Chapter 116: What Happened Tonight?
Translator: Flying Lines
Li Hongmei discovered that Xiao Baozhu had gone missing before she went to bed. She searched the entire restaurant but could not find her daughter and so she began to worry, asking everyone to go out and look for her.
Shortly after going out they saw the butler of Lord Wong’s house. The butler said that Scholar Wong had also gone missing, asking them if he had gone for dinner at their restaurant.
Hearing that someone from the restaurant was also missing, the butler was afraid that Scholar Wong had eloped with somebody. He was about to mobilize everybody he knew in their clan to bring him back.
Unexpectedly, an attendant from Junlai Lodge came to bring them a message, saying that Scholar Wong was staying at their lodge and that it was a girl who had brought him there.
…
Everyone hurriedly went to Junlai Lodge. When they arrived the attendant showed them to a guest room there. When they arrived outside the room, everyone was standing still and not one of them dared to move.
Li Hongmei asked the attendant worriedly, “Just…just this one room? Both…both of them are in there?”
The attendant replied, “Yes, just one room. When the girl helped him inside she asked us to find a room for the young man to have a rest. They meant to stay, didn’t they? They were just here to take a rest and would leave after the young man woke up. Aren’t they…spouses? I thought they were together!”
“Nonsense!” Butler Wong scolded him right away. “Our young master would never be with such a loose woman. Don’t smear our young master’s honest reputation!”
Li Hongmei found what he said rather displeasing. “What honest reputation of your young master? My girl has her reputation too, doesn’t she? And you call my girl a loose woman? Sir, don’t you know the old saying: One hand can’t clap. Two hands are required!”
Butler Wong raised one hand, smacking his own forehead. “How’s that for a clap?”
“You…just…”
Ye Xiaoxian, standing behind her, reminded Li Hongmei, “Ma, don’t argue with him. Let’s find Baozhu first.”
“Right, Little Ye is right. Let’s find Baozhu first.”
Li Hongmei was argumentative though, her heart was still full of fear before the door was opened.
Finally the door was open but what they saw made them all freeze on the spot. Baozhu and Scholar Wong were lying on the bed, sleeping with their clothes strewn about.
Li Hongmei’s feet gave out from fright and Ye Xiaoxian was also a bit shocked.
“Oh my, Baozhu, how could you…how sinful this is. What on earth has happened?” Li Hongmei suddenly cried and howled.
In ancient times, women’s reputations were valued most of all. What Xiao Baozhu had done had already ruined her whole life.
Butler Wong said angrily, “How could this girl crawl into my young master’s bed? Humph, in order to claw her way up into a wealthy family she’s obviously done anything she could.”
“Butler Wong, please be reasonable. Both of them are lying in bed, how are you so sure it was my Baozhu who tried to play her way into the wealthy family?”
“Our master is a responsible young man and never lowers himself to playing around with women. It must that your girl tricked him and knocked him out.”
Butler Wong went over to the bed, helping Scholar Wong to sit up and then carefully touched his head. There was indeed a swollen b.u.mp on the back of his skull.
Butler Wong said resentfully, “As expected. You shameless s.l.u.ts!”
Li Hongmei saw Butler Wong remaining in front of the bed and quickly got on the bed and pulled Baozhu behind her in case others would surround and point at her.
As for Ye Xiaoxian, she was only slightly surprised at first and then started watching this unfolding drama more distantly. Baozhu appeared to be asleep but her eyelids were moving. Apparently she was pretending to be pa.s.sed out. It must be her who knocked out Scholar Wong. She did not antic.i.p.ate that a timid village girl could be this daring.
“Ma…what happened?” Xiao Baozhu had also “woken up”. After opening her eyes she acted as if she was suffering from amnesia and then looked around frightened and anxious. “What happened to Mr. Wong?” Xiao Baozhu asked.
“He…well…” Xiao Baozhu’s acting skill was so poor that even Li Hongmei could tell. How foolish this daughter of hers is.
Still, the damage was done, so Li Hongmei had no option but to play along for the sake of Xiao Baozhu. “Baozhu, tell Ma, what happened tonight? Why were you lying on the same bed as Mr. Wong? How did you get to the lodge?”
Xiao Baozhu said, “Ma, I don’t know. After dinner I was thinking of taking a walk outside. When I was walking I b.u.mped into an old man with white beard. He had a packet of powder and sprinkled it in front of me. Then I…I can’t remember anything. Ma, I’m so scared.”
“So you can’t remember anything you did next?” asked Li Hongmei.
However, in her mind she was thinking: Baozhu, can’t you act more realistic? Can’t you make up a more convincing excuse? My goodness.
Butler Wong did not believe a single word. He insisted on waking up Scholar Wong.
After a long while Scholar Wong opened his eyes and pulled himself up, but when he saw what was going on in front of him he was stupefied. Xiao Baozhu was sobbing, Scholar Wong stared at Li Hongmei and Ye Xiaoxian was silent at the door.
“Young master, you’re up. Right, could you please tell us what was going on this evening. Why was this girl lying in the same bed as you? Why were both of your clothes strewn about?”
Scholar Wong lowered his head and glanced at his clothes. He also panicked briefly. He firstly looked at Ye Xiaoxian. He had only gone there tonight because of receiving Ye Xiaoxian’s letter, but when he went the one he had seen was Xiao Baozhu. Therefore, that scribble must have been Xiao Baozhu’s work.
He knew it. He had known and yet he’d still gone along like a fool. So, he had fallen into Xiao Baozhu’s trap and had even been knocked out by her, ending up here. Xiao Baozhu had been going to the mountains to chop firewood since she was little, so she was very strong. She could carry firewood on her back, so naturally she could carry him.
Oh, what a blunder.
Butler Wong saw Scholar Wong just sitting there in a daze and not talking, so he urged him. “Young master, what on earth happened tonight?”
Scholar Wong still looked at Ye Xiaoxian.
Ye Xiaoxian then gave him an indication. “Mr. Wong, it’s a matter of Baozhu’s reputation. Please think it through before you talk.”
Scholar Wong understood Ye Xiaoxian’s indication. She was asking him to give consideration to Xiao Baozhu’s reputation. If he said it was Xiao Baozhu who did all of this tonight, Baozhu’s reputation would be ruined and perhaps she would end up going to prison. If that were the case, Xiao Baozhu would be completely ruined.
Li Hongmei also begged Scholar Wong. “Mr. Wong, our Baozhu respects you very much. She…she did not do this of her own free will. What’s more, what are the odds of Baozhu meeting you on the street? This must be the fate, or the work of the devil.”
Scholar Wong was speechless again. Well, should he say that he went there after receiving Ye Xiaoxian’s letter? If he did that, it would be like confessing his attraction to Ye Xiaoxian, wouldn’t it? It was not appropriate for him to say that Xiao Baozhu asked him to come, otherwise they would think he liked Xiao Baozhu.
He then simply said, “Ask Baozhu. How did she explain it?”
Li Hongmei then repeated what Xiao Baozhu told them.