Chapter 035

Chapter 035

After setting up the desk, the couple had one more task to accomplish.

Xiao Zhen took out the satin pouch that Shopkeeper Tao had given him, which was bulging. He unfolded it and looked inside before handing it to Tong Sui.

Tong Sui received it with both hands and glanced inside, seeing a dazzling sight of silver.

They were small ingots of silver. Tong Sui didn't count them but quickly tightened the drawstring of the pouch.

Xiao Zhen: "Each is worth one tael. There should be ten."

Tong Sui secretly marveled.

It might seem easy for the Xiao family to earn ten taels by selling a deer hide or three taels from a wild boar, but this was due to their skills. Her father, who had been hunting since he was seven, hadn't caught a single deer in over thirty years and only once managed to catch a wild boar, breaking his bones and taking three months to recover.

For ordinary farmers, after a year of hard labor, once they deducted their family's living expenses, saving even one tael by the end of the year was cause for celebration. Even raising a pig required careful feeding for a whole year to reach two to three hundred catties, earning about two taels, and if it fell ill, all the effort would be wasted.

In previous years, no one could afford to raise pigs; even if they did, bandits would steal them.

Looking at Lin Ningfang, who earned ten taels in five days by painting, while Shopkeeper Tao seemed embarrassed to pay her.

No wonder scholars were so valued during peaceful times. Passing the imperial exams led to official positions and salaries, and even those who failed could make a decent living selling calligraphy and paintings, far better than farming!

After reflecting on this, Tong Sui flattened the ingots inside the pouch and slipped it into her sleeve, ensuring there were no visible traces. She then said to Xiao Zhen, "I'll take these to Third Younger Brother's wife now."

Xiao Zhen glanced at her a few times and stepped aside to let her pass.

Tong Sui left without looking back.

Arriving at the West Court, she found it quite lively. Lady He and Xiao Yuchan were blocking Xiao She and the table and chairs under the eaves, arguing with Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yuchan pressed her hands against the backrest of the armchair and spoke in a hushed tone to her brother: "Is it more important for Third Sister-in-Law to paint or for Yao Ge Er to study and practice calligraphy? Painting is just a pastime, but studying is serious business. This desk should be in our room."

Xiao Yan: "He doesn't study at all. Mianmian always does homework after school, but Yao Ge Er just eats and plays. I've never seen him practice calligraphy. Besides, if he wants to practice, he can go to the school. We studied there when we were young too."

Xiao Yuchan: "Yao Ge Er is afraid of Grandfather. If you put the desk in our room, I promise he will practice every day."

Lady He also supported her daughter, with one pulling the chair and the other blocking the table, refusing to let Xiao Yan move them.

Xiao She, caught in the middle, looked troubled.

At this moment, Xiao Yan saw Tong Sui and immediately asked, "Second Sister-in-Law, you came just in time. Tell me, wasn't this desk made for Ningfang as per Grandfather's instructions?"

Tong Sui didn't want to engage but still testified for Lin Ningfang: "Grandfather did say it himself."

Xiao Yan turned and shouted toward the martial arts training ground: "Grandfather! Gr—"

Before he could finish, Xiao Yuchan jumped over and covered his mouth.

Xiao Yan grabbed his sister's wrist, half-jokingly and half-threateningly: "Are you still going to fight?"

Xiao Yuchan was furious and felt wronged: "She doesn't even like you, why do you protect her!"

Xiao Yan scoffed: "If she doesn't like me, do you fancy her? Since you've been back, have you washed my clothes or made shoes for me? Other sisters aren't as lazy as you."

Xiao Yuchan: "But I'm still your sister, born from the same mother!"

Xiao Yan glanced at his mother standing nearby and said, "Because you're my sister, I indulge you. If anyone else spoke to me like that, you'd see what happens."

Tong Sui, who had been scolded by him recently, remained silent.

Even Xiao Yuchan, his own sister, feared him when he got angry and ran off in tears.

Xiao Yan then told his mother, "Mother, don't always favor her. She might marry someday, and who would dare take a lazy and gluttonous wife?"

"I'll marry! I won't marry, I'll stay here and bother you forever!" Xiao Yuchan's angry voice came from inside the house.

Lady He glared at her son and went inside to comfort her daughter.

Xiao Yan called Xiao She to help at the martial arts training ground and carried the table and chair to the east wing. Just as he was about to enter, he remembered Tong Sui and glanced at her, guessing, "Second Sister-in-Law, are you here to see Ningfang?"

Tong Sui nodded.

Xiao Yan was about to invite her in when Lin Ningfang hurried out of the house, not even looking at him, and walked quickly to Tong Sui: "I didn't know Second Sister-in-Law was looking for me. My apologies."

Tong Sui smiled: "It's fine, we're family, no need to be so formal."

Given the chaos just now, if she were Lin Ningfang, she would have stayed inside to avoid the commotion.

Seeing the two sisters-in-law getting along well, Xiao Yan pursed his lips and went inside to place the table.

Lin Ningfang led Tong Sui to the south room and asked curiously, "Why did Grandfather suddenly think of giving me a desk?"

Tong Sui hadn't thought about it but guessed, "Maybe because he knew you could paint and there was leftover wood, he decided to do this. I also benefited from it and got a set too."

Lin Ningfang pondered and said, "No, Grandfather already gave me a box of pigments. One gift is enough. Too much favoritism wouldn't be wise."

Tong Sui suddenly thought of Xiao Zhen.

Seeing her distracted, Lin Ningfang realized and laughed, "Second Sister-in-Law likes reading. It must be Second Brother who wanted to get you a desk and chair, and Grandfather included me."

The sisters-in-law had grown closer in recent days, sharing some secrets. The younger sisters had witnessed Sun Dian's pursuit of Liu Chu, Liu Chu knew Lin Ningfang was copying paintings for Shopkeeper Tao, and they both knew Tong Sui had Xiao Zhen's help to read secretly in her room.

Tong Sui blushed at this revelation.

Just as Lin Ningfang was about to tease her further, she heard footsteps approaching the south room door quietly.

Her expression changed.

Tong Sui didn't expect Xiao Yan, a grown man, to actually want to eavesdrop on their conversation. At least when Xiao Zhen forced her to recite "Guanju," only the two of them were present.

After a moment of silence, Lin Ningfang said calmly, "Let's go; I'll see where Third Master has placed the desk."

Xiao Yan, who was hiding outside the door, quickly jumped out and pretended to turn around when the two women came out, saying, "You ladies chat; I'm going to the martial arts training ground."

Lin Ningfang remained indifferent.

The sisters-in-law entered the northern room and kept quiet, making sure that Xiao Yan had truly left before Lin Ningfang apologized, "I'm sorry for your embarrassment, Second Sister-in-Law."

Tong Sui indeed disliked Xiao Yan. This younger brother-in-law was neither as courteous as Xiao Ye nor as straightforward and honest as Xiao She. If she had married Xiao Yan and discovered how harsh he could be, with two nagging mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the yard, Tong Sui might have found it unbearable and would rather sever ties with the Xiao family and move back to her own home with her dowry.

However, since Lin Ningfang had nowhere else to go, Tong Sui refrained from criticizing Xiao Yan further and smiled, "It's fine; there aren't many formalities in the countryside."

With that, she closed the door for Lin Ningfang, took out the purse from her sleeve, and explained its purpose.

Lin Ningfang's first instinct was to refuse. She helped the Tao family out of sympathy for Father Tao's hardships, not for compensation.

Tong Sui persuaded her, "Still, you should accept it. In nearby villages, a wife with money can stand tall in her husband's family." Otherwise, even if she helps with chores, the husband's family would still feel justified in treating her as a burden.

Lin Ningfang looked at the purse in her hand.

Ten taels of silver—when she used to accompany her mother to the temple, even a casual donation would exceed ten taels.

Yet, the gods did not protect her family; they were killed by bandits, and all their wealth was plundered. After all these twists and turns, she had earned ten taels of silver through her own efforts.

Lin Ningfang clenched the purse, then took out two small ingots and handed them to Tong Sui, "Second Sister-in-Law, I can't help much with household chores, so take this as a token of my appreciation."

How could Tong Sui possibly accept this?

She refused and tried to leave, but Lin Ningfang blocked the door, looking at her earnestly, "Please accept it; otherwise, I'll feel guilty every time it's your turn to cook. Do you really want me to live with a guilty conscience?"

Tong Sui replied, "That's not how it works; you've already given me paintings. I hear one of your paintings can sell for a hundred taels; I've already gotten a great deal."

Lin Ningfang smiled bitterly, "Strength can support a family, but a painting is just a piece of paper. If you don't accept it, I won't let you leave."

Tong Sui laughed, suddenly hugged Lin Ningfang's waist, turned her around, and placed her on the bed, then seized the opportunity to escape.

Lin Ningfang: ...

Tong Sui ran back to the eastern courtyard and saw the door to the east wing slightly ajar. She asked Liu Chu in the main hall, "Elder Sister-in-Law, has Second Master gone out?"

Liu Chu hadn't noticed.

Since it wasn't their turn to cook today, Tong Sui wanted to return to her room and read, trying out the new desk.

After closing the outer door, she entered the northern room but found Xiao Zhen sitting on the bed, examining a newly hung painting on the opposite wall.

Tong Sui: ...

She couldn't bear Xiao Zhen staring at her or at her painting in front of her. She immediately took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and tried to remove the painting, saying, "Such an expensive mounting is wasted here collecting dust."

Silk clothes wear out, and so do the mounting materials from Huzhou. Tong Sui genuinely couldn't bear to hang it outside, where the rural conditions meant a layer of dust during windy days.

Just as her hand was about to touch the hanging rope above the painting, Xiao Zhen leaped up and pressed her against the wall beside it.

Finding it inconvenient to talk while she was too short, Xiao Zhen turned her shoulders, lifted her up, and continued holding her against the wall.

The large window on the right was wide open, allowing Tong Sui to see into the courtyard. If someone came, they would surely see them.

She patted his shoulder.

Xiao Zhen asked, "Why did you take so long?"

Tong Sui replied, "Second Aunt and the others argued over where to place the desk, which delayed us."

Xiao Zhen asked, "Did you give the silver?"

Tong Sui nodded, "Third Sister-in-Law wanted to share two taels with Elder Sister-in-Law and me, but I refused."

Xiao Zhen fell silent.

Tong Sui raised her eyes and met his narrow, phoenix-like gaze, which now held a playful gleam.

Just as Tong Sui worried he might want to do something more playful, Liu Chu's voice came from the main hall, "Third Sister-in-Law is here; are you looking for Aman?"

Tong Sui's heart raced, and Xiao Zhen promptly put her down and quickly rolled up the painting.

Tong Sui, hastily straightening her clothes: ...

So he did this on purpose, to see her fluster and panic!