Xie Linlang had no intention of showing off, but Sister-in-law Qiao listened with great envy.
She had never realized before that Xiao Ji was so considerate. If she had known earlier, she would have introduced one of her own sisters to him. It’s just a pity that now it’s too late for any such talk.
Sister-in-law Qiao wasn’t a bad person—it was just human nature to want good things for one’s own family.
Stone played under the peach tree for a while before running over to the chicken coop, not minding the smell as he stared at the hens pecking at their food.
Children from ordinary families were raised roughly. Neither Xie Linlang nor Sister-in-law Qiao paid him much mind, sitting instead at the stone table drinking tea, chatting, and making shoes.
A few days earlier, Xie Linlang had noticed that the shoes on Xiao Ji’s feet were somewhat worn, so she thought to make him a new pair. Sister-in-law Qiao, bored at home, had brought her needlework along to join in.
Sister-in-law Qiao herself was skilled at needlework—the clothes and shoes for all six members of the Qiao family, young and old, came from her hands. She used to take pride in her needlework, but now, seeing that Xie Linlang, a young lady from a prominent family, could make shoe soles no less skillfully than her own, with tight, durable stitches, she was impressed.
As they spent more time together, Xie Linlang showed none of the airs of a young lady from a wealthy household. Sister-in-law Qiao had also grown much more relaxed around her. Seeing how proficient Xie Linlang was with needlework, she asked curiously:
“I’ve heard that girls from wealthy families usually spend their days out in gardens or on outings, or else learning to play instruments or paint. Do they also learn needlework?”
As long as there was no ill intent, Xie Linlang didn’t mind talking about her past life at all. She rubbed the slender needle against her thimble and said with a smile, “What you’ve heard isn’t wrong, Sister-in-law. But young ladies from prominent families learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as needlework and embroidery. Some of the young ladies I knew were quite skilled at fine needlework.”
After all, sometimes, exceptional needlework could even become a means of competing for favor in the inner chambers.
Bolder girls, when they admired a young man, might also use self-made pouches or shoes to express their feelings.
Sister-in-law Qiao listened with amazement, then said with envy, “I can’t even imagine what it’s like to ride in a carriage, going out every day for outings or to watch plays. I wonder if my Daya will have such fortune when she grows up.”
No one would fail to envy such a life. Xie Linlang didn’t dampen Sister-in-law Qiao’s imagination, instead saying, “I see how capable Daya is. She’ll surely be blessed in the future, Sister-in-law. You needn’t worry.”
Xie Linlang’s words warmed Sister-in-law Qiao’s heart. She had long harbored the hope that Daya would marry into a wealthy family and become a young mistress, so she wouldn’t have to toil from dawn to dusk year-round like her.
Whenever she mentioned this to others, they would laugh at her for daydreaming—a girl raised in West City wanting to marry into a wealthy family and live in comfort? What else could it be but wishful thinking!
But Xie Linlang, who had grown up in a prominent family, never mocked her for “a toad wanting to eat swan meat.” Instead, she always said Daya was blessed.
In truth, Sister-in-law Qiao and Xie Linlang’s perspectives were completely opposite. Xie Linlang said Daya was blessed because she saw that, although Daya was a girl, she received Aunt Qiao’s careful guidance and affection.
Aunt Qiao saved a portion of the money she earned from her stall every day, planning to use it as Daya’s dowry in the future. Daya was sensible and capable—as long as she kept her eyes open and found a good family, her life wouldn’t be bad at all. But there was no need to say these things and upset Sister-in-law Qiao.
Xie Linlang had no idea what Sister-in-law Qiao was scheming in her heart, so determined to marry Qiao Daya into a wealthy family. But just like her own marriage to Xiao Ji, anything abnormal must be sinister.
Sister-in-law Qiao stayed at the Xiao household until the sky turned orange before heading home contentedly with her needlework. Xie Linlang also packed up her sewing basket to prepare dinner.
Life in the Xiao family was plain yet peaceful. In just over two short months, Xie Linlang already felt that her life in the Xie family seemed very distant. West City and the area near the imperial city felt like two completely separate worlds. Xie Linlang gradually forgot everything about the Xie family and began a new life, but in the Xie family’s Minghui Courtyard, Xie Linlang was still often mentioned.
The eldest daughter of the Xie family, Xie Yurou, returned to her maiden home in a rage while pregnant, now being comforted in Madam Xie’s embrace.
She had been diagnosed with pregnancy just one month after her marriage, which should have been a joyous matter. Yet Xie Yurou felt that since becoming pregnant, her life had become extremely stifling.
There were some things she couldn’t discuss with anyone at Qing’an Marquis Manor, so she could only run home and confide in her mother.
“My mother-in-law is overbearing. Ever since I was diagnosed with pregnancy, she hasn’t allowed my husband to stay overnight in my room. She even assigned two maids from her own side to serve the heir. Mother, my heart is bitter.”
Madam Xie felt heartbroken seeing her daughter crying with pear blossoms and rain, but deep down, she didn’t think what Xie Yurou said was a major issue.
However, saying so now would only add fuel to the fire. Madam Xie could only stroke her daughter’s temples and carefully soothe her: “What did I tell you? If you want to keep the heir’s favor for long, giving birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible is the most important.
You are the rightful wife of the heir of Qing’an Marquis Manor. Not to mention the maids your mother-in-law gave, even if the emperor bestowed someone, none could surpass you.
Now you’re crying and sobbing just because there are more people around the heir. If you lose this pregnancy because of this, that would put you in a greatly passive position. Is this impulsiveness what I taught you?”
Madam Xie originally intended to speak gently to Xie Yurou, but as she spoke, her tone became stern.
How could she not see why Xie Yurou was making a fuss? It was simply because she had placed the heir in her heart. But as a mother, she couldn’t make her daughter immediately understand that men were the most unreliable things.
Xie Yurou had hoped to find some comfort from her mother, never expecting her own mother wouldn’t take her side. She cried even more fiercely and was about to leave in a huff.
Seeing her cry like this, Madam Xie couldn’t just let her go home. She immediately coaxed her with endearments.
Only after Xie Yurou finally calmed down did Madam Xie explain the reasoning to her in detail. How could Xie Yurou, who had been taught by Madam Xie herself, not understand these principles? It was just that even someone as shrewd as her was now stuck in a dead end, wanting the sincerity of a man.
“Mother, is there really no other way? I don’t want to give the heir to other women.” Whether they were women sent by her mother-in-law or those she had prepared herself.
The matter of love was the hardest to resolve. Madam Xie sighed softly.
“If you don’t want your mother-in-law controlling your and the heir’s courtyard, you should take the initiative when you’re in confinement and unable to serve him.”
Xie Yurou was stunned. She knew what her mother meant by taking the initiative, but the thought of personally arranging women for the man she loved made her heart ache intensely.
Thinking of Xie Yujing, whom she had already sent far away to do menial labor, Xie Yurou couldn’t help but recall Xie Linlang and muttered resentfully, “If I had known it would come to this, I might as well have brought that sickly Xie Linlang along.”
Meanwhile, Xie Linlang, who was busy with her tasks, suddenly covered her nose and let out a loud sneeze. Xiao Ji, who was bending over to build the stove beside her, immediately looked over with concern. Despite Xie Linlang repeatedly insisting she was perfectly fine, Xiao Ji still insisted on sending her off to rest.