How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Chapter 158

Jia Qingwu and Xia Chu spent the past two weeks in peace. Due to their health problems, no one bothered them at Qingwu Court. Their days were peaceful, and with Xia Chu by their side, Jia Qingwu's spirits gradually improved. With the Five Animal Exercises and herbal diet, she had noticeably gained weight. She was a completely different person from her previous emaciated appearance.

Sun Wujiu was surprised to learn that Jia Qingwu was not at the temple and had been staying at the Jia family's house. He sent people to monitor the Jia family's house, but he had never seen the doctor coming in or out. This was even more strange, as he knew Jia Qingwu's condition well. She had seizures every day and would run around when she got mad.

The Jia family has been very peaceful. Could it be that Jia Qingwu is dead?

Yes! Maybe Jia Qingwu is already dead! That's why Butler Sun hasn't seen her! But why didn't the Jia family announce the death? Are they trying to take advantage of their son-in-law? Yes, that's right. Sun Wujiu made up his mind to go to the Jia family tomorrow. Jia Qingwu must be dead. That's why the Jia family didn't let Butler Sun in, and he couldn't see Jia Qingwu. He had to go and see, to expose the true face of the Jia family. As long as Jia Qingwu died, he would have no relationship with the Jia family anymore.

"Cousin, Master Zhang is here." Xia Chu was watering the flowers. Jia Qingwu took a pair of small scissors, picked out the most beautiful flowers, cut them off, and prepared to put them in the vase in the room.

"My second brother is here?" Cui Ya took the kettle from her hand. Xia Chu ran to the gate of the yard in surprise and saw Zhang Zhou. "Second brother!"

Zhang Zhou smiled the moment he saw her. Seeing that she looked healthy and her eyes were clear, he knew she was doing well in the Jia family. He opened his arms to catch the person rushing towards him, "Slow down."

"Brother, aren't you busy today?" Xia Chu took his arm. "I asked someone to invite you to dinner, but you weren't here."

"I went to Moxiang Tower. There are many literati there. I learned a lot from listening to them reciting poems and composing couplets." Zhang Zhou entered the yard and greeted Jia Qingwu first.

Jia Qingwu was very grateful to the Wang family and had a very good impression of them. She said with a smile, "Great! I heard from Xia Xia that you're already a scholar. You're truly promising at such a young age."

"No, at my age, I can't be considered that." Zhang Zhou said modestly.

"Why not? I see many scholars are over 30 years old." Jia Qingwu said softly.

The three of them entered the front hall, and Cuihua served them tea and snacks.

"Brother, take a look at the song I wrote recently and the lyrics my mother wrote for me." Xia Chu just sat down and started playing again. He ran back to the room to get out the things and brought back the pipa.

"Have you written a new one?" Zhang Zhou raised his eyebrows, took the score and looked at it carefully, and gently plucked the music with his fingers, like the fingering method of playing the guqin.

"I'll play it for you." Xia Chu tapped the pipa, tested the tone first, confirmed that there was no problem, and then plucked the first melody.

This song was inspired by a duet with Jia Qingwu. The melody is soothing and calming.

The lyrics were written by Jia Qingwu. They sounded like a lullaby for her daughter, but also like a heartfelt confession of her love for her. As Xia Chu played the piano, Jia Qingwu softly sang along.

Zhang Zhou listened quietly, and suddenly thought of his mother. He recalled the nights long ago when his mother gently patted his back to lull him to sleep. He thought of the soft whispers in his ear, the stories he had heard, but he could no longer remember them. He only remembered his mother's voice, gentle and beautiful, the most beautiful voice in the world.

When he arrived at the Wang family, Dong Xiaohuan treated him very well. She provided for his daily needs, including clothes, shoes, and socks. She even cared for him tirelessly when he was sick, but he was old enough, after all. He was past the age of needing to be coaxed to sleep, and Wang Qiuyu was probably the only one in the family who received this treatment.

But they were not jealous, and even took the initiative to take care of Wang Qiuyu. In fact, when Wang Qiuyu was just born, he and his eldest brother were very anxious, afraid that the child would be abandoned by them.

But neither Wang Yong nor Dong Xiaohuan mentioned that they didn't want them. Even after learning that it was a son, Wang Yong transferred the shop to Xia Chu's name.

Xia Chu had originally agreed to split the house in half, but in the end, they didn't choose to split it that way, and instead directly put the shop under Xia Chu's name.

I only told Xia Tian about this, and Xia Tian told Zhang Zhou.

The birth of her own son didn't seem to affect Dong Xiaohuan at all. Although she spent more energy taking care of Qiu Yu, her attitude towards them did not change.

He even sent him and his elder brother to school, and they were always provided with daily necessities. He also gave them pocket money so that they could buy things they liked.

Only after going to school did he and his elder brother feel completely at ease, certain that they would not be abandoned.

They'd suffered some injustice in the academy, but neither of them cared. This little bit of malicious prank was nothing compared to the begging they'd done on the streets. They simply didn't care, wanting to attend class and learn as much as possible, so as not to waste their money.

Zhang Zhou pulled his thoughts back to where they were. Xia Chu had already finished playing the last note and looked at him with joy. "Second brother, how is it?"

"It sounds good, the lyrics and music fit well, and it touches the heart." Zhang Zhou praised.

The three of them chatted enthusiastically about music. Aunt Xu glanced at the sky and headed to the small kitchen. Master Zhang must be leaving some food for dinner at this hour, so she had to inform the cook.

It was the end of the month, and with the mistress of the house away, Qu Pingping had always been in charge of the Sun family's internal affairs. Today, while reconciling the accounts, she discovered something amiss: this month's food expenses had increased several times compared to last month.

Could it be that Butler Sun was greedy and I have caught you? Qu Pingping smiled complacently and sent someone to call Butler Sun.

As soon as the man walked in, Qu Pingping spoke out, "How dare you, Steward Sun, embezzle the money from the mansion! Why don't you return it in full? Considering this is your first time, I ask the master to be lenient with you."

Steward Sun raised his head expressionlessly, "I don't have it. Does Aunt Qu have any evidence?"

Qu Pingping pointed at the account book, "The evidence is right here! This month's food expenses are three times as much as last month's. How dare you say you didn't embezzle money? All the purchases and expenses in the mansion have to go through your hands. Don't even think about denying it."

Steward Sun asked in a daze, "Does Madam Qu know why?"

"Why?" Qu Pingping sneered, "It's just that I'm blinded by money. Is there any other reason?"

"It's not that I'm greedy, but this month Madam returned to the Jia household." Steward Sun glanced at Qu Pingping with a hint of disdain. "In the past, our chickens, ducks, fish, meat, vegetables, and even rice were all supplied daily by Madam's farm, so our household expenses were almost non-existent. Madam was previously in the temple, and the temple didn't allow these things to be sent, so those things were still sent to the Sun household. But since Madam returned to the Jia household, the things have been sent there. We have to buy all the food ourselves, so naturally, there's more."

Qu Pingping was stunned. They had been eating Jia Qingwu's food?