Madam Zhou’s chest heaved with anger as she exclaimed, “Yue-niang, you actually fed the jerky to the dog?”
Just coming out of the west wing, Gu Wan’er also looked at Li Xingyue in confusion.
Madam Zhou snorted coldly, disdain in her voice. “It’s just a little stray dog, and yet you treat it like some kind of ancestor!”
Li Xingyue didn’t like hearing that. She wanted to say: the jerky is mine, the dog is mine, I can do whatever I want.
But thinking about it, she realized that being poor all her life made her used to scarcity. She herself barely ate or drank enough, so naturally she didn’t have much attachment to a little dog.
She forced down her anger and opened her mouth to say something.
Before she could, Gu Wan’er spoke up. “Mother, how can you say that about Sister-in-law? It’s just a piece of jerky. Besides, little Teddy is clever—remember last time we found those medicinal herbs? It was all thanks to him.”
Seeing her daughter defend both her daughter-in-law and the dog, Madam Zhou grew even angrier.
“Fine, fine. You’ve all had your say, I won’t stop you. In this household, I—the old lady—am the useless one anyway.”
With that, she turned and went back to her room, leaving Li Xingyue and Gu Wan’er staring at each other.
Knock, knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked at the courtyard gate.
“Who is it?” Gu Wan’er raised her voice.
“It’s your second aunt,” a middle-aged female voice called from outside.
Gu Wan’er and Li Xingyue exchanged a glance, whispering, “It’s second aunt… why is she here?”
In perfect unspoken agreement, they quickly gathered the pastries and jerky back into the basket.
Li Xingyue took the basket into her room while Gu Wan’er went to open the door.
Qian Shi strutted in, her waist twisting as she walked, forcing Madam Zhou to leave her room.
Qian Shi smiled. “Sister-in-law, I heard that Yue-niang and Wan’er went into town today.”
Madam Zhou smiled politely, pulling over a chair for her.
Li Xingyue rolled her eyes inwardly. Did they have to report every trip to town?
Qian Shi was the type who hated losing out and never visited without reason. Now that they had just returned from town, why was she here? What could she possibly want?
Li Xingyue quickly spoke up. “Second Aunt, indeed, we went into town today and saw our sisters-in-law and Ning’er.”
Needless to say, their trip to town had surely been reported by Wu Rong or Gu Shaoning.
Hmph. Who doesn’t have a mouth? Were they the only ones who could gossip and tattle?
Qian Shi smiled awkwardly. “Your sisters-in-law and Ning’er went to sell embroidery in town today. You know, An’er will soon take the provincial exam. Passing the xiucai exam costs money everywhere.”
Madam Zhou smiled faintly but said nothing. She was always clumsy with words, and Qian Shi spoke well; to avoid being taken advantage of, she chose to stay silent.
Li Xingyue also remained quiet.
It was clear Qian Shi’s intentions were dubious. She wanted to show off and grab a benefit at the same time—nothing good came from that.
Seeing no response, Qian Shi’s smile stiffened into something forced. “Yue-niang, I heard you went to the jewelry shop. What did you buy? Could you show Second Sister-in-law?”
Gu Wan’er’s heart skipped a beat. How did Second Aunt know they went to the jewelry shop?
And thinking about her mother discovering that Li Xingyue had bought several hair ornaments at once, she grew anxious.
She looked at Li Xingyue for guidance.
Madam Zhou also turned to look at Li Xingyue. This daughter-in-law was truly a spendthrift. Whenever their son came home, didn’t he always bring jewelry? Yet she had to go buy it secretly herself. How could she be so dissatisfied?
Li Xingyue smiled and said, “Sure,” rising slowly and unhurriedly. When she returned, she held a goose-yellow hair ornament in her hand.
She handed it to Qian Shi and smiled. “Second Aunt, I did indeed go to the jewelry shop today. I bought this hair ornament as a gift for Wan’er. A few days ago, I injured myself and it was thanks to Wan’er’s care.”
She asked with a smile, “Second Aunt, what do you think of the color?”
Qian Shi smiled awkwardly and nodded.
Li Xingyue gave Gu Wan’er a knowing glance. “Wan’er, this was originally a thank-you gift from me. Since Second Aunt has already seen it, you can accept it now. It’s my token of gratitude.”
Gu Wan’er nodded and reached for the hair ornament from Qian Shi’s hand.
Qian Shi, thinking she could claim the hair ornament for herself—such a beautiful piece—felt a twinge of frustration but couldn’t say anything.
She forced a smile and asked, “Yue-niang, what else did you buy at the market today?”
Li Xingyue smiled. “Our sisters-in-law and Ning’er also went. What did they buy, I wonder?”
Qian Shi froze. Li Xingyue’s words twisted the conversation so cleverly—she couldn’t get a clear answer out.
Finally, Qian Shi said, “Their little embroidered handkerchiefs aren’t worth much. The money from selling them will go to An’er at the academy.”
Li Xingyue nodded understandingly.
Qian Shi, frustrated that Li Xingyue was dodging her questions, tried another approach.
“Big sister-in-law, An’er will soon take the provincial exam. How much is your main household planning to contribute?”
Li Xingyue smirked inwardly. Qian Shi really was pushing hard! She probably thought Madam Zhou would be easy to manipulate.
Sure enough, Madam Zhou’s face reddened and her lips trembled. She didn’t know how to respond. Though she was easygoing, no one would willingly give up their silver to waste on others.
Li Xingyue knew the second branch had already taken plenty from her parents-in-law. The original mistress could endure it, but she couldn’t.
She didn’t expect Madam Zhou to answer, only smiled at Qian Shi and said, “Second Aunt, my husband isn’t home. Only the old, weak, and women are left in the household. Where can we possibly get silver?”
She touched her not-yet-visible belly, lowering her eyes to appear pitiful.
“Also, I am pregnant. A few days ago, someone pushed me down the hill. Just the medicine cost three hundred wen. The doctor insisted I must rest and properly recover.”
She smiled helplessly. “Second Aunt, you know my husband is careless. Mother is worried—if something happened to me or the baby before he returned, he wouldn’t forgive anyone!”
“I was pushed from behind! When he comes back, who knows what trouble he’ll make!”
Li Xingyue spoke evenly, while Qian Shi’s heart raced.
Everyone knew that day Li Xingyue had been pushed by Gu Shaoning. Qian Shi didn’t know when Li Xingyue had become so articulate.
Though flustered, she forced herself to smile. “Yue-niang, you’re right.”
She continued, smiling, “You also know, An’er taking the xiucai exam is a big deal. If he passes, it brings honor to our Gu family village.”
Li Xingyue followed her lead, saying, “Second Aunt is right. The xiucai exam is important for our village. Why not ask the clan leader for support? If the clan backs us, we won’t need to worry here.”
Qian Shi felt Li Xingyue’s words made sense. If her son passed the xiucai exam, it would reflect well on the old Gu family.
Since there was no benefit to be gained from the main household, she hurried home to discuss it with her mother-in-law.
Thinking this, Qian Shi rose and, twisting her waist, headed home.