stingy landlady

Chapter 230 Gui Xiang's New Life (2)

Manager Han said with a beaming smile:

"Guixiang! It's been a long time since you've been home, hasn't it? Why don't you go in and greet Master Wang and Madam Wang first? I'll just wait here for the farmers to bring the vegetables over!"

When Guixiang arrived at her doorstep, there was no reason for her not to go in. Despite a touch of trepidation at returning home, she still walked in step by step. Guixiang, accompanied by her two maids, did not turn around, and naturally did not see the concerned gaze of Steward Han behind her.

Upon reaching the main house, Guixiang hesitated, unsure how to face her parents. Just then, Dazhu pushed the door open and came out. Seeing Guixiang, he looked her over carefully and said:

"It's Guixiang back! Have you eaten? Why aren't you coming inside? Your mother is inside!"

Gui Xiang's eyes welled up with tears, and she called out softly:

"Father! Daughter! Daughter!"

Dazhu glanced at Guixiang's two maids, interrupted Guixiang, and said:

"Guixiang! You look great! Come on in! Your mother has missed you so much since you haven't been home!"

Gui Xiang held back her tears, her eyes still moist, and lowered her head to walk around the large pillar into the inner room.

Li was talking to Dazhu's two concubines.

"Second Madam! Third Madam! You two need to work harder! Get pregnant soon! Even if the Master doesn't say it, he must be very anxious!"

The two concubines were certainly not to be trifled with. With Concubine Lan gone, the two were no longer of one mind. And so, the third concubine continued:

"Madam! Master adores Second Sister and often visits her room. Perhaps Second Sister is already pregnant with a little master!"

The second concubine also spoke up:

"Madam! Third Sister! Master's favor is evenly distributed! We sisters will serve him together. As for who gets pregnant first, that's not something we can decide!"

Gui Xiang entered with her maid. Upon seeing Li Shi, she immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Mother! Your unfilial daughter has returned!"

Li was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) watching her two concubines go back and forth, listening with great interest.

Seeing Guixiang kneel down as soon as she entered, he hurriedly tried to get off the kang (a heated brick bed), but was stopped by his second and third aunts.

"Madam! What is this?"

Li hurriedly said:

"It's Guixiang! It's Miss! Help her up quickly! She's not fully recovered yet! Who told you to kneel down and kowtow? It's not a holiday!"

"Are you stupid, child? Get up right now!"

With the help of the two maids, Gui Xiang stood up and cried out through her tears:

"mother!"

Li stretched out her hands.

"Hey! Come here! Guixiang! Let your mother take a good look at you!"

Gui Xiang threw herself into Li's arms and wept bitterly!

Still mindful of her two concubines watching the spectacle, Madam Li said to them:

"Young Miss hasn't been home for a long time and misses her mother! You two go back first! Let's have a private chat!"

Although the two concubines were curious, they didn't dare to go too far and went outside together. Zhou Qiong also whispered to Gui Xiang's two maids:

"My two sisters! Madam and Miss want to speak, let's go outside and wait!"

After saying that, he took the two maids and left, closing the door behind him to leave Li Shi and Gui Xiang alone.

Only then did Li relax and hug Guixiang, looking her up and down.

"Guixiang! Tell your mother the truth! Are you completely recovered? You silly girl, you're going to drive your mother crazy! Although I feel sorry for you, I just don't know what to do with you!"

Gui Xiang also buried her face in Li's arms and cried bitterly.

"Mother! It's all my fault! I thought that as long as I worked hard, I would be rewarded!"

Who would have thought that the Jiang family harbored such wolfish ambitions, wanting not only money but also their daughter's life!

Mother! Your daughter was wrong! I've caused you both worry!

Li sighed:

"Guixiang! It's all my fault! I always thought that sincerity would be reciprocated! But after all this time, I've finally realized that no man is any good!"

Gui Xiang! Let me tell you, don't be so foolish in the future! You're practically tearing my heart apart! Not to mention anyone else, just look at your father!

"We were so poor and miserable before, and your father never complained about you girls! But ever since he took a concubine, his heart has changed!"

Gui Xiang was completely confused.

"Mother! My father didn't take a concubine because you forced him to!"

Li sighed repeatedly.

"Alas! That's why I was so foolish, Guixiang! What man doesn't appreciate beauty! Back then, when I saw your father and Aunt Lan being so affectionate, I thought your father was truly in love with Aunt Lan and that they were having an affair, even deceiving me into making Aunt Lan his concubine!"

I finally understand now. What man can stay faithful forever? They all forget the old for the new. What man doesn't get bored and crave novelty?

Gui Xiang asked curiously:

"Mother! What happened to Father again? Why is he making you so sad?"

Li snorted coldly:

"Hmph! Your father! I thought your father was infatuated with Concubine Lan, so I took two more concubines for him to share the favor."

Who would have thought that even with Aunt Lan pregnant, she was still so vulnerable! Those two little vixens seduced her, and your father completely forgot about Aunt Lan!

He doesn't even care about the child in Aunt Lan's belly. If I had known he would be like this, why would I have taken a concubine for him? I could have just found two maids to serve him!

This saves me from wasting money! Guixiang! Don't be like your mother in the future, foolishly urging your husband to take a concubine!

I reckon even if I didn't bring it up, your father, once he had some money, would just take it home like your third uncle! They're all born of the same mother, how could things be any better!

Upon hearing this, Gui Xiang realized that Li Shi was even blaming the old lady.

"Mother! I'll listen to you! This man is no good! Mother! I'm like this, I won't get married, I'll stay with you for the rest of my life!"

Upon hearing this, Li was both angry and anxious, and couldn't help but shed tears again.

"That damned Jiang Hongliang! He ruined my Guixiang's life! Waaaaah!"

Guixiang! You're still so young, how can you say you'll never get married! It would break your mother's heart!

My dear Guixiang! What am I going to do now?! Waaaaah!

Gui Xiang had already regained her composure and spoke softly to Li Shi:

"Mother! My third sister and I have made a promise! From now on, I will go to the county town to sell vegetables with Manager Han. I will be able to support myself!"

Li was somewhat incredulous upon hearing this and advised:

"Gui Xiang! You're not a little girl anymore! If a girl your age goes out in public, people will laugh at you!"

How will you find a husband in the future? Guixiang! The traditional virtues of women being obedient to their husbands and placing their husbands above all others have existed since ancient times!

Gui Xiang! You're still young, you have a long road ahead of you! You can't give up on yourself!

Gui Xiang interrupted Li Shi with a smile and said:

"Mother! Wasn't I gentle and considerate enough before? But what did I get in return? Mother! I don't want to live for any man anymore!"

Mom! I want to live for myself from now on! I love selling things, I love making money! Thinking back to when I sold boxed lunches, Mom! I was always so happy!