The more she spoke, the harder she cried. Her tears fell like pearls that had broken off from their string, leaving her clothes soaking wet.
"I wish my father would love me as much as he loves Shen Furong and I wish to see my mother cheerful every day. Even though she may seem cheerful and positive, she sheds her tears at night. These years have been hard for her, only I know..."
Cai Wei sat quietly by the side, letting Shen Juhua express her grievances and vent...
Over the years, she must have felt very repressed. A legitimate daughter, stepped on by a concubine’s daughter, the mother and daughter both had to live at the mercies of the concubine. The father, who should be their pillar of strength, only favors the concubine, making no distinction between his legitimate and illegitimate children, which have left the mother and daughter suppressed to the utmost. This feeling of betrayal by the closest ones, is definitely very painful, right?
Shen Juhua sobbed for a long while, until Dun Zhu came to arrange lunch. Gradually, she stopped crying. She took Cai Wei’s hand and said: "Cai Wei, you are truly a lifesaver to my mother and me. We will be forever grateful to you..."
With a strong fighting spirit, Shen Juhua left.
It was noon now, time for lunch. Cai Wei decided to take the two maids out for a meal. Considering that she had run into the annoying Mu Caiping on a certain street this morning, as soon as she left the inn, she headed in the opposite direction.
As she was walking, she heard the voice of Brother Ying.
"Master, I have delivered the letter!"
At that moment, Brother Ying was standing like a lord in the middle of a table filled with sumptuous dishes, tasting one by one. Mu Zhongqing was holding a comb, tenderly grooming its feathers.
The bird must have been very tired after flying back and forth between the Capital and Qing County twice a night. Not only was Cai Wei concerned, but even Mu Zhongqing felt guilty. They had prepared many delicious treats to reward him.
"How is everything at home? Did anything excessive happened in the Duke An’s Mansion?" Cai Wei asked anxiously.
While gulping down a piece of Crystal Elbow, Brother Ying responded through his thoughts, "Everyone at home is fine. The Old Madame is accompanying the Madam, who is pregnant. Second Miss has again gone to the fabric shop, and the two young masters have gone to school today. However, old master has mentioned that from tonight onwards, they will get leave from the family school in the Duke An’s mansion."
"What about the shop? Has anyone been creating trouble?" After hearing that her family was safe, Cai Wei was relieved and then she asked about her shop.
After a content burp, Brother Ying replied, "Everything is normal at the shop. The business is thriving!"
With that, Cai Wei was fully at ease, praising Brother Ying happily. She then switched off her thoughts for she saw a familiar sign — Lady He’s Roast duck.
She remembered the night when her father had just returned, their entire family had tasted Lady He’s Roast duck while strolling in the night market of Qing County. The duck, roasted to a golden crispy perfection, was still vivid in Cai Wei’s memory even today.
So, seeing the signboard of ’Lady He’s Roast Duck’, Cai Wei immediately led the two maids inside without any hesitation.
"Oh, Sir/Madam, you’ve come. Please come in —"
The shop assistant greeted them warmly, leading Cai Wei and the two maids to a private room upstairs, and handed over the menu.
"Sir/Madam, what would you like to order?"
Cai Wei took a brief look and said: "One roast duck, a portion of marinated duck feet, a portion of braised duck gizzard, and a cold mixed dish."
After that, she handed the menu to Dun Zhu and Dan Zhu: "You two can each pick something you like!"