My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 69 Part 2

Ji Taoyu didn’t press further. Seeing Huo Shu’s worried expression, he said, "It didn’t break the skin. It’s fine."  

As he pulled his pants higher, he suddenly noticed a bruise the size of a fingertip on his thigh.  

Startled, he pushed the fabric aside and gasped.  

There were quite a few bruises on the inner thighs, large and small patches, growing more numerous the further up they went.  

This was much worse than the ones on the knees.  

Ji Taoyu’s face flushed red as he hurriedly pulled his pants down to cover them. He scowled and smacked Huo Shu’s hand: "Look how hard you went!"  

Huo Shu had also caught sight of his handiwork. He let Ji Taoyu vent his temper. Truthfully, he hadn’t expected just a bit of force to leave such marks.  

"Let me rub some medicine on you to disperse the bruises."  

Ji Taoyu studied Huo Shu to see if he had any ulterior motives in saying this. Seeing that he was genuinely sincere, he finally allowed him to apply the medicine.  

His legs were sore, and the firm but gentle kneading actually felt somewhat soothing, though he still pouted.  

He had only let Huo Shu go at it a few extra times because he was hoping for a child, but in the end...  

Ji Taoyu lowered his gaze to Huo Shu, who was bent over applying the medicine, and said, "Don’t use that thing anymore."  

"What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?"  

"No, it’s just—"  

Before Ji Taoyu could finish, noise erupted from outside.  

His brow twitched, cutting off his words. "Who’s here?"  

"Third Aunt."  

Huo Shu replied calmly. That afternoon, he had sent Huo Shou to take the horse to Ji Wenliang as promised, then stopped by the Zhao family and gave Yuan Huiru a bit of money.  

On the way back, he saw Ji Wanglan coming over, though he wasn’t sure what for. In his hurry to get back and check on Ji Taoyu, he hadn’t paid much attention.  

Hearing this, Ji Taoyu immediately stopped the medicine application. "Let’s go see. Get me my clothes."  

Huo Shu frowned. "The medicine isn’t finished yet."  

"We’ll apply more after the bath tonight."  

Huo Shu had no choice but to fetch his clothes, help him dress, and lead him outside.  

"Out of all the families, Xiao Liu’s son-in-law is the most capable. I heard he’s made a fortune this time."  

Ji Wanglan, for once, wasn’t nitpicking or boasting about her own Yuan Fei. Instead, she was praising Ji Yangzong’s family—a rare occurrence.  

Huang Manjing was cooking and watched as the woman stood in the kitchen with her arms tucked into her sleeves.  

She said, "Third Sister, you flatter us too much. Compared to the other families, ours isn’t that outstanding. This trip had high costs and expenses. After paying the workers, there wasn’t much left."  

"Sister-in-law, you’re just being modest. There’s no need to hide things among family. Your son-in-law brought back so many horses, didn’t he?"  

Ji Wanglan said, "Take them to the city to sell, and you’ll make a tidy sum. My husband says horses are worth a lot in Tongzhou right now. At least several dozen taels, if not a hundred per horse."  

Just talking about it made Ji Wanglan green with envy. Both father and son had been coveting the horses.  

Huang Manjing roughly guessed why Ji Wanglan had come.  

She said bluntly, "Whether they sell for dozens or hundreds of taels, those are the children’s belongings. My husband and I don’t plan to interfere."  

Ji Wanglan said, "We’re arranging a marriage for Yuan Fei. If the family had a couple of big livestock to show off, the matchmaker would have an easier time making introductions."  

"Your family has so many horses, just lend us two to help the boy save face."  

The request was finally laid bare.  

Just as Huang Manjing was about to refuse, Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu came out.  

"Taoyu, you came at just the right time. Your mother and I were just talking about the horses."  

"Oh? Third Aunt wants horses?"  

Ji Wanglan immediately said, "Exactly! Your cousin is arranging a marriage. If the family had horses, it’d be easier to settle things. Riding a horse to fetch the bride would be so impressive. The girl or the family would find it more respectable and be more willing, don’t you think?"  

"Third Aunt’s thinking is quite sound."  

Ji Taoyu said, "You’ve come at the perfect time. A-Shu is planning to sell the horses tomorrow. Since we’re family, Third Aunt can pick whichever ones you like first."  

Ji Wanglan hadn’t expected Ji Taoyu to be so accommodating and quickly said, "I’ll just take two, no more. You’ve brought so many horses all the way from the north, it couldn’t have been easy. One for your uncle and one for your cousin will be enough."  

Ji Taoyu said, "I’ve heard Father say Cousin Yuan Fei and Third Uncle have earned quite a bit this year. Seems it’s true if they can afford two horses at once. Looks like we’ll be drinking at Cousin’s wedding this year."  

Before Ji Wanglan could say more, he continued, "For family, we won’t charge much, just consider it helping us bring them back from the northern frontier. Fifty taels per horse. Two for a hundred taels, Third Aunt can pick any two you like."  

Ji Wanglan’s eyes nearly popped out at the price. If she had that much money, why would she buy horses? She’d rather spend it on food, drink, and fine clothes.  

Her face darkened. "Ji Taoyu, what do you mean by this? Among family, why bring up money?"  

"Third Aunt, A-Shu and I are merchants now. What should merchants talk about if not money?"  

Ji Taoyu said, "Even if we weren’t in business, everything we eat, drink, and use costs money. Do you think you can walk into a city restaurant and eat for free just because you’re family? We also have many workers to feed, they can’t go without food and wages."  

Ji Wanglan fumed. "You demand money from me, but you gave horses to Wenliang for free? He’s family too! Ji Taoyu, are you playing favorites now? I’ll go ask your parents what kind of logic this is!"  

Ji Taoyu had anticipated his aunt’s tantrum—no doubt triggered by seeing Ji Wenliang’s horse.  

He spoke unhurriedly: "Wenliang followed the merchant caravan for four months, working diligently all the way. This horse is his wages."  

"If Third Aunt wants to talk about favoritism, then Cousin Yuan Fei went out with Eldest Uncle’s work crew and came back with money from Eldest Uncle, while none of us nephews or nieces got anything. By Third Aunt’s logic, doesn’t that mean Eldest Uncle is guilty of the same?"  

"How is that the same?!"  

"How is it not the same?"  

Ji Taoyu mimicked Ji Wanglan’s shameless reasoning: "By Third Aunt’s logic, I should also go ask Eldest Uncle what his reasoning is."