Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 80

From the Qi family to the mountain retreat was still quite a journey.

Originally the family had only one horse carriage and one ox cart, but later Qi Yun acquired two more, prepared for any need.

Usually, carriages were easy to buy, but the horses and oxen to pull them were not easy to obtain.

Ordinary families treasured even one ox, since one ox was worth five strong laborers. Naturally they carefully tended it, reluctant to use it for pulling carriages. Horses were even more precious. Even cart horses, though inferior to fine steeds, still required good fodder and constant care.

But the Qi family was different from common people. Originally wealthy, with special places for raising horses and oxen, their life had improved even more now, so they could afford to buy and maintain more horses.

Today when departing, they used two horse carriages and two ox carts. Though not deliberately ostentatious, even using subdued fabric for the carriages, they still attracted considerable attention.

Saying they weren't envious would be false, but it was only envy.

Many of these people had also received Qi family favors, either renting their farmland or working in Qi family shops. The Qi family was their employer, so seeing the Qi family's prosperity, though they felt envious, they were still happy for the Qi family.

When the employer did well, those depending on the Qi family for their livelihood could live better lives.

Fang Li, as the medicine shop manager, had also visited the Qi family that morning and naturally witnessed their impressive departure. Returning home, he described it all to Dong Shi.

Dong Shi had long recovered her health and looked even better than during pregnancy. Hearing Fang Li's words, she couldn't help laughing: "Enough, enough. Every time you return from the employer's place, you spend time praising them. I never noticed before how eloquent you could be."

Fang Li coughed lightly, responding seriously: "My words aren't false. The employer truly understands management, one in ten thousand."

Hearing this, Dong Shi also nodded, her voice somewhat emotional: "True. We've followed the employer these years, and the employer's situation has indeed improved constantly. We've seen Second Young Master's excellence, but besides Second Young Master, they also have First Young Master's respectability and Third Young Master's scholarly success. The employer's future probably holds great fortune."

Fang Li also nodded, but thought more deeply than Dong Shi.

Currently the court encouraged merchant families, giving merchants the best benefits in history. But the highest status undoubtedly still belonged to imperial relatives and scholarly literati.

First Young Master Qi could maintain the family business, Second Young Master Qi could become wealthy beyond measure, and Third Young Master Qi could excel in imperial examinations. These three brothers had chosen three paths but all walked them well.

Moreover, in Fang Li's view, they could support each other in the future, complementing each other. The Qi family's future was far more than just local wealth.

Thinking this, Fang Li couldn't help saying: "By calculation, our future fortune probably depends on Second Young Master. Second Young Master's great talent truly cannot be matched by ordinary people."

Dong Shi tightened her hold on Hu Zi in her arms, rocking him to sleep while smiling at Fang Li: "Enough. Saying these nice things to me is useless. You should find time to tell the employer directly. After all, constantly praising him behind his back when he can't hear is wasted praise."

"Wife, every word I speak comes from my heart. Don't lump me together with those fawning opportunists." Fang Li's expression grew serious.

This look might fool others but couldn't fool Dong Shi.

She still smiled sweetly, saying to her always-serious husband: "Of course I know. My husband is the most upright, saying whatever he thinks, direct and never speaking flattering words, right?"

Fang Li nodded, feeling gratified that his wife understood him.

Dong Shi rocked Hu Zi again, still smiling at him: "Then tell me, do you love me or not?"

One sentence made Fang Li's face flush red.

Though initially he'd married Dong Shi due to parental arrangement and matchmaker introduction, meeting for the first time on their wedding night, the moment Dong Shi smiled brightly at him, the always single-minded honest boy Fang Li was completely captivated.

Fang Li was honest and upright, while Dong Shi was lively and cheerful. Moreover, Dong Shi knew how to be soft and coaxing, making her husband dizzy with affection.

This was such a case. Fang Li could never speak sweet words, and Dong Shi never pressured him, only praising his directness and straightforwardness. But now asking about his sore spot, you'd better speak honestly.

Fang Li's feelings were naturally known to Dong Shi, but she wanted to hear him say it.

Sure enough, despite his red face, Fang Li answered honestly: "I naturally love my wife, love you desperately."

Dong Shi liked this answer. Not caring whether this sweet word was extracted by her, she moved over and nestled into Fang Li's embrace.

Her husband was thin-skinned, and she wouldn't really cling like Jiao Niang and her husband did. But now that Fang Li could hold her with a red face without backing away was already great progress. Dong Shi thought: take it slowly, she had plenty of time.

But now that her health was mostly recovered and her son Hu Zi was stable, when Jiao Niang returned from the mountain retreat, she should visit with Hu Zi.

The Ye Jiao being thought of by Dong Shi was currently sitting in a horse carriage holding Xu Bao, but sharing the carriage not with Qi Yun but with Liu Shi.

Since Xu Bao's birth, he'd been raised in Qi Yun and Ye Jiao's courtyard. Even when Nanny Liu came to help, she came to their courtyard, never taking the child to Liu Shi.

Liu Shi naturally wanted to see her grandson, but she always remembered that her second son had poor health from birth. Whether it was something brought from the womb or poor care after birth, Liu Shi was never certain.

Though she rationally knew Second Young Master Qi's poor health wasn't due to inadequate care, Liu Shi's heart always carried this burden.

Now that Xu Bao was born, Liu Shi was extremely nervous. Not only did she have Ye Jiao do an extra ten days of confinement, she also had Xu Bao well cared for, even sending Nanny Liu to watch carefully, allowing no mistakes.

But she rarely saw Xu Bao herself. Previously Ye Jiao had thought that since Xu Bao was healthy and it wasn't the cold of winter, bringing him over wouldn't matter. But Liu Shi wouldn't let her, just having her stay in the room and rest.

Now that they'd left the Qi family, Qi Yun and Ye Jiao calculated that Liu Shi probably missed her grandson. So they had Ye Jiao ride with Liu Shi, Xu Bao accompanying them, while Qi Yun took another horse carriage.

This fulfilled their filial intention.

Indeed, from the moment Liu Shi saw Xu Bao in the carriage, she held him and wouldn't let go, her face never losing its smile.

Xu Bao also wasn't shy with strangers. With slight coaxing he'd giggle, his eyes following movements, even using his soft little hands to grasp Liu Shi's fingers. The chubby little hands had little strength, just holding loosely, but made Liu Shi's eyes crinkle with joy.

She held Xu Bao, examining him from all angles, then nodded: "He's grown truly well. I noticed before he looked exactly like Second Son as a baby. Now that he's developed more, he's practically cast from the same mold as Second Son's childhood, just with these eyes like Jiao Niang's, clean and bright like two pools of water."

Nanny Liu had always followed Liu Shi and naturally remembered Qi Yun's childhood appearance, nodding along: "Exactly alike, just more cheerful than Second Young Master was as a baby."

As soon as she finished speaking, Nanny Liu quickly closed her mouth, realizing she'd touched on Liu Shi's painful memories.

Feeling regretful, probably because Second Young Master had been so well recently, with good health and family prosperity, she'd forgotten that not long ago her Second Young Master had been someone dancing at death's door.

Hearing this, Liu Shi indeed sighed: "Second Son suffered as a child and wasn't this plump." But she quickly smiled again: "Now it's better. Second Son is well, and Xu Bao is well too. Look how round this face is, obviously adorable at first sight."

Seeing Liu Shi wasn't angry, Nanny Liu breathed relief. When hearing Liu Shi tell her to go aside and make tea, she naturally didn't dare say another word.

Making tea in a carriage was inherently uncomfortable. Though they were on a main road with smooth ground and the carriage was particularly stable, making tea still required holding the teapot to prevent spilling. Liu Shi was giving her a small punishment as a warning not to speak carelessly again. Nanny Liu understood and accepted the penalty.

Ye Jiao didn't notice what Liu Shi was doing. Her eyes kept circling around Xu Bao.

Speaking of maternal love, Little Ginseng had only recently become human, so having her suddenly burst with passionate affection was rather unrealistic.

But Xu Bao was an adorable child, and Ye Jiao had spent confinement with him, shut in a room together for over a month. Just from this "shared hardship," she felt extra affection for Xu Bao.

Moreover, she'd heard Nanny Liu say that ordinary families' children either cried or fussed constantly, never letting people sleep well at night. But Xu Bao always matched her rhythm: sleeping when he should sleep, eating when he should eat. Perhaps because Ye Jiao nursed him well, the little one grew quickly but never troubled or tormented anyone, naturally earning more affection.

Xu Bao probably didn't know that a large part of his mother's boundless love came from this reason.

At this age, children were particularly hungry, needing to be fed several times daily. Having just been fed, Xu Bao was currently satisfied and cheerful, his eyes also turning here and there.

Xu Bao had always drunk only Ye Jiao's milk, growing fair and clean with chubby flesh. Healthy children were comfortable, so they loved to laugh, looking delightful.

Ye Jiao reached out to poke the little one's cheek, then Xu Bao turned his head and latched onto her fingertip to suckle, making her ticklish and causing Little Ginseng to laugh too.

Just then, someone knocked on the carriage.

Ye Jiao lifted the curtain and saw it was Tie Zi outside.

Tie Zi should have been with Qi Yun in another carriage today.

Before Tie Zi could speak, Ye Jiao's expression changed: "Is something wrong with my husband?" Speaking thus, she withdrew her hand from Xu Bao and grabbed the carriage frame, about to get down and look.

Seeing her anxiety, Tie Zi quickly said: "No, no, Second Young Mistress, don't worry. Second Young Master is perfectly fine." Then Tie Zi raised the basket in his hand and passed it in: "Second Young Master sent me to bring something to Second Young Mistress."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao learned Qi Yun was safe and relaxed somewhat.

Actually, she normally wasn't this nervous, but today riding separately from Qi Yun added unnecessary worry.

Ye Jiao's face showed a gentle smile as she took the basket inside. Opening the cloth covering it, she saw a plate of red date cakes inside.

Tie Zi smiled: "Second Young Master bought these this morning. He said Second Young Mistress liked them before and worried Second Young Mistress might be hungry, so he prepared them. He just forgot to have Second Young Mistress bring them and remembered now, so he had me deliver them."

Hearing this, Liu Shi couldn't help smiling: "Second Son is so thoughtful. This red date cake smells like it's from Feng Sheng Zhai. Usually red date cakes only taste this way from the very first batch of the day. He remembered this for you, truly considerate."

Ye Jiao first gave a piece to Liu Shi, then took one for herself.

Biting gently, the red date cake melted between her lips and teeth, sweet fragrance spreading, making her smile with squinted eyes.

When Tie Zi returned with the basket, it was already empty.

Qi Yun in the carriage asked: "Did Jiao Niang like them?"

"Second Young Mistress said she loved eating them all."

All?

Qi Yun wasn't stingy. These pastries were meant for Ye Jiao and his mother to share, and sharing was good. But the words he wanted to hear weren't "everyone loved them."

He knew he was being rather unreasonable now, but for Qi Yun, he was used to being together with Ye Jiao. Usually when going out, they were always together.

Now Qi Yun had been alone in the carriage for nearly an hour, finding it particularly difficult and somewhat inexplicably lonely. Sending pastries was just wanting to hear Ye Jiao send back some affectionate words, nothing more.

Not hearing them now, Qi Yun inevitably felt disappointed.

But just then, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Qi Yun was about to ask what happened when he saw the curtain lifted and a figure in apricot-colored round-collar diagonal-front jacket slip inside, then quickly close the curtain.

Qi Yun was stunned. When she smiled at him, he murmured: "Jiao Niang, you... how did you come here?"

This carriage's interior was smaller than the one Ye Jiao had been riding, making it difficult even to sit up. But Ye Jiao was agile, scooting over to Qi Yun's side and taking his hand to wrap around herself. When the carriage resumed moving, she smiled sweetly: "The red date cakes were delicious. I came to thank my husband."