Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 228 - 11: Farewell Sentiments (Part 2)

In Sui’an Hall, everyone laughed and chatted for a while before the Old Madam asked, "When are you setting off?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the room fell silent. The lively crowd suddenly remembered, yes, Susu is married now and will soon depart for the Northwest.

The Old Madam knew that her words might dampen the mood, but she couldn’t pretend to be oblivious. Knowing earlier would help Susu make better plans.

Susu noticed the heavy atmosphere and joked, "What’s with your expressions? I’m off to enjoy freedom, are you envious?"

"Of course we are envious! Except for the Old Madam who saw the world with the Old Master in her younger days, the most we’ve seen is the scenery from Yangzhou to the Capital."

Ning Cui said this, her expression as if Susu’s trip to the Northwest was an enviable affair. Thanks to their back-and-forth, the previously heavy atmosphere lightened up again.

Fourth Miss led the conversation, talking about delicious foods in the Northwest, another spoke of the exciting places to visit. Though their knowledge was only from books, it was as if they had really been there. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Susu sat by the Old Madam, smiling gently and listening intently. If asked, she would reply. During the long nights when she couldn’t sleep, she would chat with Hong Sheng. Susu would ask, and Hong Sheng would answer, giving her much knowledge about the Northwest, so she would not be caught unprepared now.

After lunch, the Heir’s wife took the girls away, leaving Susu, Yang Liu, and two others to chat privately with the Old Madam and Nanny Qin.

It was during this time that the Old Madam asked, "Is Hong Sheng good to you?" Although she already saw that Susu’s life was fine, Old Madam Song wanted to hear it from Susu herself.

Susu linked her arm with the Old Madam’s and laughed, "He treats me very well, don’t worry. Besides, you know, I’m not someone who suffers losses easily."

The Old Madam playfully tapped Susu’s nose, "Then I should worry about Brother Sheng. He’s honest, so don’t go too far."

At the words "honest," Susu didn’t know what expression to wear, so she just nodded with a smile. Honest? Who would believe that? Certainly not her.

The Old Madam didn’t believe it either. To have risen to a Fourth Rank official and saved a fortune within two years — how could one be honest?

Yang Liu, being impatient by nature, couldn’t hold back any longer. "When exactly are you leaving? You didn’t say this morning despite all the chatting. If the Northwest is truly as abundant as you claim, why is it called a barren land?"

Bisi also spoke up, looking at Susu who only shared the good news, "I heard that water is scarce there. There’s barely enough to drink, let alone bathe daily. Can you handle that?"

Susu chuckled, gently shook her head, and said, "The Northwest is indeed short on water, and the land is barren. Whether you can bathe daily depends on who you ask. You are too naive!"

Hearing this, Yang Liu and the others paused, then they smiled wryly and shook their heads. Nanny Qin laughed and said, "You were raised like young ladies, it’s amazing you even know about these hardships."

Ning Cui laughed, "Indeed, we are too naive. With Susu’s status and dowry, even in the Northwest, bathing three times a day wouldn’t be a problem!"

"That’s not necessary. Why would I bathe so much? I don’t have a cleanliness obsession. If I wash myself bald, wouldn’t I be inviting trouble?"

Old Madam Song listened quietly as the young women chatted lively in front of her, just as if they were still in the gardens of Yangzhou. In the blink of an eye, the four young girls had not only married but were soon to become mothers.

Time truly spares no one. Yet, she could not admit to growing old, as she had to live a few more years to support these children; they were still young. Without support, she feared they might end up like she did, with nothing left but children to console.

The Old Madam was lost in thought when Susu nudged her, bringing her back to the present. Susu said, "Hong Sheng and the Yangwei Escort Agency have set the departure for March 16th — just in time to see Fourth Miss off. Old Madam, you should hurry and find wives for the young masters, so we aren’t just sending people out without taking any in!"

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Song, momentarily forgetting her sorrow, rolled her eyes at Susu, "Just sending out without taking in... Are you saying marrying off Qing Ping and the others is just to bring people into the household for us?"