Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 101

Qi Ming didn't stay home for too long before setting off to return to the Academy.

Now that he was already a Scholar, he needed to continue his studies to prepare for the upcoming provincial examination. However, this time it wasn't an academy that the Qi family had found for him, but one recommended by his previous academy's master.

If it were someone else, the master probably wouldn't put in such wholehearted effort.

But Qi Ming had talent, and with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, there would be an additional Special Imperial Examination next year. The provincial examination that originally occurred only once every three years would be held again in the eighth month of the second year. Soon Qi Ming would be able to participate in the provincial examination, so naturally the master placed great expectations on him.

Of course, the master didn't expect Qi Ming to actually bring back the title of Top Candidate, he only hoped that passing would be a blessing for the academy.

When that time came, as long as word spread that their academy had produced a Provincial Graduate, students would naturally come in endless streams.

The benefits they were giving Qi Ming now were actually benefits for themselves.

However, this academy was located in an even more distant place than before. Liu Shi was worried, so she specially selected a child with a steady character from among the tenants on the estate, named Liu Si, and sent him to serve as Qi Ming's book attendant.

Liu Si was slightly younger than Qi Ming, looked honest and reliable, and both his parents worked for the Qi family, making it very secure. Only after having both Qi Zhao and Qi Yun look him over did Liu Shi send him to Qi Ming's side to take care of Qi Ming's meals and daily life.

Liu Si's parents were quite happy to have their son do this kind of work. Being able to serve at Third Young Master's side, he could at least learn to read and write, which was certainly better than scraping a living from the soil.

After taking care of Third Young Master Qi's affairs, Qi Yun put all his energy back into the shops.

Now, Qi Yun used the wine shop as a testing ground, making contact with many different places.

Actually, wine shops couldn't compare to many other types of shops. People in any given area often liked to buy wine from well-established local brands. Unless a particular wine was especially famous or especially cheap, it was very difficult to succeed.

So Qi Yun first recommended the wine to local restaurants and inns, focusing on building the Qi family wine's reputation first.

Currently, the Qi Family Wine Shop's best sellers were the inexpensive Jade Liquid Wine and the expensive Golden Cup Wine.

The two characters "Golden Cup" on the Golden Cup Wine's original version were still stored at Qi Yun's home. Initially just casually requested calligraphy, it had now become an imperial brush inscription. Because of this, the characters pasted on the Golden Cup Wine had become woodblock-printed Standard Script, while the original was kept by Qi Yun at home, placed together with the Imperial Longevity Lock, to be useful someday in the future.

The different prices of these two wines determined that sales would always vary between good and bad.

The difference was that some places were prosperous, where common people had sufficient food and clothing and wouldn't be stingy with wine money when they had spare cash, so Golden Cup Wine sold well.

While some places were more barren with less spare money, so the cheaper Jade Liquid Wine was more popular.

Qi Yun had people collect information, and after a period of time, he would go open shops based on the different sales volumes of the two wines, which was much better than going in blind.

This also made the Qi Family Wine Shop the pathfinder among the Qi family's many shops. In prosperous places they would open restaurants and jewelry stores, in slightly poorer places they would open medicine shops and fruit stores, so they could always have business to do.

Qi Yun's calculations were precise. Though the individual shops seemed small and insignificant, gradually they could build up some momentum, though it would take considerable time.

However, the Qi family's wine was sweet as honey and could attract not only wine customers but also the covetous attention of some people.

Manager Song came to the study to find Qi Yun today precisely about this matter: "Young Master, the Lu family has been looking for me recently, wanting to buy our wine-making recipe."

Qi Yun set down his brush and looked at him: "Which Lu family?"

Manager Song hurriedly said: "The Lu family from the east of the city. Their family head is incompetent, and his sons are all without promise, but they have a clan uncle who serves as Privy Council Direct Scholar in the capital. Usually relying on the Privy Council Direct Scholar's influence, they live comfortably without worry. Normally we never saw them causing trouble, but who knew they would now set their sights on our recipe."

Qi Yun slightly furrowed his brow.

This Privy Council Direct Scholar was a third-rank capital official. Anyone who could sit in this position was no simple character.

This Lu family was probably not the main branch, but even if the relationship wasn't close, as long as they were related by blood, they would all be difficult to deal with.

Qi Yun couldn't help but look toward Manager Song: "Have they made any other moves?"

Manager Song shook his head: "Not really. Those people are inherently without talent or virtue and have no great schemes. When they can't buy it, they just curse behind closed doors, which isn't a big deal. They haven't been active at the government offices either."

"They won't go to the government offices. What scholarly families fear most is clan members causing trouble. If one is affected, all are affected. They don't dare to engage in forceful seizure, otherwise the first one to move against them would be their official clan member." Qi Yun spoke, his voice pausing slightly. "Just stall them for now, it's not a problem. Don't be too afraid. Just do your job well, they can't stir up any real trouble."

Manager Song was still worried: "Young Master, they have backing, a third-rank capital official."

Qi Yun's voice was light: "It doesn't matter. If I want backing, I can have it too. No need to fear him."

This left Manager Song stunned. What kind of backing could be greater than a third-rank official? Could his Young Master be bluffing?

However, Qi Yun didn't spell everything out clearly. Instead, he turned to discuss accounts with Manager Song, then had Tie Zi send a plate of sand cakes to Ye Jiao.

When Ye Jiao received the sand cakes, she was in Liu Shi's courtyard.

She had come in the afternoon, and seeing that it was now late autumn, Ye Jiao went to Liu Shi's place to collect some charcoal to prepare for unexpected needs.

When she went, she specifically brought Xu Bao along. Little Xu Bao was at his most adorable age now. Although he didn't like to talk much, when someone asked him questions, the little fellow could always respond, and he loved to smile. When he smiled, his eyes would squint, making him extremely cute.

Liu Shi loved holding and coaxing him. Little Xu Bao didn't know if it was because the almond cream at Liu Shi's place was delicious, but he was particularly fond of making Liu Shi happy, calling out "Grandmother, may you be blessed" one mouthful after another, making Liu Shi increasingly fond of him.

Right now Liu Shi was holding Xu Bao and wouldn't let go, while her eyes looked at Ye Jiao and said: "This year's charcoal purchase was good, it's high-quality white charcoal. You can go sign for it later. Also, a while ago an old cow died on the estate. We reported it to the authorities and can slaughter it ourselves. I've saved two pieces of good meat for you and Eldest Son's household."

Charcoal, meat. Ye Jiao immediately had an idea pop into her head: "How about we have hot pot tonight?"

Liu Shi had guessed that Ye Jiao would think of eating first. She had originally intended to have it made into dried meat, since beef was rare. But hearing Ye Jiao's words, Liu Shi smiled and said: "That's good too. Autumn is the right time to build up for winter, we should eat more." Then Liu Shi said to Nanny Liu, "Get me a piece too later, remember to cut it into thin slices. Tonight our courtyard will also eat meat."

Nanny Liu immediately agreed happily. Liu Shi was always benevolent. When she ate meat, her subordinates could more or less get a bite too, so naturally she was very willing.

Xu Bao was at the age of learning to speak. Hearing this, he clapped his chubby little hands: "Eat meat meat."

Liu Shi then tapped his little nose: "You're still small. If you want to eat beef, it needs to be stewed until very tender."

Ye Jiao said with a smile: "It doesn't matter. When there's leftover soup, we can cook some porridge for him."

Xu Bao clapped his hands again and laughed cheerfully, showing his newly grown teeth: "Eat porridge porridge."

Looking at Xu Bao, Liu Shi couldn't help but smile too.

Since he was still small, and this beef was hard to chew, the adults would eat meat while he drank soup... In any case, the eldest grandson wasn't lacking this one mouthful, so Liu Shi just let them be.

In the evening, Ye Jiao had people set up a table and brought out a copper pot, heating it up hot. When Qi Yun returned home and opened the door, he immediately smelled the aromatic scent.

Seeing him, Ye Jiao perked up, and Xu Bao also straightened up in his little chair.

His little chair was specially made. Usually when eating, it was placed beside the table with several railings to keep him secured inside so the little fellow wouldn't move around.

Today, because there was a copper pot on the table and they were afraid he might bump into it and get burned, Ye Jiao had placed Xu Bao a bit further away.

But even though he was placed further away, the aroma couldn't be blocked. Xu Bao got hungrier and hungrier as he smelled it.

But Ye Jiao's habit was always not to eat if Qi Yun wasn't back yet. If Qi Yun came back early, then they wouldn't set the table if his wife wasn't back.

As a child, Xu Bao had long gotten used to his parents' temperament. Even when hungry, he didn't fuss, just accompanied Ye Jiao in waiting.

Now seeing Daddy return, Xu Bao immediately opened his eyes wide happily at Qi Yun. Ye Jiao similarly stared at him, quite with the look of someone eagerly waiting.

Standing at the door, being stared at by his wife and fat son with their identical bright eyes, Qi Yun felt somewhat guilty: "I was talking with Manager Song and it went late. Did I make you wait long?"

Ye Jiao pulled him to sit at the table, saying with a smile: "It was quite long. If you hadn't come, I was about to have someone bring the hot pot to the study to find you."

Qi Yun wanted to say that his wife was probably joking.

But facing Ye Jiao's bright smile, he realized that Ye Jiao probably wasn't lying to him...

Little Ginseng had her own reasoning: "Your body has just gotten better, you can't overwork yourself. Previously with Xu Bao's first birthday and Third Brother's county examination, things were already busy. Now that we finally have some breathing room, your eating and sleeping need to become regular."

Qi Yun nodded. He knew Ye Jiao was doing this for his own good, so naturally he agreed without reservation.

Then he heard Ye Jiao continue: "Look at Xu Bao. Besides eating, he just sleeps, eating several times a day. That's how he's raised to be so white and fat."

Qi Yun: ...

He inexplicably felt that this sentence would be more appropriate when said about raising little pigs.

Second Young Master Qi glanced at his son. Xu Bao immediately gave him a smile, looking particularly cheerful. Qi Yun reached out to pinch his face, found the feel quite nice, so pinched it again.

Xu Bao had a good temper and let him pinch, his eyes still fixed on the pot without letting go.

To apologize to his wife, Qi Yun picked up meat with chopsticks, swished it in the pot, and put it in Ye Jiao's bowl.

Ye Jiao wasn't polite either, blowing on it before eating it.

The current Second Young Master Qi was no longer the sickly invalid who would feel stomach discomfort after eating just two more bites. Although still physically weak, he was gradually becoming no different from ordinary people.

However, Qi Yun's appetite was still small. He was full quickly, spending the remaining time serving Ye Jiao food. Later, Ye Jiao simply didn't even move her chopsticks, just waited for Qi Yun to blow on the meat and feed it to her.

If there were outsiders present, Ye Jiao would never be this lazy, but when it was just her and Qi Yun, Ye Jiao particularly liked using his hands as her own hands.

There was always an inexplicable pleasure in it.

However, they couldn't eat too much beef, and not much was sliced either.

They saved a few pieces for Xu Bao to make porridge, ate the rest, then cooked some vegetables. The leftover meat and vegetables were sent to the small kitchen to be stewed into tender porridge and brought back for Xu Bao to eat.

Children still didn't know about hot and cold. After the two adults finished eating and cleared the table, Ye Jiao carried the porridge bowl and sat by the soft couch. The little chubby one obediently moved a small stool onto the soft couch and sat properly, raising his head to look at Ye Jiao.

Ye Jiao smiled and touched Xu Bao's little face.

Qi Yun had just fed her, now she was feeding Xu Bao.

Little Ginseng held the spoon, scooped up a spoonful of tender porridge, blew on it, then tested the temperature with her lips. Only when she felt the temperature was right did she offer it to Xu Bao to eat.

Xu Bao was also patient, not crying or fussing, just waiting for Ye Jiao to blow on it and offer it to him before opening his mouth.

After finishing one mouthful, he would wait for the next, his expectant expression soft enough to melt anyone's heart.

After finishing the porridge, he reached out to Ye Jiao: "Mother, hug hug Xu Bao."

But Ye Jiao didn't reach out, only asked him: "What does Xu Bao want to do?"

Xu Bao's eyes were exactly like Ye Jiao's, clean and transparent, clear as the bottom: "Sleep sleep."

Ye Jiao then carried him to the side room to coax him to sleep. But children weren't so easily put to sleep. After climbing onto the small bed, he wanted to play with balls and roll around. Ye Jiao watched from the side, only feeling that her son was round and everything he did was interesting. She just played along with him.

However, after all this commotion, Little Ginseng seemed to have digested what she had just eaten.

When Xu Bao was almost tired out, Qi Yun came in carrying a plate. Ye Jiao immediately fixed her eyes on it: "Osmanthus cake?"

"Mm." Qi Yun said, placing the plate by Ye Jiao's hand and sitting beside her to watch their fat son in the small bed together. Seeing his eyes had already closed, he said softly, "He's too lazy."

Eating then sleeping, sleeping then eating, even too lazy to talk much. He was completely different from the little thing who used to persistently try to turn over when small.

But Ye Jiao reached out to gently pat Xu Bao's back to coax him to sleep, her voice carrying laughter: "It doesn't matter, Xu Bao is smart."

Usually this child liked clinging to Ye Jiao, so Qi Yun hadn't had much opportunity to discover his smart points. He couldn't help but ask: "How is he smart?"

Ye Jiao picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and put it in her mouth, her voice muffled: "He remembers food really quickly."

Qi Yun: ...

Just then, Xu Bao, who had almost fallen asleep, opened his eyes and looked at the cake in Ye Jiao's hand, his little mouth mumbling: "Mother, eat eat."

Ye Jiao held the osmanthus cake higher, softly coaxing him: "You sleep well, eat tomorrow. Mother will save the osmanthus cake for you."

Little Xu Bao closed his eyes again, mumbling: "Osmanthus cake cake..."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao looked toward Qi Yun with a proud expression.

See, didn't he remember it as soon as it was mentioned?

But Qi Yun didn't think this was anything to be happy about. He had an photographic memory, but when it came to his son, that memory was being used to remember dish names?

However, Qi Yun didn't have the ambitious hope that his son must become an outstanding person among people. Moreover, Xu Bao had always been very well-behaved, so Second Young Master Qi wouldn't torture him with books either.

After Qi Yun accompanied Ye Jiao in coaxing Xu Bao to sleep and seeing the child's breathing become steady and deep in slumber, he had a servant come watch over him while the husband and wife left the side room and returned to their own bedroom.

Having eaten some beef at night, which was a heating food, plus with so many things happening recently and feeling tired at night, they often just went to sleep in a muddle. Qi Yun had been abstinent for quite a while, and Little Ginseng missed him very much too.

When their eyes met, they understood each other's thoughts. Clothes fell away and they frolicked through the night, only gradually quieting down when the moon rose above the treetops.

The next morning, Ye Jiao was the first to get up. She went to bring the already awakened Xu Bao over, coaxed him to play on the soft couch, and had Little Su watch over him. When Ye Jiao went to wake Qi Yun, she noticed several red marks on his back.

Without thinking, she knew these were scratches she had made in the heat of passion last night.

Ye Jiao hurriedly went to get the porcelain bottle of medicine and sat on the bedside, patting him: "Lie on your stomach properly."

Qi Yun hadn't reacted yet and unconsciously said: "My back doesn't hurt today."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao simply reached directly into the blanket and pinched the flesh on his waist: "I'm not massaging your back today, I'm applying medicine to your back."

Only then did Qi Yun feel the stinging pain on his back.

Thinking of last night's passion, he didn't say anything more. In front of his wife, there was nothing to be reserved about. They had already experienced all kinds of shameless things, so he obediently lay down properly.

Ye Jiao sat sideways, using the flat little silver spoon to scoop out white medicinal paste and dot it on the man's wounds, then used her fingertips to slowly rub it in, saying: "Xu Bao really takes after you. He's never liked crying since he was small, doesn't cry even when it hurts." Getting to this point, Little Ginseng couldn't help but pat him once. "I scratched you last night, why didn't you say anything?"

Qi Yun, lying down, spoke with a somewhat muffled voice: "Didn't think of it."

Ye Jiao couldn't help but pat him again: "You don't even notice when it hurts?"

Qi Yun turned his head to look at her: "When I left red marks on your body, you didn't say no either."

As soon as these words came out, Ye Jiao dropped the medicine bottle and reached out to cover his mouth: "Say less of that. Xu Bao is here, what if he learns it?"

Qi Yun grasped her wrist, looking at her with a smile: "Alright, I won't say it now. I'll say it later when it's just the two of us."

It was originally a joking remark, but who knew Ye Jiao would look at him and actually agree, which made Qi Yun's ears turn red.

Actually, counting carefully, Qi Yun felt that all the teasing words he had ever spoken ultimately came back to affect him, without successfully provoking his wife even a little bit.

After applying the medicine, Qi Yun put on his clothes and got up. After washing and tying up his hair, he put on his robe and came out from behind the screen to see Ye Jiao sitting in front of the mirror, handing him the eyebrow pencil: "Draw my eyebrows."

This had already become a routine between them. Qi Yun immediately went over to take the eyebrow pencil, leaning down slightly, drawing Ye Jiao's distant mountain-shaped eyebrows while asking: "Going out?"

Ye Jiao closed her eyes slightly. Probably because Qi Yun was leaning close, her voice unconsciously became softer: "Going to see Mother. Little Shi Tou is coming today too, and Xu Bao said last time he missed him."

Qi Yun finished drawing one side and moved to draw the other, saying gently: "A couple days ago I heard Eldest Brother say that Little Shi Tou has already started memorizing the Hundred Family Names. He's currently at 'Lu Wei Chang Ma, Miao Feng Hua Fang.' Though slower than Third Brother was back then, it's still quite good."

Ye Jiao couldn't help but smile: "That's wonderful. I'll bring some cakes over later."

"What are you bringing cakes for?"

"Little Shi Tou can memorize the Hundred Family Names, so Elder Sister-in-law will definitely have him show off. I'll bring some cakes to give him as encouragement."

Hearing these words, Qi Yun felt Ye Jiao made sense.

Fang Shi had a personality that liked showing off, and showing off children was probably something every parent liked to do.

After finishing the eyebrows, Qi Yun put his hand down, gently lifting Ye Jiao's chin to examine his work, then nodded with satisfaction: "This time I drew them well."

Ye Jiao didn't look in the mirror either, smiling with curved lips: "If husband says they're good, then they're definitely good."

Xu Bao, holding a cloth ball on the soft couch to the side, tilted his head to look at them. Without speaking, he threw away the cloth ball and reached for the cloth tiger.

Just then, Tie Zi spoke from outside the door: "Second Young Master, Second Young Mistress, Madam sent someone to say there's no need to go to her courtyard today. Guests have come to the front hall, and Madam can't get away."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao poked her head outside, while Qi Yun turned his head to ask: "Who is it?"

Someone who could make Liu Shi personally receive them wouldn't be from an ordinary household.

Then they heard Tie Zi say: "I don't know the specifics, but I could see it looked like people coming to propose marriage. They brought quite a lot of gifts. I only heard the gatekeeper mention this family's surname is Lu."

Lu?

Qi Yun couldn't help but frown. There weren't many families surnamed Lu nearby. The most famous was the Lu family from the east of the city.

This Lu family, wasn't it the one determined to buy his family's wine-making recipe? How had it turned into coming to propose marriage?

Something abnormal must be suspicious.

Ye Jiao saw he wasn't speaking and asked: "Husband, who is the Lu family?"

Qi Yun was just about to open his mouth to answer when he suddenly saw little Xu Bao throw away the cloth tiger in his hands, then look at them with a cheerful smile and speak: "Lu Wei Chang Ma, Miao Feng Hua Fang."

Ye Jiao was stunned for a moment and unconsciously looked toward Qi Yun.

She saw that her husband's face had already cleared of worried clouds, replaced by a slightly smug expression, his voice even slightly upturned: "Mm, indeed smart, takes after me."

Ye Jiao blinked, somewhat confused. Obviously yesterday he had said Xu Bao had a good memory, remembering "osmanthus cake" after hearing it just once. Why hadn't husband said he took after him then?

Qi Yun smiled and had Ye Jiao and Xu Bao eat breakfast while he walked to the door, called Tie Zi over, his smile fading as his voice became low: "You go listen at the front hall. Whatever they say or do, come back and tell me everything. Remember, you must listen to every single word without missing any. Go."