Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 103 - 3: Visiting the Zhao Family

From Nanny Qi’s words, Susu learned that the Capital’s Fourth Ring is different from the Second and Third Ring Roads; mostly generations of commoners reside here, along with some low-ranking but not affluent officials. Overall, the south is poor, the north is wealthy, the west is noble, and the east is humble.

Anye Lane is located in the northeast corner of the Fourth Ring, not far from the North Gate and the East Gate. The lane has four alleys, mostly inhabited by people who have some money but engage in humble occupations, like matchmakers and grannies!

"In the Capital, Granny Zhao is somewhat famous among brokers, especially reputable among elite families. First, because her maids and nannies have a clean family background, without any thieves or kidnappers; second, her maids are basically trained, needing minimal teaching to work; third, Granny Zhao never sells people to dirty places." Nanny Qi paused and seeing Susu interested, continued, "There is an old saying in the Capital, ’Even if innocent, boatmen, innkeepers, footmen, and brokers deserve death.’ Granny Zhao, however, is a rare person of conscience."

At this moment, two young maids became bolder and asked Nanny Qi the meaning of the Capital’s old saying, amid laughter and chatter, the carriage stopped.

Outside, Nanny Qi’s loyal housekeeper sounded, "Miss, we’ve arrived!"

The two nannies got out of the carriage first, and then two young maids helped Susu wear her mantle, before assisting her out of the carriage.

Susu immediately noticed the black lacquered wooden doors; she had come and gone hastily back then, but only these two doors left a lasting impression, overlapping with scenes from seven years ago, making Susu feel a sense of change and dislocation.

Nanny Liu stepped forward to call the door, which was opened by a teenager in his early teens, wearing a blue cotton jacket. He looked over Nanny Qi and Susu’s group, glanced at the opulent red lacquered carriage, and asked, "Madam, who are you looking for?"

Nanny Liu, somewhat dissatisfied with Xiao Si’s darting eyes, yet with unchanged smile, replied, "Is the master at home? Our miss is surnamed Su, and has come to visit Mrs. Zhao. Here’s the calling card, please inform her, little brother."

It was the first time the boy had seen a calling card; having some discernment to work at the door, he noticed the tapping granny wore brocade and silk, not to mention the miss behind her.

Knowing the visitor was extraordinary, he hurriedly said, "Please, esteemed guest, wait a moment, I’ll go inform them right away." With that, he arranged for another boy to guard the door, and ran swiftly towards the courtyard.

Soon, the two black lacquered doors opened wide, Mrs. Zhao came out with maids and nannies, allowing the message-bearing boy to breathe a sigh of relief, thankfully not neglecting the guests.

Upon seeing Susu, Mrs. Zhao’s eyes reddened, though she couldn’t see Susu’s complexion, her dignified aura told her Susu was doing well!

Susu, seeing Mrs. Zhao, felt a wave of emotions, stepped forward to salute, but was held by Mrs. Zhao: "Good girl, no need for formality with me, I’ve long heard Old Madam Song returned to the Capital, always wanted to visit but feared intruding!"

Susu held Mrs. Zhao’s arm, "I’ve long wanted to see you, but the mansion has been terribly busy, only today do I have the chance, please don’t blame me."

Mrs. Zhao laughed, "No blame, no blame, come, hurry inside, your sister Qiuyun is in postpartum confinement, she can’t come to greet you, don’t mind."

Susu remarked, "Sister Qiuyun gave birth again? I brought some donkey-hide gelatin bird’s nest, apparently I was foresightful. Did she have a nephew or niece?"

Mrs. Zhao, full of joy, "Another strapping boy."

Entering the second compound, divided into two small courtyards by a flower wall, "Left is where your uncle and I live, right is where Sister Qiuyun and brother-in-law live."

Saying that, Mrs. Zhao first had the maids, nannies, and driver who came with Susu go down to have tea, then led Susu to the right courtyard.

"Your uncle and brother-in-law went to the field for rent collection, today they might not be seen, your sister Qiuyun has long wanted to see you. She doesn’t know your identity, miss, don’t slip."

This was too significant, besides Mrs. Zhao, she hadn’t revealed a word to her husband and daughter.

Susu whispered, "Mother’s great kindness, Susu will never forget."

Mrs. Zhao quickly waved, "Miss, forget it, just live Days well from now on, and I will feel relieved."

The right compound had three main rooms and six side rooms, connected to the left compound by a moon gate. In the courtyard, young maids were doing laundry and sweeping, upon seeing Mrs. Zhao, they saluted, "Greetings madam." Mrs. Zhao waved, leading Susu into the main house.

Due to postpartum confinement, the house was tightly sealed, the front was a floral hall and bypassing the partition was the bedroom, complete with couch and bed, all redwood furniture.

On the bed, half sitting, was a woman in her twenties, simply with a bun pinned by a jade hairpin, not remarkably beautiful, yet a refined and charming lady. Seeing Mrs. Zhao and Susu coming in, she smiled warmly, "You’ve come, is this Susu sister? I’ve often heard mother talk about you but only meeting today!" She spoke exuberantly.

Susu took off her mantle, bowed in salute, "Greetings to Sister Qiuyun."

Aside from Mrs. Zhao, both Qiuyun and the maids in the room took a breath and held it, as if fearing they’d disturb the beauty before them.

Quite a while passed before Qiuyun regained composure; unable to get off the bed, she pulled Susu’s hand, letting her sit at the bedside.

"Today I really got to see what it means for a Fairy to descend! Every time mother mentioned sister, always praising your good nature and loyalty. But never said you’re so beautiful, no wonder Old Madam at Bo Mansion likes you; if it were me, I’d like you endlessly too!"

Mrs. Zhao joked, "Today you’ve truly spoken much, your sister hasn’t even had a sip of tea yet, is this how you treat guests?"

Qiuyun replied, "Mother, you can’t blame me. Upon seeing sister, my mouth and heart are all for her, sorry for neglecting sister." Saying this, she hurriedly ordered tea!

Susu joked, "No need for such formality. What about the nephews? Sister has good fortune."

Qiuyun said, "Yuan, the eldest nephew, insisted on going to the field with his grandfather, left early, and Ming, the youngest, is sleeping." She then called someone to bring Ming over. The little one was in a deep sleep, white skin and tender, chubby face.

"Born at eight pounds, really kept me occupied, who knew he’d be quiet, just a hum when hungry or wet. Much easier than Yuan was at this age." Mrs. Zhao squinted in laughter looking at her grandson.

Susu untied her jade pendant, "Initially not knowing sister had the second nephew, this is for Ming, later I’ll make up for Yuan’s share, for Ming’s full-month celebration I might not come."

Qiuyun rushed to refuse, the jade pendant was visibly valuable.

Susu smiled, "Kind sister! I’m giving it to the nephew, not to you." Mrs. Zhao also knew at Song Mansion, these things aren’t worth much, seeing Susu’s sincerity, she let Qiuyun accept it.

Susu chatted with Qiuyun for a while, then Mrs. Zhao led Susu back to the left compound, waited for maids to serve tea and snacks, then let them step back, Mrs. Zhao asked, "Miss, have you contacted Young Master Jue?"

Susu shook her head, "Now I’m in the mansion, though favored by Old Madam, every action needs careful attention, dare not contact brother! I’m thinking of finding brother in Hami once free from the mansion."

Mrs. Zhao looked helplessly at Susu, "My good girl, please abandon this thought..." (To be continued)