Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Perhaps Li Ai's stumble was simply too comical, or perhaps the group of high-ranking officials had no other forms of entertainment and found this incident particularly amusing. As a result, the story was shared with relish throughout the night, not only failing to fade from memory but actually turning into a jest at Li Ai's expense.

Especially among Li Ai's personal guards, when he went to the general's mansion, they couldn't help but discuss it openly, regardless of the surrounding spectators.

"Boss, don't listen to the nonsense outside. What's wrong with kneeling for a moment? That's not being henpecked; that's called loving your wife."

"Who doesn't have to give in to their spouse?"

"Indeed, our leader, who fearlessly confronts wolves and tigers with his fists and kicks, would never be afraid of his wife. It's just a matter of kneeling, isn't it?"

...

Observing the amused expressions around him, a corner of Li Ai's lip twitched beneath his beard. He waved his hand, clearly irritated. "Off with you, you know nothing! My sister-in-law's father was a top scholar, so she comes from a genuine scholarly family, a true lady of noble upbringing. She is well-versed in literature and has a refined understanding. You'd gain much by listening to her advice."

Uh! A daughter of a top scholar? The crowd instantly lost their gossiping enthusiasm. What was there to say about a daughter from a family of scholars? Rumor had it that they were so delicate they would pant after taking a single step and spoke as softly as a mosquito's hum, always on the verge of tears. They sounded incredibly dull.

Satisfied with everyone's reaction, Li Ai felt vindicated. The title of a lady from a scholarly family carried weight, and now, he doubted anyone would dare to make light of the situation again.

Then Li Ai experienced firsthand the saying that life is full of pitfalls – you escape one, only to encounter an even bigger one.

Words spoken in the morning were contradicted by actions in the afternoon.

Inspector General Yang, accompanied by his personal guards, delivered the provisions and naturally would not turn back immediately. They needed time to rest and catch their breath, didn't they?

In their leisure, gossip naturally ensued. Don't assume that only women were prone to gossip – men were equally adept at spinning tales and exaggerating stories.

Moreover, those from the capital adhered to the principle that good news stays local while scandals spread far and wide. Meng Die's profitable trade and the Empress Dowager's praise for her mushroom cultivation, along with the generous rewards she received, were matters for private envy. Discussing them openly was taboo. If one had to talk, it should be about more sensational topics, like her tantrum at the Chen residence.

"Even if you were to meet Yama, the King of Hell, this instant, I'd dare to overturn your coffin lid." By the afternoon, these words had not only spread throughout every corner of Akso City but also reached the ears of the hundreds of thousands of troops stationed outside. Even the mice in their burrows might have squeaked in agreement.

Many people declared that they had never seen such a bold woman, even in rural areas. Combined with Li Ai's inexplicable kneeling last night, the gossip intensified, and the tone of the conversation took a turn for the worse.

Li Ai's kneeling was an unexpected act, and people simply found it amusing, teasing him mostly out of jest. But with Meng Die's outburst, the narrative shifted to Meng Die being too headstrong, possibly domineering over Li Ai in the future, making Li Ai a genuine "asthmatic" dominated by his wife. There was now an element of mockery involved.

Fan Hong was worried and eager to defend Meng Die, yet he feared that his explanation might be perceived as an excuse by Li Ai, who was already upset.

In fact, Fan Hong needn't have worried so much. Despite the gossip turning from jest to ridicule, Li Ai remained calm and unbothered. He was more curious about what had actually transpired. Fortunately, Manager Zheng was still present, and Li Ai could confidently seek clarification from him.

Manager Zheng, naturally, had also heard the gossip and wore a grim expression. When Li Ai inquired, he promptly narrated the entire sequence of events, concluding with a sigh, "Madam Elder and Madam both praised Second Lady for her wisdom and decisiveness. She realized something was amiss with the Chen family and immediately sent someone to investigate. That's how we avoided being manipulated by those two venomous women from the Chens. If not, our young miss would have suffered whether it was through divorce or resolving the issue."

Upon hearing the entire story, Li Ai felt a surge of anger. His voice dropped three octaves lower as he asked, "And what about that Chen Second Son now? Has he learned his lesson?"

Manager Zheng replied, "Second Master can rest assured. He received a sound beating from Eldest Master and Third Master. Now, he is behaving properly, diligently studying, and has become an example of reform in the capital. Many families with wayward sons are even seeking advice from Mister Chen on how to educate their children. Our young miss is doing well too. She shares household responsibilities with her sister-in-law, and those two toxic women now serve under her."

Li Ai let out a cold snort, his expression softening slightly. "He got off easy."

Far away, Chen Zhining sneezed violently, feeling a chill despite it almost being summer.

Li Ai said, "Fetch those two boxes of dried fish, but don't bring them all. Leave half of each."

"Yes, sir." Manager Zheng didn't inquire further and went to the back to ask Fan Hong for the dried fish.

The battles hadn't been intense these few days, which was precisely why everyone had the leisure to engage in idle chatter and gossip. However, this only applied to the soldiers. As leaders, they still needed to convene meetings to formulate the next battle strategy.

Li Ai glanced at the sky. The general's residence had just notified them of a meeting, and it was now the perfect time to head over.

"Second Master, they're here."

Li Ai nodded, tucked the two boxes under his arm, and strolled leisurely towards the Commander's residence, attracting various gazes along the way, all of which he disregarded.

The main hall of the Commander's mansion was bustling with activity. Marquis Yongwei, the Supreme Commander, sat in the master seat, while other generals were either seated or standing, whispering to each other, or even engaged in arm wrestling. One might mistake the place for a labor marketplace.

Upon Li Ai's arrival, the noise in the room instantly decreased by a few decibels, and everyone's attention was partially diverted to him. They all wore amused smiles on their faces.

Having worked together for two or three years, nobody was unaware of Li Ai's temperament. Once he made up his mind, not even nine oxen could drag him back; he was a man of his word, unyielding. With Meng being so fierce, wouldn't their lives together be filled with constant squabbles?

Commander Hong said, "Changfeng, let me tell you, women are like cats - they may roar loudly, but in reality, it's just a show of force. A little scare will have them behaving obediently."

Tudu Si: "Indeed, all tough on outsiders but soft on our own. That's the way it is."

"You're looking down on who? Does Changfeng County fear a woman?"

"Can't you speak properly? What do you mean by 'fear'? Are we the same as women? Can we even engage in a contest with her?"

"One would think you could match up to her if you tried. Be careful, or your coffin lid might be lifted by others."

Crunch, Li Ai tossed the small dried fish into his mouth, savoring it deeply.

Tudu Si: "Well done, Changfeng. We're brainstorming ideas for you while you sit there enjoying the show and snacking. You're quite the... " A small dried fish was suddenly thrown into his mouth, silencing the rest of his complaint.

"Alright, alright, what are you all blabbering about? It's just a woman. If she's good, then there's nothing to say; if not, let her stay at home and bear a child. Can she really run away thousands of miles? You all are overthinking this. What are you two eating? Is it tasty?"

"Easy pickings!" Tudu Si mumbled with the small fish in his mouth, but his friend understood him anyway.

"Dried fish." Li Ai generously shared two with his companion and distributed two more to everyone in the room.

Each small fish was only three inches long, and the men in the room were rough fellows who typically ate from large bowls. There was no way they would savor it bite by bite. As soon as they got their hands on the fish, they tossed one into their mouths, chewed hastily, and exclaimed, "Ah! Delicious, must swallow quickly." Then, the second dried fish was already in their mouths. "Huh? A different flavor, also delicious."

Only then did I realize that the dried fish were all gone.

"How can there only be two? They're not even enough to fill a tooth gap! Bring more, bring more!"

"Exactly, just two? Are you trying to fend off a beggar?"

Li Ai casually placed the box on a table and clapped his hands. "That's it."

All eyes fell onto the exquisite and exceptionally clean box. "How could it be empty already?"

Li Ai scoffed. "These are tiny dried fish made from rare seafood from the sea. I only managed to obtain these two small boxes; do you think they're as common as cabbage, available in abundance?"

No wonder they tasted so delightful! The group felt somewhat disappointed.

Tú Dūsi swallowed the delicate fish with great care. "That box is far from small. It can't possibly be empty after giving each of us just two. Perhaps he's hidden them on his person."

Their eyes gleamed with sudden realization. They swarmed around Li Ai, playfully teasing and jostling him.

Marquis Yongwei, seated at the commander's position, rubbed his forehead. Well, the assembly of workers had instantly transformed into a scene of playful chaos.

The grain supervisors rested in AkSu city for three days before setting out early on the fourth morning, accompanied by the caravans that had accompanied them initially. It was not appropriate to leave a large number of unrelated individuals behind in the frontlines.

On their return journey, Fan Hong invited the grain supervisors for another feast, something they couldn't indulge in during their mission due to official duties. Now, it didn't matter anymore.

The assignment had been a rather pleasant one for Supervisor Yang. Lady Two of the Marquis Estate was truly wealthy and generous; just look at how he had gained weight from all the good food on this trip. Being a grain supervisor was no longer a backbreaking task.

Fan Hong and Manager Zheng returned to the capital's Marquis Estate and promptly reported to their respective masters.

Meng Die was having lunch and chatting leisurely to aid digestion.

"Nanny Fan, these are the indentures for the people we've recently acquired," Nanny Fan retrieved a stack of documents from her sleeve.

Meng Die took the contracts and asked, "So many?"

Nanny Fan replied, "This year, there has been little rainfall, and many areas in the north have suffered from drought. Families who were already struggling couldn't withstand the disaster. Now, they've had to leave their homes and come to the capital to seek a living."

Meng Die responded, "With the presence of famine-stricken people, there's no need to worry about having too many. If there are those willing to sell themselves and have good character, feel free to purchase them. After all, I have plenty of mountainous land on my estate that would require many hands to clear completely."

"Indeed."

Meng Die: "This year, let's have them plant more chestnut trees beside the existing fruit orchards. If we want to cultivate the truffles, we'll always have a steady supply from there."

Lu Wei: "Second Grandma, I recall reading that truffles can also grow under oak trees."

"Hmm, not really," Xing Huang dismissed the idea promptly. "Sister Lu Wei, truffles that grow under oak trees aren't as delectable as those under chestnut trees. That's why they're also called chestnut mushrooms."

Instead of being annoyed, Lu Wei chuckled. "Only someone with your refined palate could tell the difference. I'd wager that out of a hundred people in the entire city, fewer than one would be able to detect it."

Hulu chimed in, joining in on the jest. "I don't think it's one in a hundred, but perhaps even one in a thousand might not notice the distinction. I couldn't tell the difference between summer and autumn truffles myself."

Nanny Fan also chuckled. "Then I'm even more doomed. They all say that the oyster mushrooms from Second Aunt's mushroom house taste fresher than those picked from the mountains, but I couldn't tell the difference."

Xing Huang: "I have no words."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Mei'er hurried in. "Second Aunt, Manager Fan is back. He's waiting at the second gate."

Meng Die was slightly taken aback. "That was quick."

Nanny Fan hurriedly went out to meet Fan Hong.

Hulu said, "Head Steward Fan is back. He must have seen our Second Master, right?"

Meihong wondered, "I wonder what Second Master looks like."

Xing Huang smiled at Hulu and Meihong. "It's understandable that Xue Qing and I, as newcomers, haven't seen him. But you two were born in this household and still haven't laid eyes on him?"

Meihong explained, "Back then, we didn't have any duties, so we couldn't come to the estate freely. We could only enter during festivals to pay our respects and receive some pocket money, always keeping a safe distance."

Xing Huang: "Eh? You can't enter freely? I thought those housekeepers and their wives used to come in whenever they pleased."

"Husbands change things. Servant girls like us aren't allowed to enter without permission," Hulu whispered. "I've heard that in other mansions, some servant girls exploit this privilege to get close to the masters."

Xing Huang was astounded. Such things happened?

Fan Hong: "This lowly one pays respects to Second Lady."

Meng Die: "Rise quickly and take a seat."

Fan Hong bowed his thanks and replied, "My Lady, I met with Second Master during my visit, and I left everything with him." Pausing here, Fan Hong's face twisted into an awkward expression.

Seeing her husband gritting his teeth, Fan Nanny panicked. "What happened?"

Fan Hong explained, "It was those people who traveled to the capital with us. Before returning, they rested in Aksu City for three days. Instead of resting, they acted like gossiping women, discussing how My Lady visited the Chen family. They didn't even bother to mention the reason behind the visit, only saying that My Lady scolded the two venomous women of the Chen family."

"Disgusting! How dare they talk about our Second Lady like that? Don't they know the filthy deeds those two vixens of the Chen family have committed?" Fan Nanny glared at Fan Hong as she spoke. What was the point of mentioning such matters?

Fan Hong echoed her sentiment, "Indeed. Fortunately, our Second Master is not one to be swayed by idle talk. He even silenced them with your dried fish." Smiling at Xing Huang, he continued, "Your dried fish truly are delicious."

Xing Huang: "Ah? Use dried fish to silence those people?"

Fan Hong: "When they were gossiping about Second Madam in the general's residence, Second Master specially brought over half a box of delicious dried fish. After enjoying such a tasty treat, how could they still remember to speak ill? They wouldn't dare to continue their idle talk, either."

Xing Huang pouted. "They got off easy."

With a smile in her eyes, Fan Mo looked at her husband affectionately. Now she understood why he had brought up this matter; it had to be mentioned. Secretly, she glanced at Meng Die.

Sure enough, there was surprise in Meng Die's eyes. One must understand that for many men, when their family members "cause trouble" and harm their reputation, they usually blame their relatives without question. Even if they later realize their mistake, they would stubbornly refuse to admit it and still mourn the loss of face.

To her surprise, Li Ai turned out to be quite the opposite. Not only did he not care about his reputation, but he actually stood up for her! She didn't mind being gossiped about; after all, she wouldn't lose any money or flesh over it. However, she couldn't deny Li Ai's intention to protect her.

Xing Huang: "When we visit there again in autumn or winter, I'll make more dried fish. Oh, Steward Fan, what does Second Master look like?"

Steward Fan paused: "The conditions there are harsh with strong winds and dryness. Everyone seems weathered. Unlike the well-cared-for young masters in the capital, Second Master is young and grew a beard to appear more mature and steady. It's difficult to describe his exact appearance."

Xing Huang blurted out, "So he's unattractive, then!"

"Meng Die," scolded Meng Die gently, quoting her second senior brother's famous saying, "Thick willows make good brooms, thin willows make fine sieves; who has ever seen an ugly man in this world?"

Xing Huang shrunk her neck in surprise.

"Eh? I thought I just saw someone pass by," said Xue Qing, craning her neck to look towards the courtyard gate.

Meihong also glanced over. "From what I could see, that figure resembled Nurse Zheng."

Hulu commented, "She didn't come in, maybe she was just passing by."

It was impossible for Nurse Zheng to have just been passing by, Meng Die assumed. She must have heard something. However, it didn't matter; Meng Die wouldn't expose her. Instead, she addressed Fan Hong, "You've had a tough journey. Rest well when you get home, take as much time off as you need."

"Madam Xie appreciates your concern."

Indeed, the shadow was Nurse Zheng, who had indeed held back from entering the courtyard upon hearing Meng Die's words.

Madam Ning asked, "Your Second Madam isn't in the yard?"

"Yes, she is," replied Lady Hou, confused. "Then why hasn't she come over?" She had sent Nurse Zheng to summon her.

Nanny Zheng: "Something's off with this conversation."

"Off with this conversation?" Lady Hou was even more confused. What on earth were they talking about?

Nanny Zheng looked dazed. "When I approached, I overheard Second Lady mentioning thick willow baskets for coarse grain and thin willow baskets for fine grain, and how in the world does anyone find an ugly man appealing? I didn't enter and just returned directly."

Madam Ning was equally stunned. Why would she suddenly say such a thing? The two perplexed women didn't notice Nanny Zheng's subtle flinch.

After a while, Madam Ning ventured a puzzled remark, "It seems to be referring to some man?" Discussing an outsider, especially a male, in the inner courtyard was strictly taboo.

Mistress Zheng fell silent, for she agreed with this assessment. She was well aware that it was a grave taboo, hence her decision to stay outside.

Realizing that the situation was veering into unpredictable territory, Manager Zheng felt compelled to speak up, "At this hour, I reckon Manager Fan would still be in the middle of his report."

Mrs. Ning, Mistress Zheng, and the maids in the room all turned their eyes towards Manager Zheng, each of them wearing a puzzled look.

There was no escape from the inevitable, so Manager Zheng steeled herself and said, "Madam, our Second Master has undergone quite a transformation since he arrived there. I didn't even dare to confirm his identity at first."

Mrs. Ning's brows instantly softened. "How could it not be significant? He was only fifteen when he left home, and now he's eighteen. His stature..." Mrs. Ning paused abruptly, gazing at Manager Zheng.

Manager Zheng shrunk his shoulders, "Perhaps it's due to the excessive sand and dryness in the region, or perhaps Second Master has applied some sort of balm on his face – his complexion now appears somewhat darker."

Noticing the fading smile on Madam Ning's lips, Manager Zheng steeled himself to continue, "Second Master has also grown a beard, a bushy one that covers nearly half his face."

The corners of Madam Ning's mouth began to droop.

Manager Zheng stammered, "U-Upon casual observation, he would appear to be around thirty years old."

Madam Ning stood frozen, her eyes wide with astonishment. "What did you say? Repeat that!"

Supervisor Zheng closed his eyes, "Second Master has become much more mature and composed."

Madam Ning pressed her hand against her chest, unable to accept this reality. How could this be? How was it possible? Her once graceful and charming son had turned into a rugged middle-aged man?

If one were to ask Madam Ning about the proudest moments of her life, giving birth to Li Ai would certainly be among them. There was no denying that Li Ai had been exceptionally beautiful since childhood, so much so that people might have believed he was a celestial child sent from the heavens. Dressed in red, he outshone even the cutest paper dolls.

With such an adorable child, who wouldn't adore him? It was a given that everyone in the family loved him. Whenever Madam Ning took Li Ai out, she would receive nothing but compliments. Women clamored to hold the young Li Ai, hoping to someday bear their own little celestial child. Li Ai truly brought great pride to Madam Ning.

Back then, Madam Ning had often daydreamed about what her son would be like when he grew up. Would he be a dashing young man, as graceful as a jade tree in the breeze, just as described in the books?

Manager Zheng shrunk his neck, not daring to utter a sound. As an experienced member of the household, he was well aware of Madam Ning's thoughts and also knew how handsome Li Ai had been in his youth. It was not just the madam; even he found it difficult to accept the transformation of Lord Second into such a rugged man.

"No way," Madam Ning declared, abruptly rising to her feet and pacing around the room. "I recall that Qiyu's family had a particularly moisturizing balm, isn't that right?"

Lianpeng promptly replied, "Madam's memory serves her well. They do have a balm with exceptional hydration. You found it too greasy for summer use, but it was perfect during the driest winter days. I believe it would be highly suitable for Aksu's climate."

"Good." Madam Ning nodded approvingly. "Inform the Qiyu family to produce more of this balm, but don't package it in those delicate small boxes. Instead, use larger containers."

"Ai."

Madam Ning turned her head and glared at Steward Zheng fiercely, "Next time, tell him to shave off his beard for me. What's the point of growing it at his young age?"

"Yes, Madam."

Only then did Madam Ning feel somewhat relieved. She turned to Nurse Zheng and said, "It's impressive that Butterfly doesn't disdain him."

Nurse Zheng replied, "Our Second Lady is quite a remarkable person. As they say, she has a heart as deep as... a valley..."

Madam Ning: "She has mountains in her heart."

Nanny Zheng: "Madam truly understands. With this saying, 'mountains in one's heart,' Second Madam also possesses such depth, so how could she be judged solely by her appearance? Besides, didn't Old Zheng just mention that Second Master is still defending Second Madam? It's certain that Manager Fan's response included this aspect as well."

A smile returned to Madam Ning's face. Her frustration subsided; it wasn't that she, as a mother, was being unreasonable. The disparity was simply too great and too hard to accept.