Chu Zhao smiled: “Of course I trust you. This benefits you, so I believe for your own sake, you’ll do very well.”
Having said this, she patted Chu Tang’s hand.
“You do your work well, I’ll do mine well. You benefit, I benefit—isn’t that good?”
She stood and walked away. She didn’t pick up her book again but walked outside the hall and said loudly: “Everyone, are you ready today? Let us compete and see who’s superior.”
By now the competition had lost its earlier elegance. Shouting voices rose from the crowd.
“What superiority? You, little woman, are no match at all.”
“Little Chu girl, let me tell you what reading really means.”
Chu Zhao walked calmly toward this clamor. On the platform by the lake outside the hall, two seating areas had been arranged.
Chu Tang stood inside the hall, watching that girl walk leisurely to her seat. She withdrew her gaze, turned, and sat down in a chair inside the hall.
“Put everything here. Let me take a look.”
The maids responded affirmatively, setting down the papers, bringing counting rods, brushes and ink, then standing aside in attendance.
……
……
Ever since the first day, Qi Leyun and the others came every day.
“That Chu Zhao, really, losing again and again. I don’t know what she’s trying to accomplish by not ending this.” Qi Leyun angrily told her family. “We felt embarrassed for her just watching.”
Just watching? Then there was no problem. Watching the Chu family daughter lose face could be considered venting anger for the Third Prince. Even if the Third Prince blamed someone, he couldn’t blame people just watching the excitement. The adults at home were relieved and stopped restricting the girls.
So even more girls came to watch the excitement.
Four servants carried a large table and set it up at Crabapple Pavilion. It was already too crowded here, with many girls standing in the corridors.
“Who’s treating for all this?” Chu Tang came over with a smile. “This must cost quite a bit.”
Qi Leyun said loudly: “We’re splitting the cost.” Then she beamed: “Who knew it would be cheaper than at Intoxicated Immortal Restaurant.”
Chu Tang smiled: “Cheap? I’ll have them make it even cheaper. For those who paid today, tomorrow I’ll gift everyone a full set.”
The girls were all very happy. Though none of them lacked money, it was about face after all.
Qi Leyun clapped her hands: “Ah Tang, you’re so thoughtful.”
But not everyone thought Chu Tang was thoughtful. A girl waving her fan to half-cover her face laughed lightly: “Ah Tang, you’re the host. Be more generous with guests—how nice it would be not to charge at all.”
Chu Tang smiled and sighed: “I’d like to.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Unfortunately, I have the heart but not the means.” She glanced toward the Fish-Listening Hall. “I can’t really count as the host here.”
That’s right, these matters were started by Chu Zhao. Qi Leyun glared at the girl who had spoken: “Ah Tang is already pitiful enough.”
First reluctantly staying at her house, now captured by Chu Zhao to work.
That girl also glared at Qi Leyun, thinking what a fool.
She lowered her fan and stared at Chu Tang: “Ah Tang, this matter has nothing to do with you. Why suffer this indignity? If you’re tired of the Qi residence, there’s my house. My father gifted me a residence—you can come live with me.”
Let’s see how you answer, Chu Tang. Presenting working as being forced, then using cheap tea and refreshments to curry favor. Qi Leyun might be a fool, but she wasn’t. Her family owned three restaurants. This Chu Garden’s tea and refreshments flowed like water without stopping. She could almost calculate the profits.
The numbers were staggering!
Chu Tang looked at her and smiled helplessly: “No matter whose house I live in or how long, I’m still surnamed Chu. When people mention me, they’ll only say ‘Chu family daughter.’ The household’s affairs are my affairs. What else can I do if I don’t handle them?”
Having said this, she bowed.
“Enjoy yourselves. I’ll go attend to matters first.”
Chu Tang left. That girl was immediately scolded by everyone.
“How can you bully people like this?” Qi Leyun said angrily. “Ah Tang is already in such straits, and you still mock and bully her. What do you want her to do? Abandon even her family and die?”
The other girls also looked at the girl with dissatisfaction and resentment. Someone shook her head: “Ah Lan, that was cruel.”
That girl was somewhat panicked at being blamed—Chu Tang’s family background was weak, so she could be bullied at will. Making her angry didn’t matter. But these girls were different. If they became angry and ostracized her, her reputation in the capital would be ruined.
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” She could only apologize. “I just wanted refreshments without paying.”
Qi Leyun angrily threw her fan at her: “You’re just shameless!”
Chu Tang completely ignored the girls’ quarrel over there. She didn’t care about being bullied—she was used to it. She knew her family background was weak and others could bully her at will, but precisely because her family was weak, she would receive sympathy.
Compared to bullying, more people preferred to bestow favors.
So as long as she showed vulnerability at the right time, she could make those who bullied her be bullied by others.
These were all trivial matters she was tired of. Now there were more interesting things. Chu Tang walked back to the second floor of Fish-Listening Hall, where maids were organizing account books at the desk.
Still Chu Ke’s maids—the ones Chu Zhao had initially selected.
After Chu Tang took over, she hadn’t replaced them with her own maids.
She had come to work, not to show off. They were all household members—using anyone was the same.
“Let me see today’s account books.” She said.
The maids immediately stood and brought them to her. Chu Tang leafed through them while writing and sketching with her brush. On the second floor, the latticed windows were open, and occasionally scholars’ shouting voices drifted in.
Alas, Chu Tang thought, Chu Zhao was about to lose again. How pitiful.