Mr. Wen recalled the commotion in the Peng family's courtyard earlier and subconsciously rubbed his temples. "Don't even mention it, it was a complete mess!"
He sighed softly, not wanting to talk about his friend's family's shameful affairs, but if he didn't, the Li family would also have a hard time dealing with it.
"When the concubine of the Peng family first entered the household, she was a good person. But after giving birth to a child, she became ambitious and wanted to take charge of the household. So, the steward who had followed Mr. Peng since childhood was drugged. The steward was often sick, and she took the opportunity to control the inner quarters. She treated the legitimate daughter with a respectable facade, but in reality, she mistreated her."
“She even falsified accounts and embezzled a lot of money, which she took home to support her brother. Her family members came to visit before and saw that your shop was doing well, so they got interested. The concubine also wanted her family members to live nearby, but she couldn’t find an opportunity.”
"It just so happens that the old woman discovered that Jia Huan and the eldest daughter were seeing each other frequently, which led to today's incident. She wants to extort some benefits from your family, take over the business, and have her family live closer to you..."
"This is truly..." The Li family members were stunned.
Although they all knew that wealthy families had many secrets in their backyards, this was the first time they had heard such details, and they were quite surprised.
How could a mere concubine, someone who was half mistress and half servant, cause so much trouble?!
"Isn't it said that scholars should cultivate themselves, manage their families, govern the state, and bring peace to the world? Mr. Peng is also a learned man, yet he didn't even know that things had turned out this way in the inner quarters?"
The old lady shook her head, her admiration for scholars suddenly shattering by a third.
Mr. Wen also blushed and tried to defend his friend, saying, "Mr. Peng did not pay much attention to matters in the inner quarters, but he has become more aware of them now. The child is still young and cannot be separated from his mother, so the concubine is temporarily confined to the inner courtyard. However, the maids and servants around him have all been sold off and can no longer cause trouble."
"After some time, he will marry a well-educated and reasonable woman as his wife and will never again take a concubine as his wife. The so-called matching of social status is really too important."
Everyone nodded, and the old lady asked again, "Then what will Mr. Peng do with Miss Peng?"
“This is even more of a headache!” Mr. Wen glanced at Jia Huan, who was full of anxiety, and said, “In the past few years, the young lady has suffered a lot of mistreatment. Mr. Peng naturally wants to make it up to her, but she has indeed made a mistake by frequently interacting with other men, so she has been locked in her room copying the “Precepts for Women”.
The old lady understood; Mr. Peng was waiting for the Li family to make a statement.
As a woman, even if she made a mistake, she shouldn't take the initiative to propose marriage, lest she lower her own status.
“Mr. Wen, no one knows our family affairs better than you. The eldest son’s wife is selfish and vicious, and the second son’s wife… needless to say, she’s made a mess of things and there’s no peace in the family.”
"Therefore, getting married and choosing a wife is not only a major event for the young men, but also a major event for our whole family. Moreover, Jiaren still needs to study, and Jiahuan's marriage is the first marriage for the Li family's grandchildren, so we must be careful no matter what."
Mr. Wen quickly nodded, "Auntie is right, that's how it should be. A virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband, so we should indeed be cautious."
"Alright, please wait a moment while I ask Jia Huan."
"You're too kind, Auntie!"
The old lady got up and took Jia Huan into the side room, leaving only the grandmother and grandson present.
The old lady took her grandson's hand, and before she could speak, her eyes welled up with tears. "Huan'er, you've seen how lonely your second uncle is now. You also know how pitiful Jiaren and Jiayi are. Choosing a wife is extremely important. You're only sixteen, still young, and you can't act impulsively."
"Tell your grandmother the truth: do you pity Miss Peng, or do you really like her and insist on marrying her? If you don't want to marry her, don't worry about it. Our family has a way to compensate the Peng family, and it won't affect your brothers' studies."
Jia Huan knelt down, rested her head on her grandmother's knees, and shed tears.
He was never troublesome as a child, nor did he ever act spoiled with his grandmother. The only way he expressed his filial piety was by helping his grandmother with chores.
He actually thought his grandmother preferred his older and younger brothers, but he didn't expect her to protect him like this. Even though he had made such a big mistake, she didn't scold or beat him, but instead comforted him.
"Grandma, I was wrong. I shouldn't have gotten so close to Miss Peng. But Grandma, she really is a good girl. She didn't look down on me just because I'm a cook. She even encouraged me to study hard and open a big restaurant in the future. She loves her food. She likes everything I make."
"She's also very skillful; the knitted patterns she makes are so beautiful. She's also kind-hearted; even when she herself is skimped on food and necessities, she still takes care of her little maid. Every time I secretly bring her some snacks, she always saves two pieces for herself..."
Perhaps because she genuinely liked him and was familiar with him, Jia Huan started talking at once, her eyes shining brighter than ever before.
The old lady was both happy and emotional looking at her grandson.
At sixteen, the boy was just beginning to experience romantic feelings, and his heart and eyes were filled with that girl.
As Jia Huan was talking, she didn't hear her grandmother's response, so she blushed. "Grandma, did I say too much? But Miss Peng is just that good. She's really not a bad girl. If she hadn't been forced into a corner, she wouldn't have asked me for help..."
The old lady patted her grandson's shoulder and comforted him, "Don't worry, Grandma knows that a girl who my grandson likes so much must be a good one. But, Huan-ge'er, marriage isn't just about the two of you liking each other; it also depends on the two families. I can't guarantee whether you two can make it work."
"Tomorrow, Grandma will visit the Peng family to see Miss Peng and hear what Mr. Peng's requirements are. After all, the Peng family is a scholarly family, while our Li family is somewhat inferior. You are not a scholar either, so this marriage will not be easy to arrange."
Jia Huan felt as if he had been doused with cold water; his once fiery head suddenly cooled down.
Even without today's events, it would have been difficult enough for a cook like him to marry Miss Peng, not to mention that in Mr. Peng's mind, he might already be labeled as someone who seduced Miss Peng.
"grandmother……"
Jia Huan wanted to say a few more words, but Old Lady Li shook her head, "We can only do our best, and leave the rest to God."
When Mr. Wen heard that the old lady was going to visit the Peng family the next day, he got up to go to the academy again.
The old lady stopped him, saying, "Yesterday, the Yan family caused a scene in the village and almost killed Dayong's wife and her unborn child. Fu Niu'er got angry and produced the imperial edict."
"Now that Fu Niu'er has been granted the title of Princess Kangle and a fiefdom, I'm afraid the capital already knows about it. So, tomorrow I will take Fu Niu'er with me to the Peng family."
Mr. Wen paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, Auntie, I understand."
The Li family may not be a scholarly family, but they are now a newly wealthy family. It is not a bad thing for the Li family's grandson to marry the Peng family's daughter!
Soon, Mr. Wen entered the academy and came out shortly after.
When Mr. Peng heard that the Li family was coming to visit, his exact words were, "The whole family awaits your arrival!"
Mr. Wen was relieved and hurried back to Kyoto.
Caught between the Li family and his friend, he had done all he could; now it was just a matter between the Li and Peng families.
Old Mrs. Li and her husband, Li Laosan, were in perfect sync and didn't tell Jia Huan about Fu Niu'er being named a princess.
Jia Huan worked quietly all afternoon.
One moment she was worried that her grandmother would be mistreated at the Peng family's house, the next she was worried that her beloved girl would be punished, and she was even more troubled that the Peng family would not agree to the marriage.
The boy, barely grown up, was truly suffering inside...
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