Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Origins (30 Monthly Passes)

"Dou Family’s, you should say something."

Nanny Zhao urged twice, and Dou’s face became increasingly unpleasant. Annoyed by the urging, she stomped her foot and pulled Nanny Zhao to a corner, whispering a few words.

Nanny Zhao listened, her face turning blue and then purple, stunned for a while, and said, "Could this be a mistake?"

"How could it be wrong?" Dou rolled her eyes. "Sister Zhang saved her and saw it clearly, and after a few questions, she cried and admitted it."

Nanny Dou swallowed and said, "I will go tell Madam, you inform the other sisters, as long as everyone understands, don’t spread it around."

Dou gave a sheepish smile and waved her hand: "Even if you gave me the courage, I wouldn’t dare spread it around. If Madam finds out we’re talking behind her back, how would we face her?"

Seeing her alertness, Nanny Zhao did not instruct further and turned back into the room.

Inside, it was still as it was when she left.

Mrs. Zhen was still holding Du Yunluo’s ankle. Hearing the noise, she turned her head and asked, "Is there anything outside?"

"The woman guarding by the releasing pool came back to report that all four buckets have been released, and she called for hands to bring the buckets back." Nanny Zhao said with a smile.

"That’s good." Mrs. Zhen said, glancing at Du Yunluo’s swollen ankle. "It should have been you releasing them yourself, but you were interrupted by that woman."

Du Yunluo giggled.

To say that she was releasing them herself, in practice, she only released a carp or two, while the rest were tipped into the water by the servants, fish and all.

Thinking of that woman who rushed out, Du Yunluo was puzzled and a bit curious.

This life is different from the last one. The personnel Lian Family arranged would never have appeared, but where did this woman jumping into the releasing pool come from when she never appeared in the previous life?

Thinking of this, Du Yunluo asked, "Mrs. Zhao, did the person guarding the pool find out where that woman came from? Why did she suddenly jump into the releasing pool?"

Nanny Zhao’s smile froze.

Seeing this, Mrs. Zhen sensed something strange and said, "This matter must be clarified, otherwise we can’t explain to Old Mrs. Xia."

Nanny Zhao understood this principle, but thinking of what that woman said, she couldn’t help but glance at the Guanyin image on the wall, silently chanting "Amitabha Buddha." If Old Mrs. Xia knew the truth, she might get so angry she would start throwing things.

Compared to the crowded and talkative return journey, things were quieter now in the room, and Nanny Zhao gathered her thoughts and explained the situation.

Earlier, Du Yunluo was sent back to the room, and the woman in the releasing pool was also dragged up.

The releasing pool was not deep, but it wasn’t something a woman could stand in, especially in the summer when cold water can cramp one’s feet. When the woman was dragged up, she had swallowed a lot of water and was almost lifeless.

There were many people watching, but no one dared to save her. First, there was the concern of gender, and second, many didn’t know how to rescue a drowning person, fearing that good intentions could lead to someone’s death.

Dou and Granny Zhang, who were guarding the pool, also went to take a look, and were startled to find the woman lying on the ground familiar-looking.

Upon closer inspection, Granny Zhang recognized her first: "Isn’t this Miss Cai’er’s Mrs. Fang?"

When Dou heard this, she looked closely and said, "Oh my, it really is her."

Being people they knew, and Mrs. Fang being a servant from the Miao Family, Granny Zhang felt they couldn’t just watch her die, so she pushed through the crowd, using pressure and inducing vomiting to make Mrs. Fang expel the water from her stomach.

After waking up, Mrs. Fang cried profusely. Granny Zhang and Dou suspected it was some business of the Miao Family involved, so they refrained from letting unrelated people watch the fun, released the creatures in the buckets, and helped the drenched Mrs. Fang aside.

The crowd gradually dispersed once they lost interest.

"Sister Fang, if there’s anything, please tell us first," Granny Zhang consoled her.

Dou looked up at the "Great Heroic Hall" characters hanging in the main hall and thought saving a life was worth more than building a temple, and she eagerly agreed.

Initially, Mrs. Fang hadn’t recognized the two, but hearing them call her name, she took a closer look. When she realized Granny Zhang was the one who saved Miao Ruoshan from the water that day, she felt utterly ashamed.

After much persuasion from Dou and Granny Zhang, Mrs. Fang finally spoke the truth.

Ten days ago, the Miao Family sent Miao Ruoshan to the estate. Mrs. Fang had served Miao Ruoshan for a few years and was supposed to follow, but Madam Miao was upset with her for not taking care of her daughter, which caused her to be sent to hide at the estate, thus expelling Mrs. Fang from the mansion.

Mrs. Fang had been with the Miao Family for many years and had two children who needed feeding. How could she survive after leaving the mansion?

Madam Miao didn’t offer any additional money. Mrs. Fang struggled through seven or eight tough days and, knowing today Madam Miao would come for incense offering, hurried over to plead with her former employer. Even if she couldn’t serve Miao Ruoshan, she hoped to stay in the mansion, even as a menial servant, for a meal.

Since she personally expelled Mrs. Fang, why would Madam Miao allow her back?

Kneeling in front of the Bodhisattva, Madam Miao pretended not to see her, while her big maids mocked her coldly. Overwhelmed by shame, Mrs. Fang couldn’t think things through and ran from the main hall to jump into the releasing pool.

Mrs. Fang was heartbroken as she spoke, and the two women who heard were deeply sympathetic.

The masters make mistakes, and the servants are punished. This is normal in every household, and even if someone is to be expelled, they usually provide some silver to prevent starvation. It’s rare to see someone as cruel as Madam Miao.

Mrs. Zhen finished listening and laughed coldly, "No wonder they come from the same courtyard, Cai’er jumps into the lake, and she jumps into the pool."

Du Yunluo heard this, blinked at Mrs. Zhen, and thought: Mother doesn’t like competing and plotting with her sisters-in-law, but in terms of sharp wit, Second Aunt and Fourth Aunt combined wouldn’t match Mother’s level.

After speaking, Mrs. Zhen took a deep breath, composing herself, and said, "Save people to the end. Since Second Sister-in-law wants to accumulate blessings and merits for Yun Ying, take some silver for that Mrs. Fang, and let her live well."

Nanny Zhao agreed, "I will explain it to her."

Nanny Zhao went to find Mrs. Fang, saw that her clothes were half-dry, sitting dumbfounded on the steps, and handed over a pouch: "Our Third Madam said, to save someone to the end and avoid creating sin in front of the Bodhisattva, this silver is considered given by Second Madam. You were a servant of the Miao Family, so Second Madam can only help you this time; there won’t be a next. Don’t do anything foolish again; you can still earn a living. Having worked in the inner courtyard, you should know what can and can’t be said. I trust you know."

Mrs. Fang took the pouch with tears, feeling its weight, and couldn’t help crying, "I am grateful to Madam, Third Madam, and Miss Cai’er’s matter is my failing, embarrassing Madam. Please, sister, convey to Madam and Third Madam that I am not unruly, and I understand what to do from now on."