Chapter 367: Chapter 366: Is There No Place for Reason? Chapter 367: Chapter 366: Is There No Place for Reason? On the first day of the lunar year, as the sky was beginning to brighten, Jinrong and the others, who had been chatting and laughing all night, finally called someone over to clear away the leftover wine and snacks. Those who wanted noodles had noodles, and those who preferred congee drank congee, comforting their stomachs with a proper hot breakfast before each returned to their rooms to wash up and rest for a bit.
No sooner had they lain down than the younger members of the main branch had yet to come to give their New Year’s greetings, when Madam Song and Qi Dong from the Third Branch family arrived.
After so many years, this was the first time that the Qi Family Third Branch was spending Chinese New Year’s Eve and keeping vigil through the night in their own home. Although the food they brought back from the main branch was not bad, certainly better than what they could have prepared themselves and superior to what most of the village had for their New Year’s Eve dinner, Lady Zhang had difficulty even eating after being slapped, let alone thinking about adding wood to the stove to reheat the food. The children were frightened and unsettled, and Madam Pang was also full of worries.
For various reasons, the Third Branch’s New Year’s Eve dinner was a desolate and dreary affair. After a chilly and sparse meal, they were driven by Madam Song back to their rooms to keep the year-end vigil.
Lady Zhang’s face began to swell and turn red around midnight, and by the time it was almost dawn, it had swollen beyond recognition, truly resembling that of a pig’s head. The whole night was filled with her agonized cries and groans, fluctuating between high and low pitches, creating a disturbance all night long.
Qi Dong was so worried that he was pacing around in circles, while Qi Congwen stayed by Lady Zhang’s side, offering a cool wet cloth and the like. Qi Congwu and Huahua, the two children, were terribly frightened, huddling to one side, crying intermittently and dozing off, having worn themselves out over the course of the night.
Living in the same courtyard, Qi Yourong and Madam Song naturally didn’t find peace either. Madam Song had checked on them twice, but to no avail.
Madam Song was already irritable, and when Qi Dong asked whether they should call for a doctor, her suppressed anger could not be contained any longer, and she scolded him fiercely, “Why would you look for a doctor during the New Year? Don’t you find that unlucky? Your wife seems clever on the surface but is actually foolish to the core. Could you really afford to provoke the Second Branch family? Look at this, not only did you barely eat the food, but you also didn’t bring any back. So much good food, I’m nearly in the grave and it’s my first time even laying eyes on such fare, let alone tasting it. And you still have the nerve to talk about getting a doctor!”
Having said that, she turned and walked back to her room in a huff, but she couldn’t help worrying about how to approach the Second Branch family. With Lady Zhang’s face swollen like that, who knew if it would lead to something serious. They still needed to find a solid baseline, and if they were to seek a doctor, they needed a source for the silver to pay for it.
Thus, as soon as it was light, Madam Song and her son came looking. After yesterday’s incident, Madam Song knew better than to make a stir, especially knowing that there were two important figures in this courtyard. She dared not disturb them casually; she only called out softly from the courtyard gate, saying she wanted to speak with her younger brother.
Qi Younian, a man of considerable age, had just settled down after staying up all night. Hearing the message relayed by Song Ping, Nanny Liu did not go to disturb Qi Younian but took the message to Ye Xinyan in the rear courtyard and came out herself to deal with them.
The gates of the courtyard had been left open during Chinese New Year’s Eve, and Madam Song and her son were already standing inside. Nanny Liu came forward to greet them and noticed that both looked tired, with Qi Dong’s worn and haggard appearance reflecting his poor spirits. She couldn’t help but feel a touch of schadenfreude. Why not just enjoy the festive season? Why create trouble during the New Year? Now you’ve reaped what you’ve sown, right?
“The old lady from the Third Branch has arrived, but I wonder, why so early on the first morning of the New Year? Is there something urgent?” Nanny Liu asked with respectful language, yet did not invite them into the house, choosing instead to stand in the courtyard to converse.
Qi Dong didn’t often visit the Second Branch and while he knew his family was not allowed in by the Second Branch’s servants, witnessing it firsthand was a new experience.
Seeing the scraps of red firecracker paper scattered inside and outside the courtyard, the lanterns still hanging high under the eaves, not yet extinguished, the blue bricks and green tiles of the walls and houses, the big red and gold spring couplets, the full set of paper-cuts pasted on the windows, and then looking at the imposing, well-dressed old woman servant blocking his way, Qi Dong felt extremely uncomfortable.
With a stern face, Qi Dong asked, “Where is my uncle and my niece? It seems my uncle has truly ascended to wealth and no longer recognizes people. Not to mention close relatives at the door, even ordinary neighbors should not be treated like this, should they?”
Nanny Liu’s face was covered with a smile as she bowed slightly and replied, “Thank you for the guidance, Third Master Xie. We know how to treat our guests with proper manners and courtesy.”
Qi Dong faltered, his eyes wide open, but he couldn’t utter a word.
Ye Xinyan had already made her way from the back courtyard, and even before she arrived, she continued after Nanny Liu’s words, saying, “People from Third Great Uncle and Great Aunt’s family seldom come here for a visit. It was my instruction to the old woman servants, if someone from Qi Family Third Branch comes, there’s no need to treat them as guests.”
As she spoke, Ye Xinyan approached and asked with an indifferent expression, “May I know what brings the two of you here?”
Facing Ye Xinyan’s cold countenance, Madam Song struggled to maintain her smile, and Qi Dong was even more annoyed as he said, “Ye Zi, is there even a need to ask? With the way my daughter-in-law returned home yesterday, don’t you have any idea in your heart?”
Ye Xinyan asked in surprise, “Why should I have to guess? Wasn’t that what Third Aunt actively chose? Stirring up trouble during the New Year’s festivities naturally requires being prepared to face the consequences. Third Uncle, your question is truly baffling.”
Madam Song tugged at Qi Dong, moved closer, and said with an ingratiating smile, “Ye Zi, your Third Aunt’s face swelled terribly, she was in agony all night, and your Third Uncle was with her the whole time, understandably anxious. Great Aunt is just here to ask you, is your aunt’s injury serious, and do you see, whether we should invite a doctor to prescribe some medicine to try?”
Ye Xinyan responded, “I’m not a doctor, how would I know whether it’s serious? Whether to call for a doctor is for Third Great Uncle and Great Aunt to decide on their own. During the New Year’s celebrations, others really shouldn’t be making decisions on behalf of your family.”
After Ye Xinyan finished speaking, she looked innocently at Madam Song and Qi Dong. Inviting doctors and taking medicine during the New Year implies a year of illness and misfortune. She couldn’t bear such responsibility.
The smile on Madam Song’s face completely stiffened, and it took her a long time to say, “But this matter, this was done by someone in your family, and that’s why my daughter-in-law ended up like this. If anything happens to Lady Zhang, how could you reconcile it within yourself?”
Ye Xinyan turned back and looked at the people from Anshun’s Household who came with her, “Nanny Qiao, what do you think?”
Someone from Anshun’s Household replied, “It’s nothing serious. I’ve slapped many a servant, and they were all fine, so why would only the daughter-in-law of the Qi family’s Third Branch be so delicate?”
Qi Dong angrily said, “You, a servant, spout nonsense without even looking; Lady Zhang’s entire head and face are swollen beyond recognition, how can it be nothing?”
Someone from Anshun’s Household stepped forward, smirked arrogantly, and said, “As an old woman servant of Duke An’s Mansion, I earn my keep with this evening’s meal. Your Lady Zhang is but a peasant woman; if I were to act, her discomfort would be insignificant. How else would this old woman servant be able to earn her rice from the master’s household?”
Qi Dong’s eyes turned red with rage. Such a despicable servant, brazenly using power to oppress others, could it be that there’s nowhere in this world to argue for justice?
Qi Dong then turned to glare at Ye Xinyan and asked, word by word, “I heard the County Magistrate is staying at your place; where is he right now? I wish to file a complaint, I want to ask the County Magistrate, just because my youngest son misspoke, does your family’s wealth and influence mean you can beat a child’s mother to that state?”
Ye Xinyan remained unhurried and slowly said, “That’s possible, of course, but the Magistrate Sir has just rested after staying up for Chinese New Year’s Eve. If Third Uncle wishes to lodge a complaint, he can come back later.”
“However… no matter what, my grandfather and Third Great Uncle are blood brothers. I should give Third Uncle and Great Aunt a word of caution.”