stingy landlady

Chapter 268 Gui Xiang's Wedding (4)

Guizhi chuckled inwardly, "My goodness! It's all because I'm wary of Li Shi, afraid she'll cause trouble!"

Gui Hong hurriedly said:

"Mom! I'm working in the county town! Don't come looking for me! The county town is huge. If you get lost and are kidnapped, we'll be without a mother!"

My dad might find us another concubine!

"Nonsense! How could someone my age not know right from wrong and be kidnapped?"

Gui Hong said in a serious tone:

"Mother! Don't you believe me! Some of them are men who can't find wives, so they kidnap them and sell them to the mountains, chaining them up in the house to work."

There's no way to escape!

Li turned pale with fright:

"Really? It's all your dad's fault! He practically dragged me away from Huanghua Village! It's not like he hasn't been there before. If he had taken me to see you, none of this would have happened!"

Guizhi said with a stern face:

"Mom! I heard you're quite the big shot in Huanghua Village! You even made the handicraft workshop shut down! Mom! Don't go causing trouble there again!"

Li muttered:

"What's so impressive about me! Everyone looks at me like I don't even exist! If they want to ask me a question, they just walk around me, as if I'm some kind of scary person!"

And what kind of rubbish is that in your workshop! It's all filthy stuff! Mother only forbade you from making it because she was worried about your reputation!

The manager of your workshop is quite something! He wouldn't let me in at all. And your maids wouldn't let me near them. I hadn't even had a chance to protest properly before they dragged me out!

Alright, alright, I won't go anymore! I know you sisters are fine, I'm perfectly happy staying home and relaxing!

"Mom! Why don't we go to town together and buy my eldest sister some jewelry and some fabric to make her dowry?"

Ms. Li hesitated somewhat:

"We have plenty of fabric at home. As for jewelry, how about we return the set she gave me before?"

Gui Hong and Gui Zhi both recalled how Li had tricked Gui Xiang into wearing the jewelry.

Gui Hong couldn't help but purse her lips:

"Mom! That set is old and worn out. Buy a new one for my eldest sister!"

"Mother knows that set is old, and Mother's idea is to return it to her. We'll go buy a new one, and then your eldest sister will have another set of jewelry!"

If she doesn't like it anymore, she can have it melted down and replaced with something else! That way, she can save some money.

When Dazhu heard from Li that she was taking her daughters to pick out jewelry and fabric for Guixiang, he generously took out five hundred taels of silver and told Li to ask Guixiang what she needed or lacked, and that the family would help to procure it.

Guizhi led Li Shi and Guihong to Huanghua Village first, to take a look at Guixiang and Han Xuewen's new house. Inside, they saw a kang (heated brick bed), and all the tables, chairs, and benches were brand new. Even a large wardrobe stood against the wall.

Guizhi opened the wardrobe, and there were only a few pieces of Han Xuewen's clothes hanging sparsely inside. Looking into the kang (heated brick bed), there was only a quilt.

Guizhi said to Li:

"Mom! Now that we have all the furniture, let's make new bedding for my eldest sister. Good things come in pairs, so let's make two. We'll also get a few sets of clothes and make a few new ones for my eldest sister's husband."

Li muttered:

"These clothes should all be made at home by your eldest sister. She's always running around outside, she's neglected her needlework! How can a family live without needlework?"

"Relying entirely on buying clothes?"

Gui Hong said:

"It's alright! We have a workshop! Everyone there knows how to sew. We can buy the fabric and have them make it. We'll pay them for their work, we'll just provide the fabric!"

This can also be considered part of the dowry from our family!

Li glanced at the osmanthus branches and red osmanthus blossoms, and asked softly:

"The osmanthus blossoms are red! Since we're already here, why don't we take Mother to the handicraft workshop?"

Guizhi remained silent, while Guihong said disdainfully:

"Mom! Why are you going to look at them again? They're just doing needlework! It's not like we've never seen them before! When you get there, you'll be looking around and asking questions, finding fault with everything!"

"What if you cause another shutdown and production stoppage, leading to trouble? Mother! Can you please stay quiet for a while?"

Mr. Li assured him:

"Mother promises to just watch and not say a word! I won't ask questions or cause trouble, okay? I'm really scared of you sisters! Mother is also curious, how come all the things made by so many people have been sold?"

"Will anyone buy it? How embarrassing!"

Gui Hong said proudly:

"Hehe! Mom! Why isn't anyone buying them? I'm the one who sold them all!"

Li was surprised:

"Gui Hong! You sold it? Someone actually bought it! Where did you sell it?"

Gui Hong then realized she had let something slip. Seeing that Gui Zhi didn't blame her, she told Li Shi everything at once.

"Mother! We've opened a shop in the county town, specializing in women's clothing and accessories. Men are not allowed in! Your daughter has finally become the shopkeeper!"

The women in the city aren't like my mother, who gets so embarrassed at the sight of a small garment! They really like wearing underwear and pajamas. And loungewear too!

"Mom! Don't you like wearing loungewear too? It's comfortable, casual, and looks good!"

"Your loungewear is also made here? No wonder your third aunt was surprised to see me wearing loungewear when she came back last time. She said she wouldn't spend money on it herself!"

Gui Hong immediately said:

"Oh! My third aunt! She went to my shop to claim kinship! I don't know her, but she said she was my third aunt! She repeated your and my father's names, and then called my name."

I think it might be true! I've heard my mom mention before that she has an older sister and a younger sister, both living in the county town! But I've never met my aunt, and my third aunt bought some loungewear!

I gave her a discount! She was so happy, and I even gave her a small gift! Mom! When she left, she kept praising you for having such a good daughter!

Li felt a warm glow inside upon hearing this, and then began to speak of her family:

“Our family used to be poor! Whenever my sisters and I went back to our parents’ home, your eldest uncle would find all sorts of ways to ask us for money. Your mother and father hadn’t separated from your grandparents, so where were we going to get the money to give him!”

So they're complaining that we have too many kids and that we're eating their food for free! Fine, then we won't take the kids back to my parents' house. That way, you won't even know my family.

My sisters are all very good to me! They never look down on me! Your third aunt and your youngest aunt sometimes secretly slip me coins.

"I don't want it! Everyone's struggling financially, what would I do with someone else's things! I said no, but they insisted on giving it to me. And then they're afraid others will hear and call me stupid!"

Ms. Li recalled the deep sisterly bond she shared with her sisters in the past.

Gui Hong and Gui Zhi exchanged a glance, then looked at Li Shi. Gui Hong asked softly:

"Mother! Why haven't I heard you mention these things before?"

Li sighed:

“Why should I tell you! You were too young back then, and your second aunt was always nagging! I'm afraid if I tell you, you'll keep your mouths shut. If someone provokes you or says something, I'll have to hand over my few coins to your grandma!”

Guizhi thought for a long time before asking:

"Mom! It's been quite a while since you've been back to your parents' home, hasn't it?"

Li nodded:

“It has been quite a long time! Ever since your maternal grandmother passed away, your eldest uncle and his family have had to observe mourning! Besides, your maternal grandfather has never been fond of me since I was a child! Why would I go back!”

Going back to give your uncle some money? As if I'm some kind of rich person!