Chapter 633: Chapter 635: The Drink Goes to the Head
After finishing her meal, Jin Qianqian returned to her courtyard and had someone prepare two cups of sobriety tea.
At the urging of her sisters-in-law, she’d had a few small drinks. Now, her head was a little dizzy; the alcohol must be getting to her.
She rubbed her forehead and leaned against the kang bed. ’I have to warn myself again,’ she thought. ’Never drink too much. This feels awful.’
Ancient Wen Heng took over, massaging her temples. "Next time they try to coax you into drinking, just refuse.
"Look at you, all drunk like this. You’re just making yourself suffer."
Jin Qianqian said, "I’m fine. This wine just has a strong kick. I’ll be all right after a short rest."
"What’s going on with Gu Yuanfeng? Did she give you a hard time?" Ancient Wen Heng asked, recalling the news Ming Feng had shared on their way back.
Jin Qianqian’s head was throbbing, and she didn’t want to talk about it. "It’s nothing serious. She just wanted to dump her child on us to raise. Don’t worry, Mother already refused her."
Ancient Wen Heng said, "The woman isn’t right in the head. From now on, just ignore whatever she says.
"If you don’t want to see her, just have someone turn her away at the gate."
Jin Qianqian shot him a look. "Do you have any idea what would happen if I did that? It wouldn’t take long for rumors to spread that I’m domineering and disregard family ties.
"I’ve worked so hard to build a good reputation. I don’t want to let her ruin it.
"Besides, we don’t have to agree to whatever they ask for. There’s no need to be so extreme."
’Anyway, with Mother-in-law here to manage family matters, they can’t stir up too much trouble,’ she mused.
The very next morning, Jin Qianqian wished she could take back her thoughts from the previous day.
She had just finished breakfast when Li Cuicui arrived with two young girls.
"Mother, have you eaten breakfast yet? I can have the servants prepare some more."
Li Cuicui shook her head. "It was too crowded yesterday, so I didn’t have these two girls formally greet you. I brought them over today to kowtow to you.
"All these years, it’s only because of you and Seventh’s support that I’ve had the confidence to keep them by my side."
The moment Li Cuicui finished speaking, Li Chuncao took her younger sister’s hand and knelt directly in front of Jin Qianqian, kowtowing before she even had a chance to react.
Startled, Jin Qianqian shrank back against her chair. "It’s so early! There’s no need for such a grand ceremony. Get up, quickly."
Lichun and the other maids were also taken aback. Who just kneels and kowtows so abruptly?
"Lichun, hurry and help the two young ladies up." Jin Qianqian had no idea what kind of act this was. She had already given everyone gifts when she returned, and she certainly wasn’t going to give out another round.
’Besides, if I have to endure this kind of shock every morning, I’m not sure how long my poor heart will last.’
Li Cuicui’s mouth twitched. ’It seems everything I taught them was for nothing.’
"Mother, we’re family, there’s no need for such formalities. Besides, being filial to you is what we should do. As for how you want to spend the silver, that’s entirely up to you.
"And raising the two sisters is a testament to your own kindness. We can’t dare take credit for that."
’She really couldn’t figure out what this early morning drama was all about.’
Looking at the two sisters standing shyly to the side, Jin Qianqian felt a throbbing in her temples.
’How old were these two? The younger one was only a few years old, yet she was already acting like this.’
"No matter what, you two cover the bulk of their expenses. I just want them to remember your kindness," Li Cuicui said.
Li Cuicui turned to the two sisters. "You’ve kowtowed now, so you two can go back. I have something to discuss with your Seventh Aunt."
Li Chuncao glanced up at Jin Qianqian and Li Cuicui, then took her sister’s hand and left without a word.
Jin Qianqian was used to the well-mannered young ladies she met outside the home. Seeing the behavior of these two sisters was truly jarring.
"Mother, please have some tea." Seeing a maid approach with tea, Jin Qianqian personally took a cup from the tray and placed it on the table before Li Cuicui.
"Seventh Wife, your Sixth Sister must have had her head clouded by greed yesterday. Don’t hold it against her.
"Don’t take anything she said to heart. I’ll personally teach her a lesson later."
"It’s a small matter. It’s already past, so I’ve forgotten about it." Jin Qianqian hadn’t really paid it any mind. Even if the other party was trying to scheme against her, it was all pointless if she didn’t play along.
"It’s good that you can think that way. Even though she’s my own daughter, sometimes I want to strangle her.
"She has a perfectly good life, but she insists on stirring up trouble left and right. When she finally wears out all the affection between her and her siblings, her life won’t be so easy anymore."
Jin Qianqian smiled but said nothing.
Only then did Li Cuicui hesitantly say, "You saw those two girls just now. Chuncao, especially... she’s reaching marriageable age, but nothing is settled yet."
Jin Qianqian said, "...Mother, you could find a matchmaker."
’This really has nothing to do with me,’ she thought. ’No matter what, those two girls still have their own parents.’
Li Cuicui sighed. "Ai, it’s been worrying me. Many people have come to propose matches, but that girl Chuncao just won’t agree.
"That child has a heavy heart. Yesterday, after I pressed her repeatedly, she finally told me she doesn’t want to get married.
"But how can a young lady just waste her years like this? When I pushed her further, she said she wants to come serve you, learn some skills to support herself, and be like your senior maids in the future."
Jin Qianqian immediately shook her head. "How could that be possible? No matter what, she’s my husband’s own niece. If people found out we were using a niece as a maid, who knows what they would say about us.
"If you feel she needs to learn something, you can send her to a school."
Jin Qianqian grew even more wary. Li Cuicui wouldn’t even help her own daughter when she came asking for a favor.
Yet, that girl had somehow managed to persuade Li Cuicui overnight.
When Li Cuicui heard it could affect Seventh, she immediately hesitated. "But I’ve sent her to school before, and it didn’t seem to have much effect. Look at her, she’s still so timid and submissive.
"With a personality like that, I’m afraid she’ll be taken advantage of when she marries into another family."
Jin Qianqian was speechless. ’If that day ever comes, who knows who will really be the one taken advantage of?’
"Mother, from what you’ve said, Chuncao doesn’t seem as meek as you describe. She managed to persuade you, an elder, to come and be her advocate.
"Judging by the fact that she doesn’t want to marry and wants to learn skills, this girl has a mind of her own."
Jin Qianqian didn’t want Li Cuicui to be deceived, so she hinted at it indirectly.
"What kind of mind could she have, spending all day..." Li Cuicui wasn’t a fool; she could read between the lines of her daughter-in-law’s words.
"That girl..."
Jin Qianqian shook her head. "Mother, my husband has been fighting his battles alone out there for all these years. Many things have been very difficult, and it’s not as glamorous as it might look on the surface.
"I manage the household, and I try my best to ensure he doesn’t have to worry about a single thing back here.
"Right now, my husband and I don’t have any grand ambitions. We just want to live a peaceful life and protect our family and clan as we get by."
