412 Searching For Someone (1)
There was an alley in the south of the city called Nu’er Alley, or Servants Alley.
This was because most of the people living inside relied on helping rich families make a living.
Unlike those families, they usually only signed living contracts and did some rough work in rich families. They usually did not live in the main house.
At this moment, other than the woman squatting at her door washing vegetables and rice, there were also many children playing in the alley.
“Mingan, why are you only back now? Your mother…” A woman in coarse clothes pulled a young man back. When she saw the injury on the young man’s face, she exclaimed, “Oh my, Mingan, did you get beaten up?”
“I have medicinal wine at home. Wait for me. I’ll get it for you.” As the woman spoke, she was about to turn around and enter the house.
Wang Mingan stopped her. “Thank you, Auntie. I’m fine. What did you say about my mother just now?”
“Sigh, your mother took advantage of you going to the academy and went to take on the washing job. In the end, she got someone to carry her back.”
Seeing that Wang Mingan was about to leave anxiously, the woman quickly stopped him. “I’ve already called a doctor for your family. The doctor said it’s because of hunger, she’s fine.”
“She was already awake when I sent the porridge over just now. Won’t she be even more worried if you go back like this?”
Wang Mingan was stunned. He had already tidied up his clothes before returning. There was nothing he could do about the injuries on his face, but his mother would believe him if he said that he had fallen. Anyway, this wasn’t the first time.
The woman sighed and tugged at his sleeve. “Take off your outerwear. I’ll help you mend it before you go back.”
Wang Mingan looked in the direction she was tugging at and realized that there was a hole in his sleeve.
He bowed gratefully to the woman.
Soon, the woman took out the mended clothes.
Wang Mingan took it and put it on. He pursed his lips and asked, “Thank you, Auntie. How much did it cost to hire a doctor? I’ll bring it to you.”
The woman waved her hand and said indifferently, “We’re neighbors. Why are you saying this? Besides, the doctor didn’t prescribe any medicine. It’s just a few copper coins. Hurry up and go home.”
Wang Mingan didn’t move.
The woman said helplessly, “Alright, just give me ten copper coins.”
Afraid that he wouldn’t believe her, the woman added, “I didn’t hire a doctor from a big medical center. That’s all he asked for.”
Only then did Wang Mingan count ten copper coins from his money bag and hand them over. He bowed deeply to the woman. “I’ll remember Auntie’s kindness.”
Looking at Wang Mingan’s straight back, the woman shook her head and smiled. “This child.”
When he reached the door of a dilapidated residence in the innermost part of the alley, Wang Mingan stood there and took a deep breath before reaching out to push open the dilapidated wooden door.
Ever since Miss Ji left Autumn Deer Academy, Madam Qiu had been staring at the wall in the courtyard in a daze. She had always been reading books whenever she had the energy, so this was unusual.
“Madam, what’s wrong?” Nanny asked worriedly.
Madam Qiu came back to her senses and was about to say something when she suddenly felt an itch in her throat. She quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
For a moment, there was a low cough in the courtyard.
The nanny was extremely worried and went forward to help her calm down.
“Didn’t you say that you’re much better today? Why are you coughing again?” An old voice sounded. Even without looking at the person’s face, one could tell that this voice was filled with worry.
Madam Qiu waved her hand to stop Nanny from continuing. She looked up at the person and said with a smile, “I’m much better. Look, I’m fine now, right?”
In the past, she would never stop coughing. Today, she only coughed a few times.
Dean Lu clearly did not believe her. He walked over and held Madam Qiu’s hand to test the temperature. He frowned and said, “Why are you wearing so little? Do you want your body anymore?”
These words seemed to be blaming Madam Qiu, but he looked at the nanny, his blame obvious.
Madam Qiu’s body was weak. Even though it was a hot day, her body was cold. In the past, when others wore thin clothes, she would wear a cotton jacket. Today, she had changed into a light autumn shirt.
The nanny knelt down with a thud. “Madam said that she wants to see Miss Ji today and wants to dress up.”
Without waiting for Dean Lu to say anything else, Madam Qiu glared at him. “Don’t blame Lan. I was the one who wanted to dress like this. Are you trying to suffocate me to death so that you can find a younger child?”
“What are you talking about? You’re trying to hurt me with those words again.” Dean Lu sighed helplessly and waved his hand to get Nanny Lan up. “Go and get a thicker shirt for Madam.”