Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 36

The closer it got to New Year, the busier things became. The entire Qi household began bustling with organizing belongings and cleaning courtyards. Only the shop workers who wanted to earn extra monthly wages stayed behind, while others could all go home for New Year. The estate also gave tenants time off and distributed New Year bonus silver.

With the estate somewhat empty, Qi Zhao returned home early to help with preparations. Qi Ming, who had also returned home, didn't need to go out and work because of his young age.

But the young man, free from studying these past few days, rarely let loose. He either stayed in Liu Shi's courtyard or wandered in the back garden, holding paper and brush, pondering what good poems or phrases he could write.

Today looking at flowers, tomorrow at grass, always pondering what he could compose.

When Qi Yun asked him the reason, Qi Ming's answer was very honest.

"I made an agreement with Third Young Master, whom I met before. We promised that the next time we meet, we'd think up new poetry. Last time in our couplet competition I lost to him. This time I absolutely cannot lose."

This made Qi Yun feel helpless, thinking his third brother had truly buried himself in books and couldn't emerge. Finally making a friend, it still ended up being about poetry and literature.

But Qi Yun wasn't curious about who this Third Young Master was, just pleased that his third brother finally had a friend.

The family's liveliness didn't leave out the servants. Bonus silver was several percent more than previous years, and Little Su and Tie Zi's families also received quite a bit.

Since the two had always followed Ye Jiao and Qi Yun, they received an extra bonus from their masters, naturally making them very happy.

Little Su especially hurried to sew Tie Zi a shirt, embroider a handkerchief for Ye Jiao, and even made a red flower garment for the big rooster Little Black in the coop.

The little girl took special care to cover its tail, comforting its feelings about losing tail feathers. With its bald tail hidden, the big rooster's morning crow finally became loud again.

But while everyone else was relaxing, Qi Yun didn't slack off.

His shops would undergo major changes when business resumed next year. The wine shop needed expansion, which naturally required more attention given its large income.

Qi Yun had also promised Manager Dong at the medicine garden that he would provide funding next year to expand the medicine garden as well.

Though Manager Dong wasn't as shrewd as Manager Song, he understood in his heart that Qi Yun's willingness to agree wasn't because the medicine shop's business was particularly good, but because of Second Young Mistress.

His daughter Dong Shi had a good relationship with Ye Jiao, so Second Young Master looked favorably on him.

Regardless of whether Qi Yun truly thought this way, Manager Dong firmly believed he was benefiting from Ye Jiao's influence.

When Manager Dong came today, he specifically brought a wild ginseng root, saying it was for Second Young Mistress, but didn't rashly bring up specific requirements about expanding the medicine garden with Qi Yun.

Second Young Master's agreement was already not easy to obtain. Since he was currently busy with wine shop matters, Manager Dong tactfully planned to bring it up together after the holidays.

After leaving the study, Manager Dong happened to see Ye Jiao flying a kite in the garden.

Ye Jiao was flying her kite in the courtyard where plum trees had been planted before. The snow had been cleared away, and the ground was laid flat and smooth. Ye Jiao, wearing her red cloak and holding the kite string, looked beautiful as a figure in a painting from afar.

Manager Dong couldn't help thinking that others said Ye Jiao had married above her station into the Qi family, but anyone who had seen Ye Jiao, who could say she wasn't meant to be a wealthy person?

Ordinary people couldn't carry themselves as Second Young Mistress. That Ye Jiao could do so meant she was naturally blessed.

Ye Jiao didn't notice someone watching her. She was pulling the string in her hand, smiling as she watched the kite in the sky.

Flying a kite sounded like just sending something up, nothing special, but when the kite actually flew and you held the string feeling the pulling force, it felt quite magical.

Pull a bit, and it would fly back.

Loosen a bit, and it could fly higher.

Ye Jiao found the interesting aspects and turned to Little Su: "This is well-made. Teach me how to do it later."

Little Su had always followed Ye Jiao and knew her mistress particularly enjoyed learning various things, always taking them very seriously.

Whether it was learning to write with Qi Yun or learning household management with Liu Shi, Ye Jiao could always put in sufficient effort.

As long as she said she wanted to learn, she would definitely learn to do it well.

But the current Little Su wasn't the ignorant little girl she used to be. If it had been when she was naive before, Little Su would definitely have agreed immediately, but now she wouldn't nod right away.

After following Ye Jiao for so long, with Nanny Liu often giving her guidance privately, Little Su knew what to say and do.

Hearing Ye Jiao's words, Little Su immediately said: "Second Young Mistress, making kites is hard on the hands, and even after learning, you usually wouldn't make them often. If you want them, just tell me. Brother Tie Zi and I can naturally make them. If Second Young Mistress likes them, you can draw the patterns and designs on the kites yourself."

Ye Jiao thought about it and nodded. Her bright, clear eyes looked at the kite in the sky as she smiled: "Then when I go back, I'll write some characters on it."

Little Su thought Ye Jiao's writing looked about the same as drawing, so she cheerfully agreed, thinking she should ask Brother Tie Zi if they could make a round kite.

That way it would match Second Young Mistress's characters.

At this moment, Manager Dong bowed outside the garden: "Second Young Mistress flies this kite extremely well."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao turned to look and immediately recognized this as Manager Dong from the medicine garden, whom she had met once before.

The Stone Sprout Grass had been discovered during that visit to the medicine garden. Ye Jiao had a good impression of Manager Dong, so she gave the spool of string to Little Su to hold for her while she walked over.

These days, Ye Jiao had learned quite a bit from Liu Shi. Besides household management methods, Liu Shi emphasized teaching her how to interact with people.

Ye Jiao was intelligent, learned quickly, and remembered clearly. Now seeing Manager Dong, she almost unconsciously showed a gentle smile, stopping about five steps away from him: "Manager Dong, were you looking for my husband?"

Manager Dong smiled: "I just came from Second Young Master's place. Seeing Second Young Mistress here reminded me of what my daughter told me to say, so I came over to pass along a message."

Spring Orchid?

Ye Jiao hadn't seen Dong Shi these past days. Each family had a pile of things to handle at year's end. Ye Jiao had no time to visit the medicine shop, and she had no time to come over.

She had sent over two pots of medicinal flowers through others, but hadn't sent any verbal messages.

Ye Jiao's face showed a smile: "How is Spring Orchid lately?"

Manager Dong quickly said: "She's doing well. My daughter is lively by nature and can't stay idle. These days she's been busy inside and out at the medicine shop. Even I have trouble seeing her. Last time I saw her, she mentioned Second Young Mistress to me, asking me to pass along word that the Auspicious Flowers are growing extremely well and bloomed two more flowers recently."

In one sentence, Manager Dong first explained why his daughter hadn't come recently, then mentioned her concern for Ye Jiao.

These were all true, but how to present them better to others depended on eloquence.

Clearly, Manager Dong's eloquence was quite good.

Ye Jiao wasn't surprised the Auspicious Flowers could survive. After all, these flowers were aquatic plants that could grow on their own when thrown in water, requiring little care.

But from Manager Dong's message, Dong Shi had clearly been caring for the Auspicious Flowers. Calculating the time, the little fox had gained offspring fortune after two months of care. If it really worked, Dong Shi wouldn't be far behind either.

That would be wonderful.

Since it was nearly New Year, Manager Dong said a few more auspicious words to her before leaving.

After he left, Little Ginseng returned to continue flying the kite. When the sun rose and the breeze gradually stopped, the kite couldn't fly high anymore, so she reluctantly reeled it in and returned to the courtyard.

Upon entering, Ye Jiao saw Qi Yun waiting for her to eat.

Seeing her return, the man smiled and beckoned to her: "Let's eat. I've stewed chicken soup to drive away the cold."

Ye Jiao immediately went to remove her cloak and wash her hands, then happily sat beside Qi Yun.

Usually when the family ate together in the evening, they mostly sat fairly far apart. Last time Ye Jiao had seen Liu Shi and Father Qi eat, they sat facing each other.

But Ye Jiao didn't like that.

Though Ye Jiao had learned many things from Liu Shi, once she entered the room, she couldn't maintain proper form.

She directly sat beside Qi Yun and handed him her bowl. Qi Yun naturally took the bowl and served her soup.

Ye Jiao watched eagerly: "I don't want mushrooms, I want meat."

Qi Yun immediately served her a chicken leg and ladled hot soup, placing the full bowl in front of Ye Jiao.

This chicken soup had been stewing all morning. The meat was extremely tender, easily torn off with chopstick tips.

In front of Ye Jiao was a small dish of dipping sauce. Dipping the white chicken meat in it and eating, her mouth filled with fragrance.

Little Ginseng drank some warm soup and exhaled softly.

After eating more chicken, Ye Jiao seemed to remember something: "Husband, you didn't stew Little Black, did you?"

Qi Yun's chopsticks paused as he looked at Ye Jiao and said gently: "Are you afraid I stewed it?"

"Not really, it's just that Little Su just finished sewing clothes for it." Ye Jiao spoke while drinking more chicken soup.

So fragrant.

Qi Yun smiled: "Don't worry. I'm still hoping it will work harder and grow its tail feathers back completely."

Ye Jiao also curved her lips: "Yes, it looked better when it wasn't bald."

Qi Yun really wanted to tell her it was because Ye Jiao had been kicking the shuttlecock for so long that the feathers on it were falling off. He planned to pluck a few more after Little Black regrew its feathers.

But looking at Ye Jiao, Qi Yun swallowed this thought.

He served her some osmanthus honey lotus root: "It's gotten much colder these days. Drinking some chicken soup for nourishment is good."

Ye Jiao blinked and nodded with a smile.

Actually, Little Ginseng felt that all these things combined couldn't compare to her own nourishing effects.

But the chicken soup was so delicious and the chicken meat so tasty, of course she had to eat when she could!

Qi Yun also served himself soup. While eating, they would chat.

Silent eating and sleeping was for use outside. Behind closed doors in daily life, being truly silent would be too cold.

Qi Yun had lived enough cold days before. Now that he was a man with a wife, he naturally wanted to talk when there was something to say. No one could restrict him.

After eating almost enough, Qi Yun remembered something: "Manager Dong brought something today."

He was referring to the wild ginseng root Manager Dong had brought.

This ginseng looked extremely good, otherwise Manager Dong wouldn't have eagerly brought it to Qi Yun after obtaining it.

Qi Yun knew he was trying to curry favor and didn't refuse, accepting it instead.

As for why Manager Dong came at this time, besides next year's medicine garden expansion, it was probably because Manager Dong wanted to see with his own eyes whether Qi Yun's health was still good.

Thinking of this, Qi Yun lowered his eyes slightly.

Last time when Liu Shi mistakenly thought Qi Ming had injured his arm, she hurriedly had someone fetch a doctor. The person sent was also anxious and just shouted that a young master was injured, without specifying which young master.

Doctor Li usually took care of Qi Yun's health. Outsiders seeing this would only say Qi Yun had fallen ill again.

This wasn't news anymore. After all, Qi Yun had been drinking medicine like water for years. Especially in winter, he had episodes every New Year. The family was used to it, and outsiders should find it unremarkable too.

But somehow this time the news got exaggerated, changing from "Second Young Master Qi fell ill again" to "Second Young Master Qi is dying"...

The rumors spread as if people had seen it firsthand.

Though Qi Yun rarely went out and others kept it from him, he naturally had his own channels for information.

He had no intention of clarifying and was too lazy to care, but hadn't expected it would frighten his managers.

Today's meeting with Manager Dong and accepting his gift could be considered reassuring him.

But Qi Yun never liked mentioning outside matters that would worry Ye Jiao. He just smiled: "Manager Dong brought a wild ginseng root with excellent quality. I'll find time to stew it for you."

Qi Yun meant well, but hearing these words, Ye Jiao got a mouthful of chicken soup stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down, choking her into several coughs!

The man was startled and quickly put down his chopsticks to help her breathe.

Ye Jiao covered her mouth with her handkerchief, leaning on Qi Yun's shoulder with somewhat bewildered eyes.

Stew ginseng for me to eat...

I'm supposed to eat myself?

Ye Jiao suddenly felt confused, grabbing Qi Yun's wrist: "I don't want ginseng soup, and you don't need to drink that either."

She wouldn't eat it because there was no need. She wouldn't let Qi Yun drink it because Ye Jiao felt, could any ginseng compare to nourishment from a thousand-year ginseng spirit's essence?

Her husband already had her, why look for other ginseng!

And listen to that name, wild ginseng... it didn't sound like ginseng from a good family!

Ye Jiao knew she was being unreasonable, but she still insisted.

But Qi Yun didn't ask for Ye Jiao's reasons. In his heart, whatever his wife didn't like shouldn't be done. He immediately replied: "Alright, I'll just put it away."

But Ye Jiao looked up at him, blinking: "Do you want to drink it?"

Qi Yun smiled: "Not really... mmm."

Before he could finish, Ye Jiao straightened up slightly, put her hands on his chest, looked up, and precisely bit Qi Yun's mouth.

Her soft tongue swept across the man's teeth. Qi Yun could faintly taste the light osmanthus flavor in the woman's mouth.

But before he could react, Ye Jiao had already released him.

Little Ginseng sat up straight, picked up her chopsticks again, and smiled at him: "There, you've drunk it now." As if for emphasis, she added: "From now on, you're not allowed to drink other ginseng soup."

Qi Yun held his chopsticks, staring at Ye Jiao for a long time without understanding why she had kissed him.

But Second Young Master Qi soon felt at peace, deciding to store away that wild ginseng root.

Whether to eat it or not was no longer important. After all, what his Jiao Niang gave tasted much better than ginseng soup.