The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 842 - 798: The Fish Is in the Kitchen, Steam It

It was evident that everyone was after that seventy percent tax reduction.

The rumors intensified, leaving the merchant wives who had not been affected trembling with fear.

Three days later, a new policy was announced.

The clause about granting a seventy percent tax reduction for merchants through marriage remained unchanged, but the stipulations now required it to be a first marriage and to have lasted for three years before claiming the benefit. The "lifetime exemption" was abolished, and it changed to remain effective only during the lifetime of the legitimate wife (of the Jiuli Clan). If divorced, separated, or deceased during this period, the tax exemption privilege would be revoked.

...

Upon hearing this, the Eldest Princess Qing Shui was furious and fell gravely ill, while Feng Chuan rushed to the Vice Minister Li Mansion to have a heated argument with his father-in-law. In return, Vice Minister Li, following the example of Xu Jia’s divorce, handed Feng Chuan a divorce letter and had him thrown out.

The situation had reached a point where it was evident that Xu Shu had nothing to do with it.

He had been detained for several days, looking disheveled with a stubble-covered chin. After leaving the Feng family, he headed straight to the Western Marquis Mansion.

Mrs. Xu had even instructed the servant to set off two strings of firecrackers at the mansion’s entrance to calm Xu Shu’s nerves before welcoming him in for a feast.

...

Seeing her brother return safely, Xu Jia finally felt at ease. She started going to the market with Mo Xiang to pick out silk threads, intending to make a sword tassel for Yun Huai.

Mo Xiang was hesitant, "The sword of Master Yun is carried close to him. Miss, would it be inappropriate for you to make a tassel for it?"

Xu Jia stood in front of the counter, carefully examining the silk threads presented by the shopkeeper, and replied, "I’ve already promised him. Not making it would be inappropriate. Besides, he helped rescue my brother, so making a sword tassel for him is no big deal."

Though she couldn’t understand why Yun Huai wanted it.

Xu Jia was quite skillful and managed to finish it in almost one night.

To match Yun Huai’s Beidou Sword with its Moon White Sword Sheath, she specifically chose ice blue silk threads to make the tassel, adorned with a piece of mutton fat jade engraved with a cloud scroll pattern.

When she went to find Yun Huai, Xu Jia didn’t bring Mo Xiang. She hesitated outside the main gate for a while before reaching out to knock.

The one who opened the door was Yun Shisan, who was very happy to see Xu Jia, "Miss Xu, you’re here?"

Xu Jia asked, "Is your master in?"

"Master just got back from fishing," Yun Shisan said.

Xu Jia’s mouth twitched slightly, remembering that the last time she sought him out, he had also just returned from fishing.

"Your Master seems to really like eating fish," Xu Jia commented.

"Master only enjoys eating the fish he catches himself," Yun Shisan corrected her with a smile, then invited Xu Jia inside.

Xu Jia followed him inside, spotting Yun Huai sitting on a stone bench under the banana tree, holding a book.

Xu Jia approached him and handed over the sword tassel she made, "I worked on it through the night. Take a look, and if there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, I’ll take it back and fix it immediately."

Yun Huai took the sword tassel with one hand while holding the book with the other, focusing on it for quite a while.

Seeing Yun Shisan go off to help Nanny Ji chop wood, leaving only her and Yun Huai there, Xu Jia sat down opposite him, her thoughts drifting back to that night. "Um, Master Yun, can I discuss something with you?"

Yun Huai responded with a soft "hmm," "Go ahead."

Xu Jia took a deep breath, summoning her courage, "You’ve helped me so many times, and I should repay you. I just wanted to ask, if you want something, can you tell me directly? I’m afraid sometimes I might not realize it in time and end up upsetting you."

She had always heard that a woman’s mind was hard to decipher, but this was the first time she had encountered a man with such a twisting and turning mind. It was truly perplexing.

Hearing this, Yun Huai nodded, his tone utterly calm and natural, "The fish is in the kitchen, and it should be steamed."

Xu Jia: "...What???"