Hearing these words, Yue Tingfang’s mouth fell open in surprise.
He had thought Yue Ruxue was just throwing a childish tantrum and that it would be over in a few days. He never expected her to harbor such thoughts.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"I’m not talking nonsense, I’m serious. I don’t even mind if he takes a concubine first, what more do you want from me?" Yue Ruxue said with a face full of grievance.
"You’re crazy." Yue Tingfang slapped a book on the desk with a smack, causing Yue Ruxue to step back in fright.
But she still held her chin high, her face defiant.
"Ayan wants to marry someone of equal social status, do you match up to him?" Yue Tingfang chided.
"What does equal social status mean?" Yue Ruxue blinked, looking utterly clueless.
"He has no parents, he’s a lone soul, he should find a wife who is also parentless and alone. If you want him to take a fancy to you, wait until your mother and I are dead," Yue Tingfang said in a fit of pique.
"What?" Yue Ruxue’s face was a picture of shock.
So he has this kind of peculiarity.
No wonder then, Gu Youyou really is without parents.
"Hmph, the older you get, the less sense you make. Starting tomorrow, you are not allowed in the barracks. Go home and practice your embroidery properly. Get out quickly, you’re making me irritable just looking at you."
Yue Tingfang shooed her out like he was chasing away a fly.
"Father!" Yue Ruxue was extremely depressed; it was only then that she remembered she had come to see him because of the New Year.
"I asked if Brother Zijin will be spending New Year’s at our house?"
Yue Tingfang said, "I haven’t asked him yet. Hey, what does it have to do with you? Even if he does come, it will be with Doctor Gu, so you might as well forget about it."
Yue Ruxue paused for a moment, then hurriedly backed out.
Very well then, come together, just when I was looking for an opportunity to deal with you.
The New Year was approaching, and according to the customs of her past life, Gu Youyou planned to take a seven-day holiday.
As a hospital, it should normally have someone on duty, but since Jisheng Hall was staffed only by her and Banxia, they decided to forgo duty and just closed the doors.
The past few months had brought in a decent income, so Gu Youyou gave Banxia an additional month’s salary, saying, "Here, this is your year-end bonus. Plus, I’m giving you seven days off, go home and have a good time with your family!"
"Ah, so much?" Banxia was startled and delighted, saying, "Sister Youyou, you already pay me five silver pieces a month, which is a lot, how can I accept more... "
"Silly girl!" Gu Youyou tapped her on the forehead and said, "You’re the first employee I’ve ever seen who thinks they are paid too much. Five silver pieces a month might be too much for just preparing and dispensing medicine, but you live here at Jisheng Hall, help me cook, clean the house, and do all sorts of maid’s duties, so the money is not too much at all. Just take it, it’ll also help you buy something nice for your family, impressing them."
Impressing them, Banxia was slightly taken aback.
Indeed, she needed to impress.
Ever since the day she got married and her husband had an accident, she had been living like a shadow of her former self.
She used to be so proud, literate, knowledgeable in medicine, and skilled in accounting, surpassing all the girls in eight neighboring villages.
But since that incident, as high as she had held her head before, was as hard as she fell afterwards.
She became the unbearable bad luck charm everyone avoided, destined to not marry again in this life, dependent on her family to support her. So while she was young, she worked hard, hoping that her brother would treat her kindly in old age for the tough work she did when she was young.
Impressing them, she had never thought in her life that she would have a chance to do anything but bring shame to her family.
Looking at the additional five silver pieces in her hand, Banxia was close to tears.