While speaking, he let out a sigh, "If mother were still alive, you wouldn’t have suffered so much."
The memories of the past were too vague. Although Ji Xinhe knew she had a mother who had passed away and loved her very much, she didn’t realize the extent of it.
"Was it because Mother particularly liked girls?" Ji Xinhe couldn’t help but ask.
Ji Dong smiled, "Probably. When we were young, she always gave you everything good first. Perhaps it was because you were younger, and Xiao Bei hadn’t been born yet. I, as the older brother, was quite jealous at the time."
Ji Xinhe giggled, "Big Brother would never be jealous of me."
As if something suddenly occurred to Ji Dong, he took a handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to Ji Xinhe, "This was also left behind by mother for you. Our family didn’t have many valuable things, so she wanted you to have this when you get married as part of your dowry to increase your standing."
Ji Xinhe took the handkerchief. It was made of silk, delicately smooth and extremely soft. The embroidery was exquisitely done, clearly the work of a quality embroiderer.
Ji Xinhe looked up in surprise, "Where did Mother get this handkerchief? How could we have such a good handkerchief in our family?"
"Don’t you remember? Our mother worked as a wet nurse for years for a wealthy family in town. This must have been a gift from the nobility. It’s clearly a luxurious item. When mother passed away and Lady Ding came in, she began to scavenge for the wealth left by mother. Mother had instructed that this be kept for your dowry. I buried it under the big jujube tree in our courtyard, where others would not find it easily.
Not long ago, as our new house is almost ready, and we no longer fear Lady Ding, I dug out some of mother’s belongings that I buried. This handkerchief is the most important. Here, take it now. After all, your marriage to Mu Chu is approaching fast."
As Ji Xinhe held the handkerchief, she felt a wave of bitterness surge within her. A woman she had never met in her life, yet seemingly held the greatest love for her. This rare tangible piece of parental love deeply moved her.
"Ah, how time flies when we talk. It’s late now, you should rest. You still have to get up early to open the shop. Don’t delay, take care of yourself," Ji Dong said.
Ji Xinhe nodded, "Mm, I understand, Brother. Don’t worry."
When she went back to her own room, Ji Xinhe took out the handkerchief again to take a closer look. It was embroidered with a bunch of golden and silver flowers. The colors were elegant, and the design was very beautiful.
Simply from the style of the handkerchief, she could guess that the original owner was a woman of elegance and refinement. Perhaps she was the mistress whom her mother had served before?
Ji Xinhe thought for a while, laughed softly, and put the handkerchief into the small box where she kept her treasures before preparing to wash up and sleep.
In the following days, Ji Xinhe was busy with the shop and preparing for the Chinese New Year. Everything was more or less ready, and they were just waiting to celebrate Chinese New Year with joy.
The new house wouldn’t be ready so soon, so this year’s Chinese New Year would inevitably be spent in this small thatched house. But she didn’t mind, as there would be plenty of food, even though the house might be small, it would still feel festive.
"Sister, sister, look at the paper cuttings I made for the windows. Are they pretty? Sister Xiao Cui taught me!" Xiao Bei showed Xin He a freshly cut Chinese paper cutting.
"Very good, Xiao Bei. Keep learning, and you can take charge of our house’s window decorations this Chinese New Year," Ji Xinhe said, patting Xiao Bei’s head with a smile.
Xiao Bei laughed happily, "Okay!"
Looking at the paper cutting, Xin He couldn’t help but praise, "Xiao Cui is incredibly talented. Not only is she great at embroidery, but she’s also excellent in paper-cutting. Any family would be lucky to have a girl like this. Isn’t that right, big brother?"
Ji Dong looked up in surprise, "Ah? Of course, Xiao Cui is very virtuous. She should certainly marry into a good family."
Ji Xinhe felt helpless, this clueless big brother!
Just as they were speaking, a loud shout came from outside, "Ji Xinhe! Ji Xinhe!"
The sharp voice, if it wasn’t Lady Ding, who else could it be?
Ji Xinhe unconsciously touched her ear, calmly sat in the room without moving.
Lady Ding’s voice rang out again, "Ji Xinhe! Come out at once!"
Ji Dong’s face darkened, "What does this woman want? When will she finally leave us alone?"
Ji Xinhe snorted softly, "It’s a good thing she was scared by the last ghost incident and dares not come into our house now. Otherwise, do you think she would only be shouting?"
Living in a place like this, one can never have peace! They needed to move houses as soon as possible!
"I’ll go out!" Ji Dong was about to stand up.
Ji Xinhe pulled him back, "There’s no point going. What could she possibly want? If it’s not about my marriage, what else could it be? Don’t worry, I already have a plan to deal with her. It’s better if I go."
Ji Dong could only nod, "I am slow-witted and don’t know how to deal with people like her. So please be careful, and if anything happens, please shout for me."
Ji Xinhe responded and went out.
Lady Ding was still standing in the courtyard, shouting Ji Xinhe’s name. She wouldn’t dare step into their house in fear of Xu Shi’s ghost seeking revenge, so she could only yell from the courtyard.
"What is it?" Ji Xinhe came out looking annoyed.
Lady Ding was furious, "I’ve been calling you for so long, and you didn’t respond. Could you take any longer to come out?"
Aware that she couldn’t walk into the house, the girl intentionally didn’t respond! This girl’s cunning ways!
Ji Xinhe turned around to leave, "I’ll go back if there’s nothing."
"Hey! Wait!" Lady Ding quickly stopped her. "Ding Hui is here to see you, and you’re just leaving?"
Ji Xinhe raised an eyebrow, then turned her attention to the man standing next to Lady Ding. His face was lit up with a chrysanthemum-like bright smile, "Xin He, it’s been several years since we’ve seen each other. I didn’t expect you to become even more attractive."
And not just more attractive, but also richer. Marrying a wife like this would mean he’d be worry-free for the rest of his life!
Thinking about this, Ding Hui’s smile became even brighter.
Ji Xinhe snorted inwardly, as expected, what should have come, eventually came.
This Ding Hui was Lady Jing’s younger son, and also Lady Ding’s real younger brother. According to seniority, she should call him uncle. Only Lady Ding wasn’t her biological mother, and this Ding family, naturally, shamelessly proposed this kinship.
Ding Hui was clearly very excited, "I just went to see our future new house. It’s quite big! By then, it would be spacious enough for my parents and brother’s family. Since we’re so wealthy now, should we also buy a few maids? We need to show the grandeur of a wealthy family, don’t we? When do you plan to pick the maids? Let’s go together!"
The meaning behind Ding Hui’s words was clear. He no longer considered himself an outsider and regarded all of Ji Xinhe’s possessions as his own. He even started coveting young and beautiful maids, which showed how happy he was with his daydream.
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