Perfect Encounter - Chapter 9.1
PROOFREAD BY AFREANA
Chapter 9.1
On An Ruochen’s side, not long after Zong Zeqing left, Mrs. Tan chided her. She rushed to her room, pointed at her nose and accused her of being shameless. The last time it was General Long, this time General Zong. Will she be as shameless as this when the family has another distinguished guest next time?
An Ruochen defended in panic: “Second Mother is mistaken. I have no such intention.”
But Mrs. Tan didn’t listen to her and scolded the maids in An Ruochen’s courtyard as well. An Ruochen looked cowardly and fearful as she bowed her head and listened to the lecture. She felt that Mrs. Tan’s words were suitable for the An family if she changed the word ‘vixen’ to ‘merchant household.’
The old nanny was unconvinced when An Ruochen was being scolded like this. She used to work as the nanny of An Ruochen’s mother, Mrs. Fan accompanying her through the residence’s door, taking care of her all the way. She watched Mrs. Fan give birth to a daughter, watched An Zhifu’s heartlessness and greed for profit, and knew everything about the family very well. She always said to An Ruochen: ”After you are married and no longer in this family, I will go back home to die.” An Ruochen advised her to leave now, but she refused.
At this time, seeing Mrs. Tan bullying her girl like this, the old nanny couldn’t help but say something, “Concubine Tan’s authority is quite big, to even control this kind of thing. My girl has followed the rules and is well-educated and well-mannered. Concubine Tan should take care of your own girl’s affairs. You should not take it out on my girl if you are not in a good mood.”
An Ruochen heard the old nanny say this and knew it would be terrible. Sure enough, Mrs. Tan jumped up as if she had been pricked by a needle. “When did it become the turn of the old slave to speak in this family? What do you mean by your girl and my girl? They are all daughters of the An family. What do you mean by that? Not in a good mood? Which one of you is talking nonsense!?” Xu Matchmaker’s rejection made her feel deeply offended by the ridicule, and the old nanny’s words made her feel the same way again.
Mrs. Tan’s mother was a concubine of a merchant’s family in Fu’an County, a lowly background. But Mrs. Tan thought to herself, who cares? Mrs. Fan’s father is only a master, and while she has read some poetry and can read a few words, she is no better than her. Mrs. Fan was the first wife because she came early. In the end, Master still did not like her and hung her out to dry, only for her to cry all day long and annoy people. The daughter she raised only knew how to write and draw, altogether too timid and unimpressive, unlike her Ruoxi, graceful and popular.
So what if Ruoxi’s marriage was not decided yet? With her arrangement, she can naturally climb up into a good family. In any case, it is better than An Ruochen marrying a sixty-year-old man.
Mrs. Tan thought of this and calmed down a little. Master Qian Pei’s reputation is widespread. It is said that if something is not to his liking, he will scold, beat and even kill people. He won’t spare any girl with good looks and is a regular visitor to brothels and whorehouses. If An Ruochen marries him, the end result can only be good. She was not in a hurry and could not lose her manners. Mrs. Tan took a deep breath, turned around, and walked away.
The old nanny breathed a sigh of relief and turned to hug An Ruochen: ” I am old and can’t protect you for much longer. I only hope that Madam’s spirit in heaven will bless you.”
An Ruochen patted the old nanny’s back comfortingly, but she knew in her heart that Mrs. Tan would not rest in peace and her father’s punishment was coming soon.
Mrs. Tan left An Ruochen’s courtyard and went straight to An Zhifu. Before entering the door, her tears flowed down. While sobbing, she entered and called for the Master. Mrs. Xue from the third house was sitting on An Zhifu’s lap, feeding him with fruit.
When Mrs. Tan saw this, her heart hated it. She knew Mrs. Xue tried to coax An Zhifu to catch the big fish, Zong Zeqing, by giving her daughter An Ruolan a marriage. Mrs. Tan pretended not to see it and sobbed to An Zhifu.
“What’s the matter with you?” An Zhifu asked.
Mrs. Xue smartly got off An Zhifu’s lap and held Mrs. Tan’s hand, saying, “Sister, don’t be sad. Xu Matchmaker is an ignorant one. Let’s find another competent matchmaker later.”
Mrs. Tan’s teeth itched with anger. She was intentionally angering her. She ignored Mrs. Xue and said to An Zhifu: “Master, the eldest girl, you must teach her well. Her mother died early, and with our status as concubines we could not say anything about her. Now she is going to marry, but is still restless. The last time she left home to meet General Long, this time she waited in the backyard to hook up with General Zong in front of the whole family. This is just what we’ve seen, don’t know who else is out there. If word of this gets out, although the eldest girl’s disgrace is minor, it will still destroy the An family’s reputation. If Master Qian is annoyed, it will ruin your business, leading to a big problem.”
An Zhifu listened to the previous ones without thinking, but the last sentence was a poke at his lifeline.
Mrs. Xue looked at his face and said, “Second sister is right. Now the marriage of the eldest girl and Master Qian is the most important. Having a betrothed girl not abide by the woman’s morals would lead her to have a bad reputation. If such rumors reach Master Qian’s ears, and he blames the Master for his poor discipline, giving him shame, or even asks to withdraw from the marriage, it would be bad.”
Mrs.Tan secretly rolled her eyes at Mrs. Xue, this damned wallflower, pleasing whichever side she liked. She just said something sarcastic to her, but now chooses the exact words as if she is worried about this family.
Mrs. Tan took a step forward and said: “Master, I went to the eldest girl’s room just now and talked to her about it. But as you know, I am not her real mother, so she may not listen to what I say. I came to ask you to send a message by ordering the eldest girl not to see outside guests from now on. Just let her stay quietly in the residence and cultivate her body until the day of marriage. It will allow her to understand the importance of the matter, and even if she doesn’t, at least nothing can happen.”
“Okay, let’s do that.” The more An Zhifu thought about it, the more he felt it was reasonable. The other reasons can be ignored, but the marriage with Qian Pei must be secured. The eldest daughter should stay at home until she gets married, lest she invited any trouble.
It didn’t take long for An Ruochen to receive orders from An Zhifu. He came over and reprimanded his daughter. He ordered everyone within the courtyard from the top to the bottom to be quiet and obedient, to keep an eye on Eldest Miss and not to go out, finally asking the housekeeper to tell them what they need, and it would be sent to them. Even the doorkeeper received an order from the Master not to allow Eldest Miss to go out from today on.
An Ruochen’s heart sank to the bottom. She racked her brain on how to avoid this, but unexpectedly Mrs. Tan, who was angry with her, took advantage of the issue, and destroyed her way out by chance. An Ruochen secretly gritted her teeth. Don’t panic first, there is still time and hope. She hopes the General can catch the criminal. Once she obtains some merit, she will have a bargaining chip.
Meanwhile, Big Long’s men have been keeping a close eye on Xu Matchmaker, but she hadn’t come out of the door, neither receiving any guests, nor going out to meet them. She was hiding in her home. They did not know what she was planning.
“Do not be anxious. She is cunning and must calculate the advantages and disadvantages of the loss. When she thinks it through, naturally, there will be action.” Big Long said to Xie Gang.
But on the other end, An Ruochen, who was trapped at home, was becoming very anxious. She did not know whether General Long had received her letter or whether he understood its meaning. After Zong Zeqing left that day, there was no news from General Long. Xu Matchmaker also had not come. An Ruochen did not dare to act rashly. Things outside may not be that bad, and she must not provoke the concern of the concubines and her father again during this period. She hoped that the order for her to be grounded would be lifted over time.
Although there was no news from Xu Matchmaker, it was Lu Daniang that had something to say to An Ruochen. The third day after Xu Matchmaker’s departure, Lu Daniang came to deliver vegetables. She intentionally sneaked around to An Ruochen’s courtyard, using the excuse to send a shoe sole to the old nanny and creating an opportunity to talk to An Ruochen.
She said that last night, Old Chen, the owner of the house in Ping Hu East Lane that she rented, had been murdered.