Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 18

Second Sister-in-law Ye felt that Ye Jiao was truly her unlucky star, a complete and utter unlucky star!

The Ye family had taken the Qi family's money. Although it wasn't enough to make them wealthy, if they were frugal, they could live comfortably for several years without worrying about food and clothing.

But Second Sister-in-law Ye had high aspirations. Plus, Ye Jiao's grand return home visit had provoked her, so Second Sister-in-law Ye tried every means to get Second Brother Ye to make something of himself, using this money to do business so she could become a merchant's wife and not have to suffer in this small village.

Except for some money set aside for Ye Bao's education, the rest was all given to Second Brother Ye as capital.

But Second Brother Ye wasn't cut out for business. He was just a farmer. How could he outwit those scheming merchants?

He had lost money before when Second Sister-in-law Ye forced him to go out and make a living, and he still had external debts. Recently, Second Sister-in-law Ye had urged him to go out again to do business. Not only did he fail at everything, but he was also cheated out of quite a bit of silver.

Ye Bao wasn't well-behaved either. At school, he either contradicted the teacher or fought with other children. Just now, Second Sister-in-law Ye had gone to apologize to the family of a child who had been beaten, inevitably being scolded.

This trip had left her both angry and anxious. She was full of frustration, and now outsiders were adding to her troubles.

The women didn't care whether Second Sister-in-law Ye's life was good or not. They were naturally sharp-tongued and had conflicts with Second Sister-in-law Ye, so of course they wouldn't go easy on her now.

"That Second Master Qi, I heard he fell ill from prying into heavenly secrets and has great supernatural powers. Otherwise, how could he create Jade Liquid Wine?"

"Second Sister-in-law, look, your sister-in-law is living well now. You can benefit from her success, can't you?"

"I heard your Second Brother lost money again. Instead of being angry, why don't you go to the Qi family and ask for help? Maybe they'll help you out."

Second Sister-in-law Ye's expression froze completely. Usually sharp-tongued, she now couldn't say a single word, her heart jumping with anger.

This Ye Jiao, who used to freeload at home, now even after being gotten rid of, still made her suffer!

Wasn't she married to a consumptive ghost? Then she should accept her fate and live her bitter life. Why did she have to make herself miserable everywhere?

How could she live a good life? How was it possible!

Second Sister-in-law Ye felt no happiness for Ye Jiao whatsoever, but was full of resentment.

She was naturally petty and had always felt that since the Ye family had no men left except Second Brother Ye, she could make all the decisions. After getting rid of Ye Jiao, her life would improve. But she never expected Ye Jiao's life to become a thousand times better than hers.

Sending Ye Jiao to the Qi family wasn't meant to give her a good life!

Why was her own husband still unable to accomplish anything, while Qi Yun could actually thrive and prosper?

Who said he was going to die? Where did he look like he was dying!

The congratulations from those women rang in her ears, each word piercing. Second Sister-in-law Ye could only pretend not to hear, carrying her basket and leaving quickly.

But as soon as she got home, she saw Second Brother Ye entering with a jug of wine.

Second Sister-in-law Ye was somewhat surprised. Plus, having just been angered, her tone was particularly harsh: "You're not in town, why did you come back so early?"

Since she always spoke harshly at home, Second Brother Ye didn't notice whether she was in a good mood or not. He just smiled cheerfully: "I'm happy today and wanted to come back for a drink. Go get me a bowl."

"Get the bowl yourself if you want one. Stop ordering me around." Second Sister-in-law Ye snorted coldly, then felt heartache: "If you wanted to drink, you should have told me. I would have gotten you rice wine. Buying from town costs money for both the wine and the clay jug. What a waste."

Second Brother Ye was naturally tongue-tied and honest, so he didn't argue with Second Sister-in-law Ye. He put the wine jug on the table and went to get a bowl himself.

The wine jug had red paper pasted on it with two characters written on it.

Second Sister-in-law Ye couldn't read, but she knew wine that could have red paper pasted on it wasn't cheap. She immediately became anxious and shouted at Second Brother Ye: "What kind of wine did you buy?"

Second Brother Ye was rummaging through the cupboard and didn't turn around, casually answering: "Jade Liquid Wine. It sells really well."

This was said with a smile. Second Brother Ye naturally knew Jade Liquid Wine was from the Qi family, and he knew it was made by his little sister's husband.

If Qi Yun was doing well, Ye Jiao would benefit too.

My little sister is truly fortunate.

Second Brother Ye still felt guilty about selling his sister. Now seeing Ye Jiao living well, Second Brother Ye was naturally happy, which was why he bought Jade Liquid Wine to drink.

He found a bowl and was about to tell Second Sister-in-law Ye that this wine wasn't too expensive and they could afford it, when he turned around to see Second Sister-in-law Ye holding the jug, about to smash it on the ground!

Second Brother Ye was startled and quickly said: "Don't smash it, it's expensive!"

Hearing this, Second Sister-in-law Ye indeed stopped, her face alternating between red and white, so angry she was gasping, but she still gently placed the jug on the table, afraid of damaging it.

Second Brother Ye sighed in relief, but then heard the woman start yelling again: "Look at this, this is your good sister, your good brother-in-law! It's his own wine shop, yet you still have to pay silver when you buy wine. What kind of thing is this!"

Second Brother Ye didn't want to pay attention to her, but seeing her yelling loudly, he held the wine jug and said quietly: "Don't forget how Jiao Niang went there."

One sentence silenced Second Sister-in-law Ye.

If there had been anger before, now the woman felt more fear.

With Ye Jiao so successful, would she turn around and make trouble for them in the future?

But Second Brother Ye ignored her, just drinking his wine, finishing the whole jug that night. Even when drunk, he didn't cause trouble, just fell asleep, muttering about his big brother and little sister in his dreams.

But everything about the Ye family was extremely foreign to Ye Jiao, and now it couldn't touch her at all.

Right after breakfast, Ye Jiao sat beside Qi Yun.

Today was the day for managers to bring their earnings for settlement. Liu Shi didn't have the daughters-in-law come over.

It wasn't that she was guarding against them, but Fang Shi was petty. Last time, hearing that Manager Song had taken first place, she had actually gotten so angry she stayed in bed for several days. If she came again now and saw something, wouldn't she fall ill from anger?

With free time, Ye Jiao didn't go out but squeezed closer to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun was wearing a robe, holding a book in his hands. Seeing Ye Jiao approach, he didn't avoid her but opened his arms to embrace her, bringing the woman under his robe as well.

Ye Jiao saw he had a hand warmer on his lap. She had been thinking of some way to hold his hand, and now with this opportunity, she immediately grabbed Qi Yun's hand and moved closer.

Qi Yun set down the book in his hands and let her move about, slightly curving his lips: "Cold?"

Ye Jiao shook her head. With the room so warm, how could she be cold?

Qi Yun also felt his wife wasn't cold, but this made him feel even more that his wife had come over because she wanted to be close to him, making his heart especially warm.

The little ginseng didn't know what the man was thinking and just stared down at the hand warmer.

The hand warmer was toasty warm, heating the man's fingers. Ye Jiao's fingertips traced across his knuckles bit by bit, then pinched them, her face showing delight: "Husband, you have more flesh than before!"

Anyone else hearing they had gained weight would probably feel uncomfortable, since nowadays people valued thinness, and neither men nor women wanted to be too plump.

But this was different for Qi Yun. He had always been ill, drinking too much medicine affected his appetite, and he had been thin since childhood. Plus his bones hadn't stopped growing, so his height was adequate, but when dressed, he looked like a flag hanging from a pole, swaying in the wind.

Recently feeling he had been conditioning himself better, rather than saying he had gained weight, it was more accurate to say he had become more solid.

Qi Yun didn't know this was related to the little ginseng's nourishment, but he felt his wife brought good fortune and had made him better too.

This was Qi Yun's recent life philosophy: his wife was good in every way.

Holding Ye Jiao's hand in return, Qi Yun squeezed it and sighed slightly: "You eat quite a bit usually, Jiao Niang. Why don't you gain weight?"

Three meals a day, never skipping any, plus snacks and sweets. Anyone else eating like this would probably be plump by now.

But Ye Jiao remained slender and graceful, not the least bit fat.

Not only was Qi Yun not happy about this, sometimes seeing Ye Jiao's pointed little chin made him feel heartache, thinking she had been starved too much before and was now hard to nourish.

But Ye Jiao didn't worry about it. Instead, she said cheerfully: "If I stay thin, I can sleep with you at night!"

This statement directly made Qi Yun blush, and Little Su, who was tidying up nearby, choked and ran out.

Ye Jiao looked at Qi Yun with some confusion: "What's wrong? Didn't you say last time that your bed was small?"

Qi Yun pressed his lips together, his eyes showing helplessness, embarrassment, but mostly amusement.

His bed wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. Two people lying on it had plenty of room. The reason he said it was small... wasn't it just to get closer to Ye Jiao?

But Qi Yun would never admit this. He just tried hard to look proper: "Mm, I'll have them make a new big bed and send it over."

Ye Jiao didn't doubt him and smiled as usual.

At this moment, Tie Zi's voice came from outside: "Second Young Master, the managers have all arrived at the front courtyard. Master is calling you to the front hall."

Qi Yun replied: "Good, I understand." Then he released Ye Jiao and said gently: "This time they're bringing money. With many people in the house, don't leave the courtyard."

Ye Jiao nodded obediently, helped him arrange his clothes, and stuffed a new hand warmer for him before watching Qi Yun leave.

This time Ye Jiao didn't follow but went to the side room to study the flowers and plants Lady Dong had sent.

When Qi Yun returned, it was already afternoon. His face showed no joy or anger, but Tie Zi following behind him had his mouth nearly split to his ears.

Just now Manager Song had really shown off, with that chest of copper coins, strings and strings of them, heavy-looking and impressive.

Manager Song had made a good showing, and even Qi Yun received praise from Father Qi. Tie Zi felt comfortable just listening.

He had been afraid of Qi Yun before, but as Manager Song said, their Second Young Master now had the ability to make money. In his eyes, he was a golden person. What was there to fear?

But Tie Zi didn't dare say much in front of Qi Yun. After escorting Qi Yun back to the courtyard, he bounced away to find Little Su and describe the scene.

As soon as Qi Yun entered, he saw Ye Jiao sitting at the dining table with her chin propped up, waiting for him.

The little ginseng had been hungry for a while. It was already past mealtime, but she still waited hopefully for Qi Yun to return and eat together. Hearing movement, her eyes lit up, and seeing Qi Yun enter, she immediately got up and ran over, grabbing Qi Yun's hand: "Husband, come eat!"

Qi Yun actually had something to tell her, but seeing Ye Jiao was very hungry, he pushed the matter aside and just smiled, following her to sit down and eat.

After eating and having the table cleared, Qi Yun closed the door and pulled Ye Jiao to sit at the table. He took out a red cloth bundle from his chest and handed it to her: "For you. Keep it safe."

Ye Jiao blinked, feeling the bundle had some weight. She took it and opened it to find five small silver ingots inside.

The silver ingots didn't look big, but weighing them in her hand, they felt like over ten taels. Ye Jiao needed both hands to hold them.

The little ginseng didn't understand many things, but she knew what silver could do. Second Sister-in-law Ye had tormented Ye Jiao precisely because she lacked this.

Looking at Qi Yun with some surprise: "Husband, what is this for?"

Qi Yun sat beside Ye Jiao, his voice still gentle: "The shop earned a lot, so the share for the managers and me increased too. This is my portion, a decent income. You help me keep it, and if you ever want to spend or use it, Jiao Niang, just take it yourself."

Ye Jiao didn't understand what helping manage money meant. She looked at Qi Yun with some confusion and pushed the silver back to him: "I don't know how to manage money."

Qi Yun smiled warmly, put the red bundle in a box, then gave the box to Ye Jiao to hold, his tone gentle: "It's fine, I'll teach you."