Chapter 4
Ye Jiao was very much looking forward to eating, but she hadn't expected there would be quite a few things to do before the meal.
Looking at the circle of people sitting in the room, serving tea to each person for introductions made the little ginseng spirit's waist suffer again.
Fortunately, the Qi family had a simple population and didn't take too much time.
Besides Qi Yun's parents, Qi Yun had one older brother and one younger brother.
Eldest son Qi Zhao, with wife Fang Shi, third son Qi Ming was young and still studying. Apart from these, there weren't too many relatives.
Qi Yun explained: "My family originally came from the north, later migrated here, and doesn't have many clan relatives."
This also meant the Qi family couldn't rely much on clan influence and had to depend on their own efforts for everything, but Ye Jiao didn't care at all.
Being able to kneel a few times less was good enough. What use were so many relatives...
Secretly rubbing her knees, Ye Jiao thought that being human really wasn't easy. From yesterday to today, she felt the thing she did most was kneel down, get up, get up, kneel down.
However, while meeting people, Ye Jiao took the opportunity to glance at her cheap husband.
Qi Yun wasn't looking at her, but silently stood to one side, eyes looking straight ahead, not a trace of expression on his face.
This was Qi Yun's normal state. He didn't like to talk or smile. Already pale-faced, when he stood there with such a stiff expression, if not for the fact that he was still breathing, you might doubt whether he was even alive.
Completely different from his gentle appearance yesterday when he fed her water.
When it came time to eat, only Qi Yun's mother Liu Shi remained with the young couple.
Ye Jiao looked at the dishes on the table, her eyes sparkling. The slight gloom accumulated from all the kneeling just now was swept away with the aroma of the food.
But just as she was about to reach out, Qi Yun gently caught the woman's hand, squeezed it and released it, saying quietly: "Wait for Mother to pick up her chopsticks before you can eat."
Although the Qi family wasn't some high-ranking household and the rules weren't strict, proper etiquette still had to be observed.
Qi Yun didn't dislike Ye Jiao's poor manners, placing all the blame on the Ye family.
Not giving her food or drink and not teaching her proper manners either. If it were another family, his Jiao Niang would have suffered countless hardships.
Their hearts had turned black.
Fortunately Jiao Niang met him, and he could teach her slowly in the future.
Thinking this, Qi Yun's expression darkened. He really didn't know how long he could protect her.
Although Ye Jiao was hungry, she was very obedient. The little ginseng spirit trying hard to learn to be human sat nicely, also copying Qi Yun's manner and saying quietly to him: "That felt good, squeeze some more."
Qi Yun had been somewhat downcast, but hearing Ye Jiao's words, he was slightly stunned: "Squeeze what?"
Ye Jiao wiggled her hand, her voice soft: "Holding the teacup made me tired just now. Squeeze it, just like you did before." After saying this, she stuffed her hand back into the man's palm.
This was half true and half false.
Serving tea had indeed made her a bit sore, but more than that, Ye Jiao wanted to hold this person's hand more, to give him more nourishment.
Qi Yun didn't ask more questions, cupping her fingertips again and gently massaging her hand with an exceptionally serious expression.
Ye Jiao squinted her eyes slightly.
It really was quite comfortable. Ah, marriage was wonderful.
Seeing them whispering, Liu Shi showed some satisfaction on her face.
Actually, Ye Jiao's family background and the Qi family definitely couldn't be considered well-matched, but Liu Shi never wanted a perfect daughter-in-law. She just wanted to find a way to bring good fortune to her son and extend his life.
Second Sister-in-law Ye said Ye Jiao was willing, and Liu Shi naturally had no doubts.
But Qi Yun was unwilling, always saying he couldn't delay other people. Liu Shi had tossed and turned last night for a long while, afraid Qi Yun would make trouble or get angry and harm his health. But then she heard that the two had slept peacefully through the night.
Although they missed the proper time for morning tea service, looking at Qi Yun's complexion which was much better than usual, Liu Shi saw it and was delighted.
Even if the Ye family in-laws weren't much to rely on, as long as her son could be well, that was enough for Liu Shi.
She didn't plan to establish any rules for this daughter-in-law either. After she picked up her chopsticks, Ye Jiao immediately looked excitedly at Qi Yun. Seeing Qi Yun nod, she followed suit and picked up her chopsticks, fiddled with them briefly, and soon successfully picked up a piece of meat.
Thank goodness for the original memories, otherwise Ye Jiao really would have reached out to grab it.
But the next second, she saw Qi Yun place a chopstick-full of vegetables in her bowl.
"Did I pinch too hard?" Qi Yun thought Ye Jiao's clumsy use of chopsticks was because he had used too much force just now.
Ye Jiao immediately shook her head, her eyes bright as she smiled at Qi Yun: "It doesn't hurt."
What she got in return was Qi Yun's expression of "clearly it hurts so much you can barely hold chopsticks but you still say it doesn't hurt" kind of heartache. Feeling inexplicably warm inside, he placed another chopstick-full of meat in her bowl.
Ye Jiao didn't quite understand what Qi Yun was imagining, but she welcomed this kind of feeding behavior from Qi Yun.
Ye Jiao had no idea what these dishes were called, but she knew this one was delicious, that one was also delicious, everything was delicious!
Much more delicious than yesterday's pastries!
Marriage was wonderful!
Probably because Ye Jiao ate so heartily, Qi Yun also ate half a bowl more rice than usual, making Liu Shi beam with smiles.
After the two left, Liu Shi stood up and went to kneel before the Buddha statue, devoutly praying for her second son.
Qi Yun returned to the room with Ye Jiao. Probably because he had eaten more than usual just now, Qi Yun felt somewhat full, so he took Ye Jiao around the courtyard a few more times, also introducing her to the Qi household.
"This is Father and Mother's courtyard, that's Big Brother and Sister-in-law's, behind is Third Brother's, and further north is where the tenant farmers live." Qi Yun walked very slowly, his voice also leisurely. "Usually, except for dinner, we three brothers eat separately."
Ye Jiao blinked: "Why?"
Qi Yun looked at her, lowering his eyes: "Father and Big Brother have to go to the farm, Third Brother has to go study, everyone has their own things to do." Saying this, Qi Yun averted his gaze. "I can only help look at account books at home, I can't accomplish anything else."
Speaking of this, Qi Yun coughed softly a few times. The scattered gentleness he had just now completely disappeared.
The current dynasty wasn't like the previous one that emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce. Although merchants still couldn't compare in status to scholarly gentlemen, the court had abolished various restrictions on merchants. Merchants' children could still take the imperial examinations, and there were even merchants who bought official positions with money. This led many people with spare money to enter commerce.
The Qi family had a wine shop and a medicine shop, usually hiring people to manage them, with the Qi family as owners only doing routine account checking and collection.
Qi Yun's poor health prevented him from going to the farms, and his body couldn't withstand the rigors of the imperial examinations. Even though he was well-read, in the end he could only stay home and help with account books.
If it were before, Qi Yun wouldn't have thought anything of it. A dying man had no expectations anyway. What did it matter if he wasn't successful in letters or martial arts? He didn't have many years left anyway.
But now, holding a little wife who depended on him for everything, Qi Yun felt useless.
Just then, Qi Yun heard Ye Jiao's surprised voice: "Husband, you can not only read and write, but also do arithmetic?"
Qi Yun looked up at her, not quite understanding where Ye Jiao's amazement came from, but replied: "Mm."
Ye Jiao blinked, suddenly linking arms with Qi Yun, smiling with curved eyes: "Husband is so capable."
This comment made Qi Yun somewhat amused: "What's so capable about it?"
Ye Jiao thought for a moment: "Husband knows everything I don't, so Husband is capable."
Qi Yun heard the sincerity in these words. Even though Qi Yun felt this was because Ye Jiao had met few people and had a simple mind, this pure praise still brought some smile to his pale face.
Just now, probably because they were in front of others, Qi Yun had shown no expression. His sudden smile now made Ye Jiao stare in fascination.
He was really handsome, especially when he smiled.
But Qi Yun didn't notice Ye Jiao's gaze, walking slowly again with a gentle tone: "It's still good for people to know some characters. Since there's nothing to do these few days anyway, I'll teach you to read."
Ye Jiao immediately nodded, gripping Qi Yun's fingertips tightly: "Good, I learn things very quickly."
Qi Yun glanced at her: "Oh, I know."
Ye Jiao tilted her head. Why did she feel this person's face was written all over with disbelief?
Just then, they turned into a garden in the back courtyard.
The Qi family was the wealthiest household in the surrounding villages and towns. Most of their gardens were planted with flowers and grass, though there were also places for raising chickens and ducks.
Usually Qi Yun wouldn't come here. Today, talking as they walked, they had arrived here. He didn't plan to enter.
But Ye Jiao's sharp eyes spotted something and pointed over there: "Ah, it's him."
Qi Yun followed Ye Jiao's gaze and only saw a group of chickens wandering around, raising an eyebrow slightly: "What?"
Ye Jiao's tone was clear: "It's yesterday's big rooster! The feathers on its tail are especially long and beautiful."
Qi Yun looked over and indeed saw a big rooster with particularly beautiful tail feathers, strutting around proudly and majestically.
Sensing the sound, it turned its head. Upon seeing them, it just raised its head, then turned away, showing them its rear end in a disdainful manner.
Qi Yun: ...Ha.
He hadn't forgotten that yesterday, his Jiao Niang had almost bowed to this rooster in the wedding ceremony!
Qi Yun immediately changed direction and stepped into the garden.
Little Su, who should have been feeding the chickens in the garden, had shirked her duty and was playing with a shuttlecock by herself. When she heard movement, she noticed them. The girl of about ten years old was startled, especially when she saw Qi Yun, wishing she could turn and run.
But there was no Tie Zi beside her to give her courage. Little Su could only stand there stiffly. The shuttlecock fell to the ground, and she only had time to pick up the basin containing chicken feed, standing frozen in place, not daring to move.
Qi Yun glanced at her, his tone flat: "Do your work, don't mind us."
"I understand, Second Young Master." Little Su lowered her head as much as possible, trying to minimize her presence.
Ye Jiao walked to the fence, looking inside, feeling quite pleased.
When she was still a little ginseng, she had spent considerable effort avoiding those birds and beasts. Now it was good, she didn't need to hide, they had to hide from her instead.
With greater boldness came more playfulness. Ye Jiao pinched some chicken feed from Little Su's hands and carefully scattered it inside.
Seeing this, Qi Yun came over and took her hand, using a handkerchief to clean her hands, his voice low but gentle: "Don't grab these things randomly, be careful of dirty hands."
Ye Jiao smiled as she let him clean her hands, but her eyes looked at Little Su: "How old is this big rooster?"
Although Little Su feared Qi Yun, she wasn't afraid of this always-smiling beautiful new bride.
Though she still didn't dare raise her head, her voice no longer trembled: "Little Black was raised last year, he's one year old."
Ye Jiao was somewhat surprised: "You even gave it a name?"
Little Su's face reddened, not speaking, just showing a child's innocence.
Qi Yun also looked at that big rooster with beautiful tail feathers, suddenly asking Ye Jiao: "Jiao Niang, do you want to eat chicken?"
At these words, Little Su was so frightened she shuddered. She instinctively felt that this cold, taciturn, and scary Second Young Master wanted to eat her Little Black!
But Ye Jiao didn't think anything was wrong. She touched her stomach: "I'm full from just now, I don't want to eat anything now."
Qi Yun nodded, his eyes looking at the shuttlecock Little Su had dropped on the ground, saying flatly: "Is it fun?"
Little Su shuddered again. She wanted to say it was fun, but being caught slacking off, nodding wasn't right, shaking her head wasn't right either.
Qi Yun didn't want to pursue anything. Seeing that it was time for him to go back and take his medicine, he didn't look at Little Su and took Ye Jiao's hand, his eyes showing scattered tenderness: "Let's go back."
"Good." Ye Jiao withdrew her gaze and prepared to leave with him.
But when exiting the garden, Qi Yun seemed to remember something and turned to Little Su with a flat command: "Make a shuttlecock and send it over later," then he tilted his head toward Ye Jiao, "you can play with it."
Ye Jiao didn't know how to kick shuttlecock, but she was willing to try everything, immediately smiling in agreement.
Qi Yun also smiled, the corner of his eye glancing in one direction: "Use its feathers, the ones from the tail."
Ye Jiao didn't see clearly what Qi Yun was referring to and was pulled away by him.
Little Su looked at her Little Black, on the verge of tears.
That evening, a beautiful black feather shuttlecock was delivered to Ye Jiao's hands, and Qi Yun also dismissed the thought of drinking chicken soup.
After a good night's sleep, it was time for Ye Jiao's return visit home.