Chapter 48
When the couple arrived at the Qiao family's residence, there were already many people at the entrance welcoming and sending off guests, all presenting their invitation cards for verification. The steward was still at the entrance, raising his voice to announce the gift lists.
Fang Yu had Xuezhu present their gifts. Bringing the Qiao family's precious son back home also exempted them from having their invitation card checked.
Fang Yu had Xuezhu present their gifts. Bringing the Qiao family's treasured ger back naturally exempted them from having their invitation card checked.
The steward, sharp-eyed as he was, naturally recognized his own family's son-in-law. Seeing the servant boy present the gift register, he quickly glanced over it, and his face immediately lit up with a smile. Just as he was about to announce the list in a loud, clear voice, Qiao Xinnian stopped him: "What are you doing? Announcing the gift list of our own family? Don't make people laugh at us."
Qiao Nanjia, who had come out with Qiao Xinnian, laughed upon hearing this and deliberately craned her neck to look at the list. "Now that Hezhi is back, what fine things did Fang Xiucai bring for Aunt? Uncle is even trying to hide it from us."
Qiao Xinnian had originally only intended to be polite; he was actually itching to show off this son-in-law of his. While he couldn't brag in front of outsiders, he certainly could among his own clan. He held the gift list in his hand, deliberately holding it open for Qiao Nanjia to see while pretending to half-hide it: "We're all family, why bother with all these things? So much trouble. Nanjia, you shouldn't follow the example set by Hezhi and our son-in-law. Coming back home for a simple meal shouldn't require such a fuss."
Those two bolts of silk were one thing, but the liuli teacups were quite rare. Her own husband had previously gone through great effort and connections to acquire one, usually treasuring it like a luminous cup. She could barely bring herself to look at it twice. She had originally thought that poor, shabby scholar from the Fang family couldn't possibly bring anything good. Who knew he'd actually managed to show off this once?
Seeing the corners of her uncle's mouth practically reaching his ears, she rolled her eyes: "Uncle makes a good point. Hezhi and our son-in-law are indeed being too formal."
"Cousin, you're back too!" Qiao Hezhi said: "And even earlier than Ziruo and I."
"For a joyous occasion like Auntie's birthday, I naturally had to come back early to celebrate." Qiao Nanjia couldn't bear to see the sight of Qiao Hezhi and Fang Yu walking arm-in-arm. She pulled Qiao Hezhi over: "You! You've finally arrived. Let's hurry to the hall to chat for a while. Eldest Sister, Seventh Brother, Third Aunt, Sixth Aunt are all inside keeping Auntie company and talking, they're all waiting for you."
Qiao Hezhi looked at Fang Yu: "Master, come with me to pay respects to Mother."
"No hurry. Your mother will know her son-in-law is here once she sees you've arrived. The son-in-law can stay outside with Father for a while to help entertain the guests. You go ahead."
Qiao Hezhi bit his lower lip, lifting his eyes to look at Fang Yu.
"Alright, go on." Fang Yu stepped forward, pinched his hand, and coaxed: "I'll be there in a moment."
Only then did Qiao Hezhi nod.
Qiao Nanjia watched them from the sidelines, barely able to hide her disdain. Her eyes rolled so hard they practically disappeared into the back of her head. When they reached the end of the corridor, she finally said: "Hezhi, you and that scholar are just too clingy. Sister is going to say something you might not like to hear: don't think a man who accommodates you at every turn and indulges in romantic dalliances with you is that great. Actually, such men are the most useless. If he had real ability, where would he find the time to be all lovey-dovey with his own fulang in the inner quarters? He would definitely be out socializing, doing important things, studying hard."
"Cousin has her own reasoning." Qiao Hezhi said, displeased: "But I like him just like this. Whether he has ability or not, I accept him."
"You're just too young, you see things too superficially." Qiao Nanjia prattled on: "These scholars are the most fickle-hearted people. I was the first to disagree when Uncle and Auntie chose that poor scholar to be your husband. You like that he knows how to sweet-talk you, right? He can sweet-talk others just the same."
"There was a scholar in Dongcheng City. Two years ago, he passed the provincial examination. Right under the announcement board, he caught the eye of an official's daughter. Even though he already had a wife, he still managed to sweet-talk the official's daughter. Once back in the city, he immediately divorced his original wife. It's truly chilling."
Qiao Hezhi stopped walking: "Cousin, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Seeing Qiao Hezhi getting a bit angry, Qiao Nanjia, on the contrary, smiled a little: "Look at you, sister was just telling you an amusing story from Dongcheng City, and you're getting upset. You haven't been married long, but your temper sure has grown. Sister just wants to give you a warning. It's been almost half a year since you got married, how come there's no movement in your belly?"
"Hasn't that scholar said anything about you? Hasn't that old shrew in the family given you a hard time?" Qiao Nanjia continued without a pause: "If you're being bullied over there, you must tell your family. Uncle and Auntie only have you, one little ger... ah... the family line is thin. I don't know why Uncle and Auntie back then didn't have more..."
"Cousin, there's no need for you to worry about my family's affairs. You have a lot on your plate and are very busy. If you have free time, spend more effort on yourself. You got married even earlier than me, and you still don't have a single child. The family is worried. I married later, and besides, my husband says I'm still young, it's fine to have children a bit later."
[手頭有很多事 (shǒutóu yǒu hěn duō shì): lit. to have a lot on one's plate; fig. to be overwhelmed with tasks or obligations]
Qiao Hezhi shot her a glance and quickened his pace ahead.
"Hey! You child! Lecturing me now." Seeing the person striding away, Qiao Nanjia thought about chasing after him, but then she saw a man standing outside the flower hall who looked somewhat familiar. She turned her head to look: "Young, Young Master Yu!"
The man bowed to her. Qiao Hezhi naturally also heard Qiao Nanjia's exclamation. He didn't want to turn around; on the contrary, he wanted to hurry into the hall even faster. Unexpectedly, that person insisted on calling out to him: "Hezhi."
"I didn't expect Elder Brother Yu to also come to wish Mother a happy birthday." Qiao Hezhi had no choice but to turn around and bow to Yu Lifeng. The visitor was a guest; as the host, he couldn't very well show a displeased face: "I... I also hadn't heard Father mention it."
"I will be returning to the capital not long after paying this visit."
Hearing this, Qiao Hezhi silently let out a long sigh of relief. He's finally going back to the capital: "Official duties in the capital are heavy. Now that Elder Brother Yu holds an important post, naturally you cannot be away for too long."
"When did Young Master Yu return to Yuncheng? I hadn't heard anyone mention it."
"Since Young Master Yu left Yuncheng, it's been so many years we haven't seen you. I wonder how everything has been in the capital all these years?"
"If Young Master Yu has time, perhaps..."
Yu Lifeng felt the noise in his ears was truly unbearable and said without mercy: "Perhaps Miss Qiao could discuss any matters with my servant instead. I would like to speak with Hezhi alone for a few words."
Even someone as thick-skinned as Qiao Nanjia rarely blushed. After all these years, Yu Lifeng was still the same temperament: a gentle face towards others, but in reality, keeping people at a distance of a thousand miles, except for being kind and gentle only to Qiao Hezhi.
Knowing she couldn't afford to offend Yu Lifeng, even after receiving such a cold remark, Qiao Nanjia still managed a smile and said: "Then Nanjia will take her leave first. Young Master Yu, enjoy yourself."
"Hey, Cousin!" Watching the person leave, Qiao Hezhi lowered his eyes sideways: "Elder Brother Yu dismissing others like this, if someone sees, what will they think? Do you think you haven't ruined my reputation enough?"
"I absolutely don't mean that. I just wanted to say a proper goodbye to you before leaving." Yu Lifeng looked at Qiao Hezhi: "With no one around, why are you still calling me Elder Brother Yu."
[Elder Brother Yu (Yu-dage, 余大哥) is more formal and respectful, while Brother Yu (Yu-ge, 余哥) is more casual, familiar, and affectionate]
"Lord Yu?"
"Hezhi..." Yu Lifeng sighed helplessly: "I know you must resent me for not sending you any news all these years I was in the capital. Actually, that's not the case. I wrote letters back to Yuncheng every month, but I never received a reply from you. I thought... Now that I've returned to Yuncheng, I finally understand the truth. It was my family privately intercepting the letters I sent you."
Qiao Hezhi was slightly taken aback. He frowned: "Lord Yu's family has high status. For your family to do such a thing was also for your own good. I don't resent you."
"Hezhi, do you really have nothing else to say to me?"
Qiao Hezhi looked at Yu Lifeng, paused, and said: "Originally, I didn't want to say much either, but Lord Yu insists on pressing step by step. Perhaps it's better to speak plainly here today."
"Lord Yu, you must stop sending gifts to my husband's home. From now on, we should maintain a proper distance. You may believe your feelings are sincere, but when you speak words that overstep and act inappropriately, you might feel satisfied—but have you considered the difficult position this puts me in? It is only because my husband is not a jealous man. If he were the sort to take offense, my being involved with another man like this would violate the Seven Grounds for Divorce. He could cast me out for it."
[The Seven Grounds for Divorce, known as (七出, qī chū): the traditional legal and social provisions in imperial China that allowed a husband to unilaterally divorce his wife for specific faults, including disobedience to parents-in-law, failure to bear a son, adultery, jealousy, carrying a vile disease, being overly talkative, and theft]
Yu Lifeng hastily said: "I, I never meant to harm you!"
"Whether you intended to or not, in the end, I have never once felt happy about your actions, and I suffer the consequences of what you do." Qiao Hezhi said coldly: "I don't want any more disputes to arise because of matters between us. If Lord Yu truly wishes me well, from now on, never mention the past between us again."
Yu Lifeng felt as if a basin of icy winter water had been poured over his head, chilling him so much he could barely open his mouth: "These... are these your true feelings? Or is he forcing you to say this?"
"He doesn't force me to do anything. Every word comes from the bottom of my heart."
Yu Lifeng forced down his pain: "Yes. After so many years apart, I can no longer compare to him. Since you have spoken so clearly, there is nothing more for me to misunderstand. I promise you, from now on, I will never mention a word of our past."
Qiao Hezhi pursed his lips, bowed to Yu Lifeng, and turned to leave.
"Could you make peach blossom pastry for me one more time?"
"That year, when I followed my grandfather back to Yuncheng, the peach blossoms were blazing. The first time I saw you, you were learning to make peach blossom pastry with your mother. Now so many years have passed, yet I cannot forget it."
Qiao Hezhi paused in his step for a moment: "There will be others to make peach blossom pastry for Lord Yu. There is no need to linger over what is gone."
Fang Yu stood with his hands behind his back, hidden at the end of the corridor, feeling a deep sense of gratified pride, as if watching one's child finally grow up.
He had originally thought the little lamb didn't know how to refuse, that he might soften under Yu Lifeng's persistent pestering and green-tea seduction tactics. He never expected the little lamb wasn't buying it. Now he had made everything perfectly clear.
His heart felt light and relieved.
"Aren't you going to call Hezhi over? What kind of behavior is it for him to have a private meeting and talk alone with another man like this!"
Qiao Nanjia had gone to great lengths to fetch Fang Yu, hoping to see some drama. Instead, she saw Fang Yu come back nonchalantly.
She was exasperated: "Are you even a man? Your fulang is like this and you have no reaction!"
"If I'm not, then is Cousin?" Fang Yu said leisurely: "Hezhi has grown up. He can handle his own affairs. Cousin, you needn't concern yourself with this matter."
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