I'm already a concubine, who wants to fight with you?

Chapter 43: Xie Xiaoniang is sick

The Double Ninth Festival is just around the corner. Going out, admiring chrysanthemums, climbing mountains, and inserting dogwood are all activities that the people of Dajing attach great importance to.

Although the farm is poor, we still have to make good preparations when we encounter days like this.

So a few days before the Double Ninth Festival, Xie Fei took Fu Yu to the mountains to pick wild chrysanthemums, and then used the chrysanthemums to make sachets, Double Ninth Festival cakes, chrysanthemum wine, etc.

As for admiring chrysanthemums, it seems difficult to go to the city.

I only heard that Shui Huaiyu grew a few chrysanthemums, and no one knew what varieties they were. They were only said to be well grown, with large flowers and many petals, and very beautiful.

In the yard, the women wearing aprons looked at the chrysanthemums for a long time, but they had no idea what kind of chrysanthemums they were.

Someone suggested inviting Xie Fei to appreciate the chrysanthemums.

Girls from wealthy families are well-informed and might know him.

So, Xie Fei was invited over.

In fact, she didn't know much about chrysanthemums, and she had never been able to attend the chrysanthemum viewing parties held by the daughters of wealthy families in Beijing.

Fortunately, her cold, arrogant and aloof fifth sister grew some chrysanthemums in the yard, some of which were exactly the same as Shui Huaiyu's.

"The petals are long and slender, and the color is emerald green and crystal clear. It should be the green jade chrysanthemum."

"This one with red in the middle and black in the middle is called black chrysanthemum."

"As for this sandalwood color, the petals are as thin and long as silk, like a whisk. It seems to be a rare variety, called a hair whisk."

At this point, Xie Fei asked curiously, "I remember these chrysanthemums are quite precious, especially this hair whisk, which is not even available in ordinary country houses. Lady Shui, how did you grow them?"

Shui Huaiyu said shyly, "To be honest, my husband used to work for a gardener in his spare time. He knew I liked flowers, so he bought seeds from the gardener."

Madam Zou teased, "The seeds are not cheap. You have to do a lot of hard work to buy them. And the gardener refused to sell them at first, so the village head begged him for a long time. It's also thanks to Madam Shui's skillful hands that she managed to grow them."

"This is all because our village head feels sorry for Lady Shui. If it were my husband, he would definitely not spend money on these things."

Several women also joined in the fun, making Shui Huaiyu blush.

Xie Fei looked at the blooming chrysanthemums and felt that although Chen Dafa looked rough, he was actually a thoughtful person.

Shui Huaiyu saw that Xie Fei also seemed to like chrysanthemums, so she said, "If you like them, I'll ask you to transplant a few to your yard?"

Xie Fei said: "You worked so hard to grow them, how can I take them for nothing? If you have extra seeds, give me some and I will plant them myself."

Shui Huaiyu said quickly: "There are still seeds. I collect some every year. I will give them to you now."

Since Xie Fei also grows some medicinal herbs and vegetables, no one doubts whether she can keep chrysanthemums alive.

When Shui Huaiyu brought the seeds, Xie Fei wanted to give her silver, but she refused to accept it.

After a stalemate for a while, Xie Fei gave up.

Before she returned to the yard, Shui Huaiyu mentioned something inadvertently.

"My mother-in-law went to the temple to burn incense today. If she can come back in the evening, she will let the dough rise so that she can make Chongyang cake tomorrow."

Xie Fei was about to leave, but he stopped and asked, "Mother Liu also believes in gods and Buddhas?"

She had never seen Mother Liu burn incense or worship Buddha.

Shui Huaiyu stroked her pregnant belly and said, "It's about my delivery. My mother-in-law went to ask for peace of mind. Besides, there are many people burning incense on this Double Ninth Festival."

Xie Fei blinked.

Even Mother Liu went to worship Buddha, so wouldn't the old lady who believed in Buddhism the most in Pei's house also have to leave? Early the next morning, someone came to Pei's house.

Mother Tang came to Xie Fei's yard and shouted, "Xie Xiaoniang, you made a mistake and were sent to this farm. You are not here to enjoy a peaceful life and be a master! During the Double Ninth Festival, all concubines have to go to pay their respects to the mistress. You don't care about anything. Do you think you are the mistress?"

Fu Yu blocked the door, not letting Mother Tang in, and tried to please her with a smile.

"Mother Tang, please forgive me. Our daughter insisted on going up the mountain to see the distant view yesterday. Unexpectedly, she caught a cold and got a lot of rashes on her body. It's fine if it's not contagious, but if she passes the disease on to the lady, it would be disrespectful!"

Mother Tang couldn't bear to hear this, and said sarcastically, "It's really unfortunate that my young lady got sick. I heard that she was chatting and laughing with the ladies in the village yesterday, and now she's sick?"

I'm afraid he is pretending to be sick on purpose as an excuse to not go and pay his respects to the lady?
Seeing that Tang's mother still didn't believe it, Fu Yu had no choice but to say, "Whether it's really a disease or not, I'll have to ask you to come and see for yourself. But I'll be frank with you, if you get infected, it's not that I didn't warn you."

Seeing Fu Yu speak so seriously, Mother Tang also became a little skeptical.

She winked at another old lady beside her and said, "Go and take a look."

The old mother looked at the closed door and kept backing away, "I'm already old, what if..."

"What the hell, you are so timid, you are not worthy of working for the lady!"

Mother Tang cursed under her breath, then looked at the others who all hung their heads and refused to step forward, and she cursed in her heart.

But she had to go back and report to Xiao Shirong after all. If she didn't find out the situation, Xiao Shirong would definitely punish her directly.

She had no choice but to pluck up her courage and follow Fu Yu into the house cursing.

The room was freezing cold, with a chill that penetrated the bone marrow. The bitter smell of medicine was also very strong, making Mother Tang even more frightened.

When she reached the bed, she heard Xie Fei coughing and had to open the gauze curtain.

"Xie Xiao Niang, I heard that you were not feeling well. Have you consulted a doctor?"

In the bed, Xie Fei tilted his head, revealing a face covered with red rashes.

"Ahem, I, I'm feeling better... Ahem, Mama Tang, are you here for the Double Ninth Festival?"

Xie Fei tried his best to support his body and sit up. His clothes slipped down, revealing his chest and shoulders, which were covered with red rashes and blisters.

Mother Tang was startled and took a few steps back, covering her mouth and nose subconsciously.

Fu Yu stepped forward to help Xie Fei put on her clothes, and said aggrievedly: "Young lady, don't sleep. The mistress asked us to go to the Double Ninth Festival. Let me serve you quickly."

Xie Fei looked sick and was about to get up, which frightened Mother Tang so much that she shook the handkerchief in her hand rapidly.

"No, no, Miss Xie is so sick, the lady will understand, you should lie down!"

Without waiting for Xie Fei's reply, Mother Tang fled out of the room.

After closing the door, Fu Yu skipped into the house. Xie Fei had just picked off the "red rash" that was stuck on his body - a ball of dyed cinnabar flour.

"Don't be anxious, girl. What if Mama Tang comes back with a surprise attack?"

Xie Fei said calmly: "She will go to ask Sun, and after Sun tells her the truth, she will definitely leave."

Mother Tang is not very loyal to Xiao Shirong. She just wants to make a living. There is no need to joke with her life.

Sure enough, after leaving the village, Mother Tang was waiting at the bend, and Mrs. Sun arrived soon.

Sun said that Xie Fei was indeed fine in the afternoon, but perhaps because he had been exposed to the wind for too long under the corridor, he developed a high fever in the evening.

He was vomiting and having diarrhea in the middle of the night. Mother Liu and her family were taking care of him. Chen Dafa went to invite a doctor overnight, causing a stir in the village.

(End of this chapter)