Chapter 44: Sui Hui as a Concubine

Chapter 44: Sui Hui as a Concubine

Sui Yu entered the city and found an oil tea shop to sit in. The aroma of fried noodles filled the air, creating a warm atmosphere. Most of the people scattered around the shop were merchants who had been delayed in Dunhuang due to the weather. They had no families or homes, so they spent their idle winter days here, drinking a bowl of oil tea to fill their bellies and chatting about their travels.

Sui Yu listened intently, buying a bowl of oil tea and sitting quietly in a corner without making a sound. Once the warmth of the lively chatter chased away the chill in her heart, she paid and left.

"Shopkeeper, may I ask which direction is Hu Daren's residence?" Sui Yu returned to inquire.

"Which Hu Daren?"

Sui Yu was at a loss; she did not know Hu Daren's official position.

The shopkeeper looked at her suspiciously and asked, "You're not from around here? Why are you looking for Hu Daren?"

"I have a cousin who works in Hu Daren's residence. She mentioned it once, and now I don't know where to go to find her."

"In the southern part of the city, White Hart Lane houses Hu the Inspector. On the western side of South Water Street, there's Hu the Officer. In Military Settlement, there are various thousand-households. You'll have to ask around yourself."

"Thank you very much for your guidance," Sui Yu said gratefully.

She stood on the street, thinking. That day outside the brothel, Hu Daren clearly acted according to the face of Officer Li's subordinate. This Hu Daren should not be Hu the Officer but perhaps Hu the Inspector. Thinking of Sui Liang alone at home, Sui Yu turned back, planning to visit White Hart Lane the next day.

Entering Thirteen Villages, Sui Yu was stopped by the old lady across the door when she opened it. She turned around and smiled, asking, "Old lady, is there something you need?"

"Where have you been these past few days, coming and going so early and late?" the old lady asked curiously.

"Just taking the camels out for a run," Sui Yu replied, her smile fading. "Old lady, you're busy. I'm going to cook dinner."

"It's winter, and you're not working, yet you still eat three meals a day."

Her voice carried loud and clear, and Sui Yu heard every word. She closed the door and muttered under her breath, "Old hag, sticking her nose where it doesn't belong."

Sui Li and Cat Official came out of the kitchen, staring at her with wide eyes.

"Is the wood shavings I soaked ready to pound?" she asked.

Sui Li nodded and led her into the shed. He had pounded them for a while, and the wood shavings were now thoroughly crushed.

The water used to soak the wood shavings and sorghum stalks smelled foul, like rotting wood. Touching it left a lingering odor that could not be washed off. However, Sui Yu did not mind at all. She scooped up some wood shavings and went outside to examine them. The fine wood shavings had become thin strands after repeated pounding, but they were still not soft enough.

"Keep soaking them. I'll make dinner for you." Sui Yu headed to the kitchen, saying, "I had a bowl of oil tea outside, and it was quite delicious. Let me try frying some noodles too. Liang, come help me stoke the fire. Use straw ash to smother the flames, not a strong fire."

Oil tea is made by pouring hot water over fried noodles. Sui Yu scooped half a ladle of gray flour and mixed it with salt. When the bottom of the pot was heated, she poured the gray flour in and began frying it.

"Move the fire to the west; the middle of the pot is too hot."

Sui Li moved the fire while sprinkling straw ash to control it.

The gray flour slowly changed color, turning a golden brown. The kitchen filled with a rich, salty aroma. Sui Yu took a large clay bowl and scooped the hot fried noodles into it.

She added water to the pot, and the remaining cooked noodles mixed with the water, making it cloudy. As the water boiled and became thick, Sui Yu ladled some of it into the bowl and stirred the noodles. The rising steam carried a tantalizing scent.

"If only we had tasted this earlier. I should have packed two bowls for your brother-in-law. Eating a couple of buns and stirring a bowl of oil tea would have filled his belly and warmed him up." Stirring the noodles, Sui Yu added a lump of lard with chopsticks, blending it into the noodle tea, just like what the shops sold.

Sui Li got one bowl, and Sui Yu stirred another for herself, sharing it with Cat Official.

"Today is the twenty-eighth. Your brother-in-law left on the twenty-fourth. It's been five days; he might already be home." Sui Yu repeated her thoughts.

Zhao Xiping was indeed close to home. He stayed overnight at a farmhouse and rode his camel the next morning, arriving home by afternoon.

Zhao's mother looked outside and saw that he had not brought a wife back. A smile appeared on her face.

Zhao Xiping felt it was glaring. Standing under the eaves, he said, "Next year, I'll bring her back for the New Year."

"If you want to bring her back, don't come back at all." Zhao's mother's face fell. "Accepting her into our home is already my biggest compromise."

"Then I won't come back next year. If anyone in the village asks, say whatever you want." Zhao Xiping's stubbornness flared up again. He stared at the camel being led away by his elder brother, contemplating whether to return tomorrow.

His mother sensed his intention and punched him hard, warning, "If you dare leave tomorrow, you'll have no mother."

Zhao Xiping had no choice but to give up.

"What kind of spell has that woman cast on you? It's only been a few months—three months? After sleeping with her for three months, you choose her over your own mother?" Zhao's mother brought him a bowl of hot soup cake, angrily saying, "What have I raised?"

Zhao Xiping found her crude language annoying and ate silently without responding.

Zhao Xiaomi ran in, excitedly asking, "Third Brother, did you bring me anything?"

Several other children also looked eagerly.

Zhao Xiping handed over the bundle, which contained four buns. He told the children to share them.

"This is the money Sui Yu gave you for buying pigs, seven strings of coins." He then handed another bundle to his mother, saying, "Sui Yu said if there's any leftover money, it's for you."

Zhao's mother's face lit up, but she still found fault, saying, "What do you mean 'for me'? Isn't it still your money?"

"It's not mine; she earned it selling buns." Zhao Xiping drank the last of his noodle soup, seeing his mother and siblings' disbelief. He decided to talk more about Sui Yu's business.

"She's sweet-talking, observant, clever, and thick-skinned. She's pretty good at doing business." Talking about Sui Yu, Zhao Xiping felt more at ease.

"No wonder my sister-in-law doesn't come back; she's busy making money." Zhao Xiaomi admired her. She had saved for three years and still had less than a hundred coins, while her sister-in-law had earned a hundred coins in three months.

"She can't sell anymore; slave convicts aren't allowed to do business." Zhao Xiping explained.

Zhao's mother was stunned, not expecting this outcome. Looking at the heavy copper coins in the bundle, she huffed, "I've always said you shouldn't marry her. If she weren't a slave convict, none of this would have happened."

Zhao Xiping suddenly lost interest in talking. There was no reasoning with someone unreasonable.

"I'm going to sleep." He got up and left.

The person left, and Zhao Xiaomi whispered, "If my sister-in-law weren't a slave, my Third Brother wouldn't even be able to see her face."

"As if you're the only one who knows." Zhao's mother glared at her, then turned and shuffled out to tell the neighbors about her third daughter-in-law making money selling buns.

"No wonder she didn't come back for the New Year."

"Yes, yes, business is good during the New Year; she can't bear to close her stall." Zhao's mother nodded with a smile.

The person whose in-laws had lied about her making money was currently basking in the sun outside the secondary gate of Hu Mansion. The gatekeeper, who had collected a fee for running errands, said he had sent someone to fetch her. However, half an hour passed, and Sui Hui still hadn't come out.

In Yixin Courtyard, Lord Hu put down his warm teacup and rose to bid farewell to his mother. Before turning, he glanced at the maid brewing tea, and the old lady caught him doing so.

The little maidservant waiting outside the courtyard quietly approached the corridor after Lord Hu left. She pulled aside a young servant boy and asked, "Brother, is Sui Hui in the old lady's courtyard?" Seeing him nod, she added, "Please pass a message: someone is looking for her at the secondary gate. It's her cousin and younger brother."

The servant boy waved to the maid holding the curtain and spoke a few words. The maid pointed towards the inner room. Peering inside, the servant boy saw the old lady talking to Sui Hui. He turned to the little maidservant and said, "Tell them to wait. The old lady is talking to her. I'll let her know once she comes out."

The little maidservant responded with an "Ah" and ran off.

"The old lady is talking to Sui Hui. Please wait a bit longer; she'll come out when she's done."

Sui Yu thanked him and sat against the wall on a stone, continuing to wait.

"You're a clever girl, skilled in writing, arithmetic, and brewing tea. You were once a high-born lady; it's a waste to have you serve me." The old lady held Sui Hui's hand. This girl had a gentle nature, spoke softly, and looked good. If not for her son's intentions, she would be reluctant to let her go.

"The old lady is kind. Serving you is a blessing for this servant." Sui Hui said, bowing her head.

The old lady smiled and shook her head, saying, "What blessing? You're still a slave. We've been master and servant, and you're a caring girl. I feel sorry for you. Go serve your eldest master. Follow him, and he'll free you from slavery. Bear me a grandchild, and you'll have a future."

Her words were clear, and Sui Hui blushed.

Seeing her reaction, the old lady knew she was pleased. She patted her hands and said, "I'll have some fine clothes made for you. Don't do any rough work these days. Rest well, and after the New Year, I'll have the madam come to fetch you."

Sui Hui knelt and bowed, saying, "Thank you, old lady, for your kindness."

"Take good care of the eldest master and don't upset the madam. If anything goes wrong, I won't protect you." The old lady warned her again.

Sui Hui acknowledged and, seeing the old lady close her eyes, quietly left.

"Sister Sui Hui, a little maidservant just came to pass a message. Your cousins are here to see you. They're waiting at the secondary gate." The servant boy had been watching and reported as soon as she came out.

Sui Hui's heart still thumped wildly. She thanked him gently and walked out of Yixin Courtyard. Along the way, she pressed her hand to her chest to calm herself. After all this, she just wanted to lie down and rest. If it had been Sui Ling visiting today, she wouldn't have come out.

"Uncle, I heard my family is here to see me. Are they still around?" Sui Hui asked politely.

"They are, right outside the gate."

Hearing this, Sui Yu jumped up and rubbed her waist, leading Sui Liang over. Seeing Sui Hui, she said, "It's hard to see you. I waited until the sun set."

Sui Hui smiled apologetically, "You know, we have no freedom when the master has orders."

Sui Yu thought about it and didn't say more. She looked Sui Hui up and down. Being in a wealthy household had indeed improved her appearance; Sui Hui looked fresh and clean again. Dressed in a dark green silk dress, she resembled a camellia that had survived the frost. With a gentle smile, she exuded the grace of a noble lady.

"Cousin said you seemed off and asked me to check on you. I don't see anything wrong," Sui Yu muttered.

"Did you see my elder brother?" Hearing about Sui Wen'an, Sui Hui's demeanor changed. Her smile faded, and a look of fear appeared.

"Yes, I visited him two days ago, bringing some food and shoes." Sui Yu sighed, "He's very thin."

"More than just thin..." Sui Hui covered her face and stepped away from the gate, heading further out. She had kept everything bottled up and needed to vent. Crying, she said, "Yu, I visited my elder brother a few days ago. I... I'm worried he won't make it through next year."

Sui Yu sighed.

"Just now, the old lady assigned me to serve Lord Hu..." Sui Hui took Sui Yu's hand and said, "I plan to follow the path your aunt took. Once I'm pregnant, I'll ask Lord Hu to free my elder brother from slavery."

Sui Yu was shocked. She looked at Sui Hui and said, "No wonder my cousin felt something was off. You've been planning this all along..."

Sui Hui nodded. From the first time she visited her elder brother, she had this idea. She had worked tirelessly to move from being a laundry maid to serving the old lady, all to catch Lord Hu's attention. She knew what attracted men.

"Are you willing?" Sui Yu asked.

Sui Hui nodded firmly, "This is the path I chose."

"That's good." Sui Yu didn't know what else to say.

"Yu, please visit my elder brother often. Once I gain Lord Hu's favor, I'll help free you and Ling from slavery." Sui Hui clasped Sui Yu's hand earnestly.

The temptation was too great. As Sui Yu was about to agree, she thought of Xiping and hesitated, saying, "I'll prepare things and have Sui Ling deliver them."

"I understand my sister's character. If she were reliable, I wouldn't ask you."