Chapter 7
At home now were only Qi Yun's mother Liu Shi and the Qi family's eldest daughter-in-law Fang Shi.
Liu Shi had sent someone to call Ye Jiao over. She herself looked completely unhurried, but Fang Shi was coaxing her son while looking outside, appearing even more concerned than Liu Shi, the actual mother.
Seeing her like this, Liu Shi couldn't help but speak: "What are you looking at?"
Fang Shi immediately turned to Liu Shi, her round face showing a smile: "Mother, I'm waiting for Second Brother and little sister-in-law."
Liu Shi glanced at her, put down the teacup in her hand, and said: "Yun'er needs to rest quietly. Stop fussing about him."
Even though Qi Yun wanted the doctor to avoid Liu Shi, what household matter could truly be hidden from her?
Before the doctor left, Liu Shi had specifically called him over to ask about it.
The result was hearing the doctor say that Qi Yun's health was improving, and this time it was just because his internal heat was burning too vigorously, nothing serious.
In the past, Qi Yun was either too cold or catching chills. Now, although excessive internal heat wasn't a good thing either, Liu Shi could tell that her son no longer needed to test the edge between life and death.
This was enough to make Liu Shi happy, but she didn't say it out loud, afraid that speaking it would break the good fortune Qi Yun had finally obtained.
She forced herself to calm her spirits and said to Fang Shi: "Today Second Son will stay home. Now I'm only thinking about Second Son's health. We can skip those empty ceremonies. We're not some high-ranking noble family anyway, we don't have so many rules to follow. Just find someone to accompany Jiao Niang."
Although she said this, Fang Shi could hear that her mother-in-law was very satisfied with Ye Jiao.
She also went along with Liu Shi's meaning and smiled: "Little sister-in-law has good fortune. Not only is Second Brother's health getting better and better, look, it was cloudy a while ago, but today the sun has cleared up."
Liu Shi's face showed a smile upon hearing this.
People always have some superstitions in their hearts. Before Ye Jiao entered the family, Liu Shi didn't think much of her, only thinking that in the future, no matter what, she would just be an extra mouth to feed. But now seeing that Qi Yun's health hadn't acted up once, Liu Shi felt that Ye Jiao had good fortune.
Today happened to be her return home day, and the sun was so bright.
Even knowing that Fang Shi was deliberately saying nice things to make her happy, Liu Shi loved to hear it.
As long as Qi Yun was well, Liu Shi was happy to treat Ye Jiao kindly.
Fang Shi saw her smile and knew Liu Shi was in a good mood now, so she took the opportunity to say: "Mother, Shi Tou is growing fast, these clothes need to be made new again." As she spoke, she bounced her not-yet-two-year-old son Shi Tou in her arms.
Liu Shi looked at her but didn't respond, just reached out to touch Shi Tou's head.
When this child was born, he was weak, so they didn't give him a formal name, fearing it would diminish his fortune. They only gave him a pet name for the family to call him.
He had always been favored, but this time Liu Shi didn't immediately agree.
Fang Shi didn't dare to press either, sitting quietly.
After a while, Liu Shi said: "Shi Tou will never lack for food or clothing. Whatever you want, just have someone make it. You don't need to specifically tell me."
Hearing this, Fang Shi immediately smiled, her round face showing undisguised joy.
Liu Shi didn't say anything about Fang Shi, just sighed helplessly.
The eldest daughter-in-law was originally a scholar's daughter. Although nowadays there were many who bought official positions in the court, and plenty who spent money to buy the title of recommended scholar, the Fang family's scholar was genuinely tested and earned. Even though he never passed another exam after getting the scholar title, daughters from families that could read and write were always more sought after.
Back then, to arrange a marriage between the Qi family's eldest son and the Fang family, Liu Shi had spent money to hire a top-notch matchmaker and finally managed to marry her over.
Who knew that this Fang Shi had no cleverness at all and was especially stingy.
Shi Tou was Liu Shi's only grandson so far, and he usually never lacked for anything, but Fang Shi always had to ask Liu Shi for everything, not wanting to spend any of her own money.
Fortunately, Liu Shi saw that she was generally honest and cared for the family, so she let her be, treating it as spoiling her grandson.
Having gotten her benefit, Fang Shi's face showed a smile again. She happily held her son and teased him with an apple from the table: "Shi Tou, come on, smile."
Little Shi Tou was also very cooperative, hugging the apple and giggling, his big eyes rolling around adorably.
Liu Shi doted on her grandson. Seeing Shi Tou smile, her slight dissatisfaction with Fang Shi immediately disappeared.
Just then, Ye Jiao lifted the curtain and walked in.
Seeing them, Ye Jiao smiled gently: "Mother, eldest sister-in-law."
Fang Shi was afraid of Qi Yun. After all, ordinary people would be scared seeing that sickly and gloomy Second Master Qi.
But Fang Shi was especially kind to Ye Jiao, even somewhat sympathetic.
The more afraid she was of Qi Yun, the more she sympathized with Ye Jiao.
But besides sympathy, Fang Shi also felt some petty pride in her heart. Her eldest son Qi Zhao was a perfectly healthy person. Compared to Ye Jiao, Fang Shi felt she was especially fortunate.
This made Fang Shi actively approach when she saw Ye Jiao, pulling her hand with a kind expression: "It's almost autumn, it's cold outside. Little sister-in-law, why didn't you wear more?"
Ye Jiao didn't show the liveliness she had in front of Qi Yun when facing Liu Shi and Fang Shi. She replied especially carefully and obediently: "I'll remember. I'll definitely wear more next time."
Simple breakfast was set on the table. During the meal, it was mostly Fang Shi and Liu Shi talking, while Ye Jiao just held her bowl and drank porridge.
This porridge had eggs beaten into it and tasted of meat. Ye Jiao ate with her eyes squinting with pleasure.
After breakfast, servants naturally cleared the bowls and dishes, wiped the table, and served tea.
Liu Shi looked Ye Jiao up and down, beckoned her over, then said to the servant beside her: "Nanny Liu, give the things to Jiao Niang."
Nanny Liu immediately presented a bulging cloth bundle. Opening it revealed several sets of clothing and a jade hairpin with good quality.
The little ginseng couldn't tell good from bad, only feeling that these clothes were more refined than what she wore, light to hold.
Fang Shi watched with envious eyes, wanting to speak, but Liu Shi cut off her words: "You just entered the family, so not many clothes were prepared. When the weather gets cold later, we'll have someone tailor more clothes. For today, wear these first."
At these words, Fang Shi understood that Liu Shi had prepared these clothes and jewelry for Ye Jiao's return home, telling the Ye family that the Qi family valued Ye Jiao highly. There was probably also a warning meaning, telling them not to come bother Ye Jiao in the future.
Ye Jiao didn't understand the complexities involved, but she remembered Qi Yun's instructions.
Her husband told her to speak well in front of Liu Shi, so she wouldn't ask questions casually in front of Liu Shi, instead smiling and saying: "Thank you, Mother."
This call of "Mother" was sweet, making Liu Shi feel comfortable listening to it.
Fang Shi touched her throat, pursing her lips and thinking that this second sister-in-law was beautiful and had a nice voice too. She had called "Mother" so many times but never saw Liu Shi so pleased.
But then she thought about Ye Jiao marrying Qi Yun, and how hard her future days might be, Fang Shi immediately felt better.
Liu Shi didn't know what random thoughts her eldest daughter-in-law was having, and didn't ask. She just reached out to take little Shi Tou into her arms to coax him. The child's adorable appearance also livened up the atmosphere in the room.
Ye Jiao left the Qi family in an ox cart. The Qi family could afford mules and horses, but in the village, ox carts were often more useful than horse carts.
Besides the cart driver outside, accompanying Ye Jiao back were Nanny Liu, who was by Liu Shi's side, and Little Su, whom Qi Yun had sent.
Little Su held the things in her arms tightly, afraid they might get bumped when the ox cart jolted.
There were not only gifts for the return home visit, but also a food box.
Ye Jiao looked at the food box and blinked curiously: "Is this also to give to someone?"
Little Su was naturally lively, but usually got scared like a quail when she saw Qi Yun. Now that they were out of the residence, her voice was much clearer: "No, Second Young Master had me bring this, saying he was afraid the Young Mistress would get hungry."
Nanny Liu showed some surprise in her eyes upon hearing this. She had followed Liu Shi and could be said to have watched the three young masters grow up. This Second Young Master was usually cold and distant to everyone, but now he actually thought to bring food for his wife?
Ye Jiao's eyes lit up: "Pastries?"
Little Su nodded and opened the food box.
Inside were six red bean cakes, the same as what Ye Jiao had eaten last night, except these were still warm to the touch.
Ye Jiao had eaten her fill in the morning and wasn't hungry originally, but seeing them made her mouth feel dry and wanting to eat something.
However, she held back from reaching out, instead having Little Su cover the food box again, while she lifted the cloth curtain on the window to look outside.
The little ginseng didn't care about returning to her maternal home. If not for Qi Yun's insistence, she probably wouldn't have made this trip.
But Ye Jiao was very interested in the Qi family medicine garden they might pass on the road.
The little ginseng was currently a near-illiterate, unable to read. Human characters were different from those used by spirits and monsters, with only some similarities. She could count on two hands the characters she recognized, and there were many more she didn't know.
When leaving, Ye Jiao had specifically turned to look at the Qi family's plaque, memorizing the characters on it like a picture in her mind, so that when they passed the Qi family medicine garden later, she wouldn't fail to recognize it.
After riding in the ox cart for a short while, Ye Jiao saw a courtyard.
Not far from the roadside, with high walls, something seemed to be cooking inside, with wisps of white smoke rising.
The sign hanging outside read "Qi Family Medicine Garden." Ye Jiao didn't recognize the characters, but she matched the first two characters and could faintly smell the scent of medicinal herbs, so she was certain of the location.
No longer looking, she dropped the curtain and fixed her eyes on the food box.
Before Ye Jiao could speak, Little Su opened the food box and handed it to Ye Jiao.
Ye Jiao took a warm red bean cake from inside and bit into it, feeling her mouth filled with sweet fragrance. The little ginseng couldn't help but squint her eyes.
Delicious.
My husband still thinks of me.
Marriage is wonderful!
But six red bean cakes were quite a lot. She couldn't help thinking, she had originally planned to say she was hungry later and rest at the medicine garden. If she couldn't finish these red bean cakes, what excuse could she use on the way back to visit the medicine garden?
Then she looked at Nanny Liu and Little Su: "Are you hungry?"
Before Nanny Liu could speak, Little Su nodded repeatedly.
But Little Su wasn't hungry, she was just craving them.
The Qi family was wealthy, with good food and drink, but Little Su was just a helper. She usually ate her fill, but nothing so refined. Sweet things were especially rare to eat.
Currently, salt was controlled by the government, sugar was expensive, and ordinary families simply couldn't afford to eat much of it.
Ye Jiao saw the longing in Little Su's eyes and directly pushed the food box toward them: "Let's share and eat them all. Don't leave any."
Little Su immediately reached for one, as if afraid Ye Jiao would change her mind.
Nanny Liu also took one, but in her heart she thought Ye Jiao knew how to handle people, and she remembered Ye Jiao's kindness.
Before long, the six red bean cakes were shared and eaten by the three of them.
Sweet things always put people in a good mood. Until the ox cart stopped at their destination, Ye Jiao's face was smiling.
She was born pretty, and with the ginseng essence in her body nourishing her well, her complexion was rosy and white. She was especially beautiful when she smiled.
The ox cart stopped right outside the Ye family's courtyard gate. Little Su jumped down from the cart, moved a low stool as a step, first helped Nanny Liu down, then the two of them together helped Ye Jiao down from the cart.
When Ye Jiao lifted the curtain, she found quite a few people gathered around watching.
Actually, since the ox cart entered the village, people had been following behind to watch.
There were no wealthy households in the village where the Ye family lived. Only the village chief's family owned an ox. Now seeing someone using an ox to pull a cart naturally made them curious.
The result was seeing the ox cart stop outside the Ye family's courtyard gate, and they naturally remembered the lively wedding procession the Qi family had sent a few days ago.
Counting the days, it should be time for the Ye family daughter to return home.
Ye Jiao rarely went out before, so not many people knew her. Even those who had seen her only remembered her as a girl who always kept her head down, with a small voice, and they couldn't see her appearance clearly.
But now when the little ginseng got down from the cart, she no longer had that submissive look.
She had been a little ginseng in her previous life, accustomed to freedom. In this life, having become human with Qi Yun caring for her in every way, the ginseng spirit simply didn't understand the meaning of the word "inferiority" in her heart.
Anyway, she had just become human and didn't understand anything, listening to her husband in everything.
Her husband had said that she only needed to be careful in front of the Qi family elders, and she didn't need to fear anyone else.
Now when getting down from the cart, Ye Jiao held the hands of Little Su and Nanny Liu, looking especially at ease.
The clothes Liu Shi had made for her couldn't compare to the luxury of noble ladies in the city, but they were refined, made of good material. With Ye Jiao's natural beauty, she looked extremely wealthy and noble.
This appearance first startled the watching villagers, who couldn't help but look at each other in surprise.
Was this really that always timid Ye family daughter?
She looked far too beautiful. If they had known the Ye family daughter had such good looks, wouldn't the Ye family's threshold have been broken by matchmakers long ago!
Just then, Second Brother Ye came back carrying vegetables. When he saw Ye Jiao, he didn't dare recognize her for a moment. Only when he got closer did he stammer: "Little sister?"