Chapter 3

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Chapter 3 Madam Murong

At night, Aunt Zhong brought some fruit. I looked at the bright moon in the sky and suddenly asked, “Does Qiang’er fall asleep?”

Aunt Zhong looked at the sky and smiled, “Madam, are you too tired today? It’s still early, and the elder lady was still studying in the study room as usual.”

“This child…” I stood up and Aunt Zhong hurried forward to lift me up: “I’ll go and see her.”

After I took a few steps, I suddenly remembered and turned back to tell Aunt Zhong: “Don’t follow me, I want to talk with her alone.”

Qiang’er’s study room was built on the cliff in west side of the mansion. I didn’t know why the child picked this room, but it has been eight years now. I heard Aunt Zhong said that because the light of this study room turned off until midnight, the passing ships regarded it as a signpost for navigation at sea. It is very famous on this channel, called “Wenjin Pavilion”.

The bright moon in the sky illuminated the road, I knew Qiang’er was thrifty, so I turned off the lights, and moved forward slowly.

When I walked to the back garden, I suddenly heard the sound of sobbing under the tree at the corner of the wall, so I stopped and heard someone sighed: “Tomorrow is the wedding day for our elder lady. If Aunt Zhong saw you cry here, you will be scolded.” The other person stopped crying and said gently: “I’m just crying for our elder lady! Madam is so biased. She even let the younger lady go after the elopement. Why is our elder lady the one to sacrifice? The Mr. Ren, my body shakes every time as I see him, I was afraid that our lady will suffer after the marriage. “

I sighed in my heart and coughed softly, and the people under the tree stopped talking. I continued walking forward slowly.

Qiang’er was never spoiled since she was a child. I actually am willing to care for her, but I don’t know how.

In the year that the master died, my father and brother went to jail due to malfeasance. The uncles in the family were so snaky and viperous, so they took it as an opportunity. They robbed most of the fields and houses of our family.

I was in a constant state of anxiety at that time. One day, Qiang’er brought a jade and asked, “Mother, what is this thing?”

I was startled, and looked up and down, it was actually the voucher of Murong’s family Master, so I held her and said: “Qiang’er, where did you get this thing?”

“Dad gave it to me when he was dying.” She replied softly.

“You have to hide it carefully, and it shouldn’t be seen by anyone else.” I hurriedly put the jade into her sleeve, and told her to be careful with it. There was no female master for the family in the past. When I thought that Qiang’er will suffer in the future as the master, my tears fell down.

“Mother, I heard Dad said that Murong’s ancestral house is a small island on the South Sea.”

“Ah?”

“Mother, let’s go to the Oriole Island, and let them fight to take anything from Murong family in the capital city.”

Oriole Island, although it is the ancestral home of the Murong family, It’s still remote and desolated. After some of family members heard that we were going to move to this place, they just couldn’t wait to see us leave. It was like we gave them the family’s property for free. It seemed that they finally remembered our identities. At this time, they had an unusual affection. They started prepared everything. We actually have done nothing with preparation of leaving.

I don’t know if it’s because of this change. Since then, Qiang’er has grown up and become mature, she wasn’t like a ten-year-old child. Sometimes I wanted to spoil her as I did to Wei’er. But I stopped trying when I saw her smile every time.

I have been raised in a big family. Although I was named as the host of the family after marriage, everything was handled by others, and I knew nothing of keeping things running smoothly. I could barely maintain it in the first few years on the island, but we ran behind our expenses soon.

One day, Qiang’er passed the study room and saw me look down at the ledger and cried, then she went into the room, and said gently: “Mother, I have read a few books recently, and I have learned some ways to settle accounts. Can you let me take a look at it ? “

I handed the account book to her. She hurried to read through it and pointed out several errors, then she sat down and read the account books back and forth, and talked to me about the irregularities in details.

Just like that, she took over this Murong family and started handling everything.

The crowd praised her at first, but Qiang’er was so gentle and humble, she was unlike Wei’er, so she rarely talked about her achievements. As time passed, the islanders regarded it as a common occurrence. Although I’m her mother, the family rules and resource arrangements must be allocated by her. I just couldn’t face her naturally. It was difficult to treat her with intimacy. Wei’er was only six years old, and she didn’t need to care about anything. Besides, she grew up beside me when she was a child. In the eyes of others, I treat Wei’er better.

Wei’er grew more and more beautiful as time flies. Qiang’er also spoiled her much more than before. If she wanted something, Qiang’er was going to get it for sure. One day, Qiang’er suddenly asked me: “Mother, Wei’er is growing up. Unfortunately, the island is too isolated. How can the lady of Murong family stay here forever and know nothing about outside at all? She should be allowed to go out. what do you think? “

“It’s so good.” I smiled: “Your uncle sent a letter the day before yesterday, informing us that he has resumed office in capital city and invited me to go. It’s better to take this opportunity to move the whole family back to the capital city.”

“I know Mother is nostalgic for the homesickness, but recently I heard that Murong people are looking for the sovereign voucher of Murong’s family. If we go back at such time, it will inevitably cause suspicion. It is better to wait for a while, and I have some plans.” Qiang’er smiled.

Qiang’er has been the host of the house for many years, and I have been used to it, not to mention that I have been away from capital city for many years. I have also been accustomed to all kinds of things on Oriole Island.

But Wei’er was very excited when she knew that she was going to visit relatives in the capital city. I was too happy to notice that Qiang’er hadn’t packed her things yet. Until the night before departure, I asked her eagerly. She laughed and said: “Don’t worry about me, mother, because there are so many things to be dealt with on the island, it is difficult to get out right now. I will wait for the next chance.”

I saw her at ease, which made me upset and cry. Thinking of her contribution to the family, and she is now in her twenties, the marriage of her has been delayed. As her mother, I’m actually the one who has been taken care of.

I was just thinking about it, but I heard Qiang’er said again: “Mother, Wei’er is old enough to get married, please pay attention to it in the capital city.”

I was secretly hurting, after hearing such words, I couldn’t restrain it. Qiang’er didn’t know what happened, so she could only hold me gently to comfort me.

Returning to capital city after ten years like being cut off from the outside world for ages. This capital city had changed its appearance for a long time. The noisy street was crowded with the foreign cars and people in western dresses. It’s so different than it was before. I was irritable inside and always thinking about returning to the Oriole Island, but I was also looking forward to finding a good husband for my daughters.

If it was ten years ago the husband of the lady of Murong family would naturally have to be first-rate. Nowadays, the family members of the capital city had been declining, the young talents were all normal people. They had no interest in finding wives from big families, not to mention a small family who lived on a deserted island and has no power. Although Wei’er’s peerless beauty attracted many people’s admiration, the child was too proud, none of them could satisfy her.

After spent a few days in capital city, I returned to Oriole Island and left Wei’er to be taken care of by her aunt. Qiang’er saw that I had returned without success, she was not annoyed but comfort me. However, Wei’er was fascinated by the capital city, and after that, she went to the capital as soon as she was free. Qiang’er always laughed about it.

One day, Wei’er told me that her sister had hired a gentleman who taught western painting for her. I was amazed by the excitement and pride in her words, but thought that the child was so interested in everything that I didn’t pay attention to it. At that time, I always thought Qiang’er could take care of everything, and I didn’t worry about the family affairs. Later, I couldn’t stop regretting it, and it was hard to blame others.

A few months later, a distinguished guest came to the Oriole Island.

At that time, the maid informed only that one of the master’s old friend came to visit. I was wondering. Although it’s a saying that when the tree falls( which means members run away when the family or situation falls), the monkeys will scatter, our family was desolated on the island for more than 10 years. Where did this old friend come from?

After a while, a young man stepped forward. Although I was old enough, I was still amazed : what a handsome young man! He was about twenty-seven years old, tall and straight, with a star-shaped eyebrow. With an military uniform, he was so handsome.

His name is Ren Shiqiong, the grandson of Ren’s Trading Company in capital city. I listened to the story he was telling. It was our master who took care of his father many years ago. Later, his father started a business overseas and returned, but Master Murong had gone already. He had been searching for the family for many years, that’s why he came here to return the favor.

I never expected that a philanthropic action of the old master would bring an handsome young man to thank us after many years. I was very happy and called Aunt Zhong to tell the ladies come out to meet the guest.

I remembered that Qiang’er was still wearing a cyan skirt, and she might be tired because of dealing with the matter of fixing the wharf. But Wei’er was wearing a new velvet riding outfit. She looked so gorgeous and glorious. Mr. Ren was very indifferent to Qiang’er, he just nodded slightly, but he was very affectionate and tender to Wei’er. I saw it from my heart and felt upset, but Qiang’er didn’t seem to care and still stood aside with a smile.

Since that day, the Mr. Ren came to the island frequently. Everybody knew that he was deeply fond of Wei’er. However, he was hard to Qiang’er, often created difficulties for her. Qiang’er’s temperament was too soft, but the pain in her eyes was becoming increasingly obvious.

I finally couldn’t bear it, and said to her one day, “Mr. Ren treats you so rudely. Even if he treats Wei’er well, I don’t like him very much.”

Qiang’er laughed: “Mother, it doesn’t matter how this man treats me. As long as he treats Wei’er wholeheartedly, I feel at ease. Besides, he is just too frank and outspoken, not unreasonable. Don’t mind it. “

“It’s just … he was born in a business family, and although he was elevated to the rank of marquis recently, after all, his family is not noble enough…. I am afraid that Wei’er will feel wronged.” I expressed my hesitation for many days.

“Mother is worried about this? Not to mention that people wasn’t born with nobility, as for a marriage between families of equal social rank, the current Ren family is worthy of the Murong family. Besides, the appearance and intelligence of him are all superior. It’s not a grievance for Wei’er to marry him.

If there was a marriage proposal in the past, Qiang’er also had a lot of criticism, but she praised this man a lot. I secretly sighed because I doubted Qiang’er actually didn’t know her heart.

After that, I quietly observed Qiang’er behavior, but I was more shocked. Every time Mr. Ren came to the island, Qiang’er rejoiced. Her nature was introverted, but when she saw him, her eyes was full of brightness and could not restrain herself. However, that man’s sharp words and sarcasm was constantly hurting Qiang’er. Although Qiang’er responded him with a smile every time, she became more melancholy in private.

One day, the matchmaker went to the island and proposed for the Mr. Ren. I was very happy and glad to agree, but I was worried about Qiang’er’s reaction. Fortunately, she was generally happy about it. I felt a little relieved.

But Wei’er was very dissatisfied with the marriage. She was arrogant and proud since she was a child, and now she was out of control. Until Qiang’er scolded her, she finally calmed down.

At this time, the Murong family members in capital city heard that Wei’er was proposed, so they sent us the ancestral rules, saying that elders and juniors should be each in their places. Qiang’er must be married first.

I trembled and took the letter to Qiang’er. After reading it, she smiled scornfully and put the letter into the fire. She said: “Don’t worry about it, the elders are just afraid that we will get our power back by marrying with Ren Family. So they wanted to stir things up. Not to mention that I have the sovereign jade, they can’t do things to me. If they really want to talk about the rules of our family, just tell them that I’ve become a nun and will not get married. Will they come to The island to check this out?”

I knew that Qiang’er was joking with me, but when I thought that she may be alone forever in the future, I couldn’t stopped crying. Qiang’er didn’t know what I was thinking, she must think that I was still worried about the ancestral rules. Again, she comforted me.

Later, Wei’er eloped with the painting teacher. I was horrified by the incident. When I was thundered, I worried that Wei’er met the bad man, and would regret it for life. On the other hand, I was angry to her for doing such influential thing. Thinking about the engagement with Ren family, I felt more worried.

Qiang’er also became extremely anxious at first, and then returned to her normal state after calming down. She strongly advised me not to worry. Mr. Xu was a reliable person in love with Wei’er. They would be able to live well. She also said that everything about We’ier had already been cleared up, and if something changed, someone would report it back. Only then did I understand that things about Wei’er were acquiesced by Qiang’er. She was so arranged that she might have thought in her mind.

Mr. Ren came to the island the next day. Qiang’er told him everything. I was frightened and fainted. After I woke up, the man disappeared, and and Qiang’er fell to her knees, dumb and speechless. Seeing my eyes open, she smiled and said, “Mother, the Ren family will not blame us for Wei’er , as long as one of the lady of Murong family marries to him.” I saw her expression before I realized that Qiang’er had no countermeasures. She might have thought about this. As a mother who had been relied on her for many years, I’ve forgot that Qiang’er was still a weak girl. Even though she was smart, the burden on her shoulder was still heavy and abnormal.

For more than ten years, it was Qiang’er who had spoiled me and Wei’er. I was so timid and cowardly. I just wanted to live easily and had never thought about my daughter’s feelings.

Tonight is Qiang’er last night on the island.

I slowly stepped into Qiang’er’s study room, only heard the waves hitting the stones, waves burst into waves. Remembering her eight years here, and my heart was hurt again. Lan’er was right, I was biased. I was intimate with Wei’er in the days, and put Qiang’er alone in this empty room. More ridiculously, I thought I understand her.

Qianeg’er heard the sound of footsteps, looked up and saw me lean against the door, she put down her pen and smiled, “Mother, why haven’t you rested?”

I stepped forward, caressed her black hair, and held her in my arms: “Mom misses you.” This black hair was fine and soft, and it felt strange to touch it. It reminded me that I haven’t caressed Qiang’er hair like this for more than ten years, and I haven’t held her in my arms like this before.

It turned out that it was so simple to favour Qiang’er, and I haven’t thought about it for once, How ridiculous and stupid am I.

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