The maid stammered, “I asked as well. Second Madam said the household finances are strained, so every quarter must be reduced.”
Seeing Jiang Zhixiu about to flare up again, Xie Meiying quickly smoothed things over. “Jiang-lang, no need to have them remake it. I love these dishes.”
Jiang Zhixiu felt a pang of guilt. “Yesterday and today at noon—you ate only this?”
Yesterday he had been busy, and today he had waited for word from the He family, so he had not joined her for meals. Had he not come tonight, he would never have known she suffered such indignity.
Xie Meiying teased, “What’s wrong with these? Isn’t it enough to fill the stomach? Ordinary families can’t even dream of such fare!”
She paused, then added shyly, “As long as I have Jiang-lang by my side, even if it’s coarse grain and wild greens, I’ll gladly eat it. Even the bitterest days can taste sweet.”
Jiang Zhixiu was deeply moved, beyond words. He had not misjudged her—Meiying was the kind of woman who would stay with him through poverty or wealth. He Fangting, by contrast, was a pampered flower of fortune—able to share joy, but not hardship.
If He Fangting were present and could read his thoughts, she would surely ask: *Even when there is no hardship, must you force yourself to eat bitterness?*
But she was not there, and could not refute him.
So he let himself be moved, clasped Meiying’s hand, and said earnestly, “I understand your heart. But I did not bring you into my home to make you suffer.”
What kind of man lets the woman he loves eat husks and chaff?
He summoned his attendant Jiang Fu and ordered him to deliver a message to Second Madam Li Xixiang: “If she truly does not wish to manage the household, then let her stop. We will divide the estate another day. And the three thousand taels entrusted to her—return them.”
Li Xixiang was shocked, demanding to know what had happened.
From behind a screen, Jiang Fu replied respectfully, “The honored guest at Luomei Pavilion is dearest to the Master. He personally oversees her clothing and food, and will not allow anyone to slight her. Tonight, the Master himself dined at Luomei Pavilion.”
Jiang Fu had accompanied Jiang Zhixiu to Huainan for disaster relief, where he had seen Meiying aid the victims. He held her in high regard and sincerely hoped this kind-hearted young lady would become mistress of the household.
Li Xixiang faltered. “…Elder Brother is displeased with the food?”
Jiang Fu said carefully, “I dare not presume the Master’s thoughts.”
Li Xixiang defended herself. “Heaven knows, I would never disrespect Miss Xie! But the household finances are tight—Elder Brother knows this! Besides, the Old Master himself said we must live frugally, with plain tea and simple meals. Luomei Pavilion’s fare was not meant as slight; it is the same everywhere! If Elder Brother doubts me, let him see for himself!”
Indeed, the estate still held delicacies—cured meats, dried scallops, shark fin—but she hoarded them for her own branch, even planning to sell some outside.
After all, the Old Master had said: radish is the most reliable food.
Her words convinced neither Jiang Zhixiu nor Jiang Fu.
He had seen the household portions before—every meal was a feast. Even the servants had meat and vegetables.
Though in recent days the servants’ meals had worsened—coarse grains, never enough to fill the belly—surely such reductions would not extend to the masters? And certainly not to Miss Xie, a guest of the house.
It was clear—Second Madam looked down on Miss Xie, treating her differently.
Jiang Fu bowed. “The Master’s words have been delivered. This servant takes his leave.”
Li Xixiang hurriedly called him back. “Wait!”
She immediately ordered the household to prepare proper meals for Luomei Pavilion. Then, swallowing her anger, she gritted her teeth and said to Jiang Fu, “Please return and tell Elder Brother: from now on, I will treat Miss Xie as the most honored of guests. Even if the whole family goes hungry and cold, Luomei Pavilion will be supplied without fail!”
Jiang Fu saluted and withdrew. Back at Luomei Pavilion, he repeated Li Xixiang’s words verbatim.
Xie Meiying was stunned, then spoke with regret. “Jiang-lang, it seems Second Madam has misunderstood me.”
*Even if the whole family starves and freezes, Luomei Pavilion must be supplied?* What did that make her out to be? Second Madam’s words were clearly meant as a barb.
Jiang Zhixiu dismissed it. “Madam Li is coarse. Pay her no mind.”
Not only coarse—stupid. She knew she would have to yield to his wishes in the end, so why insist on making trouble from time to time? It only made her look foolish.
He Fangting had once tried to control him through household management, but failed. How could Li Xixiang, a second-branch wife dependent on the main house, hope to succeed? Perhaps his younger brother had taught her this nonsense.
He recalled how He Fangting had scorned Li Xixiang from the start, calling her short-sighted, ignorant of propriety, and unfit as a match. She had said his brother was mediocre in learning, greedy for quick success, and ought to marry a steady, mature wife who could guide him.
At the time, he thought He Fangting looked down on his family and was displeased. But when his brother begged, he agreed to the marriage.
Since then, how many messes had he cleaned up for them?
And Li Xixiang’s natal family—like a band of rogues—whenever trouble arose, they bypassed his brother and came straight to him. Only after he used his official authority to chastise them did they restrain themselves somewhat.
Thinking of this, he blamed He Fangting again. If she knew Madam Li was unfit, why hadn’t she tried harder to stop it? Had she urged him a few more times, he would have listened. But she spoke only once, then stood aside, letting his brother sink into the mire.
At root, it was because she never regarded her husband’s family as her own.
If it had been Meiying, she would never have done so.
Meiying was kind yet steadfast, like a loyal minister who dares to remonstrate at court. She would surely push him toward decisions that benefited his brother and the Jiang family.