In just one day, the second branch of the Zhan family became the most sought-after in the village. People flocked to their door, bringing eggs and pastries, all eager to sell their vegetables to Old Master Zhan.
"Mother, you shouldn't go out these past couple of days," Zhan Feiyu said crisply as she prepared to leave for the private school after breakfast.
She wasn't blaming the villagers for being fickle and opportunistic. After all, it wasn't easy for farming families to earn money. But her mother didn't need to be exposed to their idle gossip.
"Silly girl, even if the second branch has turned things around, it doesn't have much to do with us," Li Shi said, patting Zhan Feiyu's head, her heart warmed. The girl had been eating well these past few months and had finally grown taller.
Zhan Feiyu thought about it and realized her mother was right. While currying favor with the second branch could bring in money, she herself held a certain status in the village. Unless someone was truly oblivious, they wouldn't try to please the second branch by stepping on her mother.
Zhan Feiyu gave an awkward laugh, realizing her concern had made her overthink.
Li Shi walked Zhan Feiyu to the courtyard gate. Her peripheral vision caught sight of Zhan Laoda standing by the corner of the wall, holding a hoe. Instinctively, she shifted two steps to the left, blocking Zhan Feiyu's view.
Pretending not to see anything, Zhan Feiyu widened her round eyes. "Mother?"
"Oh, right, Xiao Yu, has your teacher's wife's niece given you any trouble?" Li Shi abruptly changed the subject, subtly gesturing for Zhan Laoda to leave with her hand behind her back.
"She just says a few sour words when we meet. I study with the tutor, and Miss Wang rarely comes to the study," Zhan Feiyu said with a smile. "Mother, I'm going to the private school now."
After Zhan Feiyu had walked away, Zhan Laoda hurried out from the shadows. "I thought Xiao Yu had already left."
Zhan Feiyu's departure time for the private school was fixed. She had simply chatted with Li Shi for a few extra moments, causing the delay.
"There isn't much work in my fields. You can manage the clan fields," Li Shi said, her smile fading. She looked at the man stubbornly following her with a hoe and didn't chase him away.
Ever since Zhan Laoda refused to rejoin the clan, Li Shi's attitude toward him had softened day by day. Although they hadn't reconciled, Li Shi no longer refused Zhan Laoda's help.
The Miss Wang mentioned by Zhan Feiyu was the sixth daughter of Wang Gui, a distant relative of Wang Shi's clan, five generations removed.
Wang Gui was a wealthy merchant. The Wang family's business was in Huai County, within the neighboring Nanxuan Prefecture. Because the Wang family was wealthy, they maintained close ties with the Wang clan, even though they were distantly related.
In February, Miss Wang, accompanied by her wet nurse, Madam Lu, came to seek refuge with Wang Shi. The trouble, it turned out, was caused by Wang Linlang's looks.
The twelve-year-old girl was a budding beauty, demure as a delicate flower by the water, graceful as a slender willow in the wind. She had a fair, tender melon-seed face, two curving willow eyebrows, eyes like autumn water, a delicate nose, cherry lips, and dimples.
At first, Zhan Feiyu didn't understand why Wang Linlang harbored hostility towards her. It wasn't until Wang Linlang, with her delicate and soft demeanor, spoke to Lin Xiuyuan that Zhan Feiyu felt as if she had been struck by lightning from a clear sky. The twelve-year-old girl had mistaken the eight-year-old her for a love rival!
...
"When the plums are yellow, the days are sunny; the streams have overflowed, and we wander through the mountains. The green shade is as lush as the path we took, with four or five orioles adding their songs." Zhan Feiyu recited poetry to improve her literary talent.
"Sister Zhan is truly diligent, reciting poems even while walking," a gentle, sweet voice rang out. Wang Linlang approached, bathed in the early morning sun.
The twelve-year-old girl wore her hair in double buns, adorned with a dazzling butterfly hairpin and swaying pearl earrings.
Paired with a light green satin embroidered ruqun, and carrying a bamboo basket in her right hand filled with wildflowers freshly picked from the fields and hillsides, Wang Linlang would have been a picturesque beauty if she were a few years older.
"Miss Wang," Zhan Feiyu nodded slightly, her expression cold and distant.
Wang Linlang's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of disdain flickered in her eyes. What did her aunt see in this plump girl? Was it simply because she was educated?
But Zhan Feiyu spent her days studying and writing in the company of men. Her aunt valued propriety and etiquette the most. Why did she insist on choosing Zhan Feiyu as her daughter-in-law, even giving up on her own niece?
As they brushed past each other, Wang Linlang suddenly stumbled. The moment Zhan Feiyu reached out to steady her, Wang Linlang's fingernails dug fiercely into Zhan Feiyu's arm. With a startled cry, she abruptly fell backward.
"Sister Zhan, why did you push me?" Wang Linlang asked blankly, sitting on the ground.
She raised her hand, her tender palm grazed and bleeding on the ground. This added a touch of grievance to her tearful appearance.
Zhan Feiyu blinked, looking at her outstretched right hand. She had intended to help, but Wang Linlang's backward fall made it seem as though she had pushed her down.
"Xiao Yu, Linlang, what's going on?" Lin Xiuyuan, walking from a small path to the right, strode forward and bent down to help the fallen Wang Linlang.
"Brother Xiuyuan, I just lost my footing. Sister Zhan didn't push me..." Wang Linlang stopped mid-sentence, as if sensing something. She gave Lin Xiuyuan a brave smile and shook her head. "What a shame about my flowers."
Wang Linlang reached out to pick up the bamboo basket and flowers on the ground, but cried out in pain. She blew on her bleeding palm, as if in great agony.
Lin Xiuyuan frowned. "Why is it bleeding?"
The Wang family was wealthy, and Wang Linlang had naturally been pampered since childhood. Her palms were fair and tender, without a single callus. Now, there were six or seven blood marks.
Zhan Feiyu looked at Wang Linlang, whose eyes were red-rimmed. She was a perfect "white lotus"! At only twelve years old, with a few more years of cultivation, she would become a master of palace intrigue.
Zhan Feiyu, who couldn't play such games, decided it was better to focus on her studies and the imperial examinations. She suddenly found the art of essay writing to be so appealing and lovable! Without paying further attention to Wang Linlang, she entered the private school.
"Brother Xiuyuan, is Sister Zhan angry?" Wang Linlang anxiously clutched Lin Xiuyuan's arm, biting her cherry lips, her voice choked with unshed tears. "I don't blame Sister Zhan. She's young and accidentally pushed me, it wasn't intentional."
"Xiao Yu definitely didn't do it on purpose," Lin Xiuyuan said with certainty, assuming they had accidentally bumped into each other as they passed.
Wang Linlang almost bit through her teeth!
From within the private school, Zhan Feiyu's clear voice reciting poetry could be heard.
Lin Xiuyuan looked at Wang Linlang, whose face had changed color as if she couldn't bear the pain. He pulled her up and said quickly, "Linlang, go to the back courtyard to find my mother. Your wound needs to be cleaned and then a medicinal ointment applied."
Without waiting for Wang Linlang to reply, Lin Xiuyuan hurried back to the private school. His essay writing skills were far behind Xiao Yu's. If he didn't hurry up and study, would he really remain a provincial scholar his entire life?
After a while, with an additional person present, the sound of reading became even louder.
Wang Linlang stared blankly at the opened courtyard gate of the private school. Zhan Feiyu was one thing, but Brother Xiuyuan had simply left her behind?
Were those Confucian classics more important than her, a sister who was injured? Wang Linlang clenched her fists in anger. The pain in her palm twisted her already contorted face even further!
In the back courtyard, upon seeing Wang Shi, Wang Linlang quickly walked towards her. However, the wildflowers in her bamboo basket were already a mess.
"Auntie, Sister Zhan accidentally pushed me just now, and the basket fell to the ground. I'll get my hand bandaged and then go pick some more flowers to put in a vase."
Wang Shi had only one son, Lin Xiuyuan, and she was particularly fond of her beautiful and well-behaved niece. Especially since Wang Linlang excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was also skilled in needlework and cooking. She was precisely the kind of daughter Wang Shi envisioned.
"How did you get hurt like this? Come, let Auntie apply medicine," Wang Shi said, holding Wang Linlang's wrist with concern. Seeing her eyes reddened with pain, she quickened her pace.
After cleaning the wound and applying ointment, Wang Shi bandaged Wang Linlang's hand and then sent her back to her room to rest.
After a while, Wang Linlang closed the bedroom door, her face contorted with rage. Her delicate voice turned sharp. "Auntie says she dotes on me, but she didn't even say a word of reprimand. I wonder what kind of enchantment Zhan Feiyu has given my aunt's family!"
"Sixth Miss, be careful with your hand, don't injure it again," wet nurse Lu said with concern, holding Wang Linlang's arm and pressing her into a chair. She said gently, "Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, with merchants at the bottom. Your aunt is the wife of a Xiucai, so it's normal for her not to think highly of our Wang family."
Wang Linlang's eyes turned red with anger, her teeth grinding. Her face was a mixture of fury and resentment.
Wet nurse Lu poured a cup of water and placed it on the table. After Wang Linlang's emotions calmed down, she continued, "Why did Zhao San dare to bully you, Miss? Wasn't it because the Wang family are merchants?"
Zhao San, mentioned by wet nurse Lu, was no ordinary person. He was the nephew of Magistrate Zhao of Huai County. Zhao San was only fifteen years old this year, and it was said that he had already taken advantage of his four maids.
During the Lantern Festival in January, Zhao San saw Wang Linlang while admiring the lanterns and was captivated by her beauty. He took advantage of his drunken state to harass Wang Linlang. Fortunately, she was accompanied by maids and servants, which saved her from further harm.
However, who would have thought that Zhao San would become obsessed with Wang Linlang, as if under a spell? Even though he knew she would only turn twelve after the New Year, he begged the magistrate's wife to act as a matchmaker. He proposed that they marry first and then Wang Linlang would live in the Zhao household, consummating their marriage after she reached the age of fifteen.
If this were the son of Magistrate Zhao, even if the matter was absurd, the Wang family would have agreed to the marriage.
But Zhao San was merely a nephew, and an orphan at that. He had shamelessly sought refuge with Magistrate Zhao. Zhao San himself was an unlearned dandy, and his family's meager fortune had likely been squandered by him.
Magistrate Zhao only maintained a semblance of courtesy towards his nephew, especially since he was only fifteen. For the sake of his reputation, he couldn't simply cast the boy out. Therefore, the Wang family did not agree to the marriage. However, to avoid offending Magistrate Zhao, Wang Linlang, accompanied by wet nurse Lu, came to seek refuge with her aunt, Wang Shi.
"Mommy, Auntie is convinced that Zhan Feiyu is educated and hasn't even considered me!" Her complaints were filled with resentment and unwillingness. If she were truly a lady of noble upbringing, she wouldn't be so eager to marry. In essence, merchant families ultimately lacked proper upbringing.
At the Wang family, Wang Linlang had completely overshadowed her sisters and cousins. She had the looks and the talent, and she lacked neither cunning nor means.
However, Zhan Feiyu was different from the Wang family sisters. She studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and wrote essays for the imperial examinations. Her neat and regular script, the "Taige style," was so superior that Wang Linlang couldn't even muster jealousy; the gap was too vast, they were simply not on the same level.
Wet nurse Lu was also helpless. She sighed and said, "Sixth Miss, you shouldn't blame your aunt. That young girl is your uncle's student and has been praised by the magistrate. If she achieves success in the future, even if she can't become an official, with such a reputation, who in Shangsi County would dare to bully her?"
Seeing Wang Linlang's envious, red eyes, wet nurse Lu seemed not to notice and continued to fan the flames.
"The key is that if they have children in the future, with a learned and talented mother to guide them, success in the imperial examinations is inevitable. This is what your aunt values most!" Wet nurse Lu was speaking the truth. Wang Shi had become fixated on Zhan Feiyu, and it was indeed for the sake of Lin family's descendants.
The Wang family was wealthy, but how much dowry could Wang Linlang, as a married daughter, receive?
She was the sixth child at home, with five older sisters and cousins before her. Their dowries were all fixed. Why would Wang Shi give up Zhan Feiyu for a merchant's niece, all for material wealth?
"Mommy, you're not helping my mother either?" After complaining coquettishly a few times, Wang Linlang's eyes turned fierce. Since Zhan Feiyu was educated, she would ruin her path to the imperial examinations. Only then would she have no capital to compete with her!
Wang Linlang, at such a young age, already knew how to plan for herself. She understood that if she returned to the Wang family, Zhao San would still pester her, and the Wang family, for the sake of business, would eventually sacrifice her lifelong happiness to compromise.
As for Lin Xiuyuan, he was the best candidate Wang Linlang had chosen. He was the only son in his family, his father was gentle and refined, and his mother, Wang Shi, appeared strong, but in Wang Linlang's eyes, this aunt was easy to fool. As long as she gave birth to a son, she would secure her position in the Lin family.
Moreover, Tutor Lin had opened a private school. While not extremely wealthy, they were well-off. Coupled with her dowry, Wang Linlang was confident that she would live comfortably in the future.
Furthermore, Lin Xiuyuan was handsome and amiable. The three members of his family were all easy to manage. Wang Linlang felt there was no one more suitable than the Lin family. However, Zhan Feiyu had appeared as an unexpected variable, and Wang Shi was determined to have Lin Xiuyuan marry Zhan Feiyu.
"Sixth Miss, ultimately, this marriage still requires your aunt's approval. Why don't you show more filial piety to your aunt and let her see your good qualities?" wet nurse Lu advised.
This was also what Wang Linlang was best at. She was favored by her elders in the Wang family, wasn't it simply because she was sweet-mouthed and knew how to handle things?
Wang Linlang frowned, remaining silent. Although she looked like an undeveloped young girl, her eyes were as dark and gloomy as those of an eighty-year-old wet nurse.
Her hand was injured like this, and her aunt hadn't even said a word of reprimand. Ordinary filial piety was useless. Her aunt simply saw her as obedient. Wang Linlang's gaze fell on the cabinet behind her. It seemed she had to resort to some other means!
...
The old Zhan family residence was now truly bustling, with people coming and going, all seeking information.
"Third sister-in-law, put these pastries in my room," Little Yao Shi said, holding a cup of water and gesturing for Ma Shi to do her bidding.
"These pastries..." Ma Shi couldn't finish her sentence before swallowing it back under Little Yao Shi's warning gaze, forced to obey like a young maid.
As soon as Little Yao Shi accepted the items, Sister Guihua's face immediately broke into a smile. "Sister, I'll be relying on you from now on. You know I'm good at growing vegetables. Why don't you let your husband take a look at the vegetable patch?"
The other aunts and young wives standing in the courtyard, who hadn't left, also started speaking up, all saying their vegetables were fresh and hoping Old Master Zhan would purchase them.
Enjoying the flattery and attention, Little Yao Shi finally released the resentment she had accumulated over the past six months. She put on an air of importance and said, "I can't make decisions about business matters. It depends on my husband's wishes. He's gone to Tai Fu Restaurant to discuss business and hasn't returned yet."
"Your husband is truly capable. You can't find anyone like him in ten villages and eight townships," Sister Guihua said obsequiously, patting Little Yao Shi's arm. "Sister, you truly have a blessed life. Your husband can earn money, and your eldest son is studying at the Zhang family's private school. When your third son also goes to private school, and the two brothers achieve success and become officials, you'll be a matriarch."
With her husband and sons praised, Little Yao Shi smiled broadly. "I am also blessed by fate. Sister, don't worry, I'll agree to buy your vegetables. However, the price will have to be a bit lower than selling them in the county, as my husband also needs to earn a living."
Sister Guihua's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "That's only right. We can't let brother-in-law work for nothing. It's also troublesome for us to sell in the county, as it takes up half the morning, and we might not even be able to sell them."
Ma Shi entered the east wing. After the second branch's house was burned down, Little Yao Shi and her family moved into the three rooms previously occupied by the eldest branch.
Ma Shi glanced out the window, listening to Little Yao Shi's triumphant laughter. She pouted and then quickly tore open the paper wrapper, taking out a pastry and devouring it greedily.
Her second sister-in-law was quite pleased with herself now, not doing any housework and instead just holding a cup of water and chatting with the villagers. Yet, her parents didn't intervene. The more Ma Shi thought about it, the more resentful she became.
She had only intended to steal one pastry, but in her anger, she ate the entire packet. She ate so quickly that she choked, pounding her chest with her fist.
In the courtyard, after Little Yao Shi had shown off enough, she led seven or eight women outside. "Since everyone has said so, I'll go and take a look at the vegetable patch. I'll say this upfront: if the vegetables aren't of good quality, my husband won't accept them."
"That's for sure. How can we make things difficult for you?" the woman speaking said with a fawning smile, and the others echoed her sentiments.
In the vegetable patch, Zhan Laoda was weeding with a hoe.
Li Shi, bent over, shook the soil from the roots of the weeds and then threw the weeds into a basket. If they were left unattended, after a rain, these weeds would sprout again.
"Oh, Big Brother and Sister-in-law are busy," Little Yao Shi said with a sarcastic laugh, looking at Zhan Laoda with disdain.
"Sister-in-law is truly amazing. My husband invited Big Brother three times, and he still refused to rejoin the clan. Sister-in-law didn't even have to ask, and Big Brother is helping with the weeding. Sister-in-law, teach me your methods of manipulation."
Little Yao Shi's words were malicious, almost accusing Li Shi of being a seductress, as if country women had no other means than what happened in bed.
The other women in the village couldn't say anything and could only smile awkwardly.
They didn't dare to offend Little Yao Shi, but they also didn't dare to offend Li Shi, given that she had a capable daughter whom even the magistrate sent New Year's gifts to. With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Li Shi might even receive zongzi from the magistrate's family.
Zhan Laoda looked at the triumphant Little Yao Shi with annoyance, feeling even more convinced that not rejoining the Zhan family was the right decision.
Old Second couldn't control his wife. Little Yao Shi had always been sharp-tongued and liked to slack off and do less work. Now that Old Second had prospered, Little Yao Shi would only become more excessive.
"Big Brother has time to help Sister-in-law, why doesn't he come home to help? Father is busy with so many vegetable fields by himself," Ma Shi also complained, dissatisfied with Zhan Laoda's actions.
Old Second Zhan was busy with the vegetable business for Tai Fu Restaurant, and Old Third Zhan was still working at the dock. Therefore, the farming and field work fell upon Old Master Zhan.
During busy times, Ma Shi and Little Yao Shi also had to go to the fields. This led to them resenting Zhan Laoda, as he used to do all this work by himself.