Chapter 190: Disdainful of Arguing with Him

It was getting late, and Qiao Mai did not ask about the family matters.

It seemed that tomorrow she would have to pick a more reliable Steward from among the maids to handle affairs, so she wouldn't have to keep asking around; whatever comes up, the Steward could come to her to discuss or report.

After a good night's rest, after breakfast the next day, Qiao Mai had Yuexia call the fifteen maids from the house.

They stood in the courtyard in three rows; Qiao Mai stood on the steps, scanning this and that—who was usually the most proactive, who could speak the most, who had the sharpest eye—she knew it all in her mind.

She pointed at the maid in the middle and said, "You, step forward!"

The maid's expression remained unchanged, hands placed before her, perfectly proper.

"Madam, I am here!"

"What is your name?"

"My maiden family name is Xi, I am called Xi Juan."

"That surname is rare, the name is nice—can you read?"

Liu Qiaoshi waved her hand hurriedly, "That's not allowed; I heard you plan to go to the capital for the imperial exam after the New Year."

"In my view it's nothing, but to him it's Yuanhen,"

"Hmm, do you have business for me?"

Qiao Mai took a bottle from her sleeve and gave it to him, "If you encounter anything that feels off, take a pill."

"Indeed, they are in the wrong, but you are a scholar, and with such good grades the Academy still wants to retain you. However, the dean said that since you will pursue a career in Shizi, it's not a solution to keep letting them trouble you."

Yuan Jiaqi, though he had drunk a little Wine and his complexion was rosy, became instantly cold as ice upon hearing their words.

"Do you have Yuanhen with him?"

Yuan Jiaqi left, and Qiao Mai glanced at their back, saying nothing. They had few friends before, and this Academy trip let them make a few, hoping these people would not disappoint her.

"Brother Yuan, no need for courtesy; you've been away from the Academy for half a year. The brothers wanted to visit, but the timing never matched—either you're at school, or when the holidays come it rains."

Qiao Mai waved her hand, and the crowd dispersed; only now did she feel the burden on her shoulders lighten considerably.

"Let Liu Bao study with me; the initiation is easy and won't take much time."

"Then you tell me, if I go back and they still act like vampires, constantly demanding money from me, what should I do?"

Qiao Mai briefly recounted the little matter between the two families, and Liu Qiaoshi opened her mouth, unable to believe, and said,

"Knowing a bit, they also keep accounts."

"Ah, Brother Yuan, you're so generous; we originally said we'd treat you to a meal."

"Indeed!"

Qiao Mai looked at him and said, "Why not? You also have friends; it's just that when you drink Wine outside you have to worry."

When Yuan Jiaqi arrived, they were all sipping tea and hadn't ordered any dishes; seeing this, the once‑cold Yuan felt a hint of warmth.

"Here's the thing: during the few days you've been out, I took Liu Bao to register at our Town's School, hoping the child could learn a few characters, but the teacher there, upon hearing you're relatives, outright refused! It's infuriating—what should we do?"

Liu Qiaoshi felt out of place here, quickly said something and left.

Yuan Jiaqi sat down and recounted the whole episode of going to the School to study.

"Thank you, Master; I will certainly fulfill my duties faithfully!"

She also hoped Yuan Jiaqi would sharpen their eyes and make a few sincere friends.

Thus, holding onto fantasy and hope, she went to meet those people.

"Then I'll go first."

"Everyone, go about your business!"

"Speak!"

"Sorry to have kept Zhujia waiting; my home is far, and as soon as I received the letter I rushed here."

"It's like this: back then I yearned to study, and he let me sit on the side and listen, but I had to haul a load of firewood for his family every day—one load fetched five wen, equivalent to a bundle of tuition—so he said I couldn't possibly be ungrateful. He runs the School for a fee; it isn't free teaching, and it's only natural that I pay to attend his lessons."

Qiao Mai looked at them and said, "Study well; leave this matter to me."

"Alright then, hum when you need me."

"He turned down my aunt's child's enrollment just because we're relatives."

"Understood."

It was said that Yuan Jiaqi returned to the house, changed clothes, tucked a money pouch in his bosom, led a horse out of the stables, and left Jixiang Yuan.

"Ha, it's my fault for not telling you; you should have asked me first."

"I suppose that's how it is."

"Mai Mai?"

When the food and Wine arrived, everyone toasted each other, drinking while chatting about Yuan Jiaqi's affairs.

"Do you have silver on you?"

"I disdain arguing with him; this isn't unknown, it's just that some people, being in his School, don't want to offend him."

Yuan Jiaqi, the oldest among them, said, "Pick a few of your restaurant's specialty dishes; as for Wine, just bring a good pot."

"You're all one family; it's proper for her to be filial to your parents."

In Fucheng, at Jufu Jiulou, within the Wang Family's estate, in a Yajian on the Erlou, several people chatted and laughed.

"What's the matter?"

But thinking of the flood, he felt perhaps these were the obstacles blocking them.

Having just taken a sip of tea, Liu Qiaoshi arrived.

"Early this morning, a classmate sent a messenger with a letter, inviting me to go to Fucheng today to drink and reminisce; do you think that's okay?"

"Is he that petty?"

Qiao Mai lifted her teacup and kept drinking, listening to Liu Qiaoshi's chatter.

"Thank you, Master, for your grace!"

"I haven't asked my Xianggong about this yet; I think, given his temperament, he wouldn't cling to Mr. Lin's favor—otherwise he wouldn't have ignored him back then and would still be teaching my child."

"From today onward, you are Jixiang Fan's Steward; from now on you will manage the household affairs. For major matters consult me, for minor ones handle them yourself, and remember to be fair."

Just then Yuan Jiaqi came over to find her, "Madam, aunt, are you both here?"

"I heard sister‑in‑law doesn't earn much, so giving them a bit wouldn't matter, right?"

"I have something I want to discuss with you; could you help me think of what to do?"

Actually he doesn't want to go either; after such a long time those few classmates and roommates haven't visited him, and since they treat him as if he doesn't matter, there's no need to keep in touch.

"I'm a few years older than you, let me treat!"

"From now on, your monthly allowance will grow to Yijian; if you do well, everyone will increase along with you."

"I see, that petty person actually told others that you took his class for free, that you don't respect teachers, and even called you a White-eyed Wolf."

"Aunt? Isn't the shop not busy at this time?"

"After that day your wife clarified the matter at the Academy, we all thought that both sides' parents were at fault; once the kinship is cut, there's no need to keep entangling further."

Qiao Mai glanced at Liu Qiaoshi, "Alright, aunt, let the child help out in the shop first, to toughen his courage. He seems very shy; in a few days I'll think of a solution. My husband is getting old, it's not good to keep loading him with students."

"Why does it sound like Zhujia are here to advise me?"

"First, that silver was earned by my wife; as a man, I don't even earn a single Wen, yet I have to spend hers, which already feels a great betrayal to this family—how could I give the hard‑earned silver of my wife to my parents? Second, you don't understand my parents; they aren't after a little money, but the entire Qiao Family's estate."

"What exactly is the situation between you and Mr. Lin?"

After a few polite exchanges, a shop assistant came in and asked whether they wanted to start ordering dishes.

"Since you are scholars, a family? Is she indebted to me or to my relatives? Just because you're a family, you let her hard‑earned silver go to those people? Let me tell you, it's me, Yuan Jiaqi, who owes my wife; this gratitude can never be repaid in a lifetime."

A few people saw his anxiety and immediately started coaxing him.

"Don't be impatient; we're doing this for your own good. If this path is blocked, we'll take another."

"I tell you, as long as you acknowledge it, the two elders in my family keep sucking blood, eating flesh, gnawing at me and my son's bones; they only care about money. My first daughter‑in‑law was crushed to death by them; she was heavily pregnant with Chuan'er, yet they wouldn't let her go, forcing her to keep working."

(End of chapter)