Chapter 363: Chapter 363 Persuasion
After meeting with Ji Yongqingās family and chatting with Xiao Li about various trifling matters, Wufu felt a headache coming on and hurriedly asked to stop.
"Isnāt it enough that someone takes care of what youāre speaking about? I really donāt have time to manage household affairs," Wufu said with a pained expression on her face.
Xiao Liās lips twitched slightly as he said, "Miss, in our household, itās only proper for the Matriarch to oversee the domestic affairs. Now that Madam is ill and unable to manage things, naturally it falls to you. Even if Madam were well, these household responsibilities would be placed in her hands, and you, as her daughter, must also learn to handle them. Otherwise, when you marry into another family and know nothing of managing anything, it will only make you look foolish."
Wufu looked at him, his face carrying an āI-have-your-best-interests-at-heart-and-you-donāt-even-appreciate-itā expression, and said with a forced smile, "Then youāre really thinking too much, Iām not getting married."
Pfft!
Xiao Li had just taken a sip of tea, but when he heard this, he immediately sprayed it out.
His ears must be playing tricks on him. Did she just say sheās not getting married?
Had she been traumatized or hurt by someone? Why else would she entertain such an absurd notion?
Ah, right, typically delicate young ladies say they will never marry and will stay at home forever when the topic comes up.
He guessed Wufu must be the same.
Yet, observing her carefree demeanor, Xiao Li felt somewhat uncertain about his assumption.
Could it be that she truly intended never to marry? What would become of her then?
...
Taking advantage of some free time, Wufu went to the back garden to see Madam Zhou, who hadnāt rested, and decisively dragged her to the estateās small flower garden.
In the last few days, Madam Zhou had confined herself to her room. It wasnāt that she didnāt wish to move around; she was afraid of other peopleās gazes, which made her choose to stay put.
It was now deep autumn, and the leaves of the two maple trees planted in the small garden had turned deep red. There were also roses and Chinese roses, some not yet flowering, while others were covered in buds or in full bloom, creating a particularly pleasing view.
Madam Zhou had spent her childhood in the countryside. She had only seen those fine, grand mansions in the city through books or heard about them from Wufuās father but had never seen them with her own eyes.
Now, this small flower garden had broadened her horizons, and she felt it might resemble the kind of residence mentioned in the books.
"So beautiful," Madame Zhou couldnāt help but exclaim in admiration, "Wufu, those grand mansions we hear about probably arenāt much different from this, right?"
Wufu smiled and said, "How could that be? There are homes far grander and more luxurious than ours, with estates several times larger than ours alone."
In her past life, she had seen some dukeās mansions or grand estates that were eye-opening. Now, in these ancient times, the grandeur was even more so.
"Our home..." Madam Zhouās eyes became moist as she murmured to herself.
"Yes, our home," Wufu said as she put her arm around her motherās shoulder and they sat down in a small pavilion, "Mother, from now on, this will be our new home. Let us leave the past behind and start a new life. What do you say?"
Madam Zhou held her hand in return, her lips quivering, "Wufu, you donāt despise me? Iām afraid I..."
"A child doesnāt scorn their motherās ugliness; I know that saying too. Mother, you havenāt done anything wrong, thereās no need to blame yourself. Youāre a woman of integrity and youāve done no wrong to anyone, so stop feeling guilty," Wufu advised. "From now on, the two of us will live a peaceful life. I will take care of you until the end; just rest easy and be the Old Lady of the house."
"Such words, do they mean we have to take in a son-in-law then?" Madam Zhou, amused, brushed back some of Wufuās hair, eyes gleaming with relief, "Donāt worry, Mother will recover."
For the sake of her daughter, she had to get better.