Chapter 023

Chapter 023

At noon during the meal, Tong Sui and Lin Ningfang became the targets of the sarcastic remarks from Lady He and her daughter.

Lady He: "Aman really made a profit. She traded a few wildflowers for a portrait. I’ve lived more than half my life and haven’t even had someone paint me."

Xiao Yuchan: "Who could help it? Mother isn’t pretty enough, and neither am I nor the eldest sister-in-law. Only Second Sister-in-Law could inspire Third Sister-in-Law to paint."

This comment involved all three sisters-in-law.

Liu Chu glanced worriedly at Lin Ningfang, who showed no jealousy toward Tong Sui receiving the painting.

Lin Ningfang still looked indifferent, holding her bowl gracefully as she ate, chewing slowly.

Tong Sui ignored the mother-daughter duo, knowing that responding would only invite more comments.

Xiao Shouyi put down his bowl and glared at his wife and daughter.

Seeing that their remarks were falling flat, Lady He and Xiao Yuchan stopped.

In the afternoon, the Xiao family compound was very quiet except for occasional noise coming from the martial arts training ground in the west.

Xiao Zhen was still sitting by the north door of the main hall, reading. When Old Master Xiao Mu turned around, he noticed his grandson staring into the backyard.

But the next moment, Xiao Zhen sensed Old Master’s presence and put down his book, standing up.

"What were you thinking about?" Xiao Mu stepped into the main hall and asked casually.

Xiao Zhen didn’t hide anything: "We have some leftover wood at home. I want to go to town tomorrow morning and ask Master Wang to make a set of furniture."

Last year, when they returned to the village, they rebuilt their houses and made furniture, becoming well-acquainted with Master Wang, the carpenter in town.

Xiao Mu: "Where will you put it?"

Xiao Zhen: "In our room, for Xiaoman to use while reading. It’s tiring to always read on the bed."

Xiao Mu smiled: "You do care for your wife."

Xiao Zhen: "You said before that liking to read is good, and we should support it if we can."

Xiao Mu nodded: "Yes, go ahead and make it. Make two sets, and give the other one to your Third Younger Brother’s room."

The eldest granddaughter-in-law doesn’t need it, the second granddaughter-in-law likes reading, and the third granddaughter-in-law seems to like painting. We shouldn’t show favoritism.

Xiao Zhen agreed.

Xiao Mu went to the study and returned with a wooden box about two feet long containing a set of writing implements, which he handed to Xiao Zhen. "This has been unused at home. Keeping it is a waste. Have your wife deliver it to the third granddaughter-in-law."

Xiao Zhen opened the box and found two rows of small compartments filled with pigment stones. Although he read a lot, he knew little about painting and could only recognize cinnabar, azurite, realgar, and malachite.

He closed the lid.

Xiao Mu sighed: "It’s a sin. Why didn’t you stop him when the three of you brought Lin Ningfang back?"

Old Master had asked this question when the brothers first brought Lin Ningfang back, expressing a momentary regret without expecting an answer.

Xiao Zhen remained silent.

He had tried to oppose it, but at that time, his Third Younger Brother was like a starving wolf. If it were just him, he might have waited until after bringing Lin Ningfang home to speak up. However, Xiao Zhen and Xiao Ye were also present, both young and hot-blooded men. Even though Xiao Zhen hadn’t looked at Lin Ningfang, his Third Younger Brother feared his brothers might compete with him, so he acted quickly to solidify their marital status.

Brothers or not, beasts raised together still fight over prey, each trying to satisfy themselves first.

For men who had survived six years on the brink of death, women were more stimulating than food.

—

Xiao Zhen took the items to find Tong Sui.

Upon learning that the box contained pigment stones, Tong Sui felt the old master’s care for Lin Ningfang. Perhaps, if Lin Ningfang had shown interest in painting earlier, the old master would have given her the pigment stones sooner.

"Alright, I’ll go now." Tong Sui hid her book, put on her shoes, and went outside.

Xiao Zhen: "I’ll go to town tomorrow to buy some things. Ask the eldest sister-in-law and Mianmian if they need anything."

Tong Sui agreed and left with the items.

Lady He and her daughter had the habit of resting in the afternoon, so the West Court was quiet. Tong Sui walked to the eaves of the northern room in the east wing and called softly inside, "Third Sister-in-Law, are you awake? It’s Second Sister-in-Law."

Lin Ningfang, dressed and lying on the bed, had fallen asleep lightly. Hearing the voice, she woke up.

She sat up with some difficulty, as her body had stiffened from lying still since finishing her painting in the morning. Her wrists, right arm, and back were sore.

Thinking to call Ah Zhen to open the door, she remembered Ah Zhen was napping in the southern room. Lin Ningfang called softly for Tong Sui to wait, quickly combed her hair, and went out to greet Tong Sui.

Seeing the writing implements and box in Tong Sui’s arms, Lin Ningfang was stunned.

Tong Sui, fearing that Lady He and her daughter might see her and cause trouble, quickly slipped inside when the door opened and pushed it shut with her shoulder.

Lin Ningfang: "...Second Sister-in-Law, please come in."

Tong Sui nodded, entered the room, and briefly surveyed it. She noticed that the layout was almost identical to her and Xiao Zhen’s room, except for the absence of her dowry chests. She then placed the items on the bed and explained to Lin Ningfang: "Grandfather sent these. He learned you liked painting because you gave me a portrait."

Lin Ningfang was stunned again.

Tong Sui, fearing she might refuse, opened the box to show her the contents.

The colorful pigment stones sparkled slightly under the afternoon sunlight.

When Xiao Zhen gave her the items, Tong Sui hadn’t opened them. This was the first time she saw what was inside.

She really didn't understand and subconsciously asked Lin Ningfang, "Third Younger Sister, do you know what these stones are? Can these stones really be turned into pigments?"

Meeting her clear, bewildered eyes, Lin Ningfang paused for a moment, then walked to Tong Sui's side. She pointed to the egg-sized rocks one by one, introducing their names. Finally, she pointed to a flat box stored separately and said, "This contains a type of glue. When mixing colors, first dissolve the glue in hot water, then mix it with the ground pigment powder to make it uniform. Only then will the pigment adhere to the paper and avoid flaking off."

Tong Sui felt incredibly impressed. The painter who first thought of this method was truly remarkable.

Lin Ningfang closed the lid and whispered, "This is too precious. I, I can't accept it."

Apart from being Xiao Yan's companion, she had not contributed anything to the Xiao family, so she did not deserve such a gift without earning it.

Tong Sui had already guessed she would say this and persuaded her, "If Third Master gave it to you and you don't want it, then don't take it, and I won't interfere. But this is from Grandfather. He treats us like his own children. Would you really reject his kindness?"

Lin Ningfang suddenly teared up.

Among the men of the Xiao family, the old patriarch was the only one who had earned some goodwill from her, due to his kind act of teaching martial arts to the common people.

The nominal father-in-law, Xiao Shouyi, and younger brother, Xiao She, were just strangers to her. Xiao Zhen and Xiao Ye were people she did not want to face, and Xiao Yan...

Lin Ningfang turned away.

Tong Sui knew she was crying. Thinking about the experiences of this prime minister's daughter, any one of them could bring tears to one's eyes.

Tong Sui thought for a moment and said, "I haven't read as many books as you, so I can't give profound advice. I only know that too many people in nearby villages have died in recent years. I'm lucky to still be alive. Since I'm alive, I should live well. Eat more when there's food; if there's no food, go to the mountains to dig wild vegetables and hunt rabbits. Survive one day at a time, and maybe someday we'll see better times."

"Many villagers share this mindset, but some are old, some are injured, and some are poor and can't afford doctors. Even though they're alive, they suffer from illness. You look fine, so why confine yourself in the house and waste away? If you wait until you're truly sick, it will be too late to regret."

Lin Ningfang remained silent, facing away from her.

Tong Sui: "Think about it. I'm going back to my room to read. See, this is another benefit of being alive—living gives you the chance to do things you couldn't before."

---

Just after leaving Lin Ningfang, Tong Sui regretted it, fearing she might have said something inappropriate that the prime minister's daughter wouldn't appreciate.

But words spoken cannot be taken back, so Tong Sui shook her head and went to find Liu Chu.

Liu Chu smiled and said, "Second Brother is so considerate, but Mianmian and I don't need anything. Tell him not to trouble himself."

Tong Sui feared she was lying and began examining the furnishings in the room.

The main house was an old building, constructed many years ago. The cabinets looked relatively new, likely added when Liu Chu and her husband got married.

Liu Chu pulled on her arm, not allowing her to look around. "We really don't need anything."

Tong Sui pointed to the floor. "Are these your best shoes?"

Liu Chu looked down and saw that the tips of both shoes were worn almost through.

She explained, "I wear them only for doing chores at home. Last year, Second Aunt bought me a new pair for the New Year."

Afraid Tong Sui wouldn't believe her, she fetched the new pair from the cabinet.

Tong Sui felt the inner padding and said, "These are for cold weather. Do you have better shoes for spring and summer than the ones you're wearing?"

Liu Chu: "..."

Tong Sui: "Alright, I'll tell Second Master the truth. Whether he buys them or not is up to him."

Liu Chu tried to stop her but couldn't match Tong Sui's strength. Just as she started to chase after her, she saw Xiao Zhen coming from the middle courtyard and quickly retreated into the room.

Tong Sui and Xiao Zhen went to the east wing, where she reported the two tasks to him.

Xiao Zhen: "There's no need to worry about Third Younger Sister anymore. As for Sister-in-Law's shoes... tomorrow, come with me to town and help her pick some out."

It would be improper for a younger uncle to buy shoes for his widowed sister-in-law.

Before Tong Sui could respond, Xiao Zhen assigned her another task. "Go check on A Fu and Ah Zhen too. They only brought one set of clothes when they came, and everything else was arranged by Second Aunt."

Second Aunt would only give them the oldest clothes.

Tong Sui: "What about Third Younger Sister?"

Xiao Zhen: "Third Brother has bought things for her, so she shouldn't lack anything."

Tong Sui: "I'll still ask Ah Zhen, just to make sure she isn't left out."

---

At dusk, Xiao Yan and his brothers returned, having hunted two wild chickens and a fat rabbit.

Xiao Ye said to Mianmian, "Later, Fourth Uncle will pluck the chicken tails and make you a shuttlecock."

Mianmian laughed happily.

Xiao Yan was listening to Xiao Yuchan talk about Lin Ningfang's painting and excitedly turned to Tong Sui. "Second Sister-in-Law, show us the painting. I haven't seen her paint this."

Tong Sui: "..."

Xiao Zhen sternly said, "If you want to see it, ask Third Younger Sister to paint one for you. Go see it yourself."

Xiao Ye chuckled. "Silly, only Second Brother can see Second Sister-in-Law's paintings."

Xiao She: "Why? We can look at her standing there, can't we?"

Tong Sui: "..."

She glared at both her younger uncles, while Xiao Yan didn't even bother to glare and turned to leave.

Liu Chu followed him with a smile.

Xiao Yan looked at the painting and complained to his elder brother, "It's all Second Brother's fault for being so stingy. If he had just taken it out generously, there would have been no problem." Everyone has seen it already; why can't they see the painting?

Ah Zhen, overhearing this, quietly shot him a glare from behind.