Sister-in-law Zhang set down her teacup and grabbed the hand of Zhang Xiuxiu, who was still in a daze, afraid she might be led astray by some fool: “Elder Sister, look at this. Without any backing from your natal family, no matter how beautiful you are or how many sons you bear, in a man’s eyes, it’s all worth less than a fart! Especially those who marry up without any support—their grave grass grows tall and wild!”
Zhang Xiuxiu followed her suggestive gaze and saw her eldest brother crouching on the ground, hunched over timidly.
Noticing the two women looking at him, he offered an ingratiating, foolish grin and clumsily picked up the melon seeds again, dropping two for every one he managed to grab.
Zhang Xiuxiu: …
Damn, why does what she’s saying sound so reasonable!
Then she thought of her own mother, whose foul mouth offended everyone and who had enemies all over the village; her second brother, who couldn’t squeeze out a word even after three beatings and seemed even more useless than the eldest; her second sister-in-law, who had cried all the way back to her natal home and might never return…
Who could she rely on? Indeed, not a single person in this whole family was dependable!
Zhang Xiuxiu couldn’t help but feel a surge of sorrow. The immense wealth of “marrying a noble husband” was right before her eyes—she couldn’t bear to let it go, but she was even more afraid of pain and death!
For a moment, she felt just like those fragile, helpless tragic heroines from the earlier story, and this time, tears truly fell.
Sister-in-law Zhang estimated the timing was about right. Patting her back with genuine sincerity, she said: “A melon forced off the vine isn’t sweet, and it can choke you to death! If Master Shen is willing to take you into his mansion, that would naturally be the best outcome. But if you can’t enter Shen Mansion, we absolutely must not force it! Madam Wu is a proper official’s daughter—do you think her methods are lacking? You wouldn’t want our mother to bury her own child, would you?”
Zhang Xiuxiu shuddered all over.
“No matter what, you are Master Shen’s woman. Since he’s come this time, he likely won’t treat you poorly. As the saying goes, one night as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection, and besides, there’s still Sister Nian. When you receive some benefits, use them to prepare a generous dowry for Elder Sister and marry off as a proper wife with dignity.”
Seeing Zhang Xiuxiu stop sobbing and looking somewhat persuaded, Sister-in-law Zhang hurriedly added fuel to the fire: “Besides, this ‘noble husband’ might not necessarily be Master Shen. Think about it—he’s wasted all these years of your life. Who’s to say he isn’t the ‘obstacle’ the old immortal mentioned? And then there’s the ‘eight sons’—you’d need time to bear them, right? How old are you already! Any later and you won’t be able to have enough!”
Zhang Xiuxiu’s expression shifted uncertainly, and finally, she gritted her teeth: “Fine!”
Sister-in-law Zhang was overjoyed in her heart—oh my! At last, she could marry off this old maid! Her own daughter was about to turn four, and she truly feared that if her elder sister-in-law continued to linger unmarried at home, she might affect her own daughter’s prospects in a few years.
Thank heavens!
Now, it all depended on what the Shen family intended. She only hoped that even if Madam Wu wasn’t magnanimous, she would at least be generous…
“Gou’er’s mother, you’re so good!” Seeing both women looking relieved, Zhang Dalang couldn’t help but chuckle, “Don’t worry, when I make it big, I definitely won’t divorce you!”
Sister-in-law Zhang’s long-suppressed outburst finally erupted: “Pah! Bullshit!”
“Achoo!” Wu Shi, still dressed, reclined halfway on the daybed by the window, a lotus-pattern quilted blanket in pale lotus root purple draped over her.
Hong’er hurried forward to ask, “Madam, are you feeling cold? Should I close the window?”
“No need. I suppose someone must be thinking of me!”
“That must be the master, then.” Hong’er tugged the quilt over her and replied casually.
“You little minx!” Wu Shi gently patted her, unable to hold back her own laughter.
Just then, Nanny Tong entered carrying a tray, the amber-colored broth in the celadon bowl swaying gently.
“It’s not too hot. Drink it while it’s warm.”
Wu Shi sat up, took the bowl, and took a small sip. “Didn’t you say this was to aid digestion and nourish the stomach? Why is it still so bitter!”
“What medicine isn’t bitter?”
Wu Shi blew on it, frowned, and raised the bowl to drink it all in one go. Taking the water Hong’er handed her, she rinsed her mouth while complaining, “It’s not a serious illness anyway, so there’s no need to call a doctor.”
Nanny Tong fetched the preserved fruit box for her. “You’ve vomited twice already, crying your eyes out. Isn’t that uncomfortable? Don’t rely on your youth to eat and drink recklessly. Be careful not to truly harm your stomach’s vitality and leave a lasting ailment!”
Seeing Wu Shi still muttering, Nanny Tong, who knew the root of the issue, said, “Madam, rest assured. I’ve already reminded the doctor and slipped him a red envelope. He won’t spread any rumors.”
Wu Shi felt somewhat embarrassed but was reassured, settling back comfortably against the bed.
Seeing her pick at the preserved fruits and eat them, clearly no longer uncomfortable, Nanny Tong leaned closer to the bedside and asked, “Madam, regarding the rear annex, do you think we should make some preparations?”
“Preparations?” Wu Shi paused. “Didn’t my husband say he’s still gathering information about those three families? Didn’t you also say he wouldn’t take a concubine? What else is there to prepare?”
Seeing her growing anxious, Nanny Tong quickly explained, “I meant the children. They will have to be brought in eventually. As the legal mother, it wouldn’t be proper to ignore them completely, would it? If you bring it up with the master first, it would show your virtue, wouldn’t it?”
If it’s just about the children, that might be acceptable…
Seeing Wu Shi still pondering, Nanny Tong decided to lay it out plainly. “Girls will always be raised in the inner quarters and will be around you for the next ten years or so. If there are any truly mischievous ones, we can get a sense of them in advance and make some preparations.”
Wu Shi found this quite reasonable and nodded. “Then tomorrow I’ll meet the three girls and see what their temperaments are like.”
Nanny Tong thought to herself, oh my dear girl, you really have no idea about yourself! Even though the oldest of them is only eight, if they’re truly cunning and deceitful, with your skills, forget about probing them—you’d be lucky not to be fooled yourself!
“They haven’t yet received the master’s definite word, so your meeting them would give them quite a boost. I was thinking that Hong’er and I could go sound them out instead. How about you discuss it with the master tonight?”
Nanny Tong believed that Shen Rusong had a clear understanding of his wife’s capabilities.
Madam Wu wants to take the three girls for a bath!
The next day, after lunch, news brought by a servant instantly spread throughout the rear annex courtyard.
The people in the small courtyard had thought it would be another idle day, leisurely strolling and chatting after a full lunch, but now they were all abuzz.
Labeled as “bathing,” it was likely just Madam Wu’s pretext to see the illegitimate daughters, right?
The Ding and Zhang families hurried back to their rooms to prepare.
Hu Sicai and Niu Shi also hastily closed their door and paced around the room a couple of times before realizing that their family didn’t seem to have much to prepare…
For a moment, the group stared at each other in bewilderment. Hu Sicai cleared his throat lightly and said, “Yuan Jie’er, you must be respectful when you meet Madam Wu later! Madam Wu is, well, she’s—”
Looking into his niece’s clear, innocent eyes, Hu Sicai suddenly found himself at a loss for words. His second cousin had raised this girl with great care and indulgence, and he wasn’t sure if she understood the meanings of “mistress” and “legal wife.” Explaining it in detail now might upset her and make things worse.
After a long pause, he finally managed to blurt out, “She’s like a mother, but older than your own mother!”
His niece responded crisply, “Alright, Auntie Wu!”
“…You can’t call her that!” Hu Sicai grew anxious, unsure how to properly instruct the child, so he could only emphasize again, “If you get to see your father, that is, Master Shen, you must win his favor, understand?”
The niece continued to nod obediently and then asked, “I understand. But how do I do that?”
Hu Sicai was stumped again.
He truly didn’t know the answer to that question. When it came to eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling—especially the various gambling methods—he was an expert. But how to please elders? That was something he had never done.
Since childhood, his father had died, and his mother had remarried, leaving him without any proper elders to guide him. As for his uncle, Hu Erniang’s father, who had raised him, that uncle was merely a source of money—a tool—and Hu Sicai couldn’t even be bothered to give him a smile.
Racking his brains but finding no solution, Hu Sicai waved his hand impatiently. “Anyway, you have to make both of them happy!”
Having sent Hu Sicai away, Niu Shi approached with a forced smile, chattering incessantly as she began her brainwashing. Shen Yiyi had to subtly shift to the side to avoid being sprayed by her spittle.
It wasn’t until there was movement outside that Niu Shi finally stopped talking, and the family hurriedly rushed out.
Two women were already waiting outside the courtyard gate.
The one at the front was of average height and quite young, likely only sixteen or seventeen. She wore a moon-white narrow-sleeved cross-collar top and an indigo waist-length skirt, with her hair styled in double spiral buns, each adorned with a small velvet flower.
Facing the dozen or so people crowded at the courtyard gate, the young woman seemed slightly nervous. “My mistress has sent me to bring the three young ladies inside.”
Old Madam Ding discreetly tugged at Sister Gui’s sleeve.
Biting her lip and carrying a small bundle, Sister Gui stepped forward first.
Sister Nian also had a small bundle slung diagonally across her body and was being pushed out by her mother. She wanted to cry but didn’t dare, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked back with every step.
Zhang Xiuxiu gritted her teeth in frustration, feeling that this debt-collecting brat was truly born to torment her. Not daring to make a scene in front of the Shen Mansion’s people, she gave Sister Nian a hard shove and hissed, “Hurry up! Or I’ll give you a beating!”
Seeing the two girls dressed in new clothes and carrying bundles, with their hair freshly styled and adorned with ribbons and hair ornaments—especially Sister Gui, who wore a gleaming Longevity silver lock around her neck—Hu Sicai finally realized what the other two families had been preparing earlier.
Then he looked at Shen Yiyi beside him. Not only was she empty-handed, but she was also dressed in plain, slightly soiled clothes without a single accessory.
Huh? Hadn’t she been wearing this same outfit since the day he received the letter and came to the city? How many days had it been since she changed?
Hu Sicai shot Niu Shi a fierce glare.
Niu Shi shrank back sheepishly, avoiding his gaze.
It wasn’t entirely her fault, though. Who could have imagined this little girl would have a chance to turn her life around? If she had known, she would have kept at least one set of clothes to make a decent impression.
Weren’t they just going for a bath? What was the point of styling their hair and changing their clothes? These two families were just being pretentious!
What should they do now?
She turned and ran back into the courtyard, plucked the largest Luffa flower, then hurried to catch up with Shen Yiyi. Without a word, she stuck it right into her hair.
What the hell is this rustic taste of yours!
Shen Yiyi nearly lost her composure, her hand halfway raised before she managed to hold back.
“My Yuan Jie’er just loves wearing fresh flowers!” Amid Sister-in-law Zhang’s sneers, Niu Shi shamelessly praised, “And you know what? With a face this pretty, even a simple flower looks better than all that gold and silver!”
Sister Gui, who wasn’t wearing gold but did have silver ornaments, had been sneering at first. But upon hearing this, her gaze swept over Shen Yiyi’s face, and her expression tightened.
Shen Yiyi was utterly speechless at Niu Shi’s talent for stirring up trouble. She quickened her pace and moved to stand elsewhere.