Chapter 6: On the Path to Success

Chapter 6: On the Path to Success

Sun's mind tightened.

The swollen hand of her youngest son yesterday...

She must not let this little vixen stay in the Chen household!

The older one was a fox spirit, bewitching her man!

And the younger one was also a fox spirit, bewitching her son!

"Xianjin came to Xuanzhou as a refugee, saying that everyone in her family had died, so there should be no one left to take care of Jinjie..." Sun probed, "Jinjie's situation is a bit awkward. With He Xiaoniang dead, she has even less reason to stay in the Chen household. Should we send someone to look for her family again?"

"It wouldn't hurt to search once more."

Old Lady Qu sighed, "The chances of finding them are slim. It's been nine years. If there were still family members alive, they wouldn't have allowed the main wife and the bloodline of the clan to wander outside. We need to have a backup plan."

Sun curled her lips, "Mother is right. Jinjie came of age last year, and I took care of every stitch for her. Although their identities are awkward, our Chen family raised her well. You even allowed her to learn to read and embroider..."

She must drive out this little vixen.

Sun's eyes flickered, "When Third Master took He Xiaoniang, he conveniently registered both of their names under the Chen household... A girl can't be kept forever, and we're at least her elders. Mother, do you think we should add a dowry and marry her off?"

"She just lost her mother! She needs to observe three years of mourning! Don't create a scandal where the Chen household forces a girl in mourning to marry!"

Old Lady Qu reprimanded Sun, "Don't disgrace the Chen household anymore! The eldest son just passed away; which papermaker in Xuanzhou isn't watching us for any missteps? It's just a young girl; how much could she possibly consume in a month? Give her a good three years of mourning, and when the people of Xuanzhou City find out, they'll only praise us for our righteousness!"

Three years!

Sun clicked her tongue!

Wasn't that like putting a piece of fatty meat in front of Fourth Son?

Could he resist biting it?!

It would be hard, wouldn't it?

Sun remembered her fourth son's lust for He Xianjin and couldn't help but feel anxious. She looked at Old Lady Qu twice before hesitantly speaking, "I think it's better to send her away as soon as possible..."

"He Xiaoniang was well-educated, and Jinjie is no less talented. Our Fourth Son, in his youthful vigor, was bewitched by her and became infatuated! How... how can he concentrate on his studies now?"

Old Lady Qu hadn't considered this aspect.

Erniang Qu, however, sized up Sun.

Forget it.

Who knows who bewitched whom...

Sun didn't hear any opposition from Old Lady Qu, so she sat up straighter and spoke with urgency, "Look at how one He Xiaoniang has already caused unrest in our third branch. Her daughter truly can't be kept! This is what I'm thinking: it's rare for anyone to complete three years of mourning in the countryside. We can say it was He Xiaoniang's dying wish to marry off her daughter sooner. Once Jinjie completes one year of mourning, we can give her ten taels as a dowry and marry her off."

Old Lady Qu showed no expression, "You've already made your decision."

She then gestured for Sun to continue.

"Jinjie is now without parents or close relatives, making it difficult to arrange a marriage. Matching her with one of our household managers or accountants seems reasonable."

Sun had long thought about how to deal with He Xianjin.

If she really had to keep her, she'd feel uncomfortable!

Aside from the real silver spent, seeing He Xianjin's face in front of her every day made her lose her appetite for two bowls of rice!

"The accountant Mr. Nian at our mulberry bark paper workshop in the eastern part of the city is quite decent."

"He's a scholar. Now that his family can't afford to support him, he's come out to work while continuing his studies—our Jinjie might become the wife of a juren if she's lucky!"

Old Lady Qu frowned, "I remember that Mr. Nian is not young, right? Does he have a main wife in the countryside?"

Sun hurriedly waved her hands, "No, no! She just died!"

Erniang Qu: ...

"This is perfect!" Sun was enthusiastic, "His original wife was virtuous, working tirelessly on embroidery to support Mr. Nian's studies. She worked herself into a consumptive ghost, her body weak and without leaving any children. Our Jinjie will immediately take charge upon marrying him! If she bears a son, what difference would there be from the original wife?"

Old Lady Qu's expression was somewhat subtle.

Perfect... in what way?

Perfect because this man is a blood-sucking leech?

Sun glanced at Old Lady Qu and quickly added, "Better yet, Mr. Nian has also recently lost his wife and needs to observe mourning. We can say that this marriage was hastily arranged before He Xiaoniang's death. We'll first go through the six rites at the government office, then prepare Jinjie for marriage at an estate outside the city."

Sun clenched her teeth and said decisively, "In the future, I will definitely discipline Fourth Son well, manage my children properly, and take good care of the third branch. I won't argue with Third Master anymore!"

Nothing else moved Old Lady Qu.

But "disciplining Fourth Son well" and "taking good care of the third branch" did move her.

If Sun could really tighten her resolve and muster the energy to be a mother and wife, it would truly be a blessing!

Old Lady Qu's expression wavered slightly.

Sun struck while the iron was hot, "Fourth Son just passed the child scholar examination. We don't dare compare him to Jinlin Lang from Eldest Uncle's family, but among scholars, Fourth Son can be considered diligent. When he smoothly passes the provincial examination next year, the brothers can support each other's advancement. Then, you, Elderly Lady, will truly shine!"

This touched Old Lady Qu's heart.

Nothing could obstruct the men from studying.

After a long pause, Old Lady Qu sighed gently, "We'll do as you say—give Jin'er a heads-up and explain to her that it's not our family that doesn't want her to observe mourning. It's just that her mother's last wish was for her to find a home sooner rather than later. It would be best if she could consider marriage prospects of her own age. If she likes them, great; if not, we'll keep looking."

It doesn't matter!

The Chen family has three shops and four workshops, with plenty of stewards and accountants!

Lady Sun, relieved of a major concern, looked elated. "Good! Good! I'll tell her about this after she observes a few more days of mourning!"

Lady Sun rushed out after bidding her respects in haste.

Qu Erniang refilled Old Lady Qu's teapot with hot water. "...Compared to a husband tethered in the stables, a biological son is indeed more important."

Chen Lao San was bound in the stables, yet Lady Sun didn't ask a single word or show any concern.

Whether it was due to foolishness or genuine indifference in front of her mother-in-law, it was hard to tell.

Old Lady Qu's hands were cold, so she warmed them with the hot water. "Fools have their own blessings. The eldest has been smart since he was young, look—"

Her high hopes for her eldest son were dashed when she received news of his death half a month ago. She had held on until now, her throat choking with emotion. "I used to hope for his advancement, for him to become an official, to rise to prominence and enter the Imperial Council... When I saw his corpse two days ago, I'd rather he had been a fool, a simpleton, as long as he could have lived, healthy and safe..."

Qu Erniang wanted to offer further consolation but saw Old Lady Qu take a deep breath, wave her hand, and her tone returned to normal. "...The second son is honest but lacks wit, barely managing to maintain what we have; as for the third..."

Even mentioning that wretched child brings bad luck.

Tsk.

"I can only hope that Jianfang studies diligently and passes the imperial examinations at the end of three years. The second branch should focus on business and use money to pave a bright future for Jianfang. Only then can our Chen family continue to prosper and flourish."