A warmth spread in Qiao Hezhi's heart. He lowered his gaze and quickly followed Fang Yu's steps.
Watching the two walk together towards Changshou Hall, Qian pozi let out a breath.
She was indignant and couldn't understand what had gotten into Fang Yu. Now, when he spoke, he was surprisingly articulate. If she wasn't careful, she almost landed herself in trouble.
She knew that Fang Yu used to be the one who listened most to Madam Chen. Although he had married a wealthy young ger to show off and live lavishly, he couldn't shake off the rustic, submissive, and timid air from his country origins. He had a manageable temper and was easy to control.
It was Madam Chen who was somewhat tricky. She had worked in a wealthy family and knew some of the ways of wealthy households, but she could only put on a front. She was originally a country woman; even when she entered a wealthy family, she was only a lowly servant doing laundry. What could she have learned? Her methods of handling affairs and managing the household were completely improper. Quite often, she came to ask for her opinion. These past few months, she had been sailing smoothly. Now, having been publicly slighted, she was also displeased.
"Old Madam, Zhengfu has arrived."
When Madam Chen heard the servant's announcement, she was soaking her feet and didn't even lift her eyelids. "What's the rush? Can't you see I'm still busy? Let him wait outside for a while."
"The M-Master has also come along."
"Ah?" Madam Chen stepped into the basin with one foot and was scalded by the hot water, grimacing. "How did that Qian pozi handle things? How did she get Yu'er to come too? Why are you still standing there? Invite the Master in quickly! Don't leave him outside in the cold wind!"
"Yes."
Seeing the two enter the room together, Madam Chen frowned slightly. This afternoon, she received a report saying the two had gone out to eat and drink together. When she first heard it, she didn't believe it. Now, seeing them walking almost shoulder to shoulder, where was the estrangement from the previous days? She couldn't say she was happy, nor could she say she was unhappy.
To be fair, Qiao Hezhi was quite good-looking. Since marrying into the family, he had been cold-shouldered by Fang Yu for a month, ignored and unquestioned, let alone sharing a bed. She knew her son was thinking of the one from Fangju Village. But for a man to truly marry a beautiful bride and still restrain himself was almost unheard of.
After all, what man isn't tempted by beauty?
She had a suspicion that perhaps she had disciplined Fang Yu too strictly, making him lose interest in continuing the family line. The young men in the village had already hopped into the beds of girls and gers by fifteen or sixteen. The young master of the family she previously served was even worse; by thirteen or fourteen, he already had seven or eight maids for that purpose. Only Fang Yu... she had vigilantly supervised Fang Yu alone, not permitting him to marry until he was nineteen. Yet even after the wedding, it was as if he were still unmarried. Given this, her anxiety was inevitable.
Originally, she was afraid that women or gers charms would hinder Fang Yu's studies, but it seemed this had backfired somewhat.
Today, relatives from Fangju Village sent word again; a daughter-in-law in the family had given birth to a big, fat son, inviting her to come back for the full-month celebration when she had time. She thought that given her current status, she originally didn't want to go. But she had nothing to do in the city anyway, it would be more enjoyable to chat and boast with the village women. Thinking she could go back and show off, she agreed.
Attending the banquet was one thing, but the big, fat grandson served as another wake-up call for her.
Now, the Fang family was somewhat respectable—a Scholar family, a Xiucai, and with money at home. Continuing the family line was the top priority.
Recently, she hadn't inquired about Fang Yu and Qiao Hezhi sharing a room. She thought it would suppress Qiao Hezhi, but upon careful thought, the Fang family also suffered. A principal spouse remaining without children for so long inevitably becomes a subject of ridicule.
Even if the Fang family were to eventually marry that girl from Fangju Village, she would only be a concubine, and her children would be considered illegitimate. Although Qiao Hezhi's background wasn't good, he was still the principal spouse. The family still needed children from the principal spouse. Anyway, in the future, they would be registered as Scholars, so they wouldn't be affected by Qiao Hezhi's status.
Therefore, although she looked down on Qiao Hezhi's merchant-class origins and his frail, seemingly infertile body, since he was already the principal spouse, there was no other way. They just had to have a child early.
This time, she originally wanted to summon Qiao Hezhi alone to lecture him for a while, telling him to put in more effort, and then also apply some pressure on Fang Yu, then things should work out. But now that both had come, it might be better to speak to them together and save herself the trouble of working on both sides separately.
"Mother-in-law."
Qiao Hezhi properly paid his respects to Madam Chen. Madam Chen, unusually, did not pick on him.
"Alright, both of you, sit down."
She looked at Fang Yu and said chidingly, "You've really changed your temperament. They say 'newlyweds are like a pair of lovebirds,' but you left your fulang aside. In the past, you only knew to study hard. Now that you've gotten close, you can't bear to part with him, even following him when I just call him over for a chat."
Fang Yu's eyebrow twitched. The tone was very different from usual. He also said something pleasant: "Mother, you've misunderstood. Your son came specifically to pay respects to you."
"Fine, using your mother as an excuse. Why be embarrassed in front of your mother? You've already gone out together to eat, drink, and idle around. After all, you are husband and wife, meant to live together solidly. Mother is happy to see you two can talk and get along."
Having said this, Madam Chen then glanced at Qiao Hezhi. "Since that's the case, you don't need to return to Xiaotong Courtyard tonight. Go serve in the Master's room."
Fang Yu's pupils shook with shock. He was left with a bitter taste in his mouth by this sudden turn of events. He had been afraid that Madam Chen would make things difficult for Qiao Hezhi again, so he thought making the short trip himself would allow Qiao Hezhi to return and rest earlier. If he had known it was about urging them to have children, why did he come to join in the fun!
He cleared his throat. "Mother, tomorrow I..."
"Sooner or later, you need someone to serve you. Don't use studying as an excuse anymore. Your father had already sired your older brother by your age. It's a pity the family was poor and struggling then, and your brother didn't survive. Both he and your father died young. Our Fang family lineage is thin. Now that the family's circumstances are better, it's up to you to make the family line flourish, to comfort your father's spirit in heaven."
Fang Yu gave a dry laugh. This was hard to refute.
He could only awkwardly shift his gaze to Qiao Hezhi, thinking that the young master must be as resistant as he was. After all, the original owner had treated him poorly before, and they had no emotional foundation. Suddenly being told to go and serve him—who would be willing?
He only needed Qiao Hezhi to say he was feeling unwell, and then he could seize the opportunity to help persuade Madam Chen and smooth things over.
No comments:
Post a Comment