doubted the divination or prophecies of the masters.

  "I don't believe in fortune-telling, but I do believe in the harmony of heaven, earth and human. Grandma, if you take a look at Lin's residence, you'll see that it's very suitable for Wang Qiulou. The location can't be judged from the main gate of Lin's residence, but rather from the back wall, which is the most prosperous area of Yuhefang." Mozi thinks that with some renovation and rearrangement, the so-called feng shui disadvantage will no longer exist.

  Qiu San Niang knew that Mo Zi thought the fortune teller said that the location of Wang Qiulou was not good, and she didn't correct him. She had a moment of slight doubt, fearing it was a trap set by Mo Zi, although the possibility was very low. Mo Zi was clever, but he was also very straightforward, even when she thought about opening a brothel before, he couldn't bear the idea. Moreover, the way Mo Zi dealt with Qiu San and Qiu Si, he felt that she was too ruthless. Therefore, it really didn't seem like something he would do to plot against her.

  After the first round of probing, Qiu Sanniang had completely dispelled this idea. Not to mention that Mozi couldn't even invite anyone to pretend, even if she really did, when asked like this, Mozi should have said it was true. Otherwise, she would also follow Mozi in not believing in fortune-telling, and the trick would be wasted. She was quite confident that Mozi was truly poor, and her expression was natural, without any sign of guilt.

  "Look, you're getting ahead of yourself. I didn't say that place was bad either. The silver has been spent, can we still get the money back from Qian Er?" When Jiang San Niang heard Hua Mei and Mo Yan talking outside, she stopped speaking.

  "Ah, our Mozi has finally returned to the door of Mojizhi's residence." Hongmei came in and saw that Mozi had already helped Qiu Sanniang get out of bed, and said with a smile.

  Compared with just now when she was with Qiu San Niang, Hong Mei is already much more lively, and it's also because of the way Mo Zi spoke to Qiu San Niang that influenced her.

  "Red Plum sister, don't say I'm not doing it for you, am I not making up for my mistakes?". Mu Zi and Qiu San Niang have a consensus on thoroughly pulling Red Plum into the team.

  "It won't work if you don't say it, by then we'll all have learned from you. Who else will be serving Grandma besides us?" Red Plum's words were playful, but still carried a hint of wanting to hear an explanation from Mozi. However, because she asked in this way, it didn't give the impression that she was relying on Da Ya's status.

  "Don't even mention it. The bookcase wasn't properly organized, with over ten cabinets of books just thrown together. I was stunned at first, and wasted a lot of time searching randomly. By the time I decided to start from the first row and search one by one, it was already past noon. With so many books, my head was spinning. To be honest with you, sister, if it wasn't for Second Master's kindness in sending these two books over through Lü Tong, I'd probably still be stuck in that bookcase right now." Half-true and half-false words are the hardest to debunk.

  "You're also unable to find your way back, if you can't return within half a day then forget it. Flipping through book after book, even in three days and nights, you won't be able to finish." Hongmei didn't look down on Mozi, nor did she look up to her.

  This has a direct connection with Mozi's usual low-key behavior.

  "That won't do." Qiu Sanniang chimed in, playing the bad guy, "Since she didn't accomplish what I told her to do, she'll have to continue for three days and three nights."

  "It's my fault, I forgot that grandma loves reading books." Hongmei said with a quick change in tone, "Mozhi, next time you go to the library, not only should you bring dry rations, but also a quilt."

  "Yes, sir." Muzi thought to herself, What's the big deal? As long as no one tidies up the book pavilion properly for a day, it's fine to spend the night outside?

  "How did you meet Second Master?" Jiang San Niang quietly smoked as she combed her hair.

  "Last night, a sudden heavy rainstorm came, and Second Master and the young servant went to the study to take shelter from the rain. Unexpectedly, I was there too. By the way, I also saw Second Master's two senior maidservants, one named Green Jade and the other Red Luo, both with excellent temperament."

  Mò zǐ smiled at Hóng Méi who was listening intently.

  "Grandma, you should also take Meizi out for walks from now on, so she won't be ignorant of things around the house. If she's clueless and offends Master or the young masters, that wouldn't be good." Hongmei said this with a very serious expression.

  Mei Zi Xiang, she just educated Bai He last night, but this morning she was taught a lesson. Is it considered a turn of fortune?

  "What's wrong? Did I say something incorrect?" However, she was willing to learn with an open mind.

  "You're absolutely wrong. Green Jade used to be the king's concubine's personal maid, but later she was given to Second Master and brought into the house. She has been by Second Master's side for three or four years now. Hong Luo is just like me, serving in front of Old Madame. It was Old Madame who made the arrangements, sending her to Weifeng Residence during the New Year. Although she hasn't officially entered the household yet, I've heard that she has already served Second Master. You say, these two are not even considered maids, they're practically half-mistresses! Especially Green Jade, since Second Master isn't married and doesn't have a second wife, she's in charge of all the matters in the inner courtyard. She's kind, capable, and tolerant, and the king's concubine loves her dearly. I'm guessing that once Second Wife enters the household, they'll promote Green Jade to be a concubine. As for Hong Luo, she's also a very clever and obedient person. Old Madame is afraid that Second Master will dote on... Ah, this is a lesson learned from Third Master. But Red Plum doesn't dare say this in front of Qiu San Niang. 'He's too fond of Green Jade, so when Second Wife enters the household, she'll be unhappy, therefore they sent Hong Luo in.'"

  Furrowed brow, thinking to herself, afraid that Sunzi will be overly indulged, so she sends more women to him, what kind of logic is this? In the future, won't that second wife be very innocent and pitiful?

  Hongmei said this, Qiu Sanniang had never heard of it before. "I only know that Second Brother has not yet married, but I didn't know he had two concubines, his good fortune is quite deep. However, why hasn't he gotten married until now? It's rare for a younger brother to get married before an older brother. Before I entered the household, I always thought Second Brother was already married."

  Hongmei thought for a moment and said, "The second master's marriage is decided by the emperor."

  It's either a princess or a county lady. Poor Xiao Er. Terms like "husband of a princess" or "husband of a county lady" are just euphemisms for being afraid of one's wife, a synonym for henpecked.

  "That's just great." Qiu Sanniang snorted, "In the future, this sister-in-law of mine will probably be a princess." No one was particularly happy about it. Everyone knew that marrying a princess wasn't a wonderful thing, but rather a very troublesome one. If she turned out to be spoiled, then it would be even more annoying. This kind of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law problem was the most difficult to deal with.

  "It could also be the county master." Obviously, Hongmei understood the relationship between benefits and harm, "However, the second master's marriage should have been settled in half a year. I don't know if the emperor has asked about the second master's opinion, anyway, the old lady asked the second master many times, but the second master refused to say. But the emperor values the second master, all the civil and military officials in the court know it. Being able to marry into the imperial family is also a blessing for our Jingwangfu."

  "That's also true." said Qiu Sanniang with a smile.

  Mozi suddenly thought of Mo Xiang's daughter from the Worry-Free Pavilion. If Xiao Erlang marries the princess, Mo Xiang can forget about her hopes for this life and the next. Even being a nameless, low-ranking red-clad confidante might be difficult. Looking at it now, Green Jade Red Luo's appearance is not outstanding either; perhaps it's also because they're afraid that in the future, the noble second madam will become violently jealous.

  "Mozi." Qiu Sanniang called her.

  Purple circle.

  "Hongmei mentioned bringing you to meet people, and it's really a coincidence. A few days ago, Yuxiang asked me about you, saying that after I married into the family, she hadn't seen you by my side. On Yuxiang's birthday, Mother said we'll set up several tables for celebration, if I bring you along, then we won't need to prepare gifts." Qiu San Niang couldn't keep Mozi hidden forever.

  Purple ink is also clear, and it's obedient to say so.

  Nothing else happened that day.

  The next day, now serving as a maid for Qiu San Niang, Duo no longer had to take turns on duty with Mo Zi and was locked in the woodwork room to do chores. She was currently playing, having already extended her model to the entire Yong Gu Zhai. With her head down, she was carefully assembling a nine-turn bridge when she felt someone enter.

  "Xiao Yi told me that you've been staying in your study lately. I didn't know you'd already finished." The voice of Qiu San Niang was languid and drawling.

  "Grandma, when did you become interested in my woodworking room? You've always disliked the noise and avoided coming near."

  Qiu San Niang didn't respond, she bent down and carefully examined the exquisite little house and corridor, then her slender fingers picked up a lotus-picking boat from under the bridge, her apricot-like eyes sparkling brightly.

  "Mozhi, can you build a ship?" Start the second exploration.

  "Grandma, I won't build a ship, I'll just draw calabashes." Mozi's left hand nimbly stuck on piece after piece of bridge board, folding and unfolding, presenting a wonderful scene.

  "How can you not know how to build a boat? Isn't this what you do?" Jiang Sanniang placed the lotus-picking boat in front of Mozi.

  "This is what I did, but it's just a semblance. Just like this house, this corridor, they look exactly the same as the real thing, but if you ask me to build a real house, I won't be able to." Mozi expressed a different view.

  "How did you know that wouldn't work? I'd say it's bound to. If the mold can be so similar, then of course it can also be made." The boat is the same, can be made too.

  "Grandma thinks so highly of me, if you say it's okay then it's okay." Mozi neither confirmed nor denied, "Also, who knows, if we can get the proportions and size right."

  Qiao San Niang smiled with some satisfaction, "If you can build a house, then building a small boat is even easier."

  Mozi blinked her eyes and said, "Grandma's mood is really good today. However, if you insist on praising me as a reincarnation of Lu Ban, even with the thickest skin, I would still feel embarrassed to accept."

  "As long as it's wood, it can float, so building a boat is naturally simpler than building a house." Qiu Sanniang was completely clueless, not understanding in the slightest.

  Not all wood floats, and even if it does, it's not necessarily suitable for building ships. Mozi didn't want to bother explaining, so he just smiled and dropped it.

  "Mozhi, I'll let you take charge of the shipyard at Hongyuan Bay, how about it?"

  After asking, Qiu San Niang quietly waited for an answer.

  Today's second update, 3000 words, also a bonus update for fans.

  Next double update at 9:00 PM

  Thank you all!

  Chapter 138: Three Steps Forward, Three Steps Back (Part 2)

  Chapter 138: Three Steps Forward, Three Steps Back (Part 2)