Although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone knows that "your sister" is referring to Qin Wan.
Qin Heng gave a barely audible hum, frantically signaling with his eyes.
Qin Jijiu was stunned for a moment, then understood. Just as he was about to speak to make amends, Qin Wan's complaining voice came from the back room, "Mother, Father said such things about me in front of my brothers! No wonder Ziqi said that my brothers on my mother's side treat me worse than Qin Yuan."
Qin Jijiu was initially a little guilty, but after hearing the rest, he flew into a rage.
"That Lin Ziqi, he's useless himself, and he even instigates his daughter to become estranged from her brothers. He's a real scoundrel. Those two lousy poems of his were only shoved in because of me. Since he's done this once, I'll do it again. Tomorrow I'll have Shen Changle remove those two poems."
Qin Wan, disregarding etiquette, stormed out from the back room, shouting, "Father! You're being too heartless! Even if you look down on Ziqi and me, and are only hoping for Qin Yuan and my cousin, you don't have to treat us like this. Things change, and who knows what the future holds? Heng'er's carefree attitude and the Marquis of Dingbei's arrogance mean they won't be truly valued by the Emperor. Who knows which son-in-law you'll rely on in the future?"
Qin Heng lowered his head in frustration.
Qin Jijiu sneered, "Do you think that by sending me a feast, I'll be able to rely on Lin Ziqi in the future? It's just a case of the money coming from the sheep's back. You used my Qin family's money to buy me food, and you expect me to be grateful?"
This is tantamount to tearing Qin Wan's face off and stomping on it.
Qin Siyuan was restless and wanted to speak up to persuade him. But Qin Jijiu waved his hand and said, "Take him away, take him away. You're beholden to those who feed you, and you're obligated to take their money. I won't eat your food and drink, and you shouldn't come to my Qin family anymore. Our Qin family is too small to accommodate a future first-rank imperial consort like you."
Qin Wan sobbed, "Father, you really are my father."
Cui, who had chased after her daughter, scolded her upon seeing the situation: "What are you saying? What are you saying? We were all sitting together waiting for you to eat at the banquet, how come you made such a scene as soon as you came back? Wan'er is pregnant, can't you, as her father, say a few less words?"
Qin Wan threw herself into Cui's arms, sobbing, "Mother, does Father not want me anymore? Mother, you can't abandon me."
Qin Jijiu flung his sleeves in fury: "What are you eating for? Haven't you heard people say that I can't even rely on my nephew in the future? Ha, do I have to rely on that ungrateful son-in-law?"
Seeing that he was truly angry, Cui immediately tried to appease him, saying, "If you don't want to eat, then don't. We'll have it taken away right away."
Qin Heng could no longer hold back and shouted, "This is a feast I brought back from the Marquis's residence, sent by my eldest sister. It's all made with flavors that the family likes. What does it have to do with my second sister and brother-in-law?"
"What?"
The Imperial Scholar Qin calmed down slightly and turned to ask, "Did your eldest sister send this?"
Qin Heng said, "That's right. Do you think my second brother-in-law's family could send such a fine feast? Where would my second brother-in-law's family get the lamb trotters? My second sister's mother-in-law is afraid she won't have enough to eat herself. Would she agree to my second sister sending them over? She would be sitting on the ground crying and wailing. My cousin Siyuan and I have been riding horses in the Marquis's mansion all day and we are starving. Father, second sister, please stop making a scene. Can't we, the Qin family, sit down and have a proper meal? Why make such a fuss over an outsider?"
Qin Wan rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction and was about to say something when Qin Heng glared at her, shutting her up.
Qin Heng continued, “Mother, my second sister is being unreasonable. Aren’t you going to mind her manners? She’s pregnant and doesn’t get to eat much at the Lin family’s house. Since we’re here, let her eat as much as she can. We can take some with us when we leave and reheat them to eat slowly. The portions are huge, and we can’t finish them all in one meal. These are all Suzhou-style dishes that my eldest sister specially ordered the cook to make. They made a big pot of braised pork knuckle with rock sugar and spicy lamb trotters.”
Madam Cui scolded, "You little rascal, you're even bringing up your mother now."
Despite saying that, he still helped Qin Wan half-supported and half-dragged her into the inner room.
Qin Wan had indeed suffered in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities at the Lin family, and wanted to eat something better. Besides, if she left like this, she would have no face to come back in the future. So she was coaxed into the inner hall by Cui Shi.
After Qin Jijiu entered the inner room, changed into casual clothes, and took his seat, he said to Qin Heng, "Why did you eat and take things when you went to your eldest sister's house? Won't people laugh at you?"
Qin Heng said, "Who dares to laugh at my eldest sister? My eldest sister is now the mistress of the household. She makes all the decisions, big and small, in the mansion. My cousin and I were kept in the main room by Old Madam Gu to talk, and she spoke highly of my eldest sister to several of the clan aunts, describing her as an angel descended from heaven. Cousin, do you think I'm right?"
Qin Siyuan nodded and said, "My elder sister is indeed deeply respected by everyone in the Marquis's mansion, and the Gu family also admires her highly. This time, my elder sister proposed a plan, which was well received by everyone in the Gu family. I think it is also very good. If our ancestors had done this when the Qin family was prosperous, our Qin family would probably be much more prosperous than it is now."
While gnawing on a pig's trotter, Qin Jijiu asked, and finally sucked on his finger and sighed, "I knew my daughter could be an official in the court. It's just a pity she's a woman, otherwise the Qin family could have risen even higher in the future."
Qin Siyuan genuinely agreed: "My younger sister does indeed have this ability."
Inside the main room, Cui kept putting food into Qin Wan's bowl.
After taking a few bites, Qin Wan couldn't help but complain, "Qin Yuan married into the Marquis's mansion and became the Marquis's wife. Even her farts smell sweet. If I had the money, I would send a feast home too."
Cui glanced at her but remained silent.
Qin Wan then said, "Why are you looking at me, Mother? Did I say something wrong?"
Madam Cui put down her chopsticks and said, "Why are you saying all this now? This meal is just your eldest sister's gesture. Even if you went out to arrange a meal, how much silver would it cost? How much silver is in your dowry? You always blame us for looking down on Mr. Lin, but what have you said and done that makes us respect him?"
Qin Wan lowered her head, feeling even more disgusted with the food.
Madam Cui took a breath and said, "Why are you complaining about all this? You had a perfectly good Marquis, but you insisted on marrying him. Now that you're pregnant, you should follow your husband wherever he goes. Don't think about anything else, just focus on the child in your belly. You'll be relying on this child to make a living in the future. Even though that man surnamed Yu is favored, he can't have any more children. If you give birth to a son this time..."
Before Cui could finish speaking, Qin Wan became smug again. She put down her chopsticks, her eyes full of smiles, and gently stroked her still-flat belly, saying with a smile, "No matter how smug Qin Yuan is, she can't have children. Maybe one of Sixth Master Gu's children will become the heir in the future. This is my own flesh and blood."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
