Chapter 27
With the matter settled, Liu Shi looked very satisfied, and Fang Shi was equally content.
Ye Jiao took Little Shi Tou into her arms, breaking off pastries to feed him. The little boy, just over a year old, opened his mouth happily to eat, and after finishing would say "Auntie eat too," looking very thoughtful.
Liu Shi looked at Little Shi Tou with a smile on her face: "Our Little Shi Tou will certainly have no trouble finding a wife in the future."
Both daughters-in-law laughed along. Little Shi Tou didn't understand what a wife was. For him now, pastries were more important.
After talking for a while longer, Fang Shi left with Little Shi Tou in her arms, but Ye Jiao stayed in Liu Shi's courtyard.
Liu Shi looked at her, her smile becoming more genuine, and reached out her hand: "Jiao Niang, come sit beside me."
Ye Jiao complied and sat down. Liu Shi gently held her hand, liking her more the more she looked.
Actually, in Liu Shi's view, both her daughters-in-law were quite good compared to other families.
Having spare money in the family often attracted envy. Envy from outsiders was one thing, but mostly it was because family members became envious, fighting over this and grabbing that, until a good family was torn apart.
Liu Shi came from a good background. In her maiden family, she had seen enough of the struggles in the inner quarters and grew tired and disgusted by them. That's why she chose Father Qi, who had no powerful clan influence but also no excessive relatives to constrain them.
After marrying into the Qi family, Liu Shi was especially careful in choosing wives for her sons.
Fang Shi was her choice. Though she hadn't seen Fang Shi's stinginess before, Fang Shi's stinginess only involved clutching her own fists and holding onto her own things. She never thought about things that didn't belong to her, and her hands never reached outward.
Occasionally embarrassing, yes, but still within tolerable limits. Plus she raised Little Shi Tou very well, so Liu Shi was generally satisfied with her.
As for those minor flaws, occasional guidance would suffice.
Liu Shi thought about Fang Shi's suggestion just now, a trace of helplessness flashing across her face, but she didn't dwell on it, turning her attention to Ye Jiao.
This second daughter-in-law was truly a good match.
Gentle in manner, obedient and well-mannered, and according to the servants, Ye Jiao was learning to read and write with Qi Yun, which made Liu Shi think even more highly of her.
More importantly, after Ye Jiao arrived, Qi Yun kept getting better.
Whether it was his health or his ambition, everything was vastly different from before.
As a mother, she knew her sons' capabilities best. Her eldest son was enthusiastic and diligent, generous in nature. The Qi family estates could be entrusted to him with confidence. Third Son was studious and eager to learn. At such a young age, he could already attend the finest academy. His future was limitless.
But in Liu Shi's view, her second son was precocious with perfect memory. When it came to learning and scholarship, he was no worse than anyone, and his mind was sharper than anyone's. If he could have a healthy body, he should be the most promising one.
The more she thought this way, the more regretful she became. Liu Shi had shed many tears for Qi Yun, always blaming herself for not taking better care of him and giving him a healthy body.
Now that Qi Yun was visibly improving, regardless of what others thought, Liu Shi believed it was her sincere prayers to Buddha that had been heard, her wishes granted, giving her a blessed daughter-in-law who made Qi Yun better.
Usually with Fang Shi present, Liu Shi wouldn't show too much favoritism toward Ye Jiao even if she liked her. As a mother-in-law, Liu Shi always understood the meaning of fairness.
Now with only Ye Jiao present, Liu Shi's smile became much more genuine, liking her more the more she looked.
Thinking of Qi Yun's request, Liu Shi smiled and said: "Jiao Niang, come to my place more often these days. I have several boxes of good rouge. Later you and Nanny Liu can choose together, and I'll pick one to give you."
Actually, giving rouge was just an excuse. Liu Shi planned to have Nanny Liu teach Ye Jiao how to apply makeup.
Young women should learn to apply powder and rouge in their maiden homes, but Liu Shi knew Second Sister-in-law Ye's character and could imagine that no one in Ye Jiao's maiden family cared about such things. After hearing Qi Yun's request, Liu Shi also felt pity for her second daughter-in-law and wanted Nanny Liu to teach her.
But she wouldn't say it directly or openly mention teaching. She would just say she wanted her to come choose rouge, then have Nanny Liu casually tell her the techniques, preserving Ye Jiao's dignity.
Ye Jiao smiled and agreed, but her mind thought of Qi Yun drawing her eyebrows yesterday, making her smile even deeper.
On the other side, Fang Shi returned to her courtyard with Little Shi Tou in her arms, feeling she had saved money, in an excellent mood and especially happy all day.
When evening came and she told Qi Zhao about this matter, Qi Zhao became angry.
"Do you think others can't see through your little schemes? Mother has managed the household for so many years. She saw through your thoughts long ago. She just doesn't expose them to preserve your dignity. Did you really think you could fool anyone?"
Though Qi Zhao was angry inside, he still loved Fang Shi dearly and tried to keep his voice from being too loud. After all, she was his own wife whom he cherished, but Fang Shi's repeated behavior also gave Qi Zhao a headache.
But Fang Shi had her own reasoning: "In the past, whenever we had income, we always gave to the family. Father and Mother should know our filial hearts. This time it's just a little expense for New Year. I didn't really say I wouldn't give a single coin. In the past it was always the same as Second Brother, so this time it should be the same as Second Brother too."
Hearing this, Qi Zhao felt his head throbbing.
But he didn't immediately argue. Instead, he had someone come in to take the confused Little Shi Tou away, to avoid the child being frightened by their loud or soft voices.
After Little Shi Tou was taken away by the wet nurse, Qi Zhao closed the door and said to Fang Shi: "Now let's talk behind closed doors. No matter how you argue, this isn't about money, but about dignity. I'm the eldest son and should have the magnanimity of an older brother. Do you understand?"
Qi Zhao was the eldest son. As the eldest son, he naturally bore heavier responsibilities than others, and correspondingly, he also received more benefits.
Elder Brother Qi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself: "You should also know that the estate has always been the most profitable in our family. Father and Mother gave me the estate not because I'm particularly capable, but because I'm the eldest brother, responsible for taking care of the family and younger brothers. That's why they gave me the estate. In all things, there's no such thing as only gaining benefits without suffering losses."
Fang Shi pursed her lips, her round face showing some grievance: "If you're talking about gaining benefits, didn't Mother not tell me about making clothes before? Didn't I say nothing about that?"
"That's because you were being petty, looking at Second Brother making money and making yourself so angry you lay in bed for several days." Qi Zhao was exasperated by Fang Shi's response: "Mother not calling you to make clothes was already a warning. Next time you have idle complaints, you won't be included in clothes making either."
Hearing this, Fang Shi became angry. Though she was literate, her mind wasn't broad. She didn't remember much of the principles Qi Zhao had spoken earlier, but this sentence hit her heart: "I can see now that you just don't care about me."
Qi Zhao was stunned: "I don't care about you enough? I provide your food and clothing. How else should I care?"
Fang Shi was momentarily speechless, unable to find any rebuttal. Her eyes rolled, then she said: "Look at how Second Brother treats his wife. Knowing she likes medicinal materials, he had the entire courtyard leveled! And you? I've already suffered from not being included in clothes making, yet you still lecture me."
Qi Zhao looked at her helplessly: "Should I level the courtyard for you too?"
Fang Shi became anxious: "Absolutely not! All the flowers and plants in our courtyard were carefully cultivated by me. Don't you dare think about it."
Qi Zhao saw that Fang Shi had led the conversation astray again. As someone who wasn't particularly eloquent, he could manage reasoning, but when it came to unreasonable arguments, he really had no idea how to handle it and didn't have the energy to wrangle with Fang Shi.
Looking at Fang Shi who still showed no signs of regret, Qi Zhao thought that since she had already told Mother and Mother had agreed, it was a done deal that couldn't be changed. At worst, he would go apologize to Second Brother himself.
With this thought, Qi Yun sighed, waved his hand and said: "Let it be this time. Second Brother is capable. Don't keep watching how much money he makes every day and thinking random thoughts."
Fang Shi wasn't really stupid. She understood that couples needed to know when to stop, so she obediently nodded and even diligently went to help Qi Zhao change clothes and pour water. But in her heart, Fang Shi was somewhat indifferent to her husband's words.
Business was like a battlefield. Qi Yun had just made some small money. Who didn't eat dumplings during New Year?
Her husband's work was the long-term livelihood that others couldn't compare to.
Thinking this, Fang Shi felt much more comfortable.
After Ye Jiao returned, the first thing she did wasn't to tell Qi Yun about contributing money, but to excitedly say to Second Young Master Qi: "Husband, Nanny Liu really knows how to apply powder! She also picked out a set of things for me, saying using these looks better than applying with hands."
Qi Yun had just finished looking at the account books and was extremely satisfied with this month's income. Hearing Ye Jiao's words, he closed the account book and looked at her with a smile.
This look made Qi Yun's eyes widen slightly.
Qi Yun knew Ye Jiao was beautiful.
Qi Yun also knew that powder and rouge would make people look even more attractive.
But what Qi Yun didn't know was that his Jiao Niang could be so stunningly beautiful.
Nanny Liu was indeed skilled at applying powder and rouge. The rouge was applied perfectly, with faint rosy red on both cheeks like red clouds, a dot of vermillion on her lips like holding cherries. When she smiled, she was as brilliant as flowers.
This was the first time Qi Yun had seen Ye Jiao with makeup. What he had applied for her before was just light, not really good, at most not bad. But now when the face powder and lip rouge were just right, Qi Yun finally understood why so many women loved cosmetics.
It really was beautiful, different from her clear and elegant bare face. Now his wife was like a rich flower in the human world.
Ye Jiao didn't mind that he was staring blankly. She stepped forward, stood beside Qi Yun, smiled and put her hands into his embrace to let him warm them, saying: "Mother said I should go over these few days, just in time to learn from Nanny Liu."
Qi Yun opened his mouth, then remembered this was something he had gone to ask Liu Shi for, so he said: "Good."
Ye Jiao tilted her head, looking up for Qi Yun to see: "Nanny Liu said this is called distant mountain eyebrows. It's not easy to draw. I tried several times today but couldn't learn. Can you help me draw them in the future, husband?"
Qi Yun agreed almost without hesitation: "Yes."
He naturally cherished his wife and always granted her requests. Moreover, being asked so softly like this, how could he possibly say no?
But after agreeing, Qi Yun mentally grabbed himself.
What was the original intention of having Ye Jiao learn makeup? Had he forgotten?
Wasn't it because he couldn't draw eyebrows well that he had Liu Shi find someone to teach Jiao Niang?
Now the task of drawing eyebrows had fallen back to him!
Yet facing Ye Jiao, Qi Yun felt no regret at all, inexplicably understanding those foolish emperors who were misled by beauty.
Facing such a person, even if she wanted the moon from the sky, he would eagerly get a ladder to pick it for her...
His face broke into a smile as Qi Yun reached out to gently touch the end of Ye Jiao's eyebrow.
Draw it then. Wasn't it just learning one more skill? If he could draw eyebrows for his wife every day, that should be one of life's great pleasures.
Ye Jiao didn't notice her husband's rich inner thoughts and mentioned Liu Shi's request for both families to contribute money.
Little Ginseng had a good memory. She remembered every word of the conversation between the three women word for word, including Fang Shi's suggestion, which she also told Qi Yun.
After hearing this, Qi Yun thought carefully, frowned slightly, his expression showing somewhat inexplicable helplessness.
Seeing this, Ye Jiao gently grasped his hand and asked softly: "What's wrong? Is something not good?"
Hearing this, Qi Yun looked up and smiled at her, pulling Ye Jiao to sit beside him: "Nothing's wrong. We'll follow Mother's arrangements. The money we're contributing is a small amount. Mother has her own considerations."
"I don't feel bad about the money. Mother said the family's money next year will be used to repair the estate and build shops, ultimately for you and Elder Brother. So what should be contributed now should be contributed." As Ye Jiao spoke, she reached out to take a piece of red bean cake from Qi Yun's table and put it in her mouth.
Qi Yun pushed the plate of red bean cakes closer to her, his eyes showing amusement as he watched her: "Jiao Niang can think so comprehensively now. Very clever."
These days of getting along, Qi Yun had also noticed that Ye Jiao was someone who liked to praise others and liked being praised.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Ye Jiao smiled with curved eyebrows.
Qi Yun handed her another piece of red bean cake: "Since Mother decided this, it probably can't be changed, but when reporting accounts, I'll go apologize to Elder Brother."
Ye Jiao was somewhat confused. From Fang Shi's behavior today, it clearly seemed like she had gained an advantage while their family suffered a loss. Why did her husband still need to apologize to Elder Brother?
But Qi Yun didn't explain further, and Ye Jiao didn't ask more. After all, her husband was watching over business matters. Little Ginseng just happily ate her red bean cakes.
That night, it snowed outside. Ye Jiao snuggled in Qi Yun's arms and slept peacefully, completely unaware that wind and snow were gradually rising outside.
This snowfall lasted a full four days. When the snow stopped, it was also time for the stewards to give their year-end account reports.