A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 78 Heart-pounding Emotions

Wang Qinggang returned to the courtyard.

Qin Fu, Wang Shanbao, and the others who were waiting in the courtyard immediately knelt down with their families, saying, "We are deeply grateful for your kindness, sir!"

Wang Qing glanced at Siqi, who was prostrate on the ground, and laughed, "No need to be polite, let's talk in the back!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Fu and the others could hardly contain their joy.

The servants in Wang Qingyuan looked surprised, but then seemed to understand something.

When Madam Xing brought up Yingchun's marriage, she didn't mention sending the servants away. Wang Qing's special treatment of Qin Fu and the others naturally aroused their suspicions.

After a slight hesitation, Sister Liu stepped forward and said, "Sir! Second Madam said that Second Master is available!"

She was afraid that Wang Qing had forgotten her instructions from the previous night, so she came over specifically to remind him.

Wang Qing, however, didn't seem to mind, saying, "It's nothing, it'll just be a few words, it won't interfere with our business!"

With that, he went straight into the backyard.

He didn't go to the main room, but went straight into the study, sat down in a chair with an air of superiority, and looked at the group of people standing with their hands behind their backs, saying, "There are no outsiders here. If you have any difficulties, feel free to speak frankly!"

"No! No! I just came to thank you, sir, for your kindness!"

Qin Fu quickly presented the gift of thanks. Wang Qing casually pointed to the desk in front of him and said, "You all heard it too, the Second Master still has something to discuss with me. Since there's nothing else, you can all leave now! Let Siqi stay behind; she can help me get some things to take to the Second Master later!"

Siqi was originally worried about how to deceive everyone and hand over Yingchun's sachet to him, but when she heard that Wang Qing wanted to leave her alone, she became uneasy and quickly lowered her head.

Wang Qing's reasoning wasn't unreasonable, and Qin Fu and the others were eager for Wang Qing to use Siqi more so they could gain favor with her in advance, so they naturally didn't object and hurriedly took their leave.

Seeing her family leave, Siqi became even more flustered, twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands, and even forgot to give Yingchun the sachet.

Wang Qing remained silent until Qin Fu and the others disappeared outside the door, then he grabbed Siqi.

Siqi plopped down on Wang Qing's lap, startled and flailing her arms and legs, trying to jump off as if on cue.

But Wang Qing was clearly prepared. He quickly wrapped his arms around Siqi's arms, pressed his chin firmly against her rounded shoulders, and breathed out, "Didn't we agree that you'd be my slave? What? You're going to kick me away now?"

Upon hearing this, Siqi paused, biting her lower lip tightly.

Wang Qing quickly laid it flat.

Siqi was terrified and quickly suppressed her sobs, stammering, "Sir... please don't..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Qing blocked his mouthpiece, and a warm, slippery sensation immediately washed over him.

Siqi fought back desperately, but she couldn't withstand Wang Qing's attacks from all sides. Just when she managed to hold off the offensive on one side, she was constantly losing ground on the other. One step behind led to another, and in the end, all her efforts were in vain. She could only give up and gasp for breath.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Qingfang slowly raised his head, a playful expression on his face, and pulled out a sachet. He held it up to Siqi's eyes, ignoring her closed eyes, and shook it, laughing, "What, do you usually carry two sachets? Or did I sew this one especially for you?"

Siqi subconsciously reached into her bosom, opened her eyes in a daze, and saw the sachet that Yingchun had just embroidered swaying back and forth in front of her.

Feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and guilty, she let out a heavy sigh before saying, "This...this is what the young lady asked me to give to the master!"

"Oh?" A fleeting look of surprise crossed Wang Qing's face as he tentatively inquired, "Second Sister, do you know about the marriage proposal from the First Madam?"

If he admits it, wouldn't that mean the girl is having an affair?

Siqi hesitated for a moment.

But Wang Qing read the message he wanted from her expression and continued to press, "Did you say it, or did the First Madam say it?"

"It was...it was what I said!" Siqi was afraid of causing a misunderstanding, so she dared not hide it.

Wang Qing's tone became increasingly playful: "You two really have a deep master-servant relationship. Didn't you tell her anything else?"

"This..." Siqi was speechless.

Wang Qing didn't delve into it, lifted her off his lap, and slapped her round, plump buttocks hard, brooking no refusal, saying, "Wait for me at the usual place tonight. I'll come find you after I finish my drinks!"

He didn't give Siqi a chance to refuse, only saying, "Go change your clothes, and wait for me in the front when you're ready!"

After saying that, he stood up and left.

……

In front of Madam Wang's courtyard gate.

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Siqi!"

Like a waiting-for-husband stone, Wang Qing stood at the door, eagerly awaiting his return. Madam Wang greeted him and then took a black cloth cover from Siqi's hands.

Madam Wang glanced at Siqi, who had taken her leave, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with that girl Siqi...?"

"oh!"

Wang Qing said calmly, "I didn't expect that the people I arrested last time were actually her family members. I released them a couple of days ago, and they brought their families to my place to express their gratitude. They happened to have something to bring for the Second Master to see, so I asked Siqi to help carry it over."

Wang Qing shook the heavy cloth cover in his hand, glanced at the courtyard, and asked in confusion, "Has the Second Master not yet dismissed from office?"

"You're back, you're back! Master said he has important business to attend to, so it's more appropriate to stay in the study!"

When Jia Zheng invited Wang Qing for a meal and drinks, he used this excuse, and Lady Wang readily adopted it.

Wang Qing was about to take his leave when he suddenly said somewhat awkwardly, "I wonder if Second Madam has any extra raw materials? The quality doesn't need to be too good, just enough to reward the servants!"

The small courtyard in the northeast corner was left unused. Although it was fully furnished, it lacked warm items such as bedding.

Why not take advantage of this opportunity? Let's get some furs from Madam Wang for free to keep warm.

Madam Wang was always accommodating to his requests, hurriedly saying, "Yes, yes, yes! I'll go get it right away!"

"Second Master, I'm afraid you've been waiting too long. I'll come to Second Madam's place to collect it after I finish my meal!"

After bidding farewell to Madam Wang, Wang Qing arrived at Mengpo Studio.

But the gate of Mengpozhai was wide open, and the courtyard was deserted and empty.

"Uncle!" Wang Qing called out as he walked inside.

Jia Zheng then slowly emerged from the study. Upon seeing the black cloth cover in Wang Qing's hand, a slight smile appeared on his face: "My dear nephew, you've arrived!"

Wang Qing saw this but didn't ask any questions. He went straight to the study, took off the black cloth cover, revealing a hastily made coal stove and a bag of honeycomb briquettes inside.

"This is the one you were talking about..."

Wang Qing nodded.

Fearing that too much alcohol might cause trouble, he simply took out his tinderbox and some pre-prepared wood chips and gave a demonstration from beginning to end.

Once the fire was lit, he tossed it aside and took out the prepared text.

"Uncle, please take a look!"

Jia Zheng took it suspiciously, shook it, and looked closely before exclaiming, "I never expected my nephew to have such beautiful handwriting!"

Wang Qing thought to himself, "Do you even understand what's important?"

He humbly replied, "My calligraphy is no match for your powerful strokes, Uncle. I'm just scribbling. I would like to ask you for a piece or two of your calligraphy to decorate my home."

"My dear nephew, you flatter me!" Jia Zheng said modestly, but his face betrayed a hint of pride. "I was merely amusing myself; it doesn't matter to others, but since my dear nephew has spoken..."

Seeing that he had gone off-topic again, Wang Qing quickly interrupted, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle. Why don't you take a look at the contents here and see if there are any omissions?"

Jia Zheng then carefully examined the text in his hand. As he read, his face gradually flushed and his breathing became rapid.

After a long pause, he finally raised his head, took a deep breath, and said, "This...nephew, isn't this a bit of an exaggeration?"

……