Chapter 600 - 603: Making Amends

Chapter 600: Chapter 603: Making Amends

Hua Manman picked up the teacup but didn’t drink, merely holding it in her hands.

The warmth of the tea seeped through the cup into her palm, warming her fingers that had been chilled by the cold wind.

She asked gently, "Yue Niang, besides playing music and singing, do you have any other hobbies?"

Yue Niang glanced at the teacup in her hand and answered in a small voice.

"I also know how to do needlework. I do some sewing when I have free time."

Hua Manman asked, "Did you make the clothes you’re wearing?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Hua Manman praised her sincerely.

"You’re very skilled. The clothes are beautifully made. If you ever stop singing, you could consider becoming an embroideress."

Yue Niang lowered her eyes and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"How could a lowly person like me be worthy of being an embroideress?"

She had once taken her own embroidery to an embroidery shop, hoping to sell it for some money to support her household. But when the Shopkeeper learned she played music and sang for a living, he refused to accept her work.

She would never forget the look in the Shopkeeper’s eyes, filled with disgust and contempt.

Although she had never entered a brothel, in the eyes of others, she was no different from the whores in one.

She herself was dirty, so of course, the embroidery she made was also considered dirty.

Hua Manman said, "I think your embroidery is excellent. If you have any extra pieces, you can sell them to me. I’ll pay you the market price."

Yue Niang thought she had misheard. She stood frozen, staring blankly at Hua Manman.

After a long moment, she finally spoke.

"I know you are a kind person, Sir, but I know my place. You don’t need to spend money on useless things out of pity."

Hua Manman’s expression turned serious.

"I’m not doing this out of pity. I genuinely believe your embroidery is excellent.

You know we’ve come to Lingxi City on business.

Besides purchasing tea on this trip, we also need to buy other things.

I saw that your embroidery is quite good, so I thought I’d acquire some while I’m here. Are you willing?"

Yue Niang felt like she was dreaming.

This was the first time in her life she had ever received someone’s validation.

It wasn’t the lewd sort of teasing, but a sincere acknowledgment of her as a person.

Yue Niang felt a sting in her nose, and her eyes grew hot.

Along with her gratitude, a powerful sense of guilt washed over her.

She couldn’t help but want to say something.

"I... I..."

She wanted to tell them the tea was poisoned, that they should leave here at once.

But out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the corner of a robe by the door.

It was as if an invisible hand had seized her by the throat, choking off her voice. A look of terror filled her eyes.

Hua Manman, Li Ji, and Li Liao followed her gaze and also saw the corner of the robe peeking out from the doorway.

Just then, the grandmother emerged, stooped over and leaning on a cane, walking slowly.

She was holding a plate of mung bean cakes.

"I heard we have guests. We don’t have much else to offer, only this plate of mung bean cakes is presentable. I hope our honored guests won’t mind."

The grandmother placed the mung bean cakes on the table. A smile spread across her wrinkled face, making her look very kind and amiable.

Yue Niang hastily stood up and helped her grandmother to a seat.

"Weren’t you resting in your room? Why did you come out?"

"We have guests. I had to come out and greet them, otherwise it would seem our family has no manners, wouldn’t it?"

The grandmother paused, her gaze sweeping over the three guests. Her smile grew even more amiable.

"Don’t just sit there. Please, eat."

Hua Manman smiled and agreed.

Just as she lowered her head to drink the tea, she heard Yue Niang suddenly cry out.

"Wait! This tea has gone cold. Let me get you a fresh cup."

Before Hua Manman could react, Yue Niang snatched the cup from her hand and threw the tea out the door.

The grandmother was furious inside.

Normally, she would have disciplined Yue Niang harshly.

But in front of outsiders, the grandmother couldn’t lose her temper. She could only suppress her anger and put on a helpless expression.

"This child, Yue Niang, is always so careless. How could she snatch a cup from a guest’s hand? It’s so rude."

Hua Manman said, "It’s no matter. I think Yue Niang is fine just the way she is—simple and straightforward. It’s much better than certain wicked things that appear kind on the surface but are full of evil intentions."

The grandmother, who appeared kind on the surface but was full of evil intentions: "..."

’I suspect you’re insulting me, though I have no proof.’

Yue Niang picked up the teapot and poured Hua Manman another cup of hot tea.

She was so nervous that her hand was shaking violently, and she accidentally spilled some tea on Hua Manman while pouring.

The hem of Hua Manman’s robe was soaked.

The grandmother’s face darkened as she scolded, "Yue Niang, what are you doing? How can you not even handle a simple task like pouring tea?!"

Yue Niang hurriedly knelt, saying in a panic,

"It’s my fault. I’ll take you to the next room to change, Sir."

In this cold weather, wearing wet clothes was indeed inappropriate.

Even though the grandmother was deeply dissatisfied, she could only agree.

"Go on, and come back quickly."

Yue Niang stood up and turned to Hua Manman.

"Sir, please follow me to change your clothes."

Hua Manman said, "It’s just the hem of my robe. It’s no big deal."

Yue Niang was anxious and insisted.

"I was careless in my service just now. I beg you, Sir, give me a chance to make amends.

I have some of my father’s old clothes at home. You can make do with them for now.

Once I’ve dried your clothes, I will return them to you."

Hua Manman gave a helpless smile. "I don’t blame you. You don’t need to be so nervous."

With that, she stood up and followed Yue Niang outside.

Just as Yue Niang was about to step out of the room, she heard the grandmother say meaningfully,

"Change your clothes and come back quickly. Don’t delay the guests’ important business."

Yue Niang knew the "important business" her grandmother spoke of was poisoning the three of them.

She pressed her red lips together and replied,

"I understand."

After Hua Manman and Yue Niang had left, the grandmother looked at Li Ji and Li Liao, who were still seated, and said with a beaming smile,

"On such a cold day, it was so good of you to escort Yue Niang home. Quickly, drink some hot tea to warm yourselves."

But Li Liao pushed his cup of hot tea in front of the grandmother.

"You are our elder, Ma’am. How could we let you just watch us drink tea and eat snacks? I haven’t touched this cup. Please, don’t mind."

The smile on the grandmother’s face froze slightly.

There was no way she could drink this poisoned tea.

She immediately refused.

"Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need. I’ve never been fond of tea. It tends to keep me awake. You should drink it."

Li Liao looked surprised. "So you’re just like me, Ma’am? You can’t sleep after drinking tea either? What a coincidence!"

Grandmother: "..."

She refused to believe it was such a coincidence!

Li Liao said, "These mung bean cakes look quite nice, though. They look delicious."

The grandmother immediately perked up. "I bought these mung bean cakes from a time-honored shop. They’re very sweet and delicious. Please, you two, try them."

Just in case, she had also put poison in the mung bean cakes.

As long as they ate the mung bean cakes, they would be bleeding from all seven orifices and dead within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.