Chapter 196: Wei Yichen's Persuasion^

Translator: 549690339 |

While Wei Ruo was running in the outdoors, Wei Qingwan was learning how to manage house affairs from Madame Yun.

Madame Yun was well aware that Wei Ruo was running around outdoors, she did not ask her where she was going, nor did she restrict Ruo’s movements because she didn’t want to give it any further thought.

She wanted the best for her eldest daughter, thinking about her reputation and future prospects, but the eldest daughter didn’t appreciate her efforts and

defied her at every turn.

Instead of wasting her energy on her eldest daughter, Madame Yun believed she would better off teaching Qingwan, so that when Qingwan came of age the following year, she could find her a good match.

On the twenty-fourth day of the last lunar month, it was the Little New Year’s eve for the people of Taizhou Prefecture.

Wei Mingting didn’t return to the Wei Residence, but Wei Yichen did. When Wei Yichen returned, only Madame Yun and Wei Qingwan were home.

Wei Ruo was still out as usual, Yilin’s martial arts class was cancelled, but for him, who was addicted to martial arts, he would still go to the master’s place in the morning to practice and ask for guidance.

Upon seeing Wei Yichen, Madame Yun was overjoyed and simultaneously heartbroken, “Yichen, you’ve lost weight, you must have had a tough time.

Wei Yichen looked at Madame Yun, concern evident in his eyes, “Mother, I’m not tired, I haven’t lost weight. Life at the academy is fulfilling, everyday I learn a lot of things. But mother, you’ve lost a lot of weight these days.”

“I’m not so hard done by as long as you all are okay. My little bit of pain doesn’t count for much. It’s your father who’s really suffering, he’s barely resting these days, I’m truly worried his body can’t handle it.”

Mentioning her husband, Madame Yun is filled with worry.

“Mother, don’t worry about father. He has always been in robust good health. Moreover, the Japanese pirates have been relatively quiet these days, without initiating any conflicts, so father should have sufficient time to rest properly,

Wei Yichen reassured her.

“Hmm…” Madame Yun didn’t want to discuss these matters with her children.

“Big Brother!” Wei Qingwan stepped forward, her emotions apparent and tears shimmering in her eyes.

“Qingwan,” Wei Yichen tenderly looked at Wei Qingwan.

-Big Brother, you’ve worked hard,” Wei Qingwan expressed her concern.

“I’m okay, how have you been lately?” Wei Yichen returned the concern.

“I’m fine, thank you for asking, Big Brother.”

“How about Ruoruo?” Wei Yichen asked.

Hearing Wei Yichen’s inquiry about Wei Ruo, Madame Yun’s face darkened slightly, “She’s out and about again. She’s become even more willful since our arrival in the government city, running around whenever she isn’t attending class. We don’t even know where she goes every day. It was understandable when we were in Xingshan County since she was busy with the affairs of the southern city, but now, what could she possibly have to take care of?

Wei Yichen speculated, “Perhaps Big Sister is helping the farmers with farming again, she loves doing that.”

“Even so, it’s inappropriate,” Madame Yun replied.

Wei Yichen defended Wei Ruo, “The grain yield has been poor throughout the country this year. Big Sister knows how to yield more crops from the lands, and she can save a lot of people.”

“Let her be,” Madame Yun sounded rather uninterested in discussing her eldest daughter any further.

“Mother, Big Sister has suffered a lot before, isn’t it good that she’s happy now? We brought her back not to make her upset, but to make up for the hardships she endured in the past, right?”

Wei Yichen continued, he understood his mother and could see she was discontent. He didn’t want his mother to harbor resentment towards his big sister.

They were family, whether on the surface or in their hearts, they should be harmonious.

“Your big sister is just outrageous. These days in the city, she’s been selling loquat syrup to other families’ wives and daughters at ten taels of silver a jar. Now I do not know what people think about our Wei Family. Maybe they think us shameful and greedy. We hailed from the Earl’s Residence, yet the eldest legitimate daughter is busy doing business and earning money,” Madame Yun continued.

Wei Yichen was surprised, “Mother, who told you this? My classmate, the son of the Wang Family, told me something different from what you just said. He told me our big sister is very remarkable, the loquat syrup cured his great aunt’s cough, and he praised her greatly.”

“Is that true? Isn’t he simply being polite because he didn’t want to say anything unkind in front of you?” Madame Yun asked, skeptical.

“Mother, do you think I have so much influence that they would say falsehoods to flatter me?” Wei Yichen countered.

Those who entered the Anzhou Academy usually came from powerful and influential backgrounds. Compared to them, the declining Wei family was simply not worth flattering.

Madame Yun thought to herself that he had a point.

“Mother, according to the news I got from my classmate, Big Sister’s loquat syrup wasn’t something she actively sold, someone desired it and came to our residence to request it. The reason they gave silver was simply to preserve their own dignity, otherwise, with no kinship between us, they wouldn’t know how to bring up the topic, don’t you think?” Wei Yichen continued.

Upon hearing Wei Yichen discuss the matter, Madame Yun felt the pent-up irritation of the past few days start to dissipate noticeably.

“You child, you sure know how to comfort people,” Madame Yun involuntarily conceded.

-Mother, I’m not pacifying you, I’m telling the truth. Your worries are superfluous, we are upright people. We need not worry about such trifles. Big Sister made the loquat syrup with her own skills, it has drawn those suffering from a cough to seek her out for medicine. This not only doesn’t shame us but indeed brightens the reputation of our Wei Family,” Wei Yichen reemphasized. “Alright, alright, are you saying all this in an attempt to persuade me not to be angry with your big sister? I won’t be angry then. But it’s true that she’s been running around outside these days, I can’t control her,” Madame Yun admitted.

“Let me talk to Big Sister when she returns home tonight and I’ll ask her to be more cautious, will that be alright?” Wei Yichen suggested.

“You talk to her, I’m afraid we might start arguing just two sentences in,” Madame Yun replied unenthusiastically.

“Alright, I will discuss it with her, but promise me, Mother, when Big Sister comes home, don’t give her the cold shoulder. Big Sister has not been home for even a year yet, our relationship hasn’t become particularly deep. If you keep giving her the cold shoulder, it will only make our relationship even more estranged.”

“Alright, I understand, I’ll listen to you.”

Madame Yun was quite touched by her eldest son’s words.

Wei Qingwan’s smile slowly faded from her radiant countenance.

Wei Yichen reassured Madame Yun and turned around to see the slightly upset Wei Qingwan. He quickly asked, “What’s the matter, Qingwan? Are you not feeling well?”

“Nothing serious, I might have caught a chill, my head’s a bit dizzy,” Qingwan quickly made an excuse.

“Be careful with this freezing weather, ask your maid to warm your hand warmer before you go out, dress warmly, and add a robe when you go outside.” -Yes, I understand, don’t worry, big brother, I’m okay,” Qingwan assured him. When it was dinner time, Wei Ruo returned to the Military Prefecture.

Wei Yilin also arrived at the same time, the two siblings running into each other.

“What smells so good?” Wei Yilin sniffed the aroma of braised meat coming from Wei Ruo.

-Something delicious,” Wei Ruo somewhat evasively replied.

“Is it the same braised meat our mother bought for Laba Festival last time?”

Yilin asked..