Chapter 65

Chapter 65

After finishing breakfast, Jiang Chun prepared to go to the town to deliver gifts to her uncle’s and aunt’s families.

She also planned to introduce Song Shiying, her sister-in-law, to these two relatives.

Of course, before that, she needed to take Song Shiying to visit Jiang Zhaonian, the clan leader, first.

Jiang Zhaonian was the leader of the Jiang clan, and since their families were close, Jiang Chun often relied on him for help with various matters. Out of respect and courtesy, she needed to visit his house first.

Jiang Chun packed two bags of tea, two jars of fermented tofu, and a pack of dried plum vegetables. She also cut enough fabric from two pieces of fine cotton, one red and one blue, to make a dress.

She placed these items into a bamboo basket and covered it with a cloth to shield it from view. She then asked Song Shiying to carry the basket as they went out to meet people.

Song Shiying bit her lip, not really wanting to meet this so-called great-uncle, nor did she want to go to the town to meet her so-called uncle and elder aunt.

But as the saying goes, when under someone else's roof, one has to bow their head. She had no choice but to pick up the basket and follow Jiang Chun out the door like a submissive daughter-in-law.

The sun was nice that day, and with nothing to do during the winter, villagers gathered in small groups by the walls to bask in the sun.

When Jiang Chun passed by with a young girl, curiosity sparked among them, especially with Cao Pozi.

This Cao Pozi was the gossip who had spread the news about Jiang Chun washing undergarments for Song Shian all over Daliushu Village, making it common knowledge.

She asked bluntly, "Jiang Niangzi, who is this young miss? She's really pretty, but she looks unfamiliar."

Jiang Chun smiled and replied, "She's my husband's younger sister, my sister-in-law."

Cao Pozi exclaimed in realization, "Oh," and praised, "No wonder they look so striking. They're truly siblings."

Jiang Chun didn't clarify that Song Shiying was only Song Shian's cousin, not his real sister. There was no need to go into such detail.

Cao Pozi continued, "The other day when you weren't home, your father said you went south to find relatives. Was it this younger sister you were looking for?"

Jiang Chun smiled and replied, "Yes, indeed. My husband asked someone to find out about this younger sister's whereabouts. We managed to go south before the canal froze and brought her back."

Cao Pozi wanted to pry for more information, but Jiang Chun didn't feel like entertaining her anymore. She had already conveyed what she needed to.

She smiled and said, "I need to take my sister-in-law to meet the clan leader, so I won't chat more with you, Auntie."

Since Jiang Chun had made her intentions clear, Cao Pozi couldn't keep asking questions, and mainly, she didn't dare to. She could only watch the two leave with her eyes.

When they arrived at Jiang Zhaonian's house, he wasn't home. Jiang Wan had accompanied his wife, Lady Zhao, to her natal home. Only Lady Qi, Jiang Zhaonian's wife, was there.

Since Jiang Chun was just making a courtesy visit, it wasn't necessary to meet Jiang Zhaonian.

She first introduced Song Shiying to Lady Qi, then took the bamboo basket from Song Shiying and handed it to Lady Qi.

She smiled and said, "Coincidentally, while we were picking up Ayin, my husband ran into an old acquaintance who gave us some local specialties. I brought some for you, Granduncle Six and Grandaunt Six, to try. Don't think it's too little."

Lady Qi declined, saying, "Your husband's health is weak. Keep it for him to nourish his body. Why give it to us?"

Jiang Chun twitched her mouth. Weak health? Song Shian was no longer the person he used to be. He was stronger than her now.

She forced the basket into Lady Qi's hands and said, "Would I let him go without? I've already set aside his share. This is for you. If you keep refusing, you'll treat me as an outsider."

Seeing this, Lady Qi accepted the gifts, emptied the basket in the east room, and then went to the west wing room to put in a bundle of scallions.

She said to Jiang Chun, "Your house doesn't grow scallions. Take this bundle home to eat."

Villagers valued reciprocity. If someone came to give gifts, it was improper to let them leave with an empty basket.

Jiang Chun understood this, and since scallions weren't expensive, she didn't decline. She smiled and said, "Grandaunt Six, your scallions are the best. They're sweet and not pungent."

Lady Qi kindly replied, "If you finish them, come and get more. We still have plenty at home."

"Thank you, Grandaunt Six," Jiang Chun replied with a smile, though whether she'd actually come back for more was another matter.

Then she led Song Shiying out.

From entering to leaving, Song Shiying only greeted Lady Qi once with "Grandaunt Six" and didn't have another opportunity to speak.

Her sister-in-law was really good at talking to people, able to chat comfortably with anyone. She was completely different from her taciturn elder brother.

Yet, they had a great relationship. That morning, her brother had left her in a state as if she were about to die from his torment.

She had spent a year in a brothel, so she knew what was going on.

Her brother, who was usually cold and aloof, unless he truly loved her, wouldn't have gone to such lengths to please her.

Tsk, maybe this is what they call complementing each other?

"You're like a mute gourd, besides greeting people, you can't say anything else? It's no wonder your eldest brother said you were the most doted on by grandma when you were at home, but I don't think your skills in pleasing elders are that great."

Song Shiying's mind was wandering, when suddenly, her elder sister-in-law's voice, tinged with disdain, broke through her thoughts.

Unable to help herself, she retorted, "I'm new here, and I'm not familiar with the situation. How can I just go around pleasing everyone? What if I end up pleasing someone my sister-in-law dislikes? Wouldn't that backfire?"

Jiang Chun snorted coldly, "So you're blaming me for not warning you in advance?"

Song Shiying replied weakly, "I didn't say that, don't wrongly accuse me."

But Jiang Chun suddenly changed her tone, speaking kindly, "Alright, later when we go to Uncle's house, make sure to perform well in front of him.

Uncle has helped your brother and me a lot and often gives us financial support. He's the best uncle in the world."

Song Shiying secretly pouted. The best uncle in the world? My own uncle is the best in the world...

Halfway through her comparison, her body stiffened.

Her own uncle indeed was the best uncle in the world, always sending her things and finding excuses to take her to his home for a short stay whenever she complained about her heavy academic workload, just to let her relax.

He treated her even better than his own daughter.

It could be said that in the entire Imperial City, there wasn't a second uncle who doted on his niece as much.

After the Song family's incident, he didn't dare to petition for her, but that was understandable since it was an imperial decree. Petitioning wouldn't have helped and might have implicated him.

But when the entire Song family was convicted and publicly sold as slaves, he didn't dare to help, not even finding someone unrelated on the surface to buy her.

Could he not imagine what would happen to a young and pretty girl once sold? He knew.

But the nephew-uncle relationship wasn't as important as his official career, so he wasn't willing to take even the slightest risk.

In stark contrast, her younger cousin, Song Shiyue, had been redeemed early on by her uncle, the Marquis of Wu'an, and was sent to live in a manor on the outskirts of the Imperial City.

Song Shiying knew she shouldn't resent her uncle. After all, if a person doesn't work for their own benefit, heaven will destroy them. But comparisons are inevitable.

It's true what they say, comparing people makes one angry, and comparing goods makes one discard them.

She closed her eyes, took a moment to calm down, then reluctantly responded with a soft "Mm," acknowledging Jiang Chun's words.

Jiang Chun glanced sideways at her, wondering what dark thoughts were brewing in her mind.

She snorted lightly, "You don't want to marry a country bumpkin, right? My uncle has a wide network and is familiar with many wealthy families in the city. If you can win his favor, maybe he'll arrange a good marriage for you in the city, letting you marry into a wealthy family and become a young mistress."

Feeling a mix of emotions, Song Shiying replied recklessly, "Who cares about being a young mistress? I don't want to marry at all. I'll just stay at your house, and let my elder brother and sister-in-law support me for the rest of my life."

Jiang Chun was amused, "Oh my, trying to live off your brother and sister-in-law? You've got quite the idea, girl."

In the next moment, her expression changed, turning stern, "You good-for-nothing, eating here without contributing, you better do as you're told, or I'll arrange a rural matchmaking event for you. Whoever offers the highest bride price will marry you, regardless of age, appearance, or whether they're already married."

"You..." Song Shiying was speechless, "Stop scaring me. There's no way my brother would let you act recklessly."

Though her brother wasn't the same as before, she still believed he cared about her, his younger cousin. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone all the way to Shaoxing Prefecture to redeem her.

Jiang Chun smiled, pleased that Song Shiying could tell she was just teasing.

But she said confidently, "Your brother is completely under my spell now and listens to everything I say. He won't interfere with your matters."

Song Shiying: “……”

Who in their right mind would call themselves a vixen?

The sisters-in-law bickered all the way back home.

Then, Jiang Chun went to the backyard to pull out the mule and harness the mule cart.

Jiang He planned to visit a few nearby villages to see if he could get lucky and buy some pigs, so only Jiang Chun, Song Shian, and Song Shiying went to the town.

It was the first time Song Shiying had ever sat in a mule cart, and she found everything new and fascinating as she sat in the back, asking Song Shian, “Big brother, do you know how to drive a mule cart?”

Song Shian: “……”

You really know how to pick the worst time to bring something up.

He really didn’t know how.

Back in the capital, as a young master from a prestigious family, there were always drivers to handle the carriage for him, so he never had to drive one himself, and thus, never learned.

After arriving at the Jiang family, he was weak and couldn't even sit properly in the mule carriage, let alone drive it.

He pressed his lips together and said lightly, "I was just about to learn."

Jiang Chun was listening attentively with her ears perked up on the carriage shaft. Upon hearing this, she immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Good heavens, you can't do that! Learning to drive a mule carriage is too dangerous. If you don't handle the direction well, you might end up in a ditch and hurt..."

Song Shian felt a warmth in his heart. She really always cared so much about his well-being.

Then he heard Jiang Chun slowly add the second half of her sentence, "...our precious mule worth a whopping fifteen taels and six coins."

Song Shian: "..."

His heart instantly felt as cold as ice.

It seemed that once you got something, it wasn't cherished anymore. He was no longer the top priority in her heart, was he?

Song Shiying exclaimed, "Brother, why is your face suddenly so dark? It's like you've smeared soot on it!"

Song Shian gave her a side-eye and said with some irritation, "If you can't speak properly, then speak less. No one thinks you're mute."

Song Shiying pouted and muttered loudly, "Sister-in-law thinks I'm too quiet, that I don't have a sweet mouth and can't flatter people; and now you, Brother, think I talk too much and tell me to shut up.

So, should I have a sweet mouth to flatter people or should I shut up and be a quiet gourd?"

"Pfft," Jiang Chun was amused by her.

Song Shian heavily hummed to assert his presence.

Jiang Chun immediately placed her hand on her waist and cried out, "Oh my waist, it's so sore; my legs, they feel like they're filled with mortar; my feet, they feel like they're stepping on cotton."

Song Shian's expression stiffened, feeling guilty, and fell silent.

His mind wandered, and soon his face and ears turned completely red.

Song Shiying's eyes flickered, and she quietly sneered.

Don't think she didn't understand. She understood all too well.

These two shameless people, in broad daylight, flirting like this, how shameless!

*

The carriage stopped at Uncle Zheng's front gate. Zheng Yi was in the courtyard smoking bacon. Hearing the noise, he came out to open the gate.

Seeing Jiang Chun and the others, he was immediately happy, "Chunniang, you're back from the south?"

Jiang Chun said with a smile, "We came back yesterday and rushed to see Uncle today. Am I a good niece?"

Zheng Yi laughed heartily, "You are, you are. No wonder you're my favorite niece who I've doted on since childhood, much better than my two sons."

Song Shian pressed his lips together, finding the word "favorite" a bit jarring. The last "favorite" was that stupid donkey next to him.

Of course, it wasn't because he was bored enough to be jealous of a donkey, it was just that the word "favorite" felt too affected.

Jiang Chun pulled Song Shiying and introduced her to Zheng Yi, "Uncle, this is Song Shiying, the younger sister of my husband's cousin. You can call her Ayin."

Then she signaled Song Shiying to greet him, "This is my uncle. You can call him Uncle Zheng, or like us, just call him Uncle."

Having been "prompted," Song Shiying immediately stepped forward, bowed properly, and said with a smile, "Ayin greets Uncle! I've heard from Sister-in-law that you're the best uncle in the world. I envy you so much that I wish I had such a kind uncle. So I boldly call you Uncle too, please don't mind my presumption and dote on me a little."

In just a few words, she both flattered Zheng Yi and gave Jiang Chun some credit.

Jiang Chun understood why she was the most favored grandchild in the Song family. Her little mouth was indeed sweet.

It pleased Zheng Yi so much that he hurriedly tried to help her up but refrained from touching her due to propriety, only raising his hand and saying repeatedly, "Good child, please rise, no need for such formalities."

Jiang Chun smiled and began to unload the gifts from the carriage. Song Shian came over to help her.

Seeing this, Zheng Yi also came over to lend a hand.

Zheng Yi's wife, Qiu Shi, was picking firewood in the shed. Hearing the noise, she came over and saw the large packages in their hands. She immediately came forward with a smile to take them.

She said with a smile, "Chunniang, you're back from the south? My husband was just saying that if everything went smoothly, you should be back by now, and here you are."

Jiang Chun handed her a package containing several pieces of fine cotton cloth and said with a smile, "This is the fashionable fine cotton cloth from the south, something we don't have in Hongye County. Aunt, take a look, do you like it?"

Without even opening the package, Qiu Shi said with a smile, "I like it, I like it very much. Thanks to you, Chunniang, we can also be fashionable like those in the south."

Before Jiang Chun could introduce her, Song Shiying took the initiative to step forward and greet Qiu Shi, "Ayin greets Aunt! Aunt, you look dignified and are just right to wear this fine cotton cloth with subtle patterns, both elegant and not too showy. When the ladies in town see it, they will envy you so much."

Qiu Shi was flattered and said with a smile, "Oh, this is the younger sister of your brother-in-law? Her little mouth is so sweet, she really knows how to compliment people, what a charming child."

Song Shiying blushed and smiled shyly, "You flatter me, Aunt. I’m a straightforward person and don’t know how to flatter or fawn over people. It’s just that my sister-in-law is kind-hearted and doesn’t mind my clumsy tongue."

Jiang Chun curled her lip. This young girl really wasn’t someone to be underestimated. While flattering Zheng Yi and Qiu Shi, she wasn’t forgetting to praise herself as well.

Come to think of it, if she were someone to be underestimated, she wouldn’t have been fighting with the story’s protagonist, Zhong Wenjin, every now and then, causing chaos in the Song family for many years.

After they moved the items into the main hall, everyone took their seats.

Jiang Chun asked about Zheng Peng, his wife, and their son Zheng Kun, "Why don’t I see my cousin, his wife, and their son?"

Qiu Shi smiled and replied, "My brother has arranged for your two cousins to learn skills at a shop in the county. They go to the shop on even-numbered days and study at home on odd-numbered days. Today is the eighteenth, so they’ve gone to the shop.

Your cousin’s mother fell and broke her leg. Your cousin has taken their son back to her family to take care of her mother. She left the other day."

Jiang Chun nodded, "I see."

Song Shian took the initiative to ask, "How are the studies of the two cousins coming along?"

Zheng Yi said proudly, "They’re doing quite well. Their tutor says they have some talent in their studies. After another year or so, they may not be ready for the imperial examinations, but they’ll be able to handle daily writing and accounting."

Song Shian smiled and said, "With an intelligent uncle, the cousins are bound to be just as capable."

Jiang Chun sneered.

This guy only dares to say this when Aunt isn’t around?

Unfortunately, children’s intelligence usually comes from their mothers. As the old saying goes, "A short father is just one short father; a short mother affects the whole family."

Then Song Shian calmly added, "They say that a nephew resembles his uncle. My wife’s intelligence must have been inherited from her uncle."

Jiang Chun almost rolled her eyes.

If you dare say that in front of my father, I bet he’d beat you to a pulp!

Zheng Yi, oblivious to all this, was flattered by Song Shian’s praise and grinned from ear to ear.

When the food was served, Song Shiying flattered them again, making not only Zheng Yi beam with joy but also Qiu Shi smile widely.

After the meal, when Jiang Chun helped clear the table, Qiu Shi pulled her aside and whispered, trying to play matchmaker, "Chunniang, what do you think about me asking for Ayin’s hand in marriage for your cousin Kun? Do you think your brother-in-law would agree?"

Jiang Chun widened her eyes in surprise, "Ask for Ayin’s hand in marriage for Cousin Kun?"

Qiu Shi nodded with a smile, "Yes, I find Ayin clever and capable, with a cheerful personality. I adore her and want to bring her into our family as my daughter-in-law."

Having such a delightful daughter-in-law who knows how to make people happy would surely help her live a few more years.

Jiang Chun was speechless.

You really have some nerve!

Song Shiying is the eldest daughter of the Song family and the future sister-in-law of the emperor. Even though she was once sold to a brothel, her reputation was still intact, and many high-ranking officials and nobles would still want to marry into such a prestigious family.

In her previous life, even though she was married off to a distant place outside the Imperial City, she still married into a scholarly family, and her husband was a young prefect who had passed the imperial examinations, with a bright future ahead of him.

Zheng Kun might be a hot commodity in Hongye Town, but he wouldn’t have much advantage in Hongye County, and in the Imperial City...

Jiang Chun pursed her lips. Out of respect for her aunt, she couldn’t directly say that Zheng Kun wasn’t a match for Song Shiying. Instead, she revealed Song Shiying’s past, "Aunt, Ayin was once sold to a brothel. Although she hadn’t come of age and hadn’t entertained any guests, still..."

This kind of matter couldn’t be hidden from close families like the Zheng family, even if it could be hidden from outsiders.

And even then, it could only be hidden from locals in Hongye Town or Hongye County. People in the Imperial City would know.

Whether it was Consort Liu’s faction or other political enemies of the Song family, they would be more than happy to spread rumors about Song Shiying.

Because of this, in the original story, Song Shiying would occasionally have episodes of distress at home.

Qiu Shi was so shocked that she dropped the plate she was holding, "Ah? This, this..."

Jiang Chun sighed, stepped out of the kitchen, and left Qiu Shi to digest this shocking news.

On the way back, Jiang Chun didn’t hide anything and told them what had happened.

It was better to let Song Shiying face reality sooner, so she wouldn’t continue living in a dream.

Song Shian said confidently, "This was probably Aunt’s idea and wasn’t discussed with Uncle."

If Zheng Yi had been informed, he wouldn’t have let her bring it up.

After all, he had been subtly reminded that their family would rise again, which was why he had hired tutors for his sons and sent them to learn skills at the shop.

Of course, she also understood that Zheng Kun's family background was far from a match for her younger cousin.

Song Shiying's face immediately turned sour upon hearing this.

She had never even met the second cousin of her elder sister-in-law, so the topic of marriage was completely out of the question.

But that didn’t mean she could accept being looked down upon.

Ever since she was sold to the brothel, she had known that her reputation was ruined. Even if she were to leave the brothel one day, a family of equal standing would likely not be willing to marry her.

Anticipating it was one thing, but actually feeling it was another.

Was it because she had been sold to a brothel that even the son of a small-town butcher thought himself too good for her?

Otherwise, why had her aunt stopped mentioning marriage after her elder sister-in-law told her about Song Shiying's past?

Obviously, she thought Song Shiying wasn’t a match for her son.

It seemed her elder sister-in-law didn’t need to threaten her with marrying a villager anymore. With such a bad reputation, she supposed only rural villagers who couldn’t find wives would not reject her.

In that moment, she felt utterly hopeless.

If only she had known…

Jiang Chun sneered. "What, regret being redeemed by us? Regret coming back with us?"

Song Shiying remained silent.

Jiang Chun coldly said, "It's fine if you regret it. Just return the five hundred taels you owe me for your redemption, and I'll send you back to Red Sleeve Fragrance."

Song Shiying immediately exclaimed, "I don’t want to go back to Red Sleeve Fragrance to be a courtesan!"

Jiang Chun snorted. "Don’t want to go back? So you don’t regret it? Then why are you pulling that face?"