Chapter 67 - 67: Miss Wang is Sharp-Witted

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Yuan Jiaqi’s face flushed red as he kissed Ling’er’s cheek. Ling’er playfully nibbled his face, leaving a trail of saliva.

“Haha, you two continue. We’ll head back inside.”

Leading Ling’er back to the room after a brief stroll, Shopkeeper Lu couldn’t help but curl her lips.

“Look at how happy you are.”

“They may not be fond of her, but I am. She’s my beautiful daughter and very dear to me.”

Shopkeeper Lu’s mood lifted along with Qiao Mai’s joyful demeanor. “You’re right. Even though I haven’t been blessed with sons in this lifetime, my two daughters are truly wonderful, both respectful and sensible.”

“If you’re worried about not having someone to care for you in old age, why not find a live-in husband for Ruyi?”

“No, most live-in husbands who come into the family aren’t wholehearted. They often feel like they’re entering through the back door, living in someone else’s shadow, which makes them feel like outsiders. Some even have their eyes on the family’s wealth. Once they’ve secured the inheritance, they’ll harm the wife and remarry. This happens too often. My daughters should have a normal marriage. When I’m old and immobile, we’ll see.”

“In that case, come to my house. I don’t have so many concerns. We will enjoy each other’s company, basking in the sun and having a good chat.”

Hearing these words, Shopkeeper Lu felt deeply moved. Back then, out of a simple act of kindness, she never expected to meet such an exceptional woman. She couldn’t help but feel inferior in comparison.

Just as she was about to say heartfelt words, the courtyard door creaked open. Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu had come to fetch her, saying a customer was looking for her at the store.

“Sister, I’m leaving. I’ll come to meet you another day.”

Qiao Mai didn’t insist on seeing her off, considering the cold weather that could affect Ling’er. Instead, Yuan Jiaqi sent Shopkeeper Lu off.

The door hadn’t even closed when customers arrived to make purchases. Yuan Jiaqi, being well-acquainted with the routine, led them to the kitchen to collect the goods and receive payment, delivering the items to the house.

“In the future, I’ll handle the sales. You and Ling’er should stay inside. It’s too cold out there.”

“Let’s prepare for the Lunar New Year in advance. Stock up on meat that can withstand the cold. On days like this, we’ll only open the store after the fifteenth.

“Understood!”

“Big Brother Yuan, have you ever considered taking the Imperial Exam?”

A single question caused Yuan Jiaqi’s body to tremble. “I have thought about it, but I’m self-taught. I lack the foundation, so the Imperial Exam is like an unreachable dream.”

“I’ve arranged for Miss Wang from the Capital to find a scholar named Mao

Xuesheng, who can come to our house to teach you and the children.”

“A scholar?”

“Yes.”

“But how much silver would I need to pay him monthly?”

“You don’t need to worry about the money. I believe you know I’m skilled in embroidery.”

“But even with your embroidery and the stall’s profits, wouldn’t it still fall short of covering the costs for a scholar?”

“Who said that? One piece of my embroidery can sell for over a hundred taels of silver, even reaching a thousand.”

“Huh?”

“I specialize in double-sided embroidery, and the stall brings in around a hundred or so taels each month. How would it not be enough?”

“However, I owe you a debt I can’t repay, and now I’m asking for more. I…”

“That’s why you should do your best to study. Even if you only achieve the title of an Elementary Scholar, when I buy land, I can put it under your name to save on taxes. Of course, it would be even better if you passed the highest examination. We can also establish a school. The children will have teachers to build a solid foundation. Right now, they’re only learning to read and write. If possible, I want them all to become scholars. Imagine how much silver I would save by doing that for me?”

Yuan Jiaqi’s eyes welled up with emotion, his lips trembled, and he took a deep breath.

“Thank you, Madam Qiao!”

“No need to be so polite. We’re partners, and when things are good for you, they’re good for me too. Even if you leave this household in the future, we’ll still be partners. When I’m in trouble, you’ll help me out. Think of it as an advance investment.”

“I promise to spare no effort, even if it means going through fire and hell.” “With those words, I can rest assured. I trust my judgment and your character.”

“I’ll definitely live up to your expectations.”

After Yuan Jiaqi returned to the living room, his emotions were turbulent. He must have accumulated great virtues in his previous life to have the fortune of encountering a woman like Madam Qiao in this lifetime.

Half a month flew by. Qiao Mai sold a folding screen through the Ruyi

Embroidery Manor. As soon as it was displayed, it was quickly bought.

Over the past six months, the Ruyi Embroidery Manor has become particularly famous, mainly due to the talented embroiderer skilled in double-sided embroidery.

As a result, many people visited her store in their free time, hoping to acquire double-sided embroidery at a high price.

These pieces were used as gifts to convey status and position in the capital city, showcasing their identity. High-quality double-sided embroidery was hard to come by, making it a valuable possession.

This pleased Shopkeeper Lu greatly. In gratitude, she promptly sent a thousand taels of silver to Qiao Mai.

From that day on, Qiao Mai didn’t touch her needle and thread. She planned to rest for a while and resume embroidery when the weather warmed up after the New Year.

Although she hadn’t mentioned it to Shopkeeper Lu, Qiao Mai intended to hand over a couple of her previous embroidery works before she rested.

She only had a few more days left until she departed for the Capital on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month.

As she comforted Ling’er to sleep, she contemplated what gifts to bring with her.

Since Miss Wang requested fresh items, she considered bringing some southern fruits along with a selection of northern ones.

Currently, her spatial storage contained bananas, dragon fruit, mangoes, green mangoes, and mangosteens, but the quantity wasn’t abundant.

They would only fill a basket.

Instant noodles, ham, and prawns were out of the question, as were ready-to-eat products or items from the freezer.

Miss Wang was cunning and intelligent. Her family might be even more so. If they sensed anything unusual, it could lead to trouble. While Qiao Mai had the means to defend herself, what about her children?

After careful consideration, she decided to bring some vegetables instead of fruits.

Having fresh vegetables in the middle of winter was a luxury, right?

Currently, her space contains garlic chives, cucumbers, eggplants, scallions, garlic, garlic scapes, red carrots, and potatoes. She planned to plant green beans that night, while radishes and Chinese cabbage weren’t in high demand.

Could a small basket of these vegetables suffice? She could add a few more potatoes at most. It was better not to overdo it, lest they become discontented and ask for more next time.

As she pondered, the courtyard door creaked open. Yuan Jiaqi instinctively went to answer it.

However, upon seeing who was at the door, he froze.

“Big Brother, why are you here?”

“Can we talk inside?”

Yuan Jiaqi welcomed him in. Seeing no one else with him, he closed the door and led him to his room.

Glancing around the room’s furnishings, Yuan Jiaqi’s older brother spoke.

“Jiaqi, the Lunar New Year is approaching, so I came to visit you.”

“By all accounts, I’ve severed ties with our parents, so we shouldn’t be in contact either.”

“That’s true. Although that’s what they say, we’re still blood relatives. The grudges between us brothers aren’t that deep, right?”

“If you had come here to persuade me, save your efforts. I’m living a great life now. I don’t want to return home,” Yuan Jiaqi expressed.

“No, I didn’t come to persuade you to go back. I want to ask for your help,” His older brother clarified.

“What can I help you with?”

“I want to split from the family. I don’t want to continue living with our parents.”

This surprised Yuan Jiaqi. He had expected his older brother to seek financial assistance, not this.

“Our parents sucked our blood, ate our flesh, and gnawed our bones. Do you really think splitting from them is that easy?”

“Since you moved your household registration, our parents have vented their frustrations on us whenever they’re angry. And they’re always hitting and scolding the children. As a father, I can’t bear to see that.”

Yuan Jiaqi sighed, “Do Second Brother and the others also want to separate?”

“Yes.”

“If you really want to split, I’ll give you three options.”

Yuan Jiaqi’s older brother quickly asked, “What options? Please tell me, Fifth Brother.”

“First, wait until they’re not at home, take the household registration and a portion of the family’s funds, and forcefully demand a separation. Would you dare?

Yuan Jiawang gulped. “What’s the second option?”

“Join forces with your in-laws, citing their mistreatment of your wives and children as a reason to create a ruckus. It’s even better to break one of their legs or arms. That way, they won’t be able to stir up trouble in the future, and they’ll depend on you for care. Would you dare?”

“And the third option?”

“Go to court and accuse them of abuse. Let the county magistrate decide on your behalf. In the end, it might lead to a separation, but you might also receive a caning.”

“These three options are all difficult..”