"Why do you have that expression? Am I a ghost?" Miss Chai sneered.
She cast a cold glance at the servant, nodded towards Li Yuzhu and the others, "You all come in with me."
She thought only Li Yuzhu was coming, but didn’t expect her to bring companions. Perfect, they could bolster her presence.
Li Xing’an rubbed his stomach, "We haven’t had breakfast yet. We’d like to go to the market for some snacks first."
"You’ve come to my house, and you think I’ll let you go hungry? Just say what you want to eat! We’re having a feast today, there’s plenty of good food." Miss Chai lifted her skirt and strode into the mansion.
"Then I won’t refuse." Li Xing’an immediately beamed.
Li Yuzhu was speechless, tugged at Li Xing’an’s sleeve, and whispered, "Third brother, be more reserved."
"She offered us food, I didn’t ask for it, this isn’t begging." Li Xing’an argued confidently.
Li Yuzhu chuckled in exasperation.
Mu Yuanxiu looked at the two of them, and couldn’t help but smile slightly.
They entered the Chai Family Mansion.
The busy servants in the yard were all surprised to see Miss Chai return.
Miss Chai couldn’t be bothered to deal with them, held her head high, and strode towards the back courtyard.
She glanced at Li Yuzhu and the others, "Let’s have breakfast first, then go see my second father."
This term was new to Li Yuzhu; she hadn’t heard it before.
Not understanding, she asked, "Miss Chai, who is your second father?"
"My stepfather. Since he’s also my second uncle, everyone made me call him father. I couldn’t, so I call him second father."
Her own father didn’t wrong her, yet she was forced not to call him father. This must have saddened and angered the girl, right?
After they went to the back courtyard, the servants in the front yard immediately gathered in threes and fives to chat.
"Miss Chai looks different; it’s only been a few days, and she seems like a different person."
"Yes, her complexion is much better."
"Her spirit has improved a lot too."
"What’s going on? It’s strange."
"Miss Chai will surely cause trouble when she returns; hurry, go inform the eldest young master!"
The last speaker was a steward in the mansion, instructing a servant.
The servant dropped the broom and ran towards the main room in the back courtyard.
The eldest young master Chai was startled upon hearing the servant’s report, "Chai Liang didn’t send her away?"
"I don’t know, sir. She brought three people with her." The servant replied.
"What kind of three people?" the eldest young master Chai asked again.
"Three young people, all around Miss Chai’s age, one woman, two men." The servant replied, adding, "By the way, Miss Chai said she wants to treat them to a meal. From their attire, they seem to be friends of Miss Chai."
The eldest young master Chai squinted slightly, three young people?
Where did third sister meet these people?
He nodded to the servant, "I understand, you may go back to your work."
Worried that third sister would cause trouble, the eldest young master Chai found the housekeeper, asking her to place a woman in front of Miss Chai’s room. She was to provide whatever food or items they needed but not to allow any of them to leave until the second sister’s bridal sedan chair was sent off.
The housekeeper, receiving these orders, promptly left to arrange it.
The eldest young master Chai scratched his forehead anxiously.
This third sister, will she never stop?
Miss Chai led Li Yuzhu and the others to the courtyard where she lived.
The courtyard was small, with only about ten square meters of open space, jasmine planted along the yard walls.
Inside were only three small rooms, and an old maid was sweeping the ground.
Seeing Miss Chai return, she was startled, "Miss Chai? Are you... better?"
"Yes, I’m feeling better. These are my three friends, and they haven’t had breakfast yet. Please bring some over." Miss Chai said, pointing to Li Yuzhu and the others.
"Ah, sure, sure. I’ll fetch it right away." The old woman put down the broom, patted her apron, and hurried off.
Entering the main room, Miss Chai let Li Yuzhu and the others sit by the table to wait for breakfast, then she went into the eastern bedroom.
Li Yuzhu looked around the house; these three small rooms were not even as good as those in the Chai family’s countryside home, which, though simply furnished, at least were spacious.
The rooms here had no luxurious furniture and were very narrow.
Judging by the decoration of the Chai family courtyard on their way, it was evident of the Chai family’s status. Who would have thought Miss Chai lived so humbly?
It was clear that Miss Chai truly led an unsatisfactory life.
Not long after, Miss Chai emerged holding a small lacquered red box.
One foot long, half a foot high, half a foot wide, with a lock on it.
She placed the box on the table, raised her brows at Li Yuzhu, "These things shouldn’t belong to me; I need to return them."
Li Yuzhu blinked, "What’s inside?"
"Mr. Luo’s gifts. Since he’s not marrying me, why should I keep them? Just to bring trouble?" Miss Chai sneered lightly.
Saying this, doing this, it seemed she’d let go, right?
Li Yuzhu nodded, "Indeed, they shouldn’t be kept."
"Third sister? Third sister?" The voice of the eldest young master Chai came from the courtyard gate.
The courtyard was small; he quickly walked into the main room.
Seeing Li Yuzhu and the others, he was momentarily startled, "It’s you?"
"Eldest Young Master Chai." Li Xing’an, the oldest among them, stood up first and cupped his hands in greeting to the eldest young master Chai.
The eldest young master Chai returned a slight bow and asked Miss Chai, "You weren’t recuperating in the countryside; why did you suddenly come back?"
"Second sister’s wedding, as her sister, shouldn’t I come to see her off?" Miss Chai raised her chin, speaking coldly.
"You..." The eldest young master Chai wanted to scold his sister, but seeing outsiders present, he suppressed his words.
"There are many guests and much going on at home today. Don’t wander around and be careful not to faint again. It’s your second sister’s big day; bringing a doctor would be improper. You’d better stay here and play. If you need anything to eat or play with, I’ll have someone deliver it." The eldest young master Chai spoke sternly, glanced at Miss Chai, and left, flinging his sleeves.
"Look, everything is about the second sister, never considering me." Miss Chai said angrily.
Seeing her face flushed with anger, seemingly about to faint if she continued, Li Yuzhu hastily held her wrist.
"Hasn’t it all passed? Since you’re back, you should expect these things, so why get angry again?"
"Soon you’ll have to face your second sister and Mr. Luo. What will you do? Faint in anger? You’re here to make a mark, not to be laughed at."
Miss Chai looked at her, took a deep breath.
"Right, I won’t get angry, won’t get angry." She smiled slightly, then thought of something, looked at Li Yuzhu and the others, "I have a favor to ask of you, help me with it, and I will surely reward you well."
Upon hearing the word reward, Li Xing’an, who was eager to make a fortune, was delighted, "What is it?"
"Help me get back my dowry, and I’ll share a commission with you."