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Chapter 55 - Ashamed to see two sisters
Chapter 55 - Ashamed to see two sisters
Chapter 55 Ashamed to see two sisters
Mammy Tang was blue in the face, “How absurd! Those servants even dare to bully the Master! Third Miss, they only bullied you since you are a child. But didn’t they scruple Madam Luo when they did that to you? Third Miss, why didn’t you tell Madam Luo about these situations? She would side with you!”
He Danggui bowed her head and sighed, “I fell down and was full of grievances at that time, so I wanted to go to Grandma to complain. But Second Sister and Fourth Sister were on their way to see Grandma as well. And I accidently annoyed Second Sister. Knowing I could not get away with my guilt, I did not dare to see Grandma.”
Mammy Tang shook her head and sighed, “Second Miss is a very good-tempered person. How did you provoke her?”
He Danggui said bitterly, “I saw from a distance that they were led by maids with lanterns, and they were also heading for Fu Shou Yard. Their new clothes were dazzling under the light of the lanterns. I looked up and down myself. After the fall, my clothes were full of spots. There were oil and mud. I was too ashamed to see my sisters. So, I hid behind a bunch of corn poppy, planning to go back to the West Lateral court to get myself healed after they passed by. I intended to see Grandma another day for my grievance. Unexpectedly, my sisters came to the front of the flowers and stopped suddenly, saying that there was a butterfly on the flower, and they wanted to catch it. I was supporting my body with my hands on the ground at that time. Before I realized what happened, a sharp pain came from the back of my hand. I retracted my hand quickly, and then I heard Second Sister’s scream. Along her eyesight, I immediately understood that she accidentally stepped on my hand when she caught the butterfly. I should go to hell. When I took my hand back, I even rubbed the blood in the palm on the upper her shoes.”
Mammy Tang was silent for a moment, and then said, “It was just an accident. Both of you did not expect it. The Second Miss was always friendly with other Misses and generous to the servants. It’s estimated that she was angry with you because her beloved new shoes were stained. In the next few months, didn’t Wang Qi’s wife send you the silver?”
He Danggui shook her head and said, “There was this one time. I was hot-tempered and claimed that I would invite Grandma to judge this, then Aunt Wang changed her attitude. According to her, silver was useless in my hand. I would run out of it. But it would be useful in her hand, and it would bring me profit in a few days.”
Mammy Tang changed her face, and she asked in a deep voice, “Did you ask her where the silver was used? Did you receive any profit later?”
“Profit? Later, I went to see her two or three times, but there was no result.” He Danggui glanced out of the door and said with a smile, “Here comes the Hawthorn tea. Mammy, drink some to moisten your throat. Let’s drop these unhappy things. Mammy, you must be hungry?”
Mammy Tang also wanted to ask for some details. Looking up, she saw the round face girl carrying a cup of steaming tea into the door. Unexpectedly, there was a figure in the back, knocking the round face girl’s arm, and the tea was about to be poured out. While Mammy Tang was subconsciously avoiding the splashing of tea, she only felt that there was a flash of shadow in front of her eyes. When she looked at it, the tea was not spilled out, but was held steadily in Third Miss’s hands.
When He Danggui offered the tea to Mammy Tang, she scolded at the door and said, “Why are you so flustered when you walk? If you scald a distinguished guest, I will give you 20 caning on your hands!” Then she turned around and apologized to Mammy Tang, “I’m sorry she startled you. Fortunately, I’m standing up to offer tea to Mammy, so I got enough time to hold her and prevent the tea from spilling out. Please have a drink!”
Mammy Tang nodded and said, “Thank you, Third Miss. I’m really thirsty.” Her nose was full of smell, so she bowed her head and took a sip to test the temperature of the tea, and then she took several big sips. After that, she looked up and said with a smile, “It’s quite drinkable, sweeter than the home-made fresh fruit soup! Well, it’s tasty. I feel more refreshing after I drink it. How is this tea made?”
He Danggui replied with a smile, “Nothing special! Sousing haw into brown sugar, and then drying them at the fire repeatedly. But the tea sees dull because of lacking many materials in the mountain. Mammy felt thirsty, so you think it’s tasty. I’ll make more for you with the good materials after we get back.” Then she turned to the window and blamed, “Huai Hua, I won’t punish you this time, but you must be calm later. Don’t be so brash. Is Mammy Tang’s vegetarian food ready?”
Mammy Tang raised her eyes to look. That was a girl in grey of 17 to 18 years old. Her eyes seemed like that of a frightened cub, and her clear-cut case of black and white eyes were like two black pills on a white porcelain plate.
The girl in grey rubbed her clothing nervously, and she replied, “Sister Zhen Zhu said the meal is ready. Please follow me to the northern yard. Moreover, I met Zhen Ming just now, and she asked me to leave a message to you, Miss. She said that the Master felt better after using the medicinal packs you made, and the Master wanted two more to treat her legs.”
“Oh?” He Danggui said with a smile, “Does Master Tai Shan really like that herbal cushion? How about her waist?”
The girl in grey nodded, “I heard from Zhen Ming that Master felt better after she used it for two days, and she is so energetic now. So, the Master let Zhen Ming give a message to you. You are free to use any of the medicinal materials in the Medicine Room by yourself. Also, please make two more medicinal packs to treat her legs.”
He Danggui smiled under the veil, “Really? So effective? Master Tai Shan’s order, I dare not oppose. Tell Zhen Ming immediately, I must get it done even if I don’t sleep tonight. Please tell Master Tai Shan to rest assured.” The girl in grey nodded and left.
Mammy Tang raised her eyebrows and asked, “What medicinal packs so useful? Does Third Miss specialize in traditional Chinese medicine? When did Third Miss learn it? Why don’t I know that?”
He Danggui laughed, “Mammy, you know that I don’t know the words. All doctors will make fun of me if I say that I specialize in traditional Chinese medicine and the pharmacology. Several months ago, I felt bored, so I wanted to learn some words. I read two medical books and learnt a prescription for waist. Then I made an herbal cushion to Master Tai Shan of the Taoist temple. I still can’t believe it worked on her, so that’s quite an achievement! I must make more herbal medicine cushions to express my gratitude.”
“Third Miss is so kind.” Mammy Tang nodded and asked, “Why did that girl call you Miss? I can tell from her tone that she a Taoist nun of this temple?”
He Danggui smiled, “Yes, she is. Her religious name is Huai Wen. She gets along well with Chan Yi. Knowing Chan Yi is my maid, she also begged me to be my maid and take her to Luo’s Mansion as well. Then I agreed and gave her a local name as Huai Hua. But I told her that I can’t take a second maid back home unless my Mammy agreed.”
After a pause, Mammy Tang said slowly, “Third Miss, there are so many maids in the mansion. Second Mistress Luo will arrange the best maids in West Lateral court after you get back. Moreover, besides the servants’ daughters who would serve us, many maids are purchased from the Qingcaoniu market. And they are trained to be methodical. Their good services would also make you feel satisfied and comfortable. Don’t you think so?”
He Danggui chuckled and nodded, “Mammy, you’re right. Let’s just forget it. We are going to head for home tomorrow. Mammy, you’ve had a rough day today, please drink another cup of tea to refresh. Then Chan Yi will take you to have a meal in the side room of the northern yard.”
Mammy Tang said with a smile, “Third Miss, you made great tea by yourself. I won’t bother if I take ten more.”
“Oops! That’s bad!” He Danggui covered her mouth under the veil. Looking at the Chinese teacup in Mammy Tang’s hands, she shouted, “Mammy, drop the teacup!”
Mammy Tang set the teacup on the table and asked confusedly, “What’s wrong?”
He Danggui looked at her own hands, and then she checked Mammy Tang’s hands and apologized, “Sorry, Mammy. I forget that my hands attached the itching powder when I served you the tea... Your hands may attach it, too. Are you alright?”
Mammy Tang didn’t feel anything before He Danggui brought it up. Now she felt her palms were itching. And the itchy feeling got more and more intensely just like the Third Miss said. The feeling was born from the bone. It was a kind of strange itching that drilled into the bone. Mammy Tang scratched and twisted her hands like He Danggui did. She felt like living in hell.
He Danggui thought for a while, and then she shouted to the window, “Chan Yi, bring some cold spring water to wash Mammy’s hands! Hurry up!”
Hearing the cold water, Mammy Tang couldn’t wait. She rushed to find water herself. Seeing the round-face girl was bringing the water, she took and placed it on the ground. Afterwards, she put her hands into the water and washed hard. When the feeling was relieved, she called He Danggui, “Third Miss, you should come, too. Wash your hands to relieve the itch!”
He Danggui shook her head, “Mammy, you don’t know this. There is no way to relieve the itch of Diaoshanyao Powder. You can’t wash it out or rub it away. It will last 2 to 3 days. And the itch would be on and off. The new round will be much itchier than before. Last time I attached it. I was afraid that itchy feeling. Therefore, I checked many books about it in the study of Luo’s Mansion. But I didn’t find the antidote. I’m so sorry, Mammy. It’s my fault to get you into this.”
As expected, Mammy Tang felt the itch came back again, and the feeling was stronger than before. So, she scratched hard again.
“Don’t scratch too hard,” He Danggui extorted, “If you made your skin broken and let the wind attack your body, you will feel much more miserable than now. Not to mention the fact that you still have 2 to 3 days to suffer. If you broke you skin now, what would you do in the next days?
Hearing this, Mammy Tang stopped. But the itch drilled into the bone. So, she rubbed her hands together like He Danggui did, but it was not helpful.
He Danggui sighed and comforted her, “Mammy, don’t be scared. I rubbed my hands for a long time. The itch powder on my skin was gone basically, and the itch powder attached your skin through the teacup indirectly. Thus, I think maybe your symptom is not as serious as mine. This reminds me that last time I attached 2 qian of the itching powder. What we got this time is much less than last time. Maybe we can get healed in one day.”
Mammy Tang gritted her teeth as if she suppressed a huge anger. He Danggui looked at her concernedly, “Mammy, are you hungry? I can send Chan Yi to take you to have a meal. If you couldn’t use the chopsticks, Chan Yi would feed you. She is a sweet girl. Let her serve you in the northern yard tonight.”
Mammy Tang spoke finally, “I’m unwilling to grudge the masters. But Fourth Miss goes too far! She is only 9 years old but used the itch powder on her cousin. It’s over the line! If Madam Luo doesn’t discipline her seriously, it will be possible that she may use the arsenic and Hedinghong Poison someday!”