Chapter 23 plans to abandon her if she doesn't agree.
The main street of Dongqing County was lined with wealthy families, and the Chen family's residence was among them.
Chen Jing'an's face was so dark it seemed to drip water. He strode through the covered corridor, and the servants greeted him with lowered eyes, "Young Master." He went straight into the main hall of the courtyard. Inside, his wife, Yu Fangyu, was sitting on a soft couch by the window, her gaze gentle as she looked at their daughter in the wet nurse's arms, gently shaking a rattle drum in her hand.
Seeing her husband enter with a displeased expression, a barely perceptible hint of nervousness flashed in Yu Fangyu's eyes. She immediately gave the wet nurse a look, and the wet nurse, understanding, quietly retreated with the babbling little girl in her arms.
"My husband is back." Yu Fangyu stood up, a gentle smile on her face. She personally took a cup of freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea from the maid and carefully placed it on the small nanmu table beside Chen Jing'an. "Is something bothering you?"
Chen Jing'an didn't even glance at the teacup. He lifted his robe and sat down heavily, letting out a cold snort. Yu Fangyu's question had just ignited his anger. He suddenly raised his hand and swept the porcelain cup away violently. The scalding tea splashed out, spreading a dark stain on the clean floor and wetting Yu Fangyu's sleeve. The sound of the porcelain shattering startled everyone in the hall, causing them to kneel down. Yu Fangyu was utterly humiliated, her face turning pale and then flushed.
"Displeased? You still have the nerve to ask!" Chen Jing'an's voice was icy, filled with undisguised anger and contempt. "Your good cousin has really made something of herself! Now, riding on the coattails of our Fengyulou's reputation, her Manxin Food Shop is thriving! I asked you to find a way to get that sauce recipe, or at least to keep her in line, and you haven't accomplished a single thing!"
His disdainful gaze swept over Yu Fangyu from head to toe. He really couldn't understand how he had been bewitched by her and let her into the mansion to become the Chen family's wife.
As Yu Fangyu listened to his words, she clenched her hands tightly in her sleeves, her nails digging deep into her palms, causing sharp pain, which barely allowed her to suppress the humiliation surging in her heart.
She took a deep breath, forced a more compliant smile, lowered her voice, and looked up tentatively to advise, "Husband, please calm down. Since that girl is so ungrateful, why should we bother with her? Fengyulou is doing quite well these days. Let's just focus on our business and ignore her. Why ruin our health over a country girl?"
"Ignore her?" Chen Jing'an scoffed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, his eyes sharp as an eagle. "Woman's perspective! Do you think my Chen family opened this restaurant just to compete with Zuixianlou for a short time, or to earn a few pennies?"
He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, but his tone became even more serious: "My second brother just sent back a secret letter from the prefecture. There is definite news that soon, a nobleman of extremely high status will arrive in this prefecture. This person has no other interests, but he is particularly knowledgeable about food! If we can take this opportunity to cater to his tastes and make Fengyulou's reputation and dishes catch his eye, then our Chen family may not be unable to compete for this year's candidate spot for the Imperial Merchant of the Prefecture!"
Yu Fangyu was shocked! Imperial Merchant! That was the ladder to success, a title that countless wealthy merchants dreamed of. Once they became Imperial Merchants, the Chen family would no longer be ordinary grain merchants. Only then did she understand why her husband was so obsessed with the sauce recipe and with suppressing Yu Man—it was not just about the business of a city or region, but also about the Chen family's fortune for the next few decades.
At the same time, a deeper chill rose from the bottom of her heart. Such important information, yet Chen Jing'an only revealed a few words now, when pressed for details; normally, he was extremely guarded about it. This showed the extent of his distrust and alienation towards her. In his heart, she, his legal wife, probably didn't even qualify as a confidante.
She quickly lowered her head, concealing the complex emotions in her eyes, her voice becoming even more submissive: "So... there's such a hidden story. I was foolish enough not to know that the key points were so important." She knew that she could no longer try to smooth things over; she had to demonstrate her value. After a moment's thought, she leaned forward, whispered a few words in Chen Jing'an's ear.
Chen Jing'an listened, his gloomy expression softening slightly, though his eyes remained sharp. He pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "...Your method is indeed a viable approach. However," he changed his tone, his gaze turning cold again as he stared at Yu Fangyu, "Yu Fangyu, listen to me carefully. If this succeeds, you will naturally receive your share of the rewards. But if, like before, things go wrong..."
He paused, then made his point clear: "Then you're not going to have an easy time sitting in this position of Mrs. Chen. Don't forget what happened back then; there are plenty of people vying for this position."
After saying that, Chen Jing'an stopped looking at her, got up, and turned away, leaving behind a cold and resolute back view.
Yu Fangyu stood frozen in place until Chen Jing'an's footsteps completely disappeared outside the courtyard, at which point she was helped to her feet by her maid. Her face was a numb, pale white. Retribution? Perhaps. From the moment she obeyed her parents' orders, schemed to curry favor with Chen Jing'an, and then used the promise of having an heir to marry into the Chen family, the humiliation and hardship she faced today seemed inevitable.
A moment later, the personal maid quietly entered, her face filled with indignation and worry, and whispered, "Madam... Master has gone to Aunt Zhou's place in the west wing."
Yu Fangyu seemed not to hear her, and only asked, "Where is Ling'er?"
The old woman replied, "The wet nurse coaxed her to sleep, and she fell asleep."
Yu Fangyu nodded. "Go and do something for me."
...
After the division of the family property was settled, the Yu family's eldest branch did not find peace. Gossip about the situation began to circulate in the village. Some said that now that Yu Chengfu's family had opened a shop, they looked down on their poor relatives in the village; others speculated that they wanted to get rid of the burden of the clan after they became successful, and even abandoned the land left by their ancestors; there were even rumors that the stepmother, Deng Sanniang, was instigating the situation and could not tolerate the Yu family's old house and clan members.
These rumors, though not causing any real harm, were still unpleasant to hear, buzzing around like flies. Yu Man decided to discuss it with his parents: "Father, Mother, since there's so much gossip in the village, let's move to town. Firstly, it'll be closer to the shop, making it easier to look after things; secondly, we'll avoid these rumors and have some peace and quiet. We can't take the land with us; we can rent it out to trustworthy villagers and collect rent. It's better than leaving it barren."
Yu Chengfu now prioritizes his daughter's opinions in everything, and Deng Sanniang, who had long felt stifled in the village, immediately agreed. Once the decision was made, action was swift.
Yu Man once again asked the familiar broker for help, this time to rent a suitable house in town. The requirements were not high, but it had to be not too far from Manxin's restaurant, the room had to be big enough for a family of four, and it would be best if there was a small yard for drying clothes and storing miscellaneous items, and the rent had to be within her budget.
After looking at several places, they finally found a small courtyard in a relatively quiet alley two streets away from the food stalls. The courtyard wall was made of ordinary blue bricks, quite old, but still sturdy. Pushing open the slightly mottled wooden door, there was a small, square courtyard inside. It wasn't big, but it was big enough for Xiu Xiu to run and jump around in, and there was also a small patch of land where they could grow some scallions and garlic. There were three main rooms. Although the furnishings were simple, they were kept quite clean. The east wing could be used by Yu Man and Xiu Xiu, the west wing by Yu Chengfu and Deng San Niang, and Xiu Xiu would temporarily partition off a small room in the main room. The kitchen was small, but it had everything she needed. What pleased Yu Man the most was that the courtyard had a cellar, which was warm in winter and cool in summer, so potatoes and cabbages stored there wouldn't freeze in winter.
"Let's go here," Yu Man decided. The family then began packing their things in a flurry of activity, preparing to move.
After packing up many odds and ends, Yu Man realized that he had accumulated quite a bit of wealth over the years. Even a broken home is worth a fortune, and Yu Chengfu and Deng Sanniang were reluctant to throw away many of their old belongings. Yu Man had no choice but to let them secretly dispose of things that were obviously unusable or too worn out.
The move proceeded smoothly, but a problem arose—what about Xiuxiu's schooling? The village school was definitely out of the question; it was too far. Yu Man had already planned ahead: she wanted to send Xiuxiu directly to the county's elementary school. Xiuxiu was already over seven years old. At the village school, she only learned some simple characters and memorized parts of the *Three Character Classic* and *Hundred Family Surnames*; her learning was ultimately limited. In this era, girls could start school before the age of ten. She hoped Xiuxiu could read more, broaden her horizons, and no matter what kind of work she did in the future, education was never a bad thing.
That evening after dinner, Yu Man pulled Xiu Xiu aside and gently discussed with her, "Xiu Xiu, we're going to move to town. Your older sister wants to send you to the county school. The teachers there are better, and you can learn more there. What do you think?"
Unexpectedly, Xiuxiu shook her head vigorously, pouting, and said, "No! I don't want to study! Studying is so boring! Sister, I want to be a general! Like in the stories, riding a big horse, it's so majestic!"
Yu Man suddenly thought of someone: who exactly is at the border? Both the big one and the little one want to go.
She patiently guided Xiuxiu: "But a general isn't just someone who can ride a big horse and wield a big sword. A general needs to command troops, know how to arrange troops, read maps, understand astronomy and astrology, and even know some medicine and supplies. Do you know those?"
Xiu Xiu blinked her big eyes, seemingly somewhat persuaded, but quickly found a reason to refute. She tilted her head and asked innocently, "Then, sister, I haven't seen you study much, how do you know so much?"
Yu Man was taken aback by her question, thinking to herself: I studied diligently for over twenty years in the modern world! Moreover, even before regaining her modern memories, her mother never relaxed her education just because she was a daughter, always encouraging her to learn more characters and listen to more stories. Later, there was also Pei Ji, who would occasionally bring her travelogues, miscellaneous books, and local chronicles, which she would browse through in her spare time. All in all, her reading volume naturally far exceeded that of ordinary people, and was even comparable to some scholars who only read books by rote.
Of course, she couldn't say this to Xiuxiu. She could only smile and pat her younger sister's head: "Your older sister is learning slowly and observing gradually. Look at how your older sister manages the food shop, doesn't she also have to do accounting, remember a lot of recipes and customers' preferences? These are all things to learn."
She noticed a hint of hesitation in Xiu Xiu's eyes and guessed that she missed her playmates in the village, so she took another step back and said softly, "How about this, I'll make a promise with you that I'll take you back to the village every ten days to play with Xiao Chun and the others, okay? But in town, we still need to go to school."
Hearing that she could often return to the village to see her friends, Xiu Xiu's eyes immediately lit up, and her initial resistance lessened considerably. She thought for a moment, then finally nodded vigorously: "Then... then okay! I'll go to school! Sister, you have to keep your word!"
Having dealt with the little girl, Yu Man breathed a sigh of relief. Next, she would go to the elementary school to inquire about the situation.
...
At the border of the prefecture, in a post station where officials and messengers rested, the evening breeze carried the scent of dust and wild grass, causing Pei Ji's slightly thin blue robe to flutter. He stood quietly, his gaze calmly fixed on the official road that wound its way into the distance.
A sprightly old man in a slightly worn scholar's robe stood respectfully behind him, his hands clasped at his sides. If Yu Man were there, she would surely recognize him as the old Mr. Chen whom Pei Ji had invited to treat her injuries. At this moment, his face no longer held the gentleness of a physician, but only deference.
"My lord, a scout reports that he has already set off. Judging by his pace, he should arrive here in just a few days." The old man's voice was deep, making sure only the two of them could hear him.
Pei Ji responded almost inaudibly, indicating that he understood.
Mr. Chen continued his report, detailing the arrangements for the next steps, from the personnel to receive the messengers and the meeting place, to how to discreetly send the message to the capital, and even that arrangements had been made at the border. Once this matter was settled, Pei Ji could quietly head north to the border.
However, Pei Ji remained silent. He made no comment on the old man's meticulous arrangements, and even withdrew his gaze from the distant official road, lowering it slightly to his palm.
Old Mr. Chen dared to follow his gaze and saw that the master's well-defined fingers were gently caressing a soft, indigo-blue sachet. The sachet was extremely simple in design, plain and unadorned, except for a cluster of something embroidered in the corner with the same color silk thread... something that was hard to tell whether it was a cloud or a bighead carp. The stitches were not delicate, even somewhat clumsy, and completely out of place with the master's temperament.
Old Mr. Chen stared at it for a long time, unable to decipher what auspicious pattern it was. However, being a man of many experiences, he knew that anything that could distract the emperor at such an important moment was no ordinary object. He quickly composed himself, and with a touch of appropriate flattery, whispered, "This sachet... the stitching is extremely fine, every stitch showing great care. It must have been a gift from someone very important?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the tense atmosphere around him seemed to ease slightly. Pei Ji didn't look at him, but a fleeting, gentle glint flashed across his usually deep and unfathomable eyes. Though it was brief, it was enough to astonish the old man who knew his temperament well.
After a long while, just when the old man thought his master would no longer respond to the previous report, Pei Ji finally spoke slowly. His voice remained calm and even, yet it stunned the old man:
"The border affairs are not urgent."
"No rush?" Mr. Chen was taken aback. They had been planning this for many years and had put in countless efforts. It seemed that the matter was about to be completed, but the master said there was no rush.
He thought his arrangements were flawed, and hurriedly lowered his head, his tone filled with fear and confusion: "My lord, where have I gone wrong? Please tell me, and I will adjust it immediately! This matter concerns..."
Pei Ji gently interrupted him, his voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority:
“It’s not that your arrangements were inappropriate.” He paused, then finally raised his eyes and looked in the direction of Xingcheng Village.
“However,” he said slowly, word by word, “there are still people who have not yet agreed to this matter.”
Old Mr. Chen was stunned. Someone hadn't agreed yet? Who could influence the Lord's decision? A fleeting image flashed through his mind of the bright, serene girl he'd seen in the farmhouse courtyard—Yu Man, the girl the Lord had personally asked him to treat. He mustered his courage and tentatively asked, "The Lord refers to… Lady Yu? What if… what if Lady Yu doesn't agree?"
He asked the question prepared to face a thunderous wrath.
However, Pei Ji was not angry. He merely turned his head slightly and glanced lightly at Old Master Chen.
That glance was calm and undisturbed, devoid of much emotion, yet Mr. Chen discerned a clear and undisguised meaning within it—a resolute determination with no room for compromise.
If she doesn't agree, then he will abandon this path he has been planning for many years.
Old Master Chen was in turmoil. "This... please, Your Majesty, reconsider!" He knelt down, hoping that Pei Ji would change his mind. How foolish! How could he entrust his future to one person?
Pei Ji let him kneel, then turned his gaze back to the sachet in his palm, carefully gathering it and placing it against his chest, closest to his heartbeat.
"Don't forget, you came to me first, so why should I agree to your request?"
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