Chapter 31 A Wealthy Wife

Chapter 31: The Wealthy Wife

Qi Jing was also surprised to find himself instinctively biased against Young Master Yang. He had to admit that Young Master Yang was indeed handsome and presentable.

Yet he felt that this man didn't seem sincere...

Perhaps it was because Miss Xi had been wronged in the Yang household, so whenever he saw Young Master Yang, he couldn't help but think he was no good.

Qi Jing left through the main gate with his servant, the two of them carrying the generous apprenticeship gifts that Madam Zeng had given—dried meat strips, tea leaves, grains, and two bolts of brocade.

Amao beamed, his smile as bright as sunshine. Qi Jing found it amusing: "That happy, huh?"

"Of course! Madam Zeng gave such generous gifts—it shows she truly values you as her tutor."

Qi Jing smiled too. It felt good to be valued.

"Master, before you always had to transcribe books to make ends meet. Now at least you can take it a bit easier."

"Yes, teaching also deepens my own understanding."

When Madam Zhang saw the generous gifts her son brought back, she was even more delighted.

"This brocade has such fresh colors—one bolt in bamboo green, one in reed green. Once I make clothes from these, they'll be very respectable. Madam Zeng thinks so highly of you—you should teach well."

"Don't worry, Mother. I know what I'm doing."

Qi Jing returned to his room and thought about the Young Master Yang he'd just seen. A man who seemed like nothing more than a pretty face, yet he'd passed the imperial exams with high honors and enjoyed a smooth official career...

Qi Jing recalled that dream and felt defiant.

What was he missing?

He thought for a moment, then buried himself in his books.

Everything else was an illusion—real ability was what mattered.

His family had fallen on hard times, so he had to work even harder!

When Yang Xingxian met Madam Zeng, he felt somewhat guilty.

He hadn't even accompanied Xi Qianyue back to her family for the customary third-day post-wedding visit.

Madam Zeng received him with courtesy but distance, without the usual motherly warmth.

"You've come to pick up Qianyue. She's in her courtyard—you can go see her. Will you both stay for dinner?"

Madam Wu invited them to stay for a meal, and Xun Geer looked at his brother-in-law curiously.

He only cared about whether his eldest sister could eat with him; he didn't yet understand that she was married and had to go back to her husband's family.

Yang Xingxian readily agreed. He really wanted to make up with Xi Qianyue, so he hoped to use his mother-in-law and young brother-in-law's help.

As he walked toward Xi Qianyue's courtyard with his servant, Achang exclaimed admiringly: "Master, did you see? Madam Zeng's courtyard is sealed with fine gauze to keep out mosquitoes and bugs."

Yang Xingxian had noticed it too—what extravagance!

Ordinary families, even his own mother, wouldn't use such fine gauze for windows and doors. But his wealthy mother-in-law had sealed off the entire courtyard with it.

"It seems my mother-in-law spares no expense for my young brother-in-law—all this just so the boy can play in the courtyard without worry. What a big investment."

He felt a pang of jealousy. He was her son-in-law, yet he had to grovel before his own wife for a mere inkstone, losing all dignity.

And his wealthy wife wouldn't even give him a glance.

Just as bitterness welled up, Achang reminded him: "Master, be sure to treat the young mistress well when you see her."

For the inkstone, for... money, he'd endure it.

As they neared the courtyard, they saw several maidservants surrounding a young maiden.

On closer look, it wasn't Xi Qianyue.

The young woman bowed deeply and said sweetly, "Brother-in-law."

Yang Xingxian was startled: "Which sister are you?"

"I'm your second sister, Xi Jiaojiao." Xi Jiaojiao half-covered her face with a silk handkerchief, looking coy and charming.

Xi Jiaojiao was soft and delicate, with a sweet voice. Yang Xingxian felt his whole body go weak.

"Brother-in-law, you've come to see eldest sister? She's been coming back to her family home quite often lately. If you ask me, since she's married, she should focus on managing her husband's household properly."

These words hit home with Yang Xingxian. The more he looked at Xi Jiaojiao, the more he liked her.

Indeed, Xi Jiaojiao was quite beautiful—with a delicate pointed face and phoenix eyes that tilted up slightly at the corners, giving her an indescribable charm.

"Qianyue visiting her family is wonderful. Whenever I have time, I come to pick her up and pay respects to Mother and Xun Geer."

At the mention of "Xun Geer," Xi Jiaojiao's smile turned slightly unnatural.

Though the courtyard was just ahead, Yang Xingxian found himself itching to chat longer with this charming young sister-in-law.

"By the way, have you heard of the Jiangzhou Chengni inkstone?"

Yang Xingxian didn't expect her to know—he just wanted an excuse to keep talking.

"I do! Eldest sister has one—Mother went to great lengths to acquire it. Brother-in-law, you didn't know?"

Xi Jiaojiao looked slightly surprised, appearing innocent.

"Alas, I've offended your eldest sister, and she won't give that inkstone to me. I'm a scholar—it's useless to her, but of great use to me."

Yang Xingxian waved his fan, smiling as he made his mild complaint.

"Between husband and wife, why speak of giving or not giving? Eldest sister is being difficult over such a small matter. I don't have a Jiangzhou Chengni inkstone, but I do have a Jinxing Luowen inkstone that I begged Father to specially procure for me.

I'm just a young woman who writes and paints in my spare time—how could that compare to your important examinations, brother-in-law? I'll give you this Jinxing Luowen inkstone."

Yang Xingxian was both surprised and delighted, though a strange bitterness also rose in his heart.

This Xi family—even a mere concubine's daughter could use such a precious inkstone. Though not as rare as the Jiangzhou Chengni, it was still a fine top-grade piece.

He suppressed his smile: "How could I take something you treasure, dear sister-in-law?"

"In my hands, this inkstone is like a pearl cast into dust—wasted. In your hands, brother-in-law, it serves a great purpose, and that's where its true value lies."

And so, Yang Xingxian, who should have gone to Xi Qianyue's courtyard, followed Xi Jiaojiao to hers instead!

Although he did not dare to enter the courtyard, only waiting at the gate, Achang was already scared stiff.

If the eldest mistress found out, would she beat up the eldest young master right there at her parents' home?

He shuddered, not daring to think any more about it.

Yang Xingxian, having received the precious inkstone with gold-star patterns, made a deep bow to Xi Jiaojiao: "Thank you for yielding this to me, little aunt. I will surely repay you in the future."

This made Xi Jiaojiao let out a sweet giggle: "Go on, won't your wife be getting impatient?"

Watching Yang Xingxian's handsome back as he left, the maidservant Lv Zhi was puzzled: "Miss, why did you give Young Master Yang such an expensive gift?"

"Is that a big deal? It's just a little trinket. What's strange is that Xi Qianyue has become so stingy. He's her husband, after all, and she won't even give up an inkstone. At this rate, wouldn't her husband easily be snatched away by other women?"

Lv Zhi dared not respond to that.

Xi Jiaojiao, however, said with resentment: "We're all just merchant's daughters. Why does she get to marry into a marquis's household? I'm no less beautiful than her, and my mother is more favored!"

Lv Zhi advised, "Miss, Young Master Yang has already married the eldest miss, so you can't marry him either. If it's just giving an inkstone to spite the eldest miss, that's one thing, but as for other thoughts, better not to entertain them. It's not worth it."