Chapter 255: Not a Single Stroke in the Eight Characters

Jin Mama, after hearing Qiao Mai's words, couldn't help but treat her as Master.

The rainy season passed in a blink, and September skies were fine; Qiao Mai finished reading during the day and went out for a walk.

Most of the time she sat in front of her family's shop, watching the townsfolk of Tianshui Town and the passing merchants, listening to their conversations.

She tilted her head, watching Liu Hai's stall, and after a while felt something was off.

Just then Liu Hai, having delivered some food, turned back to his shop and saw Qiao Mai waving at him, hurriedly wiping his hands and ran over.

"Cousin, is something the matter?"

"What kind of people are sitting at the School gate?"

"They, haha, are all girls interested in Fengyun; the fifteen‑year‑old scholar is too eye‑catching, so many families come to see them."

Qiao Mai's face darkened, "Didn't they say they wouldn't consider anyone under eighteen?"

"They just want to become familiar faces in front of the Fengyun brothers; what if those two brothers take a liking to them?"

Qiao Mai only now realized that Mu Guniang had already entangled herself with her eldest son; she moved quite fast.

"Is that not allowed? I'm only one year older than your son; can't it be allowed?"

The two sat properly opposite Qiao Mai, "Mother, please speak."

"Did you move here?"

"This servant girl, why so willful."

"Her fate hasn't even a single stroke; no matter what you say, if she truly has feelings for me she'll wait, and it's not the time for a betrothal yet—still early."

Since you aren't in a hurry, she doesn't need to be either; but have the Betrothal Gifts already been prepared early?

Especially that coachman‑guard, who from afar bowed deeply to Qiao Mai—a tribute from a loser to a victor.

"You're courting my son just because I won't befriend you?"

Qiao Mai dismissed them, then curled her lip; she placed her spirit sense onto Feng'er, and soon there was movement.

"Ah, what's wrong with her?"

Even a county princess can drop her airs and pursue a young scholar.

"Indeed, mixing among those girls, luckily my eyes were sharp enough to notice."

"Honestly, I can decide my own marriage; I think both of your sons are fine, so am I unfit to be your friend, even unfit to become your daughter‑in‑law?"

"Hehe, you really said that,"

Why is she also joining the fun here? At that moment, Mu Guniang also saw her and gave an awkward smile.

The two brothers' faces flushed, "We've been focusing on our lessons and never paid them any attention."

"Sit down, Mother has something to ask you."

"It's not like that; calling you scheming would flatter you, calling you foolish—you're not that foolish."

She called a few workers from the shop and went to the School gate to usher people away.

"I'm a good woman."

"Fine, do as you wish; as long as my son can like you it's fine, but you must not tell them your background, or I'll send you straight back to Jingcheng."

"Mm, we can only harvest pinecones two years from now."

The old lady opened her mouth, taking a while to recover, "Impossible, right? Even if she were willing, the Zhen Guo Gong family wouldn't agree."

Mu Guniang sat opposite her; Qiao Mai asked for a cup of yogurt drink and looked at her with a mother‑in‑law's scrutinizing gaze.

"Yes, Mother, we will certainly work hard."

"Modern young people are really indefensible; if it were me, I'd absolutely refuse—it's absurd, and the Zhen Guo Gong family would certainly not agree."

When he saw Qiao Mai, the coachman's chest throbbed sharply.

Qiao Mai was speechless; since when has the Ming Emperor's atmosphere become so liberal?

"You, just go crazy together with her."

"That has to wait until I pass the provincial exam; haven't you seen her attire? She's clearly a lady from a wealthy household. I'm a penniless scholar—what face or right do I have to covet such a woman?"

"The capital is so dull; here is much more interesting."

"You, seriously?"

"Mother will promptly find replacements for you; if you wish to advance, you must put in twelvefold effort and hard work."

"No, no, no, Mother, we're still young, we won't consider that."

"I don't oppose you courting my son, but they're twins; you must not sow discord between them."

"Mm, it's getting late, let's go back and rest."

"Yes, I've grown to love this place, love your family, so if I want to stay here forever, this is the only way."

Qiao Mai stared at their faces, noticing the two kids really seemed indifferent to those girls, and then said slowly.

In the evening, Qiao Mai could hardly get a meal from the old lady.

Thinking of the three eldest sons at home, her mind throbbed; watching them was enviable, yet also worrisome—when three daughters‑in‑law arrive, the Betrothal Gifts alone would fill a whole jar.

This time even the servant girl beside Mu Guniang dared not hum, having witnessed Qiao Mai's prowess; only awe remained in her eyes.

"Madam, such fine weather—why not come with me to Shexian for a few days?"

"You're too impatient; building it a year early would just leave it idle."

"Mu Guniang is a bit older than you; you can't keep her waiting forever."

"Then let's first extract pine oil; we've invested so much silver, it's time to start recouping."

After dinner, Qiao Mai returned to her courtyard, sat in the yard to cool off; Yuan Jiaqi hadn't been home for half a month.

"She hasn't left; she's still staying in Tianshui Town."

"Really?"

"No rush; let me think what to do with all that pine oil from the forest lands."

"We can use it as a storage for now; next year we can harvest pine oil, right?"

"Lately there have been many girls waiting at the School gate for you two brothers, right?"

"You're a princess, why are you joining their fun? Why haven't you returned to Jingcheng?"

"She said she would become my daughter‑in‑law."

"Hmm, you two are fifteen by actual age and sixteen by nominal age, not exactly young; if you have someone you like, tell mother, we can arrange early."

"Is the Zuofang finished?"

"It seems we must prepare early, she sighed."

"Brother, why haven't you told mother about your thing with Mu Guniang?"

"When the two of them arrived, Qiao Mai poured water for them."

"I think this girl is truly straightforward; as long as she's sincere toward my son, having a princess's daughter‑in‑law wouldn't be bad, as long as the girl is willing."

"The old man was bewildered, and the old lady briefly told him what had happened before."

"What a lunatic, bring someone in and drive them all away; that's a School, not some romantic rendezvous."

"Grandmother, you remember that girl who came to our house last time, right?"

"Hehe, yes, the wife guessed correctly."

"Are you still a princess?"

"The workers kept hurrying, and Qiao Mai suddenly sensed something amiss; among the girls being driven away, she actually saw a familiar figure."

"Hot‑headed, how can one sit like this and disgrace the Duke of the Nation's face, and she still blocks Fengyun at the gate? Not like a princess at all."

"Marrying someone from an ordinary family is fine, but marrying someone like Mu Guniang would mean a daughter‑in‑law would have to drain her family's assets."

"Qiao Mai gestured to her, and Mu Guniang obediently walked over, with two Wang Jiaru's Servant Girls behind her, and the carter protecting her was not far away."

"She had someone call Fengyun's brothers, so cold tea was prepared on the table."

"Hehe, nothing escapes your old man's keen eye; I bought a plot of land here, the house is under construction, but I have rented a Zhaiyuan."

"In the blink of an eye it was October, the autumn sky clear and crisp, Yuan Jiaqi returned home from Shexian."

"When Yuan Jiaqi got home, he couldn't describe how comfortable it felt; everything was exceedingly satisfactory, no wonder his wife didn't go, if he also didn't want to leave home."

"To inspect the Zuofang, Qiao Mai followed him to Shexian."

"The workshop was on a small patch of wasteland outside the County Town, and he put that wasteland to use."

"The land deed was all in Qiao Mai's name; although she was a bit angry, Yuan Jiaqi is now an official and cannot have any transactions under his name, so she has to bear it."

(End of chapter)