Xue Si Niang was beautiful, with bright eyes. Though past thirty, her martial arts practice kept her blood and qi excellent. Walking quickly had brought a rosy flush to her cheeks, making her look several years younger than her actual age.
Yu Yi and Meng Qing stood up and called out, “Mother.”
Xue Si Niang, having heard from Xiang Lan about Fang Wen Da and Fang Han Zhu bumping their heads in Fang Cheng Yun’s room, had hurried over to check on them. Hearing they were fine, she felt relieved seeing them standing and greeting her. She opened her medicine box and told Meng Qing, “Wen Da, sit down. This ointment is cooling and reduces swelling. Let Mother apply it.”
Meng Qing, smelling the strong medicinal scent, quickly said, “Mother, I’m about to go out. Let’s skip the ointment.”
Xue Si Niang, after checking Wen Da’s head was just normally bruised, didn’t insist on applying the ointment. But hearing he wanted to go out, she still advised, “You’re going out?”
Although you seem fine now, you just bumped your head. It’s best to stay home and rest, and go out in a few days when you’re fully recovered.”
Meng Qing asked, “Mother, you’ve heard about how I fell, right?”
Xue Si Niang nodded and sighed, “Wen Da, Mother knows you. You haven’t done anything wrong, so don’t worry too much. Your elder brother will understand in a few days.”
Two people took Fang Bao and Xiang Lan by car and left, arriving at Tianxiang Lou at noon. Several waiters in the shop were busy, and when they saw them enter, they called out, “Guests, please go upstairs!” and then paid no more attention to them.
Chapter 106: Old Husband, Young Wife (3)
Meng Qing, based on Fang Wendao’s memory, walked to the stairs where Fang Chengrun had fallen the other day.
The broken handrail had been repaired, with the paint color more vibrant than the original old handrail, clearly showing it was newly replaced.
Meng Qing carefully examined the joint and found that the broken end had been sawn off, a new tenon cut, and the new handrail attached, leaving no trace of the previous damage.
A waiter who had just served dishes looked up and saw these guests standing on the stairs, staring at the handrail. He quickly came up and said, “Sirs, this handrail is newly attached, and the paint is not yet dry. Please don’t touch it.”
Meng Qing looked up and said, “Brother waiter, could you please ask the shopkeeper to come? I have something to discuss.”
The waiter recognized him and thought this young master had come to claim compensation. He smiled and said, “Please go upstairs to the private room. I’ll find the shopkeeper right away.”
Yu Yi and Meng Qing went upstairs. After a short while, Wu, the shopkeeper of Tianxiang Lou, hurriedly entered, bowing apologetically: “Fourth Young Master Fang, how is the condition of the eldest young master?”
Meng Qing also stood up: “My brother has a fractured right leg and can only lie in bed. It will take three to five months to recover.”
Wu hurriedly said, “Our shop was indeed at fault the other day. We are willing to compensate. May I ask…”
Meng Qing said, “Compensation is naturally required, but the specific amount needs to be discussed with my brother. Since Shopkeeper Wu is sincere about compensation, please first write a document stating that my brother’s injury is entirely the responsibility of Tianxiang Lou and that you are willing to compensate.”
Wu hesitated. In business, harmony brings prosperity. He was willing to pay medical expenses but was reluctant to write a document that could lead to excessive demands. He preferred to settle the matter quickly and proposed, “Fourth Young Master Fang seems reasonable. How about our shop compensates 200 taels for the eldest young master’s medical expenses?”
Fang Chengrun’s injury was a bone injury, and the medicinal materials were ordinary bone-healing herbs, not expensive. Even 50 taels would be sufficient. Wu’s offer of 200 taels was quite generous, implicitly including compensation for potential sequelae.
Meng Qing said, “I will inform my brother of your offer. Whether he accepts it…”
Wu gritted his teeth, “300 taels!”
Meng Qing lightly laughed, “I cannot decide the compensation amount on behalf of my brother. I will relay the 300 taels to him.”
Wu thought Fang’s fourth young master had come to claim medical expenses and was trying to negotiate more compensation. When Meng Qing did not immediately agree, Wu said, “If the eldest young master agrees, please send someone to inform me. I will personally deliver the compensation.”
Meng Qing turned to Yu Yi, “It’s already noon. Let’s eat before returning.”
Wu, seeing they wanted to eat and unable to conclude the compensation discussion, instructed the waiter to serve them well and returned to the main hall.
Xiao Er nodded. Yu Yi asked Xiao Er’s name and learned he was called Zhou Zheng, then ordered a few dishes. Zhou Zheng went downstairs to report the dishes.
Meng Qing and Fang Bao returned with a support. Seeing Yu Yi smiling at him, he sat down and asked, “Why are you so happy? Did something good happen while I was away for a moment?”
Yu Yi told him what she had learned from Xiao Er Zhou Zheng. Meng Qing immediately understood and laughed, “I didn’t expect you were not idle upstairs. Today’s trip has been quite fruitful, worth celebrating!”
After paying the bill, they returned to the Fang family with the support, originally intending to find Fang Chengyun to explain things. However, they encountered Xue Siniang coming out, followed by Chun Qiao carrying a bundle and looking like she was about to leave for several days.
Yu Yi was surprised and asked, “Mother, where are you going?”
Xue Siniang grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door, saying, “Zhu’er, come with me to visit your grandparents.”
Yu Yi was astonished, “Mother, why are you suddenly saying we’re going to Grandpa’s house? Han Zhu hasn’t prepared anything…”
Xue Siniang angrily said, “What preparation? What doesn’t your maternal grandparents’ home have? Whatever you lack, I’ll provide. Let’s go!”
Yu Yi was forcibly pulled out by Xue Siniang. Looking back at Meng Qing, she saw him with a drooping mouth corner and made a helpless expression. Yu Yi knew he wanted her to cry and make a fuss to Xue Siniang about not going, but at this moment, following Xue Siniang back was the best way to persuade her to return to the Fang family.
She believed Meng Qing could handle things on the Fang family side, so she just smiled bitterly, shook her head, and followed Xue Siniang onto the horse-drawn carriage.
During the journey, Xue Siniang kept a stern face. Yu Yi carefully asked, “Mother, did you have an argument with Father?”
Xue Siniang angrily said, “That old fool actually believes Wen Da would sabotage and harm Chengyun, and says I didn’t raise Wen Da and you well. Aren’t my two sons also raised by me since childhood? If I hadn’t raised them well, wouldn’t all four children be bad? Surely a mother wouldn’t raise non-biological children better than her own? He won’t even admit he’s wrongly accusing Wen Da!”
Yu Yi thought to herself that there were indeed cases where overindulgence led to poorly raised biological children, while strict requirements resulted in better-developed non-biological children. However, she naturally couldn’t say this and instead comforted Xue Siniang, “Mother, don’t be angry. Father is just momentarily confused. He’ll come to fetch you back in a few days.”
Xue Siniang snorted, “This time, even if that old fool comes to fetch me, I won’t go back. I’ll stay at your grandparents’ home!”
While Xue Siniang was furiously criticizing Fang Fuguang, Yu Yi pressed the second gemstone on her lip language bracelet to help Meng Qing understand the situation.
