stingy landlady

Chapter 235 Gui Hong's Troubles (2)

"Two sisters! Hold on a minute! My young master has come to see your young lady!"

The servant stopped the two maids from closing the door, but Young Master Du had already strode into the Beauty Quarters.

"Oh? Young master! We don't serve male customers! Besides, we're already closed!"

Young Master Du sternly rebuked the two maids:

"Since it's already closed, why aren't you shutting down? Your young lady and I have something to discuss! Go and close the shop now!"

The servant quickly winked at the two maids, signaling them to listen to Young Master Du and hurry up and close the door.

Gui Hong was about to return to her residence when she heard the sound and turned around to see Young Master Du. His face looked familiar, but she didn't recognize him. She asked in confusion:

"Young master, you've come to the wrong place. We don't serve male guests. Please leave!"

"Hahaha! Gui Hong! Manager Wang! You don't recognize me after only a few days apart?"

Gui Hong recognized the familiar voice immediately; it was the same person who had threatened her that night. It had been dark then, and Gui Hong hadn't seen the person's face clearly, so she didn't recognize him.

Gui Hong's face darkened and she said coldly:

"Young master! There is a difference between men and women. We are complete strangers! We have nothing to say to each other. Please leave!"

"Hey! Gui Hong! You're usually so talkative! Why are you so quiet around me? Where are you going now?"

"Oh! Going to eat? We haven't eaten either, let's eat together?"

Gui Hong rolled her eyes at him:

"How dare you be so arrogant? Who wants to eat with you! Get out, get out!"

"Hahaha! A beautiful lady is sought after by gentlemen! Guihong is so lovely, how could she not have suitors? Look, I, the handsome and dashing Young Master Du, am attracted to you, aren't I?"

Haha! I said, Du Teng! Take Gui Hong's girl to buy meat and vegetables, we'll eat here tonight!

Du Teng quickly grabbed one of the maids who often discussed food and left. The remaining maid looked uneasy at Gui Hong and Young Master Du, and asked:

"Miss! Me! Should I go and cook first?"

Seeing that the maid Xique was clueless and that Young Master Du was shamelessly insisting on eating there, Guihong had no choice but to follow Xique to her lodgings.

Young Master Du, of course, followed closely behind without any hesitation, still looking around the backyard. Gui Hong, on the other hand, had some taste; she had planted a grapevine that climbed all over the pergola in the passageway, making the small courtyard cool and comfortable.

The magpie poured tea for Young Master Du, for a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen. Young Master Du sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, drinking tea. Gui Hong ignored him, but he was content with his solitude.

Du Teng, a servant boy, and Gui Hong's maid went to buy meat and happened to run into one of Madam Zhou's old women. She ran over and asked Gui Hong's maid:

"Isn't this Miss Wang Er's maid? Your name is Yanzi, right?"

The swallow hurriedly bowed to the old woman:

"Yanzi greets Granny Zhou!"

"Swallow! It's so late! Where does your young lady want you to go?"

Swallow was also quite simple-minded and guileless. She said:

"Oh! We have guests at home, so I came out to buy meat and vegetables!"

"What kind of guest is this? Coming to disturb us so late at night! Miss Wang is an unmarried woman!"

Even the naive Yanzi dared not offer to entertain Young Master Du. Unable to lie, she stammered, unsure what to say.

Du Teng came up and grabbed Yanzi's clothes, saying:

"Yanzi! Stop nagging and hurry up! If we go late, your young lady will go hungry!"

Taking the opportunity, Yanzi bid farewell to Granny Zhou and went to buy meat and vegetables.

Granny Zhou looked at Du Teng and found him unfamiliar, confirming she didn't recognize him. Somewhat suspicious, Granny Zhou returned to the manor and, while reporting her task to Madam Zhou, casually mentioned:

"Madam! I just saw Miss Wang's maid go grocery shopping with a strange man. I guess Miss Wang has some important guests visiting?"

"Hmm? What important guest does she have? And a strange man at that? Could it be Guihong's father? Didn't you meet Master Wang before?"

"Madam! I only saw a servant-like man with Miss Wang's maid, Yanzi! I just asked if there were any distinguished guests."

To everyone's surprise, the girl stammered and couldn't reveal who he was. "If it were Master Wang, he should just say so openly! What's so shameful about a father visiting his daughter?"

Madam Zhou pondered for a moment, then said bitterly:

"An unmarried woman, living alone in the county town, how could she not attract attention? If she's innocent, that's fine, but if she's truly unfaithful, my Zhou family will never tolerate her!"

Have someone keep a close eye on that area and report any unusual activity immediately!

"Yes, Madam! This servant will be careful! I will never let anyone bring shame upon the Second Young Master!"

Gui Hong thought that Young Master Du was quite troublesome, coming to her house and still wanting to eat and drink. Fortunately, Young Master Du was a good person; he said he was there for a meal, and after finishing his meal, he obediently said goodbye and left.

As Young Master Du left, he glanced into the corner of the alley and, sure enough, the Zhou family had sent people to keep an eye on Ju Hong. Young Master Du ignored them and strode away.

Gui Hong and the two maids were quite puzzled. Gui Hong also said:

"Who is this person?! They just come to our house to freeload a meal!"

The two maids exchanged a glance, and Yanzi hesitated before saying:

"Miss! Did Young Master Du send us too much food and now he thinks he sent the wrong thing? Is he here to collect a debt in disguise?"

Gui Hong rolled her eyes:

"I told you from the beginning that he must have delivered it to the wrong person! Even now, he's still trying to collect the debt but hasn't found the right person!"

"Swallows! You two maids were the ones sharing the food, not coming to me, your master, to collect a debt. Have you come to the wrong person?"

The swallow and the magpie immediately knelt down. The swallow said aggrievedly:

"Miss! Miss! You can't ask us servants! Even if you sold us, we wouldn't be worth as much as that much food!"

"Miss! Besides, we servants only shared the food because we saw you were going to throw it away, and we figured it would be a waste of food!"

The magpie said to Guihong:

"Miss! This Young Master Du is just using this as an excuse to come here for a meal! I don't think he's short of food. He probably comes here looking for some excitement because there aren't enough people eating at home!"

Believe it or not, the magpie guessed the truth!

Du Teng also asked Mr. Du:

"Young master! Manager Wang's place only serves ordinary home-style meals, not even as good as the food at restaurants! Are you interested in Manager Wang?"

Young Master Du lightly patted Du Teng's head with his fan and said:

"Isn't your young master bored in this small county town? Wang Guihong is already engaged and has someone she's taken. Is your master really that tasteless?"

Why does she have to like someone who's already engaged? She's alone in the county town, and so am I. We're in the same boat!

Eating alone is boring, I have no appetite. I heard Wang Guihong talking at the theater last time, it was quite interesting, it's not easy to run into such an interesting person.

There has to be a reason for us to be friends! Don't think of your son as something so despicable.