A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 21 Void Search

If we just let Sister Liu go out like this, wouldn't it be like mud dripping down her pants, turning something that isn't excrement into something else entirely?

Furthermore, Liu's wife didn't tidy up the bed I went to in the afternoon, nor did she tidy it up in the morning or evening, but she came to make the bed in the middle of the night and even took off her outer clothes, which was obviously pointless.

Something unusual must be going on. From the very beginning, Wang Qing didn't believe Sister Liu's story about her clothes getting wet.

However, he didn't want to look through Sister Liu's clothes, and he was also worried about alerting her.

Therefore, she was made to put it on inside the house so that he could be observed.

Seeing that Sister Liu's clothes were indeed wet in several places, Wang Qing not only did not relax, but became even more vigilant.

It was true that Sister Liu's clothes were soaked, but Wang Qing still noticed some clues.

Some of the wet stains were too high and too heavy to be considered accidental; rather, they looked like they had been deliberately splashed on.

Having witnessed Siqi's outburst in the small kitchen, Wang Qing could tell, despite their limited time together, that Sister Liu was neither a smooth operator nor a meticulous thinker.

Wetting the clothes beforehand, then taking off the outer garment before getting into bed to tidy up—this kind of operation doesn't seem like something she could come up with. Instead, it seems more like the work of the cunning and calculating Wang Xifeng.

Wang Qing controlled Ni Er, intending to lure Wang Xifeng, a big fish.

Wang Xifeng was not the type to easily give in.

Sister Liu arrived at the perfect time, leading Wang Qing to suspect that she was the one behind it all.

She went through all this because she was worried that she would expose her loan sharking activities.

However, no matter how meticulous the plan, it still needs to be implemented.

When a lion hunts a rabbit, it uses its full strength.

Moreover, in Wang Qing's view, Wang Xifeng was not a docile rabbit at all, but rather more like a female leopard that might bite back at any moment.

Although Wang Xifeng could never have imagined that she had known all along that she was lending money at exorbitant interest rates, she would at most suspect that she was eager to make a name for herself and had just been caught in the crossfire.

He only wanted to use Sister Liu to get leverage over him, but Wang Qing still didn't want to give others any leverage so easily.

……

How Wang Qing planned to outwit and outmaneuver his hypothetical enemy is another matter.

Meanwhile, Sister Liu dressed as instructed.

But once outside, he felt unwilling to give up.

Although it wouldn't be impossible to take it off again, if someone gossiped and he heard it, it might backfire.

After thinking it over, I decided to use the same trick again and unbutton the front of my outer garment.

But when they went outside, they found that not only was the courtyard completely silent, but even the bathhouse was dark.

Sister Liu felt annoyed, thinking she had been in the house for too long.

Back in the temporary house in the front yard, I opened the door and saw my mother-in-law lying on the bed, legs crossed, humming a little tune.

Seeing that she hadn't returned with the clothes as promised, Granny Liu was delighted rather than annoyed. She rushed over, not even bothering to put on her shoes, grabbed Granny Liu's arm, and looked her up and down, asking, "Is it done?"

Sister Liu wanted a permanent solution, and so did Granny Liu.

Originally, Granny Liu just wanted to let things take their course, but Wang Qing not only gave everyone extra monthly allowances, but also made sure that the jobs assigned to them were no longer unique.

Seeing that her boast was about to be exposed at any moment, Granny Liu hurriedly urged her daughter-in-law to create an opportunity under the guise of delivering water. When one plan failed, she came up with another, tricking Granny Liu into taking off her outer clothes and getting into bed.

She had often seen the men in the mansion pointing and gossiping about Sister Liu behind her back, quite confident in their daughter-in-law's appearance and figure.

Thinking it over, Wang Qing might not have the same tricks as the other playboys in the manor. Perhaps he felt that the bathhouse was not the right place. As long as his wife took off her outer clothes and climbed into bed in the middle of the night, the hot-blooded Wang Qing would definitely not be able to control himself.

Seeing that Wang Qing did not kick his wife out after entering the house, he felt that the matter was probably true.

He didn't even let anyone into the bathhouse to clean it up, but instead, he falsely conveyed Wang Qing's instructions and sent the servants in the courtyard back to their rooms.

The more you try to cover it up, the more guilty you are.

Seeing that his wife had not followed the plan and had returned dressed but had forgotten to button her shirt, he became even more convinced that his plan had succeeded.

Aunt Liu didn't understand her mother-in-law's deeper meaning and said irritably, "What do you mean, 'okay'? You told me to linger in the house a little longer, so why did you sneak back here first?"

Granny Liu didn't know if Sister Liu was ashamed to admit it and was pretending to be stupid, or if she felt that the plan was not perfect enough.

So he deliberately retorted, "Didn't you put your clothes on too?"

"I..." Sister Liu was speechless for a moment, and after a long while, she said, "The old man said it was cold outside and told me to put on some clothes before coming out. What could I do?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Liu felt a weight lifted from her heart and exclaimed happily, "Isn't that settled then?"

Seeing that her daughter-in-law seemed a little confused, she quickly explained, "We only need to rely on the old man's name because we don't have a powerful backer. Now that the old man couldn't resist, if word gets out, it will only give him more gossip."

"Hmm?" Sister Liu finally realized what was going on, and immediately flew into a rage. "So! You shameless old woman, you actually had this idea! No wonder there was no one in the yard when I came out!"

Granny Liu, being quite straightforward, swung her arm and laughed, "It's already done, and I didn't blame you. What's this all about?"

"What are you doing? You shameless old man, explain yourself clearly!"

Although Sister Liu had considered it and even acted on it, she now felt that she had been greatly wronged.

Seeing that Sister Liu stubbornly denied it, Granny Liu assumed she was just shy and embarrassed to admit it, so she quickly smiled and comforted her, "Uncle Qing at least has an official position and is very generous. Now that Wu'er's medicine money is covered, her uncle can also benefit. I'm already supporting you, so what's there to be embarrassed about?"

She presented the facts, reasoned with people, and spoke from the heart.

Sister-in-law Liu, however, had no words to express her suffering. Seeing that the more she explained, the worse it got, she could only sigh, "If I could cure Wu'er, let alone trying to pin this on me, even if the master really wanted me, what would I be afraid to admit it? But... but isn't this just a lie?"

"What?"

Sister-in-law Liu's words were sincere, but Granny Liu looked astonished and asked doubtfully, "You...you're serious?"

"My uncle wasn't home the other day, so I went to my brother's house to see Wu'er. He's still not better. How could I be in the mood for a joke like that?"

Granny Liu asked with some skepticism, "Then tell me, what were you doing all that time back there?"

Helpless, Sister Liu had no choice but to recount the events that followed Wang Qing's arrival in the house in a simplified manner.

At first, she automatically ignored the series of inappropriate behaviors such as speculating and imagining.

However, she was not very meticulous to begin with, and once she made cuts, there were bound to be some contradictions and inconsistencies in the details.

In the end, unable to withstand Granny Liu's persistent questioning, he simply gave up and told her everything.

After listening, Granny Liu pondered for a moment and said, "I think the master may not be indifferent to you. Perhaps he didn't know that I had sent the others away in advance and was worried about causing a commotion, so he didn't take you."

She spoke bluntly, and after being questioned for a while, Sister Liu revealed everything. Too lazy to hide anything anymore, she simply complained, "So what? Are you going to try the same trick again?"

"Of course we can't use the same trick again." Granny Liu nodded, but then changed the subject, "However, it's not like there's no other way."

Sister Liu quickly pressed, "What method?"

"Although we were a bit too hasty today, the fact that the old man didn't kick you out or relieve you of your duties of making the bed is a good start. Let's give him another try."

Granny Liu organized her thoughts and began to speak slowly and deliberately: "Every day after the old man finishes his boxing practice, he has to go back to his room to change his clothes. Tomorrow, you should go into his room to tidy up when he is about to finish his practice."

If he kicks you out and tells you not to choose this time again, then let's not think about it anymore.

If they don't kick you out, but wait for you to finish getting ready before changing your clothes, but don't let you change the time, it's probably because they have the desire but not the courage. They'll just have to spend some time patiently and give them some more courage.

Even if he manages to restrain himself and not cross the line, the money for Wu'er's medical treatment will be secured. He'd probably be hoping we'd ask for more, so he can use the money to entice you.

If he not only doesn't kick you out, but also doesn't hide from you when changing clothes, then it's pretty much a done deal. Just be bold and take the initiative to help him get dressed. Some bumps and bruises are inevitable...

At this point, Granny Liu took Liu's hand, patted it gently, and said earnestly, "However, don't be too hasty. Rushing things won't make a good deal. You might scare him away. You have to make him give up on his own before you can get more benefits from him."

Compared to tonight's direct approach, this method was profound yet simple, proceeding step by step. Sister Liu listened and nodded frequently, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

……