Chapter 28 Each with their own thoughts "Yan Hui'er, Yan Hui'er, what are you daydreaming about..."
"Yan Hui'er, Yan Hui'er, what are you daydreaming about?" Seeing her daughter drifting off into thought while talking, the First Madam gently patted her to bring her back to her senses.
"Oh, I was just thinking that when Zhao Qingyun came over in the past, the old lady would always give him a special welcome and have the younger generation in the family pay their respects. Why is there no such thing this year?"
"Pfft!" Upon hearing this question, the First Madam suddenly burst out laughing.
"Mother, what are you laughing at?" Upon seeing this smile, Xiao Yan immediately sensed that something was amiss.
"Why do you think he hasn't come to our house for several years? It's because every time he came before, he always talked about his lofty ambitions. Before we could even finish three sentences, he would always be talking about how he would improve his grades in high school. Back then, he really put on the airs of a young genius."
But when he actually took the exam, he failed every year for one, two, or three years. He was praised too highly back then, but unfortunately, there was no way to get down from that high position. His second wife and the old lady were probably embarrassed, so they stopped being as high-profile as they had been in previous years.
He came here hoping that the master could pull some strings and see if he could get into Xuanyu Academy. He said it was so that he and your cousin could look after each other. As she spoke, the First Madam laughed again.
Looking back, when Zhao Zhenzhu was praising Zhao Qingyun, she always liked to subtly belittle her own son.
In contrast, my son Heyou has been studying at Xuanyu Academy for several years now. When he wrote home this year, he mentioned that the teacher suggested he could try taking the exam next year. The teachers at Xuanyu Academy are very strict. If someone is told to give it a try, it means they are at least 70 or 80 percent confident.
But what happened to that guy who practically acted like a literary genius a few years ago? He had to pull strings to get into the academy to repeat his studies!
With such a turn of events, it's no wonder that the First Madam laughed out loud when she thought about it. It's no exaggeration to say that she felt as refreshed as if she had drunk a large bowl of iced drink.
"Mother is so petty," Xiao Yan complained, seeing the First Madam's expression.
"You're so magnanimous?" The first wife rolled her eyes at her daughter.
“Of course I follow my mother’s example,” Xiao Yan replied with a grin.
"My son, remember, never repay evil with kindness. But you must also be aware of the situation and know when to be gentle. You should have a sharp edge, but don't always show it, or you'll easily hurt others and yourself," the First Madam earnestly instructed.
Previously, the first wife had always taught her daughter to be more assertive, but considering that her daughter was growing up and would come into contact with more outsiders, and that she would inevitably encounter many important people of higher status than her own family at the upcoming flower viewing banquet, she was worried that she might overcorrect and offend the wrong people.
After all, although the Xiao family was wealthy, they lacked power and influence. Otherwise, the marriage proposal to the Qin family wouldn't have been so difficult to arrange.
The first wife couldn't help but recall the argument she had with the master, and his elaborate and detailed explanation.
......
"If the Xiao family wants to advance further, they will inevitably have to rely on the Qin family's connections in the capital. I have tried to cultivate these connections myself, but as you have seen, I wasted half the year this year, racking up countless favors and spending money like water, but what did I get in return? Nothing. Some doors can't be opened without someone leading the way."
The usually cheerful Master Xiao wore a helpless, bitter smile this time.
"You shouldn't be saying that to me. The marriage was arranged a long time ago, so we'll deal with it as it comes. My daughter isn't someone who picks up trash," the First Madam sneered. It was rare for her to openly show such disrespect to Xiao Fuyan.
"I just don't understand," Xiao Fuyan said, pacing around the room several times before emphasizing again, "I just don't understand how the Qin family's marriage turned into such a mess. Who were they fighting over a few years ago?"
"Isn't it because Zhao Zhenzhu is capable that she managed to snatch it? Why are you yelling at me here? What's hers is hers. Go find her." Hearing this, the First Madam also got angry.
“Tell me why Qin Ji is so bad in every way, from her character and appearance to her family background.” Xiao Fuyan was genuinely baffled. He didn’t consider himself an unreasonable person, nor did he believe he would sell his daughter for personal gain. If Qin Ji was truly unbearable, even if he wanted to maintain that relationship, he would choose other methods.
The problem is that the marriage was arranged beforehand, and the two families had already begun some cooperation. This crucial step was originally planned to be taken after the children got married.
He was also anxious this year, so he tried to get through this relationship himself. He didn't know if the Qin family was behind it and making things difficult, but the fact is that he got nothing in the six months he spent in the capital.
The Qin family may seem to have done nothing, but they have already fully demonstrated their value.
“Alright, let’s proceed step by step then. First, we’ll arrange a marriage, and then we’ll completely bind ourselves together in cooperation.” That was Xiao Fuyan’s original plan.
Then, when he got home, his two wives and daughters dealt him another heavy blow. They must have been thinking something, treating him like trash, refusing to marry him.
"Let me be frank with you, this marriage alliance with the Qin family will come with the entire southern trade route as dowry. If it weren't for the cooperation between the two families, such a dowry would be impossible." Xiao Fuyan didn't want to explain these hidden conditions to his first wife, because the marriage originally belonged to Xiao Quexian, and he was afraid that the first wife's family would cause trouble.
Then, as expected, the first wife started making a scene.
"Fine, fine!" Upon hearing this, the First Madam's face turned red and white. Her hands trembled as she overturned the teacup on the table: "You originally wanted to give the entire trade route to Xiao Quexian as her dowry. Do you think all the people in our main branch are dead? How could you face Heyou?"
"Don't be unreasonable. This business route is a condition of cooperation. Anyway, whichever daughter marries into the Qin family will receive her dowry." After proposing this condition, Xiao Fuyan regained some confidence. He didn't believe that the First Madam wouldn't be tempted by such a condition.
"Even with such conditions, the second wife would rather break off the engagement. Tell me the truth, what's wrong with Qin Ji?" The first wife was indeed tempted for a moment, but her mind quickly turned to another direction.
“I didn’t tell Second Madam about this,” Xiao Fuyan said. Facing First Madam’s suspicious gaze, he sighed heavily. “These are the terms of the cooperation, and I never intended to tell her.”
"So you're ripping me off, talking about a dowry business. Since it's a cooperation agreement, the daughter naturally has nothing to do with it. This is a deal you men make outside, just using the name of a dowry as a pretext."
"It can be a title or actual benefits, and there is room for manipulation in this," Xiao Fuyan emphasized.
"Then why not use that reason to persuade the second wife?" The first wife still had doubts.
"That day, Xian'er said that if she was forced to marry into the Qin family, she would hang herself with a white silk ribbon." Xiao Fuyan's words were filled with disappointment and anger.
Upon hearing this, the first wife understood why he hadn't made things clear to the second wife.
His daughter had already made such a threat, so even for the sake of his fatherly authority, he wouldn't say anything more. He would either force her into marriage or find someone else, offering more benefits to persuade Xiao Quexian—this path was no longer an option for him.
"Let me think about it. Anyway, there's no rush, is there?" That's how the First Madam replied to Master Xiao that day.
Facing her daughter, the First Madam hesitated for a moment before swallowing her words, even though she now had added another weight to the Qin family in her heart.
But just a few days ago she vowed to support her daughter, and her daughter also said frankly that she would no longer consider the Qin family. Now, as her mother, she couldn't rashly try to persuade her again, otherwise Yan Hui'er would think that she was disrespecting her daughter's opinion for the sake of some benefits.
No rush. Haste makes waste. Let's wait until after the flower viewing banquet. If there's a better option, we'll choose that one. If not, the Qin family is a very good alternative.
While the idea of "riding a donkey to read a script" might not sound pleasant, the current situation means they have a choice, so naturally they should choose carefully.
It's no wonder they're mother and daughter; their styles are becoming more and more alike. Neither of them seems to be in a hurry, but some people are quite anxious.
......
In the Shuran Residence, the guest courtyard of the Xiao family's second branch, Zhao Qingyun was reading by the window. The sunlight streaming through the carved window was just right, and the slender bamboo outside the window set off the upright scholar sitting inside. In such a scene, even a little bit of his demeanor was accentuated by a scholarly air.
As Zhao Danya stepped into Shuran Residence, she saw several maids gathered under the eaves, constantly stealing glances at her brother, and occasionally blushing as they whispered among themselves.
Zhao Danya subconsciously raised her chin, and even her walking posture became more dignified.
She finally entered the study with grace. After announcing to the maid that she had left, her straight back relaxed slightly. Looking at her brother, who was still reading, a proud smile appeared on her face: "With such diligence, brother, you will surely pass this imperial examination."
Zhao Qingyun paused in his book-turning hand. Ever since failing the exam repeatedly, he had grown tired of hearing such words. At first glance, they sounded like compliments, but upon closer inspection, they seemed like mockery.
"What do you, a woman, know about studying or taking the imperial examinations? Don't say such things anymore, lest you become a laughingstock if others hear you," Zhao Qingyun reprimanded sternly.
Zhao Danya bit her lower lip and obediently admitted her mistake: "I know, I won't say it again next time."
"You went to play with those maids, how did it go?" Zhao Qingyun put down the book in his hand and softened his stern face as he asked.
“Brother, I’ve inquired. Cousin Xian’er really has no intention of marrying into the Qin family. Moreover, I heard that she has already caused a scene in the mansion several times in an attempt to ruin the marriage.”
Zhao Danya wanted to say that her cousin's heart was indeed with her brother, but she had just been scolded for talking nonsense, so she didn't dare to say it now.
"As expected." Zhao Qingyun smiled smugly.
When he first came to the Xiao family, he got along very well with this cousin, and at that time he felt that his cousin might have feelings for him.
Unfortunately, I later heard that Xian'er had been arranged to marry someone without her cousin-in-law's consent.
But this time, his cousin's attitude hadn't changed; she was still very friendly, and seemed even more unguarded than a few years ago. He guessed that his cousin hadn't let go of her feelings for him.
Now, after sending her younger sister out to inquire, her guess was indeed correct; her cousin Xian'er had not given up on her feelings for her.
"In terms of looks, Xiao Yanhui is still superior. It's a pity that she has become so sharp and unruly in recent years."
Such a thought flashed through Zhao Qingyun's mind and was quickly dismissed.
He knew a little about the conflict between the eldest wife and his cousin, and he was well aware that the eldest wife would never marry her daughter into the Zhao family.
Even if the eldest wife agreed to marry off her daughter and Xiao Yanhui remained as gentle and compliant as before, he would still prefer to choose his cousin Xian'er, since his aunt had no biological son.
Of course, Zhao Qingyun would never tell anyone about these secret thoughts, and even when he thought about them in private, he would rarely think so deeply.
His main reason for wanting to arrange a marriage with the Xiao family was that he didn't want to betray his cousin Xian'er's kindness, and it would also be a good thing for Xian'er if she could marry back into his mother's family.
However, although my cousin was affectionate, she seemed a little undecided, otherwise why would she have been so interested in the flower viewing banquet?
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Author's Note: That's right, Pu Xin thinks Xiao Quexian has a crush on him.
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