Chapter 248 - Why Don’t We Go Together
Chapter 248: Why Don’t We Go Together
“The sooner, the better!” Hu San quickly said with a smile, “Why don’t I stay in an inn in town for a night to give you time to handle the things you need to do at home? Then you can come find me at the inn tomorrow and we’ll leave for Qingzhou together. Or, it would be even better if we could leave now!”
Gu Fangzi had instructed him to get it done as soon as possible without letting Sang Hong’s family know. Although Hu San didn’t understand why, leaving with Sang Pingliang and reporting back sooner would not be wrong.
“Let’s leave now, let’s leave now! No problem, no problem!” Sang Pingliang was also afraid that undue delay might bring about trouble, so he wished he could hurry to meet with Gu Fangzi right away. If he were a step late and someone took his cushy job, he would certainly regret it!
“Okay! Then, we’ll set off immediately once you’ve packed up!” Hu San said with a smile.
Sang Pingliang quickly agreed. Just when he got up, he suddenly thought of something and gently patted his head before asking with a smile, “Little Brother Hu San, can I ask… um… how much is the salary?”
Li Shi had been smiling at the side. It was because her husband received the job because of her, and their family income would definitely increase. If she told others that they were put in charge of stores by the Shi Family in Qingzhou, it would certainly sound impressive. And since her husband was leaving, wouldn’t she be able to torment that vixen? She had to vent all of her resentment!
Upon hearing Sang Pingliang ask about the salary, Li Shi quickly perked her ears up to listen.
Hu San spread his hands and said with an embarrassed smile, “I’m not very sure about this. You’re our Young Mistress’ uncle and chosen for the job by Miss Gu, your salary won’t be low! Besides, this can be discussed! Miss Gu will surely allow for it.”
Li Shi quickly smiled and asked, “Then, do you know how much was the salary of the previous person managing the warehouse?”
This was well-asked. Sang Pingliang could not help but praise his wife with a glance.
After thinking, Hu San replied with a smile, “It should be two or three silvers. There are other perks as well. He received bonuses on festivities and three free meals a day. For Second Old Master Sang, it should be more than that.”
“That’s a lot!” Sang Pingliang and Li Shi were so excited that they felt dizzy. They did not need to fork out money for meals and lodging, which was akin to solely earning money every month. Also, there were bonuses during festivities! Where would they find a job as good as this?
“Brother Hu San, hold on. I’ll pack up and be right back!” Sang Pingliang gladly said.
Li Shi sat in the hall with Hu San while the new concubine went into the room with Sang Pingliang to help him pack.
“Hurry up! Just pick any two nicer sets of clothes and wrap them up!” Sang Pingliang rubbed his hands in delight and said. Then, he added, “Wait, wait! Don’t pack the clothes that look too good. Just pick two ordinary-looking sets instead!”
The Shi Family had money. Miss Gu also had good intentions, so she was definitely not a stingy person. If she were to see him not well-dressed, surely she would have new ones made for him, would she not? So why should he bring his new clothes over? What a waste that would be!
“Yes, my lord!” The new concubine lowered her head and folded his clothes before she spread a large cloth on the bed to bundle them together.
“What’s wrong? Why do you look a little unhappy?” Sang Pingliang pulled her hand and asked gleefully.
“My lord!” The new concubine looked at him with eyes full of affection and pity before saying, “Please bring me along! How can you not have someone to serve by your side? Furthermore, your wife hates me very much. If you leave me here, you might not see me again when you return! Without your protection, she will not spare me! My lord, I don’t wish to leave you!”
The new concubine turned her body and covered her face as she started crying.
Upon finding that reasonable, Sang Pingliang hurriedly consoled her and said after much hesitation, “But I don’t know if Miss Gu will object if I bring you along!”
When the new concubine saw that he was persuaded, she became spirited and quickly responded, “There’s no problem. You can simply rent a house outside, can’t you? Besides, who are you? Can Miss Gu not respect your request?”
Sang Pingliang was fond of hearing such words. However, the thought of having to fork out money to rent a house pained him. He said, “I wonder if the rent in Qingzhou is expensive…”
The new concubine spat in contempt to herself but hurriedly said with a smile, “The sea freight warehouse is usually constructed at the pier near the waters, and not in the flourishing regions of Qingzhou. How expensive can it be? I’m sure Miss Gu is big-hearted. If you could put in some nice words, she might even arrange an available house for you! My lord, if I’m not by your side, won’t you feel bored? Who will wash your clothes for you? And who will massage your back when you’re tired?”
Upon seeing his concubine charming him and showering him with suggestions, how could he bother with anything else? Unconsciously, he said with a smile, “You’re right! Only you will care about me! Alright, it’s settled then. You will pack up and go to Qingzhou with me!”
“My lord!” The new concubine was overjoyed when he agreed. After she had swiftly packed his things, she returned to her room to pack as well.
When it was time to leave, Li Shi saw the new concubine carrying two bundles and blindly following Sang Pingliang.
Li Shi suspiciously looked back and forth at the two of them. Her expression sank and she said, “Why aren’t you giving him the bundles? Can you afford to delay him?”
The new concubine did not utter a word and looked at Sang Pingliang with a pair of clear and pitiful eyes
Sang Pingliang coughed and said calmly, “Yan Zhi will be coming along with me to Qingzhou. You’ll stay at home to look after the place!”
“What!” Li Shi’s eyes widened so much that they almost dropped out.
“What do you mean ‘what’?” Upon seeing her lose her self-control and question him in a sharp voice, Sang Pingliang felt disgusted. Even more firm in his decision to take Yan Zhi along with him, he frowned and rebuked, “Didn’t you hear me clearly? If you didn’t, then I’ll say it clearly once again. I’m bringing Yan Zhi along with me!”
“You can’t!” Li Shi yelled angrily and disapproved without hesitation.
“It’s not up to you to decide!” Sang Pingliang was furious.
“You just can’t!” Li Shi grabbed Yan Zhi’s head with utmost strength and said hatefully, “You vixen! Did you seduce him again? If you think you can live a comfortable life in Qingzhou, that’d be over my dead body! Sang Pingliang, let me tell you. Miss Gu and I clicked well on our first meeting. Did you think I won’t dare to have her cancel the job offer?”
“Ridiculous! Don’t you dare!”
“Don’t think that I won’t!”
The heated argument that almost turned into a fight made Hu San frown in disapproval.
The one who caused this disaster quickly lowered her head and stood to the side ignorantly. On the other hand, this simply solidified Hu San’s impression that this family was not anything good.
“(Cough). Second Old Master Sang and Second Old Mistress Sang, please calm yourselves down! There’s no need to argue!” While they were quarreling with all their might, Hu San only wanted to complete his task as soon as possible. He simply was not in the mood to watch the drama, so he hurriedly stepped forward to pull Sang Pingliang away and said with a smile.
“Brother Hu San, we’ve let you see us make a fool of ourselves! Please be seated and wait a while. It’ll be over soon!” Sang Pingliang controlled his anger and pacified with a smile. He then turned around to look at Li Shi and growled in a low voice, “Stupid woman! Come with me!”
Sang Pingliang had already regarded Hu San as a servant. Therefore, how could he, a master, quarrel in front of a servant? Wasn’t that embarrassing? If he had to quarrel, it had to be in private.
However, Li Shi was unwilling! She had regarded Hu San as Gu Fangzi’s spokesperson, so she scolded in her heart: How dare you treat me like this in front of someone sent by Miss Gu! I’ll let him see your true colors. Then, he can go back and tell her before letting her judge! We’ll see if she will still take care of you!
“What right do you have to make me follow you? What is it that you cannot say in front of everyone? Let me tell you that today, I won’t listen to you! Sang Pingliang, you’re a scoundrel who spoils your mistress and neglects your wife. For someone with a character like you, do you think you can excel? In your dreams!” Li Shi said fiercely with both hands on her waist.
“Are you looking for a fight!” How could Sang Pingliang take that?
“You want to hit me? Just for the sake of this vixen, you want to hit me? Bring it on! Do it! Hit me then!” Li Shi shouted and made a scene as she went up to him.
She usually would not dare to treat Sang Pingliang in such a way. However, she had the backing of Miss Gu now, who felt as if she had known her for a very long time. Since Sang Pingliang was also going to ask Miss Gu to take good care of him, she had nothing to be afraid of and was soon bursting with confidence.
“You…”
“Second Old Master Sang and Second Old Mistress Sang!” Hu San said to himself: Things will turn bad if they start fighting. Fetching a person is such an easy task, so I’ll be done for if I can’t even complete such a task! Upon seeing that the situation was becoming worse, he quickly stepped forward to stop Sang Pingliang’s raised arm and said with a smile, “The two of you should talk over things since you have already been married for so many years. Please calm down!”
When Li Shi saw Hu San stop Sang Pingliang, she felt even more full of herself. She was increasingly certain that Miss Gu would be on her side, so she couldn’t help but complain tearfully. “Brother Hu San, do you know how miserable I am? Ever since this vixen married into the family, there were no peaceful days in this household anymore! This vixen has so many tricks up her sleeves to seduce my husband! He doesn’t listen to me no matter how I advise him, and he’ll only call me unvirtuous if I say too much. He even said that I’m a jealous woman! If I really were one, how could I still let her get married into this family! Look at her. I didn’t do anything to her, she looks fine. Yet, my husband treats me like this! He wants to bring this vixen to live comfortably while abandoning me at home. Brother Hu San, please judge whether I have done anything wrong!”
Hu San’s ears almost exploded from her complaints. He held back the urge to shout at them and took the chance to push away Sang Pingliang in order to distance himself from her. He then said with a rigid smile, “How about this? Why don’t you bring along Second Old Mistress Sang as well!”
In any case, Miss Gu did not say that the two of them could not go together, so he might as well bring them first. Li Shi was obviously a person who was hard to deal with. Since his words did not carry much weight, there was no way he could persuade her. And seeing that Li Shi sounded as if she was very close with Gu Fangzi, if he happened to offend her and she said anything about him to her, it would be disadvantageous for him!